TechRadar News

• Anthropic is expected to launch a Claude voice mode
• A report from Bloomberg states that the voice mode will launch with three voices
• Voice modes, research tools, reasoning models: Same-same, but different

Anthropic's Claude AI chatbot is set to be upgraded with a new voice mode, as the company with minority Amazon ownership looks to catch up with the likes of ChatGPT and Gemini.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Claude's new feature called "voice mode" could launch as soon as this month.

The info comes from "a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss private matters," who says the AI voice assistant will have three voices at launch.

The voices titled Airy, Mellow, and Buttery will give Claude users the chance to pick from three diverse accents, although nothing is confirmed as of yet, and Anthropic could opt for more or fewer voices at launch.

Claude's closest competitors, OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, both have their own respective AI voice modes. ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode and Gemini Live allow users to chat with AI, making the experience more conversational and natural.

With Claude potentially throwing its name into the mix, consumers will have another AI voice assistant to choose from. But it begs the question: Does the population even care?

Just another AI tick box

AI chatbots seem to follow in each other's footsteps. Whether that's the introduction of a reasoning model, a research model, an image generation model, or, in this case, a voice mode.

Whether you're using ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, or even Claude, the user experience with each chatbot is getting so similar that regardless of which one you use you'll end up with a similar result.

Obviously, in a rapidly moving industry like AI, it's a race to release your product faster than your competitors, but as a consumer, we end up with. constant new releases of the same kind of feature, repackaged and marketed by competing tech companies.

Claude's voice mode, when it arrives, will be yet another tick-box exercise for an AI company looking to have its product on a level playing field with its competition.

As a consumer, I want these AI companies to throw out the playbook and try new things. AI voice modes are great, and they make chatbots even easier to use.

When it comes to new AI software launches, however, I've started to wonder: Does the company even care? Or is this just a tick-box exercise?

Hopefully, Claude's voice mode innovates the world of AI voice assistants, but until I see its potential, I fully expect yet another AI release that's exactly the same as the 10 other options out there.

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• Surfshark Bypasser is now available on its macOS VPN app
• The functionality allows users to select apps and websites to reroute outside the VPN connection
• Surfshark is now among a select few providers offering this feature on Mac

Surfshark has extended support for its Bypasser feature on the macOS VPN app.

Surfshark Bypasser is a handy functionality that allows you to choose specific websites and apps to reroute outside the VPN connection.

Already available on Windows, Android, iOS, and browser extension, Surfshark has become one of the few best VPN services to offer this feature for Mac users.

Surfshark Bypasser's arrival on Mac provides a simple split tunneling solution that Mac users had previously been missing from the service (Image credit: Surfshark) Why use Surfshark Bypasser?

Aimed at enacting users' control and convenience in a couple of clicks, Surfshark Bypasser is the company’s take on split tunneling. "A feature that gives users control over which apps or websites use the VPN and which connect directly to the internet," said Surfshark's Senior Product Manager, Justas Pukys.

Every time you connect to your virtual private network (VPN) tool, your internet connection gets rerouted through the VPN servers via its encrypted protocol. Yet, while this is beneficial to boost privacy and security, it can cause friction with how certain websites and applications operate.

This means users may have to turn off the VPN when accessing their online banking or local government site, losing protection on all their other activities. Surfshark Bypasser allows you to split the internet traffic into two paths – one to pass via the encrypted VPN connection, and the other directly to the internet via your real IP address.

As Pukys explains, using Bypasser is especially beneficial for accessing local services or content that may block VPNs while maintaining protection for other activities.

"With the recent addition of macOS support, Surfshark has expanded its service package to offer this functionality across all major platforms," said Pukys.

Surfshark Bypasser has been available for some time on Windows, Android, iOS, and browser extensions. Mac users have had to wait to benefit from this functionality as Apple removed support for the feature in 2021.

In February 2024, Private Internet Access (PIA) was the first provider to bring back split tunneling on its macOS VPN app. Other TechRadar's top picks – namely NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and ProtonVPN – are among the services still lacking support for this feature on their Mac VPN at the time of writing.

How to use Surfshark Bypasser

Using Surfshark Bypasser on macOS promises to be very easy, too.

All you need to do is open the VPN app and click Settings on the left-hand side panel. Then tap on VPN settings and Bypasser. Once there, you can start adding websites or apps you would like to exclude from the VPN connection.

If you need more information on how to set up your Surfshark Bypasser on macOS, I recommend visiting Surfshark's dedicated tutorial here.

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The Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct is now less than 24 hours away and is expected to give us loads of new information on what is perhaps the most highly anticipated upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 game.

A few seconds of Mario Kart World footage were first shown all the way back in January as part of the Nintendo Switch 2 first look trailer. We then learned further details as part of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct and Nintendo Switch 2 Treehouse: Live presentations, which explained some of the new mechanics, showed off the many new characters, and confirmed that the game would be a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive launch title.

We've also managed to go hands-on with Mario Kart World ahead of release. Still, I'm expecting the upcoming Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct to give us even more insight into the game's core mechanics, tracks, and roster. I'm optimistic that Nintendo has kept some tricks up its sleeve, so hopefully there will be some great surprises in store...

Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct date, start time, and length

Nintendo has confirmed that the Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct will take place on April 17, 2025. That's tomorrow!

The broadcast will start at 6AM PT / 9AM ET / 2PM BST.

Nintendo has officially confirmed that the broadcast will run for approximately 15 minutes.

Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct how to watch

As always, the most reliable place to watch the Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct is via the official Nintendo YouTube channel.

The broadcast will also be streaming on the official Nintendo Twitch page, if you prefer that platform.

On top of this, the stream will be available via the Nintendo Today mobile app.

The stream is not live quite yet, but stay tuned as I will update you the second it is available.

How to pre-order the Mario Kart World bundle

Right now the best value way to get your hands on Mario Kart World is in a bundle with the Nintendo Switch 2 console itself.

Although Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders have been delayed in the US, in the console and bundle is currently up for grabs in the UK. Browse our Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders live coverage for the latest stock information, or consult our guide on how to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller is also likely to be a big ticket item for Mario Kart World players, offering a more comfortable experience than the Joy-Con 2 controllers. See our where to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller page to learn how to get your hands on one in time for launch day.

Good afternoon, gamers, and welcome to the beginning of my Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct coverage!

I'm going to be walking you through the build-up to the highly anticipated presentation, sharing the latest details as they come in, plus plenty of rumors and some personal predictions about what might be in store.

Nintendo officially confirms the broadcast’s length

Nintendo has confirmed that the Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct will last for approximately 15 minutes. That’s honestly much shorter than I was expecting and significantly below the roughly 40 or so minute runtime of most Nintendo Direct broadcasts.

This is undoubtedly going to be disappointing news for some, but I’m hopeful that Nintendo will still be able to squeeze in some interesting new details.

Join us on April 17th at 6 a.m. PT to learn more about #MarioKartWorld for #NintendoSwitch2 in the Mario Kart World Direct. The livestream will be roughly 15 minutes. #NintendoDirect Watch it here: https://t.co/YtvEgjWKyx pic.twitter.com/3MistrmyOhApril 16, 2025

What are we going to see?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Given that short run time, I’m now wondering what exactly is going to be shown off. I imagine that the Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct will be more like an extended overview trailer than a traditional Nintendo Direct, presumably giving us a breakdown of the game’s main modes.

I’m expecting plenty of time on the Grand Prix mode, focusing on how it differs from previous entries. If you need a quick refresher, Mario Kart World features a more open world that sees you driving between race courses rather than a simple transition or loading screen.

I think we will also be shown much more of the Knockout Tour mode, which is effectively a Battle Royale take on Mario Kart. 24 players face off in a fast-paced race, with checkpoints which see those at the back gradually eliminated.

The Free Roam mode will also likely be there, ideally detailing the kinds of activities that will be available in the open world. I’m personally hoping for some information on any potential collectibles or mini challenges, which would help make exploration seem more worthwhile.

Show me the starting roster!

On that note, I'm hoping for full confirmation of the starting roster of racers. So far we have seen a whopping 50, yes you read that right: 50, playable characters, which is far more than any previous Mario Kart game.

The full list of confirmed characters so far is as follows:

• Mario
• Luigi
• Peach
• Toad
• Toadette
• Donkey Kong
• Bowser
• Daisy
• Yoshi
• Birdo (my personal pick)
• Wario
• Waluigi
• Rosalina
• Bowser Jr.
• Shy Guy
• Koopa Troopa
• King Boo
• Dry Bones
• Paulina
• Baby Mario
• Baby Luigi
• Baby Peach
• Baby Daisy
• Baby Rosalina
• Nabbit
• Moo Moo
• Lakitu
• Wiggler
• Hammer Bro
• Charging Chuck
• Spike
• Piranha Plant
• Pianta
• Dolphin
• Goomba
• Para-Biddybud
• Sidestepper
• Stingby
• Penguin
• Cataquack
• Monty Mole
• Swoop
• Pokey
• Cheep Cheep
• Peepa
• Snowman
• Fish Bone
• Coin Coffer
• Conkdor
• Rocky Wrench

We've also seen plenty of unique outfits, though right now it's not clear whether these are just cosmetics to unlock or something a little deeper. Hopefully we'll find out soon...

Will rainbow road return?

(Image credit: Universal Pictures/Illumination)

There's one iconic track that feels like it's been missing from everything we've heard about Mario Kart World so far... I'm of course talking about the legendary rainbow road, which I think will make appearance at the Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct.

I suspect that it will be the very last track on the game's final cup, which would make for a pretty incredible send-off.

The previous entry in the series, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe features not just one or two, but five distinct versions of rainbow road so it seems absurd to suggest that we won't get at least one version of it this time around.

What about social features?

(Image credit: Nintendo / Future)

It's clear that social features are a big feature of the Nintendo Switch 2 console. It has a dedicated button for its chat functions and an official camera accessory, after all.

We've already seen footage of players sharing their screen in an online game of Mario Kart World and I would expect plenty of that kind of thing to show up in the Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct.

Maybe we'll be shown the matchmaking systems in detail, or learn about some of the other cool things you can do while playing online.

Yep, we've already played it

(Image credit: Nintendo)

My colleague Rhys Wood (no relation) and I have now both had the chance to experience Mario Kart World for ourselves.

Rhys tried it out back at the Paris Nintendo Switch 2 reveal event, while I had the chance to go hands-on more recently at the latest Nintendo Switch 2 Experience day in London last week.

I'll be littering my own anecdotes from my time with the game throughout this live coverage, but if you want something more concrete you can check out Rhys' detailed Mario Kart World hands-on preview.

You can tune in on the Nintendo Today app

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Nintendo has confirmed that the Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct will be broadcast on the Nintendo Today app. This is on top of the usual YouTube and Twitch channels, which is an interesting move.

It seems as though Nintendo is dedicated to positioning the app as the one-stop-shop for all Nintendo news.

It's a novel idea, though I can't imagine that anyone other than the most hardcore Nintendo fans will be keen to download a dedicated app to watch something that is already been streamed via other, more popular platforms.

Didn't manage to catch the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct?

You can view the trailer shown off at the Direct for yourself below so that you're fully up to speed ahead of the Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct tomorrow.

What are you most excited for?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

When I played Mario Kart World, the thing that excited me most has got to be that massive roster of characters. It sounds a bit silly to say, but it's hard not to love the sheer variety on offer here while you're scrolling through the character menu.

I was pretty disappointed by the selection on offer in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, though the addition of Peachette (an obscure favorite of mine) via the Booster Course Pass was very appreciated. Even so, the bulk of the choices were very samey.

We had 42 characters at launch, but that included seven Koopalings and four boring cosmetic variants in Tanooki Mario, Cat Peach, Metal Mario, and the now infamous Pink Gold Peach.

Not only are there many more characters in Mario Kart World, but they all seem much more distinct. It seems like some characters even have a load of outfit variants to discover, further increasing the variety without taking up any more spots. Also, you can finally play as a cow - which is pretty rad.

Expect carnage in the stream chat

Here's one thing I can predict with confidence. The chat is going to be full of calls from fans to reduce the price of the console and the game.

This was the case throughout the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct and Treehouse: Live shows and I don't expect this next stream to be any different.

If you need a quick refresher, the Nintendo Switch 3 costs $449.99 / £395.99 / AU$699.95. There is also a bundle that includes a digital copy of Mario Kart World that comes in at $499.99 / £429.99 / AU$769.95.

Individually, a physical copy of Mario Kart World will $79.99 / £74.99.

Understandably, these prices have raised some eyebrows and I expect to see some frustrations vented tomorrow.

A look at the characters and vehicles

I managed to record some footage from my own Mario Kart World hands-on, so I'm to kick stuff off with this quick look at the character and vehicle roster.

These are all of the characters that were available to try during my demo, plus some interesting outfit variants like the adorable Burger Bud Toad.

@techradar

We’ve played a few laps of Mario Kart World and have our favorite racers - who are you most excited for?

♬ The Clap - Dodge & Fuski

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It's nearing the end of the day on UK time, so I'm just about to head off for the evening!

I don't anticipate any major Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct in the next few hours, though stay tuned as I will be back first thing tomorrow morning to pick up where I left off and continue the coverage throughout the big day.

Fraud prevention is undergoing massive shifts as organizations strive to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated bad actors. Thanks to advancements, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), that democratize access to enable fraud at speed and scale, traditional, rules-based systems – long the industry standard – are proving insufficient in the wake of such emerging technologies. As bad actors find new and innovative ways to exploit system loopholes, businesses are left reacting to the damage instead of preventing it.

Enter AI-driven data clustering, a new technology that is changing fraud prevention by proactively detecting threats before they fully materialize. With mounting losses to fraud exceeding billions of dollars annually across industries worldwide, next-gen technologies such as graph-network-powered clustering models that afford earlier detection and intervention are reshaping fraud prevention strategies – delivering unprecedented efficiency, accuracy and scalability.

The evolution of fraud prevention

Historically, fraud prevention systems work by setting predefined criteria to flag fraudulent activities. This approach has become less effective as fraudsters’ methods have become more complex. Any rules-based approach requires constant updates and revisions, making it cumbersome and often a step behind more agile and inventive fraud tactics.

The advent of AI and ML allows for the analysis of vast datasets far beyond the capacity of human oversight, adapting to new information in real time. This shift from static rule sets to dynamic learning systems marks a significant turning point, and the introduction of data clusters is altering how organizations respond to fraud.

By examining data clusters, one can discern relationships and patterns between data points across extensive networks, enhancing the detection of complex fraud schemes that would otherwise be undetectable with traditional methods. The advent of AI and machine learning technologies herald a shift towards proactive fraud prevention, allowing for the anticipation and mitigation of threats before they inflict financial damage.

In a world where digital transactions are prevalent and the risk of fraud is constant, leveraging AI-driven data clustering not only bolsters a business's defenses against sophisticated fraud techniques but also streamlines operations by reducing false positives and supporting customer trust and satisfaction.

Unique signals and real-time detection

AI-driven fraud prevention relies on rich data signals, ranging from digital footprint analysis to device intelligence, to build accurate and dynamic user profiles. By integrating data aggregated from multiple sources, organizations gain a broader perspective on user behavior, enabling more precise risk assessments. These signals are the foundation of graph-network-powered detection.

Real-time mapping connections between data points make proactive detection possible as the system identifies anomalies, such as linked accounts sharing suspicious attributes or unusual transaction velocities across geographies.

Unlike reactive rule-based systems, graph networks predict potential threats based on emerging patterns, allowing businesses to intervene at the earliest access points. This approach significantly reduces the time and resources required to counteract fraud, enhancing security and operational efficiency.

Real-world applications underscore the efficacy of this technology. For example, a financial institution utilizing graph networks can uncover a sophisticated fraud ring by detecting multiple accounts with shared device fingerprints and overlapping transaction histories. Early detection not only prevents significant economic losses but also disrupts the operation before it can escalate.

Similarly, an ecommerce platform employs graph networks to identify high-risk orders based on behavioral anomalies, effectively reducing chargebacks while preserving a seamless customer experience. These instances demonstrate how unique data signals and real-time detection transition fraud prevention from a reactive to a proactive defense strategy.

Unlike rigid rule-based systems, graph networks dynamically cluster similar customers based on proximity, even if some data points or behavioral patterns change. This adaptability means that even if fraudsters attempt to circumvent existing rules, the platform can still identify suspicious patterns without needing further calibration, enhancing the robustness of fraud detection efforts and maintaining system integrity over time.

Building a proactive ecosystem

By integrating clustering models with workflow automation, businesses can create a seamless system where anomalies are flagged, verified and acted upon in real time. This eliminates the inefficiencies of manual reviews and reactive processes and enables organizations to stay ahead.

Businesses leveraging AI-driven clustering safeguard customer interactions to mitigate fraud and cultivate trust and loyalty. Faster detection and proactive measures ensure a frictionless experience for legitimate users while building robust defenses against increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts. By committing to an integrated, data-driven approach, organizations position themselves to thrive in a digital economy where security and user satisfaction go hand in hand.

Initially, cluster validation may still require some human review, but as AI algorithms advance, the system can increasingly mimic human decision-making processes. This progression enables businesses to inform customers about decisions retroactively, paving the way for a truly autonomous decision-making process that enhances both efficiency and reliability in fraud prevention.

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

Cloud infrastructure remains one of the largest expenses for modern businesses, and it can be difficult to keep under control. In fact, according to Gartner, 69% of IT leaders report budget overruns in their cloud expenditure. What’s more, much of this overspend is unnecessary.

The FinOps in Focus 2025 report found global enterprises are set to waste billions on cloud infrastructure spend this year. These inefficiencies are in large part attributed to an ongoing disconnect between FinOps teams and developers.

This is rooted in confusion over ownership, a lack of visibility into cloud consumption, and software engineers being pulled into cost optimization efforts late. Failure to address this can leave businesses facing significant financial inefficiencies, escalating costs, and missed opportunities for optimization.

As companies navigate the pressure to do more with less, the need for effective cloud optimization and cost management has never been more urgent. The solution lies in a cultural shift towards giving developers more ownership of cloud cost management and driving better alignment between teams. By implementing these changes, businesses can bridge the gap and implement smarter, more efficient cloud strategies that keep costs under control.

Confusion over ownership

Part of the challenge is that organizations don’t tend to view developers as being responsible at all for cloud costs. In fact, the reality is that most developers see cost optimization as someone else's problem – with 55% of developers ignoring cost management. Only 35% cite cloud cost efficiency as a measure of success.

This mindset isn’t limited to developers; it’s shared across business teams. When engineering leaders have been asked who is responsible for cloud cost management, developers are rarely mentioned. Cloud operations and finance teams usually take the lead – those who have historically commanded control over budgets.

That’s not to say that developers don’t want to be involved. Rather than viewing cost management as a burden, many developers want more control over and responsibility for managing cloud costs. Yet, businesses often unintentionally sideline and exclude developers from the conversation, viewing cost optimization as other teams’ responsibility.

A lack of visibility

Another challenge is that even if they wanted to take on more responsibility for optimizing cloud costs, many developers have limited visibility into their usage. Added to that, most businesses use a variety of cloud providers, which can make it difficult to get a complete picture of spending across teams and departments.

Costs are spread across different platforms, with varying pricing models and billing structures, which makes it even more difficult to identify areas of waste and inefficiency. These issues not only impact the bottom line but also create tension between teams as they struggle to retrospectively justify unexpected costs and understand who is responsible for cloud waste.

Developers also lack access to the real-time insights needed to optimize cloud spend. Fewer than half say they can monitor idle cloud resources (43%), unused or orphaned resources (39%), or over/under-provisioned workloads (33%) – critical factors for cost efficiency.

Without a clear picture of cloud usage, 55% admit that their purchasing commitments are ultimately based on guesswork, further compounding the issue. In the absence of visibility into their cloud spend, developers are also more likely to default to over-provisioning to ensure applications run smoothly and avoid downtime. The danger is that overprovisioned or unused resources can run unnoticed for weeks, leading to wasted spend.

Delayed involvement

Finally, developers often struggle to play an active role in cost optimization because they’re brought into the process too late. More than half (52%) of engineering leaders report that their organizations only prioritize cost efficiency after applications or features have been deployed to production, rather than during development.

This delayed approach turns cost control into a reactive, high-stakes challenge. By the time inefficiencies are identified, teams are left with two difficult choices: accept the financial drain of suboptimal architecture or undertake the complex and risky task of refactoring live systems. Neither option is ideal, and both can lead to significant disruption, wasted resources, and higher operational costs.

Businesses are overlooking a key opportunity to drive efficiency here. Cloud spend is now embedded within the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Developers – who have a deep understanding of that software – are in the perfect position to drive optimization from the very beginning. By involving developers early, organizations can proactively identify cost-saving opportunities and create a more efficient, cost-conscious development process.

A cultural shift towards cost reduction

With cloud costs continuing to consume a growing share of technology budgets, organizations can no longer afford to overspend. Cost optimization should not be treated as a separate process from development. Instead, developers must be empowered with insights that help them make sense of cloud consumption and resource allocation, and allow them to be involved in cost optimization at the early stages of delivery.

AI-driven cost management processes can support developers in making this shift, by analyzing usage patterns, recommending resource adjustments, and automatically resizing cloud footprints based on demand. This reduces complexity and enables more efficient cloud resource management. Integrated into the SDLC, these processes provide real-time financial insights, allowing developers to make cost-effective decisions during design, not after deployment. Developer teams themselves recognize the opportunity of AI, with 86% feeling like these technologies can impact their ability to optimize costs in 2025.

The future of cloud cost management

There’s an urgent need for a cultural shift to address the disconnect between development and FinOps teams. Developers need to be empowered so they can feel ownership of their organization's cloud spend, and understand how their architectural choices directly impact both performance and financial outcomes. The future of cloud cost management is one of shared responsibility – where finance, product, and engineering teams have the same insights into consumption and areas of inefficiency, so they can collaborate to eliminate wasted spending.

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

• In 2024, 51% of all internet traffic fell on bots, Thales report claims
• Not all bots are malicious, but many are
• Travel and retail industries are particularly hit

Bots, automated programs that run tasks over the internet, are now taking up more than half of all internet traffic, new research has claimed.

The 2025 Imperva Bad Bot Report found this was the first time in a decade that 51% of all web traffic constituted bot traffic, attributing the shift largely to the rise of Artificial intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLM).

The Imperva report focuses, first and foremost, on bad bots. It argues that travel and retail sectors face an “advanced bot problem”, where bad bots make up 41% and 59% of all traffic, respectively. In 2024, the travel industry was the most attacked sector with 27% of all bot attacks (up from 21% the year prior).

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Bad bots

With the proliferation of Generative AI, things are only going to get worse, Imperva further states. ByteSpider Bot alone is apparently responsible for more than half (54%) of all AI-enabled attacks. Other significant contributors include AppleBot (26%), ClaudeBot (13%), and ChatGPT User Bot (6%).

Not all bot traffic is malicious, though. There are many useful, and often essential bots, such as search engine crawlers, monitoring bots, social media bots, or data scraping bots. They are used to index websites for search engines, check websites for performance or downtime, schedule posts or respond automatically, or to aggregate sites and scrape valuable data.

Still, bad bots take up a hefty portion of all bot traffic, presenting a real challenge for the cybersecurity community.

These tools, whose popularity exploded roughly three years ago with the introduction of Chat-GPT, have simplified the creation and scaling of malicious bots, Imperva noted.

“As AI tools become more accessible, cyber criminals are increasingly leveraging these technologies to create and deploy malicious bots which now account for 37% of all internet traffic – a significant increase from 32% in 2023,” the company explained.

“This is the sixth consecutive year of growth in bad bot activity, posing security challenges for organizations striving to safeguard their digital assets.”

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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, April 16 (game #675).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #676) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• CASE
• MANTLE
• SAUCE
• CORE
• CRUST
• FORTY
• TRUNK
• TROUT
• TORSO
• YOUNG
• SIX-PACK
• CHEESE
• TOPPINGS
• BONDS
• MIDRIFF
• GROWLER

NYT Connections today (game #676) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Stomach 
• GREEN: Grab a slice 
• BLUE: Draft, can or bottle
• PURPLE: Legends of the game

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #676) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: CENTRAL SECTION OF THE BODY 
• GREEN: COMPONENTS OF A PIZZA 
• BLUE: UNITS OF BEER 
• PURPLE: BASEBALL GREATS

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

NYT Connections today (game #676) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #676, are…

• YELLOW: CENTRAL SECTION OF THE BODY CORE, MIDRIFF, TORSO, TRUNK
• GREEN: COMPONENTS OF A PIZZA CHEESE, CRUST, SAUCE, TOPPINGS
• BLUE: UNITS OF BEER CASE, FORTY, GROWLER, SIX-PACK
• PURPLE: BASEBALL GREATS BONDS, MANTLE, TROUT, YOUNG

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

In the venn diagram of CENTRAL SECTION OF THE BODY and UNITS OF BEER, SIX-PACK sits between the two groups.

This was the only piece of hesitation for me today, in a Connections that combined beer, sport and pizza along with the part of the body that will suffer the most if you eat too much pizza and drink too much beer while watching sport.

There is something about watching athletes at the peak of their fitness perform on TV that triggers us regular mortals to abuse our bodies with food of low nutritional value. It’s odd, but I fall victim to it almost daily.

That said, I have always had a fantasy that I'll watch the entire Tour de France while riding a stationary exercise bike, turning up the resistance on the mountain stages, sprinting for the finish line, surviving on energy gels and isotonic drinks until the end of the race – and then I’d have some beer and pizza!

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, 16 April, game #675)

• YELLOW: BURLESQUE WEAR BOA, CORSET, GARTER, STOCKINGS
• GREEN: MESS UP THE SURFACE OF SCAR, SCORE, SCRAPE, SCRATCH
• BLUE: THEY ROAR CROWD, ENGINE, KATY PERRY, LION
• PURPLE: LATIN DANCES WITH A VOWEL CHANGED MAMBA, MERINGUE, SIMBA, TANGY

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, April 16 (game #1178).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1179) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1179) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1179) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1179) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1179) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• R

• S

• C

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

Quordle today (game #1179) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1179, are…

• SPRAY
• RAMEN
• SHELF
• COURT

Today, I experienced the rare joy of one of my start words – RAMEN – being correct.

This fluke set me up for a personal best (I’ve never finished in fewer than seven guesses), but alas I was one letter out on my penultimate word – guessing shell instead of SHELF.

Despite the near miss I’m thrilled that I came so close.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1179) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1179, are…

• COBRA
• FLUKE
• DRIED
• SPIEL

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUT
• Quordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAY
• Quordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCE
• Quordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOP
• Quordle #1174, Saturday 12 April: BLIND, OVOID, CACHE, THING
• Quordle #1173, Friday 11 April: FOLLY, PITHY, SCOWL, CURLY
• Quordle #1172, Thursday 10 April: LEAST, SEWER, UNTIE, NOOSE
• Quordle #1171, Wednesday 9 April: LITHE, LEFTY, KNOLL, MULCH
• Quordle #1170, Tuesday 8 April: WIDTH, VISOR, MEDAL, BROOK
• Quordle #1169, Monday 7 April: BROTH, SHOUT, BRUTE, CABIN
• Quordle #1168, Sunday 6 April: AMBER, GAUZE, STORE, SLICK
• Quordle #1167, Saturday 5 April: GUSTY, VAULT, WHINE, BEGAT
• Quordle #1166, Friday 4 April: OAKEN, LOOPY, CURIO, BUTTE
• Quordle #1165, Thursday 3 April: ASCOT, JETTY, DRUNK, JOLLY
• Quordle #1164, Wednesday 2 April: INDEX, QUEEN, INCUR, STOLE
• Quordle #1163, Tuesday 1 April: HUMUS, BALMY, WORRY, ERECT
• Quordle #1162, Monday 31 March: RECUT, MOODY, WHERE, BRACE
• Quordle #1161, Sunday 30 March: CRIME, DRINK, CLOVE, TRUER
• Quordle #1160, Saturday 29 March: LATER, ODDLY, CUMIN, AGREE
• Quordle #1159, Friday 28 March: TERSE, MUSHY, PROVE, FROND

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, April 16 (game #409).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #410) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… THE movies

NYT Strands today (game #410) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• FINE
• GRIN
• TRAIL
• DIRT
• HINGE
• FLAT

NYT Strands today (game #410) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 6 letters

NYT Strands today (game #410) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right,4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #410) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #410, are…

• RING
• AVIATOR
• SHINING
• GOONIES
• GODFATHER
• GRADUATE
• SPANGRAM: TITLES

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

A rather straightforward Strands today, although I did spend quite a while getting GRADUATE even though they were the only letters left.

Looking at the list, I’m wondering if there is any other connection beyond the fact that they are all THE movies?

They are all acclaimed – unless we are talking about the Hollywood remake of The RING rather than the Japanese original (that has a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the 2002 version starring Naomi Watts has 72%).

One theme is curses – in The Ring it’s a videotape, The SHINING a hotel, in The GRADUATE it’s the curse of expectation, The GOONIES has a long-awaited sequel called The Curse of One-eyed Willy, and The GODFATHER curse is attributed to a series of unfortunate events befalling its cast.

Nah, that’s not it.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, 16 April, game #409)

• DRIVER
• WEDGE
• IRON
• PUTTER
• WOOD
• CHIPPER
• UTILITY
• SPANGRAM: GOLF CLUBS

What is NYT Strands?

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

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

• CVE funding gets last-minute funding reprieve
• A MITRE head told CVE board members that government funding is about to expire
• Some have called the move "reckless and ignorant"

US government funding for CVE, a program that publicly lists known software vulnerabilities, will continue for the time being, despite initial reports it would expire.

Cuts being made by the US government across the board had meant CVE could have lost funding, which could heavily erode the cybersecurity of all organizations, from small businesses to critical infrastructure firms.

However, a CISA spokesperson revealed the organization executed an option period on the contract "to ensure there will be no lapse in critical CVE services".

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CVE extension

“The CVE Program is invaluable to the cyber community and a priority of CISA,” the comment added.

Sponsored by the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), CVE, or Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures, is a program run by MITRE Corporation, a US government-funded nonprofit that manages federally sponsored research and development.

The program works by assigning a unique identifier to every newly discovered vulnerability, allowing cybersecurity pros, software developers, and organizations to properly identify and address flaws in software.

NextGov says Yosry Barsoum, the director of MITRE’s Center for Securing the Homeland, recently sent an internal memo to CVE board members, warning about the possibility of losing funding. When the memo leaked to social media, MITRE confirmed its legitimacy.

“If a break in service were to occur, we anticipate multiple impacts to CVE, including deterioration of national vulnerability databases and advisories, tool vendors, incident response operations, and all manner of critical infrastructure,” the notice warned.

"Reckless and ignorat"

CVE was not the only program at risk of losing government funding. Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE), another MITRE-run program, is also at risk of losing funding at the same time. CWE is a catalog of software and hardware security weaknesses that focus on the root causes, the underlying programming or design errors that attackers can exploit.

NextGov says that CISA is looking at “significant cuts” across several of its teams, including with contractors. Some contracts were already terminated, while others will simply be left to expire.

We could say that CVE dodged the bullet, since the consequences could be quite dire.

House Science Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren D-Calif. and Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. called the funding lapse “reckless and ignorant” and said it would undermine cybersecurity around the world.

“The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures Program makes sure every service, device, and system is removing discovered vulnerabilities,” NextGov cited a statement.

“From your personal computer to the electric grid to nuclear facilities — they all rely on the CVE. Eliminating this contract will allow malicious actors to operate in the dark. We call on the Department of Homeland Security to fully restore funding to this program before catastrophe strikes.”

Chris Burton, Head of Professional Services at Pentest People, believes the community could step up in the government’s place.

“It's completely understandable there are concerns about the government pulling funding for the MITRE program, it’s a troubling development for the security industry,” he told TechRadar Pro in a mailed statement.

“If the issue is purely financial, crowdfunding could offer a viable path forward, rallying public support for a project many believe in. If it's operational, there may be an opportunity for a dedicated community board to step in and lead. Either way, this isn’t the end, it’s a chance to rethink and reimagine. Let’s not panic just yet; there are still options on the table, as a global community, I think we should see how this unfolds.”

Via NextGov

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• The Dangbei N2 mini is available now, priced at $179 / £159 )about AU$330)
• 1080p, 200 ISO Lumens, up to 120-inch display
• 'AI' auto picture adustments, 190º tilt for easy projection anywhere

Dangbei's new entry level LED projector, the Dangbei N2 mini, delivers 1080p HD and has native apps for Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video – plus a built-in gimbal and automatic picture adjustment tech (with the obligatory claim of 'AI' powers) that should make it easy to place it anywhere and get a well-aligned display.

It's also very keenly priced, with an introductory offer of $179 / £159 (about AU$330). That's roughly 20% off the normal list price, and it's less than half what you'd pay for our current best portable projector pick, the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro.

(Image credit: Dangbei) Dangbei N2 mini: key features

The most obvious difference between the N2 mini and more expensive models is brightness: where the XGIMI is 450 ISO Lumens, the N2 mini is rated at 200 ISO Lumens, so this isn't one for brightly lit spaces. But it's exceptionally portable, weighing just 3.78 lb (1.72 kg), and it comes with a host of automatic features for easy setup and operation. There's also a 6W speaker system with Dolby Audio support.

The recommended display size is 100 inches, but the N2 mini is capable of projecting from 40 to 120 inches.

The integrated gimbal enables smooth and accurate positioning on floors, walls or ceilings and the power port is base-mounted to avoid interference. The optical system is sealed to keep dust out, which Dangbei says delivers 30% longer life – although it doesn't say what that lifespan actually is. Bluetooth is 5.2 and the N2 mini has Wi-Fi 6.

The N2 mini has nearly 300 apps to choose from, and the pre-installed Netflix, Prime Video and YouTube apps are all given their own buttons on the remote.

The Dangbei N2 mini is available now.

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• Elon Musk's DOGE has pressured a key Pentagon program to close
• The Defense Digital Service will cease operating by May 2025
• Staff have said the only reason they are leaving is DOGE

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sent a key US government program focused on efficiency, innovation, and Silicon Valley-style quick tech fixes packing.

Almost all of the staff for the Defense Digital Service (DSS) have confirmed they are resigning as a result of DOGE pressure, with many of the DSS’ responsibilities to be taken over by the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office.

The DSS has been a key source of innovation and new tech adoption at the Pentagon for the past decade, introducing numerous tech remedies during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and Ukrainian aid transferal programs.

DOGE ditches DSS

Of the 14 employees that make up the DSS office, 11 are planning to take Trump’s deferred resignation package by the end of April. DSS Director Jennifer Hay is planning on leaving by May 1, with the two remaining employees planning to resign also.

One of the DSS’ main responsibilities was to introduce fast track technology during national security incidents to help the Pentagon to quickly react to developing situations.

While DSS responsibilities will be passed on to another department, it is unclear how long it will take for the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office to assume DSS responsibilities - potentially putting the security of the Pentagon at risk.

Many within the DSS office were expecting to be a part of DOGE’s efforts to enhance the efficiency of the Pentagon and introduce new AI technologies, however they were passed over by Musk, with Hay stating “The reason we stuck it out as long as we have is that we thought we were going to be called in.”

According to Politico, there were existing issues within the program ranging from political infighting to hiring freezes, but every employee at the DSS said that they wouldn’t be leaving if not for DOGE. “The best way to put it, I think, is either we die quickly or we die slowly,” Hay added.

This isn’t the first modernization and innovation program to face the axe under DOGE, with the US Digital Service and the 18F program both being subject to firings and layoffs under pressure from DOGE.

A former Pentagon official who spoke to Politico under subject of anonymity commented on DOGE’s foray into improving the efficiency of the Defense Department, stating, “They’re not really using AI, they’re not really driving efficiency. What they’re doing is smashing everything.”

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• AMD’s RX 9060 XT is supposedly set to launch in May
• That’s the word from Chiphell, and other sources have pointed to Computex (May 20) before, too
• With Nvidia’s RTX 5060 also debuting in May, another head-to-head clash – like the RX 9070 vs RTX 5070 models – is in the offing

AMD’s RX 9060 XT graphics card, seemingly the next in line from the RDNA 4 range, could be out in May, or that’s the fresh claim from the grapevine.

As flagged by Harukaze5719 on X (via VideoCardz), a regular when it comes to pointing out hardware rumors, an editor at Chiphell has put forward the idea of a May launch, without mentioning any specific date (or even a timeframe range) in the month.

9060 XT is scheduled in May?https://t.co/9Kr0J4XWT2April 16, 2025

Chiphell is a forum over in China, and info dropped from there needs to be taken with some caution, especially as this is a vague assertion. But in theor,y it indicates that the RX 9060 XT models could turn up in just over two weeks (though it’ll likely be later in the month, and I’ll come back to that point shortly).

Recent spec rumors have the RX 9060 XT as being equipped with 16GB and 8GB of video RAM, as with the just-revealed RTX 5060 Ti from Nvidia, except AMD is sticking with older GDDR6 memory, rather than following Team Green’s upgrade path to (faster) GDDR7.

The 9060 XT is said to have half the graphics cores of the RX 9070 XT, and indeed half the memory bandwidth too. It supposedly has a somewhat faster boost speed, though, so guesswork currently has the performance of the RX 9060 XT pitched at just over half (around 60%) of the 9070 XT (add seasoning now, and don’t be shy with it). Elsewhere, we’ve heard that the incoming GPU is likely to sit just below the frame rates delivered by the RX 7700 XT.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / DC Studio) Analysis: May feels right for 9060 XT launch – let’s hope the price is right, too

Officially, AMD has only said that RX 9060 models are coming in Q2, which could be any time up until the end of June – and Team Red has gone pretty quiet on these next-in-line RDNA 4 GPUs otherwise.

Does May seem a realistic prospect for an RX 9060 XT launch? Well, it’s a middling bet – literally bang in the middle of Q2 – and of course, AMD won’t want to be seen to be lagging behind Nvidia. Team Green has just unleashed the RTX 5060 Ti (it goes on sale today) and the RTX 5060 is due in May (with an attractive sounding $299 MSRP).

As VideoCardz further observes, other rumors from Nvidia’s graphics card making partners have suggested a Computex launch for the 9060 XT models, which is later in May (the show kicks off on May 20, in fact). So, the rumors appear to be aligning around a timeframe that makes sense, but as ever, get carried away at your own risk.

With Nvidia dropping pricing on its RTX 5060 models compared to Lovelace, this will hopefully force AMD to look at more affordable price tags for the RX 9060 XT. Chiphell rumors suggest pricing could land equivalent to the RTX 5060, with perhaps a $299 asking price for the 16GB spin, and $249 for the 8GB model. Other rumors have hinted that this is overly optimistic, and we could be looking at 10% to 20% or so more.

Real-world pricing and availability, rather than MSRPs, are set to be a key factor in this lower-mid-range battle, though – and the fear is very much that Nvidia is going to come out poorly in this regard. Still, we shouldn’t judge beforehand (though it’s difficult not to in Team Green’s case), and with all the chaos around tariffs and potential price hikes at the moment, the waters couldn’t be any thicker with mud, frankly.

It’s also worth noting that 8GB graphics cards are not going down well these days – for obvious reasons, as this VRAM loadout is looking very shaky for any kind of future-proofing – so it doesn’t seem wise for AMD to follow in Nvidia’s unpopular footsteps in this respect with that 8GB version of the 9060 XT, especially as AMD has avoided going too lean with the RX 9070 models, which all have 16GB (whereas the Nvidia RTX 5070 stuck with a distinctly wobbly looking 12GB).

Still, the theory is that this lower-end RX 9060 XT 8GB is being launched in lieu of the vanilla RX 9060 (which the grapevine remains silent on, perhaps tellingly).

Video RAM aside, there’s some disappointment more broadly with the overall spec of the RX 9060 XT as rumored, with it feeling a bit weak. But as mentioned, pricing will be crucial here, and if the base 9060 XT (8GB) does end up at $250 (or a whisper over), that could make it a pleasantly compelling budget GPU.

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• Nvidia predicts $5.5 billion in H20 export-related costs to China and other nations
• H20 chips were already meant to be optimized for the Chinese market
• Company shares are down, market cap stays below $3 trillion

Nvidia is facing a massive $5.5 billion quarterly charge due to new US export restrictions on its H20 AI chips destined for China and other destinations, with company stock taking a fall following the revelation.

Starting April 9, the US government mandated a license for Nvidia to export H20 chips to certain countries, with no end date set, marking a costly change for the chipmaker.

The affected nations are China (including Hong Kong and Macau) and D5 countries – the United Kingdom, South Korea, Estonia, New Zealand and Israel.

Nvidia faces billions in export-related costs

“First quarter results are expected to include up to approximately $5.5 billion of charges associated with H20 products for inventory, purchase commitments, and related reserves,” Nvidia said in a SEC filing.

The tech giant noted the government-mandated license “addresses the risk that the covered products may be used in, or diverted to, a supercomputer in China” – Nvidia’s fourth-biggest market by sales after the US, Singapore and Taiwan (via CNBC).

The H20 chips are less advanced versions of Nvidia’s H100/H200 chips, using the 2022 Hopper architecture, designed specifically to comply with now-dated US export restrictions for the Chinese market. In other regions, the company is now shifting its focus to next-generaiton Blackwell chips.

Moreover, Nvidia’s leaders have spoken out about the effects of the ongoing trade war.

“While cloaked in the guise of an ‘anti-China’ measure, these rules would do nothing to enhance US security,” VP of Government Affairs Ned Finkle said during Biden’s final days in office, before Trump’s tariffs came into effect.

Nvidia shares now stand at $112.20, down from a one-year high of $153.13. After spending two short periods of time as the world’s most valuable company, Nvidia’s market cap of $2.737 trillion now puts it in third position behind Microsoft, with Apple in first place and the only current $3-trillion company (just about).

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• Windows 11 is powering up the Snipping Tool in testing right now
• A new feature allows you to copy all the text from an image straight away
• There’s no need to take a screenshot first, as was previously the case, so this is a neat time-saver

Microsoft is making it even easier for Windows 11 users to be able to extract text from images (or any content) on the screen.

Windows 11 already has this OCR-powered (Optical Character Recognition) ability, as you may be aware, but at the moment, it’s necessary to take a screenshot first with the Snipping Tool before you can extract text from that image.

With a new update for the Snipping Tool that’s just been released (which was leaked previously), you don’t need to grab a screenshot to perform text extraction any longer – although bear in mind this is still in testing at this point (so may still be wonky).

As Neowin reports, with preview version 11.2503.27.0 of the Snipping Tool, you can simply hit the Windows + Shift + S keys together, and this will pop up the capture bar for the tool.

However, instead of having to create a snip (screenshot), the ‘text extractor’ option will be right there in the bar, so you can just click that, with no need to save a screen grab first.

(Image credit: Microsoft) Analysis: Power(Toys) to the people

Essentially, this is directly integrating the ability to extract text from images (or any screen content) into Windows 11, with no additional steps needed, mirroring the functionality present in Microsoft’s PowerToys suite of tools (for advanced Windows users) – and it’s definitely going to be appreciated by folks who use this capability.

It’s obviously less of a hassle than having to clear the hurdle of actually grabbing a screenshot, if all you’re interested in doing is copying all the text that’s currently visible on your monitor.

I say all the text, but that’s only what happens if you use the ‘Copy all text’ option provided. If you just want a specific portion of text, you can manually select and extract only those words (it’s also possible to remove line breaks if you want).

Microsoft is slowly expanding Windows 11’s OCR powers, and you may recall that late last year, the Photos app got Optical Character Recognition built in to pull text from images directly within the application.

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Is Spotify playing up for you right now? You're not alone – thousands are reporting issues with this music streaming app, including problems with its homepage and search function.

The reports on Downdetector started spiking at around 8am ET / 1pm BST, with over 40,000 Spotify users reporting problems in the US at the time of writing – and many other regions including the UK also flagging issues, showing that the issue is global.

Most of the reports are related to the smartphone app, but a significant number of people are having problems with the web player, too. Spotify has now acknowledged the problems on its Spotify Status account and says it's "checking them out".

We've also just heard from a Spotify spokesperson who says a fix for the search issues is rolling out now. Here's everything we know about the Spotify outage so far...

The latest news

• A huge spike in reports of Spotify issues started at around 8am ET / 1pm BST
• The highest number of reports are in the US, but other regions are rising
• Spotify has acknowledged the issues and says a fix is rolling out now

That's a pretty big spike...

(Image credit: Downdetector)

Right now, the biggest spike in reports of Spotify issues is in the UK – at the time of writing, over 21,000 Spotify users have reported problems with the smartphone app and web player on Downdetector, and social media platforms like X are also filling up with complaints.

Interestingly, there's been a smaller spike in Downdetector reports in the US, which has now dramatically fallen to around 200. Hopefully, this means the problems could be short-lived, but so far we don't know what's causing them.

Spotify is buggy today

(Image credit: Future)

I first noticed the Spotify issues when trying to search for a new album – it served me the "couldn't load the page" message above, and that's still the case now.

Strangely, I'm still able to stream music that's already in my collection and playlists, so the issues seem localized to some functions of the app. Some on the TechRadar team also don't have any issues at all.

The reports on Downdetector aren't dropping though (particularly in the UK), so it seems to be more than a temporary blip...

Spotify acknowledges there are issues

We’re aware of some issues right now and are checking them out!April 16, 2025

Spotify has now commented on the problems many are experiencing, with the Spotify Status account on X posting that the streaming giant is "aware of some issues right now and are checking them out".

That's a pretty vague description – and it seems users are experiencing multiple symptoms, from the app reporting a lack of internet connection to problems with logging in.

My own issues appear to be restricted to the app's search function. Let's hope there's still one relatively simple fix for all of the issues – we've reached out to Spotify for more details.

This is now a big Spotify outage

(Image credit: Spotify / Future)

The number of reports of Spotify issues on Downdetector is continuing to spike in the US and UK – this is now the biggest Spotify outage I can remember for a while. We're now at over 27,000 reports in the US, and 17,000 in the UK.

The TechRadar team are finding that the Spotify web player is down (above) and many are finding that their homescreens aren't loading in the app.

Spotify hasn't commented any further on what's causing the issues, beyond acknowledging on X (formerly Twitter) that it's having a major wobble. We've contacted Spotify and will update you as soon as we know more – in the meantime, it's over to YouTube we go!

Good news! A fix is rolling out now

(Image credit: Future)

We've just heard back from Spotify – a spokesperson has told us "the issue with Search has been addressed and an update has begun rolling out to all users".

We double-checked with Spotify to ask if this will require an app update and Spotify has confirmed that it'll be a background update, with no user action needed.

That's good news, but search still isn't working for me in the Spotify app. Guess I'll have to wait a while longer to check out that new Bon Iver album...

What about the other Spotify issues?

(Image credit: Spotify / Future)

As I posted below, a Spotify spokesperson told us around 15 minutes ago that "the issue with Search has been addressed and an update has begun rolling out to all users". But today's Spotify problems appear to be wider than just a search problem.

While that's been the main symptom for me, many users like my colleagues in the US are still finding that homepage is still displaying three dots (above) and that the web player is still down.

That's more like a global outage than just a search issue – so it remains to be seen whether Spotify's fix addresses all of the problems that many are still experiencing. I'm still checking the app in hope...

That fix doesn't seem to be working yet...

(Image credit: Downdetector)

It's now about 40 minutes since a Spotify spokesperson told us it was rolling out a background fix for "the issue with Search". But search still isn't working for me – and thousands of others are still reporting problems worldwide on Downdetector (above).

In the US, we're at almost 50,000 reports – a huge number that shows how widespread the issues are. In the UK, reports have dropped slightly to around 12,000, but have been pretty consistent for the last 45 minutes or so. There are other notable spikes everywhere from Australia to India, too.

What's clear is that this is more than just a search issue – many are still seeing blank homescreens and are only able to play offline music. The entire Spotify website is currently down, too – something I can't remember happening, well, ever.

We've asked for an update from Spotify about its ongoing issues and will let you know as soon as we hear back.

• Researchers found unsecured online database with almost eight million files
• Database contained work authorization documents, national insurance numbers, certificates, and other sensitive data
• It belonged to software firm Logezy, which says the database is locked down now

Millions of healthcare workers in the United Kingdom have had their sensitive data leaked online, after a non-password-protected database was found unsecured on the internet.

Security researcher Jeremiah Fowler found a database 1.1TB in size containing almost eight million files (7,975,438), including images and .PDF files, work authorization documents, national insurance numbers, certificates, electronic signatures, timesheets, user images, and government-issued identification documents.

Furthermore, the archive contained 656 directory entries indicating different companies, the majority of which were healthcare providers, recruiting agencies, and temporary employment services.

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Identity theft and other risks

Fowler determined the database belonged to Logezy, an employee management and tracking software company based in the UK.

He notified Logezy of his findings, and the company locked the database down “shortly after”.

To hunt for unprotected databases, researchers would use a specialized search engine, such as Shodan, and analyze the results.

So far, Fowler has found dozens of similar instances, including ClickBalance (more than 750 million records), DM Clinical Research (over a million clinical records), or ServiceBridge (31 million).

Without a detailed forensic analysis, it is impossible to know if a threat actor already accessed the database and exfiltrated the information found there.

It is also impossible to know for how long the archive remained unlocked, and if Logezy managed it, or a third party on its behalf.

These instances are considered a low-hanging fruit for cybercriminals. Stealing this information does not require phishing, social engineering, hunting for zero-day vulnerabilities, or exploiting unpatched endpoints.

Yet, the data inside is valuable since it’s usually up-to-date and can be used in all sorts of fraud, including wire fraud, payment scams, identity theft, and more.

If you have used Logezy in the past, it would be wise to keep a closer eye on your accounts and credit reports for potentially suspicious activity.

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Money no object

We love to give practical buying advice on the latest gadgets here at TechRadar. But sometimes what we love even more is to indulge in the most outrageously high-end, cutting-edge, luxurious tech on the planet. That's what we bring you in these Money No Object columns – you can read the whole series here.

The best stereo speakers sound fantastic but often underwhelm in the visual department; I know that I'd be hard-pushed to pick my bookshelf speakers out of a line-up, and I'm a working musician. So it's always a joy to see speakers that look as good as they're intended to sound – like the new Stratton Acoustics Element 6 and Element 8 speakers here.

These are not budget buys, with price tags of £15,000 / $20,000 (about AU$31,385) for the Element 6, £20,000 / $25,000 (about AU$41,850) for the Element 8 and £3,500 / $5,000 (about AU$7,323) for the stands. But just look at them. If I had the wealth to buy these for my mansion, I absolutely would. If I had a mansion.

(Image credit: Stratton Acoustics) Stratton Acoustics Element 6 and Element 8: not just a feast for the eyes

The star here, other than those enclosures, is Stratton's own, patented decoupled and waveguide loaded 29mm soft dome tweeter. That's paired with a six-inch mid/low driver in the Element 6 and an eight-inch unit in the Element 8, making the Element 6 more suited to smaller spaces or near-field listening positions.

The enclosures have dual-resistive port vents to reduce unwanted resonance from the bass reflex port, and they're made with acrylic-silica reinforced polymer matrices – again with claimed resonance-reducing powers – and aerospace-grade aluminum baffles.

According to Stratton, the combination of enclosures and baffles "ensures clean, transparent sound with a durable, luxurious finish that will last for decades to come."

As for the stands, they're precision-machined from aerospace-grade aluminum too. And Stratton is making big claims for their design: "Their sculptural form mirrors the jewel-like detailing of the front and rear baffles of the speakers, with a flawless finish that plays with light and reflection to striking effect, elevating the entire system to the level of modern art."

Stratton says that these speakers "offer a visually arresting presence, premium materials, class-leading electro-acoustic design, and engineering, delivering a luxurious experience for both the eyes and ears." I'm sure they do, although sadly I think it'll be a long, long time before I can afford a pair.

The new Stratton Acoustics Element 6 and Element 8 are available now.

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• Apple has just labeled the iPhone 6S as “vintage”
• The same designation has been applied to the 2018 Mac mini
• This means repairs are more limited should something go wrong

Are you still using an iPhone 6S or a 2018 Mac mini? If you are, we’ve got some bad news: Apple has just declared both products to be “vintage” on its vintage and obsolete products page, which means you’ll get much more limited service and repairs for them if anything goes wrong.

The iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus were released in 2015 and came with a few notable milestones. They were the first iPhones to come with Apple’s 3D Touch tech, while they were also the last to feature headphone jacks.

In addition, Apple strengthened the chassis of the devices to prevent the kind of 'bendgate' controversy that befell the iPhone 6. The iPhone 6S was last offered for sale by Apple in 2018.

The 2018 Mac mini, meanwhile, was the last Mac mini to come with an Intel processor rather than an Apple silicon chip (the first of which – the M1 – debuted in 2020). And it was the first (and so far only) Mac mini to come in a space gray finish.

What does this mean for you?

The 2018 Mac Mini (above) has joined the iPhone 6S on Apple's perilous 'vintage' list

Other than taking many of us on a trip down memory lane, this news has some practical implications for those who are still running an iPhone 6S or 2018 Mac mini.

Apple labels a product as “vintage” when at least five years have passed since the company last offered it for sale. Products that last went on sale seven or more years ago are designated as “obsolete.”

Now that the iPhone 6S and Mac mini have been declared “vintage,” that means your repair options are more limited. You can get them fixed at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs), but only if the required parts are available. Third-party shops might be able to repair your device if Apple or its AASPs won’t.

The next step – declaring a product to be “obsolete” – means that Apple Stores and AASPs generally will not repair your device, with Apple declining to provide replacement parts. In that case, you have no option but to either rely on a third-party repair shop or upgrade your device.

So, if you are still using an iPhone 6S or 2018 Mac mini, you’ve still got a little longer before Apple stops offering repairs. That said, with these devices getting long in the tooth – and products like the iPhone 16 and M4 Mac mini offering far better performance – now might be a good time to look at upgrading to one of the best iPhones and best Macs you can get.

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• Notorious online forum 4chan is currently offline
• A hacker reportedly took the site offline and leaked sensitive data
• "Rival" imageboard users are celebrating

Infamous anonymous imageboard 4chan has reportedly been hacked and taken offline, with the website unable to load.

A hacker was apparently dwelling on 4chan’s systems “for over a year” before deciding to pull the trigger.

The threat actor leaked a few screenshots to prove the website was hacked, and on those screenshots it showed the site’s alleged backend, source code, and banning templates. Furthermore, the hacker leaked a list of 4chan moderators and janitors, essentially the website’s operators.

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Praising the downfall

4chan is one of the world’s most popular anonymous imageboards. It is a forum where users cannot register an account, and in which threads disappear after a while (unless archived, which only happens in certain situations). It gained notoriety in the past when its users rallied to conduct “raids” - often promoting fascism, racism, and other destructive ideologies - “for the lulz” (for fun).

Memes like Pepe the Frog, Pedo Bear, the Anonymous Guy Fawkes mask, and many other trends, originated on 4chan. The “raids” included flooding live streams, massive multiplayer games and chat platforms, other forums, and similar. The forum and its users also had their “rivals”, mostly ebaumsworld (to which they always tried to shift the blame during the raids), and 8chan.

On social media, users of these boards are now gloating and praising 4chan’s “downfall”.

TechCrunch spoke to one of the janitors, who said the imageboard suffered hacks and DDoS attacks in the past, but stressed that this one might be particularly dangerous since it would seem the hacker has full control over the site.

“I’ve been most concerned with the leaked information, for obvious reasons,” said the janitor. “I’d wager that the fact that 4chan was effectively taken over by a hacker(s) is probably ‘worse’ than screenshots, at least from the perspective of the site’s continued operation.”

They also told the publication that the stolen data was probably authentic.

Whenever 4chan would go offline in the past, or whenever someone would threaten legal action against it, users would respond with a now-famous quote, which I’ll use here as well: “Nothing of value was lost.”

Via TechCrunch

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