TechRadar News

• Windows 11's August update reportedly introduced an SSD breaking bug
• It's been suggested that SSDs using Phison controllers are more likely to be affected
• Phison has conducted extensive testing, but couldn't reproduce the bug a single time, adding that its customers haven't reported the glitch either

The bug that recently emerged in Windows 11, which is reportedly breaking some SSDs, is being investigated by Microsoft and its partners - and now we've heard back from one of the parties involved.

This is Phison, which manufactures SSD controllers used across a wide range of drives from various manufacturers, and is involved in this controversy because some reports suggest that SSDs using these controllers were more likely to be affected by the bug.

Phison has now shared the results from its extensive testing pertaining to this matter, as Neowin reports, issuing the following statement: "Phison dedicated over 4,500 cumulative testing hours to the drives reported as potentially impacted and conducted more than 2,200 test cycles. We were unable to reproduce the reported issue, and no partners or customers have reported that the issue affected their drives at this time."

So, Phison feels it's in the clear, what with a whole lot of testing having turned up nothing, and no reports coming to the company directly from its customers, either. Of course, reports from individual consumers are going to go directly to the SSD maker (not those responsible for the controller), but when Phison says "partners or customers," it is talking about those drive manufacturers (and others, too, no doubt Microsoft included).

What hasn't helped Phison's cause here is a fake document that did the rounds online just after the bug came to light in Windows 11's August update. This purported to contain a list of affected Phison controllers, but was completely fabricated as the company quickly made clear.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)Analysis: Microsoft's findings are still to come

Although Phison has conducted extensive testing, this can't be regarded as a definitive conclusion. Microsoft's investigation into this SSD breaking bug in Windows 11 is still being carried out, and until we see the result of that, there remains doubt as to exactly what's going on here.

Reports of SSD failures still remain scattered. So it must be noted, that this seems to be a rare issue. At any rate, I'm hoping Microsoft will make its findings known sooner rather than later, and clear this matter up - as it's only becoming more confusing with this latest instalment of the saga.

Phison also tacked on some advice with its statement on best practices to "support high-performance storage devices" undergoing extended workloads, such as shifting large files - like prolonged write operations which apparently triggered the Windows 11 bug. Phison observes that a "proper heatsink or thermal pad" will help in terms of maintaining optimal temperatures and ensuring the drive doesn't get too hot (or throttles as a result).

Note that imparting this advice isn't directly related to the bug - meaning Phison isn't saying you should be using a heatsink to avoid coming off the rails with this Windows 11 glitch. This is just general advice aimed at all high-end SSD owners, letting them know that if they are running intense workloads over long durations, using extra cooling is advised.

Mind you, if your SSD doesn't have a heatsink already, adding one is a somewhat fiddly affair, especially for the less tech-savvy (although they are less likely to be running a high-performance solid-state drive, admittedly).

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• IBM and AMD partner to combine quantum and high performance computing
• Collaboration aims to accelerate research in fields from drug discovery to logistics
• Companies plan open source platforms and hybrid workflows with initial demo soon

IBM and AMD have announced plans to “build the future of computing” by collaborating on new architecture to blend quantum systems with high-performance hardware in a bid to solve some of the world's most difficult problems.

The partnership will combine IBM’s expertise in building quantum computers and related software with AMD’s background in processors, graphics, and AI accelerators in a step toward quantum-centric supercomputing.

The companies are looking at ways in which to integrate AMD CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs with IBM’s quantum computers, with the ultimate goal to accelerate emerging algorithms that neither quantum nor classical systems can handle on their own.

Pushing past the limits

"Quantum computing will simulate the natural world and represent information in an entirely new way," said Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO, IBM.

"By exploring how quantum computers from IBM and the advanced high-performance compute technologies of AMD can work together, we will build a powerful hybrid model that pushes past the limits of traditional computing."

The two tech giants will work together to build open-source platforms that can scale and support research in fields such as drug development, materials science, and supply chain optimization.

Lisa Su, Chair and CEO of AMD, also emphasized the importance of the partnership, saying, "High-performance computing is the foundation for solving the world's most important challenges. As we partner with IBM to explore the convergence of high-performance computing and quantum technologies, we see tremendous opportunities to accelerate discovery and innovation."

AMD has previously worked on some of the world’s fastest supercomputers, including Frontier and El Capitan.

This hybrid approach is also expected to support IBM’s roadmap toward fault-tolerant quantum computing, a milestone the company has said it hopes to reach before the end of the decade.

IBM has already begun similar work with other partners including Riken in Japan, as well as institutions like Cleveland Clinic and Lockheed Martin.

An initial demonstration is planned for later this year and will show how IBM quantum computers can work alongside AMD technology to deliver hybrid quantum-classical workflows.

The partnership will support open-source ecosystems, such as Qiskit, in a bid to encourage the development of algorithms for quantum-centric supercomputing.

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• Hackers reach out to companies via a "Contact Us" website form
• They then talk with the victims for weeks before deploying the malware
• The hackers are attacking with custom-built backdoors

Cybercriminals are trying to deliver backdoor malware to US-based organizations by tricking them to sign fake non-disclosure agreements (NDA), experts have warned.

A new report from security researchers Check Point outlined how in the campaign, the miscreants pose as a US-based company, looking for partners, suppliers, and similar.

Often, they buy abandoned or dormant domains with legitimate business histories to appear authentic. After that, they reach out to potential victims, not via email (as is standard practice) but through their “Contact Us” forms or other communication channels provided on the website.

Dropping MixShell

When the victims get back to their inquiry, it’s usually via email, which opens the doors to deliver the malware.

However, the attackers don’t do it immediately. Instead, they build rapport with the victims, going back and forth for weeks until, at one point, they ask their victims to sign an attached NDA.

The archive contains a couple of documents, including clean PDF and DOCX files to throw the victims off, and a malicious .lnk file that triggers a PowerShell-based loader.

This loader ultimately deploys a backdoor called MixShell, which is a custom in-memory implant featuring a DNS based command and control (C2) and enhanced persistence mechanisms.

Check Point did not discuss the number of potential victims, but it did say that they are in the dozens, varying in size, geography, and industries.

The majority (around 80%) are located in the United States, with Singapore, Japan, and Switzerland, also having a notable number of victims. The companies are mostly in industrial manufacturing, hardware & semiconductors, consumer goods & services, and biotech & pharma.

“This distribution suggests that the attacker seeks entry points across wealthy operational and supply chain-critical industries instead of focusing on a specific vertical,” Check Point argues.

The researchers couldn’t confidently attribute the campaign to any known threat actor, but said that there is evidence pointing to the TransferLoader campaign, and a cybercriminal cluster tracked as UNK_GreenSec.

Via The Record

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• Tech brand Loewe and Jacob & Co. are collaborating on limited-editing headphones with real jewels
• Two versions: one with sapphires and one with diamonds
• Hi-res audio, ANC and 65-hour battery life

Luxury electronics brand Loewe have teamed up with luxury timepiece creators Jacob & Co to create two sets of headphones so expensive you'll need to give them a bodyguard.

The Loewe x Jacob & Co. over-ears have "have reimagined headphones as objets d’art." There are two versions: the Noir Rainbow, whose ear cups feature a 14K rose gold circle with 15.97 carats of multi-colored sapphires; and Ice Diamond, which is "radiant" with a 14K white gold ring and 12.47 carats of white diamonds.

Whichever pair you choose you're making a statement, and that statement is "I clearly don't pay enough tax". Because the cheaper Rainbow pair is €99,000 (about $115,235 / £85,440 / AU$176,945) and the Ice Diamond pair is €119,000 (about $138,500 / £102,700 / AU$212,690).

The Ice Diamond model is "radiant with 12.47 carats of white diamonds" (Image credit: Loewe)Loewe diamond headphones: features and availability

If you happen to have enough cash for a six-figure set of headphones you'd better move fast: there will only be five pairs of each model.

I suspect the would-be buyers couldn't care less about the specs, but whichever pair you go for you're getting hi-res audio "with expert tuning", adaptive ANC, integrated AI "for voice assistant and real-time translation" and up to 65 hours of battery life.

It's easy to go all Class War here and suggest that spotting such headphones in the wild is a great way to recognize the people who'll be first against the wall when the revolution comes (the launch is taking place on Loewe's luxury yacht, with the orcas).

But underneath all the gems there's what could be a very credible rival to the likes of the AirPods Max and other high-end headphone options, and I suspect that considerably more affordable versions of these headphones will arrive in due course.

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• Bioshock creator Ken Levine has provided a new update on Judas and the game's core gameplay feature: Villainy
• Villainy is a choice-driven system that affects who will become the villain out of the Big 3
• The studio isn't ready to share a release date

After over a year of radio silence, Bioshock creator Ken Levine has finally emerged to provide an update on his next game, Judas.

In Ghost Story Games' first developer log, Levine said that the studio is focusing all its efforts on finishing the game and has decided to begin having a more direct communication with fans, which will offer more frequent updates than before.

For this first update, Levine highlighted Villainy, a central feature of Judas that is essentially a choice-driven system that will affect who will become the game's villain out of three characters: Tom, Nefertiti, and Hope.

"In Judas, your actions will attract members of the Big 3 to you as friends. But ignore one of them enough, and they become the VILLAIN," Levine explained. "From there, they will get access to a new suite of powers to subvert your actions and goals."

Villainy is just one example of how the Big 3 can retaliate, and the "more dangerous and character-specific stuff" will be revealed at a later date.

Levine also touched on the game's relationship system and once again compared it to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor's reactive Nemesis system, explaining that the Big 3 will observe the player and have feelings about how you approach everything from combat, hacking, crafting, and how they interact with the other two characters.

"In Judas, you're going to get to know these characters intimately. We want losing one of them to feel like losing a friend," he said. "We want to play with that dynamic, and we want that choice to be super hard. The Big 3 are all going to be competing for your favor and attention.

"They can bribe you, save you in battle, talk s**t about the other characters, and share with you their darkest secrets. But eventually, you've got to decide who you trust and who you don't."

Judas still doesn't have a release date, because Ghost Story Games is "not quite ready to finalize that," but the game is expected to launch on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

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• Apple Music has partnered with free audio streaming platform TuneIn to give non-subscribers access to its live streamed radio stations
• You can now access six of Apple Music's live radio stations for free – a first for the music streaming service
• It looks like Apple is trying to entice more subscribers by expanding its reach outside of the Apple Music ecosystem

In a first for Apple Music, the music streaming service is offering free access to its six live streamed radio stations in a new partnership with TuneIn – a free online audio streaming platform that gives listeners access to radio, podcasts, sports, and more.

Apple Music has partnered with TuneIn to extend the reach of its live radio shows to the free audio streamer’s 75 million monthly listeners, The Wall Street Journal ($/£) reports, and you can access six Apple Music Radio stations outside of the Apple Music app for free right now. They are:

• Apple Music 1
• Apple Music Hits
• Apple Music Country
• Apple Música Uno
• Apple Music Club
• Apple Music Chill

Apple seems to be conducting another strategic move to entice new subscribers, or regain ones who may have made the switch to competing music streaming services – most notably Spotify. Just last week Spotify unveiled its rival to Apple Music’s AutoMix, and it announced its new Messages feature just a few days ago.

While Spotify offers an ad-supported tier, Apple Music doesn’t, and therefore lacks other means of attracting new subscribers beyond free trials. The decision to expand its radio station access enables it to reach millions of potential new listeners, and if you’re tempted to make the switch, these are the Apple Music Radio stations I’d try out first.

1. Apple Music 1

(Image credit: Future)

This is arguably Apple Music’s main radio station, which airs daily music shows from hosts such as Rebecca Judd, Matt Wilkinson, and of course, Zane Lowe. It’s a hot spot for both the latest music releases and for pop culture conversation, and often features guest hosting sessions from some of the biggest artists in the world.

2. Apple Music Hits

(Image credit: Future)

Similar to Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits also has dedicated slots hosted by both broadcasters and artists, but its main aim is to bring you the best hits from the last 20 years through radio segments highlighting specific genres and music of the ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s. It also has curated shows featuring today’s hits, but not to the extent of Apple Music 1.

3. Apple Music Chill

(Image credit: Future)

Apple Music Chill is exactly what the name suggests, serving up low-tempo, relaxing tracks which Apple describes as “an escape, a refuge, a sanctuary in sound”. It features laid-back artists and producers, and a variety of instrumental music including dinner party and coffee shop mixes, piano chill outs and spa music.

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• Hackers are advertising a database with 1.8 billion Discord messages on dark web forums
• It is possible that the scraped data is public
• Discord is expected to shut the service down

Someone is selling almost two billion Discord messages and other data, allegedly scraped from the platform, experts have warned.

Security researchers at Cybernews, who saw an ad on an underground hacking forum for the archive.

The data, most likely scraped from the platform, includes 1.8 billion Discord messages, 35 million users, 207 million voice sessions, and 6,000 Discord servers, and can be obtained for a fee.

A Spy.Pet copycat?

Discord is a communication platform that lets people chat via text, voice, or video, often in servers organized around communities, games, or interests. It’s popular for gaming, social groups, and professional communities alike, and many servers on the platform are public, meaning anyone can join and read the contents, including chat messages, member names, and more.

This also means that much of the data being sold by the miscreants could be public. Still, while the content is technically visible, harvesting it en masse still violates the platform’s Terms of Service, and using it for commercial purposes, or personal data collection, could run into privacy laws like the GDPR or CCPA.

Whether or not the data is public, can only be determined with a detailed analysis, which no one has done at press time. In any case, it is likely Discord will shut it down, similar to how it shut down a previous service that tried the same thing, called Spy.Pet.

In late April 2024, a website that offered billions of Discord chat logs for sale, was taken offline by the chat app provider. Discord accounts associated with the service were banned, and the company confirmed the service breached its ToS:

"Scraping our services and self-botting are violations of our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines,” the company spokesperson said in a statement at the time. “In addition to banning the affiliated accounts, we are considering appropriate legal action."

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Honor’s latest book-style foldable, the Magic V5, has finally landed in the UK and Europe after debuting in China earlier this year.

It arrives just a few weeks after the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and a month ahead of the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which is set to begin shipping on October 9.

But how does Honor’s latest foldable flagship compare? We’re currently putting the Magic V5 through its paces – stay tuned for our full review in the coming weeks – but below, we’ve detailed the new phone’s price and on-paper specs versus two of the best foldable phones of 2025.

The Honor Magic V5 with 512GB and 12GB of RAM starts at £1,699.99, undercutting the Pixel 10 Pro Fold by £50 and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 by a hefty £100. You'll also get twice as much storage for that price, though Google’s phone does offer a larger 16GB RAM capacity as standard.

Design-wise, Honor claims that the Ivory White version of the Magic V5 is the “thinnest foldable phone” on the market, but our own testing proved that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is, in fact, the thinnest book-style foldable in any orientation. Mind you, at 4.2mm when open and 9.39mm when closed, Honor’s Magic V5 is still improbably slim, and the difference in thickness between it and the Samsung is tough to discern with the naked eye.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, meanwhile, is visibly thicker than both the Honor and Samsung, but it does best the competition with a unique IP68 water and dust resistance rating; the Magic V5 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 get IP58 and IP48, respectively.

Here’s how all three phones compare on the specs front:

Honor Magic V5

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

Main display:

7.95-inch LTPO AMOLED (2172 x 2352) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

8-inch LTPO OLED (2076 x 2152) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

8-inch LTPO OLED (1968 x 2184) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

Cover display:

6.43-inch LTPO OLED (1060 x 2376) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

6.4-inch OLED (1080 x 2364) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

6.5-inch LTPO OLED (1080 x 2520) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

Chipset:

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite

Google Tensor G5

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy

RAM:

12GB / 16GB

16GB

12GB / 16GB

Storage:

512GB

256GB / 512GB / 1TB

256GB / 512GB / 1TB

OS:

Android 16 / MagicOS 9

Android 16

Android 16 / One UI 8

Main cameras:

50MP wide / 50MP ultra-wide / 64MP telephoto (3x zoom)

48MP wide / 10.5MP ultra-wide / 10.8MP telephoto (5x zoom)

200MP wide / 12MP ultra-wide / 10MP telephoto (3x zoom)

Selfie cameras:

20MP wide / 20MP wide

10MP wide / 10MP wide

10MP wide / 10MP ultra-wide

Battery:

5,820mAh (Si/C)

5,015mAh

4,400mAh

Charging:

66W wired / 50W wireless / 5W reverse wired

30W wired / 15W wireless (magnetic)

25W wired / 15W wireless / 4.5W reverse wireless

At a glance, the Honor Magic V5 boasts bigger ultra-wide, telephoto, and front-facing sensors than both the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, while its hefty 5,820mAh silicon-carbon battery could deliver superior battery life, too.

The Magic V5 ships in all colors except Reddish Brown in the UK (Image credit: Honor)

The phone's Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset also promises Galaxy-equaling performance, though we'll need to run our own in-house tests to confirm whether that's the case.

Nonetheless, we've come a long way from the days of the Royole FlexPai and original Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. The latest Honor, Samsung, and Google foldables are powerful, durable, and versatile devices that rival the very best phones on the market, and you're unlikely to be left disappointed with any of them.

The Honor Magic V5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 are available to order now, while the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is up for pre-order (as mentioned, the phone begins shipping on October 9). Our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review is live now, and we'll be posting our full Honor Magic V5 and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold reviews in the coming weeks.

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• Tesla's teaser images surface online showing a red spoiler
• Tesla insider believe it signals a new Model Y Performance trim
• Test vehicles have also recently been spied lapping the Nurburgring

Tesla’s Europe and Middle East X account posted a short teaser image yesterday that appears to show the rear of a Tesla vehicle, complete with a small spoiler. The post was also accompanied by the not-so subtle phrase “Spoiler alert”.

Considering multiple news outlets also spied the recently refreshed Model Y lapping Germany’s Nurburgring, complete with a new 21-inch alloy wheels, bucket seats and updates to the front and rear fascias, all hints point towards a new Performance trim level for the Model Y “Juniper”.

Spoiler alert pic.twitter.com/mEcYSAt2GjAugust 27, 2025

Since Tesla’s popular SUV was updated earlier this year, the company stopped selling the range-topping and fastest Performance model, so it makes sense that the silk sheet could be dropped tomorrow.

While some naysayers have bemoaned the fact that this isn’t new product, merely an update, those looking for a spicier and more focussed Model Y have been eagerly awaiting the announcement.

Sales boost

(Image credit: Tesla)

Although it does’t make a lot of sense to bestow a large, practical family SUV with sports car performance, previous generations of the Model Y Performance have sold well. The refreshed styling of the recently-updated model line will also arguably suit some of the sportier aesthetically changes better than they previously have.

Minor tweaks that were spotted on the vehicles caught lapping Germany’s most famous high performance circuit included Performance badging, upgraded brakes and rumors of upgraded suspension.

Tesla will hope that the release of a more premium and performance-orientated trim line will help boost sales, which have been particularly dreadful across Europe of late, with a 40% drop in July compared to the previous year.

We will have to wait for the full reveal to see what Tesla has in store.

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• Security researchers have found that the Russia-developed messaging app MAX comes with "excessive tracking" abilities
• The app must be pre-installed on every new device sold in Russia from September 1
• The Kremlin is also considering blocking WhatsApp, today's most popular messaging app in Russia

Russian WhatsApp rival, the state-developed Max messaging app, appears to be designed to spy on its users.

That's the verdict coming from multiple technical analyses commissioned by Forbes, only days before the app will be forced onto all devices sold in Russia. From September 1, tech vendors must pre-install the MAX app on all new smartphones and tablets.

Experts at the Russian digital rights group, Roskomsvoboda, however, told TechRadar that MAX actually comes with fewer permissions than rivals like Telegram and WhatsApp. Yet they still strongly suggest against using the app for confidential communication.

"The bigger issue lies in the fact that everything transmitted through MAX will be stored on government servers," Ilya Perevalov, Technical Expert of Roskomsvoboda and RKS Global, told TechRadar, adding that the full impact on users "will become clear in the future."

Developed by VK – the provider behind Mail.ru email and VKnote social media services – Max was first launched in March 2025 and already counts 18 million registered users, according to Russian news agency Interfax. Similar to the Chinese WeChat, MAX is also integrated with government services.

What are the risks of using MAX?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Security researchers who talked to Forbes have all found the app to constantly monitor users' activities thanks to "excessive tracking" capabilities. The app also seems to be lacking encryption protections, while being built on an overall insecure design.

These findings confirm what privacy experts have long feared – using MAX will make Russian citizens vulnerable to state surveillance. An allegation that, so far, the Kremlin has strongly denied, declaring to Reuters that "it has fewer permissions to access user data than rivals WhatsApp and Telegram."

While experts at Roskomsvoboda confirmed what the Kremlin claims about the number of permissions MAX asks for, they are still warning that the app could turn into a surveillance tool.

"MAX has enormous surveillance potential, as all information and communication within it is accessible to intelligence agencies in real time," explains Perevalov.

MAX users are also at higher risk of data breaches and fraud, especially considering that sensitive data like payment and banking details are set to be integrated within the app.

All in all, "MAX should under no circumstances be used for confidential communication," warns Perevalov.

Can people in Russia use other encrypted messaging services?

While Signal has been blocked in Russia since August last year, WhatsApp is still available and the most used messaging app across the country at the time of writing.

This could soon change, however, as authorities have recently confirmed their intention to ban WhatsApp in Russia, blocking access to the only Meta-owned service still functioning in the country.

Even more recently, on August 13, 2025, Interfax confirmed that authorities partially restrict calls on both Telegram and WhatsApp, allegedly as a measure to combat criminal and terrorist activities.

The looming WhatsApp ban comes as the Kremlin also recently passed a law to punish online searches for so-called 'extremist' content, while adding new penalties to those using VPN services.

This means that using one of the best VPN services to bypass a potential ban on WhatsApp, or any other app for that matter, has suddenly become ever more challenging.

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If you watched the recent launch of ChatGPT-5 from OpenAI, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it was purely a coding tool. While Sam Altman and his staff did interview one person who used ChatGPT to help understand the medical jargon her doctors were saying to her, the majority of the presentation seemed to be concerned with how great ChatGPT-5 was at writing code.

Out in the real world, however, people use AI and ChatGPT specifically a bit differently. As the outcry from the recent dropping of the old ChatGPT-4o model after the launch of ChatGPT-5 shows, a lot of people use ChatGPT for their mental health, and if you change its personality, it affects them directly. For them, it acts as a mix between a life coach, a therapist, and a friend.

OpenAI seems to be slowly waking up to this fact and the responsibility it bears, and has recently posted an announcement, in which it says, “We sometimes encounter people in serious mental and emotional distress. We wrote about this a few weeks ago and had planned to share more after our next major update. However, recent heartbreaking cases of people using ChatGPT in the midst of acute crises weigh heavily on us, and we believe it’s important to share more now.”

Strengthening safeguards

So, while OpenAI is not announcing anything new just yet, it wants to “explain what ChatGPT is designed to do, where our systems can improve, and the future work we’re planning.”

In a nutshell, OpenAI is working to improve ChatGPT in a few key areas related to its users' health and safety, firstly, by strengthening safeguards in long conversations: “ChatGPT may correctly point to a suicide hotline when someone first mentions intent, but after many messages over a long period of time, it might eventually offer an answer that goes against our safeguards. “

Secondly, it is refining how it blocks content. “We’ve seen some cases where content that should have been blocked wasn’t. These gaps usually happen because the classifier underestimates the severity of what it’s seeing. We’re tuning those thresholds so protections trigger when they should.”

OpenAI is also planning to expand interventions to more people in crisis. “We are exploring how to intervene earlier and connect people to certified therapists before they are in an acute crisis. That means going beyond crisis hotlines and considering how we might build a network of licensed professionals that people could reach directly through ChatGPT. This will take time and careful work to get right.”

Parental controls

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Another interesting innovation is introducing parental controls. “We will also soon introduce parental controls that give parents options to gain more insight into, and shape, how their teens use ChatGPT. We’re also exploring making it possible for teens (with parental oversight) to designate a trusted emergency contact. That way, in moments of acute distress, ChatGPT can do more than point to resources: it can help connect teens directly to someone who can step in.”

ChatGPT has evolved so far and so quickly that it often feels to me like OpenAI hasn’t really had time to sit down and think about all the implications of its latest innovations before it announces them.

Parental controls should have been an option for all AI chatbots while now, but it’s good that they are finally going to be added. Other AIs, like Copilot, for example, seem to have more guardrails than ChatGPT regarding the types of discussions you can have, but also farm out their parental controls to either the Windows or Apple operating systems.

How OpenAI implements effective parental controls that aren’t easy to circumvent remains to be seen (and is one of the reasons that AIs typically resort to recommending the operating system’s built-in parental controls instead), but I think it’s time for the conversation to start happening.

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• Healthcare Services Group suffered a cyberattack in late September 2024
• The attackers stole sensitive data on more than 600,000 people
• The company is offering free identity theft monitoring

The Healthcare Services Group (HSGI), a support services provider for healthcare facilities, suffered a cyberattack in which it lost sensitive data on more than 600,000 people.

In a data breach notification letter, the company said it spotted the intrusion on October 7, 2024, and after investigating the incident, learned, “certain files” were stolen between September 27, and October 3.

In total, more than 624,000 people had their data stolen, which includes full names, Social Security numbers (SSN), driver’s license numbers, state identification numbers, financial account information, and account access credentials.

Pending abuse

The stolen data is extremely sensitive and can be exploited in multiple ways. With names, SSNs, and driver’s license numbers, they can commit all sorts of identity theft, from opening bank accounts, to taking out loans, or even filing fraudulent tax returns.

Financial account information and login credentials allow attackers to steal money directly or gain access to other online accounts if passwords are reused. With personal details, criminals can carry out sophisticated phishing attacks or social engineering schemes, tricking victims into revealing even more information or impersonating them for fraudulent purposes.

According to CyberInsider, breaches like this "could lead to downstream privacy risks or compliance implications under HIPAA and other frameworks," as well.

None of this appears to be happening right now, as HSGI says there is no evidence the data is being abused in the wild - but this doesn’t mean it won’t happen, though, and all victims are being offered free identity theft protection services for either 12 or 24 months, depending on the combination of data stolen.

In the meantime, victims should be extra careful of incoming email messages, or other forms of communication, especially those claiming to come from HSGI. Emails carrying attachments, or a sense of urgency, should be particularly scrutinized, as these are most likely fraud attempts.

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What's new in Marvel Rivals?

(Image credit: NetEase)

Marvel Rivals just got a new update as part of Season 3.5. There's a new event called Chrono-Storm, which lets players earn 2x Chrono Tokens from Weekly Missions, Challenges, and Season Missions with up to 2000 bonus Chrono Tokens available. This will help you clear through the Battle Pass before the arrival of Season 4. There's still plenty of time to grind, and loads of challenges to complete before the season is over.

Marvel Rivals crosshairs can be tweaked to suit the Hero you're playing as, with hitscan characters like Luna Snow and Hela suiting a different kind of reticle when compared to projectile characters like Mantis and Moon Knight.

While this extra level of customization won't be necessary for everyone, it can really help if you're planning on taking on Marvel Rivals ranked mode. The game's high quality of competitive modes definitely makes it stand out from its competitors and is one of the main reasons it's already landed on our best crossplay games list. Now that we're well into Season 3.5, and since publishing our Marvel Rivals Tier List, we feel confident offering our expert opinion on the best ways to set up each Hero.

Here's what you need to know about crosshairs in Marvel Rivals Season 3.5, including info on how to change your crosshairs, as well as a selection of the best crosshairs codes to import into Marvel Rivals.

How to change your Marvel Rivals crosshairs

(Image credit: NetEase)

To change your crosshairs in Marvel Rivals, you just need to press pause and then select the following:

1. Select "Settings"
2. Scroll to "Controller" or "Keyboard"
3. Select "Combat"
4. Scroll down to "HUD"
5. You'll see options related to reticle, this is where you'll customize your crosshairs

One setting to keep in mind is the "Save Reticle" option. This allows you to save different crosshairs, that can then be switched out for each Hero. To customize settings for a specific Hero, just select "All Heroes" in the top left-hand corner, and then switch to the Hero you wish to apply new settings to.

How to import Marvel Rivals crosshairs

(Image credit: NetEase Games)

To import crosshairs in Marvel Rivals, just navigate to the HUD settings as per the previous section. Once there, look for the "Reticle Save" option, with a dropdown menu that allows you to add new saves. Once you select this, you'll get the option to import a code, if you're playing on PC that is. Importing crosshairs is unfortunately not available on console.

Crosshair codes are long strings of numbers shared by other creators. Just copy these and paste them when the game asks you for an import code. This will automatically apply the correct settings, allowing you to try out other people's recommended reticles.

Marvel Rivals crosshairs codes

(Image credit: NetEase)

The first crosshair code we're looking at is for Venom mains, a character focused on dive gameplay, with a mid-ranged tentacle attack as the primary fire. The code below comes from content creator Ares, and you can see their full breakdown in this YouTube video.

• Venom crosshair (Ares): 2;0.0;0.0,10.0,0.0,7.0;100.0,100.0,100.0,100.0;50.0,59.0,50.0,50.0;100.0,100.0,100.0,100.0;0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0;45.0,45.0,45.0,45.0;20.0;100.0,100.0,100.0,100.0;45.0;5,5,5,5;0.0,0.882,1.0;

(Image credit: NetEase)

Next up is Hela, who really benefits from a Dot crosshairs style. This is to make it easier to land headshots and get rid of unnecessary visual elements. For this crosshair, just select the "Dot" option for Reticle Type. You can then Adjust the dot width, but we recommend 12. From there, try out some different colors. We went with Light Blue.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: NetEase)

A Dot Reticle can be very effective for Hela, who throws hitscan daggers, doing massive headshot damage.

Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: NetEase)

(Image credit: NetEase)

Now, here's a great set of crosshairs for The Punisher. We got this one from The Marvel Rivals Merchant, who has a bunch of excellent recommendations for the best crosshairs to use depending on your Hero. This YouTube video is particularly detailed, explaining the reasoning behind this crosshairs option for The Punisher.

• The Punisher (The Marvel Rivals Merchant): 4;0.0;10.0,0.0,11.0,17.0;100.0,100.0,8.0,0.0;20.0,0.0,85.0,0.0;100.0,100.0,100.0,100.0;0.0,33.0,0.0,62.0;33.0,5.0,51.0,33.0;11.0;100.0,100.0,8.0,0.0;0.0;5,5,5,2;0.0,1.0,1.0;

Marvel Rivals crosshairs FAQs

(Image credit: NetEase Games)What color should my crosshairs be?

Changing the color of your crosshairs can be really helpful in Marvel Rivals. We recommend starting with a light blue or green, though, of course, this will depend on your specific eyesight and preferences. There's plenty of customization here, making it a great extra piece of accessibility options for those looking to make the game's readability a bit better.

Can you import crosshairs on console?

Unfortunately, you cannot import crosshairs codes if you're playing Marvel Rivals on console. This could change in the future, but for now, the codes are simply too long to be copied over using a controller. Players on PC can copy and paste them, though we're hoping developer NetEase adds a console-specific solution in the future.

Should I change my Marvel Rivals crosshairs?

Whether you want to change your Marvel Rivals crosshairs really depends on how deeply you want to get into Marvel Rivals. If you find yourself playing often, and you tend to stick to two or three Heroes, adding custom crosshairs for each can really help. Some crosshairs, for example, will help you see whether an enemy is within range, while others can assist with landing headshots.

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Skate is coming back later this year, launching in Early Access across a wide range of platforms. It's a new approach for the series, one that adopts a free-to-play model with seasonal content drops. You'll be able to jump in early to play Skate as it evolves, before the full release at an as-yet-unspecified date.

Thanks to some early access, we've played Skate, and found it to be: "a great game for just skating about or hanging out with friends". You can read more in our Skate preview. Of course, Skate is one of the most hotly anticipated upcoming games of 2025, likely due to the fact that the last entry came out 15 years ago.

Things have changed quite a bit with the latest Skate game. For one, it's now a free-to-play game planned for Early Access before a full release. There will be regular seasonal updates before and after the proper launch, including new map areas, new trick mechanics, and fresh cosmetics. Getting into Skate Early Access is a way to play the game early as it evolves. You'll be able to give feedback and watch in real time as improvements are made.

Here's everything you need to know about Skate Early Access. This includes the release date, the platforms you'll be able to play on, and info on getting access to the game once it all goes live.

Skate Early Access release date

(Image credit: EA)

Skate Early Access releases September 16, 2025. This is the next available opportunity to play the game, and better yet, it's completely free to play. We'll hopefully get some more details on specific release timing in the next couple of weeks. Once news arrives, I'll be sure to update this section.

Skate Early Access platforms - where can I play?

(Image credit: EA)

You'll be able to play Skate on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. For PC players, that's via Steam/Epic Games Launcher, or through the EA App. It's worth noting that Skate is also planned for iOS and Android devices, but at a later date, and not during the launch of Early Access.

How to play Skate Early Access

(Image credit: EA)

To play Skate Early Access, you'll just need to download the game and log in on your platform of choice. There's no upfront price, and it'll be available from your storefront of choice. Preloading hasn't been confirmed yet, so stay tuned for updates.

If you signed up to Skate Insiders before June 27, 2025, you'll now receive an invite to early access, meaning you can jump in right away. Sign-ups are now closed, however.

What's included in Skate Early Access?

Skate Early Access is not the final version of the game, and as such, has some features missing at launch. Still, there's a decent amount to play through once it comes out on September 16. Here are the main highlights:

• San Vansterdam map: 4 main neighborhoods to skate through.
• Licensed soundtrack: A collection of curated songs to play while cruising the city. This will be expanded with future updates.
• Multiplayer: Solo play or play with friends in either mission-based challenges or Quick Drop.
• Character Customization: boards, clothing, hats, and accessories.
• Creation: Build new spots by placing skateable Quick Drop objects in real time. Create your own challenges and join Throwdowns across the city.
• Replay Editor: Capture your biggest tricks, slams, and moments on film with the Replay Editor, then share them with the community.

Those are just the highlights on what to expect from Skate Early Access. For a full look at the game, check out the official Skate blog.

Skate Early Access FAQ

(Image credit: EA)Is this Skate 4?

For all intents and purposes, this is indeed Skate 4 - but in colloquial name only. It's the next major entry into the Skate series, but is it's own thing, given that it's a free-to-play game that's launching first in early access. It's not a remaster or remake, nor is it described as a reboot. According to EA, it's the 'next evolution of the Skate series", and it's officially stylized as: 'skate.'

Is Skate coming to Nintendo Switch 2?

No, Skate is not currently planned for Nintendo Switch 2. It's not listed under available platforms, though this may change in the future.

Is Skate on mobile devices?

Skate will launch on iOS and Android later in the year, following the early access release on PS5, PS4, XSX|S, Xbox One, and PC. No date has yet been specified.

How much will Skate cost?

Skate is free, though it does feature in-game microtransactions. It's a free-to-play game, with optional purchase options for cosmetic items, and a battle pass called Skate Pass. This Skate Pass has both a free rewards track and a premium paid one.

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• Proton has released Emergency Access, a feature that lets users pick some trusted contacts to access their accounts on their behalf
• Emergency Access works across Proton VPN, Proton Mail, Proton Pass, and Proton Drive
• This has been a highly requested feature among the Proton community, said the provider

Ensuring that no third party can ever access your files, passwords, or online activities is certainly crucial to safeguard your privacy and security, but it can complicate the recovery of important information in case of an emergency. Until now – if you're a Proton subscriber, at least.

Proton has just released Emergency Access, a feature that lets paid users designate up to five trusted contacts to access their accounts on their behalf. Users have full control over when and how trusted contacts grant access.

One of the most requested features from the Proton community, explains the provider, Emergency Access works across Proton VPN, Proton Mail, Proton Pass, and Proton Drive.

"Like all of Proton's products and features, emergency access has been engineered with privacy and security in mind and offers users an effective tool to add an extra layer of assurance and peace of mind to their Proton account without compromising end-to-end encryption," said Senior Product Accounts Manager at Proton, Daniel Rivera Jäggi.

Starting from today, August 28, Proton's Emergency Access is available via the web browser for all paid users – no matter the plan.

How to use Proton's Emergency Access

"Emergency access offers a secure and simple way to grant access to loved ones in the case of an emergency," said Senior Product Accounts Manager at Proton, Daniel Rivera Jäggi. (Image credit: Proton)

Taking advantage of Proton's Emergency Access couldn't be easier.

All you need to do is head to your Proton Account dashboard via the web browser and select Recovery, and then click on Add emergency contact.

To pick a trusted contact, you'll have to add their email address. This must be associated with a Proton account, either free or paid.

You can then fully customize how trusted contacts will enter your encrypted data by picking your desired wait time for them to grant access. You can also revoke or modify their emergency access contacts and settings at any time.

Your chosen trusted accounts will receive an email notification informing them they've been picked as an emergency contact.

For all the details, you should head to Proton's support page here.

Remember, you'll have to upgrade to a paid Proton plan to be able to use the Emergency Access feature.

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• Watch F1 online from anywhere with NordVPN (try risk-free)
• Next up: Dutch GP (August 29-31)
• Sunday's race: 2 pm BST / 9 am ET
• Live Stream: ESPN via Sling TV (US) / Sky Sports (UK)

The F1 paddock has had its summer break and come to the dunes by the Netherlands' North Sea coast at Circuit Zandvoort this weekend, August 29-31, for the Dutch Grand Prix. All eyes will again be on McLaren team-mates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who keep trading wins at the summit of the drivers’ standings.

The duo have finished top of the podium at the last four Grands Prix, with Norris picking up three wins including last time out in Hungary. He also won a year ago at Zandvoort. The Brit trails Australian Piastri by just nine points in the standings with 10 rounds to go and two races in Europe to go, where they've been dominant.

Max Verstappen hasn't had the year many would have expected, but at his home race the 27-year-old four-time world champion will be desperate to put on a good showing in the Red Bull.

Lewis Hamilton was pretty downbeat after Hungary three weeks ago and the Ferrari driver will hope for a reset after the break. The eight-time world champion and Scuderia team-mate Charles Leclerc will seek some momentum ahead of next weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the home of Ferrari.

Here’s how to watch the Dutch Grand Prix online from anywhere and potentially for FREE.

Sling is the perfect place for F1 fans in the US to catch their fix for the Dutch Grand Prix.

Their industry-defining Weekend Pass offers the chance to catch all the action on Sling Orange, which carries ESPN channels, for just $9.99 per weekend. Outside of that, you can access the Orange plan for $50.99 per month.View Deal

Dutch Grand Prix schedule

Practice 1 – Friday 29th August | 11.30pm BST / 6.30am ET
Practice 2 – Friday 29th August | 3pm BST/ 10am ET
Practice 3 – Saturday 30th August 10.30am BST / 5.30am
Qualifying – Saturday 30th August| 2pm BST / 9am ET
Dutch Grand Prix – Sunday 31st August | 2pm BST / 9am ET

How to watch the Dutch Grand Prix for FREE

Free F1 live streams of every race are available in three countries: Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg. There are also free extended highlights on offer in the UK and Australia.

• Australia – 10Play (free highlights)
• Austria – ServusTV or ORF (free live broadcast)
• Belgium – RTBF Auvio (free live broadcast)
• Luxembourg – RTL Zwee (free live broadcast)
• U.K. – Channel 4 (free highlights)

How to watch Dutch Grand Prix from anywhere

Most F1 live streams are location-sensitive. So, you won't be able to access your home service when travelling abroad. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a small but powerful app that lets you select your preferred location and thus unblock any F1 live stream – including the free streams in Austria, Luxembourg and Belgium if you're a resident there.

A VPN will allow you relocate your device back to your home country. NordVPN is our favorite VPN and you can make use of it to watch the F1 season while you're away from home.

NordVPN – get the world's best VPN
We regularly review all the biggest and best VPN providers and NordVPN is our #1 choice. It unblocked every streaming service in testing and it's very straightforward to use. Speed, security and 24/7 support available if you need – it's got it all.

The best value plan is the two-year deal which sets the price from $3.39 per month. There's also an all-important a 30-day no-quibble refund if you decide it's not for you.

- Try NordVPN 100% risk-free for 30 daysView Deal

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

How to watch the Dutch Grand Prix in the US

All F1 races this season will be available to watch on Disney-owned services ESPN, ESPN2, ABC and, occasionally, ESPN Plus.

ESPN is the place to watch the majority of F1 races in the States. Some races appear on ESPN2 and ABC.

Cord-cutters can livestream ESPN and ABC via Sling TV, Fubo, YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV.

We believe Sling (from $45.99/month) is the best choice for F1 fanatics as it provides great-value live coverage for viewers who plan to watch Formula 1 in 2025 and beyond. Not only that but you can also get access to their brand-new Weekend Plan which gives you access to ESPN channels for just $9.99.

You can also stream F1 races live and in 4K on F1 TV Premium ($129.99 annually).

If you want to catch the F1 but are traveling outside America right now. Make sure to use NordVPN to watch your usual services.

How to watch the Dutch Grand Prix in the UK

In the UK, Sky Sports is the home of F1 with a dedicated channel for all the action.

Sky Sports packages start from £22 per month. Or you can use a more flexible streaming option, Now, (formerly Now TV). Now sports passes start at £14.99, but you will need the £34.99 monthly membership to watch the full weekend.

Outside the UK for the race? Use NordVPN (try risk-free) to watch while on your travels.

How to watch the Dutch Grand Prix in Australia

Fox Sports via Kayo is the main option for Australian viewers with full HD coverage and multi-screen viewing options of the Dutch Grand Prix.

Plans start from $30 a month after you've taken advantage of its first month for $1 offer.

Looking to access your usual F1 stream while outside the country? Make sure to use NordVPN.

How to watch the Dutch Grand Prix in Canada

Canadian F1 fans can watch the Dutch Grand Prix on TSN.

If you’ve ditched the cord you’ll want to check out TSN Plus, which costs $8/month or $80/year. The TSN app will allow you to live stream F1 practices, qualifying and the race from your phone, streaming box or supported device.

Use NordVPN to if you're outside the country for one of the races.

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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director Guillaume Broche confirmed that the game is the first in a new franchise
• Broche said, "This is not the end of the Clair Obscur franchise"
• He also teased new Expedition 33 DLC, saying, "We may be cooking"

Sandfall Interactive has confirmed that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the first game in a new franchise.

Speaking with YouTube channel MrMattyPlays (via TheGamer), game director Guillaume Broche revealed that Expedition 33 is "not the end" of the series.

"Clair Obscur is the franchise name," Broche said. "Expedition 33 is one of the stories that we want to tell in this franchise. Exactly what it will look like and what the concept will be is still too soon to announce, but what is sure is that this is not the end of the Clair Obscur franchise."

Broche couldn't reveal any more details, but did hint later on in the interview that he tends to forget his previous work when he "writes sequels," suggesting the studio's next game won't be a direct sequel.

Elsewhere in the discussion, Broche was asked about the possibility of Clair Obscur receiving any post-launch downloadable content (DLC). While the game director didn't outright say "Yes", he did tease Sandfall's plans, saying "There may be," and it's "a bit too early to say."

"We may be cooking," he added (thanks, PC Gamer).

Sandfall has previously stated that it was "exploring a wide range of future improvements" including accessibility features, "new content", and "all sorts of bits and bobs".

Just last month, the studio released an update that added a Battle Retry feature.

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In an age where cybersecurity threats dominate headlines and sustainability tops boardroom agendas, enterprise IT disposal practices are under renewed scrutiny. For years, physically destroying end-of-life hardware - shredding hard drives, crushing servers - was the default method to guarantee data couldn’t be recovered. It felt final. Reassuring. Safe.

But that instinct is now being questioned. According to new research, there’s a growing disconnect between how organizations dispose of data-bearing assets and the financial, environmental, and compliance pressures they now face. Many still default to destruction, even as that approach becomes harder to justify—financially, ethically, and environmentally.

The cost of destruction

The financial argument against destruction is becoming harder to ignore. While physical destruction feels secure, it comes with a hidden bill. There are the direct costs of certified physical destruction services. Then there are indirect losses - reusable or resalable hardware is destroyed, prompting early replacements.

Just 22.3 % of the 62 million tons of e‑waste generated in 2022 was formally collected and recycled - a figure projected to fall to 20 % by 2030 as disposal volumes continue to outpace recycling efforts.

Latest industry research shows that 67% of organizations still rely on physical destruction for SSDs and HDDs, despite the financial and environmental drawbacks.

If a large enterprise refreshes its servers every three years, destroying even a portion instead of reselling or redeploying them can waste millions over a typical lifecycle. At a time when budgets are under constant pressure, that scale of waste is increasingly hard to defend.

As Techbuyer COO Mick Payne told the FT, he once offered a six-figure sum to buy and wipe thousands of used drives at a London data center - only to watch them get shredded instead. “It was a complete waste.”

And the financial toll is just one part of the problem - the environmental cost of destruction is just as severe.

The environmental toll

Beyond the financial impact, physical destruction takes an enormous toll on the environment. In 2024, UK households purchased over 1.14 billion small electronic devices - often referred to as "fast tech", with approximately half (589 million) discarded within the same year. And business waste is also significant.

Research shows UK businesses discarded up to 200,000 tons of electrical equipment, including laptops and servers, in just one year, with only about 108,000 tons entering proper recycling streams through authorized treatment facilities.

Destroying equipment removes the chance to recirculate valuable materials; from copper and aluminum to rare earth metals - triggering further mining, processing, and manufacturing fresh parts, dramatically expanding the carbon footprint of every new device.

As more businesses face scrutiny over their carbon reduction claims, sending reusable equipment straight to the shredder increasingly looks incompatible with their public commitments.

A proven alternative

For many IT leaders, the sticking point is data security. If a hard drive is destroyed, there is zero risk of data recovery - simple. But certified data erasure, or sanitization, now provides equivalent security while preserving the hardware for reuse.

Certified software-based erasure methods comply with international standards such as NIST 800-88, and meet the UK GDPR’s data protection requirements for safe disposal of personal information (ICO). These techniques ensure data is permanently overwritten and unrecoverable, even with advanced forensic methods.

The Information Commissioner’s Office specifically highlights secure overwriting as an approved, robust form of data destruction that includes a full audit trail, critical for regulated sectors like finance and healthcare.

Rather than destroying valuable drives, enterprises retain certified, clean assets that can be redeployed internally or sold on the secondary market, extracting further ROI.

Why the change is accelerating

Three powerful forces are accelerating this rethink. Globally, businesses are under mounting stakeholder pressure to prove their environmental credentials. The UK government’s sustainability strategies, including its commitment to a more circular economy, explicitly encourage reuse and refurbishment over destruction.

Second, the economic picture is shifting. According to Gartner, worldwide IT spending is projected to reach $5.61 trillion in 2025, an increase of 9.8% compared to 2024. This surge reflects a growing investment in digital transformation and advanced technologies - but it also means CIOs will be under pressure to maximize ROI.

Reselling or redeploying equipment can help extend budgets further, while destruction locks in a sunk cost, wasting the opportunity to capture residual hardware value and reinvest in innovation.

Third, the maturity of secure erasure technology has eliminated previous technical barriers. Until recently, many organizations avoided software-based erasure due to concerns around reliability and compliance. Today, however, certified erasure tools are globally trusted - backed by regulators, embedded in industry standards, and proven to deliver the same level of data security as physical destruction.

Time to break the habit

There will always be rare cases where physical destruction is necessary - such as devices exposed to state-level espionage. But for most enterprise assets, secure sanitization offers the same peace of mind without the destruction.

By moving away from blanket destruction, businesses can reduce emissions, cut unnecessary costs, and demonstrate a more responsible, circular approach. They’ll also be better prepared for tighter regulation and rising ESG expectations.

In short, “destroy first, ask questions later” is an outdated reflex. Today, secure data sanitization lets businesses shred less and save more - protecting both budgets and the planet.

We've featured the best green web hosting.

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

AI, like any technology, is neither inherently good nor bad. As always, it depends on who is using it and what they’re using it for. However, what is undeniable is that AI is evolving faster than its risk averse cousin, regulation, as legislators continue to struggle to keep pace.

Of course, it doesn’t help that AI is innovating within AI, which is in turn leading to unprecedented acceleration in technological development.

All of this is creating a new set of security challenges, the latest of which is vibe coding. As with any innovation cycle within AI, it’s critical that we understand what it is, and what the security implications are.

Vibe coding explained

At its core, vibe coding is a modern approach to software development. This shift is best understood through the changing role of the software developer. Previously, a developer would have been tasked with manually writing each line of code, before commencing the usual process of inspecting, testing, fixing and launching.

Now, with the introduction of vibe coding, a software developer – and your average Joe – is able skip the first step, have AI write the code in their stead, and simply guide, test, and refine it.

On paper, the benefits are plain to see. Devs can work more efficiently, it democratizes and opens up the act of coding beyond trained developers, and encourages creativity and experimentation, with new consumer-facing applications being created that are intuitive and easy to use.

Even Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai has been having a go, stating that “it feels delightful to be a coder”, after letting slip that he had been playing around with building a web app.

As with any AI innovation – and given the ever-growing accessibility of AI tools – it comes to the forefront of the industry, habits change, and new tools and companies are developed. Just a few weeks ago, vibe coding company Lovable was in talks for a $1.5 billion valuation.

What’s clear is that you can’t stop the tide. It’s about working with it, building suitable guardrails and managing the associated risks appropriately. But what are these risks?

The security risks

As equally as vibe coding can be used for innovative purposes, it can also perpetuate cyber threats. To be robust in today’s threat landscape, businesses require secure, compliant, and maintainable code. The reality is that malicious code does not need to be high quality or long-lasting to have an impact.

In today’s AI-driven threat landscape, bad actors can even use verbal commands to generate malicious code and target vulnerabilities. To extrapolate this issue one step further, AI agents will add another dangerous dimension.

While generative AI can provide coding capabilities as part of vibe coding, it still needs to be deployed and executed in isolation. That is until an AI agent takes on the responsibility.

Vibe coding also has the potential to cause issues within security teams themselves. Often, it’s done individually, therefore undermining the collaborative and agile nature of DevOps practices. Without structured programming and security awareness, vibe coding can introduce hidden risks.

Defensive strategies

Vibe coding represents a leap in abstraction, allowing programmers to generate code using natural language. And while it lowers the barrier to entry and democratizes access to coding, it ultimately increases the risk of misuse by unqualified users. Businesses must set themselves up with a long-term view.

Vibe coding is just the latest iteration of AI-driven attacks and while it’s easy to focus on the technology of the moment, organizations must be set up to defend against vibe coding and whatever the next innovation may be.

The first and foremost defensive strategy is deploying zero trust architecture. At its core, Zero Trust is a security process that assumes that no entity should be trusted by default, even if within the network perimeter. The old adage of “if you can reach it, you can breach it” rings true here, so by reducing or removing your attack surface you’re going a long way to protecting yourself.

Secondly, there’s incredible value in platform-based technologies. The intelligence that platform providers get from serving millions of customers is invaluable. Think of it somewhat like herd immunity. If a solution is applied to one, it is applied to the many. Essentially, you’re benefiting from the participation of others in the platform model.

Finally, it’s vital that businesses be proactive in security, shifting from defense to offence, or as we like to call it threat hunting. By mitigating risk before it escalates, enterprises can improve their overall security posture.

Looking ahead

Ultimately, due to reasons like cost efficiency, AI will continue to disrupt the ways that we work and therefore influence the ways that we protect ourselves against the evolving threat landscape. In the future, vibe coding might involve multiple AI agents handling different aspects of the process, with one agent for pillars such as creativity, security, and the structure.

Security when done right can be a revenue enabler, allowing for market expansion, agility and better business practices. When done poorly, it renders businesses vulnerable to the latest AI innovation and trend. By adopting a long-term view of the threat landscape, deploying Zero Trust and taking a proactive approach to their security posture, enterprises can thrive.

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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

A creator’s Instagram inbox used to be a beautiful mess. One minute it was quiet. The next, a product Reel pops off and they get buried in fire emojis, product questions, and a dozen “Is this still in stock?” DMs.

It was certainly exciting. And a bit overwhelming? Manually keeping up often meant lost sleep, missed sales, and a lot of copy-pasting.

But now, that chaos is being turned into opportunity: For creators and entrepreneurs alike, the DM is the new storefront, help desk, and loyalty engine, all rolled into one. It's where trust is built, products get discovered, and sales happen at the speed of a double tap.

As conversational commerce takes off, more creators and entrepreneurs are building entire revenue engines inside their DMs. And equipped with smart automation, they’ve honed their social platforms to evolve beyond customer engagement to driving discovery, conversion, and customer loyalty in real time.

Historically, traditional businesses have enjoyed a rich ecosystem of tools, whether that be automations, webhooks, email integrations, and marketing funnels. They made scaling and systematizing their customer journeys seamless. Social media, by contrast, was long a closed garden: a powerful engagement space but one that limited creators’ ability to fully build and scale businesses because of restricted access.

But that’s all changing. Social platforms are opening up, and integrating with search engines and third-party tools. Creators and entrepreneurs can build sophisticated marketing and sales systems within these once closed environments – meaning social media channels are ultimately leveling the playing field. They’re transformed into robust business platforms where engagement, discovery, and conversion seamlessly intertwine.

From clicks to conversations, why funnels are flattening

The old-school path to a sale was long: social post → link in bio → website → maybe a sale. But let's face it, we’re living in the age of instant gratification. People expect responses yesterday. Slow replies can lead to frustration, while quick, helpful answers leave a lasting impression.

Enter: automation.

Automation ensures no message gets lost, keeping your audience happy and engaged. It's reshaping the sales funnel. Instead of sending traffic away, creators are closing the loop inside the platforms themselves, often in one message. In fact, 71% of consumers say they expect to interact with brands via messaging platforms. And with an average response time of 2 minutes (vs. 17 hours for email), DMs are simply faster and smarter.

To be clear, this shift isn’t about ditching websites. Rather, brands need to meet their buyers where they’re at – and remove the friction between intent and action. DMs essentially pre-qualify intent to purchase. By the time a consumer clicks through to a link provided via DM, they’re warmer and more likely to convert.

And the numbers back it up. Some creators report conversion rates as high as 85–98% when routing sales through DMs. Others have seen revenue spike by tens of thousands of dollars in a single month, simply by automating responses they once handled manually. One campaign helped drive over 100,000 page views from just a single trigger. These are all proof that messaging is a real growth engine.

As buyers spend more time in chat-based environments, the most agile businesses are revamping their approach to building and driving action.

Personalization that scales:

Customers crave human connection and messaging platforms deliver it. With tools that pull in browsing behavior, purchase history, and real-time context, entrepreneurs and creators alike can now offer VIP-style service to every shopper. Think: automated coupon drops, back-in-stock alerts, or custom product recommendations – all within the chat thread.

This is the major shift automation enables: authentic presence at scale. For the first time, creators and entrepreneurs no longer have to choose between being responsive and being real. With AI, they can stay present in thousands of conversations without losing the tone, timing, or trust that made a brand reputable in the first place.

However, the power of this movement lies in the timing. Automations show up exactly when they’re needed. Whether that’s a discount sent at the moment of hesitation or a restock alert that feels like it was sent by a personal shopper. The result? Higher open rates, faster response times, and better conversion across the board.

Even solo creators are now delivering high-touch experiences that rival big brands. The difference is, it’s happening one-to-one and in real time, without a massive team.

Where there’s a DM, there’s a purchasing decision

Website analytics can tell that someone clicked. That they spent 42 seconds on the product page. Maybe they even added something to the cart. But that’s still guesswork. An entrepreneur is left interpreting behavior, hoping it means something. But a DM that says, “Hey, do you have this in stock?” That’s clear as day: a customer is getting ready to buy.

Conversations are becoming the new top-of-funnel. When a customer initiates a message, they’re sending a clear intent signal. One you can act on immediately. Share a size guide. Offer a promo. Drop a product link right into the thread. No forms, no delays.

To be clear: By no means does this replace the website. In fact, quite the opposite. DMs often serve as the warm introduction that makes the click-through more valuable. The result? Higher intent traffic, better conversion rates, and fewer missed opportunities.

Because when someone takes the time to message a brand, they’re making active purchasing decisions and creating opportunities to act on an intent signal in real-time: Offer a discount. Suggest the right size. Trigger a purchase link. That’s why more entrepreneurs are shifting from pageviews to conversations. And when entrepreneurs and creators have automation set up, they can act on those signals instantly.

The smartest businesses — and creators — aren’t waiting around for clicks or form fills. They’re meeting their audience where the conversation is already happening: in the DMs.

Because in today’s attention economy, speed matters. Relevance matters. And connection always matters. Together, they create real moments of engagement that build trust, strengthen relationships, and drive meaningful revenue, all without slowing down momentum.

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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