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• Pakistan restored access to X across the country on May 7, 2025
• Since February 2024, people in Pakistan haven't had access to X without a VPN service
• The ban was enforced after it was "used to draw attention to instances of alleged election fraud."

Pakistan has restored access to X across the country after a 15-month-long ban.

Restored on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, authorities blocked access to the popular social media platform back in February 2024. The blockage forced citizens to turn to the best VPN service to keep accessing the app.

No more need for Pakistan VPN to use X

"Metrics show access to X (formerly Twitter) has been restored in Pakistan," confirmed internet watchdog NetBlocks on Wednesday.

Pakistan authorities began blocking the popular social media platform on February 17, 2024. The block came about a week after completely restricting the internet before and during election day as an alleged "security measure."

Yet, according to NetBlocks, "The platform was restricted by authorities in February 2024 after it was used to draw attention to instances of alleged election fraud."

Furthermore, while the large-scale disruptions to the internet connection lasted just a few days, the X ban persisted for almost 15 months.

Now, people in Pakistan can finally access X without connecting to a virtual private network (VPN) to spoof their real IP address location.

ℹ️ Confirmed: Metrics show access to X (formerly Twitter) has been restored in #Pakistan as conflict breaks out with neigbouring India. The platform was restricted by authories in February 2024 after it was used to draw attention to instances of alleged election fraud pic.twitter.com/nvwgpfja8OMay 7, 2025

X hasn't been the only victim of Pakistan's internet censors, though.

The likes of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and even Bluesky have also been briefly restricted in the past. While all these platforms are now accessible without a VPN, NetBlocks confirmed to TechRadar that Telegram is still blocked in the country at the time of writing.

What's certain is that VPN services remain a crucial tool for Pakistanis.

According to Access Now data, in fact, Pakistan imposed 21 shutdowns in 2024. This is the highest number ever for the country.

Recent reports also suggest that China is helping Pakistan build a Great Firewall-like internet censorship system. This project is expected to considerably increase both authorities' blocking and surveillance capabilities.

At the same time, a new licensing category for VPN providers was introduced in December as the latest bid to regulate Pakistan VPN usage.

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• Wix announced Wix Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server
• The tool allows devs to generate code faster
• It is now available at no extra cost

Wix, one of the best website builders around, just announced a new artificial intelligence-powered tool to help both developers and website managers. It is called the Wix Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server, and enables users to generate code through AI assistants such as Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf.

With MCP Server, Wix users can simply talk to an AI assistant to get things done, instead of having to write code themselves. For example, users could ask the AI to add a product to the Wix store, and the AI will send the request to the Wix MCP Server. The tool will then connect to the right tools (for example inventory, checkout, CRM, or something different), and come back with either a confirmation message, a code snippet, or similar.

In a press release shared with TechRadar Pro earlier this week, Wix added that no manual coding, or additional setting up, is needed, and that the tool works in IDEs for developers and in chat interfaces for non-tech users.

Boosting productivity through AI

The tool is now available, at no additional cost, with an option to upgrade to a Premium Plan for extended functionalities, such as accepting online payments. Those interested in the new offering can check out more details on this link.

“This framework not only enhances productivity but also provides access to a wide variety of APIs and services, enabling the creation of seamless, cross-vertical solutions such as integrated commerce, blogs, scheduling, and events,” said Yaniv Even Haim, CTO at Wix. “As we step into the world of LLM-powered code generation, the quality and completeness of our APIs become one of our most important assets.”

Over the past year, Wix has significantly expanded its suite of AI-powered tools, introducing more than 30 new features, such as the AI website builder, AI Image Creator, AI Product Descriptions, SEO Meta Tags Generator, and many more.

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• iHeart confirms "several" radio stations were hit with a data breach
• Crooks took names, health, and payment data, from an undisclosed number of people
• The company notified the government and law enforcement

Multiple iHeartMedia radio stations suffered a cyberattack in which crooks stole sensitive customer data, the company has confirmed in a data breach notification letter sent to affected individuals, as well as filings with multiple US state attorney generals.

The Record spotted iHeartMedia reporting the breach to Maine, Massachusetts and California, but noted the company left out the field on the total number of affected individuals, so it isn't known how many people had their data stolen.

In the notification letter it’s been sending out, the company said that between December 24 and December 27, 2024, an unauthorized actor “viewed and obtained” files stored on systems “at a small number of our local stations.”

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Millions of messages

So, several radio stations appear to have been hit, but the company did not say how many.

iHeart is the largest audio-focused media company in the US, with 870 radio stations and a quarter of a billion listeners every month.

No threat actors have yet assumed responsibility for the attack, however, iHeart said that whoever it was, they managed to steal people’s full names, passport numbers and other governmental identification numbers, dates of birth, financial account information, payment card information, health information, and/or health insurance information.

The threat actors struck gold with this database. With names, birth dates, and health and insurance information, they can target people with tailored phishing attacks, and with passport numbers they can engage in identity theft.

Financial account information - particularly payment card information - can be used in wire fraud. The data hasn’t yet emerged for sale on the dark web either.

To tackle the threat, iHeart is giving out a year of identity theft protection services to affected individuals. It also set up a dedicated phone number for people with inquiries.

Via The Record

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• Google Fi VPN has been replaced by VPN by Google
• It becomes the latest service to make the switch after Pixel devices converted throughout 2024
• The rebrand promises no technical or functional changes to the service for users

Google Fi VPN has become the latest Google VPN service to undergo a rebrand in favor of uniformity across devices.

As reported by 9to5Google on May 6, 2025, Google Fi VPN is now VPN by Google, aligning with the naming adopted by the VPN on Pixel devices in 2024.

VPN by Google is a built-in service released in 2024 for Pixel 7 and newer devices, after Google One VPN was disconnected. Google claims the change comes to ensure consistent branding, and no technical or functional changes will occur for both Android and iOS users.

Google VPN rebranding

While Google decided to kill its Google One VPN last year due to a lack of users, the Big Tech firm wanted to keep offering a virtual private network (VPN) tool for Pixel users.

Pixel VPN was then released in beta at the beginning of June 2024. The company, however, decided to change the name to VPN by Google right before the full launch at the end of the month.

The rebrand of Google Fi VPN comes as the latest step in the company's rebranding of its VPN product.

Originally an exclusive feature for Pixel 8 models, the built-in VPN by Google has been extended to Pixel 7 series, 7a, and Fold owners. The service is available in 25 countries at the time of writing, including Australia, Canada, some EU countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and more), Japan, the UK, and the US. You can find the full list on Google's support site.

(Image credit: 9to5Google)

If you are a Fi subscriber and using a Pixel 7 or newer model, you can directly head to the Fi app to have more information.

As reported by 9to5Google, the app explains that "Beginning May 22, VPN controls are moving to Settings. To make sure your online activity is protected, turn on VPN by Google now."

Once you turn on the new VPN, you'll be able to enable or disable the service by tapping on the "Manage VPN Settings" bar.

While access to VPN by Google is included with any Google Fi plan, "Use of VPN by Google may increase data costs depending on your plan," notes the provider.

In case you're on the hunt for a valid alternative, I recommend looking into some of the best VPN services on the market right now, as these can offer extra features like ad/tracker blocker and more.

NordVPN is currently topping our rankings thanks to great performance, tons of security features, and easy-to-use apps. Proton VPN is then a great pick if you don't want to invest any extra cash as it comes with an unlimited free VPN plan.

TechRadar needs you! We want to know what you think about the world of VPNs. Whether you're a novice or a VPN pro, we want to hear your thoughts. Don't worry, though, your responses are completely anonymous, and it takes less than a minute to complete!

To take part, click the link below: https://futurenet.questionpro.eu/tr-vpn

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The political tug-of-war on student loan policy isn't helping anyone get out of debt.

• Microsoft has revealed fresh changes for normal Windows 11 devices, alongside all the revelations just made about Copilot+ PCs
• This includes a big move with redesigning the Start menu which was previously leaked in testing
• Hopefully the choice to drop the recommendations section from the Start menu, as seen in that leak, will be kept in

Microsoft has confirmed that a major redesign of the Windows 11 Start menu is coming, along with some other useful-sounding tweaks.

In case you missed it, Microsoft dropped a major reveal about all the goodies inbound for Copilot+ PCs – including an AI agent embedded in the Settings app, to sort out changes for you – but there were also revelations regarding normal Windows 11 PCs (you know, the kind that almost everyone still uses).

The revamped Start menu is not a surprise, as a leaker previously uncovered the work hidden in test builds. However, with Microsoft now officially revealing it, we know it’ll be live and being tested in Windows 11 preview builds soon.

The idea is to take the Start menu and turn it into a single scrollable panel, with pinned apps at the top, recommendations underneath, and the full exhaustive list of apps installed on your PC under that at the bottom. The current layout has that full list of apps split off into a separate panel (which you switch to with a button click).

Consolidating all this into one section makes sense to me, and the menu will wider to help accommodate the extra content.

On top of this, Microsoft has been doing some tinkering with the layout choices for the full list of apps to enable them to fit the available space better. That’s already underway in testing, allowing you to organize the app list in a more compact manner using categories as one option.

Microsoft notes that: “The new all apps category view automatically sorts based on the apps and categories you use most, so you can quickly access all your favorites.”

Aside from the work on the Start menu, Microsoft is also introducing AI actions in File Explorer. This means that when you're working with File Explorer – the folders on your desktop – you’ll get AI-related actions on the right-click menu. So, for example, an image file might have an AI ability pertaining to the Photos app as a shortcut.

This is essentially a vanilla take on ‘Click to Do’, which is the more in-depth context-sensitive system of AI functionality incorporated with Copilot+ PCs (which have a fair few extra AI capabilities, of course, and that number is slowly increasing as we've seen).

Windows 11’s Notepad app is also getting beefed up, with AI features that allow for generating text or summarizing an article. Some more formatting options are arriving, too, in the form of headings and support for lists, plus bolding and italics.

These appear to have been drafted across thanks to the demise of WordPad, with Notepad slowly getting more features added to offer a workable alternative in Windows 11. (Although some folks don’t want Notepad to be bloated with this stuff, it must be remembered).

All the above is inbound for Windows 11 testers soon, and Microsoft says these features should arrive at some point this month. It may still be a good while before they filter through to release versions of the OS, mind you – especially that Start menu overhaul, which is obviously a sizeable undertaking. That could be destined for Windows 11 25H2, which Microsoft is rumored to be working on now.

(Image credit: Microsoft) Analysis: a good Start – but I hope Microsoft retains a key option leaked in testing

It’s good to see that this new layout for the Start menu is coming into play, because, as I remarked when it was first sighted hidden in test builds, I think it’s a laudable transformation for this crucial part of the Windows 11 interface (ignoring that awful green color scheme visited upon the desktop in Microsoft’s teaser, I should add).

Some of my praise, mind you, was based on the fact that the leak also highlighted a new option to get rid of the recommendations panel entirely in the Start menu. Now, Microsoft certainly doesn’t mention that here, but the company wouldn’t go into any nitty-gritty details in a brief first reveal like this.

So I’m hoping that this option will still be available when this new layout officially comes to Windows 11 test builds – and it makes sense that it would be, because, as noted, space is at a premium here, and dumping that section of the panel would be handy in that respect. The choice to ditch recommendations is also an ability that many Windows 11 users have been keen to see implemented (and that’s an understatement).

For those worried about the overall size of the Start menu with the offshoot Phone Link side panel also being present – on the right-hand side, as you can see in Microsoft’s above screenshot of the new UI – it doesn’t hog the whole desktop anymore, as it seemed to do when a leaker fudged it to appear in a Windows 11 test build recently.

All in all, the redesigned Start menu is shaping up well. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed that the choice of jettisoning the recommendations section isn’t something that Microsoft has had a rethink about.

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In the rush to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, do companies risk exacerbating existing problems with technical debt – or might AI provide the answer to effectively tackling them?

It’s an interesting question. While technical debt has been a familiar challenge in the IT world for years, the question now is whether AI can help us finally tackle it – or if it will simply add to the burden.

Personally, I see both sides in this debate. AI might be a potential cause of technical debt, but it could also be the cure. A lot depends on how the technology is deployed.

Technical debt

To take a brief step back, the phrase ‘technical debt’ is one that we use to describe the situation that builds up when time and budgetary constraints force developers to focus on workarounds, shortcuts and stopgaps in the introduction of new digital products and services.

This approach takes into consideration previous IT investments and the constraints imposed by the existing systems architecture, and is typically favored over a more radical refresh that would take longer, cost more, or both.

But while some level of technical debt is inevitable at fast-moving, forward-thinking companies, it can easily spiral out of control if not monitored carefully. It’s often a serious drain on time, energy and skills, as IT teams struggle to monitor, manage and secure increasingly complex IT environments.

AI technologies can potentially add to the burden of technical debt for some organizations. In October 2024, analysts at market research company Forrester warned that more than 50% of technology decision-makers will see their technical debt rise to a “moderate or high level of severity” in 2025. predicted to reach 75% by 2026, as a direct result of the introduction of AI solutions.

But at the same time, the Forrester analysts readily acknowledge the potential of AI to “enhance human judgement, automatically remediate incidents and improve business outcomes”.

Time to automate

Search – the process of querying and retrieving specific information from a database or dataset based on search criteria or keywords – when combined with AI, helps organizations to automate many manual processes associated with software development, such as code review and refactoring, that frequently contribute to technical debt.

One illustrative use case is the deployment of AI agents to search for older code that may require review. As new digital services are developed, AI can be used to identify and automatically fix issues long before they are rolled out, in a proactive approach that keeps technical debt under firm control.

By streamlining these tasks, AI alleviates the burden on hard-pressed IT teams, enabling them to focus on strategic projects rather than maintenance. Used well, it can lead to more robust software solutions and actually reduce the long-term cost and complexities associated with technical debt.

I've seen firsthand how businesses use AI to balance modernization with security concerns. While updating legacy systems can introduce vulnerabilities, integrating AI with search capabilities makes updates more efficient and low-risk, without compromising operational stability.

So yes, I agree that there will be some organizations that see their technical debt grow as a result of adopting AI – but I’d venture to comment that these will be organizations that don’t do a sufficiently thorough job with comprehensive architecture reviews that ensure that new AI technologies provide a good fit with existing architectures at the onset of implementation.

They may also be organizations that end up implementing multiple AI solutions from multiple vendors and then go on to find that they’ve simply added to complexity with point solutions that don’t flex to meet new demands as they emerge. AI tool sprawl will be a reality for many.

But for other organizations, AI may represent the best opportunity they’ve had in years to fix their technical debt problems – or at least maintain them at manageable levels. These organizations will likely be those that take a platform approach to AI, using a curated, consolidated set of AI technologies and tools that enhance search, observability and security capabilities.

Only by unlocking the full potential of data scattered throughout their IT architectures, smart organizations will remain confident and competitive in their adoption of AI.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

It’s been a mixed bag for comedy fans over on Apple TV+ recently, with mega hit Ted Lasso being seemingly revived from the dead for a fourth season, while Rob McElhenney’s Mythic Quest was cancelled after four seasons (the streamer went so far as to edit the cliffhanger ending to bring the story to a close).

But the latest update from one of the best streaming services gives subscribers plenty to look forward to, with two critical darlings – both of which currently have over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics – confirmed to be returning for a new season.

The shows in question are Seth Rogen's movie-making satire The Studio, which is due to wrap its first season on May 21, and sweet parenthood comedy Trying, starring Esther Smith and Rafe Spall, season four of which aired last year.

While the creative team of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have a series of hits under their belt, including Prime Video’s The Boys, The Studio has been the most critically adored work yet for the pair that cut their teeth on mid-00s stoner comedies.

The show follows Rogen’s Matt Remick, a cinephile who still sees movies as art more than business, who finds himself appointed as head of the struggling Continental Studios production company. In a world increasingly dominated by corporate aims and IP driven ‘content’, Matt struggles to find the balance between blockbuster hits and quality cinema.

The show has been praised for its whip smart satire of the film industry, and its meta approach – episode two, 'The Oner' masterfully winks at its audience – buoyed by a string of high profile celebrities starring as themselves. It feels like a show only Rogen and Goldberg could make, drawing on their own experience and relationships within the industry, often feeling like a more grounded version of their apocalypse comedy This is the End.

Speaking on their season two commission, the pair teased more meta storytelling, saying: “We’re thrilled to be making a second season of The Studio. We’re looking forward to taking the lived experience of making season one and immediately putting it into season two, then repeating that loop for 10 more seasons. And, we’re excited to keep all our industry friends and colleagues guessing as to when one of their personal stories will stream on Apple TV+.” Indeed, Rogen himself said in a video announcing the renewal news that "I wouldn't say it's a 'formula' so much as a structure that we 100% know works so we're gonna do it over and over again".

(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Trying, meanwhile, may have had less of an instant impact, but has quietly made a name for itself as one of the best Apple TV+ shows over four feel-good seasons.

Rafe Spall and Esther Smith star as Jason and Nikki, a couple desperate to be parents but struggling to conceive. Deciding to adopt, the initial seasons follow the trials and tribulations that come with the adoption process. Hilarious and heartfelt in equal measure, the latest season of the show rebooted things somewhat with a six-year time jump, shifting the focus to the couple's life as parents. While the show may not be one of Apple’s biggest hits, the critics have praised the cast and the writing, earning the series a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Season 5 of the show “finds Nikki and Jason dealing with the consequences of Princess and Tyler’s biological mother Kat (Charlotte Riley) turning up at their doorstep, and the whirlwind of chaos she brings into their settled family life,” which sounds like the perfect hook to guarantee the latest outing generates the requisite tears, laughter or otherwise.

It looks like the future is bright for comedy fans over at Apple TV+, with these two great shows making a return and the aforementioned Ted Lasso comeback, but if you’ve got a structure you 100% know works… why not do it over and over again.

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The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has created a paradox for cybersecurity professionals. On the one hand, AI – particularly generative AI – enables attackers to execute attack techniques that we’ve never considered before, and at pace. On the other hand, it is enhancing defensive strategies by automating threat detection, even counterattacking criminals.

All organizations should be striving to stay ahead of malicious actors, and the challenge has never been so great. It's an unavoidable truth that AI is both the solution and the problem to cybersecurity challenges as we move into a new financial year.

While the debate over “whether AI creates more issues than it solves” rages on, one thing is certain – integrating it into cybersecurity frameworks is critical to matching the new AI tools available to the modern-day threat actor.

AI as the Raider – A hacker’s new toy

Unfortunately, AI technology is both more accessible and available to a wider pool of threat actors, and its misuse is accelerating. The surge of AI-generated fakes, from images to convincing audio-based deceptions, enables even amateur hackers to execute worthy cyberattacks. Tools like ChatGPT can be used to craft phishing emails, fake messages and other fraudulent materials with impressive precision.

Social engineering attacks continue to be a central point of exposure for organizations. Cybercriminals are using personal details – often sourced using AI - to generate tailored content with the explicit goal of manipulating individuals into handing over sensitive information.

Such is the quality of this technology, that deepfake videos of company CEOs are being played in boardrooms in a bid to access confidential company data or financials.

These risks are magnified by AI’s speed and adaptability - organizations face an uphill battle to stay ahead of the curve. For example, AI-powered malware is evolving rapidly, automatically learning from prior encounters to elude detection in future attacks.

In a world this complex and fast, organizations must remain both resilient and relentless in their defensive efforts.

AI as the Guardian – the new frontier in security

While AI can pose significant threats for organizations, it remains integral to defending against cyber threats.

AI can analyze vast data sets, notably quicker and with greater accuracy than humans can, to identify patterns and anomalies, often pre-emptively detecting attacks before they occur. By partially automating threat responses, AI can minimize human error and increase reaction times, empowering cybersecurity teams to focus on more strategic priorities.

In an age of increasingly sophisticated AI-driven attack techniques, artificial intelligence can also be deployed to counter the very technology being used by attackers. In other words, it acts as a hacker that fights back.

For example, AI models can analyze new strains of malware—potentially created by AI itself—and rapidly pinpoint areas of vulnerability, enabling organizations to respond swiftly and prevent significant damage before it happens.

It’s not just attackers who are capitalizing on the unprecedented opportunities that AI offers. Looking ahead, cyber experts must consider integrating AI into swarm intelligence tactics.

Much like flocks of birds or swarms of insects, AI nodes should be deployed to focus on an organization's most pressing cyber challenges, providing targeted and adaptive responses where they are needed most.

Harnessing AI’s potential in defense and broader cyber strategies will be essential for maintaining the upper hand in the complex battle against cybercriminals.

The data dilemma

The cornerstone of AI-driven cybersecurity is high-quality, up to date data, and it’s up to business leaders to meet this challenge head-on. Without good data, AI loses its ability to detect anomalies, respond to threats and make intelligent decisions. In short, the AI does not have the foundation it needs to be effective, giving cybercriminals the upper hand.

Organizations can get the most out of AI in cybersecurity by implementing data governance policies for managing, classifying, labelling, and protecting data, whilst also leveraging data quality tools flag and fix low-quality data. Data hygiene remains the single most important factor for realizing the promise of AI.

To maintain the effectiveness of AI in cybersecurity, continuous monitoring of data quality metrics to ensure the accuracy and relevance of data is essential. This is the most effective way to guarantee that AI operates with the highest-quality data, delivering optimal outcomes.

In a game of offence versus defense, AI plays a critical role on both sides – it is both the guardian and the raider. As the technology becomes increasingly accessible, and attackers become more innovative in its use, organizations face a constant and evolving threat from unprecedented and creative attack techniques.

However, AI can also protect organizations from the very threats it facilitates, making it impossible to leave on the sidelines. Unlocking AI’s full potential in cybersecurity hinges on the quality of the data it operates on.

Only by implementing a robust data quality strategy, supported by vigilant oversight and round-the-clock monitoring, can organizations tilt the balance in their favor and keep pace with modern-day cyber criminals.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• The US DOD wants to enhance security through unlocking greater supply chain visibility
• A new Software Fast-Track Initiative will arrive in the next 90 days
• The DOGE has already saved the DOD $6 billion

The US Department of Defense (DOD) is planning to overhaul its outdated software procurement systems, which it hopes will enhance security and supply chain visibility in a world of increasing vulnerabilities.

DOD CIO Katherine Arrington introduced the Software Fast-Track (SWFT) initiative to reform software acquisition, as well as authorization and testing, in a memo published online.

Arrington confirmed that, together with the Under Secretaries of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainbment, Intelligence and Security, and Research and Engineering, the DOD will submit the SWFT Framework within 90 days.

Dated software procurement processes

In the memo, Arrington explained the SWFT Framework will define "clear" and "specific" cybersecurity and Supple Chain Risk Management (SCRM) requirements, rigorous software security verification processes, secure information sharing mechanisms and Federal Government-led risk determinations to expedite the cybersecurity authorizations for rapid software adoption.

She continued to explain that current systems are best seen as "outdated," noting that acquisition processes don't enable the agility that departments need.

Arrington also noted that the use of open source software "presents a significant and ongoing challenge," with a lack of visibility into the origins and security of software code particularly troubling.

Malware and partner leaks have already exposed vulnerabilities in DOD systems, with software vulnerabilities among the most popular entry points for attackers.

The DOD's statement emphasizes plans to eliminate duplicative and wasteful processes, and has a ring of DOGE to it. Musk's efficiency department has already saved billions across the US Government's various agencies, with the DOD already said to have saved a cumulative and not-insignificant sum of around $6 billion to date.

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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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, May 7 (game #696).

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 #697) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• PEN
• CUP
• JOY
• WICK
• CHOP
• CANDLE
• OCEAN
• DICE
• YARD
• PENCIL
• AUTHOR
• BOND
• COMPOSE
• JONES
• SCORECARD
• WRITE

NYT Connections today (game #697) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Written composition 
• GREEN: Things used in a popular game
• BLUE: Film characters
• PURPLE: Add a word that rhymes with “thick”

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 #697) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: COMMIT TO PAPER 
• GREEN: NEEDS FOR PLAYING YAHTZEE 
• BLUE: HEROES OF ACTION MOVIE FRANCHISES
• PURPLE:  ___STICK 

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

NYT Connections today (game #697) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #697, are…

• YELLOW: COMMIT TO PAPER AUTHOR, COMPOSE, PEN, WRITE
• GREEN: NEEDS FOR PLAYING YAHTZEE CUP, DICE, PENCIL, SCORECARD
• BLUE: HEROES OF ACTION MOVIE FRANCHISES BOND, JONES, OCEAN, WICK
• PURPLE:  ___STICK CANDLE, CHOP, JOY, YARD

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

James BOND, Indiana JONES, and John WICK feel a lot more like HEROES OF ACTION MOVIE FRANCHISES than Danny OCEAN, but then Connections wouldn’t be Connections without at least one answer that’s a bit of a stretch.

Instead of seeing the link with George Cloney’s heist mastermind it was the ___ STICK quartet that jumped out when I got down to the final eight words.

My mistake came when I rushed in and put together a group of thin things – PEN, PENCIL, WICK, and CANDLE – but I almost immediately saw the error of my ways.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, May 7, game #696)

• YELLOW: NOT INCLUDING BESIDES, BUT, EXCEPT, SAVE
• GREEN: GET BETTER, AS A BROKEN BONE HEAL, KNIT, MEND, RECOVER
• BLUE: TAROT MINOR ARCANA SUITS CUPS, PENTACLES, SWORDS, WANDS
• PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF GEMSTONES CHORAL, OPEL, PURL, QUARTS

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 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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, May 7 (game #430).

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 #431) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Well, fancy that!

NYT Strands today (game #431) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• SAINT
• LOON
• HINTS
• SALE
• SHAVE
• DUES

NYT Strands today (game #431) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #431) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 4th column

Last side: bottom, 4th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #431) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #431, are…

• GAUDY
• SNAZZY
• EXTRAVAGANT
• DELUXE
• ORNATE
• LAVISH
• SPANGRAM: OOH SHINY

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

I struggled to get going with today’s search for fancy stuff and used a hint. GAUDY set me on my way and the double Z unlocked SNAZZY.

What this puzzle really needed was a spangram that twinkled at us for added distraction.

OOH SHINY is one of those universal meme phrases, the origins of which have been lost in the mists of time – it could be Pokemon or The Simpsons, it could be The Tick or Minecraft, the cast of Firefly or Gustav Kilimt. Who knows? Gemini AI certainly doesn’t, explaining that: “the phrase 'ooh shiny' has likely gained traction through its repeated use by various characters who embody a childlike or animalistic attraction to bright and glittering things.”

As an easily distracted person, I fall prey to “ooh shiny” quite a lot, although it’s often a packet of something I can eat.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, May 7, game #430)

• ENGINE
• BOXCAR
• HOPPER
• CABOOSE
• FLATBED
• GONDOLA
• SPANGRAM: ALL ABOARD

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 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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, May 7 (game #1199).

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 #1200) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* 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 #1200) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 4.

Quordle today (game #1200) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do 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 #1200) - 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 2.

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 #1200) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• E

• G

• P

• E

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

Quordle today (game #1200) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1200, are…

• ELUDE
• GREET
• POPPY
• ELITE

A double-letter day, with every word containing repeats. Not that it made life much easier.

I’m not going to lie, it took me a good 10 minutes to see POPPY – ahead of this I had PONZO and POWOW, both of which were rejected. I got there in the end, though.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1200) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1200, are…

• SCION
• PHONY
• GLARE
• SCOLD

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1199, Wednesday, 7 May: QUOTH, TRUNK, BESET, NAIVE
• Quordle #1198, Tuesday, 6 May: UNITE, SOGGY, FILET, PORCH
• Quordle #1197, Monday, 5 May: WREAK, COWER, STEAD, QUEUE
• Quordle #1196, Sunday, 4 May: PINCH, SMOKE, SCARY, CANNY
• Quordle #1195, Saturday, 3 May: PLUSH, VERGE, WROTE, CONDO
• Quordle #1194, Friday, 2 May: CAUSE, RISEN, MACAW, SMELT
• Quordle #1193, Thursday, 1 May: IDIOM, EXILE, SPOOF, DRAPE
• Quordle #1192, Wednesday, 30 April: BATON, TORSO, ANNEX, DROWN
• Quordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSE
• Quordle #1190, Monday, 28 April: JAUNT, ALLOW, FRUIT, BURNT
• Quordle #1189, Sunday, 27 April: PRIOR, YOUTH, CREDO, CHIDE
• Quordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICK
• Quordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPH
• Quordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRN
• Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT
• Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE
• Quordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACH
• Quordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUE
• Quordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULT
• Quordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTO

You might be able to see if that company is actually looking at applications.

• Apple has added the iPhone 15 lineup to its official refurbished store pages in the US and UK
• Customers can now buy official Apple Certified Refurbished iPhones for substantial discounts
• Discounts range from $110 / £110 for the base model iPhone 15 to $230 for the iPhone 15 Pro Max with 1TB of storage

Apple has updated its Certified Refurbished Store in both the US and UK, adding the entire iPhone 15 lineup to these discounted online stores.

The iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max will now be available in Apple-certified refurbished condition via the online store in both countries, subject to availability.

As is standard for Apple Certified Refurbished products, customers can expect some reasonably impressive savings on the refurbished iPhone 15 lineup.

The cheapest model in the lineup – the iPhone 15 with 128GB of storage – checks out at $619 / £589, a saving of $110 / £110 from the launch price of $829 / £799 (keep in mind that refurbished iPhones are unlocked, which adds a small premium to the US starting price).

At the top end, the iPhone 15 Pro Max with 1TB of storage comes in at $1,269 – that’s a solid $230 off the new price.

There are currently no 1TB iPhone 15 Pro Max models available on the UK certified refurbished store, but looking at the other models we’d expect a mirrored discount of £230, resulting in a price of £1,269.

So, is that a good deal? Or are you better off looking elsewhere? That depends on a few key factors.

Firstly, when it comes to Apple Certified Refurbished, price isn’t the full story.

As we recently highlighted as part of TechRadar’s Sustainability Week, Apple Certified Refurbished iPhones are all fitted with a new battery and new outer shell, as well as any necessary internal components, which are always official Apple or other first-party parts.

The refurbished handsets are then packaged in new boxes with new cables and accessories, and once purchased are covered by a one-year warranty with free delivery and returns. This is a pretty robust process that adds a lot of value, especially compared to buying second hand via a marketplace like eBay.

Of course, Apple will still sell you a brand new iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus if you want one, but I’d suggest saving your money and buying from the Apple Certified Refurbished store instead, unless the latter is lacking your desired color or storage option.

The iPhone 15 is likely to be discontinued this year, which could make buying from Apple Certified Refurbished more appealing. (Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)

As for third-party retailers, the story is a little more complex. In the UK, Amazon offers the iPhone 15 for £598, while the US, the only listings I could find were for renewed phones – Amazon Renewed is generally considered to be at a lower standard of quality than Apple Certified Refurbished.

Best Buy has the iPhone 15 new for $579.99 in the US, but only if you get it carrier locked – it bumps up to $679.99 for the unlocked model. And back in the UK, John Lewis offers the iPhone 15 starting at £599, albeit with a two year guarantee from the retailer as well as Apple’s one-year warranty.

With other models, retailers come closer to matching the Certified Refurbished price – John Lewis has the iPhone 15 Pro Max with 1TB of storage for £1,299 in the UK, but I couldn’t find any equivalents in the US, where most options are carrier locked.

This is all to say that there are plenty of options available, and though the Apple Certified Refurbished store offers great value with a solid first-party warranty, it’s important to consider which is right for you.

However, with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max officially discontinued and the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus likely to follow later this year, this could be an opportune moment to pick up one of the best iPhones in recent memory.

Would you buy a refurbished iPhone? Let us know in the comments below.

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