TechRadar News

• Operators of the Rhysida ransomware add Peruvian government to their data leak site
• Hackers claim to have stolen sensitive files and are demanding five bitcoin
• The government says it hasn't been targeted and that it operates normally

Infamous hacking group Rhysida has claimed it breached the digital platform of the Peruvian government, but the South American country denies any ransomware incidents.

The cybercriminals added the Peruvian government to their data leak site, including some documents allegedly stolen from the gob.pe portal, noting they also demanded a five bitcoin ransom, which equals roughly $471,000.

This prompted Peru’s Ministry of Government and Digital Transformation to publish a statement and deny any hostile takeover of its digital assets.

Get Keeper Personal for just $1.67/month, Keeper Family for just $3.54/month, and Keeper Business for just $7/month

​Keeper is a cybersecurity platform primarily known for its password manager and digital vault, designed to help individuals, families, and businesses securely store and manage passwords, sensitive files, and other private data.

It uses zero-knowledge encryption and offers features like two-factor authentication, dark web monitoring, secure file storage, and breach alerts to protect against cyber threats.

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Tax admin was struck

“The Single Digital Platform of the Peruvian State, www.gob.pe, has not been compromised or breached. All its services remain operational and functioning normally,” the government said in a statement published on Facebook.

“The posts circulating on social media suggesting a supposed hijacking of the domain www.gob.pe are inaccurate,” it stressed, but added that an attack has, indeed, taken place recently.

“The incident in question is related to a service associated with the domain www.satp.gob.pe, which is not administered by the PCM (Presidency of the Council of Ministers) or the Secretariat of Government and Digital Transformation.”

This, according to The Record, is the tax administration website of regional capital Piura.

This government entity also released a statement, confirming a cyberattack in late March 2025. It disrupted its operations briefly, but they were restored within 48 hours. Allegedly, no files were stolen in this attack.

“As soon as we became aware of the possible security event, the National Center for Digital Security (CNSD) immediately activated preventive alerts to mitigate any potential risk,” the notice continues.

“Currently, investigation and analysis efforts are being carried out in coordination with relevant entities, both nationally and internationally. Additionally, direct collaboration is underway with the institution allegedly affected to clarify the facts and determine the extent of the incident.”

You might also like

• Ransomware gangs allegedly hit two major US healthcare firms, 300,000 patients have data stolen
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

• 4K HDR streaming appears "washed out" on some Roku TVs
• HD and SDR content seems to be fine
• The culprit may be the latest firmware update

If you're a Roku TV owner and you think your 4K HDR streaming doesn't look right, it could be a software fault. Since the latest software update there have been multiple reports of "washed-out" HDR across multiple streaming services.

The first reports, shared on the Roku issue tracking board and reported by The Verge, were about problems with the video while streaming from Disney Plus on TCL TVs. But more reports have since emerged of video issues with Prime Video, YouTube TV, Netflix, Apple TV Plus and others, and on Hisense Roku TVs, too.

The good news is that it's clearly a software issue: some users reporting problems also say that their Blu-Ray players are working just fine, and others say there are no issues with non-4K HDR. So the TVs themselves appear to be okay.

What's wrong with Roku's streaming?

This photo shows how lush greens and brown buildings all appear to be washed with grey on an affected Roku TV. (Image credit: Squinky / Roku Community)

The common denominator appears to be the Roku software version 14.5, with streaming services suffering from what The Verge describes as "desaturated, almost black-and-white images" with HDR enabled. Some other users are finding their streaming video is overly bright.

It does look like there is an issue that kicks in when the video starts to stream: this post on the Roku Community pages shows the dramatic difference between affected and unaffected TVs, and replies from other affected users say that everything's fine with the app's menus and static images. It's only once you start watching the actual movie or show that the problems occur.

Roku is aware of the reports, although at the time of writing it apparently hasn't responded to press requests for comment. We've asked Roku directly and will update this story when we hear back.

This seems to be yet another example of automatic updates apparently introducing problems to people's A/V kit: just a few weeks ago Samsung owners found their expensive soundbars were being bricked by a firmware update.

You might also like

• Google TV and Chromecast users are finally getting a great free upgrade for smart home control
• Roku's new streaming stick lineup is needlessly confusing
• Brace yourselves, Fire TV Stick fans – Amazon may make a huge, risky software change later this year

• A new Onlooker Detection feature is apparently coming to Windows 11
• This works with a presence sensor on a laptop to warn you if someone is sneaking a peek at your screen – plus it can also dim the display
• We don’t have concrete evidence of the feature yet, so don’t get too excited

Windows 11 is apparently going to be graced with a new capability as part of its Presence Sensing feature, with the system warning you if someone is sneaking a look at your screen.

PhantomOfEarth, a regular leaker of Windows info on X, flagged up the potential new feature, which is called ‘Onlooker Detection’. As they explain, it offers you a couple of options for actions you can take.

New Presence Sensing feature coming soon to Windows 11: Onlooker Detection. When your device notices that someone else is looking at your screen, it can dim the screen, notify you that someone's looking, or both.May 2, 2025

When a nosy onlooker is detected, Windows 11 can either dim your screen to make it difficult for the person who’s looking over your shoulder to make out the content, or it can warn you of what’s going on. Or the OS can do both, and flag the onlooker as well as dimming the screen.

However, you’ll need the necessary hardware on board your laptop to use Presence Sensing, namely the requisite presence sensor (unsurprisingly – or multiple modules as there may be more than one). The technical name for this is HPD or Human Presence Detection hardware, and it’s a feature facilitated by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips – in conjunction with said sensor – as well as AMD and Intel chips.

If you’re unsure whether your notebook has a presence sensor or not, you need to look in the Settings app, under System > Power & battery, and see if the relevant options are there as detailed in this Microsoft support document.

Elsewhere in the world of Windows 11 development, new Dev and Beta channel builds have arrived. In those preview versions – which have essentially the same features – Microsoft is trying some fine-tuning of the interface for Recall which consists of repositioning some banks of icons. (This is the AI-supercharged search function that’s only for Copilot+ PCs).

Those builds have also seen the addition of a bolder way to highlight apps on the taskbar that are requesting your attention (or are in a ‘needy state’), with a wider, more visible line under the app icon to make it clearer.

Some tweaks have been made to HDR options within Windows 11, as well, which includes a choice to allow for HDR to be used when streaming a video even if the system-wide switch for HDR is turned off. That’s a neat touch, too.

(Image credit: Unsplash / Windows) Analysis: A top-notch feature for when you’re out and about – if it happens

Currently the presence sensor is used to offer the ability to automatically turn off your screen when you leave the PC, and wake your device when you return (using Windows Hello sign-in to make everything seamless and secure).

A new function to detect anyone sneakily stealing a glance, or indeed a longer, more invasive look, at the contents of your screen would be an excellent addition on the privacy front. Whenever you’re working on your laptop on public transport or in a cafe, there’s always a feeling someone might be peeking over your shoulder.

The catch here is that we don’t have any concrete evidence of this feature yet. Presumably, PhantomOfEarth dug up references to Onlooker Detection in recent preview builds of Windows 11, but the leaker doesn’t explicitly say so. The alternative is that they heard from a source at Microsoft that this feature is in the pipeline, but whatever the case, this is far from certain.

We'll need to see the feature officially in testing before we start to get excited about its arrival. Hopefully, it won’t be long before that happens, so keep those digits firmly crossed.

You might also like...

• Been hiding from Windows 11 24H2 due to the fuss about all the bugs? There’s nowhere to run now as Microsoft’s made the update compulsory
• Microsoft could be working on the next update for Windows 11 – but 25H2 could end up being a disappointment
• Windows 11 fully streamlined in just two clicks? Talon utility promises to rip all the bloatware out of Microsoft’s OS in a hassle-free way

• A new Material 3 Expressive redesign is coming for Android
• Google has leaked some of the updates ahead of time
• We can expect an official unveiling at Google I/O later this month

Android is getting a fresh coat of paint in the very near future, and the team at Google is apparently so excited about the visual overhaul that it's accidentally leaked the changes ahead of time, giving us all a sneak preview of what's coming.

As spotted by 9to5Google, the now-deleted blog post outlining the upcoming "Material 3 Expressive" changes talks about it being "the most-researched update to Google's design system" ever applied to the software.

Google says the new look "makes you feel something", inspiring emotion, communicating function, and helping you achieve your goals – even if those goals are just making sure your phone alarm wakes you up on time, or you can connect to the office Wi-Fi quickly.

Colors and shapes have been revamped, with key actions and navigation options now better highlighted. There are more floating elements, and more curves, and this new leak builds on some of the details that we saw at the start of the month.

Android for the people

An early look at some of the visual changes (Image credit: 9to5Google / Google)

Google is keen to emphasize that a lot of research has gone into Android's new look, with engagement stats backing up the changes and showing how they improve usability and user satisfaction – proving that they "connect with people on an emotional level".

A floating toolbar that pops up in certain scenarios is one of the tweaks we can look forward to, while Google has also done work to improve consistency, and to make sure related items are better grouped together on screen.

It looks set to be the biggest design overhaul for Android since Material Design was introduced more than a decade ago, though of course phone manufacturers such as Samsung and Nothing will have their own spin on this new approach.

You can see some of the visual refreshes over on 9to5Google, while Google's own blog post has been preserved on the Wayback Machine. This will be made official very soon, once the Google I/O 2025 showcase gets underway on Tuesday, May 20.

You might also like

• Android 16 could bring an improved Samsung DeX-style desktop mode
• The biggest Pixel 10 rumors so far
• How Android 16 will upgrade the screen unlocking process

• The Ninja Luxe Café Pro is an new version of Ninja's popular coffee maker
• It has a lever-operated tamper to apply even pressure and prevent mess
• It's considerably more expensive than the original Ninja Luxe Café

Ninja has launched a new version of its best coffee maker, the Ninja Luxe Café, with a lever-operated tamping system that takes the guesswork out of creating a perfectly compressed puck of espresso.

The Ninja Luxe Café is one of the best espresso machines we've tested, and our reviewer awarded it four and a half stars out of five thanks to its smart design, guided weight-based dosing system, handy suggested grind sizes, and very reasonable price.

The new Ninja Luxe Café Pro goes one step further, taking the guesswork and mess out of tamping your coffee as well. With the new machine, there's no need to move a portafilter full of loose grounds and risk spilling them all over your work surface.

Instead, you leave it in place under the grinder and pull down a manual lever to compress it into a perfect puck.

(Image credit: SharkNinja) Pro features, pro price

This extra feature does increase the price quite considerably though; the Ninja Luxe Café Pro has a list price of $699.99 / £699.99 (about AU$1,100) compared to $549.99 / £549.99 (about AU$850) for the original model without the tamping lever.

That's a relatively high price, even for one of the best coffee makers, but the Ninja Luxe Café doesn't just brew espresso. It's a multi-functional machine that can also prepare tasty filter coffee, plus refreshing cold brew in a fraction of the time it would take to infuse the traditional way.

At the time of writing, the Ninja Luxe Café pro is available direct from Ninja in the US, but is out of stock in the UK.

You might also like

• What are ESE coffee pods? Everything you need to know about these quick alternatives to freshly ground coffee
• De'Longhi's smart espresso machine learns what type of coffee you enjoy, and when you want to drink it
• Craving cold-brew coffee this summer? We've tested three machines that will let you make it at home in seconds rather than hours

• Apple has improved transfer speeds when switching from Android to iOS
• The speed boost affects wired connections, not those over Wi-Fi
• The update might placate users who have faced long transfer times

If there’s one thing Apple would love more than anything, it’s for users of the best Android phones to switch to iOS. But Apple isn’t just crossing its fingers and relying on wishful thinking – it has a dedicated Move to iOS app for Android users to swiftly transfer their data to a new phone. And it’s just made a major change that could make the process a whole lot easier.

That alteration affects data transfer speeds, which have now been made faster if you’re using a USB-C to USB-C cable or one that runs from USB-C to Lightning. That should help ensure switchers can get up and running faster than ever, without needing to hang around to be able to use their new device.

Apple didn’t specify how much faster these transfer speeds will now be on the Move to iOS app’s download page. Yet the fact that Apple decided to point this change out in the app’s release notes suggests that it’s not merely a minor speed boost.

Browse through the app’s reviews on the Google Play Store and you’ll see that data transfer speed has been a serious issue for numerous users. People have complained about the process taking hours and even timing out if it takes too long, so any improvement to transfer times should be welcomed.

Swifter setups

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Mr.Mikla)

This is not the only change that has come to the latest Move to iOS app update. The release notes also explain that “iOS tips are now displayed during migration,” while “call history and Dual SIM labels are now migrated” as well.

Elsewhere, your Android voice recordings will be automatically added to either the Voice Memos or Files apps on iOS (depending on their format), and there’s expanded support for languages such as Bangla, Gujarati, Kannada, and more.

Finally, while Apple has improved the data transfer speeds for wired connections, it has also added the ability to connect an Android and iOS device over Wi-Fi or a personal hotspot. While transfers using those methods won’t be as fast as over a wired connection, you now have a few more options.

So, if you’re about to make the switch from Android to iOS, you shouldn’t have to wait around as long for your new phone to be set up. That sounds like good news whichever way you look at it.

You might also like

• I ditched my Android for an iPhone 15 for a week – and Apple has some work to do
• How to switch from Android to iPhone using Move to iOS
• Best apps to transfer Android phone data of 2025

• Ticket To Cash, a ticket reselling website, kept an open database
• It held more than 500,000 customer records
• Among the records were partial credit card data, names, and more

Ticket reselling platform Ticket To Cash kept an unprotected database online, exposing sensitive information on hundreds of thousands of customers, experts have warned.

The database was discovered by cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler, who managed to get in touch with the company and get the database locked down, sharing the details withVPNMentor.

Ticket To Cash is a resale service site, using a network of thousands of partner resale sites to help users sell their concert, sports, and other tickets quickly.

Get Keeper Personal for just $1.67/month, Keeper Family for just $3.54/month, and Keeper Business for just $7/month

​Keeper is a cybersecurity platform primarily known for its password manager and digital vault, designed to help individuals, families, and businesses securely store and manage passwords, sensitive files, and other private data.

It uses zero-knowledge encryption and offers features like two-factor authentication, dark web monitoring, secure file storage, and breach alerts to protect against cyber threats.

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

Partial credit card data

According to Fowler, it kept a non-password-protected, non-encrypted database with 520,054 records, totaling 200 GB in size.

The name of the database indicated that it contained customer inventory files in PDF, JPG, PNG, and JSON formats, Fowler explained.

We don’t know how many of these documents belonged to a single person, therefore it’s difficult to determine how many people are affected. We can assume that it’s no more than 520,000.

A “limited sampling” of the exposed documents determined that the database held “thousands” of concert and live event tickets, proof of ticket transfers, user-submitted screenshots of receipts, and other sensitive files.

Some of the documents even contained parts of people’s credit cards, as well as full names, email addresses, and postal addresses.

This type of information is crucial for cybercriminals, as it allows them to engage in targeted phishing, identity theft, and possibly even wire fraud.

Since Fowler did not say when the database was generated, if you’ve ever used Ticket To Cash before, you should keep a close eye on your banking statements and watch for potentially suspicious transactions.

Fowler said he reached out to Ticket To Cash, but it seems the company never responded. It did, after the second attempt, lock the database down. We don’t know for how long it remained open, or if any threat actors accessed it in the meantime.

You might also like

• Top API testing firm APIsec exposed customer data during security lapse
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

• UNA Watch is a new sustainable smartwatch
• The Edinburgh-based company just closed its Kickstarter campaign
• More than 1,200 people have backed its first watch to the tune of $330,000, including a host of potential developers

Sustainable wearable outfit UNA Watch has secured more than $330,000 in funding from its Kickstarter campaign in just over four weeks, ahead of the planned launch of its first watch.

As we've previously reported, UNA Watch is a sustainable wearable with a unique, modular design, and features GPS, health monitoring, and 10-day battery life.

The USP? It can be put together like Lego, and its modular design means it's both repairable and upgradeable in a way that owners of the best Apple Watch models can only dream of.

Edinburgh-based UNA Watch has now closed its Kickstarter, having garnered support from 1,249 backers and raised a cool £251,276 (about $335,000).

Developers flock to UNA Watch

(Image credit: UNA)

As well as proving popular with smartwatch fans, the UNA Watch has also generated excitement among developers, who are flocking to be first in line to buy one. UNA Watch offers both a Software Development Kit (SDK) and a Hardware Development Kit (HDK), which will let developers code their own apps and create new sensors and hardware modules.

It's a similar open-source approach to the one that made Pebble popular back in the day, and UNA has confirmed to TechRadar that one in six backers has bought the company's Development tool, suggesting that a high percentage of backers are developers.

UNA is targeting an estimated delivery date of August 2025 for its first Kickstarter packages.

You may also like

• UNA Watch is the sustainable wearable that wants to replace your Apple Watch
• New figures claim the smartwatch market just shrunk for the first time ever, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is to blame
• Apple sued over 'false and misleading' Apple Watch claims – here's what you need to know

• Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida knew the cost of games would increase "sooner or later"
• Yoshida says inflation and production costs are the cause, so more expensive games were inevitable
• He doesn't know if Rockstar Games would increase the price of Grand Theft Auto 6, but thinks "a balance must be found between production costs and game prices"

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment executive Shuhei Yoshida has said that the recent rise in the cost of games "was going to happen sooner or later" due to inflation and production costs.

In a new interview with PlayStation Inside, Yoshida was asked about the increase in game prices, specifically regarding Nintendo Switch 2 games, like Mario Kart World, which will now cost upwards of $80, and if he thinks this will affect other studios and publishers.

The ex-PlayStation boss explained that he predicted the rise in prices would happen eventually, mainly due to inflation and the cost of resources, but didn't think Nintendo would be the one to kick it off.

"I think it was going to happen sooner or later, maybe not from Nintendo, but it was going to happen eventually," said Yoshida. "We live in contrasting times, where inflation is real and significant, but people expect games that are ever more ambitious and therefore expensive to develop to cost the same. It’s an impossible equation. Everything in video games today is more advanced and more technologically demanding than ever before, and therefore requires more resources.

"Each publisher or manufacturer sets the price of its games, of course, but in the end the heart of the matter lies in production costs. And that’s why industry actors are so keen to diversify their revenues, in order to continue producing the AAA games that the public buys before anything else."

Just last week, Microsoft raised the prices of its Xbox consoles and accessories, with some first-party games expected to release at $80 later this year. Elsewhere, Sony recently upped the prices of its PS5 consoles.

Although there is a very obvious shift happening within the industry, Yoshida doesn't know if studios like Rockstar Games would consider setting the price of Grand Theft Auto 6 higher, but that "a balance must be found between production costs and game prices".

"So I don’t know if Rockstar will jump at the chance to set the price of GTA 6 at 90 euros or more, to speak with your currency, but the situation is this. And we could even add subscription platforms and games as a service, which, while providing huge revenues in their own right, also help to finance AAA down the line.

"In any case, a balance must be found between production costs and game prices. GTA 6 will obviously be a case in point, but if you take the example of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the game is just as phenomenal visually, despite the fact that the team only has around thirty people. This is one of the ways forward, I think, because you can make excellent games with tighter teams and budgets without compromising quality."

You might also like...

• Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders live: latest UK stock updates as My Nintendo Store's pre-order date arrives, while US pre-orders remain delayed
• Here are the Nintendo Switch 2 launch games that you'll be able to pick up and play on June 5
• The latest Nintendo Switch update makes it impossible to play the same digital game while connected to the internet on two systems at the same time

• The foldable iPhone will reportedly have a smaller crease than other foldable phones
• It's also said to have a higher-quality hinge, likely leading to improved durability
• And it could launch as part of the iPhone 18 series

Apple is entering the foldable phone market very late in the day, as while Samsung is expected to launch the seventh generation of its Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip models this year, Apple’s first foldable probably won’t land until 2026. But when it does, it could come with some key advantages.

According to Bloomberg's resident Apple expert Mark Gurman (via GSMArena), the foldable iPhone will have two major advantages over other foldable phones, with the first of these being a “nearly invisible” crease in the foldable screen.

While Samsung and other foldable phone makers have been gradually decreasing the prominence of the crease in their phones – which appears where the display folds in the middle – they still haven’t eradicated it entirely, and it sounds like the foldable iPhone may come close to doing so.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a visible crease (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff) A tough hinge for the top iPhone 18 model

Secondly, Gurman claims that the foldable iPhone will have a "much higher-quality hinge" than current foldables. He doesn’t expand on that tip, but we’ve previously heard that the phone's hinge might use liquid metal, which could improve durability and help reduce the size of the crease.

We’re not sure how much of a selling point a more durable hinge will really be, though it certainly sounds desirable. But a foldable phone with little to no crease in the display is likely to prove popular, especially one with Apple branding.

What's more, the foldable iPhone could be positioned as the highest-end iPhone, rather than as part of a separate smartphone series with "a niche alternative design," according to Gurman.

That sounds reminiscent of how Apple has now positioned its mid-range models as part of the main line; it recently ditched the ‘SE’ branding and instead released an iPhone 16e. So, if the foldable iPhone does land next year, it may well include ‘iPhone 18’ in its name.

We still probably have over a year to wait, though, so while Gurman has a great track record for Apple information, we’d still take all of this with a pinch of salt.

You might also like

• The iPhone 17 could miss out on a long-awaited display upgrade – here's why Apple fans are upset
• The iPhone 17 Pro looks chunky in the latest leak, but it could still sell better than the sleek iPhone 17 Air
• 'Those are so ugly': new iPhone 17 dummy unit photos show all four models side by side – and the internet isn’t impressed

A new era of AI is emerging and it’s more autonomous than ever before. Agentic AI is set to transform the way people interact with technology, marking a paradigm shift in artificial intelligence.

Unlike generative AI (GenAI), agentic AI is proactive, and can solve complex problems and make decisions autonomously without human oversight. While these capabilities will prove hugely beneficial for enterprises, it is highly likely that ransomware groups will also look to exploit agentic AI to execute more effective attacks with much greater efficiency, at scale.

Security professionals should take note because today’s emerging agentic AI models are set to revolutionize cybercriminal tactics and supercharge the ransomware exploits of bad actors. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how security teams should prepare for the floodgate of possibilities on the horizon.

Agentic AI – what’s different?

Back in 2022, the release of ChatGPT ignited concerns among security experts who postulated that threat actors could leverage generative AI to do bad things. Fortunately, these predictions about an AI security apocalypse proved unfounded. Instead, cybercriminals used gen AI tools to streamline tasks such as generating and debugging malware code and industrializing the creation of sophisticated phishing content.

It turned out that while gen AI’s coding and scripting abilities boosted some aspects of their activities, it offered cyber-attackers limited incremental capabilities when it came to how they undertook some key malicious tasks. However, the emergence of agentic AI in late 2024 marks a whole new era in AI development and potentially changes the rules of the game where ransomware is concerned.

Designed to autonomously make decisions, problem solve, and act dynamically in real-time, agentic AI systems are capable of independently pursuing complex goals with limited human supervision. Context-aware, dynamic, and highly adaptable to changing environments and events, agentic AI does not rely on human guidance to determine which potential actions to take. It goes ahead and acts.

These new incremental abilities have the potential to transform how ransomware gangs overcome the technical and operational bottlenecks that, until now, have restricted their ability to launch successful attacks at scale.

The current state of play: how ransomware gangs operate

To reduce their workloads, today’s cyber threat actors will use specialist independent Initial Access Brokers (IABs) to find targets and secure a foothold in target networks. Having outsourced infiltration and paid an IAB for this access, they are able to focus on the task of identifying which assets to encrypt and the best way to deliver the malware payload and conduct the extortion.

This is not as straightforward as it sounds. It requires a lot of skill and manpower to move laterally around the network, determine the best way to pivot and get from A to B, and identify where the organization's most valuable data is located - all without being detected.

Today, this is a highly manual process that is difficult for humans to do reliably and efficiently. Indeed, many ransomware attacks are abandoned mid execution either due to human errors or mistakes that trigger antivirus software or data detection and response tools, or because it is simply too challenging to identify a potential payload trove of high value data.

The emergence of agentic AI, however, closes the skills gap for threat actors. As well as making it easier to evade detection and launch attacks, it could also scale up the number and speed at which these attacks are executed.

Making life easier for ransomware groups

In the not too distant future, ransomware groups could be using agentic AI to boost up their ‘manpower’ and handle all the heavy lifting around identifying which assets to target and the best way to compromise these.

Whether it is identifying exploitation paths of least resistance, finding ways to circumvent firewalls and EDR tools, researching and validating what data is located where, or determining which data presents the most promising target, these agents could decide the optimal point at which to execute the attack.

In other words, agentic AI will be able to determine a target and figure out the most effective and efficient way to compromise it. Plus, it will automate every aspect of the attack execution process, independently handling all fetching and enumeration tasks as it navigates its way through the network and covers its tracks as it goes.

In addition to lowering the skills and resource bar for threat actors, agentic AI reduces the time it takes to plan and execute a highly sophisticated attack to a matter of minutes - all of which will make it difficult for security professionals to detect and shut down threats. Ransomware gangs using agentic AI will also be able to improve the effectiveness of their attacks, and will acquire the automated resources they need to conduct multiple attacks in parallel.

In summary, AI agents will make ransomware operations faster and more reliable. Requiring little or no human input, agentic AI can work in a predictable and highly efficient manner and tell ransomware gangs exactly where to focus and what to focus on.

Looking ahead: evaluating the impact

Cybercriminals have proven adept at leveraging GenAI to streamline certain aspects of the ransomware attack cycle and improve their productivity in these areas. In recent years the number of ransomware gangs using AI to hone the production of malware has grown significantly. The emergence of AI agents that can reason, plan and act autonomously is set to make ransomware attacks more scalable, more effective, and more efficient to undertake, with attack cycles reducing from weeks to near real-time.

While agentic AI promises to automate, refine, and power up how ransomware gangs compromise targets on an industrial scale, security experts also predict that autonomous AI agents are set to become a critical defense tool for cyber security teams. By delegating intrusion detection and network monitoring and analysis tasks to agentic AI, security teams can up their game when it comes to detecting and shutting down cyber threats. It should also be possible to use AI agents to simulate assets that will tempt and misdirect hackers into connecting their malware and generating an intrusion alert.

In terms of timelines, agentic AI is still under development and we are unlikely to see it being widely leveraged by ransomware gangs for a few years yet. This gives cyber security defenders ample opportunity to get one step ahead and develop the agentic AI tools and algorithms that will be needed to stop them.

Making proactive preparations

While organizations don’t need to worry about the immediate impacts from agentic AI right now, they should keep a finger on the pulse when it comes to its ongoing development and use. For security teams, keeping up with this fast evolving threat landscape depends on finding ways to integrate AI agents into their own defense techniques.

One thing is for sure: where agentic AI is concerned the race is on. It remains to be seen who will get there first – attack or defense.

We've compiled a list of the best online cybersecurity courses.

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

• B&O A1 3rd Gen promises more bass in the same design
• Up to 24 hours of battery life, and pairing with other A1 models
• $349 / £299 is a price hike over the previous model

Bang & Olufsen has announced the Beosound A1 3rd Gen, which is the new version of B&O's mid-tier portable Bluetooth speaker. The new model promises more powerful sound, a few new features, and longer battery life, and comes at a higher price than its predecessor, even before you take discounts on the old model into account.

I've been a fan of the B&O A1 2nd Gen since its release in 2020 – it's the Bluetooth speaker I use at home, and I love it for its stylish aluminum design, more full sound than other mid-size Bluetooth speakers, and generous battery life that means it's always ready to go even if it's been forgotten for a season.

According to B&O, the A1 3rd Gen has "the largest woofer in its class", meaning more powerful and "deeper" bass output (with a claimed bass SPL of 64dB, which is 2dB higher than the 2nd Gen). This sounds great to me, assuming it's well-balanced with the mids and treble – as I mentioned above, the real trick of the B&O A1 2nd Gen is that it managed a broader and more well-rounded sound than similar offerings from JBL and Sonos.

The battery life has increased from 18 hours to 24 hours, which is really great for any of the best Bluetooth speakers, let alone a smaller option – even the five-star JBL Flip 7 is limited to 16 hours max with its battery extension feature active.

(Image credit: Bang & Olufsen)

Upgrades other than these are more subtle, though. The wireless connection is Bluetooth 5.1, which seems a little behind the times – so many new Bluetooth speakers today are arriving with newer versions that include Auracast support for audio sharing across multiple speakers.

B&O hasn't gone for that kind of option, but it can be used in a stereo pair with either another A1 3rd Gen, or an A1 2nd Gen (I obviously have my eye on that feature…).

The Alexa voice assistant support of the 2nd Gen seems to have been dropped, but there is still a mic – you can use it as a speakerphone. You have Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair for easily connecting to those devices.

(Image credit: Bang & Olufsen)

The design looks largely unchanged from the previous model, which is alright by me – I really like the 'button' shape, and the clean metal finish. It's not quite as pocketable as the JBL Flip 7, but it's fairly thin and can slip into a bag easily enough anyway.

As before, it comes with a strap attached and is IP67 rated, so it can stand up to a light dunking in water or roaming among the sand like the best waterproof speakers.

B&O says this is also the first ever Bluetooth speaker to be "Cradle to Cradle Certified (Bronze Level)", meaning that it's made with sustainable practices in mind, and has modularity in the design that makes it repairable in the future – including a battery that can be replaced in a B&O service center.

There are three colors: Natural Aluminium, Honey Tone, and Eucalyptus Green. I don't like the latter as much as the beautiful Forest Green finish B&O used on the A1 2nd Gen and the B&O Explore – which is maybe my favorite finish on any tech product ever – but it's still very nice, as is the Honey Tone.

The stumbling block here is really the price. At $349 / £299, it's more expensive than the $299 / £259 official price of the A1 2nd Gen – but that model also regularly falls to around £180/$200, and it's only at the cheaper price that I generally recommend people buy it.

At twice the price of the JBL Flip 7, it's going to have to work hard to feel worth it. But hey, the last version managed it for me.

You might also like…

• The impressive Beats Pill portable speaker is landing in two gorgeous new colors, ready for summer
• Sony adds three Bluetooth speakers to its bass-hungry ULT range: meet Tower 9, Field 5, and Field 3
• B&O’s latest limited edition speaker is also a portrait of David Bowie that looks as good as it sounds

• Addlink P30 USB 4.0 SSD can transfer 10GB in just 2.5 seconds
• Built-in MagSafe support means hands-free iPhone ProRes recording at 4K 120Hz
• Preformatted in exFAT for instant plug-and-play across phones, consoles, and laptops

Addlink has launched its latest entry into the high-speed storage market: the P30 USB 4.0 Super-Speed Magnetic SSD.

TechPowerUp reports this device supports the latest USB 4.0 standard, delivering sequential read speeds of up to 4000MB/s and write speeds of up to 3600MB/s.

Designed to rival the best portable SSDs, the P30 can transfer a 10GB file in just 2.5 seconds, putting it on par with Thunderbolt 4-class devices and far ahead of traditional external HDDs.

Perfect tool for fast data transfer

Addlink describes the P30 as, “the perfect tool for anyone who needs their data fast, accessible, and secure - wherever life takes them.”

One standout feature is its built-in MagSafe compatibility, allowing users to magnetically attach the SSD directly to an iPhone. This enables hands-free, high-resolution ProRes video capture at 4K 120Hz, ideal for content creators.

The P30 includes a USB Type-C port for broad platform compatibility, including support for gaming consoles, laptops, Android devices, and Linux systems. It comes preformatted in exFAT, enabling immediate use without the need for reformatting.

Weighing about 45 grams and measuring just 64 x 64 x 12 mm - roughly the size of a credit card - the P30 is available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities, all backed by a 3-year warranty.

It supports operating temperatures from 0°C to 70°C, though actual performance of this fast external SSD may vary depending on host device, interface, and usage conditions.

“The P30 USB 4.0 Super-Speed Magnetic SSD is expertly designed for mobile users, offering seamless support for Apple ProRes recording. With MagSafe compatibility, it effortlessly attaches to your iPhone, providing a convenient, hands-free storage solution,” said Addlink.

You might also like

• These are the fastest SSDs you buy right now
• We've listed the best NAS devices around
• AI is fueling the biggest financial scams ever - cyber safety experts are fighting back

• Perplexity AI's new WhatsApp integration offers instant fact-checking without leaving the app
• Perplexity responds with fast, sourced explanations in over 20 languages
• The feature aims to help navigate misleading posts in private group threads

Web browser battles are getting an AI makeover, and Perplexity is sending a Comet to the fight. The AI-fueled web browser is set to launch this month, as first spotted by Testing Catalog.

Hints about the AI search engine developer's plan for a browser have been seen here and there in recent weeks, including a a new homepage, separate from Perplexity’s main website, a Learn Comet button on some people's Perplexity web interface, and even a briefly viewable promotional video that Perplexity soon took down.

Based on the drip of information, it looks like Perplexity is pitching Comet as a Google Chrome alternative that can aid in any research you need done online. Comet will apparently integrate with Google services, as well as access your history and follow along with your browsing to respond in context to your requests. So, you might ask Comet to “find that thing I was looking at about sea otters last Tuesday,” and it will dig up the article about how they hold hands to keep from losing each other. No more keyword-guessing or digging through all of your open tabs like an archaeologist of your own disorganized mind.

The eye on taking Chrome's crown isn't hyperbole, either. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas has already boasted about how Comet will beat Chrome when it comes to reopening old tabs, declaring that "Chrome is on its way out."

On Comet, you can simply ask in English what you want it to reopen specifically. No need to remember fancy shortcuts. Chrome is on its way out. https://t.co/qCg6CoKCx2April 30, 2025

Comet AI

Perplexity is attempting to get ahead of the biggest obvious concern some might have about Comet, namely, privacy. The idea of a browser that reads what you’re looking at and remembers what you did last week might sound convenient to some, but like dystopian surveillance to others. Comet will have privacy settings, including native ad-blocking, and an opt-out for data sharing.

Meanwhile, the competition isn’t standing still. Microsoft is stuffing increasingly bold AI features into Edge, and of course, Google Chrome is expected to unveil many new AI integrations at Google I/O this year. Comet will need to make its AI assistance feel intuitive to stand out. If Comet's AI can help you stay focused, organized, and smart about navigating the chaos of the internet, it could entice a lot of new users. If not, it risks being seen as more of an unhelpful Chrome extension.

Perplexity needs to get past people asking if they really need another browser, and promise to resolve your frustrations with your current one. If you’re tired of being bombarded with ads and manually digging through your history, Comet, when it comes, might offer a welcome change.

You might also like

• You can now fact check anybody’s post in WhatsApp – here’s how
• Perplexity's voice assistant offers a Siri alternative for iPhones
• Perplexity AI drops new Squid Game-inspired ad that pokes fun at Google starring Lee Jung-jae

• Minisforum MS-A2 fits in your hand but flexes harder than most full-sized desktops
• Dual 10GbE ports and 16 cores - this box is built for serious work, not games
• Soldered CPU prevents upgrading, but that's not a concern in this case

Compact systems have long been viewed as underpowered, but Minisforum’s MS series flips that notion.

The company’s latest flagship, the MS-A2 mini PC, uses AMD’s Ryzen 9 9955HX or 7945HX chips, both 16-core mobile CPUs that boost up to 5.4GHz and draw up to 100W,tapping into desktop territory while retaining thermal efficiency.

With a chassis measuring just 196 x 189 x 48 mm, this mini PC comes with soldered CPUs, which prevents future upgrades, but it incorporates integrated cooling to maintain performance at high power levels.

A networking king

Networking, often an afterthought in compact PCs, is a standout feature in the MS-A2. Designed with advanced use cases such as home labs, media servers, and edge AI deployments in mind, this device supports dual 10GbE via SFP+ and dual 2.5GbE LAN.

The Minisforum MS-A2 features three NVMe-capable slots, including two M.2 2280 slots and one U.2-compatible bay. Despite losing one M.2 slot compared to the earlier MS-A1, the device still offers up to 15TB of fast storage through U.2 and NVMe slots, along with RAID support.

Support for discrete GPUs - though limited to low-profile models via a PCIe 4.0 x8 slot - adds credibility to its workstation claims.

The system’s design includes bifurcation support, allowing advanced users to run compute cards or media accelerators for tasks like Plex transcoding or AI inference. Paired with up to 96GB of DDR5 RAM, this setup puts the MS-A2 in serious contention as the best workstation in its size category.

The barebone version of the MS-A2 costs $839, while the version with 64GB RAM and a 1TB SSD is priced at $1,103 for US customers.

Minisforum has a history of pushing boundaries, with models like the MS-01 supporting Intel’s high-end mobile CPUs such as the Core i9-13900H, and offering features like three M.2 slots, a SATA bay, and 10GbE networking.

The MS-02 continued this trend with a bewildering array of options, including four Ethernet ports - two of which are 10GbE - and support for up to four SSDs.

Via Videocardz

You might also like

• We've listed the best business laptops right now
• These are the best mobile workstations around
• Over half of UK businesses who replaced workers with AI regret their decision

The question of OpenAI, its business, and intentions for the future of AI may finally be solved. In an open letter, OpenAI CEO and co-founder Sam Altman outlined plans to keep OpenAI running under the oversight of a non-profit. What's more, the profit side of the business is transitioning to a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC).

A PCB is notable because it means that while that portion of OpenAI will still be interested in making a profit, it will have a larger purpose, one that's intended to serve the good of society.

In more practical terms, Altman wrote, "We want to put incredible tools in the hands of everyone....We want to open source very capable models. We want to give our users a great deal of freedom in how we let them use our tools within broad boundaries, even if we don’t always share the same moral framework, and to let our users make decisions about the behavior of ChatGPT."

In recent years, former partner and OpenAI co-founder Elon Musk has sued OpenAI for leaving its non-profit roots behind, and others have voiced concern about OpenAI not open-sourcing key models. Altman previously admitted that he was on the wrong side of that argument, and Musk eventually lost his case.

Now, though, OpenAI and Altman seem to be moving in the direction Musk and the open-source critics want.

AI for the good

The change of heart comes as Altman admits that in the early days, "we did not have a detailed sense for how we were going to accomplish our mission" and also admitted that some at OpenAI back then thought AI "should only be in the hands of a few trusted people who could 'handle it'."

The perspective now, though, especially as Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is on the horizon, is "We want to build a brain for the world and make it super easy for people to use for whatever they want," wrote Altman.

The go-forward plan is for OpenAI's non-profit to be "the largest and most effective nonprofit in history that will be focused on using AI to enable the highest-leverage outcomes for people."

Questions remain

Altman also wants to develop "beneficial AGI" and notes the importance of safety and alignment. "As AI accelerates, our commitment to safety grows stronger. We want to make sure democratic AI wins over authoritarian AI."

Altman's come quite a long way since he was suddenly ousted in late 2023 by, among others, Ilya Sutskever, formerly OpenAI's Chief Scientist and co-founder. He returned just days later. There's a sense in the new letter that AI and the coming AGI are bigger than one person, one company, and one AI like ChatGPT.

As for what this will mean for the future of OpenAI, ChatGPT, and AGI, it is unclear. The PCB may be focused on the public good, but it will still be interested in making a profit. How the non-profit overseer impacts that is unclear.

OpenAI says it will be talking to attorneys generals in California and Delaware, who helped it come to this decision, along with its biggest commercial partner, Microsoft (Copilot's base models are GPT-based), about the implementation of its new plan.

"We believe this sets us up to continue to make rapid, safe progress and to put great AI in the hands of everyone," wrote Altman.

We'll see.

You might also like

• I asked ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AIs how to combat aging, and only one did the right thing
• Goodbye, ChatGPT-4 – here's why the retired AI model ...
• The Godfather of AI is more worried than ever about ...
• I've tried Google's new AI Mode and now you can too

• Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro has officially completed Pokémon Blue
• The game ran as a livestream experiment by an independent engineer
• Gemini played the game with some light developer intervention, but mostly on its own

Google's Gemini AI may not have passed the Turing test yet, but it would be very popular in the schoolyard three decades ago after winning a game of Pokémon Blue. The Gemini 2.5 Pro is now both Google's most advanced AI model and a Pokémon Master, as demonstrated in a Twitch livestream called “Gemini Plays Pokémon” run by an engineer unaffiliated with Google named Joel Z. Even Google CEO Sundar Pichai joined the celebration, sharing a clip of the victory on X.

What a finish! Gemini 2.5 Pro just completed Pokémon Blue!  Special thanks to @TheCodeOfJoel for creating and running the livestream, and to everyone who cheered Gem on along the way. pic.twitter.com/E2pn3tpfEbMay 3, 2025

You might wonder why an AI model beating a thirty-year-old game drew so much attention. It's partly because of the spectacle, but also because of AI model rivalry. Back in February, Anthropic showcased the progress its Claude model was making in beating Pokémon Red. They used the game to show off Claude’s “extended thinking and agent training” and launched a “Claude Plays Pokémon” Twitch stream, inspiring Joel Z.

Before crowning Gemini as the one true AI Ash Ketchum, it’s worth noting a few caveats. For one, Claude hasn’t technically beaten Pokémon Red yet, but that doesn’t automatically make Gemini better, as they employed different tools, known as “agent harnesses.” The models don’t play the game directly like a human with a controller would. Instead, they’re fed screenshots of the game environment along with overlays of key information, then asked to generate the next best action. That decision is then translated into an actual button press in the game.

And Gemini hasn’t been going it entirely alone. Joel admitted he occasionally stepped in to make improvements, though he has made a point of doing so only to improve some of Gemini's reasoning. He also plans to continue working on the Gemini Plays Pokémon project to make further improvements.

Pokémon AI

(Image credit: Sundar Pichai/X)

What makes this more than a quirky internet stunt is what it implies about where AI is headed. Playing a game like Pokémon Blue isn’t about fast reflexes or memorizing controller inputs. It’s about long-term strategy, adapting to surprises, and navigating ambiguous challenges. These are all areas where AI usually needs improvement. That Gemini could not only hold its own but finish the game (with minimal nudging) suggests that models like it are getting better at extended strategy.

It's also the kind of milestone the average person can understand. You can intuitively understand what the AI is doing when bumbling through Lavender Town or misreading a battle tactic, and compare it to the choices you'd make in that context. Of course, you shouldn't overstate what this means. AI can now finish a game you probably beat in middle school, but it also highlights how much human effort still goes into making AI seem autonomous.

Whether or not Claude or Gemini become true Pokémasters doesn't matter so much as what they're playing means for AI's development. Showing that AI won't just crunch numbers or generate spam emails could change how people think of what AI can do, even with help. And if this is how AI models start learning how to operate in unpredictable, open-ended environments, well, beating Mewtwo might just be a stepping stone to something a lot more profound. Or at least, a bit more productive.

You might also like

• AI video tool recreates Super Mario Bros. but it's so glitchy
• Google Gemini could soon get a super-useful 'Power up' button – here's what it does
• Virtual versions of 11,000 real college football players are taking the field for EA's 'College Football 25'

• Nvidia’s RTX PRO 6000 offers 96GB of memory, enough for giant AI models and datasets
• With 24,064 CUDA cores, this GPU dominates deep learning, rendering, and scientific simulations
• At $8,200, this card is not for gamers; it’s built strictly for serious professionals

In the evolving world of professional computing, PNY Technologies has launched what might be the most powerful workstation GPU to date: the Nvidia RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Workstation Edition.

Directdial reports the card is priced at a staggering $8,200, making it firmly aimed at professionals working in AI development, simulation, or high-end content creation rather than casual users.

At the heart of the GPU is Nvidia’s latest Blackwell architecture, delivering 24,064 CUDA cores to accelerate demanding workloads such as deep learning, real-time rendering, and scientific computing.

Blackwell architecture delivers massive power and memory

The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell supports a record-breaking 96GB of GDDR7 memory, operating over a 512-bit bus with a bandwidth of up to 1.75TB/s.

This is achieved using 3GB modules configured as 16×2×3GB, enabling the vast memory pool necessary for handling massive AI models and ultra-high-resolution assets. ECC memory is also onboard to improve stability in mission-critical tasks.

Despite its performance, the card maintains a relatively modest 300W TDP and is considered energy-efficient for its class.

The GPU supports a wide range of APIs, including Vulkan 1.3, DirectX 12, and OpenCL 3.0.

Early PCB images suggest the absence of a 12V-6x2 connector, possibly pointing to a rear-mounted power input design more commonly found in servers or Max-Q setups.

However, a single 16-pin connector supports the current desktop version, which uses a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface and fits into a standard dual-slot, full-length layout.

Though technically a workstation GPU, the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell opens new possibilities across a range of specialist fields. It can support up to four 8K displays and is engineered to meet the demands of professionals in VFX, CAD, and AI training environments.

You might also like

• Check out the best 3D modeling software for 3D printing and more
• We've rounded up the best portable monitors available now
• TSMC committed to Arizona chip plant ahead of potential tariff impact

It is a dark time for smartphone fans. The news seems glum. Apple is sinking deeper and deeper into trouble over its failure to deliver a satisfying Apple Intelligence package. Phone makers like Motorola launch brand new phones with an hour explaining the AI features, then forget to mention the phone itself.

Samsung finds itself holding hands with Google as it drops AI feature after AI feature – first it was just Circle to Search, but now Samsung has given Google Gemini the Bixby button?! Dark times indeed.

The worst part is that nobody asked for these features. I don’t want these AI features on my phone. I could already drop a screenshot image into Google Search, I didn’t need to draw a circle to search. I never looked at my iPhone 14 and thought, ‘Gee, I wish this phone could inaccurately summarize my notifications for me.’

For every great AI feature, like Google’s awesome call screening features, there are twice as many terrible AI features, like the image generators that are problematic on so many levels, or the news headline summaries that simply make up imaginary news.

Bad AI is distracting us from great phones

That’s sad, because if you took away this AI bloat, today’s phones are… really great?! Today’s Android phones have matured beyond most of the complaints I’ve held about Android: that it was too complex and lacked a coherent interface design.

To Apple’s defense, there are so many incredible features in iOS 18, especially the features that work between iPhones and bring iPhone people together, that it seems a shame Apple wasted so much of its billboard space on features that don’t even exist, yet, like the super-intelligent Siri that unfortunately failed to graduate in time.

The new Pixel 9 Pro is the most polished Pixel phone ever (Image credit: Philip Berne/ Future)

Take the Google Pixel 9 series, for example. Google has a great new design, and the phone is more durable than ever before. That means it’s less likely to break, and you’ll be able to keep it longer than phones in the past. To back that up, Google also gives you seven years of Android updates. The phone shipped with Android 14, and it should last through Android 21!

That’s just incredible. A few years ago, we were lucky to get any software update promised from an Android phone maker. Today, Google and Samsung both promise seven years of Android updates for their top phones, and even Qualcomm promises its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset will be supported for the next eight years by the chipmaker.

If you haven’t considered Android, or if you left the platform years ago, it’s worth a new look. Google has removed most of the confusing customization options that cluttered the home screen and app drawer. The whole interface is clean and tidy, and easier to use than ever. If you want to get complicated, you can still download a third-party homescreen launcher app, but the basic Pixel version of Android is refreshing and simplified.

Apple is just as distracted as Android

If you haven’t tried Apple’s iOS in a while, there are amazing new features that let you share between iPhones. You can share your contact information, photos, or even music playlists to let friends add songs to the party mix. You do this just by bringing two iPhones close together, and the phones do the rest using a feature called AirDrop. It works like magic, and it even has a cool magical effect on the screen to show it’s working.

Apple has also added great safety features to the iPhone that let you check in with friends and family so they can know you’re safe. If you think that iOS is too simple, think again. Apple has made it easy to completely customize and rearrange your Control Panel, and the iPhone homescreen now has the same sort of widgets, folders, and layout options you’d expect from an Android phone.

(Image credit: Apple)

Best of all, Apple’s latest titanium build means the new iPhone is also more durable than ever before. Apple doesn’t promise seven years of iOS updates, but it has consistently delivered at least five years of iOS to every single iPhone, and recently, Apple has offered the latest software to iPhones that are even older.

While AI seems unavoidable, you can still ignore most of the latest AI features and just enjoy a great smartphone. Apple and Google are making top-notch phones in spite of their best AI efforts, so don’t let the AI marketing and buzzwords scare you away. The Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro are the best phones these companies have made. Hopefully, the quest for smarter AI doesn’t keep the hardware from improving as well.

You might also like

• Apple officially delays the AI-infused Siri and admits, ‘It’s going to take us longer than we thought’
• The Bella Ramsey Apple Intelligence ad that disappeared, and why Apple is now facing a false advertising lawsuit
• AI took a huge leap in IQ, and now a quarter of Gen Z thinks AI is conscious

Apple is getting ahead of 2025 Pride Month celebrations with an early reveal of a wild new watch band and some vibrant wallpapers.

Pride Month, which happens every June and celebrates LGBTQ+ communities, is always a month that embraces an array of colors, but this month's Apple Pride Month Collection adds a twist and nod to the "individuality of all members of the LGBTQ+ community," says Apple in a release.

Apple explained that the rainbow colors within each Sport Edition band start as individual color stripes. The bands are assembled by hand and compressed into their final shapes. Apple claims that this means, just like people, no two bands will be alike.

(Image credit: Apple)

Those colors can also be found on the Pride Month Dynamic Apple Watch face and with special wallpapers for the iPhone and iPad. Colors and bands will move on the screen as the users and wearers move.

The watch face and wallpapers are free, but the band, available in small-to-medium lengths, medium-to-large lengths, and in 40mm, 42mm, and 46mm watch face widths, will cost $49.

The band goes on sale next week, and the wallpapers and watch face will arrive soon with platform updates in iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, and watchOS 11.5.

This latest Pride Band and face arrive as Apple is celebrating 10 years of the Apple Watch, a wearable that has become more than just a timepiece but also an important platform for supporting health, wellness, and fitness (along with personal style and maybe some social consciousness).

Apple's decision to move forward with a Pride Month collection in the US is notable as some major tech companies (looking at you, Google and Amazon) have scaled back Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts with moves that impact the LGBTQ+ population.

Apple has not done so and seems to be signaling that it will continue its support of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The release includes a line noting that "Apple is proud to financially support organizations that serve LGBTQ+ communities."

You might also like

• I've been wearing an Apple Watch for 10 years, and it ...
• Here's why the Apple Watch Series 10 is now my favorite ...
• I've been an Apple Watch user for 10 years