Technology

TikTok's sale deadline is approaching once more, so will the app finally be sold or will President Trump just keep extending the deadline every few weeks?

• To celebrate Amazon Prime Day, Prime Gaming members can now claim six free games
• Those games include the likes of Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered Starring Lara Croft, Saints Row 2, Saints Row 4: Re-Elected, and more
• Amazon Prime Day begins on July 8, but members can claim these titles now ahead of the event

Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner, and to celebrate, Prime Gaming members can claim an assortment of free games leading up to the event.

The annual sale officially begins on July 8, but starting today through July 7, subscribers can claim six PC games, including Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered Starring Lara Croft, Saints Row 2, Saints Row 4: Re-Elected, Star Wars: Rebellion, TOEM, and Dungeon of the Endless Definitive Edition.

These games are now available for platforms like the Amazon Games App and GOG, and can be claimed on top of the previously announced Prime Gaming titles for the month of June.

This collection includes Mordheim: City of the Damned, The Abandoned Planet, Station to Station and Death Squared, which can be claimed now.

Starting on June 19, Prime members can claim Dark Envoy and Fate: Undiscovered Realms, while Thief: Deadly Shadows, Jupiter Hell, and Gallery of Things: Reveries will be redeemable on June 26.

Amazon also revealed that more Prime Day offers for Prime members will be announced soon.

If you're looking to get in on the early sales, you can check out our coverage of the early Amazon Prime Day deals that are now live.

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• WhatsApp is finally getting ads
• They'll appear in the Updates tab, integrated with Statuses and Channels
• Regular chats won't be affected by the chnages, and are still private

It’s official, WhatsApp’s latest update is bringing ads to the platform.

My initial reaction to this news was dread that the conversations with my friends might be diluted by pop-ups like you see on Messenger (another Meta-owned messaging service). Thankfully, however, it looks like WhatsApp is keeping its adverts locked within its Updates tab. At least for now.

In the Updates tab, you’ll find that both Channels and Statuses are getting the ad treatment. Channels are dedicated groups you can join, with hosts who send you messages and update. They’re popular among football teams, influencers and news outlets (in fact, we here at TechRadar have one you can join).

The ads come in the form of new Promoted Channels, which will soon start to appear when you look through the directory. They'll be recommended to you based on what WhatsApp thinks you’ll find interesting, assuming the channel is paying to be promoted.

Channels give you direct access to content, and fun extras like polls (Image credit: Future / Apple / WhatsApp)

Statuses (basically WhatsApp Stories) are ways to share quick updates and highlights with friends and family. Now ads will appear as Stauses too – again being promoted to you based on your interests.

On top of these changes, WhatsApp is adding Channel subscriptions. These aren’t ads, but are another (and in my opinion better) way to monetize WhatsApp.

By paying a monthly fee you can support your favorite channel and get exclusive updates in exchange – a bit like you do through third-party services like Patreon or premium newsletters.

WhatsApp has me hooked

I'm not ditching WhatsApp, and I know it (Image credit: Shutterstock)

After digging through the changes I’m generally less concerned than I was when i heard of the announcement.

I rarely use the Updates tab, and as WhatsApp’s blog post explains “if you only use WhatsApp to chat with friends and loved ones there is no change to your experience at all.”

Further down, it adds that these ads won’t affect your privacy either. “Your personal messages, calls, and statuses remain end-to-end encrypted, meaning no one (not even us) can see or hear them.”

Meta explains that Status and Channel ads will be based on the limited information it does collect like where you’re from, the language your app is set to, which Channels you already follow, and how you engage with ads you are shown.

If your WhatsApp is part of your Meta Accounts Center, it’ll also base its data on info from your other accounts.

It’s really trying to hammer home that our chat data is just as secure as ever, and that non-Updates chats won’t be changed.

Should I switch to Google Messages? (Image credit: Google)

It feels like the start of a slippery slope to me, but like the rest of WhatsApp’s 3 billion monthly active users – a figure that makes it the world's biggest messaging platform – I know I can’t leave.

That's not only because I don’t want to lose the chats and contacts I already have through the app (migrating everyone to a different service would be a Sisyphean task), but also because as someone who travels a lot it’s an excellent country-agnostic platform that has allowed me to make restaurant reservations, book taxis, and call a car repair company when I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.

So for now I’m sticking with WhatsApp, but I’m also starting my hunt for a new service – even considering jumping back to classic text messages or Android’s Google Messages, which has received a fair few upgrades in the past few years.

Even if things do get worse, I’m not sure I’ll be able to leave then either, but the best I can do is try.

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• Oracle Defense Ecosystem gives SMBs access to potential DoD contracts
• The program includes access to office spaces, software and support
• Its scope could extend beyond US DoD contracts

Oracle has launched a new program aimed at helping tech vendors, especially smaller firms, sell to the US Department of Defense (DoD).

The launch of the Oracle Defense Ecosystem program comes amid a major restructuring of US government tech procurement, with many hyperscalers losing contracts as the Trump administration seeks to centralize purchasing and reduce expenditure.

Although the companies that have traditionally sold to the government have been seen to be offering huge discounts to keep their government contracts, the time has also come for smaller companies to be in with a chance of winning bids.

Oracle and US DoD

As part of the program, smaller vendors will get access to Oracle office spaces, discounts on Palantir's cloud/AI tools and Oracle's NetSuite software, and guidance on navigating the Pentagon's procurement processes.

The company says the program has been designed to overcome the structural challenges small vendors often face compared to large defense contractors, effectively levelling the playing field.

Initially, 10 companies, including Blackshar.ai, SensusQ, Metron and Arqit are participating, but signing up is free (backed by Oracle funding).

The benefits extend far beyond boosting smaller tech firms, though, with the DoD also getting access to more advanced tech and a broader spectrum of offerings, and Oracle Cloud weaving its way deeper into defense operations – a win all-round, then.

DOGE's focus on efficiency could further benefit Oracle by terminating legacy contracts – although the company trails far behind the likes of AWS and Azure in terms of market share, it sees opportunities in the AI and defense spaces.

Speaking about the new program, Oracle VP Rand Waldron said: "Nothing is more important than the national security of the U.S. and its allies, and Oracle has been a cornerstone of this mission for nearly 50 years."

The company's announcement also shows a clear intent to redefine national security innovation, supporting not just the US but also its allied nations, in digital and physical defense.

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• Windows Hello facial recognition no longer works in poorly-lit rooms
• This is due to a move Microsoft made to shore up security with the feature
• The change to require a ‘color camera to see a visible face’ means logins now fail in dark rooms, where previously infrared allowed them to work

Windows Hello, the system that allows for secure login to your Windows 11 (or 10) PC, no longer works when using facial recognition in a dark environment.

Indeed, this has been the case for a couple of months, because as Windows Central reports, Microsoft made this change in the April update for Windows 11, but it flew under the radar.

When some Windows Hello users noticed that they couldn’t successfully log in because their face wasn’t recognized sometimes, they may have just assumed it was a bug (or the feature being flaky, which it is occasionally). However, this is an intentional change by Microsoft as the company made clear in the April patch release notes.

Microsoft said, “For enhanced security, Windows Hello facial recognition requires color cameras to see a visible face when signing in.”

This security improvement was necessary due to a vulnerability being discovered that could potentially allow an attacker with access to the Windows PC to spoof their way past Windows Hello protection.

That trick evidently involved messing with the infrared camera – leveraging “adversarial input perturbations,” as Microsoft puts it in fancy security-speak – so to avoid this exploit, the company added the requirement for a color camera.

Why has this scuppered logins in darkened environments? Before the April update, Windows Hello could go purely off the infrared sensor to achieve a login in low-light (infrared scanning works fine without light, of course). However, now the feature needs your face to be visible to the camera, logins in those conditions just won’t work anymore.

Analysis: There’s a workaround, but it isn’t helpful

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

There’s no way of getting around this as such, and if you’re in a poorly lit room, Windows Hello facial login may well fail (when before it wouldn’t).

Okay, so Windows Central does point out there is a workaround here, namely that you can disable your webcam in Windows 11 (the actual camera can be turned off in Device Manager). With that done, Windows Hello will authenticate with the infrared sensor – because it’s the only option – and so it’ll work in the semi-dark again.

Presumably, if you go this route, though, you may be vulnerable to the mentioned exploit (unless that requires the camera to be active, a point that Microsoft doesn’t go into). At any rate, disabling the webcam is hardly a good solution, as it means you won’t be able to use it for video chatting (obviously, or anything else).

It’s a shame Microsoft had to tighten security in this way, but the software giant can’t risk leaving the door open to an exploit that someone who has stolen a Windows 11 laptop might be able to leverage in order to gain access to the device.

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iPadOS 26 is on the way – Apple revealed its next iPad software update at WWDC 2025, and since then the internet has been ablaze with reactions and speculation.

The big ticket items for this year’s iPadOS update pertain to multitasking – all currently-sold iPads (and likely several older models) are due to get support for up to six desktop-style windows at once, as well as a menu bar, and updates to the dock and background processing.

We already recommend the base model iPad and iPad Pro as some of the best tablets you can buy, but this upcoming update has got me thinking about where Apple now sits in the wider tablet market.

It’s no secret that Apple’s tablet hardware is the best on the market – there are simply no other tablets with the raw processing power the iPad Pro and iPad Air's M-series chipsets can offer.

Speaking frankly, the only thing giving other tablet makers a chance has been software – iPadOS has long been held back by a lack of flexibility and unintuitive design, while rivals like Samsung have pushed ahead with innovative features like DeX, which offers a desktop-style experience that works especially well with a keyboard and mouse.

But with iPadOS 26 bringing huge updates, that could all change.

Samsung's options

Uniquely huge screen aside, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra can't match the iPad Pro on performance (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

I recently spent some time testing the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus for an upcoming review, and found it to be a big, premium-feeling tablet that offers a lot of software flexibility at the cost of performance.

In fact, having used the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus in a variety of situations, I think the only reason someone should buy one is if they absolutely need its combination of a large 13-inch screen, flexible multitasking, and intermediate price (starting at $649 / £649 / AU$1,099).

iPadOS 26’s windowed multitasking, from what we’ve seen so far, is not as developed or as open-ended as Samsung DeX, but in true Apple style it’ll probably be just useful enough to overshadow Samsung’s offering when combined with the iPad’s hardware power.

That takes away a major advantage to buying a Samsung tablet pretty much instantly.

@techradar

♬ Coleen - The Heavy

If you ask me, Samsung should be really quite worried about this, and has one of two options to survive an upcoming iPad renaissance.

The first is simply cutting prices as much as costs allow. Samsung tablets are definitively premium devices, with great build quality and sometimes bigger screens than comparably priced iPads – but they’re still very expensive, and don't perform as well as Apple's tablets.

Like it or not, iPadOS is the standard for how a tablet works, so asking users to shell out almost as much as an iPad costs for a device that isn’t as powerful, runs potentially unfamiliar software, and offers just slightly more utility looks like a pretty mediocre deal.

The second option is stepping up performance without an increase in price – our Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus review and Samsung Galaxy S10 Ultra review found the tablets to be solid performers, but not to Apple’s standards. That’s backed up by our own Future Labs testing data: neither Samsung tablet catches up to the latest iPad Air in single or multicore benchmarks.

A renewed rivalry

iPadOS 26 being introduced at WWDC 2025 (Image credit: Apple)

Both of these options ask a lot of Samsung, perhaps more than can be delivered in a few release cycles.

But with Apple’s smooth user experience, wider selection of professional apps, more powerful hardware, and upcoming multitasking improvements, I seriously can’t see the point in buying a Samsung tablet right now.

That's not me giving Apple an easy ride either, let me be clear that as someone who personally bought an iPad Pro in 2020, the long wait for proper multitasking on iPad has been very, very frustrating. But having used both iPads and Samsung tablets, I'd still pick the iPad any day thanks to its better app availability and smoother user experience.

And my own experiences aside, there's no denying that iPads are vastly more popular than Samsung tablets. A Forbes report from September 2024 estimates that Apple holds 35.8% of the tablet market worldwide, compared to Samsung's 20.1%. That's going to make the impact of iPadOS 26 feel even more significant, even if the features added are ones Samsung users have enjoyed for years.

That’s not to say there are no benefits to buying a Samsung tablet: One UI 7 is rich with customizable settings, and the aforementioned Dex mode really is fantastic. It’s just that iPadOS 26 is poised to take Apple’s tablet platform to a new level of competition.

I'd like to see a future in which the best iPads and the best Samsung tablets keep clashing head-to-head; here’s hoping Samsung can make the right moves to keep up. Look out for my full Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus review soon.

As ever, the comments section is open for discussion – is Apple destined to take over? Or does Samsung have more of a chance than I think? Let us know below.

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• KitchenAid's Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine comes in two new colors
• Candy Apple is a pearlescent red, and Juniper is green with a satin finish
• The colors are part of a bigger trend towards fun colors in the kitchen

KitchenAid, maker of some of the best espresso machines I've tested here at TechRadar, has given one of its most popular models a fresh new look for the summer. The KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder is now available in two tasty colorways: Candy Apple (bright red) and Juniper (rich green).

The Candy Apple machine (my personal favorite) has a pearlescent finish, while the Juniper version has a satin sheen.

The two new shades are part of a continuing trend away from traditional black and chrome kitchen appliances. Earlier this year, KitchenAid revealed that its official color of 2025 is a soft yellow called Butter, and since then we've seen various other brands join the effort to break away from clinical styling in favor of warmer shades that often draw inspiration from the natural world.

Image 1 of 2

The Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder is now available in a total of five colors (Image credit: KitchenAid)Image 2 of 2

Bright red Candy Apple is my personal favorite thanks to its pearlescent finish (Image credit: KitchenAid)

KitchenAid released a new version of its classic Artisan Stand Mixer in a soft olive color called EverGreen, with a real walnut wood bowl, while Breville revealed a new look for its best-selling Barista Touch Impress coffee maker in shades of creamy white, navy blue, and muted green – all with brass accents.

Espresso without the fuss

The KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder is the sibling of the fully automatic KF6 and KF8 coffee makers. It can not only handle the trickiest and messiest parts of making great-tasting coffee, but unlike the other two models, it also allows you to control as much of the process as you want.

Your coffee beans are ground using stainless steel conical burrs (the most common type for home espresso machines). Once that's done, you can let the machine weigh out a suitable amount of coffee for a single or double shot, or choose the dose yourself.

Juniper is a cool, dark green similar to the color of pine needles (Image credit: KitchenAid)

KitchenAid's machine has a handy anti-static feature, which helps stop the ground coffee sticking to the machine or spreading over your counter – something I've experienced all too often while compiling TechRadar's list of the best coffee makers.

The KitchenAid machine comes with a 58mm portafilter with a flat base to help with even tamping, and there's a multi-angle steam wand to help you create nicely textured milk.

It's available direct from KitchenAid in the UK and the US for $699.99 / £699.

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There’s still a lot left to learn about the mid-range OnePlus Nord 5, but following the phone’s official announcement earlier this week, we do at least know that it’ll look dramatically different to the OnePlus Nord 4.

Last year’s model was heavily marketed as being “the only metal unibody 5G smartphone on the market” – according to OnePlus, the Nord 4 used “aircraft-grade aluminum” that made it “sleek, strong and less prone to shatter.” We agreed with that assessment in our OnePlus Nord 4 review, describing the phone’s metal frame as “a small touch that makes the Nord 4 look distinct and feel well-protected against drops and knocks.”

Why, then, has OnePlus decided to do away with metal on the upcoming Nord 5? We put the question to OnePlus’ Chief Marketing Officer for Europe, Celina Shi, in an exclusive interview, and while she wasn’t able to share specifics about the Nord 5’s new design, she did shed some light on why OnePlus has chosen to ditch this seemingly once-important feature.

“While I can't reveal specifics about the OnePlus Nord 5 series materials just yet, I can say that it won't be in a metal frame this year,” Shi explained. “Our design concept for all of our devices is grounded in consumer insight. Following a global survey conducted across Europe, North America, India, and China, we found that our target audience places strong emphasis on practicality in design.”

“They consistently prefer styles that are brief, simple, and elegant. In response to this, in the OnePlus Nord Series this year, we are offering Nordic-inspired design that reflects these values and resonates with our consumers globally.”

Image 1 of 2

The OnePlus Nord 5 (left) and OnePlus Nord CE5 (right) (Image credit: OnePlus)Image 2 of 2

The two-tone metal OnePlus Nord 4 (Image credit: Future)

Presumably, OnePlus is referring to Scandinavian minimalism when it says “Nordic-inspired design” – and from the first teaser image we’ve seen of the upcoming Nord 5, it's certainly a more stripped-back affair than the two-tone Nord 4 (especially the Mercurial Silver model, which also sports an eye-catching ribbed pattern on its rear panel).

The Nord 5’s colors, too, will likely be inspired by Nordic geography; we already know that the phone will launch in a shade called “Dry Ice”, for instance.

And if you’re wondering whether the “Nord” name itself has any bearing on OnePlus’ latest design philosophy, it’s more of a happy coincidence. As OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei exclusively revealed to TechRadar back in 2020, “Nord” refers to both “North” in the navigational sense and OnePlus “going back to [its] true north” as a brand.

But the absence of metal isn’t the only big design change coming to the OnePlus Nord 5. With the Nord 4, OnePlus flipped the script on previous Nord models by equipping it with a horizontal camera array, but the Nord 5 will once again sport a vertical camera layout.

The horizontal camera array on the OnePlus Nord 4 (Image credit: Future)

“With any smartphone, there is always negotiation between aesthetic design and what's physically possible within those parameters,” Shi explained in relation to the change. “As tech components evolve, so too will our design to make the best-looking products that function optimally.”

“The camera module is vertical in the latest OnePlus Nord Series as this layout optimizes space within the device, allowing us to include a best-in-class chipset, battery, and screen within.”

At the time of writing, we’re only privy to one of those “best-in-class” specs for the upcoming OnePlus Nord 5 – it’ll use a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset – but here’s hoping we’ll hear more about this potential addition to our best OnePlus phones guide soon.

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• Scattered Spider is no longer targeting retailers, Google claims
• "Multiple" intrusions have been spotted in the US
• Insurance companies now seem to be in the crosshairs

The notorious Scattered Spider cybercrime gang is apparently stepping away from attacking high-end retailers and has begun targeting insurance organizations in the US, experts have claimed.

Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) cybersecurity researchers claim to have seen multiple attacks, and are now urging organizations to be on the lookout for potential threats.

"Google Threat Intelligence Group is now aware of multiple intrusions in the US which bear all the hallmarks of Scattered Spider activity. We are now seeing incidents in the insurance industry," chief GTIG analyst John Hultquist said in an email shared with TechRadar Pro.

DragonForce

Scattered Spider is a “loosely knit” cybercriminal organization operating within a larger hacking community known as “the Com,” known for targeting one industry at the time.

It recently targeted high-end retailers, mostly in the UK, including Harrods, M&S and the Co-op, and has also engaged with US companies, going for social engineering, SIM-swapping, and ransomware.

"Given this actor's history of focusing on a sector at a time, the insurance industry should be on high alert, especially for social engineering schemes, which target their help desks and call centers," Hultquist stressed.

Although Google did not discuss who the victims are, The Register says two US-based companies recently reported suffering a cyberattack: Erie Insurance, and Philadelphia Insurance Company. Neither confirmed the incidents were the work of Scattered Spider, but the news aligned suspiciously well.

The publication also says the crooks usually start their attacks with fake helpdesk calls, after which they trick the victims into granting access to their devices, which is later used to deploy the DragonForce ransomware encryptor.

There are multiple ways to defend against ransomware attacks, but the best one is to raise employee awareness about phishing and social engineering, since most attacks abuse people, rather than systems.

Via The Register

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Imagine starting your workday not just with a cup of coffee and a laptop, but also with a digital colleague that’s already set up your priorities, analyzed critical data, and prepared actionable insights. This is the near-future reality of workplaces powered by AI agents, which are already demonstrating advanced capabilities unimagined previously.

A day in the life with an AI agent

Take, for example, a tax consultant in this future scenario. She’s a part of a global team that manages vast volumes of financial data for clients around the world. Every client expects speed, accuracy, and insight, and she has an AI agent that helps deliver exactly that. The consultant begins her day by greeting her AI agent, which has been trained to suit her work style. It’s already reviewed updates to tax policy across the globe and compiled a personalized briefing with key updates and client priorities.

Throughout the day, the consultant and agent collaborate seamlessly. She speaks to the AI agent naturally, and it responds like a curious colleague, surfacing insights, raising considerations, and suggesting strategies, all informed by a memory of their working history. In meetings, the AI agent participates by summarizing discussions, scheduling follow-ups, and providing real-time data analysis.

By the end of the day, the consultant had made faster, more informed decisions and had spent more time on meaningful client interactions, while the AI agent handled the heavy lifting in the background. It’s a knowledgeable partnership enhancing her day-to-day effectiveness.

Agents are a new paradigm of computing

Behind the scenes, we believe this agentic experience will be powered by a three-layer framework of AI agents: Functional agents, which handle specific, repetitive tasks, freeing consultants to focus on strategic work, e.g., automatically gathering client data, reviewing changes to tax codes, and drafting compliance reports.

Optimization agents, which coordinate those tasks, dynamically adjust workflows to maximize efficiency, e.g., reallocating agent capacity during peak tax season and flagging high-priority clients based on filing deadlines or risk levels.

Responsible AI agents, which oversee compliance, security, and ethics, e.g., ensuring the consultant’s AI tools remain audit-ready, adhere to client confidentiality rules, and avoid using outdated or unauthorized datasets.

These agents go beyond assisting the consultant; they can work autonomously to complete a task. The consultant directs teams of agents, instructing them when they need a decision and quality checking the work. These hybrid human and agentic teams are underpinned by a responsible AI orchestration layer of technology, which manages the workflows within defined responsible AI principles.

This isn’t just about a step-change in technology – more broadly, it’s a total transformation of how we engage with technology. Agentic AI makes work feel adaptive, conversational, and context-aware. It’s a new mode of working where digital systems anticipate needs, communicate, and take action in real-time.

Preparing for the AI-enhanced workplace

As AI-human hybrid teams become more prevalent, organizations must lay the groundwork to use agentic AI wisely and effectively. Success with the technology will depend on establishing a robust, responsible AI orchestration layer informed by strong governance frameworks, but above all, creating “AI-ready” data, which is the foundation of an agentic workforce.

Without high-quality, well-structured, and trusted data, even the most sophisticated AI agents can falter. Equally, poorly governed AI agents – especially those interacting directly with customers, financial data, or regulated environments – can create reputational, legal, and operational exposure. Organizations need not just strong data governance, but clear accountability frameworks for how AI agents are deployed, monitored, and evolved over time.

There’s also the critical human factor: if trust erodes due to unexplained errors or opaque behavior, adoption can stall or stop. Organizations are beginning to prepare their workforces for the agentic AI future by providing foundational AI learning and actively gathering feedback to improve adoption.

Are you ready to welcome your new AI team members?

For organizations preparing for an agentic workforce, there are clear foundations required for success: invest in data and infrastructure, define governance early, and proactively bring the leaders and employees on the journey.

The potential in terms of productivity, experience, and growth with AI is material to every business. Execution, as always, is the challenge to achieve the promised value. Adopting AI isn’t just about providing the technology – it is also essential to create an “AI-ready mindset” where people are excited to learn new skills and feel a part of the transformative opportunities. Change management led by ‘AI-ready leaders’ is proving to be the key differentiator between businesses that excel with AI and those that struggle.

The views reflected in this article are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the global EY organization or its member firms.

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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

After 15+ years in AI and telecom, launching startups, building platforms and advising businesses of all sizes, I’ve seen one constant: missed calls cost money. For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), every unanswered call represents lost revenue, wasted marketing spend, and a missed chance to deliver great service.

AI voice agents are now solving that problem at scale. These agents don’t just answer phones, they engage customers conversationally, route inquiries intelligently, and ensure no opportunity slips through the cracks. What used to require large call centers can now be handled by cloud-based voice AI with minimal setup.

We surveyed SMB owners and managers nationwide. The impact was clear: 97% of businesses using AI voice agents saw revenue growth, and 82% saw improved customer engagement. But here’s the surprising part: only 22% have adopted the technology. Nearly one-third of SMBs plan to invest in AI voice agents within the next 12 to 24 months - a clear sign that momentum is building even as hesitation remains.

The AI gap

So, what's holding others back? From what I’ve seen, it’s rarely a lack of interest. It’s inertia, often fueled by outdated assumptions. Some business owners worry their customers won’t engage with AI, others believe the technology is too expensive or too complicated to implement. But the data tells a different story.

Businesses that have embraced AI voice agents aren’t just overcoming these concerns, they’re gaining a competitive edge. Nearly half of adopters already self-identify as “industry leaders”, and that’s no coincidence. Many have fully integrated voice AI into daily workflows, particularly in customer support and sales, where responsiveness is critical. By contrast, only a small percentage of businesses that see themselves as just “competitive” have taken similar steps, highlighting a growing gap between early adopters and those still on the sidelines.

That gap doesn’t exist by accident. It reflects a deeper issue: confidence. Many business owners say they’re keeping up with tech trends, but few are acting on it. In fact, 60% admit they don’t feel confident implementing or integrating new technology. Yet those who have adopted AI voice agents are seeing measurable impact - particularly in high-volume, low-complexity areas like inbound sales and FAQs. The takeaway? Adoption doesn’t need to be all-or-nothing. Starting with a focused use case can unlock immediate value and build momentum.

Solutions that are fast and flexible

Beyond customer-facing results, voice AI reduces strain on internal teams. Instead of chasing down missed calls or manually responding to basic inquiries, staff can focus on higher-impact work. For small teams juggling multiple roles, offloading routine communication isn’t just efficient, it’s a morale booster. The time savings alone can meaningfully shift how resources are allocated and how teams perform.

Unlike large enterprises, where AI deployments often require dedicated teams and long lead times, SMBs need solutions that are fast, flexible, and easy to implement. The most effective voice AI platforms are built with this reality in mind, combining enterprise-grade performance with cloud-based delivery, simple integrations, and pricing models designed to scale with smaller operations.

As real-time responsiveness becomes the standard, these solutions not only help businesses meet rising customer expectations, they also unlock deeper operational insights. With built-in analytics and voice data intelligence, they turn everyday interactions into opportunities for smarter decisions and better service.

Solutions

The hesitation to adopt AI often comes down to what I call the three C’s: customer resistance, cost, and complexity. But let’s look closer:

- Customer resistance: Half of SMBs aren’t using or even considering AI voice agents, but among those who are, the vast majority say they have felt the impact of missed calls in the past. These business owners aren’t just guessing. They’ve seen opportunities slip away when no one picks up the phone. And it turns out, most customers don’t mind speaking to an AI voice agent if it solves their issues quickly and sounds and feels natural.

- Cost: Many businesses assume AI technology is expensive and out of their reach. But missed revenue adds up fast. Most SMBs estimate they lose $500 or more a month from missed calls, but considering call volumes, the actual figure is likely much higher. And like most technologies, AI voice agents are becoming more affordable and scalable.

- Complexity: This was once a fair concern, but today’s AI voice agents are built for non-technical users. They require minimal setup, are easy to use and simple to maintain.

Here’s what I usually tell people who are unsure about taking the first step:

- You’re not replacing people. AI voice agents are there to support your team, especially after hours or during high call volume. They help absorb routine inquiries so your staff can focus on more strategic tasks.

- Start with one clear use case. Whether it’s scheduling appointments, answering common questions, or covering evenings and weekends, choose one area to improve and start there. You don’t need to commit to a full transformation.

- Let the data guide you. Voice agents can reveal how many calls you’re missing, what customers are asking, and when they’re most active. This visibility helps shape better decisions.

AI Voice Agents are practical tools

At the end of the day, it’s about time and attention – two things every business is short on. If your team is spending both just trying to stay on top of missed calls, you’re already losing ground. Especially in today’s uncertain economy, it’s critical to invest in solutions that deliver results fast. That means technology that’s easy to implement, runs independently and proves its value quickly.

AI voice agents aren’t distant concepts, they’re practical tools solving real, everyday challenges. The businesses using them are more responsive, more efficient and often more profitable. If your goal is to lead, not just keep up, this is one upgrade that delivers immediate impact. And in today’s landscape, hesitation doesn’t just cost time. It costs growth.

We've featured the best AI chatbot for business.

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

Jobe Bellingham could make his debut for the German side in this Group F clash.

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, June 17 (game #1240).

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 #1241) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1241) - 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 #1241) - 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 #1241) - 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 #1241) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• M

• S

• G

• M

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

Quordle today (game #1241) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1241, are…

• MEDIA
• SHARK
• GUPPY
• MOURN

Hi all, it's Marc here, back for a few days while Johnny takes a well-earned break.

The three-start-word method rarely lets me down in Quordle, and I've long played STARE, DOILY and PUNCH in the main classic game.

Today it worked brilliantly, giving me four letters for MEDIA, SHARK and MOURN, all of which I ticked off quickly.

GUPPY needed a little more thought, but by the time I got to it there were seemingly no other options.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1241) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1241, are…

• LARGE
• DROOP
• PARER
• JAUNT

Quordle answers: The past 20

• 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
• Quordle #1222, Friday, 30 May: RAJAH, CAUSE, BLACK, ETUDE
• Quordle #1221, Thursday, 29 May: CRIER, DRAPE, STRUT, NEIGH

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, June 17 (game #471).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Down time

NYT Strands today (game #472) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• CHOW
• BOWL
• HOWL
• ELBOW
• LOOM
• GLOOM

NYT Strands today (game #472) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 7 letters

NYT Strands today (game #472) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 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 #472) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #472, are…

• BLUE
• GLOOMY
• TEARY
• DOLEFUL
• WOEBEGONE
• MELANCHOLY
• SPANGRAM: SADNESS

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 2 hints

Hi all, it's Marc here, back for a few days while Johnny takes a well-earned break.

Everyone experiences a bit of SADNESS from time to time, and in my case it really hit me during the Covid pandemic in 2020. I suspect I'm far from alone in that respect, and went through most of the emotions in today's Strands, from BLUE to GLOOMY to MELANCHOLY.

That didn't make it any easier to solve the puzzle, admittedly; this was a tricky one from start to finish. I needed a hint to get the first one, BLUE, then together with the theme clue of 'Down time' was able to establish what the concept was.

SADNESS, the spangram, was an easy spot but after that I had to work for every word, and needed another hint for the impossibly complicated WOEBEGONE.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, June 17, game #471)

• FINAGLE
• FINESSE
• CONTRIVE
• ENGINEER
• NEGOTIATE
• SPANGRAM: FIGURE OUT

What is NYT Strands?

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, June 17 (game #737).

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 #738) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• SMACK
• BARM
• PEA
• WET
• RANKLE
• ASTRONAUT
• GRAY
• WHALE
• COLD
• COFFEE
• RIGHT
• SHIP
• EXACTLY
• WINDY
• LEAR
• DEAD

NYT Connections today (game #738) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Got an umbrella?
• GREEN: Completely true
• BLUE: Found within or formed from a specific word
• PURPLE: 'Slip' could be another

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 #738) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: QUALITIES OF A RAINY DAY
• GREEN: SQUARELY
• BLUE: CONTENTS OF A POD
• PURPLE: BODY PART PLUS A STARTING LETTER

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

NYT Connections today (game #738) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #738, are…

• YELLOW: QUALITIES OF A RAINY DAY COLD, GRAY, WET, WINDY
• GREEN: SQUARELY DEAD, EXACTLY, RIGHT, SMACK
• BLUE: CONTENTS OF A POD ASTRONAUT, COFFEE, PEA, WHALE
• PURPLE: BODY PART PLUS A STARTING LETTER BARM, LEAR, RANKLE, SHIP

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: Perfect

Hi all, it's Marc on Connections duty today, back for a few days while Johnny goes on a well-earned vacation.

I stared at the board for at least five minutes before finding anything today; there was simply nothing that appeared to go together. Well, that's not entirely true – there were several options that had two or three words, for instance WINDY, WET and COLD for 'weather types' or EXACTLY and RIGHT for 'Correct'.

Eventually, I tried to let my mind think a little more freely, and placed DEAD and SMACK with EXACTLY and RIGHT in order to make a group that ended up being SQUARELY.

With green done, I looked again and tried to think in a devious NYT way. SHIP contained the word 'hip' within in and BARM the word 'arm', so that seemed plausible. A few seconds later I'd added RANKLE ('ankle') and LEAR ('ear') and was delighted when that turned purple.

That only left two groups, including the supposedly easiest yellow. I returned to that weather group, all three of which were still left on the board, and this time added GRAY to make my final group. Blue, which was unsolved by me, ended up being CONTENTS OF A POD, which I'm not sure I would ever have got.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, June 17, game #737)

• YELLOW: THINGS TO BOOK FOR A VACATION CAR, FLIGHT, HOTEL, TOUR
• GREEN: METTLE FIGHT, GRIT, RESOLVE, SPIRIT
• BLUE: BAD THINGS FOR A WEBSITE TO DO FREEZE, GLITCH, QUIT, TIMEOUT
• PURPLE: FIGURES IN CLASSIC DISNEY ANIMATED FILMS ELEPHANT, FAWN, MARIONETTE, MOUSE

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.

• Max is getting its own AI-assisted homepage redesign
• The streamer's landing page update will start rolling out in the US this week
• Its overhaul comes amid Netflix's latest layout being slammed by users

Listen up, Max users, because it's the latest streaming service to receive a major overhaul of its homepage.

Just weeks after Netflix unveiled its own user interface (UI) redesign – one that rage-filled Netflix subscribers have described as "dreadful" – one of its biggest rivals is also getting a landing page update. But, don't worry, Max fans, it won't be as frustrating to use as Netflix's latest redesign is.

In a Warner Bros. Discovery press release, Max's parent company confirmed an "enhanced browsing experience" would start rolling out in the US this week (June 16 to 22). It's unclear when people in other countries where Max is available, such as Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, will receive the homepage refresh.

What is clear, though, is Max has taken a page out of the Netflix playbook and actually redesigned its landing page to mirror that of the best streaming service's old layout. Here's what Max's current homepage looks like:

Max's old homepage layout featured vertical tiles and its sections bar at the top of the page (Image credit: Max)

And here's how Max's redesigned landing page will look once it's distributed to its worldwide userbase:

Max's new layout reminds me of how Netflix used to look (Image credit: Warner Bros. Discovery/Max)

As you can see above, version 2.0 of Max's UI looks much cleaner than its forebear did. For one, the icon bar has been moved to the left-hand side of the page. Meanwhile, its movie and TV shows are laid out in rectangular tile form, rather than the vertical aesthetic that the previous homepage had.

If this format looks familiar, it's because it's a near-identical design to the Netflix app's homepage before its recent overhaul. I'm sure those of us who detest Netflix's new UI will be a little jealous with Max 2.0's layout, then.

There's more to this update, too. When Max users hover over a tile, a corresponding preview video will automatically play after a couple of seconds. Per Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), it "builds on the success of Max’s previous feature launch, which delivered video previews with audio on the homepage’s hero carousel earlier this year."

WBD is well aware that such a feature can be quite intrusive for users who are flicking through its library of the best Max movies and best Max shows. To combat this, the entertainment behemoth will allow customers to toggle this feature on or off in the settings and playback menu. So, if you don't want the automated video to play while hovering over a specific film or program, you can switch it off and never have to think about it again.

Max's new AI tool will help to identify must-see video preview moments from its most popular shows, including The Last of Us (Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Max will soon support artificial intelligence (AI) as part of its user experience, too.

According to WBD, an in-house AI-assisted tool will also launch on the platform in the weeks ahead. It'll be used to "identify and suggest 'Drop-In Moments', aka recognizable scenes from specific movies and shows. This will be used as part of each production's cyclical video previews, with the AI tool highlighting – to the Max team – which previews most enticed viewers to click on a movie or TV series. These recommended sequences will be used more often on the homepage to further lure in more users looking for something new to stream.

What do you think of Max's forthcoming homepage redesign? Will it convince you to cancel your Netflix account and sign up to WBD's super streamer instead, which will be renamed HBO Max sometime in the next few months? Let me know in the comments.

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• The next Nintendo Direct has been confirmed for June 18
• The June showcase will be focused on the Switch 2 exclusive Donkey Kong Bananza
• The livestream will be 15 minutes long and offer new information about the game

Nintendo has announced that a new Nintendo Direct showcase will air this week, highlighting the Switch 2's Donkey Kong Bananza.

Revealed on the Nintendo Today app, the June 'Donkey Kong Bananza Direct' is scheduled to broadcast on Wednesday, June 18 at 6am PT / 12pm CEST / 2pm BST.

As usual, fans will be able to tune in to watch the showcase on Nintendo's official YouTube and Twitch channels.

The company confirmed via the livestream's YouTube description that the presentation will be "roughly 15 minutes" long and feature new information about the upcoming Switch 2 game.

No more information was shared, but we'll likely receive an extended gameplay look for Donkey Kong Bananza for the first time since the game was revealed during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct in April.

Donkey Kong Bananza is a Switch 2 exclusive title and is set to arrive one month from now, on July 17.

This new entry will be a 3D Donkey Kong experience, featuring some 2D side-scrolling elements, as well as an explorable, semi-open world filled with unique biomes and featuring numerous boss fights to encounter.

"Explore a vast underground world - by smashing your way through it! Bash, throw, and climb through just about anything in DK’s brand-new 3D platforming action-adventure game!" Nintendo said.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here, and if you're looking 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.

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Microsoft's AI assistant depends on Open AI, so a breakup could affect Microsoft users who depend on the AI integration.

• Europol’s 2025 Internet Organized Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA) indicates E2EE (end-to-end encrypted) apps as an obstacle to investigations
• The report also calls for better rules on metadata collection and tracking
• This comes as the EU Commission has unveiled a new plan to create a roadmap for lawful and effective access to data for law enforcement

Criminals are increasingly exploiting end-to-end encrypted apps to impede police investigations, according to Europol’s 2025 Internet Organized Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA).

The report also warns that current metadata collection practices are too limited, further complicating the work of law enforcement. This is why Europol highlights the need to establish lawful access by design to encrypted communications, alongside EU standards for the targeted retention and access to metadata.

Europol's recommendations echo the EU Commission's plan for creating an encryption backdoor for law enforcement – something experts are said to be "deeply concerned" about.

The encryption conundrum

Online services, like the best VPN, email, messaging apps, and other apps, employ end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to guarantee your communications remain private between the sender and the receiver – end-to-end.

"Technically, E2EE blocks service providers from accessing communication content, rendering warrants for lawful access unserviceable within the EU. This creates a lack of visibility of, and ability to investigate, criminal activity," reads Europol's IOCTA report.

Encryption is the tech responsible for scrambling the content of internet connections into an unreadable form to prevent unauthorized access. (Image credit: Getty Images)

This isn't the first time that Europol has expressed its concerns about the use of encrypted technologies. Talking to the Financial Times in January, the group's chief, Catherine De Bolle, said that anonymity isn't a fundamental right and law enforcement should be able to decrypt encrypted messages to fight back crime.

Technologists, cryptographers, and other experts, however, have long argued against the risks of undermining encryption protections. According to the industry, an encryption backdoor for law enforcement will inevitably compromise the security of all.

Recent cyberattacks have demonstrated the need for strong encryption protections. For example, last year's Salt Typhoon incident targeting all major US telecoms led to US authorities warning all citizens to switch to encryption.

This may be one of the reasons why proposed legislations that seek to undermine encryption keep failing. Most recently, France rejected a new encryption backdoor provision in March, with Florida doing the same in May. EU lawmakers keep disagreeing on the Chat Control proposal, too, after three years of trying.

The new target, metadata

"When content is blocked by E2EE, metadata becomes essential for mapping networks and identifying suspects. However, the current legislative landscape lacks harmonized rules, and this results in fragmented national policies," reads Europol's IOCTA report.

Metadata refers to all pieces of information that aren't the content. This includes IP addresses, location, phone numbers, who you have spoken with, and when, but also the size of your data packets, the patterns they move to, timestamps, and so on.

Thanks also to AI-powered tools, metadata tracking is enabling law enforcement (or any other third party with the necessary skills) to get a pretty accurate picture of people's online behaviors even without accessing the encrypted content.

Authorities know that, and that's why they are pushing for new data retention obligations to be enforced. "Crucial metadata, such as subscriber information or IP logs, is often subject to short or inconsistent retention periods," said the Europol assessment, advocating for clear standards "for the targeted retention and/or expedited access to essential metadata."

Again, that's something technologists have long warned against, and that could make the work of no-log VPN and other privacy software impossible.

Law enforcement has begun realizing what the industry known for a while – metadata privacy matters (Image credit: J Studios/via Getty Images)

As mentioned, Europol isn't the only group pushing for greater access to users' encrypted data and their identities.

The EU is also working on lawful and effective access to data for law enforcement – the so-called ProtectEU strategy, which seems to follow recommendations collected as part of the EU Going Dark initiative.

The plan includes a roadmap to encryption alongside an evaluation to expand data retention obligations for service providers, as well. Experts have so far criticized such a plan and have asked to play a key role in this debate.

While taking a different approach against encryption backdoors, Switzerland is also considering amending its surveillance law to force online service providers to retain certain users' metadata. This has opened up a debate in the country over the need for online anonymity, with the likes of Proton and NymVPN vowing to leave Switzerland if the new rules pass.

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• Zoomcar filed a new 8-K form with the SEC confirming cyberattack
• It found out about the attack from the threat actors
• Over 8 million users could have had their personal data stolen

Car sharing marketplace Zoomcar has suffered a cyberattack in which it lost sensitive information on millions of customers.

In a new 8-K form filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company said it was made aware of the attack on June 9, 2025, and a subsequent investigation determined the threat actors managed to steal, “a limited dataset containing certain personal information of a subset of approximately 8.4 million users”.

That includes people’s names, phone numbers, car registration numbers, postal addresses, and email addresses - but at this time, Zoomcar says it has no reason to believe financial information, passwords, or other sensitive identifiers were compromised.

No disruption

Responding to the attack, the company activated its incident response plan, and took “immediate action” to contain the threat.

This was apparently too little too late, though, as the company was actually made aware of the incident by the threat actors themselves.

Zoomcar said they hackers reached out to “certain employees” claiming to have made the breach, suggesting they dwelled on the systems long enough to exfiltrate whatever information they sought.

It wasn’t explained why the attackers reached out to their victims, but it’s safe to assume they demanded payment in exchange for deleting the stolen files. T

he wording of the 8-K filing suggests Zoomcar did not pay any ransom. Instead, it implemented “additional safeguards” across the cloud and internal network, increased system monitoring, and reviewed access controls.

Furthermore, it brought in a third-party cybersecurity expert for further assistance, and notified regulators and the police about the incident.

“To date, the incident has not resulted in any material disruption to the company’s operations,” Zoomcar concluded.

However, the company continues to evaluate the scope and potential impacts of the event, including legal, financial, and reputational considerations, as well as any associated remediation costs.

Via TechCrunch

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