Technology

The UK’s Legal Aid Agency is among the latest high profile examples of a cyber-attack resulting in a significant data breach. The incident is all the more worrying because of the sensitive nature of the data accessed in the attack.

The Ministry of Justice reported in May 2025 that a “significant amount of personal data” of people who applied online to the Legal Aid Agency since 2010, including criminal records, was accessed and downloaded in a cyber-attack in April 2025.

Media reports on the incident suggest that more than two million pieces of information were taken, including details of domestic abuse victims, people involved in family cases and those facing criminal prosecution.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed that the data may have included addresses of applicants, dates of birth, national ID numbers, criminal history, employment and financial data such as debts and payments.

The recurring problem with data beaches of highly sensitive and special category data is not just the immediate exposure and vulnerabilities caused, it is the unknown future illicit uses of the stolen data, which can be surprising and very harmful to all involved.

Evolving cyber security threat landscape

The cybersecurity threat landscape is rapidly evolving, shaped by technological innovation, global instability and sometimes opportunism by cybercriminals.

The proliferation of AI, including Generative AI, AI bots, and co-pilots, is expanding the potential for digital attacks. The acceleration of AI adoption has outpaced governance frameworks, widening knowledge, solutions, and resilience gaps. In addition, cybercriminals are leveraging Generative AI to enhance social engineering attacks, making them more effective and harder to detect.

Geopolitical instability is also a rising threat. State-linked Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are actively engaging in cyberwarfare, targeting critical national infrastructure with sophisticated campaigns.

These groups exploit supply chain vulnerabilities to maximize impact, often driven by political and economic motivations. For organizations operating globally, real-time threat intelligence and geopolitical awareness are essential, especially when working with unfamiliar partners or entering new markets.

Cloud infrastructure is under growing pressure as threat actors refine their tactics. CrowdStrike reported a 75% year-on-year rise in cloud intrusions, with attackers increasingly using stealthy, staged operations to establish footholds and move laterally across hybrid IT environments.

Supply chain insecurity remains a persistent concern. The 2024 Microsoft–CrowdStrike incident, which triggered one of the largest global IT outages to date, demonstrated the systemic risk of over-reliance on a few key technology providers. The fallout, which impacted a range of sectors from aviation to healthcare, underscored the urgent need to audit, monitor, and diversify supply chains, as well as share breach intelligence more effectively.

On a more promising note, AI is also proving to be a valuable defense tool. It enhances anomaly detection, vulnerability classification, automated patching, and configuration management. Large Language Models (LLMs) are augmenting the threat intelligence lifecycle, from analyzing attacker behavior to powering deception technologies like honeypots. As AI becomes more embedded in cyber defense strategies, it offers the potential for faster, smarter, and more adaptive responses to emerging threats.

Managing cyber risks

Cyberattacks of all kinds are rising. Any type of organization can be a victim. The cyberattack on the Legal Aid Agency serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for a holistic and proactive approach to cyber security.

When high profile cyberattacks occur, leaders often seek reassurance. They often request information about what can be done first or quickly. The urgent response is to go back to basics: check key data protection practices, review GDPR compliance, strengthen basic information security safeguards and encourage important suppliers to be on high alert. From a legal and operational standpoint, organizations, particularly those handling sensitive information and special category data, should prioritize the following measures:

1. Engagement at board level: Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue. It is a board-level responsibility. Effective resilience depends on cross-functional collaboration among leadership, cybersecurity specialists, legal advisors, internal auditors, HR, digital forensics experts, and crisis communication teams. A multi-disciplinary response capability is essential to manage both the technical, legal and reputational dimensions of a breach.
2. Continuous preparedness: To ensure a robust security architecture, organizations must look beyond having the right tools in place. It is vital to implement vulnerability management on a continuous basis, with timely patching protocols and a focus on regular training of employees.
3. Data Breach Practice and Preparedness: Practice makes perfect, and simulated incident response exercises, including table-top scenarios, are critical in ensuring readiness for data breaches. It is also advisable for organizations to have a learning and development mindset and extract lessons from near-misses and close calls, rather than seeking to brush these under the carpet and quickly move on.
4. Due diligence for AI integration: Generative AI is evolving apace, and it can be tempting for organizations to rush in to deploy it. However, innovation should work in partnership with security. Due diligence is vital. Before integrating new AI platforms or other emerging technologies, organizations should conduct comprehensive assessments of their security credentials and weigh up any additional cyber security risk exposure these systems might introduce.
5. Third-party risk management: Cyber resilience does not end at the network perimeter. Organizations must map, monitor, and regularly audit their supply chains to identify vulnerabilities. Where high-risk vendors are identified, mitigation actions should be taken swiftly. Mitigation may include stopping working with a supplier or limiting the amount of work with them. Every business should have a strong third-party risk management framework as a cornerstone in their cybersecurity environment.

Critical National Infrastructure cyberattacks like those affecting The Legal Aid Agency reminds us that cyber resilience requires ongoing commitment. Cybersecurity must be embedded across all levels of an organization, including boards, leadership teams, mission critical data sets to supply chain management.

We've featured the best encryption software.

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

There’s a shift happening in global outsourcing. It’s no longer just about reducing costs, it’s about how businesses access talent and deliver specialist services at scale. That’s where Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) comes in. While BPO is already well established across sectors like customer service and finance, KPO is quickly gaining ground by applying the same industrialized approach to professional expertise.

Think legal research, fraud investigations, graphic design or medical diagnoses – processes that rely not just on execution, but on judgment. This is where KPO stands apart. From process to judgment

BPO is built on repeatability. Contact centers, finance operations, procurement and IT support all thrive when standardization is possible. These services are typically delivered by a well-trained, entry-level workforce supported by workflow tools and quality assurance mechanisms. KPO, by contrast, starts with expertise.

Rather than training staff into a process, it leverages qualified professionals from day one (engineers, lawyers, doctors, designers) and industrializes their output. But this shift introduces new challenges: how do you create a repeatable model for work that depends on professional judgement?

How do you ensure consistency when the answer isn't always clear-cut? This is the critical leap KPO must make: turning judgment-based work into a reliable, scalable service that can deliver consistent results at pace. And it requires a different approach to quality control, onboarding and process design.

Business sense

The benefits of getting it right are significant. KPO allows organizations to access hard-to-find skills at a global level, often at a price point far below what would be possible locally. It offers the ability to scale operations predictably, tapping into a talent base that includes highly educated, underemployed professionals in emerging markets like South Africa.

Just as BPO unlocked growth by handling routine tasks more efficiently, KPO enables businesses to scale specialist services without growing internal headcount. From claims processing to legal support, creative work to technical analysis, KPO brings scarce skills into a structured, cost-effective model. More importantly, it also supports business agility. By industrializing knowledge tasks, companies can respond faster to changing demands, launch new services more quickly and maintain quality across geographies.

The role of AI

While automation has disrupted many areas of BPO, KPO is less susceptible to replacement by machines. Why? Because it relies on human judgment. That said, AI still plays an important role. From document summarization to workflow optimization and quality control, AI enhances the KPO model rather than displacing it. It can support professionals by surfacing insights, flagging inconsistencies and helping scale oversight processes that would otherwise be manual and inconsistent. Used wisely, AI becomes a co-pilot for knowledge workers – not a substitute.

Industries experiencing the most growth in KPO include legal, medical, insurance and financial services. Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO) now handles vast amounts of documentation, reviewed offshore and signed off by local attorneys. In healthcare, digital providers are leaning on offshore professionals for diagnostics, exception handling and patient queries.

Insurance and fraud management also benefit, where complex workflows combine documentation, analysis, and customer interaction. These aren’t pure back-office functions. They often straddle voice and non-voice roles, requiring hybrid capabilities and end-to-end ownership of a case, rather than a single transaction.

The future of outsourcing

The global outsourcing landscape has undergone a significant transformation. What once revolved around basic contact center functions and collections has evolved into a model of full-case ownership. Today’s agents are not just answering calls - they are processing, consulting, resolving, and managing customer journeys from start to finish.

In collections, this shift has fostered long-term client relationships, with cases managed over extended periods using workflow tools, CRM systems, and deep domain expertise. This model is now being applied to areas such as fraud support and customer retention, driven by the same foundational infrastructure.

As KPO matures, South Africa has a real opportunity to become a leader in this space. Its strong education system, English fluency, and growing BPO sector makes it an ideal launchpad for specialized global services.

As digital services become more standardized, the demand for specialist human expertise will only continue to grow. By applying structured processes to complex judgment-based tasks, it’s possible to scale without compromising on skill - unlocking opportunities for professionals worldwide to engage in meaningful, high-impact work. The next era of outsourcing is already here - and it’s more intelligent, nuanced, and human than ever before.

We've featured the best productivity tool.

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

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, June 19 (game #739).

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 #740) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• ROCK
• FILM
• SEAL
• SCISSORS
• POETIC
• PAPER
• BUTTON
• MUSEUM
• SNAKE
• SHOOT
• THREAD
• HITMAN
• RECORD
• NEEDLE
• UNDERTAKER
• TAPE

NYT Connections today (game #740) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Sew good
• GREEN: Commit to physical or digital media
• BLUE: Ring stars
• PURPLE: [Melting substance] blank

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 #740) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: ITEMS IN A SEWING KIT
• GREEN: CAPTURE ON VIDEO
• BLUE: PRO WRESTLING ICONS, WITH “THE”
• PURPLE: WAX ___

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

NYT Connections today (game #740) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #740, are…

• YELLOW: ITEMS IN A SEWING KIT BUTTON, NEEDLE, SCISSORS, THREAD
• GREEN: CAPTURE ON VIDEO FILM, RECORD, SHOOT, TAPE
• BLUE: PRO WRESTLING ICONS, WITH “THE” HITMAN, ROCK, SNAKE, UNDERTAKER
• PURPLE: WAX ___ MUSEUM, PAPER, POETIC, SEAL

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Look, I'll be honest here, even though it may upset some people, but I do not get pro wrestling. I simply don't understand it at all – what's the point? It's all staged!

Anyway, that didn't stop me solving the blue PRO WRESTLING ICONS, WITH "THE" group first, because UNDERTAKER, HITMAN and ROCK were all obvious and SNAKE seemed a far more likely fourth inclusion than 'The Museum' or 'The Button'. Sorry, Mr Snake, but I had not heard of you.

Green was an easy one, made easier still by the fact that FILM, RECORD, SHOOT and TAPE had lined themselves up on one line and therefore made them jump straight off the board and into my brain. Yellow was even simpler, to the extent that I can't believe I didn't spot it sooner, and though I didn't need to solve purple I think I might have done if I'd had to.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, June 19, game #739)

• YELLOW: COMPONENTS OF ONE’S GRADE ATTENDANCE, FINAL, HOMEWORK, PAPERS
• GREEN: MAP APP OPTIONS DESTINATION, ROUTE, STARTING POINT, STOPS
• BLUE: CLASSIC TOYS BALL, BLOCKS, JACKS, TRAIN
• PURPLE: FENCING GEAR FOILS, GLOVES, JACKETS, MASKS

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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, June 19 (game #473).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Just a dusting

NYT Strands today (game #474) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• BABE
• BOAT
• MOAT
• CHIN
• CLING
• SING

NYT Strands today (game #474) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 7 letters

NYT Strands today (game #474) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 5th row

Last side: left, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #474) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #474, are…

• BABY
• COCOA
• BLASTING
• BAKING
• CHILI
• TALCUM
• ITCHING
• SPANGRAM: POWDERS

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

ITCHING powder was a constant threat throughout my childhood. Along with quicksand and killer bees it was one of those things that comics, films and TV shows suggested would be far more widespread than it actually was – which, of course, was not widespread at all. To the extent that I do not know anyone who was actually dosed with it.

I have far more direct experience with all of the other POWDERS in today's Strands, apart from BLASTING. I don't actually know what that is, but I suspect that unlike COCOA, BAKING or CHILI it is not something you'd want to put on food (and unlike TALCUM or BABY, definitely not on a body!)

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, June 19, game #473)

• SCENERY
• GAMES
• PLAYLIST
• MOTEL
• PHOTOS
• AUDIOBOOK
• SPANGRAM: ROAD TRIP

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 Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, June 19 (game #1242).

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 #1243) - hint #1 - VowelsHow 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 #1243) - 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 #1243) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1243) - 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 #1243) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• B

• D

• H

• L

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

Quordle today (game #1243) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1243, are…

• BRAID
• DULLY
• HASTE
• LURID

My three start words again came up trumps today, giving me all five letters for what became HASTE and LURID, and four each for DULLY and BRAID.

DULLY was the only mildly difficult one on account of having a repeated L, but it wasn't really tough for me because nothing else would have fit at that point. A real cinch of a Quordle.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1243) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1243, are…

• THROW
• SHAKY
• OWING
• LOAMY  

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1242, Thursday, 19 June: BRUSH, ISLET, FRUIT, PRIVY
• Quordle #1241, Wednesday, 18 June: MEDIA, SHARK, GUPPY, MOURN
• Quordle #1240, Tuesday, 17 June: LEAPT, PRISM, ADMIN, WHINE
• Quordle #1239, Monday, 16 June: RETRY, SCALD, DINGO, FEIGN
• Quordle #1238, Sunday, 15 June: SHOCK, STEIN, BROIL, COVEN
• Quordle #1237, Saturday, 14 June: STICK, FERRY, THESE, IONIC
• Quordle #1236, Friday, 13 June: REPEL, LARGE, SNIDE, CARRY
• Quordle #1235, Thursday, 12 June: SCANT, BATCH, UNDER, PARSE
• Quordle #1234, Wednesday, 11 June: CRAVE, ROOST, ANGLE, FLOOD
• Quordle #1233, Tuesday, 10 June: DECRY, CHEEK, FILET, EASEL
• Quordle #1232, Monday, 9 June: DERBY, LEMON, WRITE, HOVEL
• Quordle #1231, Sunday, 8 June: REBAR, ALERT, PAYEE, FLUME
• Quordle #1230, Saturday, 7 June: FLUNK, ESTER, SPITE, CHEAP
• Quordle #1229, Friday, 6 June: ELUDE, KHAKI, VISTA, SMOKY
• Quordle #1228, Thursday, 5 June: CHIDE, RABBI, GUSTY, LANCE
• Quordle #1227, Wednesday, 4 June: BANAL, STOUT, SEDAN, HIPPO
• Quordle #1226, Tuesday, 3 June: FUGUE, SYRUP, FLACK, WORST
• Quordle #1225, Monday, 2 June: THINK, BELLE, CRONE, BOULE
• Quordle #1224, Sunday, 1 June: POINT, MERIT, WHOOP, APHID
• Quordle #1223, Saturday, 31 May: CRUMB, ELFIN, DRIER, QUITE

You might be surprised by what your trips to the bathroom can say about your health, as gastroenterologists explain.

• Nintendo has provided instructions for how to fix the Switch 2 battery charge indicator issue
• This solution is for "for when the battery amount displayed and the actual remaining battery use don't match"
• Nintendo adds that if following these steps didn't resolve the issue, then the console will need to be sent in for a service repair

Nintendo has shared a solution for the common Switch 2 battery charge indicator issue.

The Switch 2 officially launched earlier this month, and if you're one of the users who have been experiencing a problem where your console is incorrectly displaying your battery percentage, thankfully, there's now a fix.

On the support page, Nintendo has provided simple step-by-step instructions "for when the battery amount displayed and the actual remaining battery use don't match."

All you'll need is your Switch 2 console, the Switch 2 AC adapter, and access to the internet. You can read the guide below.

1. Confirm that you're using an adequately powerful AC adapter to charge your console. The Nintendo Switch AC adapter (Model HAC-002) can be used to charge the Nintendo Switch 2 when plugged into the console directly. Due to power output differences, it cannot be used to charge the Nintendo Switch 2 when docked.
2. Confirm that your console has the latest system update.
3. Power off the console.
4. Press and hold down the volume up (+) and volume down (-) buttons, press the POWER Button once to turn the system on. 
5. Keep holding down the volume buttons until the menu for Recovery Mode appears. Navigating to this menu should reset the battery level meter.
6. Power off the console again by pressing and holding the POWER Button until it turns off.
7. Power the console back on and monitor the situation.

Nintendo noted that navigating to the Recovery Mode menu should be enough to reset the battery level meter, but if following these steps still didn't resolve the battery charge indicator issue, then the console will need to be sent in for a service repair.

If you're hoping to get your hands on the new console, you can check out our live coverage of Nintendo Switch 2 restocks for the US and UK.

You might also like...

• Nintendo Switch 2 review-in-progress live: my thoughts, reactions, and experience with the console and its games
• I’ve spent 150 hours with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and the Switch 2 Edition is an incredible upgrade
• 'I don't even know if I wanna play anymore' - Pokémon player left devastated after Nintendo Switch 2 system transfer lost over 1,000 hours of gameplay and 20 years of data

• Episource confirms cyberattack with patient data stolen
• The theft happened in late January 2025, and includes policy and MedicAid information
• Customers are urged to remain vigilant

American healthcare data giant Episource has confirmed suffering a cyberattack in which it lost sensitive data on more than five million people.

In a data breach notification published on the company’s website, it said the intrusion was spotted on February 6, 2025, and after shutting down the IT network, bringing in third-party forensics experts, and notifying law enforcement, the company learned the miscreants took “copies of some data” between January 27 and February 6, 2025.

The data includes health plans/policies, insurance companies, member/group ID numbers, and Medicaid-Medicare-government payor ID numbers. It also includes health data such as medical record numbers, doctors, diagnoses, medicines, test results, images, care, and treatment, as well as other personal data such as dates of birth or Social Security numbers (SSN).

Increasing credibility

Cybercriminals often target healthcare organizations for their data, since it can be abused in phishing, identity theft, and other forms of scams.

Crooks can use the data to craft personalized, convincing emails, which can trick the victims into downloading malware or sharing login credentials.

At the same time, Episource filed a new report with the US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights’ breach portal, confirming exactly 5,418,866 people were affected by this attack.

The company began notifying them on April 23, 2025, it was said. It did not state which providers it’s notifying, but stressed that not everyone was impacted by the attack.

Episource is a healthcare data and technology company that helps health plans manage risk adjustment, quality measurement, and clinical data through analytics, coding, and technology solutions.

It is urging impacted individuals to stay vigilant, and watch out for potential impersonation and scam attempts.

Via BleepingComputer

More from TechRadar Pro

• Cybercrime gang hacks major health data provider - millions of highly personal files could be at risk of breach
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

Eye-opening accounts make for compelling TV.

Sorry, Vision Pro, but I wore the new Xreal One Pro glasses to cover Apple's show live this year. And yeah, they passed the test.

18 months have passed since Max (soon to be rebranded to HBO Max) became the exclusive streaming home for A24 movies – well, in nations where one of the world's best streaming services has launched, anyway. Since that multi-year deal was signed in December 2023, over 100 A24-developed films have joined Max's back catalog.

You'll be able to add more to that growing list next month, too. July 2025 marks the official streaming debut for three more new movies from the acclaimed indie studio, including two that only arrived in theaters earlier this year.

However, based on their Rotten Tomatoes (RT) critics scores, there's only one that'll deserve a spot on our best Max movies list. To help you decide which film(s) are worth your time, I've ranked the forthcoming trio from worst to best. That way, you'll have a better idea of determining if some of July's new Max movies should be added to your watchlist.

3. Opus

HBO Max release date: July 11
Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes
Age rating: R
Main cast: Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Melissa Chambers, Tony Hale, Young Mazino, and Amber Midthunder
Director: Mark Anthony Green
RT critics score: 40%

With a starry cast including the ever-excellent John Malkovich, The Bear's Ayo Edebiri, The Last of Us' Young Mazino, and Prey's Amber Midthunder, you might have expected Opus to be a must-watch.

Assembling a cast of talented actors will only get you so far, though, and Opus proves it. A cult-based thriller that's not dissimilar to another A24 flick in Midsommar, Opus struggles to match the psychological intensity, narrative mystery, and lashings of horror that of its 2016 genre cousin. Malkovich chews the scenery with a delightfully unhinged performance but, that aside, Opus is a largely forgettable movie.

2. Death of a Unicorn

HBO Max release date: July 25
Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes
Age rating: R
Main cast: Jenna Ortega, Paul Rudd, Will Poulter, Anthony Carrigan, Tea Leoni, and Richard E Grant
Director: Alex Scharfman
RT critics score: 54%

Another horror-fuelled A24 offering that, based on its own A-list cast, should have been better received than it was.

Like Opus, though, the messy nature of this satirical creature feature's plot drags it down. The never-aging Marvel actor Paul Rudd and Wednesday superstar Jenny Ortega ground proceedings with their convincing father-daughter dynamic, while Poulter and Grant bring classic British flair to their villainous roles. Those highlights aside, Death of a Unicorn is a tonal misfire that disappointingly skewers its potentially great narrative and thematic ideas.

1. On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

HBO Max release date: July 4
Runtime: 1 hour 35 minutes
Age rating: PG-13
Main cast: Susan Chardy, Elisbath Chisela, Henry B.J. Phiri, Roy Chisha, Blessings Bhamjee, Chunju Bwalya, and Maggie Mulubwa
Director: Rungano Nyoni
RT critics score: 100%

Of the three new A24 films that'll join Max's movie library in July, I suspect that this hidden gem was the one that most readers wouldn't have expected to come out on top.

With its perfect RT critical rating, though, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl is an unmissable dark comedy-drama that's not only Nyoni's first feature in eight years, but also cements the Zambian-Welsh filmmaker as one of the most talented of her generation. A universally appealing, beautifully shot, witty, and at-times uncomfortable movie whose exploration of death, self-deception, and communal misgivings is incredibly impactful.

You might also like

• A Minecraft Movie is finally streaming on Max this week – here's exactly when you can watch it
• Paging medical drama fans: HBO Max is officially making The Pitt season 2, and my blood pressure has gone into orbit
• These are the best HBO Max shows to stream today

• Amazon workers in Seattle, Arlington and Washington DC workers could have to move closer to the office
• Amazon has been relocating workers for months, citing boosted productivity
• The company's office-working policy now stands at five days

Amazon is requiring some corporate workers to relocate closer to their managers and teams, targeting cities like Seattle, Arlington and Washington DC (via Bloomberg).

Unlike other similar moves, which have been communicated via email, the ecommerce giant is believed to be sharing the message via one-on-one meetings and town halls with those likely to be affected.

The report notes thousands of employees could be forced to move from across various teams, however the company's famously vocal workers are understandably frustrated with the decision.

Amazon is asking workers to relocate

Although relocating isn't always a problem for new starters, many mid-career workers are hesitant to move due to personal and financial challenges – a move would mean uprooting families, children switching schools and partners seeking other jobs.

Affected workers are said to have 30 days to decide, followed by a 60-day period to relocate or resign. It's also believed that those who refuse to relocate will not be receiving severance packages.

A company spokesperson said that Amazon's relocation trend has already been ongoing for more than a year, with CEO Andy Jassy previously claiming that in-person working boost ad-hoc interactions and, therefore, productivity.

Amazon now requires workers to come to the office five days per week, but that policy got delayed at the end of 2024 due to a lack of readiness – there simply weren't enough desks.

"We hear from the majority of our teammates that they love the energy from being located together, and whenever someone chooses to or is asked to relocate, we work with them to offer support based on their individual circumstances," a company spokesperson stated.

Some workers worry that the policy shift could be an effort to push workers away from the company – although thousands lost their jobs in 2022 and 2023, Amazon's layoffs in the years that followed have been relatively small (compared with other giants in the industry).

TechRadar Pro has reached out to Amazon for a comment, but we did not receive an immediate response.

You might also like

• These are the best online collaboration tools to support hybrid working
• Fancy a change? Check out the best job sites and best recruitment platforms
• Workers are fighting back against RTO mandates - as survey claims remote work really does make you more productive

Apple TV+ is known for some blockbuster-worthy original films, but so far in 2025 none of its new movies have managed to reach the same heights as its TV show releases.

We've only seen three new Apple TV+ original films released this year, none of which would be considered to be among the best Apple TV+ movies, as they all have low-scoring reviews from critics and audiences alike.

The worst-rated movie is adventure-action flick Fountain of Youth, which currently has a Rotten Tomatoes critical score of just 36%. The mystery drama Echo Valley fares better with a 52% rating, while romantic thriller The Gorge scores an only slightly better 63%.

Granted, audiences appear to give slightly more positive reviews than the critics (aside from Echo Valley; it seems we're all in agreement that it's a middle-of-the-road type movie), but none of the trio can hold a candle to the best Apple TV+ shows that have been released this year.

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Just to name a few, we've had the biggest Apple TV+ returning series of 2025 so far, Severance season 2, rack up an almost flawless 95% on Rotten Tomatoes from the critics, while The Studio, Mythic Quest, Carême, Dope Thief and Your Friends and Neighbors have all received scores of above 80% from the critics on the review aggregate site.

Is this a sign that Apple TV+ can't quite make movies that match the success of its TV shows? Definitely not (and I'll get into why below). Instead, I think it's more of an indication that Apple Studios is better suited to making TV shows. After all, it's a young studio that's still finding its way among the established names of Hollywood.

What sets Apple TV+ shows apart from their movie counterparts?

(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

I'm not alone in naming Severance season 2 as one of my top TV shows of 2025. It's got intrigue, mystery, excellent pacing, satisfying reveals, phenomenal acting, stylish cinematography, and mesmerizing dance scenes (Milchick's boogie numbers are a highlight).

Since signing up for a rare Apple TV+ deal in April, I've continued to be hooked by new shows on the platform, from the satirical comedy series The Studio, which has a timely, smartly written script, to Jon Hamm's return to TV in the drama Your Friends and Neighbors.

Apple TV+ has a weighty TV catalog of gems that it's been adding to in 2025. Can I say the same for Apple TV+ Original movies? Unfortunately, none of the aforementioned three have come anywhere close to the series I've watched in terms of quality, and that's not because I've personally not been interested in the stories they tell.

(Image credit: Apple TV+)

As a big National Treasure fan, I'd been looking forward to Guy Ricthie's treasure-hunting film Fountain of Youth – but like many others, I felt the story became too predictable, which took away much of the excitement. Not even the star power of Natalie Portman (Leon; V for Vendetta) or Domhnall Gleeson (Ex Machina; About Time) could help rescue it.

As for The Gorge, I will say that it had some playful scenes – like the one where Anya Taylor Joy (Queen's Gambit) and Miles Teller (Whiplash) act out their most popular characters – but the payoff was not at all what it should have been. Funnily enough, it was essentially the opposite with Echo Valley; the mystery thriller had an intriguing plot twist, but the film was let down by Sydney Sweeney's exaggerated performance.

Apple TV+ movies walked so its TV shows could run

(Image credit: Apple TV)

It wasn't always like this. When Apple Studios and Apple TV+ launched in 2019, they made a splash in the film industry by picking up the distribution rights of CODA: the first movie by a streaming service to ever win the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Of course, an Oscar win can be taken with a pinch of salt, especially considering that the Academy has only recently started to insist that judges actually watch the nominations before casting a vote, but the coveted prize is still a good barometer of what's successful.

The win was a shock to the industry in 2022, mostly because rival streaming services that had been producing content for a lot longer had only ever received nominations. But it sent out a big signal to everyone that Apple TV+ had an eye for good stories, and crucially a big purse to get them.

It reportedly spent $22 million at the Sundance Film Festival to acquire CODA, and looked to replicate its success by pursuing similar projects that fit the bill for big theatrical runs, such as Killers of the Flower Moon, Napoleon and Argylle. Variety reports that those three films combined cost the company at least $700 million to make, but a source told the publication that only Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon were profitable.

(Image credit: Apple TV Plus/Paramount Pictures)

Apple has similarly splurged on its TV productions, which undoubtedly helped them to win critical acclaim. Bloomberg reported that the first two seasons of The Morning Show cost an eye-watering $300 million to make, making them among the most expensive TV shows ever made – and Apple has its name behind a lot of those, including See, Foundation, Pachinko and most recently Severance season 2, each episode of which cost $20 million to make.

Apple's TV bets have paid off much more than its film projects, looking at the number of positive reviews each has received, and it seems that those movie misses have made big holes in the company's pockets that are starting to take their toll, because Apple has decided to pull back massively on its budgets.

According to anonymous claims reported in The New York Times earlier this year, Apple Studios will, going forward, only make one or two "event-size films a year, with big budgets and expansive theatrical releases".

The report added that Apple would set a limit of $80 million or less for the budgets of its films, which indicates to me that it's focusing on prestige TV over the box office – and that doesn't necessarily mean it's spending less, considering that some series rival the costs of big box office productions already.

Upcoming Apple TV+ movies to be excited about

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Apple)

Apple TV+ still has a chance to turn its losing movie streak around with the upcoming release of the new F1 movie, though. It's arguably one of its biggest releases of 2025 and with it coming out in the summer (for those in the northern hemisphere at least), a lot is riding on this being a big pull for audiences.

With Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) in the director's chair, I don't doubt that this is going to be spectacle, especially considering the way it's been filmed. A lot of the scenes involving the fictional F1 team that includes Brad Pitt and co-star Damson Idris have been shot on real-life F1 racetracks, so the big-screen action is set to be thrilling.

I've also got my money on Spike Lee's new crime movie Highest 2 Lowest being a surefire hit on Apple TV+. Denzel Washington (Training Day) sounds like he's been perfectly cast in the lead role of a music mogul targeted by a ransom – anyone else getting Man on Fire vibes?

Both F1 and Highest 2 Lowest are getting theatrical releases before eventually streaming on Apple TV+, which is another sign that the studio is backing these two titles as its potential "event-sized" blockbuster winners of the year.

I wouldn't write off Apple TV+ movies just yet, then. Indeed, I'm hopeful that both films will be the redeeming movie releases I've been waiting for.

You might also like

• 5 new Apple TV+ movies and shows you should stream in June 2025
• 10 new Apple TV+ shows and movies are coming in mid-2025
• Foundation season 3: release date, trailer, confirmed cast, and more

You can use DuckDuckGo's Scam Blocker for free in its mobile and desktop browsers.

The free version of ChatGPT offers a lot, but for those using it on a daily basis, it's probably worth upgrading to a paid subscription.

If your texts are falling back to SMS, try these steps to ensure that Apple's Messages app is properly functioning.

• Viewing figures in May show streaming eclipsed TV for the first time
• The news comes as Netflix signs a broadcast deal with France's TF1
• Netflix will show traditional TV channels from next year

Traditional TV just hit a new low – for the first time in history, streaming services had a bigger audience than broadcast and cable channels combined. That's according to official US viewership numbers from May, and in a poetic twist of timing, Netflix has just announced its first-ever deal to broadcast traditional channels and live TV.

In a tie-up with French TV giant TF1 (as reported by The Financial Times), the streaming platform will host all five of its traditional channels – along with more than 30,000 hours of on-demand content. From summer next year, subscribers in France will be able to watch everything from prime-time dramas to The Voice, plus live sports, including the French national football team’s matches.

The deal marks a major shift in the streaming landscape. Netflix has long posed a disruptive threat to traditional television – now it’s going full circle and offering the medium a lifeline, hosting the very kind of live, linear programming that it helped to dethrone.

The move's timing is particularly exquisite, because May was also the first month on record where streaming became more popular than its traditional TV rivals...

Crossing the streams

According to Nielsen data, May was the first month ever where streaming was more popular than cable and broadcast combined in the US.

YouTube led the field (12.5%), followed by Netflix (7.5%). Nielsen's data has limitations – it only tracks US viewing on TV screens (smartphones, tablets and laptops aren't included). But it's still a milestone moment that reflects a wider trend: more people (especially younger audiences) are ditching scheduled programming entirely. Instead, they access on-demand content through smart TVs, tablets and smartphones.

(Image credit: Nielsen)

As streaming eats up more screen time, traditional broadcasters are struggling to keep up. Fragmented audiences and falling ad revenues make it harder to sustain old business models. While some have launched their own streaming services, such as Britbox – a joint venture between ITV and BBC Studios – these rarely achieve global reach. Now, some networks are turning to their streaming rivals for traction.

TF1 is a perfect example. Its free-to-watch TF1+ streaming service serves a sizable domestic audience, but remains heavily reliant on advertising revenue. Netflix’s subscriber base in France – which reportedly passed 10 million in 2022 – offers a much bigger pool of potential viewers. For TF1, the upside of a partnership is clear.

Competitor to savior

For Netflix, the deal brings fresh content to its platform. TF1 has a huge back-catalog, including popular dramas such as Brocéliande and reality shows like Koh-Lanta. Speaking to the The Financial Times, Greg Peters, co-chief executive of Netflix, said that many French viewers already think of “TV as Netflix”.

Describing TF1 as a “producer of great, premium content”, Peters highlighted the variety of shows that the tie-up will bring to the platform. In a competitive market, where Netflix needs to continue justifying its rising subscription costs, it’s a move which could help retain customers.

It isn't the first time the two companies have worked together. TF1 and Netflix previously collaborated on scripted co-productions such as Les Combattantes and Tout le bleu du ciel. But it is the first time Netflix will stream live, scheduled TV channels. That marks a major evolution in how streaming platforms and legacy broadcasters work together.

(Image credit: Netflix)

It also reflects how streaming has reshaped TV itself – not just how we watch, but what gets made. Shows like Lucifer (above), Money Heist and Designated Survivor were all rescued by Netflix after being canceled by their original networks. In more ways than one, streaming has gone from TV’s competitor to its savior.

Whether this deal signals the start of a broader shift remains to be seen. Peters hinted that Netflix would see how things go with TF1 before rolling out similar partnerships elsewhere. But it’s a clear sign that the definition of ‘TV’ has changed forever. As streaming overtakes traditional channels, the lines between the two are blurrier than ever. And it’s Netflix that’s setting the boundaries.

You might also like...

• Best streaming service 2025: Netflix, Apple TV Plus, Max, Disney Plus and more
• Can't decide between Netflix and Prime Video? Here's which streaming service I'm keeping in June 2025
• I’ve watched every #1 Netflix TV show in 2025 and these are the 7 actually worth streaming

• Apple’s foldable iPhone is on track to go on sale in September 2026, based on a new rumor
• A well-known Apple analyst claims it will enter production next year
• They also say its sales will be impacted by its high price tag

Apple's long-awaited foldable iPhone is due to enter production next year, according to a leading analyst, which puts it on course for a release alongside the iPhone 18 range in September 2026.

Posting on X, Ming-Chi Kuo also claimed that Apple is anticipating relatively low sales of its foldable, on account of what he says will be its "premium pricing".

If Kuo is on the money, this would mean there’s not long to go before we get a glimpse of the company’s first attempt at a foldable device. Then, we’ll finally find out how it fares against the rumored Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

The foldable iPhone has been rumored to come with an under-display camera, a near-invisible seam, a beautiful display, and impressive battery life. That all means it won’t come cheap – which Kuo appears to confirm – and that’s a key concern of mine.

The pricing barrier

(Image credit: ConceptsiPhone)

In the X post, Kuo noted that recent rumors have claimed Apple has ordered 15-20 million units of the device. Yet Kuo revealed that this is likely the figure for “the product’s 2-3 year lifecycle,” putting the sales estimates for each year significantly lower.

The importance of that is that Kuo says the lower yearly estimations all come down to the foldable’s “premium pricing.” As with the costly Vision Pro headset, the sky-high asking price of the foldable iPhone is going to put a lot of people off, including myself – while I’m dying to try out this new evolution in the iPhone line-up, I’m not willing to sell a kidney to get one.

How much are we talking here? We’ve previously seen reports that Apple could price the foldable iPhone anywhere between $2,100 and $2,500. For context, the most expensive iPhone right now – the iPhone 16 Pro Max – starts at $1,199, making the foldable iPhone roughly twice as expensive.

We won’t know for sure, of course, until the foldable iPhone actually launches. But with that date rapidly approaching, it could well be out of reach for the majority of Apple’s customers.

You might also like

• Foldable iPhone – 5 key rumored features, from a liquid metal hinge to the return of Touch ID
• New foldable iPhone rumors predict Apple’s bold plans – here are 6 things to expect, from cameras to launch date
• iPhone Fold tipped to be an annual release and take flagship baton from Pro Max – with a price tag to match

• The next Unpacked could be on July 9, according to new rumors
• We're expecting new foldables and wearables
• Samsung hasn't yet made anything official

We've heard plenty of leaks and rumors around the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Galaxy Z Flip 7, and the Galaxy Watch 8 – and we may now know the date when these upcoming gadgets are getting their official unveiling, too.

According to well-known tipster @evleaks, the next Galaxy Unpacked – the name Samsung tends to give to its launch events – is going to be on Wednesday, July 9. Apparently, the show gets underway at 10am Eastern time in the US, which works out as 7am PT / 3pm BST, or midnight AEST on July 10 for those in Australia.

That date isn't much of a surprise, as last year's equivalent event – including reveals for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Galaxy Z Flip 6, and the Galaxy Watch 7 – happened on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.

Nothing is certain until Samsung confirms it of course, but this tipster has a good record, and the date makes sense. It's likely that the event will be available to stream online somewhere, and we will of course be covering it live as well.

Here's what's coming

The next Galaxy Unpacked: 9 July 2025 @ 10AM EDTJune 18, 2025

We don't get any fresh details about what to expect in this particular leak, but we've heard plenty already. For example, the new foldables are expected to come with improved camera setups and a free Google AI subscription for six months.

Samsung itself has confirmed that the upcoming folding phones will be running One UI 8 out of the box, though it didn't specifically mention the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 names (which are pretty much a given at this point).

On top of those two flagship foldables, we might well see Samsung's tri-fold foldable in full for the first time – a device that's rumored to be called the Samsung Galaxy G Fold. Samsung has already teased this device at other events, but we don't know much about its specs, or how much it will cost.

We should also get appearances from Samsung's 2025 smartwatch upgrades too, which are expected to be the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. It's possible the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 won't show up until next year.

You might also like

• Galaxy Z Fold 7 image leaks hint at a thinner frame design
• Samsung drops another big hint about the tri-folding G Fold
• Unofficial Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 renders have appeared

• Researchers found 30 databases housing 16 billion records online
• The records were most likely generated by infostealers
• Records come from a wide range of providers, from Apple to Google and many more

Security researchers have reported discovering what could be the mother of all data breaches - a set of 30 databases containing a total of 16 billion records.

These records were most likely generated by various cybercriminals (and possibly white hat hackers or researchers) using different infostealing malware, a new report from Cybernews claims.

The researchers note the databases differed in size - from “smaller” ones containing just millions of entries, to gigantic ones housing billions of records, with accounts from Google, Apple, to various VPN services, GitHub, Telegram, and more - and of the 30 discovered datasets, just one had been previously reported by the media, a “mysterious” database with 184 million records.

Scratching the surface

“It barely scratches the top 20 of what the team discovered,” Cybernews explained. “Most worryingly, researchers claim new massive datasets emerge every few weeks, signaling how prevalent infostealer malware truly is.”

The databases were available to the wider internet only briefly, and were quickly locked down - however, it wasn’t possible to determine who the owners are.

It is probable that many of the information overlaps, making it virtually impossible to determine exactly how many people were affected. It’s also important to note that some 5.5 billion people have access to the internet today, meaning that many people have multiple compromised accounts.

Unprotected databases continue to be the most common cause of data leaks. For years, security researchers have been warning that many organizations do not understand the shared responsibility model of cloud services, and that they are required to safeguard and secure the data they generate.

On the other hand, cybercriminals are having a field day with these archives. They often contain more than enough of sensitive information to launch highly personalized, successful phishing campaigns, leading to identity theft, wire fraud, and even ransomware attacks.

You might also like

• Public database exposed 184 million credentials including Microsoft, Facebook, Snapchat, and government account logins
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers