Technology

• Meta Ads and an SMS campaign is driving traffic to hundreds of fake Play Store pages
• There, victims download fake apps that carry the PlayPraetor malware
• The malware can log keystrokes, grab credentials, and monitor the clipboard

More than 11,000 Android devices were recently infected by a new variant of the PlayPraetor remote access trojan (RAT).

This is according to cybersecurity researchers Cleafy, who said that there is an ongoing, aggressive campaign to distribute the malware to as many devices as possible. So far, the RAT creates more than 2,000 new infections every week, targeting mostly devices in Portugal, Spain, France, Morocco, Peru, and Hong Kong.

PlayPraetor is apparently a Chinese piece of malware, The Hacker News reports. Citing previous research, the publication claims there are “thousands” of fake Google Play Store download pages, advertised through Meta Ads and SMS messages, in an attempt to reach as big of an audience as it can. So far, the researchers spotted five distinct variants of PlayPraetor, among which is one called Phantom, and a variant called Phish.

Hundreds of spoofed apps

Those that end up installing the malware can expect to lose their banking credentials, have their clipboard tracked, and their keystrokes/taps logged. At the moment, PlayPreator can impersonate more than 200 banking apps and cryptocurrency wallets, as it delivers an overlay that steals the login credentials.

Besides pretending to be actual apps, the malware is also distributed through fake Progressive Web Apps (PWA), as well as WebView-based apps. The latter was observed in the Phish variant while Phantom, for example, exploits accessibility services to obtain persistent access.

This variant also grants the attackers the ability to conduct on-device fraud and is apparently operated by two affiliates who control almost two-thirds of the botnet (around 4,500 endpoints).

To defend against such attacks, the best course of action is to be careful when downloading apps, and only go for those listed on official repositories such as the Play Store. Even there, users should only go for apps developed by well-established brands, which have thousands of downloads and positive reviews.

Via The Hacker News

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• PDP has revealed a new version of one of its best controllers
• The Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded features an enhanced fightpad module and Hall effect thumbsticks and triggers
• It's up for pre-order in the US, and out now in the UK

Turtle Beach's competitive gaming accessory brand Victrix has revealed the successor to one of its best controllers.

The Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is an overhauled version of the popular Victrix Pro BFG, already one of of the best PS5 controllers today. It retains all the modular functionality of the original but boasts an enhanced design with an improved fightpad module designed for a better claw grip.

It also comes with Hall effect thumbsticks and triggers right out of the box, two major upgrades that should improve precision and help reduce wear over the years.

In addition to the PlayStation variant, an Xbox version will also be available. Both come in either black or white colorways, and cost $209.99 / £179.99.

Although the controller is out now in the UK, it's currently exclusively available to attendees of EVO 2025 in the US. It's up for pre-order on the Turtle Beach website, though, for a wider September 28 release.

The Victrix Pro BFG stands apart from most controllers thanks to its unique modularity. It can be customized and tweaked via a range of interchangeable components, such as alternate d-pads, thumbstick caps, and gates.

It also boasts a range of high-end features, including remappable rear buttons, a hair-trigger mode, and a robust companion app.

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• The iPhone 17 series could cost $50 more than the iPhone 16 line
• This is reportedly due to tariffs, though the impact has apparently been reduced thanks to Apple negotiating lower component costs
• We've also seen photos of many possible iPhone 17 series colors

It’s looking increasingly likely that the iPhone 17 series will cost more than previous models, because while we haven't seen many price leaks yet, most of the ones we have seen point in that direction – including the latest one.

According to leaker @Jukanlosreve, the iPhone 17 series will cost roughly $50 (around £40 / AU$75) more than the iPhone 16 series.

If that's the case, the starting price of the iPhone 17 would be around $850 / £850 / AU$1,475, the starting price of the iPhone 17 Pro would be roughly $1,050 / £1,050 / AU$1,875, and the starting price of the iPhone 17 Pro Max would be approximately $1,250 / £1,250 / AU$2,225.

A Brief Note on iPhone 17 Series Price IncreaseA few days ago, Jefferies analysts revealed in their note that the iPhone 17 series could see a $50 price increase.Additionally, WSJ reported last May that Apple was considering raising prices for the iPhone 17 series.Apple's…August 4, 2025

We’re also expecting an iPhone 17 Air, and this has previously been said to cost around the same as the iPhone 16 Plus, which would mean $899 / £899 / AU$1,599, though possibly around $50 / £40 / AU$75 more if this latest price leak is right.

In any case, this $50 increase claim echoes a recent report from Jefferies analyst Edison Lee (via @DeItaone), who claimed that all models except the standard iPhone 17 would see this increase.

@Jukanlosreve for their part claims to have reached this figure through modeling how tariffs, “the weak dollar effect”, and Apple’s own efforts to reduce the cost of components will impact the price.

A full selection of shades

Potential price rises are never fun, but in more positive news, leaked photos of potentially every iPhone 17 series shade have emerged.

Which model and color will you choose this year? pic.twitter.com/AtDFutgSX0August 3, 2025

Shared by leaker Majin Bu, these show the iPhone 17 in black, white, pink, blue, and green shades, the iPhone 17 Air in black, white, blue, and a pale yellow, and the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in black, white, blue, gray, and brown.

These colors largely match what we saw in another recent iPhone 17 colors leak, but the green and gray shades weren’t included there, and the color that looks brown here appeared more orange in that leak – so there’s still plenty of uncertainty around exactly which colors will be on offer.

We should know exactly what will be on offer fairly soon though, as the iPhone 17 series is likely to launch in the first half of September, so around a month from now.

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• Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting mobile browsers
• Compromised WordPress sites lead to the installation of malicious PWAs
• Both site owners and users can mitigate the threat

There is a growing trend in client-side attacks, as cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting mobile browsers to bypass traditional security controls.

This is according to the latest “Client-Side Attack Report Q2 2025”, published by security researchers c/side. A “client-side” attack is a type of security breach that occurs on the user’s device (typically on their browser or mobile app), rather than on the server.

Based on extensive research of the market (compromised domains, autonomous crawling, AI-driven script analysis, and behavioral review of third-party JavaScript dependencies), the report says cybercriminals are injecting malicious code into service workers and the Progressive Web App (PWA) logic of popular WordPress themes.

Weaker sandboxing

Once a mobile user visits an infected site, the browser viewport is hijacked using a full-screen iframe. The victim is then lured into installing a fake PWA, often disguised as an adult-themed APK or a crypto app, hosted on rotating subdomains.

Primarily, the apps are designed to persist on the device beyond the browser session and act as a long-term foothold. However, they can also steal login credentials (by spoofing login pages or browser prompts), intercept cryptocurrency wallet interactions, and drain assets by injecting malicious scripts. In some cases, the apps can hijack session tokens, as well.

The criminals are using different techniques to evade detection, including fingerprinting and cloaking techniques that prevent the payload from being triggered in sandboxed environments, or by automated scanners.

The mobile platform is being increasingly targeted because web browsers have weaker sandboxing and limited runtime visibility, which makes them more vulnerable and susceptible to attacks. At the same time, c/side says users are more likely to trust full-screen prompts, or install suggested apps, without suspecting anything.

To mitigate the risk, there are things both developers and end-users can do, c/side says. Devs and site operators should monitor and secure third-party scripts, since these are a common delivery mechanism for malicious payloads. C/side also advocates for real-time visibility into what scripts are executing in the browser, rather than relying solely on server-side protections.

Users, on the other hand, should be careful when installing Progressive Web Apps from unfamiliar sources, and should be skeptical of unexpected login flows, particularly those that seem to come from Google.

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• YouTuber Moore's Law Is Dead has leaked potential PS6 specs
• The console may be powered by an RDNA 5 GPU, and outpace PS5 Pro
• Launch window is expected to be late 2027 to early 2028

A new round of potential PlayStation 6 leaks has come to light, this time from YouTuber and leaker Moore's Law Is Dead.

As reported by Wccftech, MLID has shared details of an AMD presentation from 2023, which allegedly contains an overview of specifications for the upcoming PlayStation 6 (codenamed Orion).

Judging by the leaked specs, it seems that PlayStation 6 will be less of a revolution and more of a refinement. It's targeting lower power consumption than the base PS5, and while it reportedly has fewer compute units than the PS5 Pro, it should be able to run faster.

PlayStation 6 is also expected to feature AMD's next-generation RDNA 5 architecture. In theory, this should deliver increased performance over the PS5 Pro. The presentation also suggests a higher overall bandwidth threshold than PS5 Pro, via GDDR7. PS6's bandwidth could reach anywhere between 640-768GB/s, an increase over the Pro's 576GB/s.

With all that in mind, PlayStation 6 - at least according to this presentation - is expected to boast roughly equivalent performance to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 graphics processing unit. It should also retain backwards compatibility with PS5 and PS4 games, and could cost around $499. The console is expected to ship sometime in late 2027 or early 2028.

Overall, while these leaked specs don't necessarily point to a dramatic upgrade over PS5 Pro, it's looking like PlayStation 6 will still be a decent and more energy-efficient improvement. The fact that it may also cost $200 less than the PS5 Pro definitely has my wallet breathing a little easier, as well.

The PS6 sounds like a similar beast to the next Xbox console, which MLID also leaked specs for recently. The difference here is that Microsoft may be targeting much higher graphical fidelity and performance with an ambitious goal of hitting 120fps at 4K resolution.

As ever, take all these leaks with a pinch of salt. At this early stage, specs such as this should be treated as estimated targets, rather than an outright confirmation of internals and performance.

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Ted Lasso season 4: key information

- Filming began in July
- Teaser trailer reveals cast and location
- Six of the show's main characters confirmed to return
- New cast members also announced
- Season 4 focuses on the AFC Richmond women's team
- Cast contracts hint at a possible new three-season arc

Ted Lasso season 4 is officially back filming. It may seem like surprising news given how season 3 ended, but the story is far from over for one of the best Apple TV+ shows. While Ted returned to the States, his football coaching journey won't be ending there as there's seemingly a whole new direction that Ted and his team are ready to explore.

From its very first season, the series became a global hit for the streaming service, thanks to an exceptional cast and uplifting charm of the endlessly optimistic yet inexperienced coach, Ted Lasso. Here’s everything you need to know about Ted Lasso season 4 from release date prediction, confirmed cast, plot rumors and more.

Spoilers for seasons 1-3 of Ted Lasso to follow. Potential spoilers for Ted Lasso season 4.

Ted Lasso season 4 release date speculation

Apple TV+ isn't letting its biggest hitter go that easy after it confirmed on March 14 that Ted Lasso season 4 was officially in development.

And there's even better news as it's now been revealed that filming for season 4 is officially underway, commending in late July as the Ted Lasso main cast reunited in an Apple TV+ season 4 teaser.

In the clip, Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso), Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca Welton), Juno Temple (Keeley Jones) and Jeremy Swift (Leslie Higgins) are all seen gathering round a restaurant table in Kansas City – a far cry from the show's usual location, Richmond.

So, if I was to make a Ted Lasso season 4 release date prediction, I'd imagine it'll be mid- to late-2026.

Ted Lasso season 4 trailer: is there one?

A Ted Lasso season 4 full trailer is a while away (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Given Ted Lasso season 4 only began filming in July, there’s certainly no full trailer available to watch yet.

While there's the brief teaser trailer that confirmed production, it only saw four of the cast sat around a table. For a full trailer, I'm sure it'll arrive in 2026. When it does, I'll update this section here. So, be sure to check back!

Ted Lasso season 4 confirmed cast

Hannah Waddingham reprises her role alongside other big names (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Full spoilers follow for Ted Lasso season 3.

When it comes to Ted Lasso season 4 cast, a report from Deadline reveals the confirmed cast, both old and new, revealed so far:

• Hason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso
• Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Walton
• Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent
• Jeremy Swift as Leslie Higgins
• Juno Temple as Keeley Jones
• Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard
• Grant Feeley as Henry
• Tanya Reynolds as TBC
• Jude Mack as TBC
• Faye Marsay as TBC
• Rex Hayes as TBC
• Aisling Sharkey as TBC
• Abbie Hern as TBC

For the six confirmed returning cast, it's believed they have three-year pacts which, Deadline says, ties in with "speculation that Sudeikis has a new three-season arc in mind for Ted Lasso's new chapter".

For now, the new cast members, reportedly all series regulars joining the show, have roles yet to be confirmed. But, as reported by Deadline, it's believed some of the new cast "are expected to play players for the AFC Richmond women's soccer team at the center of Ted Lasso's new arc".

It's not clear whether the rest of the Ted Lasso cast will be returning, although Nick Mohammed (Nathan Shelley), in an official post on X (formerly Twitter) shared a video apologizing for having to move his upcoming tour dates, saying: “I know there’ll be speculation as to why you’ve moved these dates [...] I’ll be honest, it is for some filming.” With the hashtag, Ted Lasso.

But, one cast member that we're sure won't be returning is AFC Richmond's top player, Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster).

According to Puck News' Matthew Belloni, he's not expected to return due to scheduling conflicts. Clarifying: "To be clear, I mean as a series regular. Maybe he pops in for a guest spot or two."

Finally, you'll also notice Ted's son, Henry, has had an actor change. Previously Gus Turner in seasons 1-3, Feely has been cast in what Deadline believes to be due to the "required soccer proficiency" for the role.

Ted Lasso season 4 potential plot synopsis and rumors

A new direction for Ted Lasso season 4 (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Major spoilers follow for Ted Lasso seasons 1-3. Potential spoilers for Ted Lasso season 4.

The biggest question over Ted Lasso season 4 is what it'll look like with Ted returning back to the States? Or, whether season 4 could be a spin-off, following Rebecca, Roy, and Leslie, given that they're all confirmed to return? Roy, as newly-appointed manager of AFC Richmond, could certainly be an option.

But, as we see Ted, Rebecca, Keeley and Leslie reunite in Kansas City in the teaser trailer, it seems it could be an entirely new story altogether. And, as per season 4's official logline (reported in Deadline): "Ted returns to Richmond, taking on his biggest challenge yet: coaching a second division women's football team.

"Throughout the course of the season, Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would."

This all ties into casting news with new characters joining to play the players of the AFC Richmond women's team.

And there's also been rumors about whether Ted Lasso will begin a new three-season arc, supported by the news that the main cast have confirmed three-year pacts.

When asked by Consequence about the possibility of a planned three-season arc, executive producer Brendan Hunt, aka Coach Beard, said: “Yes. Another arc is possible after this, for sure. We have always seen it as some kind of three-beat thing.

"Originally those three beats were more going to be modeled on what [the British] The Office did, you know, six eps, a special, boom, we’re done. We’ve certainly expanded those beats, but it does not mean that the whole kit and caboodle is getting chucked."

Nick Mohammed's Nate is surely going to be part of AFC Richmond's backroom team (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

In season 3, we also watched as Nate struggled to find his feet at his new job at West Ham, suddenly returning to AFC Richmond with a lower-level job by the season's end.

While he was abrasive towards Ted in the seasons up to this moment, his return to the club was met with Ted’s decision to leave and head back to Kansas. Though Nate was showing a different side to his character with several panic attacks over season 3 alluding to a deeper meaning, the path wasn't followed any further. For Nate, there's definitely potential for more.

The AFC Richmond players have more to say (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

While the men's team for AFC Richmond were keen to impress in the Premier League in season 3, the focus now turns to the women's team. No huge surprise given the conversations between Rebecca and Keeley towards the end of the season. But, it seems, Keeley got her wish.

With a new team, new season arc and new characters all joining for Ted Lasso season 4, the shift is officially happening. And Jason Sudeikis told the New Heights podcast: "It's exciting, and I mean, it's daunting, you know? Because we told the story we wanted to tell. But there's more there and it is a neat group of people to work with."

Ted Lasso: will there be more seasons?

With a whole new team, Ted looks set for more seasons (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

With Ted Lasso season 4 officially in production, all the signs are positive for more seasons to come. The biggest hint though is Deadline's report revealing that the confirmed returning main cast members have signed up for a three-year pact. For this, I think there's every possibility we're looking at a new three-season arc.

Season 4 will turn its focus to the AFC Richmond women's team and since the men's team got a glorious three-season story, there's hopes that the women's team will follow suit. But, there's currently no official plans for season 5 and beyond.

Speaking to Jimmy Kimmel though, Brett Goldstein shared his thoughts about the show's future: "I think we'd love to do it forever, but I think there's a limit..."

While season 3 felt like an end for the show, it wasn't. So, there's hopes for more when we've already been given an extra lifeline.

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• The Galaxy S26 is rumored to be getting an NFC upgrade
• This would make mobile payments more straightforward
• We should see the Galaxy S26 phones sometime in January 2026

We're likely some five months away from the launch of the Galaxy S26 series, if Samsung sticks to its usual schedule in 2026, and the latest leak around these devices concerns a useful-sounding upgrade to contactless payments.

According to South Korean outlet ETNews (via SamMobile), Samsung is going to improve the Near Field Communication (NFC) tech in its next flagships – the protocol that powers in-person payments on all modern-day smartphones.

Samsung is planning to add a new NFC antenna right at the top of the phone, the report suggests, to go with the one next to the rear camera. That should mean that when you tap to pay, there's much less of a chance of missing the mark.

It would also put the Galaxy series on a par with recent iPhones, including the iPhone 16. Apple's handsets already have this kind of setup in place, and indeed Apple owns several patents for the tech, which Samsung has only just been able to work around.

No connection worries

NFC payments continue to grow in number

This may seem like a rather minor upgrade compared to components like chipsets, batteries, and cameras, but with contactless payments becoming more popular across the world it's certainly going to be a welcome improvement.

Mobile payments on current Samsung phones work fine, most of the time, but the positioning of the single NFC antenna can mean a connection sometimes isn't registered – which should no longer be the case with the Galaxy S26.

Of course this isn't official yet, until Samsung announces it. Other upgrades we've heard rumored for the Galaxy S26 series include boosts to charging speeds and camera quality, while the Edge model might fully replace the Plus model next year.

Samsung recently unveiled its latest flagship foldable handsets, and these may point towards stylings and features for the Galaxy S26 – check out our Galaxy Z Fold 7 review and Galaxy Z Flip 7 review for more details of those phones.

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It sounds like science fiction: “Could AI run for president?” But as someone who’s spent decades building software systems that prevent failure in high-stakes environments, I believe we’re approaching a moment when this question won’t sound ridiculous—it will sound inevitable.

By 2032, AI tools won’t just be answering our questions or drafting our emails. It will be deeply embedded in the systems that shape our lives: our healthcare, our education, our justice systems—and yes, even our governance. I’m not saying we’ll elect a robot to office. But I am saying that an AI might be the most impartial, consistent, and evidence-driven decision-maker in the room.

Let me explain.

What Software Taught Me About Broken Systems

Building software that anticipates failure taught me to look beyond surface-level issues and ask what’s really driving breakdowns—whether in code or in government. That’s what data and AI do best: find meaning in complexity.

Around 2019, I began to notice a deeply unsettling pattern—one that had nothing to do with code. Public trust in governments was collapsing. Democracies were paralyzed by short-term incentives, disinformation, and gridlock. Meanwhile, leadership decisions were increasingly detached from facts, drowning in emotion and noise.

I found myself asking the kind of question that gets you strange looks at dinner parties: What if AI could help us govern better than we govern ourselves?

AI Isn’t Perfect—But Neither Are We

When people talk about AI, they usually split into two camps: utopians who believe it will save us, and doomsayers who fear it will destroy us. But I’ve worked closely with AI systems. I know what they can do—and what they can’t.

AI doesn’t have desires. It doesn’t seek power. It doesn’t fear losing elections or gaining popularity. It doesn’t lie to protect its ego.

That’s not just a limitation. It’s also a strength.

Humans bring empathy, values, and creativity—but also bias, ego, and self-interest. AI, when designed ethically and transparently, brings clarity, consistency, and impartiality. It can help us make data-driven decisions that aren’t held hostage by emotion or lobbyists.

The realization hit me hard: for decades I’ve used technology to reduce failure in software. Couldn’t we use the same thinking to reduce failure in leadership?

What Changed My Thinking

I started imagining a governance model where AI doesn’t replace politicians—but augments them. A system where AI:

- Flags inconsistencies in laws.

- Predicts the impact of policy across different demographics.

- Helps allocate resources more equitably.

- Identifies disinformation in real time.

In short, AI wouldn’t run the world. It would help us run it better.

That’s why I coined the term AICracy—a system where AI assists governance with transparency and ethical guardrails, proposing evidence-based ideas for human leaders to shape, debate, and vote on. It’s not automation of politics. It’s optimization of decision-making.

What I’ve Learned—and What You Can Take Away

Over the years, I’ve come to believe that AI won’t undermine leadership—it will elevate it, if we let it. Here are a few principles I live by:

1) AI is only as good as the humans guiding it

Like steel, AI can build bridges or swords. It’s up to us to embed values, ethics, and context into the system.

2) Don’t see AI as a competitor—see it as an amplifier

It won’t replace human intuition. But it can scale clarity and reduce noise in overwhelmed systems.

3) Fairness is a systems challenge, not just a moral one

AI can analyze patterns of inequality and help us intervene—if we’re bold enough to use it.

4) AI can’t make moral decisions—but it can support more moral systems

Human oversight is critical. The goal isn’t to escape responsibility, but to deepen it—with better tools.

Where It’s All Headed

Out of curiosity, I recently asked ChatGPT and Gemini how they envision themselves evolving by 2032. Their answers startled me—not because they were outlandish, but because they aligned with what I already suspected:

By then, AI will be more transparent, accountable, and aligned with human values. It will help governments, companies, and communities reason across massive complexity in real time. It won’t just provide answers—it will become a collaborator in solving society’s hardest problems.

The question won’t be “Can AI govern?”

It will be: “Why would we keep governing without it?”

We’re not electing an AI president—yet. But by 2032, we may trust one to help us decide how to govern better. That, to me, is not far-fetched. It’s necessary.

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

Artificial intelligence continues to fundamentally change how we do business, and in the past year, a new innovation has entered the spotlight. AI agents are being adopted at record speed across organizations, from marketing to data management to customer service, with the promise to streamline decisions, engage customers and boost productivity for companies to drive business value.

We’ve seen AI agent launches from companies across all sizes and industries. In May, Google announced it would incorporate AI agents in its searches, while Microsoft also announced a plan to use AI agents to help its users search the web. The use of AI agents is surging across industries, from finance and healthcare to car dealerships.

In fact, Boston Consulting Group predicts that the market for AI agents will grow at a 45% CAGR over the next five years. Gartner has also estimated that 80% of common customer service queries will be resolved by AI agents in less than five years.

But here’s the catch: agents are only as good as the data they run on.

Why Data Still Trips Up AI

No matter the cutting-edge nature of the AI tool or its sky-high promises, one constant remains when it comes to the data they’re operating on: garbage in, garbage out.

Companies racing against competitors to deploy AI agents without taking a step back to evaluate the sources they’re operating on face a major risk—if those agents rely on fragmented or inaccurate data, they won’t perform as expected. Even the most capable AI systems can’t deliver results if they’re built on bad information.

According to MIT Technology Review Insights, 78% of global companies are not ready to deploy AI agents and LLMs. What’s stopping them? Their data is not prepared to support AI. At the core of AI’s success is unified, accurate and real-time customer data.

When AI agents are powered by bad, disjointed data, the consequences can be costly. Last year, Air Canada was forced to reimburse a customer when its chatbot promised a discount that didn’t exist. And, in April, a tech company suffered fallout after a customer service agent’s mistake resulted in a wave of canceled subscriptions.

These types of mishaps can threaten customer loyalty and result in churn. AI agents are only as smart and useful as the data on which they’re built. In order to trust your AI agent, you have to trust your data foundation.

Identity Resolution, Reimagined for Agents

The most essential—and most overlooked—piece of making agentic AI work is identity resolution. Without a clear, accurate view of who the customer is across historically disconnected and fragmented systems, agents are flying blind.

That’s changing. AI agents can now take on identity resolution as part of their function, matching records in real time, continuously refining connections and operating without brittle rule-based systems. Rather than depending on static, one-size-fits-all profiles, agentic identity resolution builds a living picture of the customer, improving with each interaction and fostering enhanced productivity and accuracy.

This means fewer errors, less time-consuming manual data prep and faster time-to-insight for every downstream system.

Getting the Data Foundation Right

Before AI agents can operate effectively, the underlying data must be:

Unified: Data from every touchpoint, ranging from eCommerce and CRM to customer support, should be stitched together into a single, accessible layer that’s usable for marketing and engineering teams alike.

Accurate: Identity resolution must reconcile inconsistencies or duplicates across multiple channels and touchpoints to build a reliable profile.

Contextual: Different use cases need different views. Marketing might need probabilistic profiles for broad targeting, while support needs deterministic, single-session accuracy.

Governed: Access controls, human oversight, feedback loops and consent tracking are table stakes for compliant and trustworthy AI – especially in the wake of evolving privacy regulations.

A modern lakehouse architecture, paired with AI-native tools for identity resolution and customer profile building, can drastically reduce the manual effort required and make real-time, AI-powered decisions viable.

Data as Competitive Differentiator

Often, data quality is treated like plumbing, which is necessary but invisible. But in the age of AI agents, it becomes a competitive asset.

High-quality, agent-ready data enables better personalization, faster experimentation and safer automation. It allows AI to act with confidence, knowing who it's interacting with, what they want and how to best respond efficiently and effectively.

When done right, data doesn’t just support AI - it elevates it.

What’s Next

Agent-based AI is already reshaping expectations for responsiveness, personalization and automation. But the true breakthrough isn’t in the models, it’s in the data.

The companies that invest in a high-quality data foundation now will be the ones who make AI useful, reliable and transformative for not only their operations, but also for the end customer experience. That’s the difference between a flashy interface or a top-notch algorithm and an impactful, scalable solution.

Before you build your next agent, build the data foundation it needs.

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

The UK government's designation of data centers as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) underscores their vital role in national operations and economic stability. This recognition comes with increased scrutiny and highlights the need for robust cybersecurity, especially in the face of escalating global threats.

While significant investment is pouring into the UK data center sector, a critical question remains: how much of this addresses the often-overlooked cybersecurity risks associated with Operational Technology (OT) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices?

The Achilles' Heel: OT/IoT Security

Data center operators have traditionally prioritized IT security, safeguarding valuable data from cyber threats by focusing on data center connectivity and server infrastructure. However, critical OT systems responsible for building automation, cooling, power, safety, and physical security often lack the same level of protection and are often not accounted for at all.

These systems, crucial for maintaining the physical functionality of data centers, become interesting targets for attackers if left unsecured, often being used as initial points of access and presence in Data Centre networks. This risk is underscored by the fact that many of these systems are more connected to data center networks and even the internet than security teams realize, while often lacking basic cyber security hygiene like operating system updates, secure credentials, and network monitoring.

Similarly, IoT devices like IP cameras, digital displays, fire suppression systems, and biometric access controls, while enhancing safety and physical security, introduce a complicated additional attack vector for security team to account for. Like OT systems, these devices often use stripped down, embedded operating systems that lack critical cyber security functions making them a relatively easy target for compromise.

Real-World Vulnerabilities

There are now numerous known public examples of OT/IoT vulnerabilities being exploited in data centers and similar environments, and likely many more compromises that are not disclosed or even remain undetected. IP cameras have been hijacked for botnet attacks, launching large-scale DDoS attacks. Building management systems have been compromised for unauthorized activities like crypto mining, impacting system stability and risking failure with dangerous levels of resource utilization.

Even when not targeted for direct impact, OT and IoT devices are often ‘soft’ targets threat actors can use for sustained presence in even otherwise secure networks that have invested heavily in IT cyber security. These incidents highlight the very real dangers of neglecting OT/IoT security. Ignoring these vulnerabilities is like leaving the keys to your data center under the welcome mat.

Bridging the Gap: A Focus on OT/IoT Visibility and Security

Effectively securing OT/IoT environments requires a different approach than traditional IT security. It starts with gaining complete visibility into these often-forgotten systems. Data center operators need to know what devices are connected, how they communicate, and what vulnerabilities they introduce.

This requires specialized tools designed for OT/IoT environments, capable of identifying and profiling industrial control systems, building and IT automation devices, and other connected assets. This likely also requires monitoring wireless communications as well, as many IoT devices are connected via site WiFi networks or IoT connectivity solutions like LoRa or cellular.

Once visibility is established, continuous monitoring and threat detection are crucial. Real-time asset management allows operators to track every connected device, identifying unauthorized or anomalous behavior before it escalates into a major incident.

This includes monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity and implementing anomaly detection systems tailored to OT and IoT protocols. Something as simple as identifying an IoT device like a camera attempting to communicate with the data center server infrastructure could be indicative of a compromised device.

Collaboration and Best Practices: A shared responsibility

While the responsibility for securing data centers ultimately rests with the operators, collaboration between the government and the private sector is still essential. Government initiatives like the NCSC's Active Cyber Defence (ACD) program provide valuable resources for threat identification and response. And, industry collaboration and threat intelligence sharing, as advocated by the World Economic Forum, are crucial for staying ahead of sophisticated attackers.

Data center operators must prioritize OT/IoT security by:

• Asset discovery and inventory: Identify and document every connected OT and IoT device within the data center environment.
• Vulnerability assessment: Assess the security posture of OT/IoT devices and systems, identifying potential weaknesses.
• Network segmentation: Implement micro-segmentation to isolate critical OT systems and limit the impact of potential breaches.
• Continuous monitoring: Deploy real-time monitoring and anomaly detection systems to identify suspicious activity.
• Incident response planning: Develop and test incident response plans specifically for OT/IoT security incidents.

The Time to Act is Now: Don't Wait for a Breach to Wake You Up

As data centers become increasingly complex and interconnected, a holistic approach to cybersecurity, encompassing all of IT, OT, and IoT, is no longer optional – it's a necessity. Don't wait for a breach to expose the vulnerabilities in your OT/IoT infrastructure.

By taking simple, proactive steps, data center operators can significantly reduce their cyber risk and ensure the resilience of these critical facilities. Protecting your data is crucial, but protecting the systems that support your data is equally important. Ensuring that cyber security investment goes beyond IT and accounts for OT and IoT environments is critical to secure the foundation of your data center operations.

We've listed the best software asset management (SAM) tools .

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

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Aug. 4, No. 315

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for Aug. 4, #785.

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Aug. 4.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, August 3 (game #1287).

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

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

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

Quordle today (game #1288) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1288) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1288) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1288) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1288) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• M

• S

• C

• C

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

Quordle today (game #1288) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1288, are…

• MACAW
• SINCE
• COLON
• CHIRP

MACAW took me a little while, but the second I speculatively typed MAC I knew that it was going to be the right word.

The same with CHIRP. Plus I knew Quordle couldn’t resist putting those two words together.

Daily Sequence today (game #1288) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1288, are…

• REFIT
• RAPID
• DRUID
• TWIST

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1287, Sunday, 3 August: MOTIF, LEERY, LOFTY, BURST
• Quordle #1286, Saturday, 2 August: WARTY, PUPAL, CLEAR, SLICE
• Quordle #1285, Friday, 1 August: ACTOR, MEALY, WIDTH, ADOBE
• Quordle #1284, Thursday, 31 July: STYLE, VALET, AGONY, ALLOY
• Quordle #1283, Wednesday, 30 July: DEBAR, ADMIN, FOLIO, USAGE
• Quordle #1282, Tuesday, 29 July: BATCH, TOPIC, MURKY, BUNCH
• Quordle #1281, Monday, 28 July: CANDY, TRYST, SHIRT, FORGO
• Quordle #1280, Sunday, 27 July: TRAWL, BALER, PIANO, MINCE
• Quordle #1279, Saturday, 26 July: MUDDY, SAINT, KINKY, POLAR
• Quordle #1278, Friday, 25 July: BONUS, RESIN, CEDAR, MADAM
• Quordle #1277, Thursday, 24 July: AGONY, VERVE, GLEAN, MINUS
• Quordle #1276, Wednesday, 23 July: OZONE, PENCE, ROOMY, WIDER
• Quordle #1275, Tuesday, 22 July: OPTIC, GIDDY, VOCAL, ADULT
• Quordle #1274, Monday, 21 July: KNEED, SNAIL, PINTO, FEAST
• Quordle #1273, Sunday, 20 July: GRACE, COUNT, EGRET, GIANT
• Quordle #1272, Saturday, 19 July: EARLY, CLICK, TRITE, SPREE
• Quordle #1271, Friday, 18 July: CINCH, FOYER, FUDGE, TAFFY
• Quordle #1270, Thursday, 17 July: CRESS, TABOO, POWER, HATER
• Quordle #1269, Wednesday, 16 July: UNCLE, NADIR, REMIT, BROOM

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, August 3 (game #784).

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

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

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

NYT Connections today (game #785) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• APHID
• BEETLE
• CEDAR
• DECAY
• EASY
• EFFORT
• GEO
• TICK
• BEECH
• VENDETTA
• APPLE
• PINE
• MITE
• COOKIE
• YEW
• ZITI

NYT Connections today (game #785) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Tiny bugs
• GREEN: Barking up the correct ones 
• BLUE: Spelling game
• PURPLE: Say aloud to see the link

Need more clues?

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

NYT Connections today (game #785) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: ARTHROPODS 
• GREEN: TREES 
• BLUE: [LETTER] (IS) FOR __ 
• PURPLE: WORDS THAT SOUNDS LIKE TWO LETTERS 

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

NYT Connections today (game #785) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #785, are…

• YELLOW: ARTHROPODS APHID, BEETLE, MITE, TICK
• GREEN: TREES BEECH, CEDAR, PINE, YEW
• BLUE: [LETTER] (IS) FOR __ APPLE, COOKIE, EFFORT, VENDETTA
• PURPLE: WORDS THAT SOUNDS LIKE TWO LETTERS DECAY, EASY, GEO, ZITI

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 3 mistakes

Every day Connections finds a new way to either teach me or confuse me. Today it was… both.

I knew that A is for EFFORT and for APPLE, while V is for VENDETTA. But what is COOKIE doing in the [LETTER] (IS) FOR __ group? And what's with the square bracket rounded bracket? Is this an equation?

Realizing that I must be suffering from some terrible pop culture gap, a post-game Google revealed that the answer was related to the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street. I should have known.

I made two mistakes trying to get that group together. The other came earlier in the game, when I put APPLE in with the other TREES. A for annoying.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, August 3, game #784)

• YELLOW: EMULATE COPY, ECHO, MIRROR, PARROT
• BLUE: MANIA BUG, CRAZE, FAD, FEVER
• GREEN: SPORTS CRICKET, GOLF, POLO, SQUASH
• PURPLE: SINGLE ANIMAL IN A CREATIVELY SPELLED BAND NAMEBEETLE, BIRD, GORILLA, MONKEY

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, August 3 (game #518).

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

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

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

NYT Strands today (game #519) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Cutting it close

NYT Strands today (game #519) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• SLICE
• SPORT
• STRIP
• VEST
• PRICE
• FARE

NYT Strands today (game #519) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #519) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 4th column

Last side: bottom, 4th column

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

NYT Strands today (game #519) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #519, are…

• RAZOR
• CAPE
• CLIPPERS
• COMB
• TRIMMER
• AFTERSHAVE
• SPANGRAM: BARBERSHOP

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

The letter Z gave today’s search an obvious starting point, with RAZOR immediately eliminating any mystery about the theme. Unless, like me, you saw the non-game word “slice” first.

I only learned recently that the origins of the traditional BARBERSHOP pole stem from the days when barbers also performed surgeries alongside their regular activities – a one-stop shop where you could have a leg amputated, your teeth pulled and a quick trim – with the red symbolizing blood and the blue veins.

Thankfully, these days barbers have narrowed down their offerings to those that can be performed using SCISSORS, CLIPPERS and a TRIMMER. If you see a saw on the counter I'd suggest you make a swift exit.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, August 3, game #518)

• MUFF
• WHIFF
• ERROR
• FAULT
• FUMBLE
• BOBBLE
• BLOOPER
• SPANGRAM: SPORTS GOOF

What is NYT Strands?

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

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