Technology

• The Recommended panel in the Start menu has been improved in testing
• Windows 11 testers now get more relevant website suggestions
• Microsoft has clarified it has no plans to remove this panel from the menu

Windows 11 is getting changes to improve the recommendations that Microsoft pushes in the Start menu, and the software giant has confirmed that these suggestions will continue to be part of the OS going forward.

Those on Windows 11 will doubtless be familiar with the ‘Recommended’ panel in the Start menu. This is where apps or files that you’ve recently used – or may need – and websites you might want to visit are flagged up (although some efforts have essentially been thinly veiled ads in the past).

The change comes with preview build 22635.4655 in the Beta channel, where Windows 11 testers are being treated to better filtering for the recommended websites in the Start menu.

In other words, the claim is that the recommendations served will be more relevant, and this move has been made based on feedback from Windows 11 testers.

In the blog post for this preview, Microsoft explains that the aim is to “show the highest quality sites based on your own browsing history.”

Elsewhere in build 22635, Microsoft Edge Game Assist has been activated so Beta channel testers can give it a whirl.

This is a feature for the browser that’s essentially a mini version of Edge running in the Game Bar overlay, allowing you to look at websites to read tips and guides while actually in-game. Therefore you avoid the need to Alt-Tab out to the desktop to get help, and the risk of dying at the hands of an enemy while you’re doing so.

If you’re curious to know more about the Game Assist feature (you can see it in action, in the below image), I’ve written about it at length elsewhere.

(Image credit: Microsoft) Analysis: Microsoft’s suggestions aren’t going anywhere

Windows Latest has tested the new spin on the Start menu’s recommendations and noted that the files and sites which Windows 11 surfaced are indeed now more relevant, as promised.

That’s a useful stride forwards, but for those who don’t like these kinds of suggestions embedded in an operating system’s interface – me included – it doubtless won’t be enough to persuade them that this is a worthwhile use of screen real-estate.

If you were harboring any hope that Microsoft might be thinking twice about the inclusion of the Recommended panel at all, then you can forget that notion. Windows Latest specifically asked on that score and says: “Microsoft also told me that it has no plans to remove the recommendations feature as it continues to work on improving its quality so you can find items that matter to you more easily.”

While I can’t say I’m surprised at that stance, it would be nice to be able to choose what content populated the Windows 11 Start menu, so every user could customize it to their liking – at least to some extent. And folks like me could dump any sign of Microsoft’s nudges to use products or sites (more broadly across the whole OS, ideally).

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This fire pit makes for an excellent Christmas gift, but the deal is only valid until the end of the day.

• Researchers found a malicious package on NPM, uploaded a year ago
• It was benign at first, and introduced malware later via an update
• The malware stole hundreds of thousands of secrets and installed cryptojackers on dozes of computers

For roughly a year, hackers have been infecting red teamers, penetration testers, security researchers, as well as other hackers, with a piece of malware that steals WordPress credentials and other sensitive data, and installs cryptominers on compromised endpoints.

As a result, login credentials for some 390,000 WordPress accounts were stolen, and dozens of systems were found mining Monero.

Cybersecurity researchers Datadog Security Labs spotted the attack on the NPM package repository, and in GitHub, after researchers from Checkmarx also sounded the alarm on the same campaign recently.

The package was pretending to be an XML-RPC implementation, and was first uploaded to the repository in October 2023. Until November 2024, when it was finally discovered as malicious, it received 16 updates.

Legitimate at first

Datadog noted ho the attackers were tactical in their approach, first uploading a package that was legitimate and worked as intended. The malicious code was introduced in later versions, and designed to steal SSH keys, bash history, and other data, every 12 hours. The data it collects would get extracted either via Dropbox, or File.io.

To make matters worse, researchers and security pros that would introduce XML-RPC into their own products would just expand the reach of the malware, turning it into a full-blown supply chain attack.

Datadog said that ultimately, the team found 68 compromised systems that were actively mining the Monero currency. Monero, with the XMR ticker, is most often mined with a cryptojacker called XMRig. This is a popular currency among thieves since it’s fully anonymous and very difficult to trace.

The identity of the threat actors was not discovered, but the researchers dubbed the group MUT-1224, which is short for Mysterious Unattributed Threat.

Major code repositories remain a vital platform for cybercriminals, the researchers concluded, stressing that developers should be extra careful when using open-source software.

Via BleepingComputer

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• TechRadar is delighted to reveal an exclusive clip from The Secret Lives of Animals
• The footage shows two kangaroos sparring for control of some key territory in the Australian outback
• The Apple TV Plus nature docuseries will be released on December 18

I love a good natural history docuseries, so you can bet I'm excited to watch The Secret Lives of Animals.

The forthcoming Apple TV Plus show, which arrives this Wednesday (December 18), has the makings of being an incredibly fun, educational, and at-times heart-wrenching watch. Indeed, the first trailer for The Secret Lives of Animals suggests that'll be the case – and so does this Kangaroo-starring clip, which TechRadar can exclusively reveal below.

Taken from the Apple series' ninth episode, which is titled 'Mastering Your Talent', the first-look clip depicts a bruising encounter between two of Australia's most recognizable marsupial. Vying for control of a key piece of territory in the Australian outback, a young upstart takes the fight to a veteran 'roo, who currently holds dominion over said land. Will the young pretender overthrow his more experienced opponent, or will the wily old-timer use a trick or two to see off his hot-headed peer? You'll have to watch to find out!

According to an Apple press release, The Secret Lives of Animals "highlights 77 unique species in 24 countries over three years, revealing stunning, never-before-seen animal behaviours and highlighting the remarkable intelligence of the natural world". Hugh Bonneville, star of recent hits projects including period TV drama Downton Abbey and the beloved Paddington movie series, will narrate the 10-part series.

The Secret Lives of Animals was produced for Apple TV Plus, aka one of the world's best streaming services and the winner of TechRadar's 2024 streaming platform award, by BBC Studios' Natural History Unit. Matt Brandon, who oversaw development on the BBC's Blue Planet III docuseries, serves as showrunner on this one, too. Considering how great the BBC's numerous natural history programs are, I'm intrigued to see how The Secret Lives of Animals compares to its UK peers. If it's as good as I hope it'll be, you can expect it to join our best Apple TV Plus shows list shortly.

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• Paramount Plus has released the new trailer for the Yellowstone prequel series 1923 season 2
• It sees the Dutton family face rivals threatening to destroy their legacy
• The trailer dropped as the Yellowstone season 5 finale aired

As we potentially say goodbye to Yellowstone, we can say hello to 1923 season 2 after Paramount Plus unveiled a gripping new trailer.

The trailer for theYellowstone prequel series was released on Sunday night (December, 15) just as the Yellowstone season 5 finale aired on the Paramount Network and Peacock in the US, Paramount Plus in the UK and Stan in Australia, wrapping another season of the Dutton family's story.

But while the main series is reportedly ending (no season 6 renewal has been confirmed), Deadline has since reported that Yellowstone is getting another spin-off that will be led by fan-favorites Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser, who will reprise their roles as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler.

While all sorts of deadly cowboy conflict unfolded in the fifth season of the hit Taylor Sheridan series, the Dutton elders are set to – Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) – prepare for a full-blown ranch war in the 1923 season 2 trailer (see below). "This ranch will drive you to your death!" Cara warns Jacob, proving that the family will do whatever it takes to protect their legacy even decades later.

What is 1923 season 2 about?

1923 follows the next generation of Duttons after the events of the first Yellowstone prequel series 1883.

The official plot synopsis of 1923 season 2 reads: "A cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob (Ford) and Cara (Mirren) back at Dutton ranch. With harsh conditions and adversaries threatening to end the Dutton legacy, Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) embarks on an arduous journey home, racing against time to save his family in Montana. Meanwhile, Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer) sets off on her own harrowing trans-Atlantic journey to find Spencer and reclaim their love.”

The second and presumed final season of one of the best Paramount Plus shows features Timothy Dalton (Licence to Kill) as an evil land baron, with Jerome Flynn (Game of Thrones) playing his henchman. Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter) also joins the cast in a recurring role.

Sheridan has managed to transform Paramount Plus into the home of neo-Western dramas, and it's set to grow even bigger with even more Yellowstone spin-offs coming such as The Madison, which is set to air sometime in 2025, led by Michelle Pfeiffer. Meanwhile, other series that have been greenlit are Lawmen: Bass Reeves, 6666 and 1944.

1923 season 2 streams on Paramount Plus on February, 23, 2025.

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• RIBridges benefits system has been hit by a cyberattack
• The attacker shared images of the compromised systems with Deloitte
• PII and banking information has likely been stolen in the attack

A cyberattack which hit the RIBridges system may have compromised the data of thousands of Rhode Island citizens who have applied for, or are on, a range of health coverage, human services, or benefit programs.

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee confirmed the breach, noting in a statement posted on the Governor’s official site in response to the “major security threat,” the RIBridges system has been taken down, with all those seeking to apply for benefits needing to do so on paper.

The attack likely occurred on December 5, according to the statement, with the system subsequently being taken down on December 13, with the confirmation statement being issued on December 14.

Benefits services hit, personal data stolen

The states’ vendor, Deloitte, informed the Rhode Island governor there was a “high probability” that the attacker had successfully exfiltrated the personally identifiable information (PII) of thousands of people belonging to a number of benefits programs, including:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
• Health coverage purchased through HealthSource RI
• Rhode Island Works (RIW)
• Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS)
• General Public Assistance (GPA) Program

At the time of the attack, Deloitte notified federal authorities about a potential cyberattack against the RIBridges system. On December 10, Deloitte received a screenshot of internal RIBridges files from the attacker, confirming that the breach had likely resulted in the theft of PII. Deloitte further confirmed the presence of malicious code within the RIBridges system, resulting in the shutdown of the service.

The PII may include names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers, Deloitte stated, with potential compromise of certain banking information, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet. No one has come forward to claim responsibility for the attack, and no PII from the attack has been spotted online yet.

The governor’s statement recommended that RIBridges customers remain vigilant and be on the lookout for potential fraud and suspicious banking transactions, change passwords in line with cyber hygiene standards, and those affected should contact their bank for further recommendations on account security.

A multilingual customer hotline has been set up in a collaborative effort between Deloitte and Experian, with affected citizens being contacted to provide free credit monitoring services. Subsequent updates on the attack can be found here.

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• Nvidia RTX 5090 has been rumored to guzzle 600W in the past
• A leaker on X has suggested it might use ‘slightly’ less power
• This comes alongside assurances that RTX 5070 Ti won’t be a power hog

Nvidia’s RTX 5090 might not be quite as much of a power hog as some PC gamers fear based on the latest nugget from the GPU grapevine.

As you may recall, the rumor mill has previously insisted that the Blackwell flagship graphics card might tip the scales at a weighty 600W of power use.

According to some fresh info from regular leaker on X, Kopite7kimi, we can at least be somewhat hopeful that the RTX 5090 may not make quite so heavy a demand on your PC’s power supply.

This info popped up in a thread on X which was discussing the purported RTX 5070 Ti – a GPU that could be launched third by Nvidia, after the RTX 5090 and 5080 – and specifically that graphics card’s power requirements of 350W.

Kopite7kimi noted that while 350W is a possible configuration Nvidia is exploring, the latest the leaker has heard is that it’ll be 285W, so considerably less – which prompted an X user to question whether the RTX 5090 might’ve had its power use revised downwards (from 600W), too.

The leaker replied to indicate that yes, this “may” be the case, although it might only be a “slight decrease” in the power chugged by the next-gen flagship.

There may be a slight decrease.December 14, 2024

(Image credit: Gigabyte) Analysis: You’ll still need a mighty power supply

Clearly, take all this with plenty of seasoning, but doubtless PC enthusiasts looking at this mighty next-gen flagship will take anything that sounds like remotely good news for the power consumption of the RTX 5090.

The catch is that the leaker sounds uncertain, and if there’s some downward movement, it’s not likely to be a great deal. So, are we looking at 570W or 580W maybe? Or something more towards 550W if we’re lucky, perhaps? Obviously it’s guesswork at this point, and Nvidia may not have finalized the exact spec itself (or more likely has just done so, maybe – and the rumor mill is yet to catch up).

With the RTX 5090 about to launch, in theory, inside a few weeks at CES 2025, everything about the board is likely nailed down right about now, and we could hear some more definitive sounding leaks in the next week or so. While the flagship is expected to be a seriously powerful graphics card, aside from the power usage worries, the other main concern is pricing – and how far Nvidia might push that.

We can believe a 550W power usage a lot more readily than Nvidia sticking with the same MSRP as the RTX 4090, and not hiking it at all, put it this way.

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• RCS encryption is still months away following a major US telecomms breach
• Global mobile industry body GSMA is spearheading work on this security update
• The FBI recommends using encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram

The developers of the Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging standard has warned that bringing encryption to the standard could take months, after the FBI warned users to switch to encrypted messaging services.

The GSMA, the world’s leading mobile networks industry organization and developers of RCS, is reportedly spearheading work to bring encryption to the universal standard following a major telecommunications breach in the US at the beginning of December.

A spokesperson for the organization told CNBC: “Work with key industry stakeholders is progressing well and we look forward to updating the market in the coming months.”

That’s a positive outlook, but the fact we’re looking at months rather than weeks may worry some given the scale of the breach reported in early December. As Android Authority notes, no specific timeline has been given

As we previously covered, hacking group known as Salt Typhoon was able to gain broad access to US mobile networks including those operated by Verizon and AT&T, which enabled the group to spy on user activity.

The FBI has advised all users to use end-to-end encryption when messaging, and if possible when making calls. End-to-end encryption scrambles information into code that is decipherable by a key that only the sender and receiver have access to.

Encrypted messaging apps include WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, all three of which support encryption across different mobile platforms. The default Messages apps found on both iPhone and Android handsets also support encryption, but generally only between phones of the same operating system.

Using default apps, iPhones and Android phones will use RCS to communicate with one another, which as mentioned does not yet support encryption.

My analysis

Growing up, I remember the iPhone-Android rivalry as a bit of fun, one of the great tech feuds of the 21st century next to Xbox versus PlayStation and Mac versus PC – now, though, it seems that rivalry has come back with a nasty payoff.

Apple and Google have substantially improved their collaboration over the years, recognizing each other as essential parts of the wider tech ecosystem by, for example, implementing Apple Music as an Android app, or using Google for various Apple Intelligence features.

That said, there are elements of the two platforms that don’t merge. In this case, Google would have you believe that Apple has at least neglected making texting between iPhone and Android phones easier, with RCS introduced to the iPhone just this year.

It’s hard to say whether the two companies would have been able to implement cross-platform encryption had there been the mutual will to do so, as the GSMA controls and develops RCS. But events like the Salt Typhoon data breach remind us that we live in a world where all devices are increasingly interconnected and inter-reliant, regardless of which logo is printed on the back.

In this sort of world, security needs to come before the exclusivity of any one phone maker’s ecosystem. It’d be great to see some public commitments to inter-platform security from Apple and Google in the near-future.

And though we may still be a way off from RCS encryption, it’s encouraging to know this essential feature is on the way.

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Living in a part of England where the cold-weather vibe is more 'incessant drizzle' than 'winter wonderland', the idea of snow will never not be magical to me. However, I can see that those living in countries where snow is less of a novelty, the process of keeping it clear could quickly become just another chore that you'd rather not have to bother with.

Yarbo has decided to tackle the issue by creating an autonomous snow blower, which can navigate neatly up and down your yard or driveway, blasting fresh flurries out of its way in a style that is both efficient and pleasingly dramatic. The Yarbo Snow Blower can apparently clear dry snow up to 12-inches deep, without the need for a sweaty session with a shovel. And if the snow has gotten to the 'cold grey soup' stage, you can deploy the Plow Blade attachment to gain sight of your lovely asphalt again.

Just like today's best robot vacuums and lawn bots, the Yarbo comes with a charging dock and will return to it automatically if it senses it's running out of juice. This means the Yarbo snowbot (not the official name) can continuously work to prevent snow building up on your drive.

(Image credit: Yarbo)

In fact, the Yarbo bot doesn't just do snow. The company has acknowledged that most of us aren't dealing with snow year-round, so to avoid having another machine gathering dust in the garage for a big chunk of the year, this bot has a few warmer-weather tricks under its sleeve. The modular design means it can also operate as a lawn mower, a leaf blower module, or a towing robot, depending on which attachment you add on.

(Image credit: Yarbo)

Whatever yardcare task you're tackling, the Yarbo bot is designed to operate largely autonomously. Like most robovacs and lawnbots it uses smart route planning, obstacle avoidance and navigation technology to make its way about and ensure it clears where it needs to clear and doesn't, for example, mulch up your prize roses (here's more on how lawn mower bots work, if you're interested). It can be controlled via an app or remote control.

Right now, you can buy just the Core Module for $3,799 direct from Yarbo, and that includes the main bot, battery, dock, remote control and 'Smart Assist module'. Alternatively, you can pick one of a number of bundles – such as the '4-in-1' bundle, which includes the Core, Snow Blower, Lawn Mower and leaf Blower modules and costs $6,999 – or put together a custom bundle of just the bot bits you need.

What's coming next?

The Yarbo bot made its debut at the last CES, and will be returning to Vegas to showcase the next-gen version at CES 2025 in January. Most of the modules will sport a "sleeker and more functional design", and there's plenty of new functionality on the cards too. There's a new data center than promises a more stable and wide-ranging connection, the Towing module will be able to handle bigger loads, and tracks will be easier to swap over, enabling you to change between mowing, blowing or cleaning in five minutes. Yarbo has now added a 'follow me' mode, where the bot uses visual tracking technology to tail its owner wherever they go.

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• Google is adding new customization features to NotebookLM
• A new 'join' feature is rolling out so you can become part of the podcast
• NotebookLM Plus will be launched in early 2025

Google is enhancing its popular AI podcast generator NotebookLM with the addition of a 'join' feature that enables you to join in the chat with the two AI hosts and ask your own questions, which they can respond to. Google has also added more customization features to the free NotebookLM, and is adding a paid-for Plus tier with more features in early 2025.

NotebookLM is really a research tool from Google Labs that's designed to help you absorb complex topics quickly. You feed PDF documents, websites, podcasts and YouTube videos into it and it produces an AI Audio Overview on the topic, which you can listen to and get all the salient points from. The Audio Overview takes the form of a podcast show conducted between two AI hosts, and it sounds so much like a natural conversation that it’s hard to believe it’s been created by AI.

It’s this ability to produce human-like conversations that has set NotebookLM apart from other AI tools. If you want to hear how good it is, check out this Audio Overview of this very article.

New customization tools

(Image credit: Apple/Google)

Google has given NotebookLM a bit of a refresh in recent days, adding more customization options to its interface. There are now three sections to the main interface: a Sources bar on the left, the ‘Notebook guide’ window in the main part of the screen, and a Chat window at the bottom.

The Sources bar is pretty much the same as it always was – you can select which of the sources you want to go into the audio overview mix here, and add more. The ‘Notebook guide’ window is where you create your Audio Overview, and the Chat window is there for you to ask questions and get AI-generated answers based on your sources.

The final new feature worthy of note is a Customize button that appears when you want to generate your Audio Overview. Here you can type in what you’d like the podcast to focus on before it's generated. So, for example, you could type in 'Put more emphasis on Chapter 2 of the document' or 'Focus more on the underlying themes of power and ambition'.

Behind the scenes, NotebookLM is now using the Gemini 2.0 model that Google released on December 11. However, the really interesting new feature is the ability for users to join the AI conversation, which is rolling out now.

Joining a podcast

After you’ve created your Audio Overview you simply tap the ‘Interactive mode’ button, then hit play to start your Audio Overview. At any point you can tap the new 'Join' button to join in. When you do a host will invite you to join the conversation, and you can ask it a question.

Below is a video showing how it works. This feature wasn't available to us when we tried today (December 16), but it's rolling out as we speak.

Finally, as if all that wasn’t enough, in early 2025 Google is bringing out a paid-for tier to NotebookLM subscription tier called NotebookLM Plus. Details are pretty sketchy at the moment, but you'll be able to create 5x more Audio Overviews, plus you'll be able to customize the length and style of your notebook responses.

It looks like 2025 is going to be an exciting year for AI podcasting.

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