TechRadar News

• An old Microsoft Stream domain was recently hijacked
• Many SharePoint sites with embedded videos displayed the malicious content
• Microsoft quickly addressed the issue, so users should update now

A retired Microsoft domain was hijacked and used in a spam campaign, experts have warned.

Microsoft used to have an enterprise video-sharing platform called Stream, where organizations could securely upload, manage, and share video content. In April 2024, it was retired and replaced by Microsoft Stream on SharePoint.

The key difference is that the videos were no longer stored separately in the Stream platform, but rather on OneDrive and SharePoint, to make them more accessible through Microsoft 365 tools such as Teams, Yammer, or PowerPoint.

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"Appropriate action"

Today, almost a year after the migration, news came out that the legacy domain - microsoftstream.com - was hijacked and used to display a fake Amazon site advertising a Thai casino.

The biggest issue with this attack is that all SharePoint sites with old embedded videos were displaying the spam on their premises.

BleepingComputer found a number of users complaining about the takeover on Reddit:

"This afternoon, a user reported a suspicious website on our intranet, that is using microsoftstream.com. After some analysis, it turns out the domain is currently redirecting to a sketchy website signed by 'Ibiza99'," one user said. "Here's an interesting one for you all. I just got a call that our SharePoint site was showing spam instead of embedded videos. Interesting, I thought. I wonder how that could happen," another one added.

No further information about the attack was shared, but Microsoft was soon notified about the change and it moved quickly to remedy the problem, stating, “We are aware of these reports and have taken appropriate action to further prevent access to impacted domains".

Apparently, the old domain could have been in more sinister campaigns, distributing malware through fake software updates, for example. However, good news is that the attackers opted for the least harmful thing - a spam campaign.

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• An old Microsoft Stream domain was recently hijacked
• Many SharePoint sites with embedded videos displayed the malicious content
• Microsoft quickly addressed the issue, so users should update now

A retired Microsoft domain was hijacked and used in a spam campaign, experts have warned.

Microsoft used to have an enterprise video-sharing platform called Stream, where organizations could securely upload, manage, and share video content. In April 2024, it was retired and replaced by Microsoft Stream on SharePoint.

The key difference is that the videos were no longer stored separately in the Stream platform, but rather on OneDrive and SharePoint, to make them more accessible through Microsoft 365 tools such as Teams, Yammer, or PowerPoint.

Monitor your credit score with TransUnion starting at $29.95/month

TransUnion is a credit monitoring service that helps you stay on top of your financial health. With real-time alerts, credit score tracking, and identity theft protection, it ensures you never miss important changes. You'll benefit from a customizable online interface with clear insights into your credit profile. Businesses also benefit from TransUnion’s advanced risk assessment tools.

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

"Appropriate action"

Today, almost a year after the migration, news came out that the legacy domain - microsoftstream.com - was hijacked and used to display a fake Amazon site advertising a Thai casino.

The biggest issue with this attack is that all SharePoint sites with old embedded videos were displaying the spam on their premises.

BleepingComputer found a number of users complaining about the takeover on Reddit:

"This afternoon, a user reported a suspicious website on our intranet, that is using microsoftstream.com. After some analysis, it turns out the domain is currently redirecting to a sketchy website signed by 'Ibiza99'," one user said. "Here's an interesting one for you all. I just got a call that our SharePoint site was showing spam instead of embedded videos. Interesting, I thought. I wonder how that could happen," another one added.

No further information about the attack was shared, but Microsoft was soon notified about the change and it moved quickly to remedy the problem, stating, “We are aware of these reports and have taken appropriate action to further prevent access to impacted domains".

Apparently, the old domain could have been in more sinister campaigns, distributing malware through fake software updates, for example. However, good news is that the attackers opted for the least harmful thing - a spam campaign.

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• The just released Nintendo Today app screenshots are giving us another look at the new Joy-Cons
• The image shows Joy-Cons with an extra button in front of the Switch 2
• It remains to be seen what the "C" Button is for.

While Nintendo didn’t shed many details on the forthcoming Switch 2 during its Direct stream earlier today (March 27, 2025), the gaming giant did let some facts about its upcoming, highly-anticipated console slip through the cracks.

Beyond many new titles coming to the current Switch and Switch OLED, as well as likely supporting the Switch 2, the company also dropped a new app. No, not an update to Nintendo Music, but the entirely new Nintendo Today app for Android and iOS.

It’s out now and available to download, but as first spotted by VCG, one of the screenshots in both the App Store and Play Store show off a Nintendo Switch 2, specifically the Joy-Cons… and oh did it ever spark some talk.

(Image credit: Future)

At first glance, it’s the Joy-Con’s connected to form one controller with the main hull of the Switch 2 behind it, but look a little closer and as some would say, “enhance.” The right Joy-Con with the red highlights has a 'C' button below the home button.

That just about confirms the existence of the 'C' button and that it will be a part of the Switch 2 in a pretty prominent location on the main controllers for the console. Details get a little more scarce after that, though, and we’ll likely need to wait for the company to make it official during the April 2, 2025, Nintendo Direct, which is promised to be all about the Switch 2. Basically the opposite of today’s earlier Nintendo Direct.

And for those wondering, this extra button was visible in the original Switch 2 launch video, but it didn’t have a C on it. Similarly, the 'C' button was noticeably absent on the Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED, but it does have a bit of a history with Nintendo’s earlier consoles. It appeared on the Wii, GameCube, New 3DS, and New 3DS XL.

TechRadar’s own Dash Woods believes that it might enable a new mouse mode on the Joy-Cons – essentially acting as a new way for controlling the Switch 2 and navigating the interface. Considering the kickstand looks a lot more capable on the Switch 2 from the teaser videos, it might make sense as you might prop the console up and then use it with a mouse for specific titles.

Nintendo might just be trying to make that a bit easier on the Joy-Cons; it also might be something else entirely, like a new type of connection. It could also be for 'Community', enabling a new type of hub – maybe Mii’s will return? For now, it’s anyone’s guess, but we appreciate finding it in a new app from Nintendo, and luckily, the Switch 2 Direct stream is only days away.

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• HP ZBook Ultra G1a comes with a massive 126GB RAM and 2TB SSD
• Preorders are available now, priced between $3,797 and $4,049 at US retailers
• ZBook Ultra G1a is built for AI, data analysis, and video production

HP has revealed the ZBook Ultra G1a, a mobile workstation that features a 16-core AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 processor with a 3GHz base clock and 5.1GHz boost speed.

The new device will handle professionals' AI applications, large datasets, and high-resolution content, with integrated AMD Radeon 8060S graphics ensuring smooth performance for intensive tasks like video editing, while providing real-time power for LLM execution, rendering, and data analysis.

Just like the HP EliteBook X G1a, it's equipped with 128GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 2TB PCIe NVMe large SSD, delivering one of the fastest computing experiences for demanding AI workloads and high-performance computing.

Performance-driven workstation with AI capabilities

The business laptop measures just 0.7 inches thick and weighing 1.5 kg, while its 14-inch OLED touchscreen offers a 2880 x 1800 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering sharp visuals with deep contrast.

There are two Thunderbolt-enabled USB-C ports, an additional USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port, HDMI 2.1, and a 3.5mm audio jack, plus Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.

It's powered by a 74.5WHr four-cell battery for extended on-the-go usage and includes a 140W USB-C power adapter for fast recharging.

The HP ZBook Ultra G1a is now available for preorder across multiple US retailers, though the exact cost varies.

While B&H Photo Video lists it as high as $4,049.00, Directdial offers it for as low as $3,797 - either way, it's for those who don't mind paying a premium for top-tier performance.

Via Shopblt

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'Signalgate' continues to rumble on, with even more of the Signal messages that were shared between Trump officials – and, inadvertently, The Atlantic – revealed today. But how exactly did this group chat debacle happen, and what does it say about Signal? We've answered all of this and more in our one-stop explainer about the app that's in the eye of a political storm.

With robust privacy credentials, Signal has long set the standard for secure messaging. But in the wake of those revelations that US government officials inadvertently added a journalist to a group chat where confidential military plans were discussed, there are fresh (and mostly unfair) question marks over how reliable the app’s protections really are.

Signal’s reputation has made it popular with journalists, politicians and privacy advocates. Used correctly on an Android or iOS device, it can absolutely make your conversations more secure. Even so, it’s not a tool designed for sharing classified information.

So why have senior US politicians been using it for sensitive national security communications? And how safe were those messages? Here’s what you need to know about Signal – and how to use it properly for private messaging.

What is Signal?

• Signal is a secure messaging app with end-to-end encryption
• It’s operated by the Signal Foundation, a non-profit organization
• Open source code makes the platform more resilient

Signal is a messaging app that's available for iOS and Android devices. Like the best messaging apps, it supports cross-platform text, voice and video chats. What sets Signal apart is its robust privacy features: it’s regarded as the benchmark for secure mobile communications. Which makes Signalgate all the more ironic, even though it has little to do with the app's technical security.

End-to-end encryption ensures messages can only be read by the sender and receiver, while open-source code ensures that there are fewer vulnerabilities for hackers to exploit.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / BigTuneOnline)

Signal was created in 2012 by Moxie Marlinspike. It’s now run by the Signal Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 2018 by Marlinspike and WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton. The Foundation relies on donations rather than ad revenue to fund its services. That means users can enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free experience, knowing that their data won’t be sold to third parties.

In our in-depth Signal review, we noted that the app offers “fewer bells and whistles than the more popular (and less secure) messaging apps”. Instead, its developers have focused on creating a secure, minimalist communications tool.

It’s this approach which has made it popular with everyone from whistleblowers and activists to journalists and privacy advocates, who favor its more secure architecture.

How safe and secure is Signal?

• Used correctly, Signal is the most secure messaging app
• It’s only as secure as the devices sending and receiving messages
• User error can compromise the privacy of group chats

Used correctly, Signal has the most robust privacy credentials of any major messaging app. It has the most layers of security at both the front-end and back-end. Messages themselves are deeply protected against hacking, while the app offers a toolkit to ensure communications are only seen by who they’re intended for.

So how did a journalist from The Atlantic end up on a group chat with US government officials, including Vice-President JD Vance and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles? Signal CEO Meredith Whittaker maintains that the app is “the gold standard” in private communication. Here’s the challenge: as strong as Signal’s security features are, they are reliant on the end user understanding how they work.

This incident was not really a failing of Signal. The journalist in question did not infiltrate the group chat through a backdoor. Instead, a member of that chat – which included 18 people – unintentionally but actively added the reporter to the group, who was then privy to sensitive messages discussing air strikes in Yemen.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Shutterstockies)

Any group chat is only as secure as its members. Even with disappearing messages enabled, there is a window in which anyone in that group can read them. By mistakenly adding the journalist to the group, the US official became responsible for compromising its integrity.

Some voices have criticized the fact that the app allowed this, but the option to add a contact to a chat is a core function of group communications. The fault here doesn’t lie with Signal – the reality is that, as secure as the app is, it’s not an appropriate platform for sharing highly confidential state information.

What’s more, messages sent on Signal are only as secure as the device that is receiving them. If a smartphone is compromised or left unlocked, all of the Signal messages on that device can be read. There is also nothing to prevent someone simply reading messages over your shoulder.

Matthew Mittelsteadt, a technology policy research fellow for the Cato Institute, said as much in a statement emailed to CNN. “Messages may be secure when they are in transit between phones, but once they reach the recipient, security can indeed fail.”

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Boumen Japet)

This is why the use of Signal by top US officials fell far short of government security protocols. Data expert Caro Robson, quoted by the BBC, said communications like these would usually take place on “a very secure government system that is operated and owned by the government using very high levels of encryption.”

While officials from the Trump administration have claimed that none of the information shared was classified, a memo from the Defense Department circulated in 2023 and obtained by NPR banned the use of mobile apps for "controlled unclassified information”. Since the leak, the Pentagon has issued an advisory prohibiting the use of Signal even for “unclassified information”.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has acknowledged the failing. Speaking to Fox News, he described it as “embarrassing” and took “full responsibility”.

How does Signal work?

• Signal uses open-source, end-to-end encryption to secure messages
• The Signal Foundation doesn’t monetize user data or sell ads
• User features are designed for security, including personal PINs

Signal offers greater security in three key ways. The first is through end-to-end encryption, which means messages are scrambled in transit, then decoded when delivered to the intended device. No-one else can read these messages, not even Signal.

While other messaging apps also offer end-to-end encryption, Signal’s is more secure because it’s open source. Not only does this make the platform more transparent, but it also allows absolutely anyone to examine the code for potential vulnerabilities. This community scrutiny makes it more likely that problems are found and fixed before hackers can exploit them.

(Image credit: Signal)

Then there are the Signal Foundation’s principles. The app itself collects less user data than other services, with message history stored on user devices rather than Signal’s servers. Of the very limited information that is collected by Signal, none of its is monetized: as a non-profit, the Foundation relies on donations rather than advertising revenue. That also means users won’t be tracked or encounter ads on the platform.

Finally, there are the safety features integral to the user experience. These include a personal PIN to secure your profile and the option to hide your phone number. Every one-to-one Signal chat also has a safety number, which can be used to verify that you’re communicating with the right person. In addition, you can’t be added to a group chat without giving your express approval.

How to get started with Signal

• The Signal app is available for iOS and Android devices
• Setup requires a phone number to receive a verification call or text
• Privacy features include personal PIN numbers and disappearing messages

Getting started with Signal is pretty easy – the app is free to download from the App Store for iOS devices and the Google Play Store for Android smartphones. To create an account, you need a phone number which will be verified by phone call or text message. Once you’ve set up your account, your number will be hidden from other Signal users by default (see below).

The app's interface and basic functions will be familiar to anyone who has used a messaging app such as WhatsApp, Messenger or Telegram. Tap the pencil icon to start a one-on-one or group chat. Within a chat, you can share messages, photos and voice notes. You can also tap the phone or camera icons to start voice or video calls.

If you’re keen to secure your messages, there are a few more advanced features to explore and configure. A Signal PIN can be used to recover your profile and settings on a different device. It’s configured by going to Signal Settings, tapping Account then selecting Change your pin.

Signal also encourages users to verify Safety Numbers. These are generated for every one-on-one chat to confirm that you’re sending messages to the right person. To view a Safety Number, open a chat, tap the header and select View Safety Number. To verify it, you would ideally compare numbers with the recipient in person. Otherwise, you can share it using a trusted channel.

(Image credit: Signal)

Disappearing messages add an additional layer of privacy. After a set period of time, the contents of messages are no longer visible, whether they’ve been read or not. You can set a default timer by going to Signal Settings > Privacy > Default timer for new chats. You can also configure timers for specific chats. Just go to chat settings and select Disappearing messages.

Signal also offers features to keep your communications activity hidden. Screen Security stops a preview of Signal appearing when you switch apps. You can enable it by heading to Settings > Privacy and selecting Screen Security on Android or Hide Screen in App Switcher on iOS.

In addition, you can hide Signal calls from your device’s call log. This is enabled by default, but to double check, head to Signal Settings > Privacy and look for Show Calls in Recents.

Finally, to manage the visibility of your phone number, go to Signal Settings > Privacy > Phone Number and tap 'Who can find me by my number'. To set up a unique username that you can use instead of your number, go to Signal Settings > Profile.

Even with all of the above features enabled, remember that your Signal communications are only as secure as your smartphone itself. To avoid a leak of information like the US government suffered, be sure to activate your device’s full set of security features, keep it locked with a passcode when not in use and don’t access sensitive messages in public. For more tips on how to keep your phone safe, read our dedicated feature here.

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• Ascent GX10 is Asus's take on Nvidia's DGX Spark AI supercomputer
• ServeTheHome spotted the product at GTC 2025 and went hands on
• The site took photos and noted the AI computer is lighter and cheaper

Nvidia has recently been showing off DGX Spark, its Mac Mini-sized AI supercomputer built around the GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip.

Originally called Project Digits, the device has been created to bring advanced model development and inferencing directly to desktops. Although it looks like a mini PC, it’s incredibly powerful and designed to handle demanding AI workflows such as fine-tuning, inference, and prototyping without relying entirely on external infrastructure.

Aimed at developers, researchers, data scientists, and students working with increasingly complex AI models locally, it comes with 128GB of LPDDR5x unified memory and up to 4TB of NVMe SSD storage. The DGX Spark isn’t cheap at $3999, but if you’re looking to save some money without cutting corners, there are some alternatives.

The lighter choice

Dell’s Pro Max with GB10 and HP’s ZGX Nano AI Station are DGX Spark clones, built around the GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip. Asus also has its own GB10 AI supercomputer clone, the Ascent GX10, which is priced at $2999, significantly less than Nvidia’s offering.

Shown off at Nvidia GTC 2025, (as, naturally, was Nvidia’s own DGX Spark), the Ascent GX10 comes with 128GB of unified memory, and the Blackwell GPU with fifth-generation Tensor Cores and FP4 precision support. While DGX Spark has 4TB of storage, Asus’s version only has 1TB.

ServeTheHome was at the conference and spotted the Ascent GX10 on Asus’s stand where it snapped a few photos of the product.

The site also noted, “The front of the system has the ASUS logo and a power button. This may sound strange, but ASUS using plastic on the outside of the chassis in parts versus Nvidia using more metal is an interesting trade-off. Nvidia DGX Spark feels in hand much more like the Apple Mac Studio from a density perspective while the Asus felt lighter. If you truly want this to be a portable AI box, then ASUS may have a leg up, especially if you want to cluster it.“

On the rear of the system, STH says there’s an HDMI port, four high-speed USB4 40Gbps ports, a 10GbE NIC for base networking, and a dual-port Nvidia ConnectX-7, which Nvidia described as an Ethernet version of the CX7 designed for RDMA clustering.

STH’s Patrick Kennedy noted, “For some context here, a Nvidia ConnectX-7 NIC these days often sells for $1500–2200 in single unit quantities, depending on the features and supply of the parts. At $2999 for a system with this built-in that is awesome. Our sense is that folks are going to quickly figure out how to cluster these beyond the 2-unit cluster that Nvidia is going to support at first.”

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• There are reportedly no current plans for another iPhone mini
• The last 'mini' model launched in September 2021
• 1 in 5 TechRadar readers say sub-6 inches is the best phone size

The last 'mini' phone we saw from Apple was the 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini, which launched in September 2021, and was replaced by the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus – and it seems unlikely that Apple is going to bring back a smaller iPhone model any time soon.

Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, who is usually a reliable source when it comes to Apple, said in a live Q & A (via MacRumors) that Apple has "really shifted away" from smaller form factors and that its engineers "are not working on a smaller iPhone right now".

The current iPhone line-up comprises the 6.1-inch iPhone 16, the 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus, the 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro, and the 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max – so if you want anything smaller than 6.1 inches in terms of display size, you're out of luck.

Gurman did say Apple might one day reconsider their position if market pressures change, but don't expect anything for the foreseeable future. This year, the iPhone 16 Plus is predicted to be replaced by the iPhone 17 Air, possibly with the same screen size.

Should Apple reconsider?

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 at least folds down to a small size (Image credit: Samsung)

Apple never said anything officially, but market reports suggested the iPhone 13 mini wasn't a great seller – which most likely sealed its fate. But according to many TechRadar readers, the iPhone 13 mini was the perfect size for a smartphone.

We ran a poll on the TechRadar WhatsApp channel asking you what your favorite phone screen size was. Top of the pile, with 241 votes out of 799 (31%), was the largest size besides foldables: phones 6.9 inches or bigger, such as the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

In second place, however, were phones with screens under 6 inches in size – like, for example, the iPhone 13 mini. This size got 171 votes (21%), but unfortunately for small phone fans, it's getting harder and harder to find more compact handsets.

Clearly, not enough of the people who like smaller-sized handsets went out and bought an iPhone 13 mini, and Apple has taken note. If you fall into that category, you could try a flip foldable like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 instead.

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• OpenAI is increasing its bug bounty payouts
• Spotting high-impact vulnerabilities could net researchers $100k
• The move comes as more AI agents and systems are developed

OpenAI is hoping to encourage security researchers to identify security vulnerabilities by increasing its rewards for spotting bugs.

The AI giant has revealed it is upping its Security Bug Bounty program from $20k to $100k, and is widening the scope of its Cybersecurity Grant program, as well as developing new tools to protect AI agents from malicious threats.

This follows recent warnings AI agents can be hijacked to write and send phishing attacks, and the company is keen to outline its “commitment to rewarding meaningful, high-impact security research that helps us protect users and maintain trust in our systems.”

Disrupting threats

Since the Cybersecurity Grant Program was launched in 2023, OpenAI has reviewed thousands of applications and even funded 28 research initiatives, helping the firm gain valuable insights into security subjects like autonomous cybersecurity defenses, prompt injections, and secure code generation.

OpenAI says it continually monitors malicious actors looking to exploit its systems, and identifies and disrupts targeted campaigns.

“We don’t just defend ourselves,” the company said, “we share tradecraft with other AI labs to strengthen our collective defenses. By sharing these emerging risks and collaborating across industry and government, we help ensure AI technologies are developed and deployed securely.”

OpenAI is not the only company to increase its rewards program, with Google announcing in 2024 a five factor rise in bug bounty rewards, arguing that more secure products make finding bugs more difficult, which is reflected in the higher compensations.

With more advanced models and agents, and more users and developments, there are inevitably more points of vulnerability that could be exploited, so the relationship between researchers and software developers is more important than ever.

“We are engaging researchers and practitioners throughout the cybersecurity community,” Open AI confirmed.

“This allows us to leverage the latest thinking and share our findings with those working toward a more secure digital world. To train our models, we partner with experts across academic, government, and commercial labs to benchmark skills gaps and obtain structured examples of advanced reasoning across cybersecurity domains.”

Via CyberNews

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• Nintendo didn't anticipate Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's massive success on the Switch, according to two former employees
• There was "not a clue" that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe "was going to be the juggernaut" that it is now
• The game has now sold over 75 million copies across the Switch and Wii U

According to two former Nintendo employees, Nintendo didn't expect Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to perform so well on the Switch.

This comes from the latest episode of the Kit & Krysta podcast, where former Nintendo of America director of social media marketing Kit Ellis and former senior manager of creator relations Krysta Yang discussed Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and how Nintendo didn't anticipate its overwhelming success (via GamesRadar).

Yang explained that, inside Nintendo, there was "not a clue" that the game "was going to be the juggernaut" that it became, with Ellis adding that it was "kind of an afterthought".

Yang continued by saying that the game "sold and sold and sold and sold and sold," and per Nintendo's most recent sales data, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has now sold over 75 million copies across the Switch and Wii U.

In the same podcast episode, the pair also speculated on how Nintendo is going to get people to purchase the new Mario Kart game, considering Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's success.

"How is Nintendo going to convince me to get the new Mario Kart?" and spend $400 on the new Switch 2 when there's already a successful game out there, Yang asked.

Ellis also wonders how the new Mario Kart game will perform compared to its predecessor when it's, presumably, only playable on the new Switch 2.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Showcase is scheduled for April 2 and will likely provide us with a release date for the console, as well as preorder and pricing details. Hopefully, we'll also get a brand new look at the next Mario Kart and other unannounced software.

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• Security researchers Zscaler found a new loader used in different infostealing campaigns
• CoffeeLoader uses multiple tricks to bypass security and drop additional payloads
• Interestingly enough, it executes the code on the system’s GPU

Security researchers have found a dangerous new malware loader that can evade traditional endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions in a clever and concerning way.

Researchers from Zscaler ThreatLabz said they recently observed CoffeeLoader in the wild, describing it as a “sophisticated” malware loader.

For detection evasion, CoffeeLoader uses a number of features, including call stack spoofing, sleep obfuscation, and the use of Windows fibers, the researchers said. Call stacks can be described as a digital breadcrumb trail that records which functions a program has called. Security tools can use call stacks to track program behavior, and detect suspicious activity. CoffeeLoader, however, hides its tracks by forging a fake breadcrumb trail.

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Armoury

A malware loader’s task usually is to infiltrate a system and execute or download additional malware, such as ransomware or spyware. It acts as the initial infection stage, often evading detection by security tools before deploying the main payload.

Sleep obfuscation makes the malware’s code and data encrypted while the tool is in a sleep state - therefore, the malware’s unencrypted artifacts are present in memory only when the code is being executed.

Zscaler describes Windows fibers as an “obscure and lightweight mechanism for implementing user-mode multitasking.”

Fibers allow a single threat to have multiple execution contexts (fibers), which the application can switch between, manually. CoffeeLoader uses Windows fibers to implement sleep obfuscation.

But perhaps the most concerning aspect of the loader is Armoury, a packer that executes the code on the system’s GPU, hindering analysis in virtual environments.

“After the GPU executes the function, the decoded output buffer contains self-modifying shellcode, which is then passed back to the CPU to decrypt and execute the underlying malware,” the researchers explained.

“ThreatLabz has observed this packer used to protect both SmokeLoader and CoffeeLoader payloads.”

The researchers said they saw CoffeeLoader being used to deploy Rhadamanthys shellcode, meaning it is deployed in infostealing campaigns.

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In the decade-plus since Amazon introduced its line of Echo smart speakers, we've been using "Alexa" to address them. It's the default wake word, and soon, as Alexa+, will be the name that marks its most significant AI glow up.

However, the hardware is still officially known as Echo Dot, Echo Show, and so on – but if a new report is any indication that might change, and we could end up calling an Echo Show an Alexa Show.

After a tip-off from a reader, The Verge was able to confirm that sometimes you might see an Echo Show listed as an Alexa Show on Amazon.com, as part of a test the online retail giant is running. I've tried without success to get Amazon.com to show me such a result, but I truly hope the name change becomes a real thing.

The reality is, no one thinks about their Amazon smart speakers as 'Echo' devices. We call them Alexas because that's the name they respond to. We've never said, "Echo, what's the weather tomorrow?" Perhaps if Amazon had gone that route back in 2015, we might be arguing that these are truly all Echo devices.

Do you call your Amazon EchoMarch 27, 2025

Echo has never been a great name. The Oxford Dictionary defines Echo as:

"A sound or series of sounds caused by the reflection of sound waves from a surface back to the listener."

If all the various Echo devices were simply speakers, this might make some sense. But Echo smart speakers are not simply reflecting our voices and requests; they're listening, thinking, and they're responding, and not simply bouncing back what we said.

Also, the combination of names isn't much better. "Echo Show" is not great. It ends up sounding like the "an echo you can see." Nothing in it says, "intelligence plus a display."

Now, let's try out "Alexa Show". We already know what Alexa means, and the combo instantly becomes "smarts you can see".

Just imagine

Even though Amazon is rolling out a much smarter and more generative AI-infused Alexa with Alexa+, I do not see the need to squeeze a '+' into the various product names. However, putting 'Alexa' front and center on products is probably a smart way to incentivize more Alexa+ adoption.

It tickles me to imagine the entire Amazon line of the best Alexa speakers, many of which are part of our best smart speakers list, refashioned around the 'Alexa' brand ideal:

• Alexa Dot
• Alexa Spot (for more simplification, combine with above)
• Alexa Studio
• Alexa Pop
• Alexa Frames
• Alexa Earbuds
• and so on

I'd even argue that the branding could extend to other Amazon native devices like the Fire Stick line (Alexa Fire Stick) and Fire tablets (Alexa Fire Tablet). Kindles would make sense only if Amazon decides to integrate some basic Alexa features (not likely, though, since most people read their kindles offline).

A dose of reality

As much as I want Amazon to fully adopt the Alexa branding across all these devices, it's not likely to happen. When I asked Amazon directly about the test they threw a giant bucket of cold water on the idea of a major product category rebranding.

An Amazon spokesperson told me: "I wouldn’t read too much into this. Customers love both Echo and Alexa, and search for our products in a number of different ways – we’re running an experiment to better understand product discovery, but that doesn’t mean anything is going to change."

As I read that, though, the message is not "it will never change." Instead, they said, "...that doesn’t mean anything is going to change."

It's like when I ask my wife if she thinks we'll win the lottery and she says, "Almost certainly not," and I always answer, 'So, you're saying there's a chance..."

Dropping Echo and adopting Alexa everywhere would be a smart move, and I still hope Amazon takes it from experiment to strategic update. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

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• Influencers are being used to share 2FA messaging in the UK
• The NCSC is using social media to help protect against fraud and scams
• Social media accounts are sharing comedy sketches and informative videos

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has turned to influencers to spread the word on the importance of two-factor authentication through the power of social media.

The campaign forms part of former prime minister Rishi Sunak’s 2024 Stop! Think Fraud initiative that seeks to spread awareness for online fraud and scams.

Comedians and personal finance influencers have been putting together sketches and advice videos to share on social media with the aim of both entertaining and educating

2FA goes viral

One sketch by thesquidvids sees a group of criminals attempting to hack into an account, with all the classic hacking movie theatrics such as Matrix-esque code tumbling down the screen, and incorrectly used tech idioms including “dropping a logic bomb” and “copying the blockchain.”

The sketch even sees the group successfully guess a password that uses the NCSC’s Three Random Words guidance to craft a secure password (in this instance ‘BulldogSlapheadJalfrezi47?’) with two numbers, a mixture of upper and lowercase letters, and a special character.

However, the group is stopped in their tracks when they encounter a 2FA prompt, with one of the criminals saying “As long as he's got two-step verification we're not getting any further, I don't think.” and the other responds, “Fair enough. I guess that's the end of the film really.”

An NCSC spokesperson told The Register, “To boost public awareness about the crucial benefits of enabling two-step verification on their most important accounts, we've partnered with popular social media influencers to amplify this vital message and encourage a wider audience to adopt secure online habits.”

Two-factor authentication and multi-factor authentication are ways to make accounts more secure. It works by having a code sent to a separate device when logging in that must be entered before access is granted. Biometrics, such as a finger print or facial recognition scans are also used, as well as dedicated authenticator apps.

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Among Netflix's April 2025 schedule are some of my favorite titles on the platform, and while I'm beyond excited to see one of the best Netflix shows returning, I'm even more excited to share them with you.

I can imagine that, like me, you're most excited for Black Mirror season 7 which is returning on April 10 with six more episodes packed with yet another star-studded ensemble cast (I'm personally excited for Chris O'Dowd, Emma Corrin, and Peter Capaldi) and some familiar characters from seasons past. And speaking of iconic casts one of my favorite Netflix reality TV shows, Love on the Spectrum, is coming back for season three and you don't know how itching I am to see how dream couple Abbey and James are getting on.

If you couldn't already tell, I'm a little more than excited for the next few weeks ahead, I'm like a kid in a sweet shop. But it doesn't stop there because on top of its new shows Netflix has even more movies lined up for April – check out the list below to see all the new movies and shows that are coming to one of the best streaming services next month.

Everything new on Netflix in April 2025

Arriving on April 1

The Age of Innocence (movie)
Big Daddy (movie)
Bonnie & Clyde (movie)
The Breakfast Club (movie)
Conan the Destroyer (movie)
Couples Retreat (movie)
The Croods (movie)
Draft Day (movie)
Field of Dreams (movie)
For Love of the Game (movie)
Geostorm (movie)
Get Him to the Greek (movie)
Heat (movie)
Insidious: Chapter 2 (movie)
Jewel Thief - The Heist Begins (Netflix original movie)
K-9 (movie)
Lucy (movie)
Matilda (movie)
The Mauritanian (movie)
The Place Beyond the Pines (movie)
Psycho (movie)
Rise of the Guardians (movie)
Rooster Cogburn (...and the Lady) (movie)
Rudy (movie)
Sicario: Day of the Soldado (movie)
Smokey and the Bandit (movie)
Smokey and the Bandit II (movie)
Uncle Buck (movie)
Weak Hero Class 2 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 2

Banger (Netflix original movie)
Garnachas: Glorious Street Food! (Netflix original documentary)
Love on the Spectrum season 3 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 3

Devil May Cry (Netflix original series)
Jurassic World: Chaos Theory season 3 (Netflix original series)
PULSE (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 4

Karma (Netflix original series)
TEST (Netflix original movie)

Arriving on April 7

Blippi's Job Show (Netflix original series)
Kill Tony: Kill or Be Killed (Netflix original comedy)

Arriving on April 8

The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox (Netflix original series)
How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) season 4 (Netflix original series)
Kian’s Bizarre B&B (Netflix original series)
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman season 5 part 2 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 9

The Addams Family (movie)
Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing (Netflix original documentary)
The Dad Quest (Netflix original movie)
The Hating Game (movie)
Unicorn Academy chapter 3 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 10

Black Mirror season 7 (Netflix original series)
Frozen Hot Boys (Netflix original movie)
Moonrise (Netflix original series)
North of North (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 11

The Gardener (Netflix original series)
Meet the Khumalos (Netflix original movie)

Arriving on April 12

Resident Playbook (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 13

Life or Something Like It (movie)

Arriving on April 15

The Glass Dome (Netflix original series)
Young Sheldon season 7 (TV show)

Arriving on April 16

Baby Mama (movie)
The Diamond Heist (Netflix original documentary)
I Am Not Mendoza (Netflix original series)
Project UFO (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 17

Istanbul Encyclopedia (Netflix original series)
Ransom Canyon (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 18

iHostage (Netflix original movie)
Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror (Netflix original documentary)

Arriving on April 19

Heavenly Ever After (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 21

Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey (Netflix original documentary)

Arriving on April 23

A Tragedy Foretold: Flight 3054 (Netflix original documentary)
Battle Camp (Netflix original series)
Bullet Train Explosion (Netflix original movie)
Carlos Alcaraz: My Way (Netflix original series)
UnBroken (movie)

Arriving on April 24

A Dog's Way Home (movie)
You season 5 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 25

Havoc (Netflix original movie)
Pokémon Horizons —The Search for Laqua season 2 part 2 (Netflix original series)

Arriving on April 28

Chef's Table: Legends (Netflix original documentary)

Arriving on April 30

Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight (Netflix original series)
The Eternaut (Netflix original series)
Exterritorial (Netflix original movie)
Turning Point: The Vietnam War (Netflix original documentary)

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• Witchbrook, the new magical life-sim from Chucklefish, finally has a release window
• It's arriving in Holiday 2025 for Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC
• A new gameplay trailer offers an in-depth look at the game's playable city, customization options, and spell-binding mechanics

Almost 10 years after its initial reveal, Chucklefish has finally announced that its magical life-sim Witchbrook will launch Holiday 2025 for Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC this holiday season.

The news comes from the latest Nintendo Direct Showcase alongside a fresh gameplay trailer showcasing the bustling seaside city of Mossport, the surrounding woodlands, and Witchbrook College, where they will be able to enroll as a witch-in-training.

Making friends, finding romance amidst a cast of characters, and spending time between classes by foraging in the deep woodland are just a few aspects the game offers.

You can also sell crafts at the Sunday Market, take part in seasonal events, and renovate and customise your cozy woodland cottage and garden, with customisable clothing, hair, and accessories available.

The game will also feature up to four-player online co-op, allowing players to craft their own unique stories and experience witch academia together, something I find incredibly appealing on top of Witchbrook's beautiful pixel art aesthetic.

"Witchbrook is the most exciting project I've ever worked on, and it's been a long time coming, but I'm very eager to get the game in the hands of the players soon," said Chucklefish CTO Rodrigo Braz Monteiro.

"I don't think that the level of simulation and fidelity we've aimed for in this game is expected of any games short of AAA, and to see it realized in a pixel art indie game has been very satisfying to us. For now, we're only sharing a small glimpse into a vast game, and I can't wait for the community to see what's coming over the next few months."

"Witchbrook is our love letter to thoughtful living, the quiet magic of slow moments, and the connections we share with each other and the world around us. Whether players are exploring solo or sharing in the adventure, we hope Witchbrook becomes a space to relax and make lasting memories," said art director Steph Caskenette.

The Nintendo Switch Direct Showcase was filled with reveals and trailers, including the announcement of Virtual Game Cards, a new Switch feature that makes it easier for players to lend out their digital games.

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• StreamElements confirmed a data breach happening at a former third-party
• Hundreds of thousands of customers lost sensitive information
• Hackers are already using the data to send phishing emails

Cloud-based streaming tools provider StreamElements has confirmed suffering a data breach after a hacker compromised one of the company’s former third parties.

“We recently became aware of a data security incident involving a third-party service provider we stopped working with last year,” the company said in an announcement on X. “We can confirm no StreamElements servers have been breached.”

In mid-March 2025, a threat actor with the alias “victim” opened up a new thread on BreachForums (a popular forum for all things cybercrime) and claimed to have stolen sensitive information belonging to 210,000 StreamElements customers. The archives included people’s full names, postal addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers, and their authenticity was confirmed by journalist Zach Bussey, who found his own information in the database.

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Fake updaters

StreamElements is a cloud-based platform that provides tools for livestreamers, including overlays, alerts, chatbot automation, and tipping services.

While it claims no foul on its side, and shifts the blame on the unnamed third party, the threat actor says that they actually compromised a StreamElements employee with an infostealer.

That gave them enough access to exfiltrate the data, with the archives containing information generated between 2020 and 2024.

While there are not many things a threat actor can do with names, email addresses, and phone numbers, they can still engage in identity theft, or run custom-built phishing campaigns, whose success rate is usually better than generic ones.

To that end, StreamElements is already warning its customers that phishing emails started going out, tricking people with fake “data breach” emails.

“Heads up: Scammers are using this 3rd-party breach as bait to send fake “data breach” emails,” a new X post says. “These are not from StreamElements.

Do not open, don’t click, just report & delete. The breach is under investigation, and we’ll share updates via official channels when more information is available.”

The company said it started reaching out to affected customers to warn them about the possibility of attack. In the meantime, BleepingComputer reports that the original post on BreachForums has been deleted.

Via BleepingComputer

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A year on from the M3 MacBook Air, Apple has announced the latest version of its lightweight laptop. Launched alongside the ultraportable MacBook Air 13-inch (M4), the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) adds a few key improvements to a proven formula.

Like its predecessor, the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) is a streamlined large-screen laptop with a silent design and excellent performance, courtesy of Apple’s cutting-edge M4 chip. In a rare twist, it also comes in cheaper than the previous edition: prices start at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,099.

But does the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) offer good value for money? And is it worth upgrading if you already own the M3 MacBook Air?

We’ve pulled together the biggest reviews from across the web and distilled the results below, to help you decide which MacBook is best for you. First up is the feedback from our own experience…

The MacBook Air M4 reviews TechRadar: "An excellent thin and light laptop, and one of the best 15-inch laptops you can currently buy"

(Image credit: Future) The good

• Impressive performance
• Lower entry price
• Silent fanless design

The bad

• Not a major upgrade
• Lack of Wi-Fi 7

Our MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) review concludes that it’s “the best 15-inch laptop you can buy”. We complimented its “brilliant thin and light design” and found that it offers a “more immersive sound experience” than the 13-inch version. We also acknowledged that the lower price makes it “a better model for less money.”

We did observe that it’s “more of a refinement than a complete reimagining” and noted that the improved performance of the M4 chip, while “very good,” doesn’t justify the upgrade if you already have an M2 or an M3 MacBook.

That said, we still found it “a solid performer that can handle any day to day task”, with battery life good enough for “several work days on a single charge.” Together with webcam improvements and the usefulness of a larger screen, we rated the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) as “excellent value for money.”

The Verge: “Continues to nail the fundamentals at a fairly affordable price.”

(Image credit: Future) The good

• Full-day battery life
• Thin, light design
• Excellent everyday laptop
• Loud speakers

The bad

• Limited basic storage
• Not enough ports
• Throttled performance

The Verge’s MacBook Air (M4) review agrees with most of our feedback. It notes that the new version offers “even better value”, making it an “excellent choice for most people’s everyday needs.” The main reservation relates to the “lackluster spec” of storage on the base-level version, though it does note the increase from 8GB to 16GB of RAM.

Unlike us, The Verge reviewed both the 13-inch and 15-inch versions together at the same time. Like us, it found that “the two extra speakers on the 15-inch” allow it to “get quite loud without sounding distorted.”

It concludes that the new models “don’t do anything groundbreaking” but continue to “nail the fundamentals at a fairly affordable price.” That includes “some solid performance gains over the M3”, along with “exceptional battery life” and “a great keyboard.” The Verge also comments that the “haptic trackpad is the best around.”

CNET: “Sits in the Goldilocks Zone of Apple's MacBook lineup”

(Image credit: Future) The good

• Screen size and weight
• Efficient performance
• Cheaper starting price

The bad

• Expensive storage
• Costly RAM upgrades
• No ProMotion display

CNET’s review shares many of those opinions. It sees the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) as an update that “adds incremental improvements to an already fantastic laptop,” awarding it an impressive 9/10.

It echoes the view that “the performance gains aren't enough on their own to necessitate an upgrade” from an M2 or M3 model but identifies “the lower price and bigger screen” as two reasons to change. CNET has plenty of praise for the 15.3-inch display, which offers more space for “open windows and Chrome tabs,” as well as streaming.

Like The Verge, CNET has a word to say about the M4’s storage options, balking at “the semi-outrageous charge of $200 to double the storage to a 512GB SSD.” Even so, it thinks the “roomy display, trim design and new lower starting price” mean the 15-inch M4 “should be viewed as the default Air.”

Wired: “The 15-inch MacBook Air has finally come into its own.”

(Image credit: Future) The good

• Lower price
• Sharper webcam
• Powerful M4 chip
• Keyboard and trackpad

The bad

• Extra storage is expensive
• One-sided port layout

Wired joins CNET in awarding the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) a score of 9/10, noting that it “improves upon the previous model in noteworthy ways while also dropping the price.” The key takeaway is that it’s a “more well-rounded option” overall, with an “increase in performance and capabilities, paired with a lower price.”

It notes that the core design hasn’t changed, but that “people are still marveling at it”, including “the excellent keyboard and trackpad”. Wired does bemoan that “all the power connections are on the left side”, but applauds the addition of “support for up to two external displays”.

Wired notes “no discernible performance difference between the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air”, but find that the “extra screen real estate” of the larger model makes a huge difference, “without giving up sharpness”. In summary, it rates the 15-inch M4 as “a clear winner.”

Engadget: “The ideal ultraportable for most users”

(Image credit: Future) The good

• Rapid performance
• Streamlined design
• Strong battery life
• Great touchpad and keys

The bad

• Not enough ports
• Screen refresh rate

Like others, Engadget notes that “the M4 chip isn’t a transformative upgrade” for the MacBook Air, reporting that it “couldn't actually feel a difference.” But it still finds the new 15-inch model “a no-brainer purchase” and rates it as “a nearly flawless ultraportable.”

As elsewhere, Engadget praises several aspects of the Air’s “impressively thin” design, describing the keyboard as “a dream to type on” and stating that “it has one of the best trackpads around.” It also commends the battery life and appreciates the tracking feature of the Center Stage camera, even if the upgrade “isn’t exactly earth-shattering.”

Like The Verge, Engadget reviewed the 13-inch and 15-inch versions of the MacBook Air M4 together. It acknowledges the benefits of both, finding that “the smaller one is definitely easier to travel with” but the larger has the more “immersive screen”. The Engadget review does wish for “more ports and a faster screen refresh rate” but fundamentally sees the new MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) as “heads and shoulders above the competition”.

The MacBook Air M4 verdict

(Image credit: Future)

While opinions on finer details might differ, there’s a strong consensus in the MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) reviews: every reviewer felt that Apple’s new 15-inch laptop gets close to the sweet spot in terms of price, performance, and screen size.

Every review commented favorably on the model’s new lower price and the general sentiment is that it offers better value and a superior everyday user experience than the previous edition. That includes an excellent trackpad and keyboard, plus extra speakers.

Most of the reviews agree on the drawbacks, which will be familiar to owners of previous verions of the MacBook Air. Apple hasn’t been generous with the ports, while the base-level storage capacity is limited and the cost of upgrading is high.

The main audience for the smaller MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is students and regular travelers. The 15-inch otherwise offers fuller sound and a larger display without much additional weight.

Almost all of the reviews conclude that the performance improvements delivered by the M4 chip don’t warrant upgrading if you already own a MacBook Air 15-inch (M3). But for everyone else, this is one of the best 15-inch laptops you can buy.

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We love comedy here in the UK – as a stereotypically serious nation, those amongst us that can break through the noise of day-to-day life by giving us something to laugh about are often elevated to national treasure status, and while some rely on scripted jokes and pre-planned routines, many of our comics are seemingly just very funny people by nature.

So when I heard about the Japanese game show LOL:Last One Laughing getting a UK version, courtesy of Prime Video, I knew we’d be in for a good time. The show is a bit like Live at the Apollo meets Big Brother, with a dash of The Hunger Games in there for good measure – 10 of Britain’s best comedians are locked in a room for six hours and banned from laughing or even cracking a full smile.

The series condenses this into six half-hour episodes, so it strikes a nice balance between real-time suspense and moving at pace. Each contestant gets one chance to laugh with a football-style card system, and the last one to laugh wins a gaudy plastic trophy – it’s all very classy.

That’d be difficult enough for any group of people, but for the cast Amazon has assembled it’s a pretty mammoth task. Alongside legends like Richard Ayoade and Sara Pascoe are TV staples like Judi Love and Daisy May Cooper – the full cast also includes Lou Sanders, Joe Lycett, Joe Wilkinson, Harriet Kemsley, Bob Mortimer, and Rob Beckett.

Moderating (and instigating) throughout are Jimmy Carr and Roisin Conaty, who issue the cast with prompts and commands to keep things reasonably chaotic and entirely not safe for work.

As well as conversation starters and guest performers, each cast member can be compelled to play their 'joker', a unique performance lasting several minutes – I’d be remiss to spoil any of them, but they are unfailingly ridiculous and pose the biggest challenge for both our cast and anyone playing along at home.

Taking the challenge

Jimmy Carr (right) and Roisin Conaty (left) serve as the show's presenters and mastermind challenges for the contestants (Image credit: Amazon)

That’s exactly what me and my family (of adults – again, this isn't for kids) did for the show’s first three episodes – and after valiantly trying to hold it together through the Judi Love’s straight-faced flirting with Richard Ayoade, and Lou Sanders needling Joe Wilkinson with nonsense rhyming slang, I can confidently say Last One Laughing UK is the funniest show I’ve ever seen.

As someone who grew up watching Shooting Stars on BBC Two, I’ve got a weakness for this kind of off-the-cuff absurdism. I’m not exaggerating when I say a certain joker sequence made me laugh harder than I ever have before, the kind of paralyzing, breathless howling that leaves you completely catatonic for a few minutes while you try to piece together exactly what’s going on.

And sticking with Shooting Stars, Last One Laughing UK confirms the theory that Bob Mortimer is like some kind of comedic weapon of mass destruction. His impish poise and disarming aura make him completely intolerable to most of the cast through the first episode – I nearly broke at him asking, with totally misplaced sincerity, whether Rob Beckett had a kitchen island in his house. I may be biased, but a fair bit of my viewing experience was spent watching him patrol around the room like a lifeguard tracking a wandering shark.

I’d truly recommend going all in and trying to play along. The suspense of following the challenge at home, especially with others, makes even the small glances and petty comments hard to get through – and the big set pieces dizzyingly hilarious. It’s worth it just for Daisy-May Cooper’s stoic screw-face as things become increasingly tense.

If you’re feeling a bit down after watching some of the other new shows out on streaming services this month (specifically Adolescence), this is one of the best Prime Video shows that’ll lift your spirits with Olympic force.

Last One Laughing UK – who I'd want to see in series 2

Big Narstie would be a perfect fit for a potential second season (Image credit: Netflix)

So, there we have it – the new funniest show I’ve ever seen. While I’m looking forward to getting into the remaining episodes of the series, which released today (March 27), I’ve already got some ideas as to who I’d like to see appear in a second outing.

Firstly, let’s get Big Narstie in there. Though not a comedian by trade, rapper and media personality Big Narstie is a true one-of-one whose confidence and liberal approach to language fills any room with personality. Not to mention one of the most famous and infectious laughs you’ll ever hear, creating a Pandora's box situation for the other contestants.

I also think the ironic powers of Diane Morgan (known for her character Philomena Cunk) would make her a good fit for this format – I can see Morgan and Ayoade getting into a sort of war dance with one another as each tries to deliver droll remarks with the least expression.

And how about another newcomer? Britain’s Got Talent winner Axel Blake is enjoying a career renaissance at the minute via social media – I’d be up for seeing if his new, fast-paced approach to character work could crack some smiles in that high-pressure room.

The full series of Last One Laughing UK is out now on Prime Video – once you’re through all six episodes be sure to check out our list of seven great new shows and movies out on streaming services this week for more recommendations.

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Bold predictions claim AI will boost productivity, generate game-changing insights, and streamline operations - from risk management and compliance to the front office and beyond. Yet behind the headlines, a more uncomfortable question lingers: can AI truly meet these lofty expectations, or is it at risk of collapsing under the weight of its own hype?

The heart of the challenge isn’t AI itself, it’s data. In many institutions, outdated infrastructure, fragmented architectures, and siloed legacy systems continue to dominate. These setups were never intended to handle the scale and urgency that modern AI demands. Without an overhaul of data foundations, even the most powerful AI models will produce inaccurate results, create false confidence, and leave firms ill-prepared to respond to market developments.

The missing link in data readiness

AI algorithms crave completeness, accuracy, and consistency. Yet firms often rely on data systems that are anything but unified. It’s no surprise many financial institutions struggle to reconcile different feeds or update data in real time. As a result, data quality quickly degrades. AI then ends up basing its decisions on stale or inconsistent information, leading to questionable outputs at best - and costly mistakes at worst.

Recent research by Gresham, polling firms split over the US, the UK and the DACH region, found that while nearly all firms are starting to use AI to some degree, just 41% said they had extensively deployed AI across business operations. This discrepancy is telling: where data remains siloed or inconsistent, AI efforts stay small-scale or purely exploratory. Where data strategies are robust, AI initiatives advance more rapidly.

Investments in data management are also rising. In the same survey, 63% of senior decision-makers employed by financial services firms globally said that AI would result in an increase in the cost of data within their organization, reflecting a need for new tools and expertise to ensure data is ready for advanced analytics. Notably, 40% of the sample predicted a rise in operational headcount, contradicting the common assumption that AI automatically reduces numbers employed.

Scoping the barriers

These challenges come into sharp focus when we consider the underlying systems and structures found across financial institutions. Many companies have spent years building proprietary back-office platforms and custom integrations, and layering AI into these older environments is far from simple. Communication breakdowns between AI models and legacy platforms can lead to inconsistent data flow and unreliable outputs.

The question of talent is another barrier. AI in finance demands more than coding prowess, it requires a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks, specialized financial products, and institutional processes. This mix is hard to find, leaving the field short on people who can develop, implement, and maintain AI solutions at scale.

Legal and licensing matters add further complication. As generative AI begins to analyse text, images, and market data, firms must handle intellectual property constraints and commercial usage rights with great care.

Licensing agreements for market and reference data, for instance, were not designed with AI’s evolving capabilities in mind. There are also concerns about inadvertently exposing confidential information through AI-driven tools. The legal and operational frameworks that govern these new technologies continue to lag behind AI’s rapid adoption.

Shifting concepts of data quality

Data quality is no longer just about whether a field is correct or incorrect; it’s about understanding whether you’re allowed to use certain data in the first place, and whether it makes sense to do so. Permissions, provenance, and the potential for biased or ambiguous outputs all come into play. Large language models, for instance, can provide confident but factually inaccurate answers, making rigorous testing and validation essential.

Older data cataloguing and governance tools can’t keep pace with these evolving requirements. A static dictionary that flags ownership or acceptable values doesn’t capture the contextual nuances that AI demands. Instead, modern cataloguing must account for data lifecycles, usage restrictions, and the need to red-team or pressure-test models to reveal potential flaws.

Moving forward - Why bother?

It’s easy to see why some remain skeptical. Retooling data infrastructure, refining governance, and hiring specialized staff can be expensive and time-consuming.

However, the benefits of AI are too significant to dismiss. Smart algorithms excel at spotting patterns in massive data sets, exactly what financial institutions need for fraud detection, real-time market insights, and predictive risk analysis. Institutions that manage to integrate AI properly often find themselves making decisions faster and catching opportunities that competitors overlook.

Efficiency gains can be especially compelling. Routine tasks, like reconciliation and document processing, can be automated, freeing human teams to focus on high-value, analytical work. Moreover, AI-driven personalization can deepen customer relationships. Tailored product offerings and proactive service tweaks help retain clients in an industry where loyalty can’t be taken for granted.

Making AI work

If the industry wants AI to live up to its potential, it must address data issues head-on. This means modernizing legacy architecture, ensuring data quality is consistently maintained, and creating clear guidelines around privacy and licensing. It also requires investing in people who can bridge the gap between software engineering, finance, and regulation. Meanwhile, legal teams must keep pace with changing models, usage restrictions, and licensing obligations.

So, can AI truly deliver in financial services? The short answer is yes: provided institutions build the necessary groundwork. These tools can overhaul how data is processed, accelerate complex decisions, and uncover meaningful insights in a realm where timing and accuracy matter. But unless firms commit to cleansing and modernizing their data, AI may never advance beyond flashy proofs of concept. Genuine success demands reliable foundations.

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• Nintendo Virtual Game Card is a new Switch feature arriving in April
• Virtual Game Cards make it easier for players to lend out their digital games
• The feature will also be available on Switch 2 at launch

Nintendo has announced a new Switch feature called the Virtual Game Card, making it easier to lend out digital games.

Revealed during the March 27 Nintendo Direct Showcase, the new Virtual Game Card feature lets players easily manage their digital Nintendo Switch games, and it's arriving in late April as a new system update.

This feature will also make lending to Nintendo Account Family Group members straightforward.

When the update goes live, players will be able to see their digital Switch games as Virtual Game Cards. They can then be virtually loaded and ejected from their library, just like physical game cartridges.

Players can only lend out one game at a time on a Nintendo Account family group member’s console, and it will automatically be returned to the owner after 14 days; however, save data will be stored afterward.

"This optional feature allows you to view virtual game cards or eject them from your console," Nintendo said. "The digital game can also be lent to a Nintendo Account family group member’s console via local wireless connection."

Nintendo has also confirmed that this Virtual Game Card feature will be available on the Nintendo Switch 2 at launch.

The announcements don't stop there. On April 2, the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct Showcase will air and will likely reveal the pricing of the console, as well as showcase new software, like the new Mario Kart.

We are also expecting preorder details, although the latest leaks suggest that Switch 2 pre-orders will go live on the same day, April 2.

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• Nintendo is launching the Nintendo Today app later today
• It will detail the latest Nintendo news on a daily basis
• The app will be available on both iOS and Android devices

The latest Nintendo Direct presentation ended on something a little different, as the company announced a brand new smartphone app.

Called Nintendo Today, it's available today for iOS and Android devices. The app was introduced by Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, who said "it functions like a daily calendar," adding that it's a convenient way to keep track of various Nintendo events.

It's not just a one-stop shop for the latest Nintendo news, however, as it appears to feature comics and fun information on Nintendo games and characters on a daily basis.

More crucially, Miyamoto explains that after the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on April 2, news on the upcoming console and its games will be "delivered daily" via the Nintendo Today app.

The app is now available to download on both Google Play and the App Store. Simply type the name of the app into your phone's store and you'll be able to download it right away.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Personally, Nintendo Today is giving me Smash Bros. Dojo vibes. This was a website that, in the run-up to Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Wii, delivered daily news and tidbits on characters, stages, items, and the like.

Naturally, Nintendo Today is going to be a bit more broad in the news and features it covers. But it's certainly not Nintendo's first take on a daily news delivery system such as this.

Once I've had some time with the Nintendo Today app, I'll be sure to deliver my thoughts in a more thorough feature to see if it's worth downloading and keeping track of. Which, with Switch 2 on the horizon, I'm going to assume it will be.

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• Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders will start on April 2 according to Best Buy Canada
• The Switch 2 launching with a Mario Kart game 'is very unlike Nintendo' compared to the original Switch releasing with Breath of the Wild, says former marketing leads