TechRadar News

• Getac ZX10 rugged slate is aimed at professionals working in challenging outdoorenvironments
• It uses a Qualcomm CPU with a NPU, making it ready for AI workloads
• It has hot swappable batteries and is IP66 certified - but you can't use it underwater

Rugged phones and tablets are increasingly providing features beyond just durability. Some rugged devices include thermal scanners, camping lights and even laser projectors, while many now come with giant batteries that can last for weeks between charges.

Getac, which has been making rugged computer products for over 30 years, has unveiled its latest tablet, the ZX10, a 10-inch fully rugged Android device built specifically for professionals who work in tough environments, so it’s all about strength and reliability rather than non-essential features.

Designed for industries like public safety, utilities, and logistics, the tablet is built to last with MIL-STD-810H and IP66 certifications, protecting it from drops, dust, and water. It works in temperatures from -29°C to 63°C, and in heavy rain (but not underwater) and weighs only 906g, making it the lightest rugged tablet of its size.

Hot swappable batteries

The ZX10 is powered by Qualcomm’s QCS6490 processor and NPU, which should provide strong performance and support for advanced AI tasks without using too much power. It comes with 8GB LPDDR5 memory and up to 256GB of storage. The bright 1,000 nits LumiBond screen can be used in sunlight, rain, or with gloves. There is also an option for a stylus and digitizer for more accurate input.

Connectivity is provided in the form of Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, and it has dual SIM support (Nano SIM and eSIM) and optional dual-band GPS for quick data transfer and precise location tracking. Other options include 4G LTE, 5G Sub-6, NFC, and barcode scanning.

The ZX10 comes with two batteries that can be swapped during use to avoid downtime, and customers can choose a single-battery setup for use in vehicles or a high-capacity battery.

Running Android 13, the ZX10 is Android Enterprise Recommended, with security updates and feature improvements for five years. Getac says it will support three Android OS upgrades for the device.

“For field-based professionals, device weight can have a significant impact on productivity, particularly when carrying and/or operating it for extended periods of time,” says James Hwang, President of Getac Technology Corporation.

“Not only is the next generation ZX10 the lightest 10-inch fully rugged tablet currently available on the market, but its powerful combination of AI-ready performance, extensive configurability, fully rugged reliability, and intuitive Android OS makes it one of the most versatile as well.”

The ZX10 works with Getac’s Essentials Suite for improved productivity and it is available to buy now, with pricing available on request.

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• Leak teases Asus Tarius VR headset
• Tarius will boast eye-tracking and high-end displays
• Likely to be one of the first third-party Horizon OS headsets to ship

Since the announcement that Asus, Lenovo, and Xbox would be partnering with Meta to create third-party Horizon OS VR headsets – that’s the operating system Meta’s Quest devices use – we’ve heard next to nothing about them, leading me to worry that maybe the plans had fallen through like the Meta-LG Collab seemingly did.

Thankfully, that does not appear to be the case, at least for Asus. We finally have our first details about its Tarius Horizon OS headset – and it’s already proving exactly why these collaborations need to happen.

Part of the Asus ROG family of devices (suggesting it’ll have a heavy gaming focus) Tarius is reportedly the device’s codename, with the details being leaked by Lunayian – who was spot-on with Meta Quest 3S leaks. Luna adds that Tarius will include eye-tracking and face-tracking, and it will either use micro-OLED or QD-LCD with local dimming screens – presumably to achieve high contrast for stunning visuals.

NEW: Details on the upcoming ASUS ROG VR headset running Meta Horizon OS.It is codenamed Tarius, and will likely be one of the first 3P Horizon OS HMDs to ship.It is planned to include Eye Tracking and Face Tracking. The displays will be QD-LCD with local dimming or µOLED. pic.twitter.com/K5pYxcBK4hJanuary 12, 2025

While this isn’t a lot to go on, these specs alone would suggest the ROG headset will be a high-end (and high-priced) VR gaming headset. You don’t see eye-tracking on low-end machines, and the same goes for those displays – which could rival the impressive screens we got from the Apple Vision Pro.

As always, remember that leaks should be taken with a pinch of salt as nothing is official yet, though Luna’s track record means these leaks are still well worth our attention.

A high-end hybrid?

Unless the Asus Tarius headset packs some kind of next-gen chipset rather than the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 we have in the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S, its displays could be overkill for standalone experiences. That said, they would be ideal for PCVR – powered by a high-end Asus PC like the 5090-packing laptops it showcased at CES 2025.

The HTC Vive Focus Vision (Image credit: Future)

This could mean Tarius aims to do what the HTC Vive Focus Vision tried and (unfortunately) failed to: be a full-on VR headset hybrid for both superb standalone and PCVR.

Thanks to Horizon OS, Tarius already has a significant leg-up on the standalone front over the Focus Vision thanks to the operating system's best-in-class suite of software exclusives.

If it can also manage its weight and comfort – and throw in features like DisplayPort connectivity for a lossless video connection to a PC – Tarius could be the high-end hybrid headset we’ve been waiting for.

And this is precisely what I wanted from these collaborations.

A golden age of VR approaches

Meta’s more mass-market Quest headsets are fantastic, but because they have to be a middle-of-the-road product to appeal to as many as possible, they can’t specialize in appealing to one specific segment, like high-end gamers.

This means these specialized customers have had to make do either with pricey headsets that lack Horizon OS and therefore feel decidedly second-place or a Quest headset, which is great value for money but isn’t outputting the visuals they want and deserve – essentially forcing us to choose software or hardware superiority.

Tarius is already shaping up as the ideal VR enthusiast device as it looks set to deliver in terms of both software and hardware. There’s plenty more we still need to learn about it from a price and specs perspective before we can declare it a VR champion, but if Asus can stick the landing its device could rocket to the top of our best VR headsets list – and I can’t wait to find out more about it.

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• Yes, Happy Plugs Joy is this li'l speaker's real name
• As well as (Grogu-like) green, it's available in baby blue, pink, and black
• It's out now, priced at just £39.99 / $49.99 (around AU$80)

In the completely fictitious hygge lifestyle I like to imagine I lead, this speaker would be a perfect fit. It's the life in which I wake up naturally with the sun, drink warm lemon-water with turmeric from a handmade stoneware mug, meditate for 20 minutes, write a gratitude journal, perform a seven-minute workout, shower, slip on a few items from my perfectly-pressed spring capsule wardrobe, add a pair of fresh fluffy thick socks and glide towards my upcycled driftwood desk to calmly begin the working day, with a refreshed and positive attitude. And this delightful little speaker can be part of that discussion; it is pinned to the mental mood-board I like to call 'Sorting My Life Out'.

In reality, a grande Starbucks cup has curiously welded itself to my desk following a stint of overtime late last week, where it remains unmoved next to some leftover Christmas chocolates and at least six post-it notes with headers like 'DON'T FORGET' double-underlined, and 'MUST DO BY 25TH!!' to ease me into my day. Such is life. But I'd argue there's still room for this speaker – and music is always a great place to start.

What you're looking at is the Happy Plugs Joy – yes, that is really its name. It's not just happy. It's not just joy. It's the sum of the two, plus… plugs. In my imaginary aspirational hygge lifestyle, I'd sit at my upcycled driftwood desk, pluck up my smartphone (with the tactile woolen cover I crocheted mindfully that definitely isn't pleather and shedding blue flecks all over the apartment) and stream some niche acoustic covers to this speaker. I would do this while I waited for my lemon-water to cool, so as not to shock my body unnecessarily.

Happy Plugs Joy in your life

I'd like the green finish because it reminds me of Grogu, the Yoda-adjacent Force-sensitive character from The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. But whichever option you pick, this is a pebble-esque speaker that wants to blend in with your delicious taupes, your natural textures, your recycled throws.

It also lasts for eight hours on a single charge and weighs just 192g, so you can throw it in your waxed canvas satchel, jump on your bicycle and head to a nearby mountain stream, to read that paperback you've been promising yourself you'll get to since 2017.

It's got Bluetooth 5.3 onboard and, thanks to its IPX4 rating, it'll survive a light shower too – and wouldn't it look great on Instagram on a cloudy day, maybe next to that gorgeous old fountain pen you were given, a stainless steel cafetiere and the cryptic crossword you're trying to finish?

And it doesn't cost a lot to get the look. The Happy Plugs Joy (or JOY, as it's styled in Happy Plugs' marketing) is available now for just £39.99 / $49.99 (or around AU$80), which makes it cheaper than almost every single one of the best Bluetooth speakers we currently recommend, and the same price as the likeable-but-not-as-cute JBL Clip 5. Will the Happy Plugs option take its place? I'm not sure yet. But we're working on reviewing it in full, so when we know how good it sounds, so shall you.

Right, I'm off to recycle that Starbucks cup…

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• Trump orders government workers to return to office full-time
• Federal workers will have weakened job protections
• Resignations and workforce changes are expected

US government officials have been mandated to return to the office full-time under the new Trump leadership, marking an end to hybrid and flexible working setups.

Tech companies have broadly implemented office-working policies, ranging from three to five days per week, in recent years following pandemic-induced remote options, and it’s now the turn of the US government to follow suit.

Trump’s new policy, actioned on the day of his inauguration, will require US federal workers to return to in-person office working on a full-time basis.

Trump issues full-time RTO to government workers

A short statement reads: “Heads of all departments and agencies in the executive branch of Government shall, as soon as practicable, take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis, provided that the department and agency heads shall make exemptions they deem necessary.”

The new President has also reinstated the so-called Schedule F “immediately” and “with full force and effect,” which effectively weakens job protections for civil servants.

Critics argue that the move could help Trump replace certain employees with a more loyal workforce. The National Treasury Employee Union, which represents federal government employees, has already taken to a federal court in Washington to sue Trump (via Reuters).

Moreover, a hiring freeze and the formation of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed up by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, will further affect the size and makeup of the federal government.

Musk is also a fan of in-person working – in a statement to Tesla employees, he claimed remote work was “no longer acceptable.” Voluntary resignations across government agencies are predicted as a result of the latest changes led by Trump and, possibly, Musk.

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• Donald Trump signed a new executive order on his first day as US President
• The order revokes a previous executive order, that demanded thorough research on AI tools before release
• This is in line with his presidential campaign

Day one of Donald Trump’s presidency has been marked by over 200 executive orders. The returning US president has used his executive power to sign in a number of drastic policy changes, among which is one regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Back in 2023, President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14110, titled "Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence." The directive’s goal was to establish a national framework for governing AI in the United States.

It mandated developers of AI systems, posing risks to national security, economic stability, or public health and safety, should conduct rigorous safety tests and share the results with the federal government before public deployment.

The problem and promise of AI

The goal was to make sure potential risks of new AI tools were analyzed, before the tools were given to the general public.

Furthermore, the order directed federal agencies to create guidelines for the responsible use of AI, including measures to prevent algorithmic discrimination and protect civil rights. It also called for the development of standards to identify AI-generated content, aiming to address concerns related to misinformation and deepfakes.

On January 20, the first day of President Trump being in the Oval Office, he revoked this executive order, Reuters reports. The move was in line with what Trump promised during his campaign, as the Republican party said it “supported AI development rooted in free speech and human flourishing.”

Via Reuters

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• Sony and NCSoft's Horizon Zero Dawn MMO has reportedly been canceled
• The MMO was codenamed 'Project H' but was understood to be a Horizon spin-off
• Project H's cancelation follows just after Sony canned two unannounced live service games

Sony's Horizon Zero Dawn massively multiplayer online game (MMO) from publisher NCSoft has reportedly been canceled.

According to the South Korean publication MTN (via ResetEra), three projects that were in development at three separate studios under NCSoft were scrapped, including titles codenamed 'Pantera', 'J', and 'H'.

"It is understood that some of NCsoft's new games and live games have received a notice of decision to stop development or service as a result of a feasibility review," the report reads.

"Games under CBO Lee Seong-gu, including 'Pantera,' 'H,' and 'J,' are reportedly included in the list, raising questions about whether development of 'Pantera,' also known as 'Raise Lineage M,' will actually be halted."

Project H, in particular, has been long reported to be an MMO based on Guerrilla Games' dystopian role-playing game, Horizon Zero Dawn. It's understood that the developers working on the project have since left NCSoft, and those who didn't leave after the cancelation were moved to different company projects.

The cancelation of Project H follows just after Sony canceled two unannounced live service games, a God of War spin-off from Demons Souls' remake developer Bluepoint Games, as well as an unknown multiplayer title from Days Gone creator Bend Studio.

While NCSoft's MMO has been canceled, there is another Horizon Zero Dawn project now being worked on at Guerrilla Games, currently known as Horizon Online.

It doesn't have a release date just yet, but it's described as a cooperative game and, according to leaked screenshots and gameplay from 2023 (via Reddit) will feature a more cartoon-like art style different than the hyper-realistic graphics we're used to.

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• Analyst says there are those in the gaming industry who ‘hope’ GTA 6 will cost up to $100
• Nintendo officially reveals the Nintendo Switch 2, its next hybrid console
• Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility is ‘the best direction to take’ for players, Nintendo says

• Threat actor FutureSeeker posts new thread on BreachForums
• They claim to have stolen sensitive data from The North Pole Company
• The gift basket firm is yet to respond to the claims

The North Pole Company, a Canadian gift basket delivery service, allegedly suffered a data breach in which half a million customers lost sensitive personal information.

The claim was made on BreachForums, a popular underground community where cybercriminals come to share tools, resources, and experiences, to find partners and plan future attacks.

Cybersecurity researchers from Incogni reported a threat actor using the alias FutureSeeker posted a new thread on BreachForums on January 19, offering a North Pole database to its peers.

No response yet

“Today I have uploaded the NorthPole database for you to download, thanks for reading and enjoy!” reads the thread.

The data compromised in the attack includes email addresses, phone numbers, emails, postal addresses, and full names, of exactly 520,599 people.

The North Pole Company has not yet made an official statement about the alleged breach. We have reached out and will update the article if we hear back.

The North Pole Company is a Canadian gift basket delivery service specializing in Christmas gift baskets featuring gourmet foods, wines, and festive items, aiming to be the leading provider in Canada and the United States.

FutureSeeker is a relatively unknown name in the cybercriminal community. However, if the claims end up being true, that could change. More than half a million active email addresses, together with full names and phone numbers, is more than enough information for phishing, and fraud, leaving users potentially in need of identity theft protection.

To be on the safe side, if you’ve used The North Pole Company’s services in the past couple of years, be wary of incoming email messages and phone numbers, especially from people claiming to be the company’s representatives.

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• Garmin has unveiled four brand-new golf products
• It is releasing two new Approach smartwatches, the S44 and S50
• It also has a new club tracker and a GPS handheld with solar power

Garmin has today unveiled not one, but four brand new devices in its beloved golfing lineup: two smartwatches, a club tracker, and a new GPS handheld.

The new Approach S44 and S50 are smartwatches with AMOLED displays, replete with 43,000 golf courses preloaded as standard. Get a look at hazards, distances to the green, and up to 15 hours of battery life in GPS. The S44 helps you navigate the course and can pair with an iPhone or Android smartwatch to deliver notifications including emails and texts.

The S50 is similar but also comes with a heart rate monitor, activity tracking, and Garmin wellness features including its Morning Report and Body Battery energy monitoring. Each can also provide stroke tracking and analysis, thanks to the new Approach CT1 tracking tacks, which can be attached to your club's grip to collect data from your swing.

The CT1 tracking tags retail at $99.99 / AU$179 for a set of 16 – enough for most club sets. Meanwhile, the S44 has an MSRP of $299.99 / AU$549. The S50 is more expensive and retails at $399.99 / AU$729.

Garmin's golf handheld steps into the sun

(Image credit: Garmin)

Garmin has also unveiled a new GPS golf handheld, the Approach G20 Solar. As the name suggests, the G20 offers potentially unlimited battery life, thanks to a 2.2-inch solar-powered display. Even without solar charging, it promises up to 36 rounds of golf between charges.

It comes with the same bank of 43,000 preloaded courses and shows you green views with manual pin placements. Automatic shot tracking is available with the CT10 tracking tacks, and the G20 can be mounted on a golf cart or clipped to a belt with ease. With an IPX7 water rating, it's good rain or shine and retails at $299.99 / AU$549.

The new Approach smartwatches should supplant the S42 model as one of the best golf watches out there, and the S50 in particular is muscling in on the best Garmins generally thanks to its more extensive suite of health and activity tracking features.

The Garmin Approach S44, S50, G20, and CT1 tracking tags are available now from Garmin's website.

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Before the arrival of ChatGPT, there was a common misconception that artificial intelligence (AI) was the preserve of tech giants and global corporations - that it required an army of data scientists and AI engineers to implement. AI seemed abstract compared to other ground-breaking tech that you could see and feel. But behind the scenes, companies were already embedding AI into technology across industries like accounting to automate repetitive tasks.

Fast forward, and the seemingly magical interactions with ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and other conversational AI tools have brought AI to the forefront. Now, there is a common understanding that AI is accessible to everyone. So, the question now is how do we empower SMBs to truly harness this breakthrough in AI capability? Not only to automate the routine, but to truly transform their businesses and, as we like to say, elevate human work.

The challenge for small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) is not whether AI is for them, but deciphering what tools can do, which they should trust, and how to use them safely.

According to TheresAnAiforThat.com, there are currently approximately 13,000 AI tools for 14,000 unique tasks, and rising. This can lead to a paradox of choice as SMBs look to ride the AI wave.

If decision-makers aren’t going to get left behind, they need to focus on skills training, lean on trusted advisors, and identify and understand the right tools – being developed by trusted companies - that will be instrumental in building the efficiency and agility needed for sustainable growth.

A shift in mindset to address pain points

When you tackle a problem the same way for so long, it can be easy to think there aren’t any alternative methods -- even if the existing methods aren’t hitting the mark. If SMBs are going to take advantage of AI to transform their business, a shift in mindset is required.

That means forgetting what they think is possible with technology today and, instead, start asking themselves, ‘What are the biggest challenges in my business?’; working back from there. Whatever the problem, or opportunity, the chances are there will be an AI tool that can help. Removing this mental barrier can help businesses unlock new ways to overcome longstanding barriers to their success.

Take cash flow forecasting, for example. Unreliable cash flow forecasts are a recurring challenge for accounting teams and, therefore, the wider business – whatever the size. But it can disadvantage SMBs in particular, in terms of their ability to invest and grow. For instance, 41% of small businesses admit to often turning down growth opportunities because they’re unsure about cash flow.

Developing understanding

This shift in attitude is part of a bigger education piece that is vital if SMBs are to capitalize on the AI wave.

There is certainly appetite to introduce automation and AI – 91% of businesses are considering it as a way to elevate themselves over the competition. But the sheer number of AI tools and the speed with which they have arrived has created a wild west environment that can be overwhelming. Especially when SMB decision-makers are busy overseeing all elements of a business so don’t necessarily have time to dedicate to looking under the hood of every AI tool on the market.

Recent research showed only one in five IT decision-makers have a strong understanding of how to harness artificial intelligence. Because AI comes with an aura of complexity about how it works, it is understandable that some decision-makers may simply opt to stick to what they know because they feel overwhelmed or out of their depth when it comes to incorporating such solutions into their teams.

This is why the role of trusted advisors is so important. Consultants, implementers, and technology vendors must take it upon themselves to support SMBs and their employees to better understand the intricacies (and capabilities) of AI and how it can support their work.

The second part of the education piece is helping businesses understand that AI is here to elevate rather than replace employees. By taking on the repetitive, administrative tasks, AI empowers employees to concentrate on more strategically important work. For example, with AI handling supplier invoice processing, employees can focus on managing the supplier relationship. Explaining this hierarchy between AI and employee is an important step to ensuring the business is able to benefit from productivity gains without worrying if AI is doing the job safely and confidently.

Working with trusted advisors with experience in this space can help SMBs navigate what is a complex landscape, alleviate anxiety around the unknown, and make sure they make informed decisions that align with their unique needs and goals.

Fit for purpose

Of course, if AI tools are to impact the business to their full potential, the right tools need to be chosen for the job at hand. That means selecting and investing in solutions that are fit for purpose. Especially in accounting, where accuracy and trust in results is paramount and data can be complicated to digest.

That doesn’t mean every tool used by an SMB needs to be 100% bespoke and purpose-built (a costly process). “Off-the-shelf” solutions can be highly effective in doing the job required of them to a high standard. What matters, in a world where a wealth of AI tools are available to SMBs, is the credentials of those providing the ready-made tools.

That means opting for solutions offered by trusted experts who have a transparent and proven track record of investing the time and resources into creating their AI solutions. And have trained the solutions on the type of tasks and data that they will encounter in the real world of SMB accounting.

A considered approach

The potential of AI to transform SMBs is immense, but realising this potential requires a thoughtful approach. SMBs must prioritize identifying and implementing AI tools that align with their unique challenges and goals, and shift mindsets to embrace innovative solutions.

This is where trusted advisors play a crucial role. Not only can they guide businesses through the complexities of AI, but they can ensure they invest in purpose-built solutions that deliver results safely, accurately, and reliably. Empowered with these AI solutions, SMBs will not only streamline operations and enhance efficiency but they will also increase confidence and unlock new opportunities for growth – priceless returns for business leaders navigating today’s challenges and uncertainties.

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Despite an enormous surge in VPN usage across America following the news of the TikTok ban, it appears even the best VPN services aren't a surefire solution for millions of Americans trying to access the popular social media platform.

The message "Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now" will likely remain in the minds of the 170 million Americans affected for a little while yet. The Chinese video-sharing service enforced the block in the early hours of Sunday, January 19, 2025, not long after the ban-or-sell TikTok law expired. Many had anticipated the TikTok block would be circumventable using a virtual private network, however, this proved not to be the case.

While TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, began restoring the service on Sunday, questions remain. Why didn't the best VPNs do the trick? What's more, what might be a solution for Americans should this happen again?

VPNs and TikTok bans

A virtual private network (VPN) is security software that encrypts all your internet connections and masks your real IP address. The latter is a unique string of numbers that identifies your device on the internet, crucially including your location.

Connecting to a VPN server located outside the country you're in is generally an easy way to bypass online geo-restrictions. It tricks your internet service provider (ISP) into thinking you're browsing from somewhere else entirely.

This is why Americans downloaded VPNs by the dozen over the weekend of the TikTok ban. Proton VPN reported a 490% increase in US sign-ups during that time. NordVPN, too, experienced roughly eight times more new users than during a typical weekend, a company spokesperson told TechRadar.

Research by Top10VPN recorded an overall spike of 827% in VPN demand starting from the early hours of Sunday morning (local time). Experts at vpnMentor (see graph below) then registered a surge in demand starting from January 18, the day preceding the US TikTok ban. "The surge in demand hit its peak with a massive 1566% spike within minutes following the app's shutdown in the country," experts noted.

(Image credit: vpnMentor)

Spikes in VPN usage are very common after widespread social media bans.

In 2024 alone Proton VPN recorded 19 VPN spikes across 13 countries worldwide. Less than a month into 2025 and we've already seen VPN sign-ups skyrocketing in Venezuela as authorities blocked TikTok, Telegram, and other online resources.

So, why wasn't a VPN enough to bypass the US TikTok ban?

How the US TikTok ban was different

While it's unclear how the US TikTok ban has been implemented, it does appear to be more of the usual IP-based blockage. Many American TikTok users have complained that they were unable to access TikTok even when using a VPN provider.

"While I am just speculating, it would appear that they flagged accounts as being from the US based on SIM card details and literally shut them down," Simon Migliano, Head of Research at Top10VPN, told TechRadar.

Migliano explained that this meant that, no matter whether you were accessing TikTok from outside the US, if your phone had a US SIM, or if you had any US geolocation data associated with your account, you weren't able to access your account. This may also be why people could better access TikTok on a desktop rather than via mobile.

ok so vpn works ONLY IF you're on the tiktok website, not the app, and also you can't be logged into an american account lol pic.twitter.com/3oscHut46eJanuary 19, 2025

According to David Peterson, General Manager of Proton VPN, the difference with similar social media bans lies in who's doing the block in the first place.

He said: "If blocks are implemented by apps themselves, they have more visibility over user accounts and can make decisions to block certain customers based on information that goes beyond a simple IP address."

After all, internet watchdog NetBlocks registered no indication of widespread network-level restrictions imposed by US internet providers, indicating that the block was purely because TikTok deactivated its own service in the US.

When Venezuela blocked TikTok, for example, the government actively blocked the TikTok domain across the country instead. VPNs, therefore, had no problems getting users around the ban.

How to access TikTok in the US

TikTok is slowly getting back online in the US, meaning you should soon be able to access the app as usual without the need to find a workaround. In case of further blocks, however, it's important to bear in mind that you need to take some extra steps.

Peterson from Proton recommends people use their VPN and sign up for TikTok from a different country.

He said: "For some users, if they registered a new account outside of the US, and re-uploaded their content, they were able to get around the ban in the US while using a VPN. For content consumers, this is a workaround that could be fairly easy to implement, not so for content creators."

To make things easier, you should also use the VPN on a computer or device that's not tied to a SIM card, whenever possible.

• Sophos' researchers said they saw two groups engaging in email bombing attacks
• At least 15 organizations were targeted in the last three months
• The goal is to steal sensitive data and deploy ransomware

At least two threat actor groups are running email bombing campaigns against numerous organizations in the west, trying to steal their data and deploy ransomware.

Cybersecurity researchers Sophox X-Ops have observed more than 15 such incidents in the past three months, with half occurring in the last two weeks, suggesting that the criminals are picking up pace.

Email bombing is not a new tactic. It revolves around “bombing” the victim with hundreds, if not thousands of emails in a very short timespan, before the attackers contact the victims pretending to be an IT admin or network support worker.

Russian hackers

The attackers reportedly reach out via Microsoft Teams, or similar online collaboration tools, and offer to solve the issue. If the victim takes the bait, the attackers would demand access to Quick Assist or Microsoft Teams screen sharing, to take control of their targets’ computers. Once they are granted access, the attackers would deploy ransomware, the researchers said.

While Sophos X-Ops did not attribute the attacks to specific groups with great confidence, it did say that it “uncovered links” between one of the threat actors and Fin7 - a known Russian financially-motivated hacking collective.

The second group is seemingly linked to Storm-1811, another financially motivated cybercriminal group. This collective is known for deploying Black Basta ransomware through sophisticated social engineering attacks, and were observed impersonating IT staff in the past.

For Sean Gallagher, principal threat researcher at Sophos, the key of the problem lies in the fact that Teams’ default configuration allows individuals outside an organization to chat with, or call, internal staff at a company.

“Since many companies use managed service providers for their IT support, receiving a Teams call from an unknown person that’s labeled as ‘Help Desk Manager’ may not ring alarm bells, especially if it’s combined with an overwhelming amount of spam email,” Gallagher said.

“As Sophos continues to see new MDR and IR cases associated with these tactics, we want companies using Microsoft 365 to be on high alert. They should check company-wide configurations, block outside account messages if possible, and block remote access tools and remote machine management tools not regularly used by their organizations.”

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Nvidia’s GeForce Now is operating on a limited basis right now, and many of the choices for the streaming service are completely unavailable – including the free tier.

German tech site ComputerBase picked up on this problem, which is not just happening in Europe, but it’s apparently a global issue.

Checking from the UK corroborates this, with the GeForce Now ‘Free’ plan (featuring a basic rig, a service that’s ad supported) marked as sold out. (Of course, it isn’t sold at all, but you get what Nvidia means – it’s at full capacity).

The mid-tier ‘Performance’ plan is also sold out for the 1-month pass, but you can get this on the 6-month option. As for the ‘Ultimate’ subscription, that remains available across the board.

However, the day passes (introduced a year ago) for both Performance and Ultimate are also fully sold out. (Note that all of this is correct currently, as this article is being written, but that could change by the time you read this).

Why is this happening? ComputerBase heard from Nvidia’s customer support that these plans are temporarily on ice due to high demand on GeForce Now, to keep existing subscribers from suffering at the hands of overloaded servers and performance dips.

(Image credit: Nvidia) Analysis: RTX 5000 stock shock for streaming dream?

In short, the supply end at the GeForce Now servers can’t cope with the demand across much of the streaming service.

As to the obvious follow-up question – how come the servers are struggling like this suddenly? – Nvidia has thus far not answered that query.

It won’t surprise you to learn that there are various theories floating around online (aren’t there always?) as to what’s going on with GeForce Now. One of these is that there might be a rush on the free plan due to the popularity of Marvel Rivals (an online ‘Overwatch with superheroes’ affair launched last month).

That seems like a fair enough point, and clearly enough, there are problems with the number of those playing for free that are affecting the experience of paying subscribers in some way. This extends more broadly even to those paying given the situation with the day passes, too.

Given that, a further thought occurs here: could this be anything to do with disappointment around the next-gen GPUs in general, which is hovering like a cloud over some PC gamers at the moment? I’m talking specifically about the rumors that RTX 5090 and 5080 stock will be seriously thin on the ground – which is bound to provoke concern about RTX 5070 models too. And furthermore, the news that AMD has declared that RX 9070 graphics cards won’t launch until March 2025, much later than expected (albeit still within Team Red’s announced launch window of Q1 2025).

With those kind of worries dampening enthusiasm around next-gen graphics cards across the board, are gamers speculatively checking out whether cloud gaming might work for them? Which could explain why the levels of activity around free accounts, and day passes, are causing grief for Nvidia in particular.

Is that conclusion a stretch? Yes, maybe, but whatever the case, presumably Nvidia will be working behind the scenes to smooth things over and add capacity. Or there’s another possibility raised by Tom’s Hardware (which spotted the ComputerBase article). Namely that some servers have been taken offline for upgrades, and so this isn’t a rush of gamers, but a temporary lack of hardware that’s causing the supply-demand imbalance. Although if this was the case, I really think Nvidia’s statement would have clarified that.

Another factor coming into play here is the need to defend the experience for full-time subscribers on GeForce Now, considering the 100-hour time limit has now been brought in (for new members, as of January 1, 2025), causing a good deal of controversy and unhappiness for some (that any danger of choppy gameplay would double-down on).

We’re not short of speculation on this one, but for now, the main point of interest is – how long will these streaming service shortcomings last for GeForce Now?

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• Security researchers from CloudSEK observed hackers running pig butchering scams
• They're impersonating legitimate businesses through Zendesk's services
• The researchers said Zendesk's vetting system isn't thorough enough

A new report from cybersecurity researchers CloudSEK has found that cybercriminals are abusing Zendesk to run brand impersonation scams, with hackers abusing simple Zendesk features to engage in “pig butchering” scams and trick people out of their money.

Zendesk is a customer service and engagement platform that helps businesses manage customer interactions across various communication channels.

The platform allows users to register free trial accounts which, in turn, grant the ability to create subdomains, unfortunately allowing criminals to abuse it at scale.

Pig butchering

First, they would create a fake subdomain, mimicking a legitimate company, which would be used to send phishing emails pretending to be actual customer support communication.

Since Zendesk is a legitimate company, the emails often make it past spam filters and, disguised using accurate branding, land right into people’s inboxes. The emails apparently carry an image hyperlinked to a phishing page, where the scam continues.

The goal of the scam is to get people investing in a fake investment platform or support page - a staple of pig butchering scams. The ruse is designed to last as long as possible, draining money from the victim until they realize they’ve been defrauded.

The problem, according to CloudSEK, is that Zendesk doesn’t perform thorough email validation when adding users to subdomains. “This oversight allows attackers to target employees or customers with phishing attempts masked as legitimate ticket assignments,” the researchers said.

Zendesk has been informed of the flaw and its potential for misuse, following CloudSEK's responsible disclosure policy, CloudSEK concluded. We have reached out to the company and will update the article if we hear back.

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• Resident Evil 6 could be getting a re-release on modern consoles
• An ESRB rating for the game has been assigned for 'Xbox Series' platforms
• If real, it's more likely to be another remaster and not a full-blown remake

It's looking like an older Resident Evil game is going to be getting the current-generation re-release treatment. And this time it's what many fans would consider to be far and away the worst mainline game in the series - Resident Evil 6.

An ESRB rating spotted by VGC has assigned an M (Mature 17+) rating to Resident Evil 6, specifically for 'Xbox Series' consoles. If it's the real deal, then it's likely the 2012 action horror game could also make the jump to PS5 and potentially the Nintendo Switch 2.

Of course, this wouldn't be the first time Resident Evil 6 has been ported to more modern systems. Originally a PS3 and Xbox 360 title, it later received re-releases on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch alongside the original Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5. Oddly, there don't appear to be accompanying ESRB ratings for these games for current-generation systems.

And no, this latest version of Resident Evil 6 probably isn't going to be a remake along the lines of Resident Evil 2 or Resident Evil 4. Not only because we'd be skipping Resident Evil 5 here, but also because there probably isn't much appetite for a remake of a game that's largely regarded as one of the franchise's weakest entries.

Instead, it's more likely to be another remaster, perhaps adding 4K support at up to 120Hz. I'd also expect online co-op to be included for each campaign, as well as a likelihood of all previous DLC being included at no extra cost.

Of course, it is nice to see Capcom future-proofing its older games like this. The developer has been excellent for this recently, preserving classics in collections like Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics and the upcoming Capcom Fighting Collection 2. However, with the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Resident Evil 6 being playable on modern hardware via backwards compatibility, this one would be a bit more of a damp squib.

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• A new Xbox Wireless Controller will reportedly be announced this month
• The new controller will be part of the 'Cipher' series
• The Red Cipher will reportedly cost $69.99 / £64.99 / €69.99

Microsoft is reportedly going to announce a new Xbox Wireless Controller later this month.

That's according to dataminer 'Billbil-kun' for the French outlet Dealabs ( via VGC), who claims that another 'Cipher' variant controller for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S is on its way.

Billbil-kun, who has a record for accurately reporting on unreleased hardware in the past, said that the new controller will be named the 'Red Cipher Special Edition'. It will be the third device in Microsoft's ongoing Cipher series after Sky Cipher and Ghost Cipher, which were released in August and October 2024 respectively.

It will presumably be similar in style to the previously released Sky Cipher and Ghost Cipher controllers but will instead feature a bright red design and transparent case, showcasing the inside of the device, with garnet red buttons on the back.

There's no estimated release date for the controller at this time, but Dealabs believes it will be announced later this month and be available exclusively on Microsoft's official store.

As for the price, the Red Cipher will cost the same as those in the Cipher series at $69.99 / £64.99 / €69.99.

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• Gartner study says moving from VMware could take 18-48 months
• 7-10 staff could have to scope out solutions for a whole month
• If you want to migrate, consider doing it now

Experts have revealed the costly and risky journey involved with migrating away from VMware as unhappy customers continue to seek alternative solutions.

Changes brought on by Broadcom since its acquisition of the virtualization firm a little over a year ago have left many customers with bigger bills following the bundling of certain products and the discontinuation of others.

However, moving away from the company comes with its own risks, and it might not be cheaper than VMware after all.

Moving away from VMware won’t solve your woes

A new report entitled ‘Estimating a Large-Scale VMware Migration’ published by Gartner found that migration projects could take 18-48 months for large organizations (2,000+ employees) with more than 100 servers. It also found that each virtual machine could cost between $300 and $3,000 to change.

Moreover, just the initial scoping process could cost companies around seven to 10 workers for up to a month.

The problem stems from the need to disentangle VMware services – it offers networking, storage and management tools as well as security and disaster recovery solutions that aren’t always offered as full ecosystems by other providers.

Given the scale of the work involved, many VMware users have not started planning their migrations despite intentions to do so. In September, we reported that more than half (52%) of VMware customers were looking to switch providers, however apprehension around security and support was already noted then.

Earlier in the year, VMware was called a solution “for those who can afford it.” Seven in 10 customers looking to jump ship were seeking KVM-based and Xen-based hypervisor alternatives.

Despite the challenges, Gartner advises those who wish to do so to start planning for migrations sooner rather than later in order to avoid further price hikes.

Via The Register

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• More British CEOs have adopted AI than in other countries
• UK companies more likely to invest in AI this year
• Results are still less evident among British firms

New PwC research has revealed that Britain’s leaders are more prepared to use artificial intelligence than their global counterparts, with 93% of UK CEOs stating that their business has adopted AI compared with 83% globally.

Sentiments towards the technology have progressed significantly in recent years, with only 42% of UK CEOs having adopted AI in January 2024 – an increase of more than double in the space of 12 months.

Leaders are increasingly seeing the positive effects of AI on their companies, too, with more than half (56%) of CEOs globally noticing improved employee efficiency.

British CEOs are on board with AI

The recent surge in AI tool adoption among British companies could be the cause for a delay in results, though. Fewer British CEOs have seen employee efficiency improvements (53%), and only 40% report better time management compared with 53% globally.

Furthermore, only 14% are seeing profitability gains from generative AI compared with 34% globally.

Still, the optimism continues and more than half (55%) plan to invest in artificial intelligence, generative AI, cloud and data analytics in the next year. In fact, Britain ranks higher than the US (48%), France (54%) and Germany (35%).

PwC UK Senior PArtner Marco Amitrano commented: “UK business has begun to move beyond the initial hype of GenAI to the reality of making it work - but that shouldn’t detract from its huge unrealised potential. That more than a third of business leaders expect to see some financial gain from GenAI within the next year is very significant, and indeed encouraging.”

Still, some obstacles remain, such as the skills gap noted by nearly half (47%) of UK CEOs to be a primary challenge.

PwC UK CTO Umang Paw said that UK CEOs should continue to develop AI literacy and proficiency in order to realize the untapped potential of AI in their companies.

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• Grand Theft Auto 6 could cost between $80 and $100, according to an industry analyst
• They claim there are those in the games industry who "hope" GTA 6 is priced higher so others can raise their prices
• GTA 6 could be the first game to break the "$70 barrier"

An analyst has claimed that there are those in the games industry who are hoping Grand Theft Auto 6 will cost up to $100,

That's according to Epyllion's Matthew Ball (via IGN), who recently released his State of Video Gaming in 2025 report. In it, he said that there are some developers and publishers in the industry that "hope" Take-Two will raise GTA 6's price from the current standard of $70 to between $80 and $100.

Ball reported that if Take-Two were to break the "$70 barrier", $50 games could "move up to $60, $60 to do $70, $70 to $80 etc."

AAA video games are already quite pricey nowadays, but the analyst says that a $70 GTA 6 would be the "cheapest" Grand Theft Auto game ever released.

"Packaged game prices have never been lower in real terms than they are today - even though budgets are at all-time highs and player growth is stalled," Ball explained. "GTA 6 could re-establish packed video game prices after decades of deflation despite rampant cost growth."

Following the publishing of the report, Michael Douse, publishing director at Larian Studios, responded by saying, "You’re not supposed to say this out loud!"

"A good company raises salaries in line with inflation so that their staff don’t die or something, but games prices haven’t risen with inflation," Douse added.

"This isn’t the reason the industry is in the sh*t for now, but it is an uncomfortable truth. On the other hand, the responsibility for a game developer is to make sure that the game they show lives up to that promise, and that investment from the player."

Regardless of the price point, GTA 6, which is expected to launch in Fall 2025, is predicted to hit a total revenue of $3.2 billion in its first 12 months, which is around double what Grand Theft Auto 5 achieved in the same amount of time.

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• Nintendo officially reveals the Nintendo Switch 2, its next hybrid console
• Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility is ‘the best direction to take’ for players, Nintendo says
• Metal Gear Solid Delta, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake are reportedly coming to Nintendo Switch 2

• It seems likely that the Nintendo Switch 2 controllers will feature Hall effect components
• This is based on the claims of a leaker we now know is reliable
• The technology could help eliminate Joy-Con drift

Hall effect thumbsticks could be a real game-changer for the Nintendo Switch 2, with the magnetic technology potentially eliminating the dreaded Joy-Con drift that plagued the original console.

Many are wondering whether the upcoming system will feature Hall effect components or not and, while we don’t know for sure, it seems highly likely. As noted by VGC, someone we now know to be a reliable leaker has stated that this will be the case.

A user going by the handle ‘NextHandheld’ posted a photo purportedly showing the Nintendo Switch 2 all the way back in December. Many doubted its veracity but, looking at it now with the benefit of hindsight, it’s hard not to conclude that it was the real deal.

We see the side of the console held horizontally, showing off the new mechanism where the Joy-Con controllers attach. Everything lines up perfectly with the 3D render shown in the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal trailer, suggesting that this leaker was really in possession of a genuine console.

In addition to leaking the system’s color scheme - black, orange, and blue - ‘NextHandheld’ has also hinted that it will feature Hall effect thumbsticks based on an alleged “behind the scenes” teardown. This definitely seems plausible, as it would immediately help address one of the biggest complaints with the Nintendo Switch.

If you’re fortunate enough to have never experienced Joy-Con drift, it is a defect that can develop on either thumbstick. It causes the system to register a directional input that isn’t there, making it difficult to play most games. Just imagine trying to win a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe match when your kart is constantly steering to the left.

Despite having never formally acknowledged the problem, Nintendo does offer free repairs for those with affected Joy-Con in both the US and the UK.

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• A Major gaming hardware manufacturer and publisher has predicted the Nintendo Switch 2 launch window
• Nacon suggests it will be between April and September 2025
• Nintendo has confirmed the console is coming this year, but not provided any further information on its release

Major gaming hardware manufacturer and publisher Nacon has predicted that the Nintendo Switch 2 could launch as early as April.

In its most recent quarterly report, Nacon stated that it was expecting a successful first half of the 2025/26 fiscal year, which runs from April to September 2025, thanks to "several positive factors."

This not only includes the launch of several delayed hardware products in addition to a release schedule pack with ten new games, but also the anticipated arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2.

The company states that it "already has compatible games and a full range of accessories", presumably referring to the confirmed software backwards compatibility of the Nintendo Switch 2.

The upcoming system was revealed by Nintendo on January 16 in a short first-look trailer. This will be followed by a Nintendo Switch 2 focused Nintendo Direct on April 2, where we will presumably learn more about the console's hardware features and slate of software.

We know that Nintendo is targeting a 2025 release, but the company has not provided a concrete timeline yet. We'll have to wait and see whether Nacon's prediction holds water.

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