Technology

• Google revenue is up 14%, driven by a 32% growth in Google Cloud revenue
• The cloud division's annual revenue run-rate is now $50 billion
• The Gemini App has 450 million monthly active users

Alphabet has exceeded quarterly revenue expectations by a not-so-insignificant $2.43 billion by posting $96.43 billion in its second quarter 2025, marking a health 14% year-over-year increase, with the company having AI and its cloud services to thank.

Google Cloud revenues rose by 32% in the quarter to $13.6 billion – considerably more than the 12% rise in Google Services revenue, which covers areas like Search, subscriptions, devices, YouTube ads and more.

In a blog post breaking down the earnings, CEO Sundar Pichai revealed Google Cloud's annual revenue run-rate has now passed the $50 billion mark.

Google Cloud boosting Alphabet's overall revenue

"We are seeing significant demand for our comprehensive AI product portfolio," Pichai explained in the post.

"We operate the leading global network of AI optimized data centers and cloud regions."

Pichai added nine million developers have now built with the company's Gemini 2.5 family of models, while 70 million videos have already been generated using Veo 3, which Pichai described as a "viral hit."

Speaking about Google Cloud revenue in particular, Pichai revealed the number of large contracts worth more than $250 million has more than doubled year-over-year. Google Cloud also signed the same number of $1 billion+ deals in the first half of 2025 as it did in the whole of 2024.

Wayfair, Mattel, Target, Capgemini and BBVA were cited among Google Cloud's major clients, with OpenAI also recently confirming that it would use Google Cloud infrastructure to support ChatGPT in the US, the UK, Japan, the Netherlands and Norway.

On the consumer side, the Gemini App now has more than 450 million monthly active users, and daily request have grown by more than 50% since last quarter.

All of this saw stock prices rise by about 3% in after-hours trading, with Google currently ranking as the world's fifth-most valuable company with a market cap of $2.315 trillion, just a few paces behind Amazon.

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I spent weeks testing robot lawn mowers and found that while they save time, they're not as automated as you might think. Here's what surprised me the most.

The midsize SoundLink Plus sits between the SoundLink Flex and SoundLink Max in Bose's line of portable Bluetooth speakers. After testing it for a few days, I found it to be the best all-around package of the three.

This natural wood bed frame might be the first thing I've put together quickly... and correctly.

• The Link To Windows app on Android has a new 'Lock PC' button
• This allows you to remotely lock your Windows 11 PC from the phone
• Other goodies introduced with Link To Windows recently also include the ability to grab clipboard contents from your PC on your smartphone

Windows 11 users are getting the ability to lock their PC remotely by using their Android smartphone, assuming these two devices are hooked up via the Phone Link app.

Windows Central reports that the ability to lock your Windows 11 PC with the tap of a button from your phone is now present in the overhauled Link To Windows app on Android. Apparently, it's in version 1.25071.165 of the app (or newer), but the functionality is still rolling out, so it may take a while yet to turn up for all users.

The 'Lock PC' button could come in very handy if you leave your desktop PC for a quick trip to the coffee machine, but end up called away for longer, and so you want to ensure the device is secure while you're away (without having to return to the computer).

As Windows Central notes, when you use this remote lock function, it will disconnect your smartphone from the Phone Link app until you log back in.

The freshly redesigned Link To Windows app now also lets you access the contents of the clipboard on your Windows 11 PC (if you have this synced), and allows for viewing recently shared files, too.

(Image credit: Shutterstock AI)Analysis: a battery-saving alternative to dynamic lock

These are potentially very useful extras that add a good deal of convenience - it might be very handy to grab Windows 11 clipboard contents on your smartphone. And as noted, the ability to remotely lock your computer could be a security lifesaver of sorts in certain situations (maybe not often, but when you need the ability, you'll be glad of it).

There is something else to be aware of here, though, in terms of existing functionality. As Windows Central points out, you can already have your PC automatically lock when you're not present by using a Bluetooth-powered feature. This is called dynamic lock, and it works by kicking in when you've left your PC, and your smartphone is far enough away so the Bluetooth signal weakens to a certain level.

The catch here is obvious enough, though - not everyone wants to keep Bluetooth on constantly (given the battery drain on the phone, or indeed the Windows 11 PC, if it's a laptop). So, a simple manual alternative in the form of the 'Lock PC' button is clearly a boon.

Microsoft is making good progress with Phone Link, even if that progress is more of the slow and steady variety than huge leaps forward. Still, some bugbears remain with users, most notably that only Samsung Galaxy phones get the best features.

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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, July 24 (game #508).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #509) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Step to it!

NYT Strands today (game #509) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• PANTHER
• HATE
• STALE
• GRACE
• HARM
• CHAT

NYT Strands today (game #509) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #509) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: bottom, 5th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #509) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #509, are…

• MUSIC
• COSTUME
• RECITAL
• TEACHER
• CHOREOGRAPHY
• SPANGRAM: DANCE CLASS

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 hints

A tough one for me today, so kudos if you roared through the search without any issues. I even struggled to find non-game words.

In hindsight, I should have seen DANCE CLASS a lot more quickly, as I’d already gotten class as a non-game word – but was completely blind to the word that preceded it.

The other reason today’s game took me longer than usual was that my first hint gave me MUSIC, which didn’t help narrow things down at all. I quite patently failed to “step to it”. 

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, July 24, game #508)

• GROWL
• SNARL
• HISS
• HUFF
• SCREECH
• STOMP
• RATTLE
• SPRAY
• SPANGRAM: WARNING

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, July 24 (game #774).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #775) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• ОН
• MARY
• FAIR
• MOTHER
• MUM
• BEE
• IN
• OUT
• MA
• BALL
• BED
• SECRET
• FOUL
• QUIET
• OK
• PRIVATE

NYT Connections today (game #775) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Don’t tell anyone
• GREEN: Four of the 50
• BLUE: Heard at the ballpark
• PURPLE: Precede with a royal word

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #775) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: HUSH-HUSH
• GREEN: STATE ABBREVIATIONS
• BLUE: BASEBALL CALLS
• PURPLE: QUEEN __ 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #775) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #775, are…

• YELLOW: HUSH-HUSH MUM, PRIVATE, QUIET, SECRET
• GREEN: STATE ABBREVIATIONS IN, MA, OH, OK
• BLUE: BASEBALL CALLS BALL, FAIR, FOUL, OUT
• PURPLE: QUEEN __ BED, BEE, MARY, MOTHER

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Perfect

My brain always goes into a kernel panic when there are two-letter words in Connections, which is why I'm rating today’s puzzle as hard. 

That said, there were only four of them – which meant that you could get STATE ABBREVIATIONS even if it wasn’t immediately obvious. It wasn’t to me, so I was relieved to have guessed them correctly and not fallen into a dastardly trap.

Fortunately, my lack of baseball knowledge didn’t stand in the way of completing all four groups without a mistake, but I did waver over whether to include MOTHER or FOUL in the QUEEN group. I was imagining some kind of chess infraction. 

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, July 24, game #774)

• YELLOW: COLOSSAL GIANT, GREAT, MAMMOTH, TITANIC
• GREEN: LEAVE QUICKLY BOUNCE, DIP, JET, SPLIT
• BLUE: PARTS OF A BASKETBALL HOOP BACKBOARD, NET, POLE, RIM
• PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF SYNONYMS FOR "NAB" KNICK, LUTE, RABE, STEEL

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, July 24 (game #1277).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1278) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1278) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1278) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1278) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1278) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• B

• R

• C

• M

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1278) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1278, are…

• BONUS
• RESIN
• CEDAR
• MADAM

Another good round for me today, although I later realized I wasn’t as clever as I first thought (often the case!).

With A-D-A locked in as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th letters and knowing the word also containedan M, there was no other choice other than MADAM, while my final word could only end with US – so BONUS wasn’t the stretch guess I initially thought.

Daily Sequence today (game #1278) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1278, are…

• TODAY
• FILET
• SUNNY
• LIMIT

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1277, Thursday, 24 July: AGONY, VERVE, GLEAN, MINUS
• Quordle #1276, Wednesday, 23 July: OZONE, PENCE, ROOMY, WIDER
• Quordle #1275, Tuesday, 22 July: OPTIC, GIDDY, VOCAL, ADULT
• Quordle #1274, Monday, 21 July: KNEED, SNAIL, PINTO, FEAST
• Quordle #1273, Sunday, 20 July: GRACE, COUNT, EGRET, GIANT
• Quordle #1272, Saturday, 19 July: EARLY, CLICK, TRITE, SPREE
• Quordle #1271, Friday, 18 July: CINCH, FOYER, FUDGE, TAFFY
• Quordle #1270, Thursday, 17 July: CRESS, TABOO, POWER, HATER
• Quordle #1269, Wednesday, 16 July: UNCLE, NADIR, REMIT, BROOM
• Quordle #1268, Tuesday, 15 July: VILLA, FLECK, TIGER, CRANE
• Quordle #1267, Monday, 14 July: SURGE, PIZZA, PAPER, POPPY
• Quordle #1266, Sunday, 13 July: KAYAK, DECRY, RUDDY, HATER
• Quordle #1265, Saturday, 12 July: WREAK, NANNY, CLASP, STAIN
• Quordle #1264, Friday, 11 July: LAPEL, DRAIN, FROND, GROSS
• Quordle #1263, Thursday, 10 July: CROSS, WHEEL, UNDID, PENCE
• Quordle #1262, Wednesday, 9 July: SHIRE, SIXTH, SINGE, IMAGE
• Quordle #1261, Tuesday, 8 July: PLIED, PRANK, GAWKY, OXIDE
• Quordle #1260, Monday, 7 July: DROLL, TRUCE, TWIRL, SINCE
• Quordle #1259, Sunday, 6 July: AMPLY, SPAWN, EXTOL, RIDGE

• Turkey's telecom regulator, the BTK, has blocked access to websites and apps of major eSIM providers
• Holalfy advises users to install and activate eSIMs before they travel
• Failure to activate the eSIM before could leave thousands without internet access

The BTK, Turkey's telecom regulator, has banned access to the websites and apps of major eSIM providers.

As summer holiday time commences, around 13 million Brits are flying away on holiday in the next two months, with Turkey one of the top tourist destinations.

The ban includes top eSIM providers for international travel, including Holafly, Airalo, Ubigi, and Saily.

How can travelers still access the Internet in Turkey?

With these recent changes, UK travelers are strongly advised to install and activate their eSIM before they take off, meaning users should ensure the eSIM is fully downloaded and activated on their device before departure.

"To avoid getting caught out, UK travellers should ensure their eSIM is fully downloaded and activated before leaving the UK. This means setting up your digital SIM while still on UK networks and confirming it's working properly before departure," says Pablo Gomez, CEO of Holafly.

Most eSIM providers for Turkey allow you to install and activate your plan ahead of time, and the process is typically quick and simple.

However, failing to do so could leave users without internet access on arrival. In that case, users will have to rely on public Wi-Fi or try to find a physical SIM, not ideal when free Wi-Fi isn’t always available, and many people are understandably wary of the security risks that come with using public networks.

“Otherwise, you could be left without internet access the moment you land, which can be a serious issue if you rely on your phone for maps, transport, or bookings,” added Gomez.

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• Microsoft SharePoint vulnerability is proving incredibly attractive to hackers
• New estimates place the number of organizations affected at 400
• The hackers have deployed ransomware against some affected organizations

New estimates regarding the recently-exploited Microsoft SharePoint vulnerabilities now evaluate that as many as 400 organizations may have been targeted.

The figure is a sharp increase from the original count of around 100, with Microsoft pointing the finger at Chinese threat actors for the hacks, namely Linen Typhoon, Violet Typhoon, and Storm-2603.

The victims are primarily US based, and amongst these are some high value targets, including the National Nuclear Security Administration - the US agency responsible for maintaining and designing nuclear weapons, Bloomberg reports.

Ransomware deployed

So far, no sensitive or classified information is confirmed to have been leaked, but the hackers have also seemingly broken into systems belonging to national governments in Europe and the Middle East, the US Education Department - and the full extent of the repercussions won’t be seen for a long time yet, experts have warned.

Microsoft has confirmed that these security flaws, although now patched, were used by the Chinese threat actor Storm-2603 to deploy ransomware - which could cost the affected organisation millions.

"Microsoft tracks this threat actor in association with attempts to steal MachineKeys using the on-premises SharePoint vulnerabilities," the company shared in a report. "Starting on July 18, 2025, Microsoft has observed Storm-2603 deploying ransomware using these vulnerabilities."

The vulnerability allows hackers to extract cryptographic keys from servers run by Microsoft clients, these keys in turn let them install programmes onto the servers - including malware or backdoors which could allow the hackers to return at a later date. This means that patching the vulnerability should be a top priority for any organisation affected.

Microsoft did issue a patch for this vulnerability early on, but some bypasses were identified, so customers were advised to be extra vigilant and deploy Antimalware Scan Interface (AMSI) as well as antivirus software. Since, additional security updates have been rolled out to address the issues.

China has repeatedly denied the accusation of cyber espionage, and a Chinese embassy spokesperson told TechRadar Pro it hopes, “relevant parties will adopt a professional and responsible attitude when characterizing cyber incidents, basing their conclusions on sufficient evidence rather than unfounded speculation and accusations.”

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The company appears to have inadvertently revealed its entire Pixel 10 lineup on Google Store app with a promo image.

• Sam Altman is worried about people's over-reliance on ChatGPT
• The OpenAI CEO says, "Something about collectively deciding we're going to live our lives the way AI tells us feels bad and dangerous."
• ChatGPT receives over 2.5 billion prompts a day, making OpenAI one of the most popular platforms on the planet

OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, says people have an "over-reliance" on ChatGPT and it's worrying for future generations.

Speaking at a Federal Reserve banking event, Altman said, "People rely on ChatGPT too much. There's young people who say things like, 'I can't make any decision in my life without telling ChatGPT everything that's going on. It knows me, it knows my friends. I'm gonna do whatever it says.' That feels really bad to me."

This comes after new data has found ChatGPT receives over 2.5 billion prompts a day from more than 500 million weekly active users.

Altman's comments highlight the unknown about AI and its rapid growth, with those pioneering in the space unsure about the detriment it might cause.

Last month, following the major ChatGPT outage, I wrote about how AI is "genuinely helping millions of people get through life," and while that seems to be the case, there's also a worrying number of people who use the technology so much that they can't cope with life without it.

During that 10-hour outage, I received emails from ChatGPT users who hadn't written emails in months without the help of AI, used the technology to help with their online dating, and even a user who told me they needed ChatGPT to help them get to sleep.

Now, Altman wants to emphasize his concern surrounding the wider population's use of AI. "Something about collectively deciding we're going to live our lives the way AI tells us feels bad and dangerous," he says.

Sam, you can't have your cake and eat it

In this rapidly evolving industry, we're seeing a rate of innovation that I don't think I've ever experienced in my 30 years on this planet. Almost daily, new AI software breaks through glass ceilings, performing exponentially better than previous versions.

OpenAI's innovation in the space has been a major driving force in Altman's estimated $1.8 billion net worth, but now he's starting to get concerned by people using it?

The AI space is largely unregulated, from copyrighted AI image generation tools to chatbots like Grok hallucinating in some of the worst ways possible (I won't get into that here).

That said, the rate at which companies like OpenAI are releasing products means they are providing powerful tools to users without truly knowing how they'll have an impact on people's lives.

I agree with Altman in the sense that we're becoming over-reliant on AI and ChatGPT in particular, but does a tech billionaire who's profited from this over-reliance have the right to now say they are fearful? I don't think so.

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The Lego Game Boy has now been officially revealed, and is the latest in a long line of Nintendo-themed Lego products.

Shown off at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 for the first time (following a teaser from a few months back), the Lego Game Boy launches on October 1 for a surprisingly affordable price of $59.99 / £54.99. Honestly, given the costs of previous Nintendo Lego sets, I was expecting something much higher than that.

The best part is that pre-orders are live now, and you can secure your very own either at the official Lego online store or at Amazon in the US and the UK. However, the UK has yet to receive an Amazon store page for the product at the time of writing. You can check the deal blocks below, which will take you exactly where you need to go to get your pre-order in for the Lego Game Boy.

Lego Game Boy pre-orders: cut to the chase

• Price: $59.99 / £54.99
• Pre-order date: July 24, 2025
• Release date: October 1, 2025
• Availability: Lego and Amazon in the US, currently only Lego in the UK
• Design: 421 pieces of nostalgic Game Boy goodness. It's almost 1:1 scale, and features unique bricks for the d-pad and buttons. It also ships with cartridge bricks featuring art from Super Mario Land and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, as well as some screen art that can slot into the device's front.

Lego Game Boy: US pre-orders

Featuring 421 pieces and lovely aesthetic touches like cartridges and screen art, the Lego Game Boy looks like a brilliant little collector's piece. And at 60 bucks, it won't set you back too much compared to pricier sets.

Price check: $59.99 at Amazon (pre-order)View Deal

Lego Game Boy: UK pre-orders

You can also pre-order the Lego Game Boy in the UK for £54.99. It's available at the Lego Store, but there's currently no Amazon store page for the product, unlike in the US.View Deal

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Grab your podcasting microphones and magnifying glasses, because Only Murders in the Building season 5 is confirmed to return on September 9, 2025, and it looks like we’ll finally find out what happened to poor old Lester. The beloved doorman was binned off at the end of season 4, with Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) refusing to believe it was an accident.

As Disney+ tells us: “Their investigation plunges them into the shadowy corners of New York and beyond – where the trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires, old-school mobsters, and the mysterious residents of the Arconia. The trio discovers a deeper divide between their storied city they thought they knew and the new New York evolving around them – one where the old mob fights to hold on as newer, even more dangerous players emerge.”

The next installment is set to feature newbies such as Renée Zellweger and returning favorites like Meryl Streep, who will all be embroiled in the plot somehow, though it’s absolutely incredulous how many poor souls have bitten the dust in such a short space of time. What’s more astonishing, though, is how consistently Only Murders in the Building has stuck to its production schedule, and in my opinion, that only makes it all the more binge-worthy.

Only Murders in the Building season 5 is one of the most consistent shows to binge on Hulu and Disney+

Selena Gomez (Mabel), Steve Martin (Charles), and Martin Short (Oliver) in Only Murders in the Building. (Image credit: Disney/Hulu)

I’m as shocked as any of you that Only Murders in the Building has gotten as far as season 5, let alone that each new season feels as fresh as the last. But all of this is thanks to the show’s sharp schedule, rigidly adhered to by its entire company of actors. As fans pointed out when the season 5 release date was announced on X/Twitter (see below), five seasons in five years is incredibly impressive in this cultural economy.

5 seasons in 5 years... they’re singlehandedly saving television https://t.co/YHi4tQtGGlJuly 23, 2025

Let’s put that into a wider perspective. Stranger Things has kept us waiting far too long, delivering its final season of eight episodes after a lengthy three-year hiatus. The length between Squid Game and Severance’s first and second seasons wasn’t too far behind, with fans (including me) finding it difficult to summon the same level of interest when you’ve likely forgotten what has already happened in the meantime. So, the fact that Only Murders in the Building season 4 is still fresh enough in our heads to remember Lester’s sorry fate before season 5 begins is joyous.

The fact that the industry has changed so much in the last decade (or even following the Covid-19 pandemic, for that matter) often gets thrown around as to why TV production has changed, as does the delay caused by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. But if a TV show like this can keep on trucking – with more episodes per season than most of its competitors, it should be noted – there really is no excuse. No standards have been dropped, no creativity has been compromised, and no magic has been lost along the way. If Streep can fit this into her bulging schedule, anybody can.

If Only Murders in the Building season 5 suddenly loses its footing, maybe my praise will be for nothing. But when there is comically-timed murder, there is TV success, and nobody has got a hold of that like this nosey trio.

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• A new Hades 2 early access update has been released
• Supergiant Games said it wanted to drop another patch before the game gets a full launch
• Patch 11 includes further improvements, balance adjustments, and more bug fixes

Supergiant Games has released another Hades 2 update ahead of the game's full launch.

Patch 11 is now available to download and offers even more balance updates and other fixes. Despite previously suggesting that the early access game would soon enter full release, the developer explained in the Steam patch notes that it wanted to deliver one more before it does.

"While we said our prior patch would likely be our last before our v1.0 launch, as the Fates would have it, there is indeed this one more, which includes further improvements, balance adjustments, and fixes based on your feedback and what we've observed. Thank you for playing in Early Access!" Supergiant said.

Among the long list of changes, the patch notes also feature an important notice for players before the launch of version 1.0.

Supergiant said that, in preparation for the version 1.0 launch and forthcoming story sequences surrounding the True Ending, any Zodiac Sand or Void Lens resources players have will automatically be converted to Prestige when they load their save progress when the game is fully released.

The studio hasn't given a reason for this, but players have theorized it's so they can't trigger the True Ending and share spoilers as soon as the game launches. It would also mean players will need to collect Zodiac Sand and Void Lens again.

If players do already have a stockpile of these currencies, it's best to spend them to unlock their respective rewards before they're converted.

Hades 2 was released in early access in May 2024. A full launch date has yet to be announced.

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• Clorox 2023 breach happened when a threat actor impersonated an employee and had their credentials reset
• Clorox argues Cognizant did not follow standard procedures
• Cognizant says cybersecurity wasn't its job to begin with

Clorox is suing its IT service provider Cognizant following a 2023 ransomware attack which cost the firm millions of dollars in damages.

Recently filed with the Superior Court of California, the lawsuit says Cognizant is being sued for breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, gross negligence, and intentional misrepresentation.

Back in 2013, Cognizant was contracted to operate Clorox’s employee service desk, which included tasks such as password recovery, credential resets, and IT support for staffers. In 2023, a cybercriminal called a Cognizant employee on the phone, said they were a Clorox employee, and asked for a password and multi-factor authentication (MFA) recovery, since they lost access to their account.

Whose job is it, anyway?

In the filing, Clorox argues the Cognizant employee complied without following established procedures on identity verification, providing alleged transcripts of phone calls between the attacker and the Cognizant employee which allegedly prove the password reset was granted on the spot.

Once the attackers gained access, they reset MFA tokens, changed phone numbers linked to SMS authentication, disabled cybersecurity tools, and exfiltrated sensitive files from the system.

As a result, Clorox had to shut down its systems, pause manufacturing, and rely on manual order processing for weeks. This allegedly resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in lost sales and reputational damage.

Clorox is now seeking $49 million in direct remediation damages, as well as $380 million in total damages.

In response to the lawsuit, Cognizant told the press it wasn’t their job to defend the IT network from attacks.

Speaking to BleepingComputer, a company spokesperson said: "It is shocking that a corporation the size of Clorox had such an inept internal cybersecurity system to mitigate this attack. Clorox has tried to blame us for these failures, but the reality is that Clorox hired Cognizant for a narrow scope of help desk services which Cognizant reasonably performed. Cognizant did not manage cybersecurity for Clorox."

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