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• OWC's hardware-level encryption activates instantly without dragging your computer’s performance down during transfers
• Randomized touchscreen keypad helps block spying eyes and shoulder-surfers trying to steal passwords
• Encrypted or not, OWS Guardian SSD’s 1000MB/s speed is fast enough for 4K video editing

OWC has announced Guardian, a compact portable SSD focused on delivering strong hardware encryption and fast transfer speeds.

The OWC Guardian connects via USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) and delivers up to 1000MB/s in real-world read and write speeds, making it capable of handling 4K video files, media archives, and quick backups.

Designed with 256-bit AES OPAL hardware encryption, the Guardian handles data protection at the hardware level.

Seamless encryption without system slowdown

The encryption process starts automatically when data is written and is reversed (decrypted) when accessed by an authorized user.

This avoids reliance on host system resources, preserving performance even during large data transfers.

It's one of the few devices in its price range that combines both speed and encryption without demanding software installation, which may place it among the best secure drives for routine professional use.

OWC says the device is compatible with macOS, Windows, Linux, and even iPadOS.

It includes a touchscreen interface, which serves as the primary method for user authentication through PIN or passphrase, but also allows access to additional features such as multi-user profiles, read-only mode, auto-timeout, secure erase, and a randomized keypad layout.

Physically, the drive is housed in anodized aluminum for improved heat dissipation and general durability.

However, unlike some of the best rugged hard drives, the Guardian lacks an IP rating for dust or water resistance.

This may limit its reliability in field conditions or outdoor environments, where environmental protection is a priority.

The Guardian comes with a 1TB OWC Aura Pro IV NVMe SSD (960GB usable) but is also available in higher capacities, including a 4TB version.

The internal firmware reserves a portion of space for data correction and redundancy.

It’s formatted in APFS for Apple devices by default, but can be reformatted for Windows or Android using OWC's Drive Guide utility.

However, full cross-platform read/write access requires separate software like MacDrive.

“We designed the OWC Guardian for anyone who needs simple, reliable data protection on the go, but without the typical hassles,” said Larry O’Connor, CEO and Founder, Other World Computing (OWC).

“Whether you're transferring a huge file in the boardroom, backing up data at the local coffee shop, or editing a 4K video for your latest content drop, you shouldn’t have to choose between security, speed, and ease of use. The OWC Guardian delivers all three, in a rugged, intuitive design built to travel.”

Pricing starts at $219.99 for the 1.0TB model while the 2.0TB and 4.0TB models cost $329.99 and $529.99, respectively.

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One in twelve people online visit a website hosted on WP Engine daily. They host over one and a half million sites across 150 countries and still maintain a customer satisfaction rate of 96%. That is reliable hosting.

WP Engine uses its own caching system and content delivery system (CDN) and your get your choice of data centers in North America, Europe, or Asia. Plus, your websites are hosted on the fast Google Cloud Platform. This all means your customers should have a better user experience because of faster loading times and reliability.

WP Engine’s managed WordPress hosting solution
WP Engine provides everything needed for a true managed WordPress solution, including automatic PHP and WordPress updates, effortless backups, all without compromising on security and speed. Currently offering 4 months free for TechRadar readers. Get 4 months free on all new annual plans with code: techradar20.

WP Engine manages your WordPress site for you making the day-to-day running of your site easier allowing you to focus on your business. In addition, WP Engine provides features like automatic plugin updates, malware detection, and automated backups. Although managed hosting comes at a higher cost than unmanaged, it's not until a vulnerability is discovered at 2am on a Saturday that the value of having someone look over the security and updates of your server becomes really noticeable.

The cheapest WP Engine plan starts at $20/month (Image credit: WP Engine)WP Engine Plans and pricing

WP Engine have three main types of hosting: WordPress Hosting, WooCommerce Hosting, and Headless.

WordPress hosting has five plans which are all on a shared infrastructure. The most basic plan is Startup which provides hosting for one site, 25,000 monthly visits (with a 50GB bandwidth cap which is enough for the average website), and 10GB local storage.

With this plan you get chat only support, security patching, plugin risk scans, daily backups, EverCache, and global CDN. This plan is $20/mo and refreshingly there are no confusing renewal prices.

From there onwards, the plans support 3, 10, and 30 sites and the bandwidth, storage space, and monthly visits increase as you would expect. There is also the option to completely customize your plan starting from $600/mo.

For WooCommerce, the plans are similar in their specs and what they support but they come with lots of features as standard such as elastic search capabilities, support for unlimited products, Live Cart, and more. These plans are slightly more expensive than the WordPress hosting plans and the custom plan costs a minimum of $800/mo.

You can use the Page Performance tool to diagnose issues with a slow-loading site (Image credit: WP Engine)Features

The core reasons to choose WP Engine over cheaper WordPress hosting are increased reliability, performance, support, and management, but these are hard to quantify. Some features stand out when you browse the interface, however, that can give you some insight into the service offered.

WP Engine Page Performance is a neat tool designed to help you speed up your WordPress site by offering meaningful metrics on performance.

Running a test returns you a page-performance report that details how quickly your page rendered, how long it took to load in its entirety, and the total size of the page. It even includes historical data on your site’s performance over the past six months and recommendations on how you can reduce page load.

You can develop your WordPress site in a Staging or Development environment before making the changes live (Image credit: WP Engine)

Avoid embarrassing mistakes on your site by making changes to a copy of your website before it goes live. This is called Staging, and it allows your developers to make extensive changes to your site without affecting your customers.

WP Engine has a comprehensive list of plugins that are disallowed (Image credit: WP Engine)

In a relatively unusual move, WP Engine restricts the WordPress plugins you can install. Those typically restricted are plugins that have been noted to cause performance issues and security holes. For important features such as caching, backups, and search engine optimization tools, WP Engine has made alternatives available that don’t put a high load on the server.

Interface and in use

WP Engine’s interface is professional and well laid out, but the powerful features might mean a steep learning curve for inexperienced users. If you have an understanding of terms like Git, CNAME, and redirect rules, you’ll be right at home here, but otherwise you’ll need to spend some time on the support site.

Creating a site in WP Engine is made simple, thanks to a straightforward process. Whether you’re hosting on a domain, or building a staging site, the process is automated, so you don’t need to do anything. Once the name of the site has been set, and you’ve decided on adding WordPress on its own, or Word Press with WooCommerce, it will self-install while you make a coffee.

Note that WP Engine doesn’t offer any AI-guided site generation tools here. Anything you create will have to be done manually through the current WordPress theme management environment.

One of the main attractions for many customers is promised easy migration. Intended to make it simple to move a WordPress site from one host to another, WP Engine offers a dedicated plugin specifically for this purpose. Using it is simple enough – you install the downloadable plugin on the source (old) web host, create a secure key when prompted, then paste this into the plugin on your WP Engine hosting. In testing, the migration of a site around 500MB in size was pretty slick, completing in just a few minutes.

The WP Engine support center has detailed guides on using each of the service’s key features (Image credit: WP Engine)Support

A managed WordPress service should offer extra value through its support, and WP Engine delivers. The support site includes videos and articles of a quality you’d expect from a paid training course, with help on deeper WordPress functionality that many WordPress hosts don’t go into.

There’s 24/7 live chat support and a ticket system, too. In our testing, the response was quick and the agent knowledgeable. For all plans except for single-site plans, there’s telephone support, too.

Testing

Testing the performance of WP Engine – specifically, the Essential Startup – I was intrigued to find that while reasonably slick, it seemed slower than other hosts. Now, I’ll preface this with the knowledge that WP Engine specifically aims for efficient WordPress hosting. It is known to block some plugins that can affect performance; it opts for its own caching plugin, for example. So, gauging performance with benchmarking tools on WP Engine is a little different to other hosts.

However, the tests delivered results around 30% slower than other hosts. Given that the comparisons were with plans for a similar budget and server specification, I was surprised at how poorly WP Engine scored.

show more

WordPress Benchmark

Performance metric

Result

Operations with large text data

6.9

Random binary data operations

7.93

Recursive mathematical calculations

5.06

Iterative mathematical calculations

7.9

Filesystem

Filesystem write ability

7.79

Local file copy and access speed

8.25

Small file IO test

9.76

Database

Importing large amount of data to database

1.94

Simple queries on single table

6.66

Complex database queries on multiple tables

5.78

Object cache

Persistent object cache enabled

0

Network

Network download speed test

9.5

Server score

6.4

Siege

Performance Metric

5 concurrent visitors

9 concurrent visitors

Transactions

9583

17028

Availability

96.28

96.31

Elapsed time

299.70

299.33

Data transferred

106.33

189.25

Response time

0.15

0.15

Transaction rate

31.98

56.89

Throughput

0.36

0.63

Concurrency

4.84

8.15

Successful transactions

9578

17028

Failed transactions

370

652

Longest transaction

2.25

5.67

The competition

If it’s the higher level of customer support you value in a managed WordPress host, Liquid Web often tops customer satisfaction polls. It has a focus on high-end products like virtual private servers (VPS) and dedicated servers, so if your needs extend beyond a high-performance WordPress site into other software solutions, we recommend checking it out.

TsoHost is another managed web hosting provider we recommend. The price can ramp up, with even the most basic VPS options starting at $52 per month, but you get a level of on-hands customer support that’s virtually unrivaled.

Final verdict

WP Engine is not the cheapest hosting around and it doesn't seem to be the fastest either. It's also not the first WordPress host we’d recommend to newcomers, as the breadth of tools can be intimidating.

WP Engine used to be the champion of WordPress hosting but I think that's starting to change with hosts like SiteGround and Kinsta taking over.

Now is the time to get those cards you might have missed from the First Chapter and Floodborn, as well as some special packs.

Screen Time is an app that gets right to the point, with a name that tells you exactly what this piece of software does, and its one of the best parental control apps.

When we’re all spending more time on our phones and children are easily distracted by inappropriate online content, it’s crucial to be able to restrict what they’re seeing and how often they’re able to use devices.

Despite the name, though, Screen Time doesn’t just concentrate on that feature – it’s actually got a full range of parental control abilities. And, as a bonus, there’s a free version.

Plans and Pricing

That free version includes daily reports on your children’s app usage and, on Android, it allows parents to view web and YouTube histories. The free product also includes some social media monitoring on Google’s platform.

The free version only includes support for one child device, though, which is a tight restriction. KidLogger’s free version includes support for five devices, and Qustodio’s free product also monitors just one device – but it has a better set of features.

Google Family Link and Microsoft Family Safety are both free, too, and both are more powerful.

Screen Time’s free product isn’t really representative, though, and its paid version is a far more compelling prospect – because it has the full range of features included. It’s affordable, too, at $6.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. That price is a little cheaper than the monthly cost of the full-fat versions of Qustodio, Bark, MMGuardian and KidLogger – four of our paid favorites.

Features

If you call your app Screen Time it has to impress in this category. And, thankfully, Screen Time doesn’t disappoint.

Parents can set daily screen time limits using the software, choose from preset options, alter timings for weekdays or weekends, and apply time limits to individual apps. It’s easy to build different schedules for different children, and one button allows parents to instantly pause their children's devices – handy if you need to get their attention.

(Image credit: Screen Time)

There’s an innovative feature here, too, thanks to Free Play – an option to override all limits and schedules with just one tap. If you’re stuck with bored kids on a long journey, it could be a huge relief.

Screen Time also allows parents to maintain family harmony by rewarding kids with extra device time if they complete tasks, like chores or homework. Parents are able to set up the tasks and approve their completion to grant a custom amount of time as a reward.

Screen Time pairs its impressive device and app controls with solid reporting. Parents can see what apps children use most often, how much time they’ve spent on each app, and get daily summaries of all the important data – handy when things are hectic.

And if you want to prevent certain apps from being used entirely, Screen Time allows you to see what apps are installed, block specific apps, and only allow new apps to be installed with parental approval.

(Image credit: Screen Time)

Screen Time also has conventional location-based features. Parents can see current child locations, monitor routes when children are travelling, and use geofencing to get alerts when kids enter or leave approved or restricted spaces. Trip and location records are kept for seven days – other apps provide longer histories.

Screen Time has some additional features that are only available on Android. Web filtering, for instance, is only available on Google’s platform, and there are 25 categories of content that parents can allow or restrict, and it’s possible to add or restrict individual websites too.

(Image credit: Screen Time)

Android users can also monitor text messages, view photos on child devices, and monitor third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp, Viber and Kik.

This app is certainly weaker on iOS, then, and some features are not as comprehensive as those you’ll find elsewhere.

Its web filtering, for instance, is not as strong as those on rivals – apps like MMGuardian provide more categories for parents to use when filtering. Bark is notably better for social media monitoring, too.

(Image credit: Screen Time)Interface and in use

Screen Time has an effective, uncluttered interface with easy, color-coded buttons that let you see your schedules, app and web filter allowances and your children’s routes.

Other apps certainly pop with more color, but Screen Time looks good, and its effective design means it’s very easy for parents to use. This approach carries over to the monitoring interface available in web browsers, too.

Installation is similarly straightforward, at least on Android: sign up, download the app, follow easy instructions to pair with the app on your child’s device and you’re nearly there.

Once that’s done, you’ll have to set up a parental control PIN and allow the relevant permissions, then you’re good to go.

If you’re on iOS, it’s a little more complicated. Parents have to download and install profiles and change Remote Management settings on their devices.

Thankfully, both platforms are covered by comprehensive instruction articles and videos on the Screen Time website.

Support

This is one area where Screen Time didn’t impress – because clicking the Support link on the website led to a 404 error page.

That’s not a good start, but it is possible to use a web form elsewhere on the main Help Center page to request support from the Screen Time team, and the company assures parents of a response within 24 hours.

The FAQ and Help Center sections are also reasonable, with plenty of articles covering every aspect of the app.

Just don’t expect the phone support or live chat that you’ll sometimes find with rival products, like Qustodio or Norton Family.

The Competition

Screen Time lives up to its name – when it comes to scheduling and controlling how often your children use their devices and certain apps, this software matches every rival. Its location abilities compare well with other apps, too.

Go beyond this, though, and Screen Time begins to fall short. MMGuardian is stronger with web filtering, for instance, and Bark is better with social media, messaging and calls. If you’re on iOS, consider OurPact too.

Screen Time may undercut other paid options with slightly lower prices, but if you want a free parental control product then you’d potentially be better with Microsoft or Google’s in-built tools or with KidLogger.

Final Verdict

If you want an affordable app that provides comprehensive scheduling alongside device and app limitation and control, then Screen Time is one of the best choices around. In this regard it’s got good core functionality alongside a couple of innovative features.

Beyond that, though, it’s middling. Its location-based functionality is fine, it blocks apps, and provides reporting, but rivals do that, too – while also being stronger in other categories. And weaknesses on iOS mean Screen Time is only really suitable for families on Android.

Screen Time is not a bad parental control app – and if you do want to concentrate on restricting the amount of time your kids spend on their devices, it’s excellent. But for a more rounded experience or a better option on iOS, we’d rather spend a little more and shop elsewhere.

• Huawei has filed for patents for a sulfide-based, all-solid-state battery
• The company theorizes it could unlock up to 3,000km (1,864 miles) of range
• Ultra-fast charging could top the battery up in under five minutes

Huawei is the latest in a growing list of automakers and tech companies that are exploring the possible benefits of fitting an EV with solid-state batteries, with the likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW, BYD and Stellantis all publicly touting the tech.

Car News China reports that the tech giant has filed a patent that outlines a solid-state battery architecture with energy densities between 400 and 500 Wh/kg, which is two or three times that of the current EV battery landscape.

Currently, Huawei doesn't manufacture its own branded vehicles in China, but instead works with various automakers to apply some of its existing technologies to vehicles.

According to the patent application, its batteries use a method that ‘dopes’ sulfide electrolytes with nitrogen to address side reactions at the lithium interface. However, it is keeping the remainder of its technology close to its chest, as the race to mass-produce solid-state battery technology safely and at scale is well and truly on.

What’s more, the company theorizes that it is able to eke some 1,864 miles of range from its battery technology, as well as complete the industry standard 10-80% charge in less than five minutes.

However, some industry experts are skeptical of those bold claims, pointing out that it is a leap of more than three times the current range abilities of the most impressive electric vehicles on sale today.

Speaking to Electrek, Yang Min-ho, professor of energy engineering at Dankook University, said that such performance "might be possible in lab conditions" but went on to explain that reproducing the results in the real world, where energy loss and thermal management play a key role, would be "extremely difficult".

The professor was also quick to point out that the nitrogen doping method is a "standard technique" that, again, can be applied in a laboratory environment but is currently difficult to scale to a point where it can be mass produced to meet the demands of global automakers.

Analysis: big headlines, small steps

(Image credit: Porsche)

Understandably, China is basking in its EV dominance at the moment and it isn’t afraid to publicize innovations that have the potential to change the game.

MegaWatt charging is one of the more recent topics, but solid-state batteries have also been bubbling sway under the surface for some time. Undoubtedly, China will be the first to this technology, but it likely won’t be as soon as many domestic companies make out, nor as impressive.

What’s more, the 1,800-mile figures seem largely pointless, as it would require a huge battery pack that is going to add excess weight and blunt driving dynamics in a vain attempt to dispel notions of range anxiety.

Should Huawei be able to nail energy densities between 400 and 500 Wh/kg, it would be far better placed producing smaller packs that can still offer an impressive range without the need for enormous, expensive batteries.

When an EV can easily cover 600 miles on a single charge, range anxiety largely becomes obsolete, as there are so few drivers that want to sit for hours on end without a break. Plus, with the public charging network expanding and improving year-on-year, it is now arguably easier than ever to find a spot to plug in and stretch the legs.

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OpenDNS is a cloud-based Domain Name System (DNS) provider that delivers enhanced security with web filtering and various blocking features – and OpenDNS Family Shield is its consumer product for protecting entire households from inappropriate content on the internet. So while it isn't a fully fledged parental control app, it does offer some similar functions.

Family Shield is designed to offer fast, easy parental control – the kind of product where parents can set it up once and forget about it, knowing that it’ll block adult content on all devices. It’s easy to use, but doesn’t include customization.

OpenDNS also has a free product called OpenDNS Home, which allows parents to customize their web filtering and view basic usage stats. It’s more involved, but trickier to set up.

Since 2015, OpenDNS has been part of the Cisco organization, so there’s no shortage of cloud computing and cybersecurity knowledge underpinning this tool.

Plans and pricing

Family Shield gets off to a pleasing start – because it’s entirely free, just like the customizable Home product.

Despite that free status, Family Shield covers an unlimited number of devices, and it doesn’t require an account to use – unlike the free Home product, which requires account creation in order to use its customization abilities.  

Features

Family Shield is free, then, but what does it do? Put simply, it’s a preconfigured web filter that you can set up on your router, PC, smartphone or server. Once it’s configured, it blocks potentially harmful traffic.

The best way to use OpenDNS is to set it up on your router – that way, it’ll filter all the traffic that goes through your router, whether that’s from phones, games consoles, laptops or anything else.

(Image credit: OpenDNS)

Family Shield’s preconfigured filter blocks content in four categories: pornography, tasteless, proxy/anonymizer, and sexuality. You’ll find virtually everything you don’t want your children seeing within those four categories. On top of that, OpenDNS Family Shield also blocks phishing sites and other potentially dangerous websites.

The filter works extremely well, and the fact it works on routers means it works across a broader range of devices than most parental control tools.

Bear in mind, though, that more conventional tools like Qustodio or MMGuardian allow you to filter using a far wider array of categories.

If you want a wider array of categories or if you want to add your own permitted or blocked sites to lists, then you’ll have to use OpenDNS Home – a more customizable product that’s admittedly a bit more technical.

Once Family Shield is configured, there’s no dashboard, control panel or app to worry about – you apply the settings and let it work.

(Image credit: OpenDNS)

It couldn’t be easier, then, but it’s worth noting that OpenDNS Family Shield is a filter, not a conventional parental control app, so you miss many features you’ll find elsewhere.

You won’t find screen time controls, location monitoring, app blocking or anything else here, for instance – because OpenDNS Family Shield is simply not that kind of product.

If you want those, you’ll have to explore a free tool from Microsoft, Google or Mobicip, or a paid product like Norton Family Safety, Qustodio or Bark.

Interface and use

The most effective way to use OpenDNS Family Shield is by setting it up on your router – that way, it filters all of the web traffic that goes through the router across your array of devices.

To set up Family Shield on your router, you’ll have to go into your router’s browser settings and alter its DNS settings – the numbers that control how web traffic flows through the router. Once those settings are saved, web traffic is routed through OpenDNS’s filters, which means inappropriate sites are blocked.

The process will likely be almost identical for most routers, but OpenDNS provides dozens of useful guides, with pictures, for many common models.

That’s great, although people who aren’t technically savvy may still struggle to set OpenDNS Family Shield up because they’re unsure about delving into router or device networking settings – and that’s entirely understandable.

If you want to install OpenDNS filtering on individual devices, like smartphones, then it’s just as easy – and this is an effective way to apply filtering on technology that won’t always be connected to the internet through your home router.

On Android and iOS, it’s as simple as heading to the network settings and changing the DNS configuration. On Windows and macOS, it’s a similar process. And for a huge variety of devices, from phones and games consoles to Linux laptops and Windows devices, OpenDNS provides clear tutorials.

If you want to use OpenDNS Home instead, setup is largely similar – and you can use a web-based dashboard to manage your network, alter filters, and view statistics about network usage.

Support

We’ve already mentioned the wealth of setup guides you can use with OpenDNS Family Shield, and support is comprehensive elsewhere. The Documentation section is full of guides that take a deeper look at OpenDNS technology, and you can delve into configuration if you’d like to use OpenDNS Home instead.

The user forum is extremely busy, so it should be relatively easy to get answers to common technical issues, and there’s a ticket-based system for submitting support requests. Reports online suggest that replies are both quick and helpful.

The only thing missing here is phone support or live chat, but that tends to be offered by larger organizations with parental control apps that have more features. While OpenDNS is certainly a huge company, Family Shield is a relatively basic filter rather than a fully-featured parental control app.

The competition

That status means that it’s quite difficult to weigh up OpenDNS Family Shield with any close rivals – because this web filtering product is unique.

It does a great job of filtering your network, for instance, but you’ll also find excellent filtering in Qustodio and MMGuardian – albeit on individual devices. Both of those products, and Bark, also provide a broader slate of parental control features, even though they are paid-for products.

And if you want parental control without paying a penny, then shop around: Microsoft Family Safety and Google Family Link both have basic filtering, and Qustodio offers a free parental control app for single-device monitoring.

Final verdict

There’s no doubt that OpenDNS Family Shield is an excellent web filter. When applied to your router, it’ll do a tremendous job of blocking inappropriate traffic across every device in your home – and all for free.

When used on smartphones and laptops, it’ll block those same websites when children are using other networks, too, and OpenDNS Home is an ideal next step for customization if you’re comfortable with more technical setup and customization.

Beyond the filter, though, OpenDNS Family Shield has little to offer because it’s not a full parental control suite.

If you’re happy with using a filter on your networks, then Family Shield is a free and effective option. But if you want parental control features like location tracking, screen time restrictions and app control, then you’ll have to look elsewhere – and maybe spend some money, too.

• Save your data online with the best cloud storage.

• Anthropic's MCP Inspector project carried a flaw that allowed miscreants to steal sensitive data, drop malware
• To abuse it, hackers need to chain it with a decades-old browser bug
• The flaw was fixed in mid-June 2025, but users should still be on their guard

The Anthropic Model Context Protocol (MCP) Inspector project carried a critical-severity vulnerability which could have allowed threat actors to mount remote code execution (RCE) attacks against host devices, experts have warned.

Best known for its Claude conversational AI model, Anthropic developed MCP, an open source standard that facilitates secure, two-way communication between AI systems and external data sources. It also built Inspector, a separate open source tool that allows developers to test and debug MCP servers.

Now, it was reported that a flaw in Inspector could have been used to steal sensitive data, drop malware, and move laterally across target networks.

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Patching the flaw

Apparently, this is the first critical-level vulnerability in Anthropic’s MCP ecosystem, and one that opens up an entire new class of attacks.

The flaw is tracked as CVE-2025-49596, and has a severity score of 9.4/10 - critical.

"This is one of the first critical RCEs in Anthropic's MCP ecosystem, exposing a new class of browser-based attacks against AI developer tools," Avi Lumelsky from Oligo Security explained.

"With code execution on a developer's machine, attackers can steal data, install backdoors, and move laterally across networks - highlighting serious risks for AI teams, open-source projects, and enterprise adopters relying on MCP."

To abuse this flaw, attackers need to chain it with “0.0.0.0. Day”, a two-decade-old vulnerability in web browsers that enable malicious websites to breach local networks, The Hacker News explains, citing Lumelsky.

By creating a malicious website, and then sending a request to localhost services running on an MCP server, attackers could run arbitrary commands on a developer’s machine.

Anthropic was notified about the flaw in April this year, and came back with a patch on June 13, pushing the tool to version 0.14.1. Now, a session token is added to the proxy server, as well as origin validation, rendering the attacks moot.

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It's compact, solidly built and great for travel, but the slightly larger 13.8-inch version is the better choice as a daily driver.

The social app is rolling out required facial recognition logins in efforts to increase authenticity and block bots.

Some of the best parental control apps that use keylogging, like Spyrix, can sometimes generate spirited discussion around the ethics and morality of tracking literally everything children do on their devices, but their popularity proves that there’s undoubtedly a place for them in the market.

And when it comes to pairing a comprehensive set of features with a tempting price, Spyrix gets off to a good start – because it’s free.

With remote monitoring, app activity, screenshots and reporting all available, there’s no doubt that Spyrix has plenty of ability – but this software is designed for PCs rather than mobile devices, so parents may need to combine this tool with other apps for a more comprehensive picture.

Plans and pricing

As the name suggests, Spyrix Free Keylogger doesn’t cost a penny – a good start for any parent who wants a PC-based keylogging tool.

The free version includes keylogging, app activity, screenshot capturing, USB drive and printer monitoring, keyword alerts and remote monitoring with advertisements included in the interface.

Spyrix is a larger software company with plenty of apps available, though, so you’ve got options if you want a broader monitoring solution and if you’re happy to pay.

If you want to remove adverts and add live viewing, message monitoring, and dozens more features to your children’s PCs, then Spyrix Personal Monitor is your best bet. It costs $79 for a one-PC license, $89 to monitor three devices and $129 to cover five, and if you want to add screen, webcam and call recording, or facial recognition, it costs extra.

Those prices are mirrored for MacOS functionality. There’s an Android version too, called Spyrix Phone Tracker, which adds monitoring across a host of social media apps and messaging tools – although it’s very powerful, prices start at $99.95 annually.

On iOS, there’s a rudimentary tool called Spyrix Viewer, but it’s basic and wasn’t available at the time of writing due to technical maintenance.

Beyond the free tool, then, Spyrix gets expensive, and that leaves it a little weaker when compared with its keylogging rivals.

KidLogger, for instance, has a free version that works on Windows, Android and Mac OS that supports five devices – and as well as keylogging, it monitors calls and can be used to block and limit app access, too.

KidLogger’s paid version is more affordable than Spyrix’s paid options, and it includes many of the same options as Spyrix’s equivalent tools.

The third option here is mSpy. It works well on Android and is packed with features, but it’s very expensive.

Features

Let’s get back to Spyrix Free Keylogger, though – the most likely option for parents who want to easily monitor everything their kids are typing on Windows desktop and laptop devices.

As the name suggests, this app is a keylogger – you’ll see all recorded keystrokes on your child’s device, even if they’re deleted.

(Image credit: Spyrix Free Keylogger)

Parents can view all running applications on child PCs using Spyrix, and also monitor and control the usage of removable USB and SSD drives and even printers.

Spyrix allows parents to see all content copied to the clipboard, record the date and time the computer is used, and capture screenshots of the device without the user's knowledge.

That’s a reasonable set of PC-based keylogging features, especially for a free app, but the paid versions of this tool are far more powerful.

(Image credit: Spyrix Free Keylogger)

If you want to upgrade to Spyrix Personal Monitor you’ll get access to a far more capable piece of software.

Parents can monitor remotely from a secure web account, for starters, and view the device and its cameras live. The paid version includes screen recording, monitoring of popular messaging tools, and facial recognition.

The paid version monitors URLs and search engines, can block websites and alert parents if certain keywords are typed. And if you want to pay even more for Spyrix Personal Monitor Pro, you can add microphone monitoring, webcam snapshots and more features to the list.

(Image credit: Spyrix Free Keylogger)

On Android, Spyrix Phone Tracker includes loads of options, including monitoring across lots of messaging and social media apps, keylogging, scheduled screen, photo and audio recording, social media tracking, call capturing, location tracking, geofencing, app blocking and monitoring and more.

Indeed, that version is more like a traditional parental control app than anything else, but it’s expensive compared to other conventional tools – if you want the full array of features, pricing ranges between $119.95 and $249 annually to protect one to five devices.

Interface and in-use

Spyrix Free Keylogger is easy to use. Download the app from the Spyrix website, create an account and install the app on the target system and you’ll be able to link the tools together and start monitoring. Bear in mind that parents have legal obligations to let children know their devices are being monitored.

Be aware that your system’s antivirus software may flag Spyrix Free Keylogger as a malicious tool, so you may have to allow the download and permit the software to run from within your system or antivirus settings.

Once it’s installed, Spyrix has a conventional Windows app experience, with a slick summary screen highlighting activity in your child’s device and individual modules that allow parents to delve into specific areas to see events, typing, social media activity or anything else.

Support

Spyrix’s support ticket system is available 24/7 by emailing the company, and Spyrix assures customers that replies will arrive within 48 hours.

Elsewhere, the Spyrix website has a comprehensive online manual that takes users through the basics of installing and setting up apps, but that’s it.

It’s not a particularly impressive support offering. Many companies offer faster responses, loads of rivals have more comprehensive knowledge bases and FAQ sections, and some even offer phone and live chat support.

The competition

KidLogger and mSpy both have similarly underwhelming support options, so that certainly seems to be a trend with keylogging tools. A conventional parental control tool will be a better option if you want better support, including phone and live chat help or a customer forum.

And in terms of pure keylogging software, Spyrix Free Keylogger may not be your best choice, either. KidLogger’s free version is more versatile thanks to a broader range of features and Android support.

If you want to pay for keylogging software Spyrix suffers from high pricing. KidLogger is more affordable while maintaining a similar slate of features.

We wouldn’t consider mSpy, though. Its keylogging abilities are fine and it includes conventional parental control features too, but it’s very expensive. Want a keylogger? Both Spyrix and KidLogger are better. Want parental control? Check out Qustodio or Bark.

Final verdict

Spyrix Free Keylogger is an effective PC monitoring tool with plenty of functionality, but it does have some severe weaknesses.

It only works on Windows, for starters – if you want keylogging functionality and more features on other platforms, you’ve got to pay for it.

If you want a free keylogging app, then KidLogger is a much better option thanks to its increased functionality. And while Spyrix is much better if you’re willing to pay, KidLogger offers a comparable array of features at a lower price.

Spyrix Free Keylogger is effective, but other apps are much better – so if you do want keylogging, shop around.

• VW fits Transporter Shuttle and Kombi models with 65kWh battery
• Electric range is around 196 miles
• AirConsole gaming will come as standard across the commercial range

Volkswagen has announced that it has expanded its Transporter line-up with battery electric variants of the popular Shuttle and Kombi models of its commercial vehicle range – adding a more practical and robust van option to its existing ID Buzz model.

While the ID Buzz captured the public’s imagination with its funky, retro-inspired looks, it lacked the hauling capabilities of its Transporter cousins. Even the ID Buzz seven-seater variant struggles with room for lugging bulky items.

The Kombi, on the other hand, has historically proven a big hit with professionals and families alike, purely because it can transport a family of five, as well several mountain bikes, a tent and a dog without breaking a sweat.

The electrified iterations add a 65kWh lithium ion battery, which results in either 194 miles of range for the Shuttle and 196 miles of Range for the Kombi model, presumably because the former is heavier, as it can be optioned with an impressive nine seats.

(Image credit: Volkswagen)

Both the fully-electric Kombi and Shuttle will be available in either short or long wheelbase versions, with the former able to handle a max payload of 896kg and the latter available with the aforementioned nine seats, as opposed to eight as standard.

The equipment levels are also generous, with things like heated front seats, a 13-inch touchscreen and front and rear-view cameras all coming as standard on the entry-level models.

The marque also announced this week that the AirConsole app, which allows users to play a range of 15 arcade games when parked, is now available as an over-the-air update in current generation ID Buzz, Caddy, Multivan, California and Crafter models.

This will likely roll out across the latest Transporter range in the near future.

Analysis: electric vans still have some way to go

(Image credit: Volkswagen)

In the UK, the cheapest electrified Transporter Kombi retails at £53,404 (around $73,183 / AU$111,423), undercutting the cheapest ID Buzz, which costs £59,135 (around $81,035 / AU$123,381).

But don't get too excited, because the ID Buzz offers up to 293 miles of electric range and 200kW charging capabilities, thanks to its 77kWh battery in the standard wheelbase version. It can also be optioned in a spicy GTX model that delivers 335bhp for some serious acceleration.

The electrified Transporter Kombi and Shuttle, on the other hand, use a single electric motor that develops 134bhp, which is at the lower end of what the petrol and diesel counterparts offer – even though the electrified versions are heavier.

It can also only charge at speeds of up to 125kW, meaning a 10-80% charge will take at least 39 minutes.

As a long-standing owner of VW’s various ICE Transporter models, very little gets close to the practicality, load-lugging abilities and relaxed drive that the German marque offers.

It’s a controversial opinion, but after living with the ID Buzz for a week, I think it looks a little awkward, especially in the longer wheelbase seven-seater versions, and the interior roominess just isn’t enough to haul motorcycles or masses of camping kit, as well as the entire family.

The latest Battery Electric Vehicle versions of the popular Transporter get close to Vee Dub van perfection for me, it’s just a shame about the limited range, performance and charging speeds. Oh, and that price.

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• Nintendo Switch 2 users are reporting overheating issues in handheld and docked modes
• It comes amid Nintendo's recent controversies surrounding its new Switch 2 device
• It reportedly occurs even when playing less demanding games

It's no secret that Nintendo has been at the center of controversy since the announcement of $80 game prices, along with recent findings around its new Switch 2 display and its ghosting issues. However, the handheld's problems seemingly don't stop there.

As highlighted by Notebookcheck, multiple users are reporting overheating issues with the Nintendo Switch 2, even while playing less demanding games. Notably, most reports suggest overheating occurs when using the Switch 2's Dock, a vital component that allows users to play on external displays and provides more power for improved performance.

A plethora of Redditors have voiced frustrations with the Switch 2 Dock's lack of ventilation despite featuring a built-in fan. The latter isn't designed to cool the Switch 2, but rather the Dock.

Others also point out higher temperatures while using its Ethernet port, to the point where the handheld and its accessory are too hot to touch, and the display output ends despite the console still running.

Nintendo suggests setting the console aside to cool down and ensuring the handheld's air vents aren't obstructed – but frankly, that's hardly much of a solution to eliminate the supposed overheating.

Switch 2 overheating. from r/Switch

It's not just the Dock alone; users are also reporting that the device displays a warning message before entering sleep mode when undocked. This appears to be the system's way of throttling, but instead of that, it makes it not playable while resting.

This is a worrying sign for Switch 2 owners. If these issues become more prevalent, it would most certainly supersede the concerns about the display quality.

(Image credit: Nintendo)Analysis: Hopefully this isn't a bigger issue than I think...

It's not uncommon to hear reports about overheating with new hardware. I've become quite accustomed to it, with new GPU launches, and (more relevant) the early reports of SD cards overheating in the Asus ROG Ally.

Since this is a similar issue, it seems that Nintendo might be able to address it with a software update, similar to what Asus did. However, there's no guarantee that this will lead to a resolution. It also comes at a bad time for the Switch 2, considering its recent controversies.

It's the absolute worst-case scenario for a new handheld console owner, especially at its $449.99 / £395.99 / AU$699.95 price; it's also worth noting that the original Switch has seen a price hike in some regions, so it's not exactly a great time for these overheating reports to emerge.

If the Dock happens to be a detriment to the Switch 2's cooling, I doubt any software update will be able to fix the issue. There's also a lack of compatibility with third-party docks, so if you're facing these temperature issues, there isn't much of a solution for now.

Let's just hope Nintendo is quick to address this before it gets out of hand...

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The best parental control apps differ in terms of the level of trust they provide to children – some offer more freedom, only reporting notable activity to parents, while others track everything children do on their device. KidLogger falls into the latter category.

That may not work for some parents, but it’s ideal if you need to closely monitor what your children are doing. And, as an added bonus, there’s a free version available – suitable if you want to save some pennies, too.

Plans and pricing

With the free version of KidLogger, you can monitor up to five devices and keep logs and histories for 18 days. You get a meagre 18MB of cloud storage space for storage.

The Standard plan costs $9 for three months of access, $17 for six months of usage, and £29 for one year – so that latter option is the best deal. It retains the five-device limit, which means it won’t be suitable for larger families with numerous devices, but it does increase the storage to 400MB and keeps logs for 60 days – both much better options than the free product.

That plan also adds features, including analytics, email reporting, dedicated technical support, and screenshotting.

The most powerful option is the Professional tool. This product allows parents to monitor ten devices, keep logs for 90 days and use 1GB of cloud storage, and it costs $89 for a year of access.

At this tier, you get scheduled email reports, more in-depth options for monitoring messenger apps, phone calls and cameras, the option to hide the software on children’s phones and powerful keylogging features.

Features

There will, of course, but many parents are unhappy with the prospect of using a keylogger that takes screenshots, looks through the camera, and listens to phone calls. There are plenty of parental control tools that are less intrusive.

It’s also worth checking whether this type of app is even legal in your country – in some countries, using such a keylogger may contravene the law.

If you do need that level of control and it’s legal, though, there’s no denying that Keylogger gets the job done, and it works on Android, Windows and Mac OS – so there’s more platform support than you’ll find on most parental control apps.

(Image credit: Kidlogger)

You’ll notice that iOS is missing because KidLogger is extremely limited on Apple’s smartphones, essentially functioning as a location tracker with little else available.

KidLogger will let you record keystrokes and, on certain platforms, text copied to the clipboard. It’ll monitor web history on Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Opera and Safari, and track the amount of time your children spend using their devices.

The app can log all external drives connected to devices, record the names of files and folders that are opened, take screenshots of the device every five minutes, and even take screenshots when children type particular keywords.

(Image credit: Kidlogger)

It monitors chats and messages on apps like Facebook Messenger, Kik, WhatsApp, and Viber, and tracks the most frequently used applications on your children’s devices.

On certain platforms, like Android, you can track location, record incoming and outgoing calls, monitor text message content and view all the photos taken with the camera.

(Image credit: Kidlogger)

And if that wasn’t enough, there’s now an offline mode that tracks activity and reports back once the children’s device reconnects to the internet – and an option to prevent any unauthorized user from removing the app’s monitoring abilities.

At certain product tiers, you can block websites and apps, and because KidLogger monitors everything, it does a better job of tracking direct messages, notes and search terms – things that other apps may struggle to track.

(Image credit: Kidlogger)

KidLogger doesn’t have traditional social media monitoring, even if it does have its keylogging and screenshotting features, and if you want to create screen time and app usage schedules then you’ll need to install a separate app. Using this module, parents can also allow kids to use certain apps without any time limits.

Also bear in mind that KidLogger does not support conventional website and content filtering options, but this is a philosophical choice: because while KidLogger tracks everything your children do on their devices, it’s not designed to be particularly restrictive with what they do.

It’s an app about tracking what they’re doing – not stopping them from doing it.

(Image credit: Kidlogger)Interface and in-use

KidLogger is easy to install across all platforms, and its dashboard is easy to use, with clear sections for screenshots, messages, web usage, text records and other data that has been gathered from children’s devices.

The user interface doesn’t look particularly attractive due to its old-fashioned and basic design, but it’s very straightforward, making it easy to access the content you need to see.

There are few options here for actually interacting with your children’s devices – you won’t be able to check in, message, or restrict usage like you can with other tools.

Support

Head to the KidLogger website, and you can log a support ticket, consult the forum and browse knowledge base articles, and you can also email KidLogger directly. The company aims to respond to queries in 48 hours.

In terms of support, though, that’s it – don’t expect live chat or phone support from this relatively small organization.

The competition

KidLogger falls behind most of the competition in terms of its interface – tools like Qustodio and Bark are far more visually appealing.

Bark does a better job of monitoring social media and using AI to stay on top of new trends, and Qustodio is available on many platforms, including iOS.

The best alternative to keylogging is mSpy, which offers many of the same features as KidLogger – but that app is also more expensive. It’s worth weighing up the features of both to decide which one is more applicable to your situation.

Final verdict

KidLogger may not be a moral or legal choice in your family or location but if you do want a logging app for your children’s devices, there are few better than this – especially on Android.

It’ll track everything that children do on their phone, even going beyond texts with its screenshotting, camera monitoring and call recording, and it works on Windows devices too.

You’ll need to look elsewhere if you want a service that can block websites and apps and allow you to control your children’s screen time, but this is a first-class tool if you want to log, monitor and keep track of children’s device habits.

• The Odyssey has a confirmed release date of July 17, 2026
• The date was confirmed in a new poster
• No trailer has been officially released online, but fans can see it at Jurassic World Rebirth showings

Christopher Nolan's new project, The Odyssey, joins a host of other new movies coming soon, but what's notable about the marketing is that so far, we've only officially been given the release date and a poster.

The good news is, we can confirm The Odyssey is slated for a July 17, 2026, release, so we can start counting down the days to the next big Nolan movie.

We've got a cool new poster, too, which you can take a look at below. It's quite minimalist, which we've come to expect from Nolan movies.

First poster for Christopher Nolan’s ‘THE ODYSSEY’In theaters on July 17, 2026. pic.twitter.com/0utuOcLFlHJuly 2, 2025

The bad news is, there's nowhere online you can officially watch the trailer as it hasn't been released by approved channels online. TechRadar is aware of recent leaks, and we won't be including links to what was posted online.

So, with leaked material being hit with copyright strikes, there's only one way fans can watch The Odyssey's first trailer through official channels.

How can we watch The Odyssey's trailer?

The highly anticipated trailer for The Odyssey is playing before another big Universal movie, Jurassic World Rebirth, so cinema goers are in for a treat before they head to see the latest installment of the dinosaur franchise.

Unfortunately, I was on the fence in my Jurassic World Rebirth review, but perhaps the opportunity to see the trailer will be enough to entice people into their local theater this week.

As always, we're in for a huge treat with the new Nolan movie, and the cast list is huge. The epic fantasy movie has an ensemble cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, and Charlize Theron.

It is based on Homer's epic poem Odyssey, with the plot following Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, on his perilous journey home after the Trojan War.

Throughout the story, we follow his encounters with mythical beings such as Sirens and the witch-goddess Circe, as he heads to a long-awaited reunion with his wife, Penelope.

We have a while to wait for it to arrive in theaters, but with the trailer playing on the big screen, it's the closest we'll get to Nolan's latest blockbuster for now.

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Mobicip is positioned as one of the best parental control app for busy parents who want to restrict the impact of big tech companies on their children’s lives, and it’s got Family Voice and Mom’s Choice Awards to back up its claims about protecting kids.

Mobicip also claims that “more than 2 million parents” love its app, and that it can protect kids from social media, apps, websites and excessive screen time.

It can be a little pricey, though, and faces strong competition, so should you consider Mobicip if you want to protect your children?

Plans and pricing

That pricing, for instance, can ramp up if you want the maximum level of protection available from this service.

Mobicip’s Premium package costs $7.99/£6.26 per month if you pay annually, and that tier includes protection for 20 devices and every feature that Mobicip offers.

Qustodio, meanwhile, costs $7.44/£5.83 per month if billed annually and that includes support for unlimited devices, and Norton Family is even cheaper. Bark is more expensive, though, but does go further than almost anything else when it comes to social media monitoring.

If you’d rather not shell out for Mobicip’s premium package, the Standard tool supports ten devices and costs $4.99/£3.91 per month if purchased annually. You don’t get social media monitoring or app timers with that tier, though – and those are two of the biggest draws of any parental control tool. Similarly, the Lite package is affordable at $2.99/£2.34 per month, but it omits those features and only supports five devices.

Mobicip is one of the pricier parental control apps on the market, but that Premium package is still the best value by some way thanks to its features. And, pleasingly, there’s a seven-day free trial and thirty-day money-back guarantee.

Final verdict

Mobicip setup is easy and the ability to filter content by keyword gives you more control over web blocking. It's missing some common features, though - can't set an overall device usage time, for instance, just a schedule - and dated app lists and poorly chosen default settings mean you'll need to pay extra attention when setting up.

Features

Mobicip’s screen time scheduling is immediately impressive. Parents can create specific schedules for homework, sleeping or school time.

Daily screen time limits are available and, in an innovative twist on screen time features, parents can call for “family time” by locking all managed devices instantly – perfect for grabbing people’s attention.

(Image credit: Mobicip)

You can create an unlimited number of custom filters, build schedules with five-minute increments, and allow or restrict apps or websites based on categories, too. There’s also a Vacation Mode feature that parents can deploy to allow more leniency.

This is comfortably one of the best scheduling tools on the market thanks to its great set of features – the only thing missing is the ability to set time limits for individual apps.

If you want to ensure that phones don’t capture attention, Mobicip allows parents to limit time spent on apps that hit certain categories, like social media or games, and particular apps can also be blocked entirely – while others can be put on a safe list.

(Image credit: Mobicip)

Mobicip’s web filtering comes with 20 different categories of inappropriate content alongside the ability to block adult content, block specific words and block specific websites. Parents can also use a “whitelist-only” mode that allows children to only browse a list of pre-approved sites.

GPS functionality extends to a family locator tool, location sharing and geofencing – an ideal slate of location-specific options, even if Mobicip doesn’t have the innovative driving abilities found in some rival tools. Its geofencing includes a 1,000m radius, which is more generous than many other apps – even if Norton is wider still.

When it comes to reporting, parents can access a slick dashboard that provides browsing histories, location histories, your children’s access requests and a graphical representation of screen time usage displaying the categories of content your kids use the most – like social media apps, games or browsers.

Children also have access to a dashboard where they can request more screen time or ask to access blocked apps.

And if you want multiple people to be able to manage the app, parents can add trusted guardians or contacts using a straightforward and secure invitation system.

Elsewhere, Mobicip monitors Facebook and Snapchat for harmful content, but that’s it for social media monitoring – a poor showing compared to most rivals and, notably, Bark.

You can’t set time limits for individual apps on Mobicip, only categories of apps, and Mobicip doesn’t monitor text messages or calls.

Interface and in-use

It’s very easy to get started with Mobicip: download the app, allow permissions, and off you go. And, impressively, Mobicip works across loads of platforms, from Android and iOS to Windows, macOS, Chromebook and even Kindle.

In-depth guides make setup and configuration even easier, and parents can duplicate settings across multiple child devices – ideal for families with more than one child.

(Image credit: Mobicip)

Mobicip’s web interfaces and apps are clean, intuitive and easy to use, too: for kids, it’s easy to check their screen time allowances and schedules. For parents, it’s simple to find every setting required and to access activity reports and analytics.

Support

This is another area where Mobicip goes above and beyond many rivals. As well as submitting a support ticket, parents can schedule a call with Mobicip’s customer service teams – ideal if you want to speak to a human.

An AI-powered chatbot provides answers to simpler questions, and there are loads of guides with useful imagery on Mobicip’s website.

It’s a good support option, with callbacks available alongside more conventional email support and loads of comprehensive articles.

The competition

Mobicip is a strong contender when it comes to parental control, but it still has rivals that are better in some areas.

Bark, for instance, is a much better option for social media monitoring – which is one of Mobicip’s weaker departments. MMGuardian, meanwhile, is better for checking calls and messages.

Qustodio and Norton Family are both cheaper than Mobicip, with the former supporting an unlimited number of devices and offering more robust social media and message monitoring too.

Final verdict

Social media and messaging are the two areas where Mobicip could be better, then, and if these are important to you, then we recommend you look elsewhere.

That said, Mobicip impresses in loads of other departments. Its filtering is effective, and its screen time and scheduling options are among the best you’ll find anywhere. Its location-tracking features are strong, too, and this app is attractive and easy to use for parents and children.

Customer support is excellent, its activity reporting is comprehensive, and it does some innovative things with scheduling and screen time that some rivals simply don’t offer – like its Vacation Mode or Family Time settings.

Mobicip is a little pricier than some tools, and it’s not ideal if you want to monitor social media. But if you need filtering, screen time controls and GPS-based functionality, Mobicip is one of the best parental control apps around.

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• Future networks could carry petabit speeds without new cable shapes
• Standard-diameter fiber hits new capacity-distance milestone in lab test
• US average internet speed is dwarfed by breakthrough optical transmission

Buried under city streets, countryside roads and the deep ocean floor lie the glass threads that carry almost everything we do online.

These strands, often no wider than a human hair, already move astonishing amounts of data, and now, Japanese researchers have pushed those limits even further - without changing the shape or size of the cable.

A team led by Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), working with Sumitomo Electric and European collaborators, has achieved a transmission speed of 1.02 petabits per second over 1,808 kilometers.

A new world record

The test used a 19-core optical fiber with a standard cladding diameter of 0.125 mm, meaning it’s the same thickness as the single-core fibers already deployed in networks around the world.

Instead of requiring entirely new infrastructure, the cable squeezes 19 separate light paths into the space typically used for one.

That allows for a dramatic leap in capacity while staying compatible with existing systems.

It also marks the first time a petabit-class signal has traveled more than 1,000 kilometers in a standard-sized fiber.

The result sets a new world record for capacity-distance product at 1.86 exabits per second-kilometer.

To simulate a long-distance backbone, signals were looped 21 times through 86.1 km spans of the new fiber. Amplifiers boosted the signal at every pass and were carefully tuned to work across both the C and L wavelength bands for all 19 cores.

Using 180 wavelengths modulated with 16QAM, the system was able to handle huge volumes of parallel data streams.

After traveling the simulated route, the signals were separated by a multi-channel receiver using MIMO digital signal processing.

This avoided adding more fiber cores or expanding the cable diameter, which would have made integration with current networks harder.

To put the new achievement in context, the average US broadband speed in early 2025 is around 290Mbps. The new record of 1.02 petabits per second equals 1,020,000,000 Mbps - more than 3.5 million times faster.

The results were presented at OFC 2025 as a post-deadline paper, offering a glimpse at what future optical networks might look like.

Although it won’t transform work or home connections overnight, the research shows how far standard fiber can still go. The team now aims to refine amplifier efficiency and signal processing to move closer to real-world deployment.

With global data traffic continuing to grow, advances like this offer a way to stretch infrastructure further without the need to dig new trenches.

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The GOP tax cut and spending bill passed by the Senate this week is expected to add trillions of dollars to the federal debt over the next decade. The savings would mostly go to top earners.

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