TechRadar News

Telecommunications is an inherently data-driven industry. Traditionally, great focus has been placed on gaining data visibility into the core and transit areas of the network. This approach has provided valuable insights for throughput optimizations, speed, and general performance.

Regardless of promises of speed, customers are mainly concerned about whether or not they’re able to watch streaming services, play live games, and connect with colleagues and loved ones via video calling - sometimes simultaneously. To solve for optimized performance and a great customer experience, telecommunication companies are shifting their focus toward further enhancing their last-mile visibility.

Historically, service providers have used the last-mile data they collect to identify the worst-performing connections and pinpoint the group of customers most at risk of churning to another provider. However, if approached correctly, last-mile performance intelligence can offer more than just a way to mitigate churn.

Today, when consumers visit the marketing and sign-up pages of telcos or internet service providers, they are typically presented with maps showing broad network coverage and similar pricing between providers, indicative of both the competitiveness of the telecommunications landscape and the utility-like nature of many of its services. On paper, there is often little to differentiate providers from a marketing perspective.

This is where the opportunity lies. Service providers are in a unique position by virtue of owning and operating the networks that connect users with the applications and services they’ve come to rely on in their daily lives. By rethinking their relationship with last-mile data, additional benefits - beyond customer retention - are ripe for the taking when it comes to intelligent fault diagnosis, customer communication, and differentiated services.

How incomplete last-mile data can impact decisions

One of the most important aspects of data-driven decision-making is that the source data underpinning the decision is clean, comprehensive, and has good lineage. This goes to its quality and reliability as the foundation for decision-making.

With more comprehensive last-mile data, service providers and carriers can make better informed decisions regarding new product launches, network planning, capacity, and capital allocation. For example, telcos and service providers will make significant moves around optimization of services for the needs of specific market segments - such as gaming, or industrial companies with IoT needs, and so on.

This kind of optimization has long been a promise of network slicing technology, and many telcos and providers now have this in their arsenal. Yet, the biggest challenge may be determining the best customer cohorts to target with this level of optimized services. This is a problem that is addressable in part by having more comprehensive last-mile data to analyze and base these decisions on.

Incomplete last-mile data also makes it harder to determine where a proposed investment in network infrastructure or capacity would have the biggest performance improvement. By contrast, in circumstances where the telco or service provider is collecting last-mile data from every active service, from every home or premises, they have a much more comprehensive understanding of how their services land, and where improvements most need to be made.

Last-mile intelligence as a differentiator

Telcos and service providers have always had options available to them to collect last-mile data: whether that’s TR-069 on customer premises equipment, or specific broadband monitoring boxes.

The key opportunity ahead lies in the improved capability within service provider environments to correlate and use last-mile intelligence.

For instance, last-mile network intelligence can significantly enhance the ability to deploy maintenance strategies proactively. By continuously monitoring the last-mile connections, service providers can identify potential issues before they escalate into major problems, reducing downtime and improving overall service reliability. This proactive approach not only helps in maintaining customer satisfaction but also reduces operational costs associated with emergency repairs and customer support.

Service providers can also use last-mile insight to analyze usage patterns and preferences to tailor their offerings for a higher level of personalization that can lead to deeper customer satisfaction and loyalty, as customers feel their specific needs are being met.

In a market where pricing and coverage are often similar, last-mile intelligence can be a key differentiator. Service providers that can demonstrate superior last-mile performance through transparent reporting, value-add services, and customer testimonials can gain a competitive edge. This transparency builds trust and can be a deciding factor for customers choosing between providers.

Where will richer data take you?

With insights into all last-mile connections, service providers can access a valuable dataset that has long been overlooked. This knowledge can enhance customer experience and inform a wider range of commercial decisions, resulting in comprehensive strategies that are supported by a clearer understanding of the last-mile situation and the needs of their subscribers.

We rate the best network monitoring tool.

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

Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) has become a hot commodity, with companies around the world enjoying access to multiple rapidly-growing, full-spectrum data marketplaces provided by the likes of IBM and Google, as well as S&P Global, Snowflake, and others.

What is underpinning their rising popularity is the fact that hedge funds, investors, and financial services companies are increasingly discovering how they can leverage these rich datasets to make informed decisions.

Governments around the world have also been quick to adopt DaaS practices, especially when it comes to data monetization drives in such fields as health care and smart city projects.

My aim with this article is to explain what DaaS is, what it is packing “under the hood”, and what data collection alternatives are currently available to businesses and organizations.

What is DaaS?

In a nutshell, Data-as-a-Service is a cloud-based type of software that provides users with multi-source data on demand via APIs, rather than as a standalone product. In other words, by paying a subscription fee based on data usage, businesses gain access to numerous data sets rated by other users, making it easy for them to find what they need.

DaaS facilitates the consolidation of enterprise data in one place and, unlike other data management frameworks, doesn’t require users to have extensive on-premises IT infrastructure or expertise to store, manage, retrieve, and otherwise handle massive amounts of data. As of 2024, there are a total of 60 publicly traded DaaS companies.

As with any other technology, DaaS comes with its own set of pros and cons. On the pro side, it has been used to reduce licensing costs, streamline workloads by leveraging cloud services, speed up software development, create enterprise benchmarking reports, and boost the efficiency of business intelligence.

DaaS’s cons, meanwhile, include risks like data privacy breaches, security violations when dealing with sensitive data, and the low quality of granular, niche data types.

What powers DaaS?

DaaS makes extensive use of alternative data. How do we define that though? Traditional data can be defined as pretty much all publicly available, structured data produced under legal and official supervision. This would include data from statistics departments, press releases, financial statements, and so forth.

Alternative data, on the other hand, is typically unstructured, stored in multiple different formats (from blocks of text to video clips), and extracted for specific purposes. Some businesses — particularly financial services and investment companies — are highly reliant on exactly this type of data already. A key reason for this is that alternative data often contains unique investment signals that aren’t present in its traditional counterpart.

The most common method of collecting alternative data is called web scraping, which dates back to around 1989. In basic terms, web scraping uses specialized software to copy large amounts of unstructured public data from websites automatically and transfer it to a central database or spreadsheet, where it is converted into structured data, for later analysis. This form of data gathering is arguably the main engine behind the power of DaaS marketplaces.

Web scraping has been rapidly rising in popularity over the past decade. As global competition continues to heat up, more and more companies are turning to web scraping to make better-informed business decisions and gain an edge over their market opponents. And with vast amounts of data being generated every single day — around 2.5 quintillion bytes, to be precise — the ways of collecting alternative data and putting it to good use are potentially limitless.

To sum up, DaaS marketplaces often use web scraping to collect alternative data, which may contain unique signals, and provide their customers with powerful cloud infrastructure they can use to analyze it according to their individual needs.

SaaS, DaaS, or… ?

Businesses and organizations have three ways of acquiring the alternative data they need. Let’s take a brief look at each in turn.

Web scraping with SaaS

The first method entails the use of web scraping software (e.g., via a customized scraper API) and an ethical proxy network from a reliable provider. This in-house approach comes with a substantial learning curve and requires a good deal of maintenance — e.g., when a website changes its HTML structure and content, the scraping pipelines can break. There are also potential legal issues, such as accidentally scraping sensitive data.

The main benefit of web scraping with SaaS is that you actually control the data you get. Which means that it’s easier to control its quality, to target specific data, and to maintain security, privacy, and compliance, especially if you’re gathering sensitive information. In addition, you get your data fast, at relatively low cost, and it comes in a structured form.

Buying ready-made datasets

The second method is to buy ready-made datasets that match your needs. While this does mean that you’ll be dependent on a specific vendor (or vendors) for updates and support, as well as somewhat limited customization options, you also get many benefits. For instance, since you’re buying a finished product, you can start using it immediately — no in-house data collection required, and no infrastructure-related overhead.

Ready-made datasets are relatively cheap, as licensing or subscription fees replace substantial upfront investments. Additionally, since you’re getting your data pre-packaged by a reputable vendor, it’s going to be of high quality. This is because companies that sell datasets use various data validation techniques to ensure its accuracy.

Sourcing from a DaaS marketplace

Finally, you may opt for getting your data from a DaaS marketplace, which combines data collection, storage, and management. Since we’ve already covered “vanilla” DaaS, it might be worthwhile mentioning Big Data-as-a-Service (BDaaS) here. In basic terms, what you get with BDaaS is not simply more data, but also a whole data analytics package designed to help companies extract the insights they need.

Given that, according to current projections, the BDaaS market value will reach over $52 billion by 2026, you might want to keep an eye on this in the future. For now, however, if you don’t have much experience in working with data, it’s probably best to sit this one out.

Final word

Ultimately, which method is best depends on your needs. Can you get the data you require in the form of standalone datasets? Does it make sense to collect it yourself using a custom SaaS web scraper? Or perhaps you need access to larger pools of data via something like BDaaS?

Before making that all important decision, make sure you’ve established exactly what type of data you actually require, and what is the easiest, most cost-effective way of obtaining it.

We list the cheapest proxy services.

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

• New website
• New panel
• New products

A2 Hosting is now hosting.com with a whole new website, promising new features and an updated hosting panel.

Hosting.com started life as A2 Hosting in 2001. The (old) name is a reflection of the place where it all started, Ann Arbour, in Michigan. The company was founded by Bryan Muthig and grew into a successful hosting company hosting 2M+ websites in over 40+ locations.

On the surprise transition, CEO Seb De Lamos said, "Super excited that A2 Hosting which for so long has been this paramount of hosting performance, amazing customer support, and so much more, that we've been able to take it and turn it into something which takes it to the next level."

The move is a reflection of the growth that Hosting.com has sustained and is purported to boost the brand increasing global recognition and build a larger interconnected community which will provide more opportunities to connect and learn.

Different name same values

Change can be scary but Hosting.com reassures users, "while our name is changing, our dedication to providing fantastic support and the reliable products you've come to expect remains the same." Adding, "You'll still have access to the same robust hosting solutions and the same team of experts ready to assist you 24/7."

In a blog post, Hosting.com stresses that this isn't about abandoning roots but rather expanding and growing the business on a global stage. The core values of reliability, speed, and customer satisfaction at the heart of A2 Hosting remain in Hosting.com.

Along with the different name, Hosting.com says other changes include greater resources which will be invested in infrastructure and technology to better support customer needs.

There will also be a new hosting panel. At first glance and a poke around the website a lot seems to have changed. Product names are new, the features included in plans are different and older products like dedicated hosting are hidden from the home page.

(Image credit: Hosting.com)

Hidden services still exist, you just need to find them via site:hosting.com via Google because they're not readily available from the home page. For example, one Hosting.com user reported to be disappointed with not being able to find Node.js hosting but a quick site:hosting.com "Node.js" reveals that this is still a service from Hosting.com.

This is a significant rebrand for Hosting.com and I'm looking forward to reviewing new products and services and seeing whether the changes can deliver on the promise of enhanced hosting features and infrastructure of an already well known and liked host.

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• Meta has launched a new standalone app for its Meta AI assistant, powered by Llama 4
• The app connects across Meta platforms and devices, including Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses
• The Meta AI personalizes its behavior based on your Instagram and Facebook activity

Meta AI is moving into its own space with the launch of a new standalone app. Fueled by Meta's new Llama 4 AI model, the new app is simultaneously a standalone product and a replacement for Meta View, which was previously used to connect to the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

Meta’s making a big play here, positioning voice interactions as the most intuitive and natural way to interact with your AI. The app supports hands-free chatting and even includes a demo of full-duplex speech, a feature that lets you talk and listen at the same time.

That's very useful considering how keen Meta is to connect Meta AI with the company’s larger product portfolio, especially the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. These AI-enabled spectacles will now operate through the Meta AI app, replacing the Meta View app they currently rely on.

That means you can start a conversation on one platform and easily transition to another. All you need to do is open the Devices tab on the app and replicate your settings and saved information.

(Image credit: Meta)

Ask a question through your smart glasses, get a reply from Meta AI, and then pick up that same thread on your phone or desktop later. You can switch from voice chat in your glasses to reading the conversation in your app's history tab. For example, you could be on a walk and ask Meta AI through your glasses to find a nearby bookstore. The answer will be saved in your Meta AI app for later review.

The other major element of the Meta AI app is the Discover feed. You can see publicly shared things like successful prompt ideas and images they've generated on the feed, then remix them for your own purposes.

Additionally, the desktop version of Meta AI is also getting revamped with a new interface and more image generation options. There's also an experimental document editor for composing and editing text, adding visuals, and exporting it as a PDF.

Meta AI all over

Meta has spent many months spreading Meta AI across Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp, but now, this is the first time Meta AI isn't hosted within another mobile app.

The AI’s connection to Meta’s other apps does give it an edge (or a flaw, depending on your view) by allowing it to adapt its behavior based on what you do on those other apps. Meta AI draws on your Instagram and Facebook activity to personalize its answers.

Ask it where to go for dinner, and it might suggest a ramen spot your friend posted about last week. Ask for tips on an upcoming vacation, and it’ll remember you once posted that you love to “travel light but overpack emotionally” and suggest an itinerary that might fit that attitude.

Meta clearly wants Meta AI to be central in all your digital activities. The way the company pitches the app, it seems like you'll always be checking in with it, whether on your phone or on your head.

There are obvious parallels with the ChatGPT app in terms of style. But Meta seems to want to differentiate its app from OpenAI’s creation by emphasizing the personal over the broader utility of an AI assistant.

And if there’s one thing Meta has more of than nearly anyone, it’s personal data. Meta AI tapping into your social data, voice habits, and even your smart glasses to deliver responses designed for you feels very on-brand.

The idea of Meta AI forming a mental scrapbook of your life based on what you liked on Instagram or posted on Facebook might not appeal to everyone, of course. But if you're concerned, you can always put on the smart glasses and ask Meta AI for help.

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• Iran has thwarted an attack against its critical infrastructure
• The attack was "widespread and complex"
• It's not confirmed who was behind the incident

Iran’s national infrastructure was hit with a “widespread and complex” cyberattack, which was repelled by the country’s cybersecurity experts, a senior official speaking to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked Tasnim News Agency confirmed (via The Record).

Although the incident wasn’t described in detail, the head of the Iranian government’s Telecommunication Infrastructure Company (TIC), Behzad Akbari, said;

“By God's grace and the efforts of the security and technical teams of the Communications Infrastructure Company and the Ministry of Communications, yesterday one of the most widespread and complex cyber attacks against the country's infrastructure was identified and preventive measures were taken,” said Akbari on X (Translated from Persian by Google).

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Unconfirmed cause

Very little is known about the attack, nor about the Iranian security team’s success in stopping it - TechRadar Pro did reach out to the TIC, but has not yet received a reply.

This comes just a day after an explosion at the country's largest port, Shahid Rajaei, killing at least 28 people and injuring 800 more, authorities report - although there’s no indication these two incidents are linked.

This isn’t the first time Iranian national infrastructure has come under attack. In 2023, Iranian petrol stations were targeted in a controlled cyberattack, causing havoc across the country and affecting around 70% of petrol stations around the nation.

The Iranian government attributed this incident to a cybergroup named ‘Predatory Sparrow’, which it says has ties to Israel.

As geopolitical tensions rise, national infrastructure continues to be the top target for state-backed threat actors and cybercriminals, especially given the critical nature of the services they provide, and the chaos created by downtime. The consequences for compromised telecommunications, transportation, energy, or water networks could be severe or even life-threatening, so cybersecurity is more critical than ever.

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• Google’s NotebookLM now supports Audio Overviews in over 50 languages
• Users can generate AI podcasts based on uploaded information in their preferred languages
• The Gemini 2.5 Pro-powered feature maintains the same casual, conversational style regardless of language

It seems the AI 'podcasters' you create with Google's NotebookLM have been playing a lot of Duolingo. The AI-generated hosts of the Audio Overview feature can now perform in more than 50 languages. Audio Overview is the NotebookLM feature that transforms the documents, videos, books, and other information you give it into an audio show hosted by a couple of AI voices.

When you make the Audio Overview now, you can go to the settings and pick an Output Language ahead of generating the audio. You can also switch languages on the fly, generate summaries for friends or students in their native tongue, or prep multilingual study guides without hiring a translator or braving the often messy results of Google Translate.

The addition may not seem like a big deal among other AI spectacles, but it's potentially huge. Language plays a gatekeeper for so many things, especially technology. Now, Google can entice those who might be interested in playing with its AI toy without them having to learn a whole new language.

An entire global audience of people studying, teaching, researching, or just interested in learning new things can now better navigate a Google platform previously limited by English exclusivity. Teachers, for instance, can upload a hodgepodge of resources in different languages and generate a digestible audio recap in whatever language their students are most comfortable with.

Global AI podcasts

The feature is only in beta, and Google is keen to caution that there are still some problems. The voices might stumble, and you might encounter weird or wrong translations, especially in less frequently used languages. But the synthetic personalities will still discuss your research paper sources or complete home makeover guide and riff, recap, and remark on the content; it's just that English won't be the only tongue they do it in.

That tone matters. One of the reasons Audio Overviews clicked with users in the first place is that they don’t sound like a monotone robot trying to teach you tax law. The AI hosts crack jokes, pause for effect, and express amazement in (usually) appropriate spots.

There’s something deeply satisfying about hearing your own research about ancient Rome explained to you in Latin. It definitely makes learning the language feel more exciting. Amo audire podcasts novis linguis.

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• Panasonic just launched its new RB-F10 earphones
• They'll cost just £79.99 (around $110 / AU$165)
• They boast Bluetooth 5.4, a seven-hour battery life, and solid audio

Panasonic has just announced a new pair of cheap wireless earbuds with its open ear Panasonic RB-F10 earphones.

Like other open ear designs, rather than sitting inside your ear, these earbuds sit over your ear canal. This allows you to hear your music clearly, but also, because your ear isn’t blocked, you can hear what’s going on around you.

The Panasonic RB-F10s specifically come with a few handy features.

They boast Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint, so you can easily switch their connection between two different devices. They also feature built-in microphones for voice calls with automatic background noise removal, allowing you to be heard more clearly.

Additionally, they have a seven-hour battery life, which can be extended by a further 18 hours using their charging case.

(Image credit: Panasonic )

Lastly, because open ear headphones are usually a little bigger than earbuds, they can boast bigger drivers, which should lead to a richer sound than you might be used to. At least, that’s what Panasonic is promising from its new RB-F10s.

Best of all, they come in at just £79.99 (around $110 / AU$165) which makes them one of the more affordable options in the open ear space – and if they can stick the landing could help them secure the best budget option spot in our pick of the best open ear headphones guide.

Open ear headphones are the best

(Image credit: Panasonic )

I adore open ear headphones, and recently converted my fiancée to the lifestyle as well.

We love to watch videos or listen to music on our phones, but it’s easy for it to become a competition as we each try to drown the other’s audio out by turning up our speakers louder and louder. We’ve tried using over-ear noise-cancelling headphones, but then it’s impossible for us to talk to one another, especially if one of us is trying to shout for the other from another room.

Open ear headphones strike the perfect balance because we can enjoy our own private audio, but still call out to each other or easily come in and start chatting without having to compete with noise cancelling tech.

They’re also ideal for working out (especially running, as you can enjoy your motivational audio and still hear what’s going on around you), or while traveling, as you can keep an ear out for any public transport announcements that you might miss if ANC is turned on.

I love the Shokz OpenFit Airs (Image credit: Shokz)

I’ve also found that they’re hooked design is generally comfortable yet secure. I’ve tested several open ear headphones designs, and I frequently forget to take them off even when I’m not playing any music because I just forget I have them on.

Lastly, as is true for other earbuds, their small case makes them so easy to carry with you. Unlike a pair of headphones, you can get away with your pockets rather than needing to bring a bag as you can transport your cans when you aren’t wearing them.

Now we haven’t yet tested the Panasonic RB-F10 earphones, but they look like they tick a lot of essential boxes on paper, which could make them a solid choice if you’re after the convenience of open ear headphones that I and others are already enjoying.

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• LG has announced pricing for its two flagship QNED TVs, the QNED9M and QNED92
• The QNED9M is the first non-OLED LG TV to get a wireless connection box
• The flagship QNED92 mini-LED is priced the same as the Samsung QN80F

LG has revealed US pricing for two of its flagship QNED TVs, the QNED9M and QNED92.

Pricing for the QNED9M, which features LG's Zero Connect Box (which previously was a feature exclusive to the LG M-series OLED TVs), is listed as $1,799 for the 65-inch model, $2,299 for the 75-inch model and $3,499 for the 86-inch model.

Pricing for the QNED92, the only mini-LED model in LG's 2025 QNED lineup, is listed as $2,299 for the 75-inch model and $3,499 for the 85-inch model. It will also be available in a 65-inch size, though no price was given for this model.

However, based on how its pricing is identical in 75 and 85-inch sizes to the rival Samsung QN80F, we'd guess it'll be roughly $1,799, the same as the 65-inch Samsung QN80F. Samsung, maker of some of the best mini-LED TVs available, announced pricing for its entire mini-LED lineup in March.

The LG QNED9M will feature the Zero Connect Box, an external connection box that wirelessly transmits signals from all sources to the TV, which will only require a power cable. The QNED9M will use an LED panel with a QNED color solution and it features the Alpha 9 AI processor Gen 8, the same found in the LG C4 OLED TV, one of the best TVs. It will support Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and 4K 144Hz – all wirelessly.

The LG QNED92, successor to the LG QNED90/91T from 2024, features a mini-LED backlight and the Alpha 8 AI processor Gen 2, the same used in the LG B4 OLED TV. It will also support Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and 4K 120Hz for gaming, just to highlight some of its features.

Is LG looking to further shake up the mini-LED TV market?

The LG QNED92 (left) is a big upgrade over its predecessor the LG QNED90 (right) (Image credit: Future)

It's no secret that the mini-LED TV market is fiercely competitive, with Samsung, Hisense, TCL and Sony all big players in the category. LG has never really targeted the market like it does the OLED TV one, but that could be about to change.

I got the chance to see the QNED93 next to its predecessor earlier this year, and it was a significant upgrade, with improved backlight control, higher brightness and better detail overall. Its picture quality reminded me of some of Samsung's mini-LED sets, namely the Samsung QN85D from 2024.

So it's interesting that LG's QNED93 is priced exactly the same as the Samsung QN80F, the 2025 'equivalent' of the Samsung QN85D. It now seems LG has seriously thrown its hat into the mini-LED ring, creating a direct rival for Samsung.

Also, bringing the Zero Connect Box to the LG QNED9M takes aim at Samsung's Frame Pro series, one of the first TVs to use Samsung's own Wireless One Connect Box. It's worth noting the QNED9M is cheaper in all sizes than the Frame Pro, but the Frame Pro has its Art Mode, a mini-LED backlight, and unique design, all things that contribute to a more premium price.

We'll need a more detailed look at the new LG and Samsung TVs to get an idea of which reigns supreme, but it's interesting that LG has laid down the marker with the features and pricing of these two flagship TVs.

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• 55% of the businesses that made AI-induced redundancies regret it
• 38% of leaders still don't understand AI's impact on their business
• Humans are essential, but AI investments continue to rise

According to organizational planning platform Orgvue, two in five (39%) UK businesses made redundancies due to their AI adoption and hopes for the technology, however more than half (55%) of them are now admitted those redundancy decisions were wrong.

Consequences of the AI-induced redundancies include widespread internal confusion, leading to employees quitting and a drop in productivity – the exact opposite of what businesses had initially hoped for with the deployment of artificial intelligence.

Having seen how it's played out, businesses are now less likely to believe that AI will replace human workers after all.

Business leaders regret prioritizing AI over human workers

The report uncovers huge amounts of uncertainty over AI's impacts on the workforce. Two in five (38%) leaders still don't understand AI's impact on the businesses, with 25% unsure which roles are most at risk from AI.

Despite only 48% of managers expecting AI will replace some workers compared with 54% last year, leaders reportedly feel less responsible in protecting their workforce from redundancies.

"While 2024 was the year of investment and optimism, businesses are learning the hard way that replacing people with AI without fully understanding the impact on their workforce can go badly wrong," Orgvue CEO Oliver Shaw noted.

"We’re facing the worst global skills shortage in a generation and dismissing employees without a clear plan for workforce transformation is reckless."

Looking ahead, nearly half (47%) fear uncontrolled AI usage by employees, with four in five planning to retrain employees to use the tools properly. Two in five (41%) have already increased their learning and development budgets accordingly, with half (51%) introducing internal AI usage policies and 43% working with third-party AI specialists.

Although it's apparent that human workers are fundamental to businesses, 80% plan to increase AI investments in 2025, yet 27% still lack a clear roadmap.

Overall, Orgvue's research paints a troubling picture of the state of AI, highlighting a total lack of understanding. "While it’s encouraging to see investment in AI continue to grow, businesses need a better understanding of how the technology will change their workforce in the coming months and years," Shaw concluded.

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• FAVM unveils its FA-EX9 mini PC with AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 chip
• 96GB GPU memory and 128GB total RAM makes it ideal for creative professionals
• Compact AI-focused mini PC is a challenger for Nvidia DGX Spark

Chinese hardware manufacturer FAVM has announced the FA-EX9, a compact AI-focused mini PC powered by AMD’s latest Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 processor. Based on the Strix Halo platform, the chip features 16 Zen 5 CPU cores and 40 RDNA 3.5 Compute Units (Radeon 8060S).

The diminutive device measures just 192 x 190 x 55mm and with a total chassis volume of just 2 liters, FAVM claims the system is among the smallest of its kind.

The FA-EX9 is squarely aimed at AI professionals and is positioned as a challenger to platforms like Nvidia’s DGX Spark. It supports the MAX+ 395 processor at a sustained 120W power draw, which the company says offers performance comparable to a Ryzen 9 9955HX paired with a GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU.

OCuLink connector

The system uses LPDDR5 memory across a 256-bit bus, offering 128GB of total memory. Up to 96GB can be allocated as GPU memory, so it can handle large language model workloads without requiring discrete GPUs.

FAVM claims that the integrated GPU and NPU architecture in the FA-EX9 delivers 2.2 times the AI performance of an RTX 4090 in LM Studio when running locally. The system uses dual turbine fans and phase-change thermal materials to manage heat while keeping noise levels low during high-load tasks.

FA-EX9’s connectivity includes HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, and two USB4 ports, with support for up to four 8K displays. It also features an OCuLink connector with a bundled adapter for high-performance external GPU expansion.

Although no release date or pricing has been confirmed, VideoCardz reports teaser campaigns are currently underway in China.

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• SAP disclosed a 10/10 flaw in NetWeaver Visual Composer
• The bug allows threat actors to upload malware
• Researchers claim up to 1,200 instances are vulnerable

More than 1,200 SAP instances are at risk of being hijacked, researchers are saying, as a critical vulnerability was found being abused in the wild. Earlier this week, SAP said it found an unauthenticated file upload vulnerability in NetWeaver Visual Composer’s Metadata Uploader component.

Visual Composer is a development tool that allows users to build web-based business applications without writing code. It’s mostly used to create dashboards, forms, and interactive reports. The Metadata Uploader, on the other hand, is a tool for importing external data models (metadata) into the Visual Composer design environment. This allows developers to connect to remote data sources (web services, databases, or SAP systems).

The vulnerability SAP found is now tracked as CVE-2025-31324. It carries the maximum severity score (10/10), and stems from the fact that the uploader is not protected with proper authorization, allowing unauthenticated actors to upload malicious executables.

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Fortune 500 at risk

When it discovered the bug, SAP first released a workaround, and then in late April, a patch.

Now, users are advised to apply it as soon as possible, since multiple cybersecurity firms confirmed the flaw being abused in the wild. According to BleepingComputer, ReliaQuest, watchTowr, and Onapsis, are just some of the firms that observed the bug being exploited in attacks in which threat actors were dropping web shells on vulnerable servers.

SAP, however, told BleepingComputer that it is not aware of any attacks that impacted customer data or systems.

The jury is still out on how many organizations are actually vulnerable. While the Shadowserver Foundation claims 427 servers are exposed on the internet, Onyphe says there are 1,284 instances, 474 of which are already compromised.

"Something like 20 Fortune 500/Global 500 companies are vulnerable, and many of them are compromised," Onyphe CTO Patrice Auffret told BleepingComputer.

Via BleepingComputer

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Prime Video has a slew of modern and classic films rotating in and out of its catalog in the upcoming weeks.

Amazon hasn't revealed how many of its titles are leaving its streaming service in May quite yet, but this last week of April and early May have a few titles already labeled on the website that you won't want to miss.

Here are three of the most highly rated films – each movie below has a Rotten Tomatoes critical rating higher than 90%, meaning it's one of the best Prime Video movies you can stream – that are leaving the service this week.

Train to Busan (2016)

• RT score: 90%
• Directors: Yeon Sang-ho
• Age Rating: PG-13
• Length: 1 hr 57 min
• Leaving on: May 1

A crowd-pleaser, Train to Busan is one of the first Korean horror films to become popular in the US. Seok-woo (Gong Yoo) is a divorced dad and workaholic fund manager who decides to grant his daughter's wish to spend her birthday together with her mother in Busan.

On the way there, the train is hijacked by zombies and they find out in real-time about the epidemic. Seok-woo has to work together with the other passengers to try to make it all the way to Busan with his daughter, which is the last safe haven in the outbreak.

Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

• RT score: 98%
• Directors: Alexander Mackendrick
• Age Rating: 7+
• Length: 1 hr 32 min
• Leaving on: April 30

The Sweet Smell of Success is a noir crime thriller in which an overprotective older brother takes it too far. J. J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster) is a Broadway-based gossip columnist who doesn't approve of his sister Susan's relationship with Steve, a jazz guitarist.

Sidney Falco, played by Tony Curtis, is a press agent desperate to advance his career, enough that he helps J.J. sabotage his sister's romance and ruin Steve's public image.

Midnight Run (1998)

• RT score: 95%
• Directors: Martin Brest
• Age Rating: R
• Length: 2 hr 6 min
• Leaving on: April 30

Another oldie but a goodie. Midnight Run stars Hollywood icon Robert De Niro as a character that subverts his typical crime and gangster role. Instead of playing the criminal, he's hunting them under the table. Jack Walsh (De Niro) is a bounty hunter hired to capture wanted accountant, Jonathan Mardukas (Charles Grodin).

As requested by his employer, Walsh leaves New York to deliver Mardukas to LA. However, the FBI and major mobsters tracking them complicate the journey.

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Dyson is really, really good at moving air around. While the company made its name in vacuum cleaners, it's now almost as well known for its aircare appliances – it makes some of the best fans and the best air purifiers around, sometimes in one appliance. In fact, some can also heat or humidify the air, as required.

Dyson's aircare products are instantly recognizable, with most of them sporting a slick, space-age design that seems to magic up wind from nowhere. The downside of such an established look is that it can be very difficult to tell the difference between the various models in the range. With a wide selection of options available, it can be tricky to figure out exactly which product is which, and then which one to buy.

We've put together this guide to help you tell the difference between the various options, so you can choose the right one for your needs.

Overview table

This table provides a very basic overview of the full Dyson aircare range. Click the links in the 'List price' column to jump to the product listing at Dyson in each territory. If the currency you're looking for isn't listed, it's worth doing a quick Google, because the product may still be available to buy via a third-party retailer in that territory.

I mainly want a fan

Great! Most of Dyson's aircare appliances function as fans, so you have a lot of options to choose from.

If you just want a fan, you need the Dyson Cool AM07. Because it only has one function, it's the cheapest option in the whole lineup. You can find out what we thought of it in our Dyson Cool AM07 review.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you might want to consider a fan-purifier combo. Your main options here are the TP models, which have names starting with 'Purifier Cool'. The cheapest and most basic option here is the Purifier Cool TP10, and the most advanced is the Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09. Note that adding formaldehyde-removing capabilities to any Dyson product bumps up the price considerably.

(Image credit: Dyson)

Perhaps you need a fan because your home isn't especially well insulated, and you experience big temperature swings between seasons. In that case, you might consider a fan-heater combo. This option has the added benefit of meaning the appliance isn't just gathering dust in the summer months. The only option here is the Hot+Cool Jet Focus AM09. We've tested that one, and you can see how we got on in our Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool review.

Finally, you could go the whole hog and opt for a fan-purifier-heater. For this, you want the HP range, with names starting 'Purifier Hot+Cool'. Options vary by country, but one that's available everywhere is the Purifier Hot+Cool Gen1 HP10.

I mainly want an air purifier

Great! Dyson has lots of air purifier options. This tech goes hand-in-hand with what the brand needs for its vacuum cleaners, so it knows what it's doing when it comes to capturing particles.

If you just want air purification, check out the Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde models. There are two slightly different versions: the BP04 and BP03, of which the 04 is slightly higher-spec. These are bulky and expensive, and designed to tackle large areas (up to 100m²) quietly. The purification capabilities are about the best you'll find anywhere, stretching to include nasties that most air purifiers can't handle, like NO2 and formaldehyde. You can read our thoughts on this range in our Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde review.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

If you just want a purifier for your bedroom or living room, and would prefer something smaller and cheaper, we'd suggest a purifier-fan. Look in the TP range, with products starting 'Purifier Cool'.

The most affordable, simplest model is the first-gen Purifier Cool TP10. It still has excellent purification capabilities, but it can't handle everything the Big+Quiet options can. Alternatively, opt for the Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09, which is more advanced.

Finally, you could go for a triple-action model. The purifier-heater-fan options have names starting 'Purifier Hot+Cool' and codes beginning HP, and the most widely available option is the Purifier Hot+Cool Gen1 HP10. Alternatively, there are a couple of options that swap heating for humidification – in the US it's the PH03 and in the UK it's the PH04.

I mainly want a heater

There are no standalone heater options in Dyson's range, but it's included as a bonus function with a number of the brand's aircare appliances.

The simplest and most affordable model is the Dyson Hot+Cool Jet Focus AM09, which operates as a fan or as a heater, depending on your needs. Otherwise, you'll need to opt for a three-in-one 'Purifier Hot+Cool' with a code name starting HP. All of these can heat, cool, or purify air. The most widely available is the Purifier Hot+Cool Gen1 HP10. We've tested the HP09, and you can read about how we got on with it in our Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 review.

(Image credit: Dyson) I mainly want a humidifier

Dyson isn't really that focused on humidifiers, but again, it's included as an added function on some combo humidifier-fan-purifier models. However, you're very limited in choice. In the US, you've got the Purifier Humidify+Cool PH03, and in the UK, it's the Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde PH04.

• Better search has been added to ChatGPT integration in WhatsApp
• ChatGPT search now has improved citations
• Improved memory is coming to search and shopping

On the back of the new shopping features rolling out to ChatGPT, OpenAI is also improving its search capabilities in a few helpful ways.

Firstly, the ChatGPT integration in WhatsApp has been beefed up to include more up-to-date answers when searching.

WhatsApp integration with ChatGPT works by adding ChatGPT as a new contact inside your WhatsApp app, then chatting with it via WhatsApp messages (or using voice calls in US and Canada), as you would a friend.

You can start a conversation with ChatGPT in WhatsApp by simply clicking this link on your mobile phone.

Better citations

Secondly, ChatGPT's search function has improved citation capabilities. Paragraphs can now have multiple citations, and when you hover your cursor over each citation, a different part of the text will highlight, indicating what it’s referring to. This feature seems to already be functioning when we tested it today, and is working perfectly.

Next, you should soon be able to get real-time suggestions from ChatGPT that autocomplete with trend suggestions as you're typing. This sounds very similar to the way that Google autocompletes when you start typing in Google search, however, this feature hadn't been rolled out to our account to test at the time of writing.

Finally, improved memory is going to work with ChatGPT search and its new shopping feature. This means that ChatGPT will consider what you’ve said before when it searches and shops for you, meaning you won't have to keep explaining to it that you hate a particular brand and don't want to see results from them.

Memory in search and shopping will not initially be available in the European Economic Area, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

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• Japanese retailers are restricting Nvidia's RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 GPUs to Japanese residents only
• It's an attempt to stop tourists from buying the Blackwell GPUs
• It comes after a previous attempt to block tax-free purchases

Besides overpriced third-party models, Nvidia's RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 GPUs are both difficult to obtain (especially Founders Edition cards). And as it turns out, one potential 'easy' alternative for consumers has very quickly been shut down.

As reported by VideoCardz, Japanese retailers have restricted purchases of the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 to Japanese nationals only. This comes after previous attempts to stop tourists from buying the prestigious graphics cards; notably, stores had blocked tax-free purchases, but they're now taking a much more aggressive approach.

Signs in stores state that both of Nvidia's high-end GPUs won't be sold to anyone who intends on using the GPU outside of the country, effectively shutting out all tourists from buying. Customers will reportedly be put through a 'Japanese resident' test before purchasing.

It's a highlight of the short supply and high demand situation surrounding graphics cards right now, and it's perhaps quite an amusing tactic from consumers considering the lack of availability at launch price, elsewhere. On paper catching a plane to another country to buy a GPU sounds like an extreme measure, but I suppose a flight to Japan could cost less than the inflation differential in other regions.

(Image credit: Nvidia)

It may sound like an extreme measure, but it's actually rather familiar. Nvidia currently has its Verified Priority Access scheme in place, which allows US customers to reserve an opportunity to buy either an RTX 5090 or RTX 5080 Founders Edition GPU; the catch is that you must have made an Nvidia account on or before January 30 to be eligible.

This prevents scalpers from spoiling the party for genuine buyers, while also ensuring there's enough to go around for consumers in the US (although, it'd be nice to see this become available for more regions), particularly in a time of high demand.

Jumping through these hurdles to get an RTX 5000 isn't worth it if you ask me...

As I write this article on an RTX 5080 laptop, I can testify to how good the Blackwell GPUs are. However, going to another region to buy a graphics card isn't worth the hassle.

Since I'm hooked on high-end gaming experiences at high resolutions, I'd never turn down the opportunity for a powerhouse GPU. For other gamers though, it's not a necessity, and Steam's latest hardware survey results show that 1080p is still the most widely used resolution.

We're now at a stage where AMD's APUs and Intel's SoCs (System-on-Chip) are performing great in games at 1080p and 1440p resolutions; for example, AMD's Ryzen AI Max 395+ outperforms some discrete GPUs in games like Cyberpunk 2077.

The only problem is these chips are only now gradually starting to make their way to desktop PCs, and most PC hardware components are facing price inflation anyway (particularly GPUs). It's now a matter of weighing your options and whether high resolutions are a priority for you - just please don't overspend, okay?

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• First leaked image suggests LiDAR could debut in DJI's Mini series of drones
• The Mini 5 could get a larger sensor than the Mini 4 Pro for better video
• The DJI Mini 5 is rumored to be taking flight in August or September 2025

The first leaked image of what is said to be DJI's next Mini drone has been shared on DroneXL, a site run by prominent DJI leaker Jasper Ellens – and it could be the upcoming DJI Mini 5 Pro.

With the Mini 4 Pro currently holding top spot in our best drones buying guide, naturally we're excited that its successor could potentially land soon – possibly in August or September.

The Mini 4 Pro is already the best sub-250g drone available, and the best premium option for beginners – so what upgrades could DJI possibly have up its sleeve?

I can think of a few improvements I'd like to see, and the leaked image, which shows the drone being tested in public in China, appears to tease some upgrades that have got DJI fans talking – let's look at what those could be, and what's hopefully coming in the rumored Mini 5 Pro.

I will tell you all about the #Mavic4Pro in the coming days. But let's appreciate this new #leaked image from the upcoming #DJIMini5 spotted in the wild. Are you just as excited about this like I am? Will definitely buy this. Cheers! Jasperhttps://t.co/IZQ5WelEaqApril 24, 2025

1. LiDAR to debut in the Mini series

In the grainy leaked image, Ellens has spotted front-facing LiDAR sensors above the drone's camera.

LiDAR would give the rumored Mini 5 Pro a more effective collision-avoidance system than the Mini 4 Pro, especially in low light – making it a safer drone to fly during twilight and at night.

DJI debuted LiDAR in the Air 3S last year, and the all-rounder drone proved better able to navigate obstacles and terrain at night than its predecessors, which are equipped with standard night-vision and object-sensing tech.

A potential Mini 5 Pro would be the world's first sub-250g drone with LiDAR, assuming that it stays within the same weight class as previous versions – more on this below.

As someone who loves flying at first and last light, and in areas with plenty of points of interest, I'd love to see LiDAR tech, but it's of limited use to users who only fly their drones in open spaces on clear days.

The Air 3S was DJI's first drone with LiDAR sensors – could the Mini 5 Pro follow suit? (Image credit: DJI) 2. Longer and more stable flight

Larger motors have also been gleaned from that leaked image, suggesting a beefier design and and potentially more efficient performance. This could translate to better wind resistance for more stable flight, plus enhanced flight times.

Improving stability and flight times could represent a significant upgrade in an area where the Mini 4 Pro didn't improve on its predecessor, the Mini 3 Pro. Some leakers are suggesting flight times of up to 50 minutes, which would smash the Mini 4 Pro's 34-minute flight time on a fully charged battery.

This improvement would be huge for a Mini-series drone – 50 minutes is the sort of flight time I'd expect from a pricier and weightier drone.

3. A larger sensor

Some leakers are also claiming that the Mini 5 will pack a 1-inch sensor, which is a much larger sensor than the 1/1.3-inch sensor utilized by the Mini 4 Pro.

A drone's camera specs are of keen interest to me as a photographer and filmmaker, and a larger sensor could be the most significant upgrade in the next model – it should deliver a cleaner image in low light, with better dynamic range, helpful in bright conditions.

I'd take better image quality in challenging light over higher resolution, but we could also see a bump to 5.3K video, which would mark an upgrade over the Mini 4 Pro's 4K video, which is available up to 100fps. The larger sensor could be the springboard for some of the biggest video upgrades the Mini series has seen yet.

The DJI Flip features propellor guards for safer flight in tight spaces around people, and the Mini 5 Pro could adopt this design (Image credit: James Abbott) 4. A new direction for design?

Back to the leaked image again, which clearly shows that the drone has propellor guards, much like those on the DJI Flip. This would be a first for one of DJI's Mini drones, but just because the drone in this image has propellor guards that it doesn't mean the final version will have them – they could just be a safety measure for the drone's pre-production testing phase.

Should a Mini 5 Pro have such a design, it could feel more like a Flip 2. This would mark a new direction for DJI's Mini series, and the reaction to this possibility has been mixed. On the plus side, propellor guards make for safer flight in tight spaces; but adding guards will affect the weight and flight performance, and many fans will be hoping for a continuation of the existing guard-free design.

5. Not so mini anymore?

Key to the appeal of DJI's Mini series of drones is that every model falls under 250g, which keeps them in the largely restriction-free weight category, and is a must for beginners and casual users.

However, if the above speculation is true, and the Mini 5 does indeed arrive with LiDAR sensors, heftier motors, and a larger image sensor, it would surely make it a weightier drone than the Mini 4 Pro, which squeezes in under 250g.

Could this upcoming model be the first DJI Mini drone to tip the scales above 250g? And if so, would its rumored upgrades be worth the price of placing the drone in the next weight category up?

Surely not – if there's one feature I'd love to see in DJI's next Mini drone, it's one that has been there from the beginning: a sub-250g weight.

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• HMRC is looking for a new CRM supplier, and it's encouraging SMEs to apply
• The winning bid will supply the CRM system for at least 15 years
• HMRC isn't particularly known for its great customer service...

HMRC has announced plans for a new SaaS CRM platform to manage citizen tax interactions, and a preliminary market engagement notice has been issued to invite bids and engage with potential suppliers.

Ideally, the CRM platform will include registration, subscription, and customer record management as well as identity, verification, access, and fraud services, plus secure communications and document storage options.

The news comes as HMRC also explores plans for a future Contact Centre as a Service (CCaaS) platform set to be procured this year. The notice stresses that the two systems must seamlessly integrate.

HMRC is looking for a new CRM system

By ensuring interoperability across its different platforms, HRMC hopes that the modernization will "directly [enhance] taxpayer interactions, [streamline] services, and [reduce] administrative burdens."

HMRC's current systems aren't known for their strong performance – MPs reported significant issues with the department's phone services in 2023-24, with 44,000 callers cut off after waiting 70 minutes in the tax year's first 11 months (via The Register). The average call wait time was reportedly over 23 minutes, and only two in three calls were ever answered.

The National Audit Office (NAO) also noted that customers spent a combined 798 years on hold in the 2023-24 financial year.

A total of £1 billion excluding VAT (£1.2 billion with VAT) has been set aside to find a CRM supplier, with whom HRMC anticipates entering into a 15-year contract. Formal competition for the CRM platform is expected to start in June 2025, and there's a particular preference for small and medium-sized enterprises to step forward.

In its notice, HMRC noted: "The programme is critical to supporting the government's critical aims for HMRC to modernise its systems, improve customer service, and close the Tax Gap."

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• Garmin could be adding LTE to the Fenix 8
• A new leaked screenshot could point to inclusion of cellular support in a future model
• It would be the first LTE Garmin since the 2021 Forerunner 945 LTE

A new leak purportedly reveals that Garmin may be preparing to launch an LTE version of its best Garmin watch, the Garmin Fenix 8, which would let users leave their phone behind in more scenarios providing your watch is added to a data plan.

Garmin hasn't offered LTE – cellular connectivity for making calls, streaming music, and more – on its smartwatches since the Forerunner 945 LTE, which launched in 2021. If this leak is real and shows us what we think it does, that could be about to change.

Gadgets and Wearables claims to have acquired a screenshot "showing a Fenix 8 device with LTE appearing as one of the connectivity options during the troubleshooting pairing process, sitting alongside Wi-Fi, Phone, and Sensor & Accessories."

The screenshot clearly reveals an LTE settings option. If it's real, it could mean users will eventually have the option to buy an LTE-capable version of the Fenix 8.

Garmin Fenix 8 LTE?

(Image credit: Gadgets and Wearables)

As the report notes, LTE inclusion in the Fenix 8 could denote a couple of things. Garmin could choose to restrict LTE to safety features like emergency alerts and live tracking, so your friends and family can more readily see your location even if you've ventured off without your phone.

A more exciting upgrade would be LTE as we know it on most watches, which enables streaming of music, calls, and texts. It's a mainstay option on many of the best smartwatches, including the best Apple Watches in 2025, and an obvious gap in Garmin's repertoire.

The veracity of this leak is impossible to determine at this stage, but there's no reason to suspect Garmin couldn't pull off an LTE Fenix 8. Naturally, cellular requires modified hardware, so this would be a more expensive new model that customers could buy from Garmin, rather than an upgrade to existing devices.

Garmin has endured a torrid 2025, notable for a massive outage and the beleaguered launch of its very unpopular Garmin Connect+ subscription service, which has generated a slew of user outcry because of its very shallow feature set and a general aversion to subscription fatigue from customers.

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• Shokz OpenDots ONE weight just 0.23oz per earbud
• Interchangeable left/right earbuds, and 10-hour battery life
• $199 (about £149 / AU$309), available now

Shokz has launched its smallest open-ear wireless buds yet, the OpenDots ONE. Weighing just 0.23 ounces (just over 6g) per bud they're extremely light, and their clip-on design should ensure they stay put even when you're active, despite they being smaller and not having the wrapround design of the Shokz that top our list of the best open earbuds.

The clip-on section is made from a nickel-titanium arch that Shokz says feels gentle but stays secure on all ear sizes. It's enclosed in soft silicone for comfort and the earbuds are interchangeable: simply stick them in whichever ear you like and they'll work out which bud is in which ear and adjust the stereo accordingly.

(Image credit: Shokz) Shokz OpenDots ONE: pricing and key features

The buds are powered by custom 11.8mm drivers with Shokz' Bassphere design for a strong low end. There are four EQ modes and what Shokz calls DirectPitch Audio, which is designed to minimize sound leakage despite the buds not being directly in your ear canal.

There are two microphones for calls, and AI noise reduction for clarity when you're speaking to someone – though there's no active noise cancellation here.

The battery life is up to 10 hours on a single charge and a total of 40 hours from the lightweight charging case. The buds are IP54 water and sweat resistant, and they have multipoint so you can connect to two devices simultaneously for easy switching.

So far the launch is US-only, with availability from today (April 29th). The recommended retail price is $199 (about £149 / AU$309, though there's no confirmation of a launch in other countries yet).

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• VeriSource started sending out data breach notification letters and reported the February 2024 incident to Maine's AG
• It now says the number of victims is four million, up from the initial 55,000
• Names, addresses, and SSNs were grabbed in the attack

Four million people may have had their sensitive data stolen in the Verisource data breach that happened last year. The company confirmed the news in a new filing with the Office of the Maine Attorney General, as well as in a data breach notification letter sent to affected individuals.

VeriSource Services is a Houston-based employee benefits administration company, with clients in different industries in the US, including healthcare, education, and the public sector.

It recently started sending out data breach notification letters, in which it said that it became aware of “unusual activity” that disrupted access to certain systems, on February 28, 2024. The subsequent investigation, which concluded on April 17, 2025, determined that threat actors stole “certain personal information” the day before being spotted.

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Unknown attackers

The information stolen includes people’s names, addresses, dates of birth, gender information, and/or Social Security numbers (SSN). “Please note that VSI has no evidence of any actual or suspected misuse of information involved in this incident,” the company said.

It is also worth mentioning that no one has so far assumed responsibility for the attack and the data has not surfaced anywhere on the dark web. Therefore, it is difficult to determine if this was a simple smash-and-grab, or a ransomware attack.

While the letter didn’t say how many people were affected by the breach, a listing on the website of the Maine Attorney General’s Office puts the number of victims at four million, up from 55,000 in May 2024, and another 112,000 in September 2024.

VeriSource said that it offers 12 months of free credit monitoring, identity theft protection, and identity restoration services to the victims. Although it might sound too little too late, the fact that the data hasn’t surfaced yet could mean the offering might make sense.

Via BleepingComputer

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