Technology

• Stripe OLT found ModHeader v7.0.18 carried a hidden spyware SDK, exfiltrating visited domains daily to a Chinese‑owned server and acting as adware
• The extension had 1.6M downloads across Chrome and Edge before being pulled but installed endpoints remain at risk
• Researchers urge defenders to identify and remove existing installations, as removal from stores does not automatically remediate compromised devices

ModHeader, a trusted Chrome and Edge browser extension with more than 1.6 million downloads, was found to be malicious, apparently sending sensitive data to a Chinese-owned server, and has since been pulled on both repositories.

Security researchers Stripe OLT revealed the news in a new report, outlining how a ModHeader build v7.0.18 carried a hidden spyware SDK.

As per Stripe OLT, the spyware collects domains users visit, encrypts the data with AES-GCP, and then sends it - once a day - to a remote server. The collector was found inactive by default, but the required code, encryption key, and upload schedule were all already embedded in the extension.

Links to Chinese actors

Researchers found no command-and-control functionality, which means the server only receives the stolen data and cannot communicate back. The extension also worked as an adware, displaying ads and opening advertising tabs on updates, including on enterprise-managed devices.

The researchers attributed the attack, albeit with low confidence, to a Chinese-speaking threat actor. The exfiltration domain routes emails through Lark, which is a suite common with Chinese-speaking teams, it was said. They also found Chinese strings in the code, and said that the listing ships a Simplified Chinese locale.

ModHeader is a Chrome and Edge browser extension that allows users to modify HTTP request and response headers sent between their browser and websites. Developers and security researchers use it to test APIs, troubleshoot applications, and simulate different environments. It has around 900,000 users on Chrome, and another 700,000 on Edge.

According to The Hacker News, Microsoft pulled the tool from its repository on June 3 2026, followed by Google a week later, on July 10.

“Following our disclosure, Google has removed the extension from the Chrome Web Store,” Stripe OLT concluded. “We welcome this action, but removal from the store does not automatically remediate endpoints where the extension was already installed, so defenders should continue to identify and remove existing installations.”

A group of publishers says Google engaged in a prolific and unprecedented infringement of copyrighted materials.

Google Images has evolved from early text-to-image queries to today's multimodal AI experiences.

In an effort to increase my step count while working from home, I tested popular walking pads from Egofit and Costway.

• ShinyHunters abused OAuth trust in Salesforce by tricking users and later compromising SaaS integrations, stealing tokens to access hundreds of customer environments
• Reports suggested up to 700 victims; attackers exfiltrated data via legitimate APIs, making activity appear normal and persistent
• Microsoft responded with Defender for Cloud Apps upgrades, adding richer telemetry, near‑real‑time detection, and stronger governance over OAuth‑connected applications

The ShinyHunters cybercrime group were so creative in breaking into corporate Salesforce environments that they forced Microsoft’s hand, making the company introduce new security upgrades just to address the attacks.

Microsoft has revealed it is focusing on improving visibility into OAuth-connected applications and strengthening governance over third-party integrations in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. The changes fall into two main categories: Improved detection and investigation, and new posture and governance capabilities.

It makes sense, given that some reports claimed as many as 700 victims of the year-long campaign.

Changes and improvements

But first, a little context: In August 2025, it was reported that ShinyHunters operatives were calling their targets on the phone, claiming to be IT support, and convincing them to authorize a seemingly legitimate Salesforce Data Loader application. This app was, in fact, controlled by the attackers and requested OAuth permissions which allowed them to access Salesforce data through official APIs.

Since everything happened through legitimate authentication and API calls, the activity looked like normal user behavior.

In the following months, the campaign evolved. Instead of tricking individual employees, ShinyHunters compromised third-party SaaS providers that integrated with Salesforce, including Salesloft's Drift integration, Gainsight, and later Klue.

By stealing OAuth tokens or integration secrets from these vendors, they accessed hundreds of downstream customer Salesforce environments without interacting with each customer individually.

At one point, Google told reporters it was aware of more than 700 potentially impacted organizations.

“Microsoft consulted with Salesforce to improve granularity in telemetry for Defender for Cloud Apps with near-real-time detection, offering connected application attribution and expanded application permission insights,” the company said in a new report. “This activity was not the result of a vulnerability inherent to Salesforce. Rather, the threat actors abused trusted OAuth relationships for unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and persistence.”

In other words, Microsoft enabled greater visibility into OAuth-connected applications and their activity, allowed for better detection of suspicious API and OAuth behavior through richer telemetry and correlation, and now provides stronger governance of connected apps through permission analysis, risk scoring, and lifecycle management.

We reviewed the Bambu Lab P2S and found it "about as refined as they come" for anyone upgrading from an entry-level 3D printer.

So, I was pleased to see the Bambu Lab P2S Combo with AMS 2 Pro is $699 (was $799) at Bambu Lab — a $100 saving on a fully enclosed CoreXY printer built for multi-color, engineering-grade work. In the UK, the Bambu Lab P2S Combo also got a discount down to £619 (was £699) at Bambu Lab.

In our testing, we ran the machine constantly for weeks with very little in the way of failures or misprints, and it was clear that many of the features — the touchscreen, the AI error detection, the general polish — had trickled down from Bambu's pricier X1 Carbon and H2D machines.

Today's top Bambu Lab 3D printer deal

Enclosed CoreXY 3D printer with a 256 x 256 x 256mm build volume, 600mm/s peak print speed, PMSM servo extruder (8.5kg extrusion force), AI-powered error detection, and a 5-inch touchscreen. The Combo adds the AMS 2 Pro, a four-color multi-material system with active filament drying.

In the UK: now £619 (was £699)View Deal

Scoring 4.5 stars in our review with a Highly Recommended award, we called the P2S "absolutely superb" and "about as refined as they come". It's a follow-up to the best-selling P1S, and we found the upgrades meaningful rather than just cosmetic.

The PMSM servo extruder is the standout hardware change. It delivers up to 8.5kg of maximum extrusion force — 70% more than the outgoing stepper-driven design — and samples resistance and position at 20kHz, so it can catch filament grinding or clogs in real time rather than letting a print fail silently. Combined with a high-frequency eddy current sensor for flow calibration, this printer is built to handle tricky or higher-flow materials with greater consistency than its predecessor.

The AMS 2 Pro included in this Combo bundle is worth the extra cost on its own. It's a four-spool multi-material system with active air-vent drying, sealed storage, and RFID filament sync with Bambu's own spools — useful if you print with moisture-sensitive materials like nylon or want to avoid the usual dry-box shuffle. It can double as a filament dryer even when you're not actively printing multi-color jobs.

Build quality elsewhere follows the same pattern of small, sensible refinements: hardened steel rods in place of the P1S's carbon rods, a metal build plate base, a quick-swap nozzle system that releases with a single clip, and a full enclosure with an Active Airflow system that draws in cool air for low-temp filaments like PLA, then switches to internal circulation to keep the chamber warm for higher-temp materials like ABS or ASA.

Worth considering: the P2S doesn't have an actively heated chamber, so while the enclosure holds heat reasonably well (around 50°C with a 100°C bed in our testing), it's not built for demanding high-temperature engineering filaments like PA-CF or PEEK the way Bambu's H-series machines are. Multi-color printing with the AMS still produces some filament waste from purging between color changes, and full remote-monitoring features depend on staying connected to Bambu's cloud — LAN-only mode works for printing but drops those extras.

For more top-performers, see our guide to the best 3D printers we've tested.

Also consider: More Bambu Lab 3D printer deals

The A1 Mini scored top marks in our 5-star review, earning an Editor's Choice award. We called it "nothing more than groundbreaking."

In the UK: now £239 (was £259)

Read our Bambu Lab A1 Mini reviewView Deal

This is what the P2S replaces, but it's still a solid pick at a superb price. While we haven't reviewed the Bambu Lab P1S, we gave its open enclosure counterpart the P1P 5 stars in our review.

In the UK: was £319 (now £339)View Deal

Our top-rated 3D printer overall. It's a particularly good choice for small businesses and crafters, as one of the bundles includes a laser engraver, plotter, and cutter for crafting.

In the UK: now £1399 (was £1649)

Read our Bambu Lab H2D reviewView Deal

• US: See all 3D printer deals at Bambu Lab
• UK: See the 3D printer sale at Bambu Lab

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been out for just over a year now, and it’s had a fascinating start to life.

It’s undoubtedly been a commercial success, becoming the second-fastest selling console in recorded US history, and it’s already seen its fair share of hits, whether that be the phenomenon that is Pokémon Pokopia or the 2025 Game of the Year nominee, Donkey Kong Bananza. But some are still unconvinced.

It’s not a stretch to say that, in spite of its high sales, the console has been highly contentious among gamers. While many speak with positivity about the Switch 2, there have been criticisms around the consoles battery life and performance, for instance.

Some gamers have also noted concerns around the lack of big first party hitters, such as a brand new 3D Mario, a new entry in the Legend of Zelda series (rather than a remake), and the system’s slightly patchy release schedule for 2026. Bundle that with some high-priced software and incoming console price rises, and I can see why some fans are yet to be won over.

My thoughts: a brief summary

(Image credit: Future / Nintendo)

In my personal opinion, though, the Switch 2 has had a pretty strong start. Growing up, I saw the messy launch of consoles such as the PlayStation 3, and the simply woeful launch titles for its successor, the PlayStation 4 and its counterpart, the Xbox One. Meanwhile, the Switch 2 has some great multiplayer fun in titles like Mario Kart World and Kirby Air Riders, some exceptional single player experiences like the aforementioned Donkey Kong and Pokémon games, and a healthy dosage of third-party support to boot.

What’s more, I’d argue that performance is pretty strong, and with a 1080p 120fps display for handheld mode, it no longer feels like I’m sacrificing too much quality just to play without my TV. Throw in 4K visuals in docked mode, far comfier Joy Con 2 controllers, and surprisingly good virtual surround sound, and I for one am happy with the hardware upgrade brought to the table by Nintendo’s new hybrid console.

I do wish that some games were a little more affordable — $79.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95 for a physical copy of Mario Kart World definitely feels excessive, even with modern pricing standards. And I really wish the console’s battery life was a bit better too, even if I have found a workaround of sorts.

All in all, though, I’ve had a great first year with the Switch 2, and its prolific sales are there for all to see. But I’m not just here to share my view — there’s something else I’m far more interested in.

Tell us what you think about the Switch 2

(Image credit: Future / Nintendo)

That’s right: TechRadar Gaming wants to hear from you.

I’ve briefly spoken about some contentious points, but I want to gauge the thoughts and feelings of all of you out there. Do you think the Nintendo Switch 2 has been a hit or a flop?

Below, you’ll find a poll, where you can tell us what you think.

However, I’m also really keen to draw some specifics from our readers. If you’d like, you can comment below and make your voice heard — has the Switch 2 been a disappointment for you? Is it already among the console elite? We want to hear it all — and your comments may even feature in an upcoming article!

Whether you're craving international treats or healthy ingredients that won't cause a sugar crash, these subscription boxes are CNET's favorites.

MelGeek Made68 Ultra V2: One-minute review

The MelGeek Made68 Ultra V2 is a wired analog keyboard with a retro design that belies its advanced analog adjustability.

It certainly harks back to a time when the ‘gamer aesthetic’ was in full swing, with its translucent keycaps and faux-industrial body. The rear and side lighting are interesting touches, though.

It’s also a veritable slab of a keyboard. It’s very thick, although it gets thinner towards the front, which means the keys angle towards the user slightly. This is just as well, since the Made68 Ultra V2 doesn’t have any pop-out feet, as many of the best gaming keyboards do.

The materials feel premium enough and solidly put together. It’s heavy, which helps the board to stay planted, but this could be an issue if you frequently move your board around.

Although the Made68 Ultra V2 has bright RGB backlighting, it’s a misstep that it doesn’t shine through the keycap characters. In fact, it actively obscures them, so you’d best get familiar with touchtyping if you aren’t already.

(Image credit: Future)

There are plenty of useful FN shortcuts, but unfortunately none of them is labelled on the relevant keycap, so you’ll have to refer to the manual and learn them by heart.

If you want to customize bindings, you can use MelGeek’s web app for this purpose. There are plenty of options here, but it’s the precise and copious analog adjustments that are even more impressive.This app is easily accessible via two taps of the Mode button on the rear, which is a thoughtful touch and one I wish more gaming keyboards featured. For a web app, it’s also very fast and stable.

In a word, the best way to describe the performance of the Made68 Ultra V2 is solid. The keys don’t wobble at all, and presses are firm with a satisfying thunk once they reach the end of their travel. This provides plenty of feedback, while the dampening is sufficient enough to prevent harshness. At the same time, they’re also very snappy and responsive, thanks to their quick rebound.

I also found the WASD position comfortable, and all peripheral keys were easy and comfortable to hit. I did find myself hitting its edge on occasion, but its springiness and dampening still make it better than many others I’ve encountered.

All of this performance and adjustability doesn’t come cheap, though. The Made68 Ultra V2 is more expensive than many of its rivals — even those with bigger names, which makes the Made68 Ultra V2’s price harder to swallow. But if you prize a sturdy construction and a solid feel above all else, there aren’t many that can beat it on these fronts.

MelGeek Made68 Ultra V2 review: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future)

• $219 (about £160 / AU$300)
• Available now in multiple colorways
• Top-of-the-sector pricing

The MelGeek Made68 Ultra V2 costs $219 (about £160 / AU$300) and is available now in multiple colorways from the brand’s website. International shipping is offered, with region-dependent charges.

This is expensive for any wired gaming keyboard, even analog models. It’s costlier than some offerings from the big hitters in the space, such as Razer and SteelSeries. For instance, the former’s Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz costs $169.99, yet it has similar analog tweakability and even includes controller emulation, which the Made68 Ultra V2 misses out on.

As for SteelSeries, its Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 is also cheaper than the Made68 Ultra V2, and what’s more it’s one of the best analog gaming keyboards I’ve ever used in terms of build and performance. Its keys feel great and offer superb control. It might miss out on controller emulation, but it shines in virtually every other area.

MelGeek Made68 Ultra V2 review: Specs

Layout

TKL

Switch

KOM Lite Magnetic / Flip King Magnetic

Programmable keys

Yes

Dimensions

12.6 x 4.6 x 1.6 inches / 319 x 117 x 40mm

RGB or backlighting

Yes (customizable)

MelGeek Made68 Ultra V2 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Retro looks
• Very thick and heavy
• Advanced customization options

I think it’s fair to say that the appearance of the Made68 Ultra V2 will prove divisive. Some may view it as charmingly retro, while others will think it dated. The translucent keycaps allow the switches underneath to be seen and let the RGB shine through. The effect is nice, but it does look like something we might have seen 20 years ago.

The frame is also a throwback to a time when gaming peripherals had an industrial bent, with its metallic side plates and sharp corners. However, the large rectangular lightbar adds some interest, and I haven’t seen anything like this before on a keyboard. The same is true of the side light bars, so the Made68 Ultra V2 at least has something to distinguish it from others in the space.

(Image credit: Future)

Complementing that sharp and angular appearance is its thickness. This tapers off somewhat towards the front, which has the effect of tilting the keys towards you. This is a good thing, since the Made68 Ultra V2 has no folding feet, although I still would’ve welcomed some to create even more of an angle.

Perhaps the sheer weight of the unit is the reason for this absence. Whether this is a flaw or a feature will likely depend on personal preferences. If you want a solid, planted feel, then you may well appreciate its heft; however, if you move your board around frequently, or take it with you on your travels, you won’t.

There are numerous Fn shortcuts on the Made68 Ultra V2, although it’s a shame that none of them is marked on the keycaps themselves, which means you’ll have to commit them to memory.

But even if they were marked, you’d be hard pressed to see them, since the RGB backlighting fails to shine through the keycap characters. In fact, it actively obscures them; turning off the backlighting actually makes the keycap symbols easier to read, which defeats the point of the feature in the first place. This is perhaps the biggest design flaw of the Made68 Ultra V2.

(Image credit: Future)

If you want to customize these shortcuts, and rebind all the other keys, you’ll need to use MelGeek’s web app. This is easily accessed by double-tapping the Mode button on the rear of the board, which is a thoughtful touch and one I wish every keyboard featured. There are plenty of system and media commands available for mapping, but it's the analog features and adjustments that really stand out here.

Take the multi-binding features. There’s a counter-strafing mode that triggers a second input when releasing a key; so if you’re holding A to strafe left, you can set this same key to trigger a D input when released to stop you quicker. There’s also a Rappy Snappy mode that gives priority to a single input when two keys are pressed depending on which is pressed further down.

There are a pleasing amount of actuation adjustments, too. You can set the actuation point between 0.1mm and 3.3mm, and even alter the deadzone at the bottom of a key’s travel between 0mm and 0.07mm, which is something I haven’t seen before in other keyboards.

(Image credit: Future)

The Rapid Trigger mode also offers plenty of scope for meeting the demands of pro gamers. There’s an adaptive mode with three presets to choose from: Stable, Balanced, or Agile. But if you’re a tinkerer, there’s a manual mode with sliders for adjusting up- and downstrokes independently. These have a large range of 0.01mm to 2.4mm and increments of one hundredth of a millimeter. There’s also a Continuous Rapid Trigger mode, where a key only deactivates when you fully release the key, rather than merely releasing above your predefined actuation point.

This level of analog adjustability is very welcome. It’s a small shame, however, that there’s no controller emulation feature, as some other analog gaming keyboards have. But given the inconsistent effectiveness of such modes, I’m not too disappointed about its absence here.

I often find web apps less effective than standalone software, but I’m pleased to report that MelGeek’s is a fine example of the former. It’s fast, stable, and easy to use, thanks to its uncluttered layout and explanations of its various features. The only real drawback is the lack of visualization; I find this helps to inform all my actuation-related adjustments by letting me see their effects in real time.

MelGeek Made68 Ultra V2 review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Solid yet snappy keys
• Reasonably comfortable WASD position
• Great for typing

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the Made68 Ultra V2 is its key feel. The keys have no play to them and fire straight as an arrow. This makes them very secure, a feeling that’s bolstered by their mild but noticeable indentations. Their surface is pleasantly smooth without compromising traction.

Equally gratifying is the solid thud when the keys hit the end of their travel. There’s just enough dampening here to avoid them feeling harsh, and they still only require a light touch. They also rebound with impressive alacrity, which makes them feel snappy and responsive.

This combination of solid and springy means the Made68 Ultra V2 offers speed and control in equal parts, and makes it just as suitable for typing as it does for gaming. I made far fewer typos than I usually do with keycaps this tall and narrow, which is testament to the keyboard’s precise action.

Thanks to the forward tilt of the keys, the WASD position was comfortable, and reaching the outer keys was easy. I found myself hitting the edge of the space bar on occasion, but its lightness, feedback, and springiness made up for this. It’s a joy to use and one of the best I’ve experienced. I still wished the angle of the keys was a little steeper, though, and I would’ve welcomed a wrist rest for longer sessions to compensate for the thickness of the unit.

Should I buy the MelGeek Made68 Ultra V2?Scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Very expensive, even for an analog gaming keyboard. Equally capable boards from bigger names are sometimes cheaper.

2.5 / 5

Design and features

Very heavy and sturdy with a retro appeal. Plenty of customizations are available thanks to the web app.

3.5 / 5

Performance

The solid yet snappy keys are excellent for gaming and typing. The angle of the board is a bit too shallow, though.

4 / 5

Overall rating

The Made68 Ultra V2 is a high-performing and highly adjustable analog keyboard. But its faults are hard to excuse at this price point.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if…

You want solid keys
The thud of the keys is always satisfying, while their lightness and snappy rebound makes them easy to use.

You want plenty of customizations
Aside from controller emulation, the Made68 Ultra V2 has all the analog features you could wish for.

Don't buy it if…

You’re on a budget
Despite MelGeek being a relatively unknown brand, the Made68 Ultra V2 commands a premium price tag that would make even the big names blush.

You can’t touchtype
You’ll struggle to see the key markings when the RGB backlighting is on, which defeats the point.

MelGeek Made68 Ultra V2 review: Also consider

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
In terms of sheer performance, the Apex Pro is one of the best analog gaming keyboards I’ve ever used. The feedback of the keys allows for precise control of inputs, while the myriad adjustments and customizations allow you to get the perfect setup. It’s also built very well, and is slightly cheaper than the Made68 Ultra V2. Read our full SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 review.

Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz
Another analog keyboard with a smorgasbord of adjustments and features, the Huntsman is a very competent performer. It perhaps doesn’t have the same satisfying feel as the Made68 Ultra V2, but it’s considerably cheaper. Read our full Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz review.

How I tested the MelGeek Made68 Ultra V2

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for several days
• Used for gaming and working
• Plentiful gaming keyboard experience

I tested the Made68 Ultra V2 for several days, during which time I used it for gaming, working, and general browsing.

I played games such as Counter-Strike 2, which is a stern test for peripherals, given the demands it places on speed and precision.

I’ve been using gaming keyboards for years, and have reviewed a large number of them, across all manner of price points, switch types, and form factors.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: July 2026

• The PlayStation and Xbox One versions of Dying Light: The Beast have been cancelled
• Techland says the game "was built from the ground up to take full advantage of current-generation hardware"
• The decision "reflected the technical realities of development and our commitment to delivering the best possible experience"

Techland has announced that Dying Light: The Beast will no longer be released for last-generation consoles.

The latest entry in the survival horror series launched in September last year for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC, and it was Techland's plan to eventually bring the game to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One at a later date.

Now, in a statement shared on X today, the studio confirmed that it has "made the difficult decision" to cancel the ports "after careful consideration."

"Dying Light: The Beast was built from the ground up to take full advantage of current-generation hardware. Its open world, advanced visuals, and fluid combat and traversal all depend on processing power and memory that previous-generation consoles simply cannot provide," Techland said.

"As development progressed, it became clear that bringing the game to those platforms would require compromises that would prevent us from delivering the experience we set out to create."

It continued, saying the decision wasn't a "matter of choosing to leave those platforms behind" but rather one that "reflected the technical realities of development and our commitment to delivering the best possible experience."

"We know many of you were looking forward to playing on PS4 or Xbox One, and we are truly sorry for the disappointment this causes. Anyone who was expecting to play on either platform will be eligible for a refund. Thank you for your understanding and continued support."

In TechRadar Gaming's Dying Light: The Beast review, reviewer Christian Guyton said the game "went from potential expansion to a fully-fledged sequel, and although its origins are on full display in its narrative and protagonist, it never feels constrained by them."

"It’s not reinventing the wheel," Guyton wrote. "Techland has a solid formula that mixes traditional open-world action sandbox elements with a solid parkour-based movement system and high enemy density, so it’s understandable that The Beast wouldn’t be too much of a deviation from the norm. Still, the new setting is a breath of fresh air, and it still feels fantastic to dropkick a zombie off a roof."

A new edition of the game, Dying Light: The Beast Restored Land, was released earlier this year and included the base game, all post-launch content, and the 'Restored Land' survival mode.

• Three-year contract won't be renewed, police officials claim
• Data and privacy concerns have been cited
• Flock cameras have faced a backlash from a privacy-concerned public

Officials from the Los Angeles Police Department have told the Los Angeles Times that its contract with surveillance camera company Flock will not be renewed due to "serious concerns" around privacy and the data they gather.

The cameras, which are owned by Flock and used by more than 5,000 law enforcement agencies across the US, scan and track billions of vehicle license plates every month, with the resulting data used by police departments to help make arrests and build cases.

However, there has been widespread public backlash due to privacy concerns, with some residents taking matters into their own hands. Recently, an Air Force engineer from Virginia has been accused of cutting down 13 Flock cameras over a six-month period.

According to Military.com, privacy advocates across the country have donated more than $15,000 (about £11,220 / AU$21,660) to the accused's legal defense.

What's more, developers have created a free online mapping tool that allows US drivers to plot routes that actively avoid areas with a dense population of Flock cameras.

The LAPD's chief information officer, Dean Gialamas, told reporters that the contract was not being renewed due to "serious concerns around civil liberties and civil rights issues, particularly around privacy and the data that is being collected from these cameras."

Gialamas added that he hoped the data, privacy, security, and sharing concerns would eventually be "ironed out through a contractual relationship." There is currently no word on whether Flock's cameras will continue to record and distribute data in the meantime.

Analysis: The public fights back

(Image credit: Getty Images / Leonardo)

Flock's network of some 80,000 cameras in the US has been chastised by data privacy advocates, with the likes of 404 Media carrying out numerous investigations that highlight how easy it is for this surveillance data to fall into the wrong hands.

According to TechCrunch, researchers have also identified an increase in the number of documented cases where motorists have been pulled over, detained, and even jailed due to false positives and errors with license plate readers.

We also recently reported that an investigation by the Electronic Frontier Foundation found that more than 50 federal, state, and local agencies ran hundreds of searches through Flock's national network of surveillance data in connection with protest activity.

One motoring journalist in the US was even tracked for days and eventually 'boxed in' by police over a Flock-based mix-up with the license plates attached to the press loan vehicle he was driving.

As public distrust in Flock's safety cameras mounts, we could see more agencies follow LAPD's lead in pushing back on the technology.

If you're building or upgrading a PCIe Gen 5 system, this is one of the fastest consumer drives you can buy. Right now, the 2TB WD_Black SN8100 is $400 (was $440) at Amazon, a $40 savings on a drive that tops out at nearly 15,000 MB/s.

That speed matters most for large sequential transfers — moving big game installs, video files, or disk images — where you'll actually see the difference over a Gen 4 drive.

For typical everyday use like booting Windows or opening applications, the gains over a good Gen 4 SSD are much smaller, since most everyday tasks don't come close to saturating even Gen 4 bandwidth. But if you're running video editing projects, AI applications, and games, the difference will be immediately noticeable.

Today's top WD-Black SSD deal

PCIe Gen 5x4 NVMe SSD in the M.2 2280 form factor, rated for up to 14,900MB/s sequential read and 14,000MB/s sequential write. Non-heatsink version, for systems with their own M.2 cooling or motherboard-integrated heatsinks.View Deal

The SN8100 is WD's flagship consumer drive, built on SanDisk's latest PCIe Gen 5 controller and 3D NAND. Its rated 14,900MB/s read speed puts it near the top of the current consumer SSD market, and it's one of the drives we recommend as a best-overall pick for anyone with a Gen 5-capable motherboard looking to actually use that bandwidth rather than leave it on the table with an older Gen 4 drive.

This is the non-heatsink version, which is the right call if your motherboard already includes an M.2 heatsink or shroud over the Gen 5 slot (increasingly common on recent boards) — stacking a drive heatsink underneath an integrated one can trap heat rather than dissipate it.

If your board doesn't have one built in, factor in the cost of a separate M.2 heatsink, since Gen 5 drives run hot under sustained load and can thermal-throttle without adequate cooling.

One honest caveat: PCIe Gen 5 drives like this only reach their rated speeds on a motherboard and CPU platform with genuine Gen 5 M.2 support — check your board's specs before buying, since plugging this into a Gen 4 slot caps performance at Gen 4 speeds and makes the premium harder to justify.

If you have a Gen 5-ready system and want genuinely top-tier storage speed, the SN8100 is a strong buy.

For more savings, see our round-up of all the current best SSD deals.

• NSA, FBI, CISA, and 15 allied agencies warn Russia’s FSB Center 16 is exploiting weak/default credentials and old Cisco flaws to compromise critical infrastructure devices
• Advisory highlights CVE‑2018‑0171 (Smart Install DoS/RCE) and CVE‑2008‑412813 (CSRF in Cisco IOS 12.4) as examples of vulnerabilities still being abused
• TTPs overlap with Chinese groups but attribution points to Russian actors like Berserk Bear and Energetic Bear; full IoCs and mitigations were published in the joint advisory

Russian state-sponsored threat actors are continuously targeting broken and poorly configured networking devices belonging to critical infrastructure providers all around the world, a joint security advisory published by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and more than a dozen other agencies has warned.

As per the advisory, hackers working for the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Center 16 are constantly scanning for routers and other internet-connected devices that can be accessed with “common or default” login credentials.

Once found, these devices are instructed to copy device configuration files and later exfiltrate them via the Trivial File Transfer Protocol to servers under their control.

Berserk Bear and Salt Typhoon

In cases where default or weak credentials don’t work, the threat actors also try to exploit vulnerabilities. In the advisory, the agencies specifically mentioned two flaws in Cisco devices - CVE-2018-0171 and CVE-2008-412813. The former is an eight-year-old bug in the Smart Install feature of Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software that allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition, or to execute arbitrary code.

The latter is an even older (18 years old) set of multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the HTTP Administration component in Cisco IOS 12.4 on the 871 Integrated Services Router that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands.

Even though many of these tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) overlap with Chinese hackers Salt Typhoon, the agencies suggested they are primarily focusing on Russian hackers known as Berserk Bear, Energetic Bear, Crouching Yeti, Dragonfly, Ghost Blizzard, or Static Tundra.

The joint advisory is co-authored by the NSA, FBI, and CISA, as well as 15 other agencies from Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Estonia, Finland, France, and Italy.

Dreame Z30 Pro Aqua: two-minute review

The Dreame Z30 Pro Aqua is one of those products that leaves you feeling both impressed and slightly perplexed. No question, this is an impressive cordless stick vac with suction powerful enough to deal with everything from fine dust to larger debris, especially when used on carpet. However, while the provided multi-floor head is well engineered, I do wish Dreame had included its clever GapFree hard floor head as featured with the Dreame V20 Pro, which I consider a much better bet for hard floor sweeping.

Battery life is a respectable 35 minutes or so in Auto mode, and the whole machine feels fairly light in the hand, well balanced and easy enough to maneuver. Whether you're tackling carpets or rugs, it performs with the confidence you'd expect from what is essentially a flagship model. However, it’s not the best hard-floor model I’ve seen, at least when it comes to picking up larger debris.

While its detachable mopping unit is a class leader at collecting accidental spills and lifting everyday grime, its twin water tanks are simply too small to support cleaning across an entire home without frequent refills. As a result, it feels more like a maintenance tool than a genuine wet-cleaning solution, making it best suited to localized cleaning and single-room mopping rather than cleaning the floors of an entire house.

I'm not convinced by Dreame's docking solution, either. Instead of the elegant wall-mounted charging docks offered by some rivals, the Z30 Pro Aqua comes with an ungainly stand featuring a collection of bolt-on accessory holders. It's undeniably practical, but it looks more like an afterthought than something designed to complement a modern home. Put another way, you may want to tuck this stand well out of sight.

Nevertheless, strip away the awkward storage system and you’re still left with a very decent cordless vacuum cleaner and exemplary spot mopper for occasional household mishaps.

Dreame Z30 Pro Aqua review: price & availability

• List price: £549 (about $730 / AU$1,060)
• Launched: May 2026
• Availability: UK and Europe

The Dreame Z30 Pro Aqua sits firmly in the premium end of the cordless vacuum market. In the UK, its official retail price is a lofty £549 (about $730 / AU$1,060) but Dreame is currently selling it for a more reasonable £479 (about $640 / AU$920). Across Europe, pricing varies by country but generally lands at around €479.

While you can purchase the vac-only Z30 variant in the USA, the Z30 Pro Aqua we’re reviewing here hasn't been officially released over there yet, though Dreame is expected to bring the Pro Aqua (or a similar wet-dry variation) Stateside sometime later in 2026.

The Z30 Pro Aqua is competing against some seriously capable cordless cleaners and, while its vacuuming credentials are generally excellent, you are paying a premium for a mopping system that doesn't quite live up to the rest of the package. Unless your hard-floor cleaning needs are limited to quick maintenance mops, you may find better value elsewhere.

One alternative is to buy a stick vacuum and a dedicated wet-dry floor cleaner separately. Pairing something like the Dreame R20 (around £179 in the UK) or Shark PowerDetect (around £330) with a specialist floor washer such as the Dreame H15 Pro, Tineco Floor One S7 Pro or Roborock F25 Ultra will deliver much better range for whole-home mopping without constant refills and emptying. Yes, you'll need storage space for two appliances, but you'll also end up with a far more capable cleaning setup that excels at every task instead of compromising on either.

• Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

Dreame Z30 Pro Aqua specs

Type

Cordless vacuum with wet-and-dry unit

Bagged / bagless

Bagless

Weight

7.72lbs / 3.5kg

Bin size

20.2 fl oz / 0.6 litre

Max runtime

Claimed 90 mins in Eco mode

Max suction

310 AW (28,000Pa)

Clean water tank:

13.5 fl oz / 400ml

Dirty water tank:

10.8 fl oz / 320ml

Hot air drying time

30 mins

Hot air drying temperature

158F / 70C

Charging time

4 hours

Tools

TangleCut Multi-Surface Brush, AquaCycle 2.0 Wet Cleaning Brush, wide fluff tool, crevice tool, dusting bush

Noise level

90dB

Dreame Z30 Pro Aqua review: design

• Elegant hand unit
• Impressive suction stats
• Unattractive docking system

(Image credit: Future)

There are two main floor-cleaning disciplines — vacuuming and mopping — and both require a completely different approach. For vacuuming of hard floors and carpet you obviously need a vacuum cleaner — preferably of the cordless stick variety — but when it comes to mopping hard floors you have several choices.

There’s obviously the classic mop and bucket (which reigns supreme despite the paraphernalia and elbow grease required), a large handful of paper towels for liquid spills, or the good old damp tea towel for either messy spills or general hard floor cleaning. However, I know of a more practical solution and it’s called a cordless hard floor cleaner or, for want of a better description, a wet-dry vacuum cleaner.

These machines use a self-dampened spinning roller to quite literally suck up liquid spills of almost every variety — even vomit and puppy wee if you can handle the thought — depositing the disgusting mess into a large dirty water tank which is then emptied into the toilet bowl while holding one’s nose.

The big bonus with wet-dry vacs is that they cleverly eliminate the need for a bucket of water or any other accoutrements, so when you’re faced with a liquid spill, you simply grab the machine, run it over the mess a few times and return it to its charging plinth where it undergoes a robust self-cleaning regime in readiness for the next calamity.

Of course, these handy home helpers are also sterling floor moppers in general, removing most stains and grime off kitchen and bathroom floors in record time. However, the upshot is that you end up with two machines cluttering the home, which is where this all-in-one vaccy-moppy model from Dreame comes into the equation.

Before I discuss the Dreame Z30 Pro Aqua’s versatile list of credentials, I must chip in with a quick caveat regarding its looks. Attired in Dreame’s usual posh rose gold bling, the Z30 Pro Aqua’s main vacuum unit is actually very stylish and elegant but I can’t say the same for the storage system-cum-charging-and-mop-cleaning plinth, which is so ugly that even Dreame is shying away from making a song and dance about it on its web page.

I’m struggling to think of what this tangled melange of bendy pipes and bolted-on plastic accessory holders looks like but it’s quite an eyesore that you will definitely want to hide deep in the recesses of the utility room – or at the very least well away from any living areas.

(Image credit: Future)

The Z30 Pro Aqua’s charging system entails pushing the suction tube into a pair of arm clamps until they click shut, and it’s a bit of wobbly affair it must be said. But here’s the thing — the suction tube needs to be attached to the mopping head because the charging contacts don’t line up if docked with the vacuum head. Given that most of the time you’ll be using the vacuuming function, I think this is a major oversight because it requires having to change the vacuum head to the mopping head every time you dock the unit. Anyway, to remove the unit, you simply push back against the clamps to release it.

I’ve never been a fan of multiple accessories, but this one comes with a mini banquet, namely the obligatory dusting brush, flat head and crevice nozzle, which all clip into the charging base assembly. However, it’s not very often that I’m able to attach any of the detail tools to the storage post without fiddling about with the connectors. There’s only one way to insert them and even this requires wiggling the accessory until you finally locate the correct entry angle. This is not such a good thing when you’re in the middle of a clean and you’re swapping tools like a plumber fixing a leaky pipe.

(Image credit: Future)

Disappointingly, you get just one universal brush head with this machine, and not the clever edge-cleaning hard floor-specific head that shipped with the excellent Dreame V20 Pro stick vac. Yes, I know that would perhaps be one accessory too many but I’d be happy to find someone to store it, mostly because it’s so good at cleaning right to the very edge of skirting boards.

The 8.6-inch (22cm) brush head itself is essentially a solid, molded cylinder with protruding paddles, each with a soft nylon bristle attached. Despite its simplicity, it makes an extremely good fist of beating dust out of carpets but it feels and sounds too rigid for hard floors. On the plus side, the brush head is easy to maneuver around furniture legs and I like the suction reduction vent on the front of the head which is handy on deeper pile carpet. A full blue beam of blue light, meanwhile, illuminates detritus when sweeping in darker areas, though it’s not a patch on Dyson’s Lazer Dust Detection system.

(Image credit: Future)

This leads me to the last part of this unusual entry into the world of floor cleaning – the detachable mop head. Unlike purpose-built wet-dry hard floor cleaners like the class-leading Roborock 25 Ultra – which comes with a large 33.8 fl oz (1L) clean water tank and 24.3 fl oz (720ml) dirty water reservoir – the Z30 Pro Aqua’s detachable mop head is equipped with a titchy 13.5 fl oz (400ml) fresh water tank, an even smaller 10.8 fl oz (320ml) one for the filthy stuff and, uniquely, a separate collection box for solid debris.

(Image credit: Future)

Unlike dedicated electro moppers that port all muck — liquid and solid — into one large container for pouring into the toilet, this one separates the waste into liquid and solids. I can see the reasoning behind it if one were to use the sink for disposing the contents because it keeps the solid stuff aside for emptying into the kitchen bin by simply lifting out the solids container.

Granted, the mop system is self cleaning, but this process uses most of the water in the tank so you’ll likely need a refill for the self-cleaning process followed by yet another refill and emptying session before you can take it out on its next run. On the plus side, the front-mounted wooly spinning mop head – thicker and more absorbent than others I’ve seen – is thoroughly cleaned and then dried on its bucket-shaped base for 30 minutes using hot air at a very effective 158F (70C).

(Image credit: Future)

Let’s take a closer look at the engine room of this new vac-and-mop system. The handheld unit alone weighs 5lb (2.3kg) and 7.7lb (3.5kg) with the suction tube and floor head attached. This is the exact same combined weight as the Dyson Gen5Detect, and par for the course given its larger-than-average 20.3 fl oz (0.6L) dust bin capacity. To empty the bin, you simply tap a side button and it lifts off the unit to be taken to the bin and emptied by pressing another button to eject all detritus. In terms of suction power, the Z30 Pro Aqua produces a whopping 28,000 Pascals – more than enough oomph for deep-pile carpet cleaning duties.

The Z30 Pro Aqua’s hand unit doesn’t come with a trigger. Instead you press the On button and choose from Auto (which increases suction automatically when heavy deposits of dust are detected), Eco or Turbo. You can see which mode you’re in by looking at the circular display which, incidentally, also illustrates the levels of debris being collected in Auto mode, a bit like a Dyson only nowhere near as bright or as readable.

Dreame’s 90-minute running time is based on it being in Eco mode on hard floor and that may be true or taken with a pinch of salt. However I have always used Auto mode, for which I got about 35 minutes of suction and/or mopping when running the unit on a hard wooden floor. That’s not too bad for a stick vac in auto mode — I’ve seen worse.

(Image credit: Future)

I’ll end this chapter with a shout out to the rose gold suction tube that bends 90 degrees for reaching under sofas and beds. If I’m not mistaken, Shark was the first to produce an articulating suction tube. It’s a great feature to have, mostly because it saves having to get on one’s knees when cleaning under low-slung furnishings.

My final thoughts on the design of the Z30 Pro Aqua? Firstly, build quality is excellent throughout. The main unit feels reassuringly solid without becoming too cumbersome, while the large transparent dust bin, easy-release battery and intuitive controls all contribute to a very premium vacuuming experience.

In essence, it looks to me like this product was created mostly for vacuuming, but with the ability to clean up small spills and odd stains as and when they occur. I don’t think it’s a valid alternative to a dedicated wet-dry vacuum cleaner which is suitable for cleaning a whole home. But, hey, if the concept of a multipurpose two-in-one floor cleaner floats your boat then by all means go ahead. Just be aware that you may not be able to mop more than half a large kitchen before having to perform an empty-and-refill session.

• Design score: 4 out of 5

Dreame Z30 Pro Aqua review: performance

• Exceptional carpet performance
• Not as efficient on hard floors
• Perfect for spot mopping

Aside from some daily vacuuming and low-level mopping, I also set up three performance tests for the Dreame Z30 Pro Aqua: carpet and hard floor vacuuming using a variety of dry ingredients, including rice, partly broken cornflakes, oats and flour; and hard floor mopping using a splash of milk and a few cornflakes. For both tests I set the suction mode to Auto, which adjusts the power according to the amount of dust and dirt the built-in sensor detects.

(Image credit: Future)

The result for the hard floor test in my kitchen was about average. It certainly wasn’t a match for my Dyson Gen5Detect with its hard floor-specific attachment fitted. Although it collected the cornflakes, oats and flour well enough, the Z30 scattered more rice than it should have. I put this unexceptional performance down to the design of the universal brush head which doesn’t seem particularly well suited to hard floors. It also sounded a wee bit clattery as if it was crying out for a smooth velveteen brush roller. A very good reason, me thinks, for Dreame to include its excellent GapFree hard floor-specific head with this product.

(Image credit: Future)

The carpet test, on the other hand, was a much rosier picture. In fac, I’d say that the Z30 may well be one of the better carpet sweepers on the market since it had no issues collecting everything in a single stroke bar a few obstreperous grains of rice. It also left no trace of flour, even when examined close up. The Z30 has also proved very adept at collecting huge amounts of Labrador hair during its general cleaning routines.

(Image credit: Future)

For my final test I grabbed the mopping unit, filled it with fresh water and introduced it to some spilled milk and soggy cornflakes. Blow me down with a feather! This thing performed exceedingly well in this test, collecting every last flake of corn and all the milk in a single pass. I put this down to the material used for the roller which is thick, dense, and has a slightly grippy feel. In fact, I also noticed the effectiveness of this roller during standard mopping duties because it dealt with general stains and floor marks with consummate aplomb. I have also been impressed by how well the mop has steered around furniture and how it can be angled to over 90˚ for tight areas.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreame Z30 Pro Aqua?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

The Z30 Pro Aqua is expensive, but its powerful vacuuming and integrated mopping may justify the outlay for some households, though not everyone.

3.5 / 5

Design

An intriguing combo for those after a two-in-one floor-cleaning solution but the jury’s out on the ungainly look of the mop-cleaning dock.

4 / 5

Performance

This isn’t the best option for hard floors but it’s excellent on carpet. And while its mop is intended for short bursts, it’s surprisingly excellent at cleaning up stains and spills.

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want decent vacuuming performance

Powerful suction and an effective floor head make light work of carpets, rugs and, to a lesser degree, hard floors.

You need to perform occasional spot mopping

This model is just the ticket for quick mopping duties.

You love premium build quality

The Z30 Pro Aqua feels every bit like a flagship appliance, with solid construction and refined ergonomics.

Don't buy it if...

You need to perform whole-home mopping

The mop unit’s small clean and dirty water tanks limit how much floor you can tackle before stopping for a refill.

You have an eye for aesthetics

The stand works okay, but its bulky, ugly design and silly charging system are a let down.

You don’t need a mopping system

This may not be the model for you.View Deal

How I tested the Dreame Z30 Pro Aqua

After I’d had my eyes abused by the sight of this model’s convoluted dock design, I managed to find somewhere out of sight to store it before embarking on a series of tests. Aside from a two week period of using it for general cleaning purposes – at which it mostly excelled – I set up a couple of challenging vacuum tests, plus a mopping test using a liquid spill.

I also evaluated its weight in the hand and overall maneuverability on both carpet and hard floors – the mopping attachment is especially impressive in this department. However, on even closer inspection of the dock, I still maintain that there’s work to do in improving its looks and functionality, especially the disappointing charging system that only works if the mopping head is attached. But, hey, each to their own.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed July 2026

Ninja makes some of the best air fryers on the market, but considering how easy these appliances are to use, it sure is difficult to figure out which one to buy. This brand's air fryer range has grown to incorporate dozens of models with different capacities and capabilities.

We've tested ... okay not all, but a decent number of them, so we're in an ideal position to help. The good news is they almost always score highly in our tests, which means you're unlikely to come away disappointed, whichever one you go for.

However, some models will be better suited to your needs than others. Below, I've rounded up all the Ninja air fryers that we've tested and recommend, and which are still available — and if you hit the 'View details' button you can see exactly what we thought of each one. Skip to the bottom of the page for some top tips on how to choose the right one for your kitchen.

Let's fry, let's fry away Ninja Double Stack XL 9.5L Air Fryer SL400UK

Read our full review

Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer Convection Oven Toaster

Read our full review

Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer

Read our full review

Ninja Crispi

Read our full review

Ninja Crispi Pro Glass Air Fryer

Read our full review

Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer

Read our full review

Ninja AF300UK Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer

Read our full review

Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer Air Fryer 10.4L

Read our full review

Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone Air Fryer AF400UK

Read our full review

Ninja DCT451 12-in-1 Smart Double Oven Air Fryer

Read our full review

Ninja Air Fryer Max AF160

Read our full review

How do I choose?

If you're feeding larger numbers or want to create multi-component meals (and have enough counter space), look at the Foodi Dual Zone options — these feature-packed air fryers have two drawers that can be set to different temperatures, and the machine will sync up cooking for you so the food in both sections is ready at the same time. Or, for the same functionality but a smaller footprint, you can't beat the Double Stack, which puts one drawer on top of the other (there are a few capacities available).

Those with small kitchens should consider a Crispi model. These have an innovative design that's essentially a glass container onto which an air fryer hat attaches. The containers can be used as serving or storage dishes, for maximum versatility.

If you don't just want an air fryer, plenty of Ninja's appliances double up as different kinds of cooker. One of the most versatile additions to the range is the French Door Air Fryer, which offers 10 cooking modes and can fit a whole roast or pizza inside. Alternatively, you have things like the 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer, which come with a range of accessories including a griddle plate for an authentic chargrilled finish.

If you're still feeling overwhelmed, I don't blame you. There's a lot of overlap between what these air fryers can do, so I'd start by looking at how much space you have on your counter, and how much capacity you need in your air fryer, and use those requirements to narrow your options down.

Artificial intelligence has quickly become the boardroom's favorite solution. From forecasting and reporting to scenario planning and budgeting, finance leaders are under growing pressure to demonstrate how AI can improve efficiency and drive better decisions.

But against the rush to adopt AI, many organizations are overlooking a fundamental truth: that AI is only as effective as the systems, processes and data that support it.

This is particularly true in finance, where many teams continue to rely on fragmented technology stacks, disconnected data sources and spreadsheet-heavy workflows. While AI promises to automate analysis and surface deeper insights, it cannot compensate for weak foundations. In fact, it often does the opposite, exposing issues that previously remained hidden beneath layers of manual work.

The reality is that many finance functions are less prepared for AI than they realize.

The spreadsheet problem AI cannot solve:

Spreadsheets remain deeply embedded within enterprise finance. They are familiar, flexible and accessible. However, they were never designed to serve as the backbone of modern financial planning and analysis for large enterprises.

In many organizations, critical forecasting models, budgeting processes and reporting workflows are still maintained across countless spreadsheets, often with limited governance and varying levels of accuracy. Data is copied between systems, formulas evolve over time, and key assumptions can become difficult to trace.

Introducing AI into this environment does not eliminate these challenges. It amplifies them.

If an AI model is drawing insights from inconsistent data sources or outdated spreadsheets, it will simply generate the wrong answer faster. Automated recommendations may appear sophisticated, but their reliability is ultimately determined by the quality and integrity of the underlying information.

This is why the familiar principle of ‘garbage in, garbage out’ remains so relevant to finance teams today.

Why finance teams may be overestimating their AI readiness:

Many organizations assess AI readiness by evaluating tools. They ask whether they have access to the latest models, whether employees are using generative AI and AI agents, or whether automation opportunities exist within their workflows.

Far fewer assess the quality of the infrastructure feeding those systems.

True AI readiness starts with questions such as:

• Is financial data consistent across systems?
• Can teams trust the numbers they are working with?
• Are planning, reporting and forecasting processes standardized?
• Is there a single source of truth for business performance?

If the answer to these questions is unclear, AI adoption risks introducing new complexity rather than delivering meaningful value.

The challenge is not a lack of ambition; most finance leaders recognize the potential of AI. The challenge is that many organizations are attempting to build advanced capabilities on top of foundations that were never designed to support them.

Data quality is becoming a strategic priority:

As AI becomes more embedded within finance operations, data quality is shifting from an operational concern to a strategic business priority.

Finance teams have long spent significant amounts of time gathering, reconciling and validating data before analysis can even begin. AI has the potential to reduce that burden, but only when the underlying information is accurate, connected and accessible.

Organizations that invest in modern finance infrastructure gain a significant advantage. Centralized platforms, integrated data environments and standardized planning processes create the conditions necessary for AI to deliver meaningful outcomes. They also improve transparency, governance and trust in financial decision-making.

Without these foundations, AI initiatives risk becoming expensive experiments that fail to deliver lasting value.

Building the foundations before scaling AI:

The future of finance undoubtedly involves AI. The technology's ability to improve forecasting, accelerate reporting and support more strategic decision-making is too significant to ignore.

However, the organizations that realize the greatest benefits will not necessarily be those that adopt AI first. They will be those that prepare for it properly.

Before automating processes or deploying new AI capabilities, finance leaders should take a closer look at the systems supporting their operations. Are they creating a trusted, connected and scalable environment for decision-making, or are they simply digitizing existing inefficiencies? AI is a powerful multiplier, but multipliers work in both directions.

For finance teams still relying on fragmented systems and spreadsheet-driven processes, the priority should not be adopting AI faster. It should be strengthening the infrastructure that allows AI to succeed.

Because AI will not fix weak finance foundations. It will expose them.

We've featured the best AI tool.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

Researchers at the University of Toronto have demonstrated a computer worm that reasons its way across a network, working out a different attack for each machine it lands on, with no humans involved.

Much of the coverage has called this a breakthrough in demonstrating how the AI worm can target any online device, but that capability has been visible on the horizon for anyone watching the criminal underground.

What the paper does is settle the argument about whether it is buildable and, in doing so, reopens three issues most internet security teams would rather not confront directly.

The first of these is cost, and this is the story that matters. Building attacks aimed at specific systems used to be slow and expensive, requiring skilled operators.

That expense is one reason many mid-sized organizations were largely ignored - they were not worth the engineering effort. The Toronto worm removes that constraint by running an open-weight model on the GPUs of machines it has already compromised.

Devices too weak to host a model send their reasoning upstream to an infected node elsewhere on the network. The attacker’s compute bill is paid by the victims, and each captured machine extends the worm’s own infrastructure.

Once tailored attacks cost almost nothing, being uninteresting stops protecting you. Being reachable starts to matter far more than being interesting.

Patching complications

The next issue, patch management, is where things become a little more complicated. Traditionally, when a conventional worm would ride a specific vulnerability, the conventional response would be to patch it, and the worm would die. WannaCry spread across more than 150 countries in 2017 on a single flaw, reinforcing the lesson that rapid patching limits damage.

This worm, however, does not give defenders a single flaw to patch. It reasons out a different route per host, and in one experiment, when copies repeatedly failed on older systems because of a detection bug, the parent process identified the failing check, removed it, and tried again. You cannot rely on closing a single door against something that rewrites its approach as it goes.

And finally, and more worryingly, the worm was able to consume newly published security advisories during execution and generate attacks against vulnerabilities that did not exist when the underlying model was trained. That challenges the assumption that knowledge cutoffs meaningfully constrain offensive AI.

If the model can read today’s advisory and reason from it, the training date matters far less than many assume.

Working, with limitations

However, its limitations deserve to be stated plainly. Exploitation attempts succeeded 44 percent of the time, and the researchers noted that most failures were malformed payloads rather than flawed reasoning.

It was also slow. Yet according to the researchers, across fifteen experiments the worm obtained elevated access on about 74 percent of hosts, replicated onto roughly 62 percent, and reached seven generations of self-replication within a week.

A 44 percent success rate that continually retries is not a wall the threat runs into. It is a baseline, and that baseline tracks what open-weight models can do today, a capability that has so far moved in one direction.

Another underappreciated point is that the model runs inside an environment the attacker controls. That makes many of the safety mechanisms discussed by AI vendors (refusals, filters, and rate limits), largely irrelevant. There is nothing to rate-limit when inference is occurring on infrastructure the attacker already owns.

If your AI risk model assumes a platform provider will enforce guardrails, this is a scenario that will bypass them entirely.

Plan around the attacker

What to do about it is less dramatic than the threat itself. Keep patching. The problem is that patching was already a treadmill against capable adversaries, and this only makes the treadmill faster.

The more effective solution is to plan around an attacker that eventually gets in and adapts once inside. Segmentation and containment, for instance, should take priority over chasing individual vulnerabilities. If the entry point can be almost anything, then the critical question becomes how far an intrusion can spread.

There is also the issue of exposure. A worm like this will seek the easiest foothold first, just as human operators do. These can include leaked credentials, forgotten infrastructure, internet-facing services, or access already circulating in criminal markets.

Monitoring external exposure is primarily about buying time, rather than preventing compromise entirely, which is precisely what an autonomous attacker is designed to take away.

The worm remained in the lab, and the code is gated for defensive researchers, which was the right decision. But academic containment is not quite the same as reassurance.

The economics that once shielded many organizations are weakening, the patch-it-and-move-on model is losing effectiveness, and some researchers and practitioners are placing operationally relevant autonomous attacks within roughly twelve to eighteen months.

Therefore, the question we should be asking is whether to take this seriously now, on your terms, or later, on an attacker's.

We've reviewed and ranked the best endpoint protection software suites.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

• Real Housewives of London season 2 will stream on Hayu from September 7
• Core cast Juliet Angus, Amanda Cronin, Karen Loderick-Peace, Juliet Mayhew, Panthea Parker and Nessie Welschinger are returning
• New episodes promise ' shifting alliances, mounting tensions and unmissable moments'

Look lively, reality TV fans: Real Housewives of London season 2 is set to return to Hayu on September 7.

According to NBCUniversal, housewives Juliet Angus, Amanda Cronin, Karen Loderick-Peace, Juliet Mayhew, Panthea Parker and Nessie Welschinger are all returning, and "old friendships are tested, new loyalties are questioned and even the most glamorous postcode cannot contain the drama."

The synopsis continues, "Picking up in the aftermath of a fracturing off-camera dinner, the women attempt to move forward through charity galas, Fashion Week front rows, Lunar New Year celebrations and a jaw-dropping trip to Antigua."

Following the September 7 premiere, remaining episodes are set to drop weekly. With 10 episodes in total, the season will culminate with a reunion special hosted by author and podcaster Katherine Ryan.

It's this final detail that I have the biggest problem with... and I'm desperately hoping that the hit series doesn't repeat the same mistake that so many of the international versions have year-on-year.

Opinion: Real Housewives needs to change its reunion show format ASAP

I would apologize for being a hater, but really it stands me in good stead to be a Housewife myself. After streaming multiple episodes of catty VTs, explosive showdowns and domestic setups that truly boggle the mind, I often feel my shoulders sink when the reunion show rolls around.

Essentially, a host will sit the entire cast down in a live studio format to recap the drama of episodes past, getting their individual takes on what happened and if anything has changed since filming.

If you loathe overly edited and contrived TV scenes like I do, this is an absolute nightmare. It's part and parcel of the Real Housewives IP that drama is both heightened and engineered, but reunion shows channel this in the most inorganic way possible.

At least if someone is having a fight at a restaurant on a kitchen island, they're genuinely in the moment — they're not having to perform their emotions too much because they're feeling them in real time. But raking back over the past is merely a way to create a viral moment rather than engaging television.

Instead, I'd prefer it if the reunions were scrapped altogether to allow the next season (which hasn't been greenlit in this instance) to come sooner rather than later.

Real Housewives of London season 3 isn't going to be a bad decision for anyone, so what are we waiting for?

• Kodak PixPro FZ45 and FZ55 top best-selling lists in multiple regions
• They are currently the most popular models at Amazon US and elsewhere
• Prices start from as little as $100 / £90 / AU$145

Camera fans might expect Sony or Canon to top the best-selling charts, but for outright popularity beyond various high-end categories, you'll have to set your sights a little lower, to humble point-and-shoots.

Over recent years, two particularly cheap digital compact cameras have been flying off Amazon US shelves, and from other retailers across the world such as Yodobashi Camera in Japan. They are the Kodak PixPro FZ55 (pictured above) and PixPro FZ45. Other models such as the waterproof PixPro WPZ2 are also in the picture.

The major reason why these PixPro models are so popular is pretty obvious — you'll struggle to find another digital camera with genuine 4x optical zoom for less than the PixPro FZ45's approximate price of $100 / £90 / AU$145. Or one with a 5x optical zoom and built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery that costs less than the PixPro FZ55.

Both pocketable models shoot 16MP stills and HD video onto SD card, and come in a range of colorways, including black, white, blue and pink.

These cameras are no mere trend — they have dominated best-selling lists month after month, year after year, just when we thought that such cheap cameras had had been replaced by camera phones. So what's really going on here?

Another popular Kodak is the fully waterproof PixPro WPZ2, which we found surprisingly good for the price (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)A surprising truth behind the name, and shopping habits

In addition to the low price point and immediate availability of these PixPro models, the trust in the Kodak name has to be a factor for casual buyers. After all, Kodak is one of the most recognizable names in photography, from its roots in making popular camera film through to pioneering digital camera tech.

However, there's something that you might not know about Kodak today. The original Kodak — Eastman Kodak, which dates back 138 years — stopped its production lines of consumer digital cameras long ago, and due to crippling debts it may not survive at all.

Today, Kodak is instead one of a string of legendary photography brands (alongside Yashica, Rollei, Agfa, Minolta and more), who have licensed their names to third-parties, who are largely manufacturing low-cost digital cameras. The outfit manufacturing the PixPro FZ45 and FZ55 is in fact JK Imaging Ltd, which has less of a ring to it.

There's something further going on here, too: a general rise in camera sales spearheaded by compact cameras, a pushback against always-connected tech, and burgeoning privacy concerns.

A camera such as the PixPro FZ55 shoots directly onto local storage, an SD card. It's not connected to the cloud. It's simple, it's lo-fi, and the kind of tech being embraced by Gen Z.

Will you get better quality photos using these Kodak point-and-shoot compact cameras over your phone? Absolutely not. Even a basic mid range phone will take better snaps.

What you will get, however, is the nostalgic simple pleasure in the simple act of taking everyday snaps, the data of which you are in complete control of.

Whenever we review mini PCs in our studio, we always perform two key tests: first, we see how well the machine handles 4K editing in Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. Second, we play a range of games, from DiRT Rally to AAA titles like Hogwarts Legacy and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

So, for my latest roundup, I've focused on some of the best-value mini PCs we've tested for video editing and gaming, including the GMKtec K16 for $640 (was $950) at Amazon and the Geekom A8 Max for $949 (was $1099).

Alongside these machines, which support either OCuLink or USB4 for hooking up an eGPU, I've also selected some graphics card docking stations and a power supply unit, all geared towards productivity, gaming, and content creation.

Top mini PC deals for gaming & video editing

The GMKtec K16 mini PC delivers Ryzen 7 7735HS performance with 32GB LPDDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD. Featuring OCuLink eGPU support, triple-display output, dual 2.5GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, and USB4, it’s a versatile compact system for gaming and creative workloads.

Read our full reviewView Deal

The A8 MAX packs Ryzen 9 8945HS power, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD into a compact mini PC. With USB4, dual 2.5GbE LAN, and 8K output, it’s built for AI, design, gaming, and productivity.

Read our full reviewView Deal

The K8 Plus packs a Ryzen 7 8845HS processor, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD for gaming, editing, and demanding workloads. With OCuLink eGPU support, dual 2.5GbE LAN, USB4, and 8K display output, it’s a powerful compact desktop alternative.

Read our full reviewView Deal

External GPU docks & power supply

The DEG2 eGPU Dock supports both OCuLink and USB4 V2/TB5 connectivity, enabling flexible GPU upgrades. It adds ATX/SFX PSU compatibility, 2.5GbE networking, USB ports, and an M.2 slot for a versatile desktop expansion hub.View Deal

The DEG1 eGPU Dock turns compatible mini PCs into powerful gaming systems with OCuLink PCIe 4.0 connectivity. Its open design supports ATX/SFX power supplies, offering a flexible, affordable external graphics upgrade.View Deal

The SF750 is a compact 750W SFX power supply with 80 Plus Platinum efficiency, ATX 3.1 compliance, and PCIe 5.1 readiness. Its fully modular design, quiet PWM fan, and premium components make it ideal for powerful small-form-factor gaming PCs.View Deal

Two of the featured mini PCs above include OCuLink connectivity, making them ideal for users who want the lowest-latency, highest-bandwidth connection to an external graphics card.

The first of those, the GMKtec K16, packs an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS, 32GB of LPDDR5 memory, and a 1TB SSD into a compact chassis.

Its native OCuLink support provides high-performance eGPU connectivity, alongside USB4, dual 2.5GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, and triple-display output. It’s ideal for gaming and content creation. Usually priced at $950, it's currently available for $640 on Amazon.

Powered by AMD’s Ryzen 7 8845HS processor, the GMKtec K8 Plus combines 32GB of DDR5 memory with a spacious 2TB SSD for fast performance in gaming, video editing, and multitasking.

OCuLink support here enables external GPU upgrades, while dual 2.5GbE networking and HDMI 2.1 deliver excellent connectivity for high-performance desktop setups. That will usually set you back $940 but is now $810.

Finally, the Geekom A8 Max, high high-speed USB4 support, is a powerful mini PC featuring AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processing, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD.

Built for AI workloads, creative tasks, and gaming, it offers USB4, dual 2.5GbE LAN, 8K display support, quiet cooling, and expandable storage in a compact desktop alternative. That usually sells for $1,099, but it's currently just $949.

I’ve also included two external GPU docks from Minisforum. The DEG1 costs $109 and is designed for OCuLink, while the DEG2 (normally $300 now under $240) supports both OCuLink and USB4.

Both make it easy to connect a desktop graphics card to your mini PC, dramatically boosting gaming frame rates, accelerating video rendering, and improving AI-assisted creative workloads without sacrificing the compact footprint that makes these systems so appealing.

Finally, no eGPU setup is complete without a reliable power supply. For reference, running an RTX 5080 card needs about 360W power, so that’s why I’ve also picked out a high-capacity Corsair SF750 PSU (normally $200 but currently $160). It has enough headroom to comfortably power today’s flagship graphics cards, like the GeForce RTX 5090, while leaving plenty of room for future upgrades.

I’ll likely revisit this roundup in the coming weeks as prices change and new deals emerge, but for now, these are some of the best deals for anyone looking to build a compact workstation or gaming rig without maxing out their credit card.

For more top-performance devices, check out our guide to the best mini PCs.