Technology

• LA-based Diner offers EV charging, food and more
• The project has been seven years in the making
• Tesla owners can sync movies on the big screen to in-car displays

Tesla has officially opened the doors to its retro-futuristic drive-in diner, which is situated on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles and doubles as a charging destination and hip hangout.

First announced by CEO Elon Musk back in 2018, the project only broke ground two years ago, with very little information in the meantime on exactly what it would entail.

But, unlike some of Tesla’s other projects, this one appears to have over-delivered on its promise.

The large corner plot houses 80 V4 Supercharger stalls that are open to any electric vehicles with the North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, while solar canopies offer shade to drivers and provide power to the charging points and site.

There’s also a 24/7 diner, complete with an upper lever Skypad for al fresco dining, serving burgers, fries, chicken wing, milkshakes and other classic all-American culinary delights. What’s more, Tesla owners can order via a bespoke Diner app from inside their vehicles and have the food delivered to their car.

Two, 66-foot LED “megascreens” play a rotation of modern and classic movies, which can be enjoyed from the Skypad or from inside the car for an authentic At the Drive-in experience, as a bespoke app syncs up the interior displays with whatever is going on outside.

According to Tesla, the menu has been curated by chef Eric Greenspan and restaurateur Bill Chait, but has been designed to mimic the offerings found in classic diners of yesterday. So think cheeseburgers, fries and shakes.

Of course, there's also a merch stand that sells everything from caps and T-shirts to "Supercharged Gummies". Oh, and the food is served in little Cybertruck-shaped boxes, which is cute.

Analysis: Exactly what the EV industry needs

(Image credit: Tesla)

Despite recent registration figures suggesting that EVs are slowly becoming more popular with buyers in the US, Europe and beyond, there is still a large sector of the public that remains on the fence – or just plain hates the technology.

Tesla’s Diner doesn’t really need to exist, but it’s exactly the sort of thing that proves electric vehicles can offer something a little different. The ability to simultaneously charge, eat and enjoy a movie certainly beats spilling gasoline all over your hands at a gas station.

Elon Musk has already suggested that he plans to roll out more sites if LA proves successful, while the likes of Rivian already has some of the coolest charging outposts in Joshua Tree and Yosemite.

Porsche and Mercedes-Benz are also expanding their charging lounges, which offer premium surroundings and good coffee to anyone that uses them.

It is a smart solution to the potential pain point of EV ownership – turning the negative of longer charging sessions into a positive experience.

It's also sensible to move electric vehicles on from the constant environmental messaging, CO2 reduction and sensible fuel savings rhetoric. Suggesting they can also be fun is a clever way to persuade an indecisive audience and the next generation.

You might also like

• Tesla is secretly testing new versions of its Model S Plaid and Model Y Performance – here’s what to expect
• More bad news for Tesla – Xiaomi's new Model Y rival beats it on price and just smashed pre-order records
• Meet the next electric hypercar – Mercedes-AMG just got its mojo back with a 1,360hp concept that will soon take on the Porsche Taycan

The Fantastic Four: First Steps: key information

- Releases in theaters worldwide on July 25
- Main trailers revealed in February, April, and July
- Main cast confirmed in February 2024
- One actor cut from the film version of the film
- Story synopsis revealed
- Takes place in a parallel universe to the MCU
- Other plot details teased
- Will directly lead into the events of Avengers: Doomsday

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is almost here. The third big-screen reboot for Marvel's First Family takes flight worldwide on July 25, so you've still got time to learn what we know so far before you watch it.

Below, I've rounded up the latest and biggest news about the final Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie of 2025. That includes more details about its cast, plot, trailers, and the future of The Fantastic Four in the MCU itself.

Full spoilers follow for Thunderbolts*. Potential spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps also follow, so proceed with caution.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps release date

A post shared by Fantastic Four (@fantasticfour)

A photo posted by on

As mentioned, The Fantastic Four: First Steps lands in theaters on Friday, July 25. It was originally due out last November, but Marvel revised the launch date of its Fantastic Four movie last February.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer

Marvel unveiled The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer in early February, and it revealed official looks at Marvel's iconic quartet of superheroes, the movie's Big Bad in Galactus, and John Malkovich's mysterious character who's since been cut from the film (more on that later).

Two months later, Marvel debuted First Steps' official trailer, which revealed first looks at Reed Richards' stretchy powers, The Silver Surfer, and other Galactus-sized teases. It contained footage first presented at CinemaCon 2025, with both trailers confirming a big fan theory about Sue Storm. I'll explain more about that in this article's plot section later on.

Another trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which confirmed two of the movie's worst-kept secrets, was released in June before Marvel unveiled First Steps' final trailer that raised my fears about the fate of one of the iconic quartet in early July. Watch it below:

The Fantastic Four: First Steps cast: confirmed and rumored

First Steps' primary cast was finally revealed in February 2024 (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Here's the confirmed cast for Marvel's latest Fantastic Four movie reboot. You can learn more about them in my dedicated First Steps cast and character guide, too:

• Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic
• Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman
• Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing
• Ralph Ineson as Galactus
• Julia Garner as Silver Surfer
• Matthew Wood as H.E.R.B.I.E
• Paul Walter Hauser as Harvey Elder/Mole Man
• Natasha Lyonne as Rachel Rozman
• Sarah Niles as Lynne Nichols
• Mark Gatiss as Ted Gilbert

Ahead of the first four actors' official unveiling as the titular team, there were an avalanche of casting rumors that sent MCU fans into a tailspin. However, Moss-Bachrach has since told The Jimmy Kimmel Show that he officially signed on in August 2023. One month earlier, Kirby told TechRadar "it would be an honor" to play Sue Storm, which all but confirmed her hiring.

Pascal reportedly held talks with Marvel about joining the cast in November 2023. Then, a February 2024 report revealed Pascal had signed on to play Richards, so the sting was taken out of that surprise. The only shock reveal was Quinn's, with the Stranger Things actor announced as Johnny Storm last February.

Galactus' full reveal is being withheld until the film is released globally (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

On the villain front, The Office UK's Ralph Ineson voicing Galactus, aka the movie's villain-in-chief and a regular foe of Marvel's First Family. Ineson will be joined on antagonistic duties by Ozark's Garner, who'll play a gender-swapped version of the Silver Surfer, aka the Herald of Galactus. Incidentally, Ineson and Garner never filmed a scene together and only actually met once while on First Steps' set.

Meanwhile, Hauser, Niles, and Gatiss were later revealed as part of the cast, as was Lyonne. Initially, Marvel fans thought Lyonne would be perfect for a very specific role, but she isn't playing the character many of us expected.

Another actor who was set to appear was John Malkovich. He was expected to play another Fantastic Four adversary called Red Ghost, but director Matt Shakman told Variety that, much to Shakman's disappointment, this villain had to be cut from the final edit.

Robert Downey Jr is back in the MCU, but not as Tony Stark/Iron Man (Image credit: Walt Disney Studios/Marvel Studios)

And what of Doctor Doom, another of the team's legendary villains and one of Marvel's most iconic villains? With none other than Robert Downey Jr – yes, he of Iron Man and Avengers fame – playing Doom, who is now the Multiverse Saga's new main villain, he should cameo, right?

For starters, Shakman told TechRadar that, regardless of whether Downey Jr would play him or not, Doom was never considered as First Steps' primary villain.

Speaking to Empire magazine (as reported by comicbookmovie.com), Shakman also denied Downey Jr will appear in this movie, saying Doom isn't "part of my purview".

However, Shakman has since said (per ScreenRant) that Avengers: Doomsday directors Joe and Anthony Russo shot this film's post-credits scene. The pair are also credited with shooting Thunderbolts' post-credits scene, which ties into First Steps' plot. So, it's all but confirmed – in my mind, anyway – that Doom will show up before the screen cuts to black for the final time.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps story synopsis and speculation

Sue Storm and company will already possess superhuman abilities at the start of the film (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Here's The Fantastic Four: First Steps' official story brief: "Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family... as they face their most daunting challenge yet.

"Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer. And, if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal."

The first thing to note about this Marvel Phase 6 project is it isn't an origins story. Other Fantastic Four films have already covered their cosmic radiation-based superpowered beginnings in a live-action capacity, so don't expect this movie to re-tread old ground.

If you're concerned about watching it with little to no knowledge of the titular team, don't fret. Marvel has released a First Steps prequel comic book that'll explain how the quartet acquire their superhuman abilities, the universe they inhabit, and more. So, be sure to pick up a copy if you need to.

Reed Richards and the rest of the eponymous superteam exist in an alternate reality to the MCU (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

First Steps will not only be a period piece, but is also set in a parallel universe, which has since been confirmed as Earth-828.

That much was made clear in the movie's first official artwork (see the X/Twitter post above), which depicted a different New York to the one we're used to seeing in the MCU. Given it's set in an alternate reality, you won't have to watch any other Marvel projects because it's genuinely a standalone story. Indeed, Shakman told TechRadar that fans new and old won't have to do any MCU homework to enjoy First Steps. Phew!

Anyway, fans have long predicted that The Fantastic Four will eventually cross over into the MCU (designated Earth-616 by Marvel) as part of the ongoing Multiverse Saga. The aforementioned artwork, trailer, and the first poster for Marvel's new Fantastic Four movie poster suggested this would be the case, but Thunderbolts' end credits scene practically confirmed this would happen. For more details, read my Thunderbolts* ending explained article.

"What time is it, Ben!?" (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

There have been plenty more hints about the film's narrative in the run-up to release.

For one, Marvel teased some key story details about The Fantastic Four: First Steps in April 2024 by making some iconic Fantastic Four comic books available to download and read for free. Those literary works feature Galactus and The Silver Surfer, so Shakman and company have taken plenty of storytelling inspiration from them.

Then there's the big fan theory about Sue Storm that was proven correct by First Steps' second trailer – that being, Sue and Reed will welcome their first child, Franklin Richards, during this movie.

If online speculation is to be believed, he'll be an important part of the plot, which would tie into the "personal" element of First Steps' story synopsis. That rumor was part of a major plot leak that The Fantastic Four: First Steps suffered in late May – but, don't worry, you won't find any major spoilers here or the previously linked-to article.

Franklin (center) will play a large role in First Steps, according to industry leakers (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Regardless, The Fantastic Four's latest silver screen outing will lean heavily into the familial aspect that's made them such an iconic group in Marvel's library of superheroes.

Indeed, Shakman and the film's main cast have stressed the importance of examining the team's familial dynamics in separate chats with Entertainment Weekly and Collider. Whether it's Sue and Johnny's sibling bond, Sue and Reed's marriage, Reed and Ben's friendship, or the changes that come following Franklin's birth, one of The Fantastic Four's enduring themes will be explored at length in First Steps.

Where can I watch the previous Fantastic Four films?

Don't upset The Silver Surfer – tell her where you can watch The Fantastic Four's other films, quick! (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

You can stream 2005's Fantastic Four, 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and 2015's Fantastic Four on Disney+ no matter where you live. As long as you're subscribed to one of the world's best streaming services, you can watch it whatever region of the world you dwell in.

How will The Fantastic Four impact the MCU?

Avengers: Doomsday began filming in April 2025 (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The short answer is: we don't have a complete picture yet.

The group will become part of the MCU after The Fantastic Four: First Steps because they'll have a big role to play in Avengers: Doomsday. Pascal, Kirby, Quinn, and Moss-Bachrach were announced as part of Doomsday's initial 27-strong cast in late March. Throw in their spaceship-based appearance in the MCU in Thunderbolts' post-credits scene, plus Doom's likely cameo in one of First Steps' own end credits stingers, and Doomsday and its sequel Avengers: Secret Wars will be heavily impacted by the eponymous team's MCU debut.

That won't be the last time we see them, either. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is reportedly getting a sequel, though it's unclear when work will begin on it or how it'll fit into Marvel Studios' post-Secret Wars plan, which Marvel President Kevin Feige has already referred to as a soft reboot of the cinematic juggernaut (per Variety).

As for potential First Steps spin-offs, a Silver Surfer TV show was reportedly in development for Disney+. We've heard little about this possible project since, so nobody knows if it'll see the light of day. In short: keep your eyes trained on TechRadar for news on all of the above once we know more.

For more Marvel-based coverage, find out how to watch the Marvel movies in order. Alternatively, read more about Spider-Man: Brand New Day, see if you agree with my ranking of the best Marvel movies, or get the lowdown on Daredevil: Born Again season 2.

• Dior begins sending out breach notification letters following attack
• It explained what happened and what data was stolen
• The company is urging customers to stay on high alert for phishing and ID theft

Global fashion powerhouse Dior has begin sending out data breach notification letters to customers impacted by a January 2025 cyberattack.

The outlined to customers what happened, what kind of data was taken, and what it did to contain the incident.

It also offered free identity theft and credit monitoring services for 24 months, through Experian Identity Works SM credit monitoring.

Korean and Chinese targets

The incident occurred on January 26, 2025, but was only discovered on May 7. Dior responded by notifying the police, and bringing in third-party experts to assess the situation.

The analysts determined the threat actors accessed a database containing customer information, including full names, contact information, postal addresses, dates of birth, passport and government ID numbers, and Social Security numbers (SSN).

The combination of information stolen varies from person to person, but Dior stressed that payment information, including bank account or payment card information, was not stolen since it wasn’t in the database to begin with.

In response to the attack, the company “enhanced network security” without going into further details.

Unfortunately, the damage was already done, and the attackers now have plenty of information to use in targeted attacks. Information such as names, email addresses, dates of birth, and government ID information, can be used to create customized, convincing phishing attacks, especially since the attackers know the victims are Dior customers.

Dior knows this too, which is why in the letter it also recommends users “remain vigilant for incidents of fraud and identity theft”.

“We also recommend that you continue to review your financial accounts, account statements, and free credit reports for any suspicious activity.”

This seems to have been an international incident, since at least Korean and Chinese customers seem to have been impacted. In South Korea, Dior could be facing a lawsuit for not properly notifying relevant authorities. Currently, no threat actors have claimed responsibility for the attack, and the stolen data has not emerged on the dark web.

Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

• M&S, Co-op and Harrods hit by cyberattack - here's what retailers need to do to stop this
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

Marks & Spencer did the right thing by self-reporting its recent cybersecurity incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). That kind of transparency is essential, not just for managing reputational risk, but for limiting regulatory fallout.

Under UK GDPR, failing to protect personal data or report breaches promptly can lead to fines of up to £17.5 million, or 4% of global turnover. And if M&S handles EU customer data, it may also come under the scope of the EU’s NIS2 Directive, which can carry penalties of up to €10 million.

But let’s be clear, regulatory exposure is just one piece of the puzzle. The real test is how quickly and transparently an organization responds, and whether it had strong cyber resilience measures in place before the breach.

A complex attack

At SonicWall, we saw that in 2024, organizations under critical attack remained in crisis mode for an average of 68 days. These aren’t smash-and-grab attacks, they’re persistent, they’re sophisticated, and they leave lasting damage. In M&S’s case, the attack has already caused weeks of disruption and knocked an estimated £700 million off its market value alongside an eye-watering £300m hit to profits.

Unfortunately, this isn’t an outlier. It reflects a broader trend we’ve tracked in our for quite some time: cyberattacks are becoming faster, smarter, and more aggressive. Threat actors are now exploiting newly disclosed vulnerabilities within 48 hours - far faster than most organization's patch management schedules. Retail is especially vulnerable, with its complex composable tech stacks, aging infrastructure, and inconsistent cyber hygiene.

Ransomware isn’t going anywhere

This incident also underscores a hard truth: ransomware is not going away. In fact, it’s thriving and becoming more accessible. A few years ago, attackers needed to write their own malicious code. Today, they can buy a ready-to-deploy ransomware kit for as little as $50 on the dark web.

Ransomware is uniquely damaging for retailers and any organization that provides direct, daily services. It doesn’t just steal data, it shuts down business operations. That makes it a powerful leverage tool for extortion. When every hour of downtime equals lost revenue, many victims feel pressure to pay just to resume operations.

And let’s not forget the broader ecosystem. Supply chain disruptions have already become a recurring issue over the past three years, driven by remote work, macroeconomic shocks, and increased digitization. A cyberattack at one point in the supply chain can ripple through others, compounding the impact. Organizations can’t afford to treat cybersecurity as someone else’s problem.

That’s why companies need to assume they will be targeted and build out layered defenses, clear incident response plans, and robust consumer notification processes. Regular training for employees on phishing, password management, and best practices must be a baseline. Regulators and industry groups should also push for greater transparency and enforceable standards to protect consumers and stakeholders from material damage when things go wrong.

Organizations are struggling to keep up

We’re in the middle of a perfect storm: rapid digitization, heavy third-party reliance, and the rise of financially motivated, well-organized cybercriminal groups. Retailers, in particular, offer a large and often soft target, their IT environments are sprawling, interdependent and identity management controls are frequently weak. That’s a recipe for disaster.

We saw this play out in both the M&S and Legal Aid Agency breaches, where attackers used identity-based tactics and advanced social engineering to get in and move laterally.

In many cases, a lot of businesses are still trying to protect yesterday’s IT infrastructure from yesterday’s threats. Whether it’s misconfigured Active Directory, third-party IT suppliers, poorly implemented MFA, or outdated detection tools, the gaps being exploited today show a much deeper issue, not just a tech gap, but a leadership and culture gap.

What needs to happen now?

Sadly, it’s probably going to get worse before it gets better. Attackers are innovating faster than defenders can respond. That means organizations need to rethink their priorities, fast. The top of the list should include:

- Strengthening identity and access management

- Investing in real-time threat detection and response

- Reducing third-party and supply chain risk

- Embedding security into the culture, from the boardroom to the front lines

Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT problem anymore, it’s a core part of business resilience. Companies that can’t recover quickly from a cyberattack may not recover at all.

Cyber’s “big one”

So what about that “big one” cyberattack people in the industry have warned about? It’s not just theory anymore. The tactics we’re seeing in retail and legal breaches, ransomware, credential theft, lateral movement, are exactly what could bring down critical infrastructure like healthcare, utilities, or government systems.

We haven’t seen a full-scale ‘black swan’ event in the UK yet. But if the current trajectory continues, it’s not a question of if, it’s when.

Unless we move faster and smarter across every sector, we risk being caught unprepared by a new generation of cyber threats that are already here.

We list the best internet security suites.

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 tech giant opens a retro restaurant in Hollywood with charging stations. Musk says more could open in other cities.

• Nintendo has announced a Switch 2 bundle with Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• Pre-orders go live on July 23, 2025
• The bundle is expected to ship on October 16

Nintendo has announced a brand new Switch 2 bundle off the back of July 22's Pokémon Presents showcase.

This Nintendo Switch 2 bundle packs in the console, as well as a digital copy of Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, which is set to launch on October 16, 2025.

The bundle will cost $499.99 in the US. No UK price has been revealed yet, but the bundle is confirmed for the region, and it's reasonable to expect it to cost £429.99 here - the same as the launch bundle featuring Mario Kart World.

A bundle featuring the Nintendo Switch 2 system and a full game download for the Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition game will be available Oct 16!Pre-order here: https://t.co/8RpirCrPEM pic.twitter.com/Zf94QPO6FzJuly 22, 2025

Pre-orders are set to go live on July 23, 2025, and the bundle will ship the same day that Pokémon Legends: Z-A releases, on October 16. Pre-orders will be available at Nintendo's online store, as well as "select retailers." That likely includes Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and GameStop in the US, as well as Argos and Currys in the UK.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is now the second game Nintendo has provided a Switch 2 bundle for. It's the standard console, so no fancy limited edition designs here. Much like Mario Kart World, it's also a digital copy. With that in mind, this may be a standard strategy for Nintendo going forward, and it's entirely possible we see Switch 2 bundles for future releases like Kirby Air Riders, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and potentially even third-party games like The Duskbloods.

You might also like...

• Pokémon Presents live coverage – follow along with us live for our predictions and every announcement as it happens
• Hitman: World of Assassination seems to have a secret 'performance mode' on the Nintendo Switch 2
• Bandai Namco and Atari reveal the Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition to celebrate the arcade icon's 45th anniversary

• South Park creators have reportedly reached a deal with Paramount+ for the global streaming rights of the hit show
• The news comes after the show was removed from the streamer’s library outside of the US
• Ongoing talks have pushed the season 27 premiere back from July 9 to July 23

Good news South Park fans: Paramount has reportedly agreed to buy the global streaming rights for the hit show following its quiet removal from the platform last week.

According to The Los Angeles Times, undisclosed sources familiar with the matter confirmed that the deal has gone ahead, which means that South Park will be available to stream on Paramount+ for the first time in the US.

The publication also revealed that a potential co-licensing deal with HBO Max and its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery had been in discussion with the show's creators after an existing deal expired in June, but Paramount has gone it alone, "according to one of the knowledgeable sources".

So, if you're a South Park fan this is the perfect time to keep or get a Paramount+ subscription, as the deal arguably solidifies its place as one of the best streaming services.

What does this mean for the future of South Park?

Due to negotiations, the premiere of South Park season 27 has been delayed and has left fans feeling frustrated. Its original July 9 premiere date has been pushed back to July 23, which was confirmed in a social media post via the official South Park account (see below).

South Park’s 27th season premiere has moved to Wednesday, July 23rd at 10:00pm ET/PT on Comedy Central. pic.twitter.com/Ep2C28HXFSJuly 2, 2025

It is believed that the season premiere of South Park will be on Comedy Central as well as Paramount+, but the creators haven't been happy with the constant changes and described the process as a "sh***show" in another social media post.

At the time of writing, the original South Park series is still not available on Paramount+ in the United Kingdom, whereas some of the South Park specials like South Park: Joining the Panderverse are. It's a similar story in Australia as the original series is on 10, while the same South Park: Joining the Panderverse is on Paramount+.

If this deal is indeed accurate, it does mean that South Park will be moving to Paramount+, so hopefully global audiences will see the full show back in their streaming libraries very soon. Meanwhile, we'll hopefully get to call South Park one of our best Paramount+ shows again for US audiences.

You might also like

• Does Paramount+ have a free trial?
• 3 new Paramount+ movies to stream in July 2025 with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes
• Yellowjackets season 4: everything we know so far about the hit Paramount+ show

Not all protein bars are built the same. These are the best options that I've tested so far this year.

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, July 22 (game #506).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Chips in

NYT Strands today (game #507) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• SAUCE
• SLAP
• PAUSE
• SLED
• MUSK
• MALE

NYT Strands today (game #507) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 9 letters

NYT Strands today (game #507) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 4th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #507) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #507, are…

• QUESO
• SALSA
• GUACAMOLE
• HUMMUS
• FONDUE
• TZATZIKI
• SPANGRAM: PARTY DIPS

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

The first word I saw on today’s grid was SAUCE and bearing in mind the theme, I was certain that it would be correct.

Then I remembered the UK-US chip difference – in brief, Fries = Chips, Chips = Crisps, Ketchup = Sauce – and deduced we were looking for things you could dip chips (or crisps) in.

There is plenty of controversy in Strands’ selections though, regardless of your nationality. HUMMUS is not something you’d dip chips in surely or FONDUE – which is famously served with cubes of bread.

Anyway, this was a fun search for interesting words. I don’t think I would have found the brilliantly spelled TZATZIKI without the help of it being my final word.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, July 22, game #506)

• FISH
• PUMP
• ROCKS
• TANK
• FILTER
• PLANTS
• THERMOMETER
• SPANGRAM: AQUARIUM

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.

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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, July 22 (game #772).

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 #773) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• TOMAHAWK
• PHANTOM
• GEODUCK
• BUGBEAR
• ESCROW
• SEAHORSE
• FLATIRON
• MORTGAGE
• PORTERHOUSE
• BOGEYMAN
• APPRAISAL
• WOMBAT
• HOBGOBLIN
• TITMOUSE
• CHATEAUBRIAND
• INSURANCE

NYT Connections today (game #773) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Fictional fear 
• GREEN: Rare, Medium or well done?
• BLUE: Real estate 
• PURPLE: Multiple creatures

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 #773) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: DREAD-INDUCING FIGURES 
• GREEN: KINDS OF STEAKS 
• BLUE: RELATED TO BUYING A HOME 
• PURPLE: ANIMALS ENDING WITH ANIMALS 

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

NYT Connections today (game #773) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #773, are…

• YELLOW: DREAD-INDUCING FIGURES BOGEYMAN, BUGBEAR, HOBGOBLIN, PHANTOM
• GREEN: KINDS OF STEAKS CHATEAUBRIAND, FLATIRON, PORTERHOUSE, TOMAHAWK
• BLUE: RELATED TO BUYING A HOME APPRAISAL, ESCROW, INSURANCE, MORTGAGE
• PURPLE: ANIMALS ENDING WITH ANIMALS GEODUCK, SEAHORSE, TITMOUSE, WOMBAT

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 mistakes

I made both of my mistakes today trying to collate DREAD-INDUCING FIGURES. I thought it had something to do with mythical creatures, so had GEODUCK and then TITMOUSE instead of BUGBEAR – which in hindsight seems somewhat ridiculous.

Now, thanks to Google, I know that a geoduck is a kind of clam rather than a mythical beast, and part of the excellent ANIMALS ENDING WITH ANIMALS group . Congratulations to all who spotted that one.

KINDS OF STEAK was the first thing I thought of when I saw PORTERHOUSE at the start of the game, but I needed the options to reduce before I could get the others. CHATEAUBRIAND – which is a thick cut of beef tenderloin – is a new word for me.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, July 22, game #772)

• YELLOW: SASSINESS ATTITUDE, CHEEK, LIP, MOUTH
• GREEN: MITIGATE CUSHION, DAMPEN, SOFTEN, TEMPER
• BLUE: PATTERNS CAMO, CHECKERS, HONEYCOMB, STRIPES
• PURPLE: ___PIE CHESS, CUTIE, HUMBLE, WHOOPIE

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 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 Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, July 22 (game #1275).

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 #1276) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* 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 #1276) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 3.

Quordle today (game #1276) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1276) - 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 0.

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 #1276) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• O

• P

• R

• W

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

Quordle today (game #1276) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1276, are…

• OZONE
• PENCE
• ROOMY
• WIDER

A tricky one today that took me far longer than usual.

OZONE was hard to get. Once I’d decided to look for words beginning with the letter O, I got there more quickly – but I required a lengthy period of putting in random letters until I got there.

PENCE was a kicker, too, as it’s a recurring Quordle word – the last time was just two weeks ago.

Daily Sequence today (game #1276) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1276, are…

• HARPY
• GROUP
• FARCE
• ALIBI

Quordle answers: The past 20

• 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
• Quordle #1268, Tuesday, 15 July: VILLA, FLECK, TIGER, CRANE
• Quordle #1267, Monday, 14 July: SURGE, PIZZA, PAPER, POPPY
• Quordle #1266, Sunday, 13 July: KAYAK, DECRY, RUDDY, HATER
• Quordle #1265, Saturday, 12 July: WREAK, NANNY, CLASP, STAIN
• Quordle #1264, Friday, 11 July: LAPEL, DRAIN, FROND, GROSS
• Quordle #1263, Thursday, 10 July: CROSS, WHEEL, UNDID, PENCE
• Quordle #1262, Wednesday, 9 July: SHIRE, SIXTH, SINGE, IMAGE
• Quordle #1261, Tuesday, 8 July: PLIED, PRANK, GAWKY, OXIDE
• Quordle #1260, Monday, 7 July: DROLL, TRUCE, TWIRL, SINCE
• Quordle #1259, Sunday, 6 July: AMPLY, SPAWN, EXTOL, RIDGE
• Quordle #1258, Saturday, 5 July: HAVEN, SNAKE, DREAM, TORUS
• Quordle #1257, Friday, 4 July: FAVOR, SKUNK, GAWKY, FLUFF

• Microsoft has given us more details on how PC-to-PC migration works
• It'll offer a useful alternative to those who don't want to restore a backup via OneDrive
• The feature does still have caveats, though, including needing a Microsoft account - and it won't support Arm-based PCs initially, either

Microsoft has provided more details on how its PC-to-PC migration feature will actually work when it comes to switching over to a new Windows 11 PC.

The feature is designed to smooth over the upgrade to a new PC, and make it as easy as possible - albeit with some caveats - and clearly the focus is on helping Windows 10 users switch to Windows 11 (assuming their hardware supports the latter OS).

Previously, PC-to-PC migration has been seen in testing, and Microsoft has put the shell of the experience in the release version of Windows 11 (with the latest update) - however, it isn't yet functional.

At least we now know exactly how the ability will work thanks to a support post Microsoft has uploaded (as Thurrott.com spotted). So, let's dive into all the key details you need to know.

The old PC and new PC you're transferring over to will need to be on the same network, either connected via Ethernet (wired, to your router) or wireless (on the same Wi-Fi network).

Both machines will also need to be signed into a Microsoft account - so with the new PC, you'll have to sign in to an account during setup. Once that initial setup is run, you can kick off the PC-to-PC migration, which will pair the PCs using a one-time-code.

You'll then have to select what you want to transfer across in the way of files or settings. You can transfer almost everything in terms of files and the options you've chosen in Windows, including personalized elements of the desktop (wallpapers or themes), but there are a few exceptions.

What won't be ported across includes temporary and system files (which you wouldn't want anyway), as well as the apps installed on the old PC, and saved passwords (though you may have them stored in your browser, anyway).

Once you've chosen the data and settings to be ported across, the process will begin, providing you with a timer as an indication of how long you'll be waiting (hopefully an accurate one - these countdowns aren't always that reliable).

If the network connection should drop somehow, Microsoft says that Windows will automatically try to resume the data transfer when it's back up again - though you can manually restart the process if all else fails.

Analysis: backup or migration

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The PC-to-PC migration feature is essentially an alternative for those who haven't configured a backup (saved to OneDrive) via the Windows Backup app. If you have one of those, you can simply deploy that backup on the new PC - if not, you can use PC-to-PC migration instead (as a local data transfer method, but you must still be signed into a Microsoft account as noted). Or at least you'll be able to when it's fully released to Windows 11 (and 10) PCs, which should happen soon enough - I'm betting Microsoft will want this up and running before Windows 10 reaches End of Life (for obvious reasons).

It's worth noting that if you do configure a backup on the Windows Backup app - just to sync your device settings, in fact - you get an additional year of support for Windows 10 for free (dodging the $30 fee Microsoft had previously slapped on this option).

So, Backup is clearly an app Microsoft wants people to use - and I can see that choice being a popular stopgap measure to put off any decision on upgrading to Windows 11 until next year - but it's good to see that PC-to-PC migration is being offered up as another way forward, with fewer strings attached (OneDrive-wise, though you still have to use a Microsoft account).

With PC-to-PC migration, the main thing you don't get ported over to the new PC is your apps, but that isn't surprising. Indeed, the Backup app won't provide your apps when it restores a backup - although it can restore apps from the Microsoft Store, and with third-party apps, provide a link to download them for convenience (you don't get that ability with the new migration feature).

The main difference with the new feature, then, is that migration does not require or use OneDrive (albeit it does need a Microsoft account), and there are no options pertaining to keeping your apps (even if using Windows Backup is limited in that respect, too).

Some other notable caveats with PC-to-PC migration are that it doesn't work with drives that are encrypted with BitLocker (they must be decrypted first), and that devices with Arm CPUs aren't supported either (yet). Given that Microsoft says Arm PCs aren't "currently" catered for, I expect that to change soon enough - especially as these represent a fair chunk of Copilot+ PCs, which are the machines Microsoft is busy trying to get everyone to buy into.

As noted, we're still waiting for the full PC-to-PC migration experience to be enabled in Windows 11 (and Windows 10), but it shouldn't be too long before this happens.

You might also like...

• Microsoft promises to crack one of the biggest problems with Windows 11: slow performance
• Windows 11's handheld mode spotted in testing, and I'm seriously excited for Microsoft's big bet on small-screen gaming
• No, Windows 11 PCs aren't 'up to 2.3x faster' than Windows 10 devices, as Microsoft suggests – here's why that's an outlandish claim

iOS 26 is imminent and is expected to come to public beta very soon. While we’re excited to see how Apple’s biggest software update will upgrade the iPhone experience, Apple Watches will also be getting the same treatment when watchOS 26 is rolled out, and we're just as excited.

If you own an Apple Watch Series 6 or later, an Apple Watch SE 2, or any Apple Watch Ultra model, then you’ll be able to reap the benefits of watchOS 26’s exciting new features. However, it does come with some setbacks.

Though the models mentioned above will receive a lot of handy new functions, there are four watchOS 26 features that will only be available to use on the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra models only – leaving owners of older models in the dust.

It’s best to double-check and see what watchOS 26 features your current Apple Watch model will support when the update is rolled out in September. If you want to make the most of more advanced features, take this as your sign to upgrade in time for watchOS 26.

(Image credit: Apple)4 features your older Apple Watch won’t get

The following features will be available on Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra models only.

1. Wrist Flick

In 2023, Apple rolled out the Double Tap gesture for the Apple Watch, a multi-functional feature that allows you to do things such as close Smart Stack, begin workouts, silence alarms and timers, and dismiss notifications.

Apple’s Wrist Flick function is a new hands-free gesture designed to carry out similar functions which sounds a lot more reliable than Double Tap, but only the Apple Watch models mentioned above will be able to support this.

2. Smart Replies updates

(Image credit: Apple)

While it doesn’t matter which iPhone model you have (as long as it supports the latest version of iOS), you’ll still need one of the newer Apple Watch models to make the most of watchOS 26’s upgrade to Smart Replies, which offers more precise and contextually-relevant messaging suggestions.

3. Automatic volume adjustment

Similarly to Wrist Flick, automatic volume adjustment won’t be coming to models released pre-2023. This is a little disappointing, as it sounds like it would be a very handy function when it comes to managing noisy notifications.

With this new watchOS 26 feature, your Apple Watch will have the ability to ‘automatically adjust the speaker volume based on the ambient noise in a user’s surroundings for notifications, timers, alarms, incoming calls, and Siri’ – as it states in Apple’s press release.

4. Live Translation

(Image credit: Apple)

One of the biggest iOS 26 upgrades announced at WWDC 2025 was the addition of Apple Intelligence’s Live Translation function for iPhone, and now certain Apple Watch models are getting the same treatment.

With the arrival of watchOS 26, you’ll be able to view these right from your wrist – that’s if you own an Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, or an Apple Watch Ultra 2.

5 features your older Apple Watch will receive

If you have an Apple Watch Series 6 or later, or an Apple Watch SE 2, look out for these new features when watchOS 26 rolls out.

1. Liquid Glass

(Image credit: Apple)

Liquid Glass is one of the biggest upgrades coming with watchOS 26 – a huge operating system design upgrade that will roll out across all of Apple’s hardware. Not only will it give your interface a transparent and glossy look, but will make the use of small spaces by using expanding widgets.

The best part about this? You won’t have to worry about upgrading to a newer Apple Watch model for this new look, as it’s coming to Apple Watch Series 6 or later, Apple Watch SE 2, and all Apple Watch Ultra models.

2. Apple Intelligence Workout Buddy

(Image credit: Jacob Krol / Future)

watchOS 26 is also getting some upgrades on the fitness front, the main new addition being the Workout Buddy function. Powered by Apple Intelligence, Workout Buddy is a new experience in the Workout app that accesses the user's fitness, health, and workout history to provide spoken motivation and personalized fitness summaries.

You should note that to take advantage of Workout Buddy, you’ll also need an iPhone capable of supporting Apple Intelligence – those being models that support iOS 18.4 and later.

3. Notes on wrist

(Image credit: Apple)

One of the most asked-for features is the addition of the Notes app to watchOS, and if you have an Apple Watch Series 6 or above, you’ll soon be able to use Notes right from your wrist as nature intended.

Not only will you be able to access existing notes made on your iPhone, watchOS 26 will allow you to create new ones from your Apple Watch using Siri, dictation, and the keyboard function – and even complete checklists. Your grocery list can now live on your wrist!

4. Watch face ‘Hints’ in the Smart Stack

(Image credit: Apple)

With watchOS 26, new visual prompts called ‘Hints’ are coming to the watch face Smart Stack, which appears when you use the Digital Crown on the side of your watch to scroll.

Apple says Hints are designed to make your everyday interactions more convenient, offering the following examples of what to expect from its new addition: ‘A hint for Backtrack may appear when a user is in a remote location with no connectivity, or a hint for a Pilates workout may show up when a user arrives at a studio location at their usual time’.

5. Third-party control functions

The final new feature coming to the wider group of watchOS 26-compatible models are new third-party controls, which will allow developers to create their own custom controls that Apple Watch users can add to their Control Center, Smart Stack widget, or Action Button.

When editing your Control Center, your Apple Watch will also show a ‘From your iPhone’ section, which will then allow you to add third-party controls found in your iPhone.

You might also like...

• The iOS 26 public beta could arrive this week, bringing Liquid Glass and more to your iPhone
• Apple quietly reveals CarPlay's big video upgrade in iOS 26, but there's a catch
• The latest iPhone 17 Air battery leak is a worrying one – but iOS 26 could help

Bad news, animation heads: according to Amazon MGM+, the first two seasons of Helluva Boss won’t arrive on Prime Video until late 2025, but we still don’t know exactly when. Amazingly, the new Prime Video show has also been commissioned for seasons 3 and 4, with these episodes set to join the existing two seasons on YouTube. All of this has happened without us even seeing a single scene, and that makes it the first deal of its kind for the streaming service.

Unsurprisingly, Helluva Boss is set like its namesake in Hell. The main protagonist of the show is Blitzo, the leader of I.M.P. (Immediate Murder Professionals) who is tasked with killing targets in the human world alongside a ragtag crew, amid an ongoing complicated situationship with the demon prince Stolas. It’s the most darkly comic work-life balance you could imagine, getting more absurdly violent the longer we watch.

That description alone makes me want to binge all of the show’s episodes immediately, but we’ve still got months left until its Prime Video release window (sometime between September and October) arrives. Thankfully, if you look through the streamer right now, you’ll find an equally bonkers animation ready to be streamed while you wait… and if you want my opinion, it’s absolutely unmissable.

Why I recommend streaming Hazbin Hotel on Prime Video while you wait for Helluva Boss

You might be thinking that Hazbin Hotel looks remarkably like Helluva Boss, and that’s because both animations come from the same creative team. Both shows are set in the same ‘Hellaverse’, with Helluva Boss technically a spinoff of Hazbin Hotel (although with a different set of characters, as far as we can see). Basically, delving into the original is only going to expand your understanding of the show’s lore, and help you get fully acquainted with its absolutely unhinged approach to entertainment.

In the Hellaverse, Hell itself is incredibly overpopulated. Trying to find a non-violent alternative to house everyone there, Lucifer’s daughter decides to open a rehab hotel, where a group of demons try their best to get a second chance. That sounds rather gentle written down, but trust me when I say it’s anything but.

Hazbin Hotel is an animation that isn’t afraid to take its narrative direction to the extreme, mixing crude humor with outright musical numbers that would even make the genre’s most prolific haters sing and dance along. Creatively, it takes a total detour from what we’d typically expect from cartoon shows (yes, even the ones made for adults like Rick & Morty), swinging fans from hideously explicit schoolyard banter towards incredibly serious topics handled with a deftly light touch.

In a nutshell, the Prime Video animation isn’t conforming to any blueprint of existing narrative structure, and that’s what really makes it sing. Effortlessly diverse in its subject matter as well as its casting, we’ve got everything the mind could possibly comprehend to exist in a cartoon world packed into visual animation styling we’d recognize from our fondest memories of growing up. Get someone who can do both, as the kids say.

With only eight episodes to stream, fans can make easy work of their Hazbin Hotel binge in plenty of time to be ready and prepared for Helluva Boss. In my opinion, you’ll want to savour every minute, or at least go back and watch copious amounts of highlight clips on YouTube. If you don’t understand what on Earth’s going on, you don’t really have to – there's a method to their madness in keeping us hooked.

You might also like

• Want to prepare for The Fantastic Four: First Steps? Skip the movies and watch this animated Disney+ show – it’s the best adaptation of Marvel’s First Family
• I watch Netflix for a living – here are the 7 new anime shows you need to to be ready for
• Oscar-nominated animation Flow is streaming on Max – here are 5 similar movies on Netflix, Hulu and more with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes

• CrushFTP had a flaw that allowed admin access via HTTPS
• It was patched in early July 2025, but risks persist
• Around 1,000 servers running older versions at risk as attacks are spotted in the wild

Hackers are actively exploiting a critical vulnerability in CrushFTP instances, gaining admin access to vulnerable servers, experts have warned.

It was addressed in early July 2025 with a patch, with file transfer company urging customers to apply it as soon as possible.

However, on July 18, the company said it saw a zero-day exploit being used against this vulnerability - meaning it is possible the attacks have been going on for longer, and were only observed then.

Around a thousand targets

In a recently published security advisory, CrushFTP explained that in all versions 10 below 10.8.5 and all versions 11 below 11.3.4_23, when the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) proxy feature is not used, there was a mishandling of AS2 validation vulnerability, which allows remote attackers to obtain admin access via HTTPS.

“Hackers apparently reverse engineered our code and found some bug which we had already fixed,” the advisory reads. “They are exploiting it for anyone who has not stayed current on new versions.”

We don’t know if the attackers are using the bug to drop malware, or steal data, and we don’t know the exact number of organizations that were already compromised as a result of this flaw.

We do know that just below 1,000 organizations remain vulnerable, as per the latest data from Shadowserver. These organizations are now being notified of the potential risk. Those who were exploited should restore a prior default user from their backup folder.

“As always we recommend regularly and frequent patching,” CrushFTP warned. “Anyone who had kept up to date was spared from this exploit. Enterprise customers with a DMZ CrushFTP in front of their main are not affected by this.”

The bug is tracked as CVE-2025-54309, and has a severity score of 9.0.

Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

• CrushFTP vulnerability exploited in the wild, added to CISA KEV database
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

• Microsoft promises to reduce data retention costs to less than 10%
• Sentinel Data Lake will break down silos and empower security teams
• A layer of AI will improve detection and response time to outpace adversaries

Microsoft has launched Sentinel Data Lake as looks to break down silos, lower costs and improve large-scale threat detection with an updated, AI-optimized security data lake.

Now in public preview, Microsoft says users will no longer need to choose between retaining critical data and staying within budget, promising to reduce data retention costs to less than 10% of traditional analytics logs.

It combines SIEM, XDR and threat intelligence into a single platform, bringing together data from Microsoft and third-party sources with over 350 native connectors, promising to be a whole "new architecture," not "just a new product."

Microsoft Sentinel Data Lake

In order to democratize threat intelligence and improve coverage, Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence capabilities will now be available in Defender XDR and Sentinel without adding to the cost.

This is on top of the injection of artificial intelligence, which promises "faster detection, smarter response and the ability to outpace even the most sophisticated adversaries."

Microsoft says the update allows security teams to uncover attacker behavior without worrying about storage limits, which can significantly improve detection by analyzing company-specific trends.

Sentinel Data Lake "enables security teams to proactively detect latent attacks, detect emerging threats with AI-driven models, reconstruct attack timelines in forensic detail, and retroactively uncover indicators of compromise that might otherwise go unnoticed," Microsoft explained.

Among the benefits of Microsoft's upgraded Sentinel include the ability for companies to keep raw data for compliance and digital forensics and a lower TCO with faster ROI.

You might also like

• Enhance cybersecurity with the best endpoint protection software
• Worried about emerging threats? Consider using the best ransomware protection
• "Another pair of eyes" - Microsoft launches all-new Security Copilot Agents to give security teams the upper hand

If you were wondering where OpenAI’s vision for AI is going in the future, then a good place to start getting a feel of what the company has in store for us is the new article posted by incoming CEO of Applications, Fidji Simo.

Simo doesn't start for a few weeks yet, when she'll be joining OpenAI as CEO of Applications, "helping get OpenAI’s technologies into the hands of more people around the world."

Her article is a pretty good summation of the benefits we can all get from AI right now, but I found some of her predictions for how AI can help by "filling a gap that often goes unfilled" could have serious implications for the future.

Two CEOs

Confusingly, OpenAI is about to have two CEOs. Sam Altman, the actual CEO of OpenAI, announced that Fidji Simo is joining as 'CEO of Applications', back in May, and emphasized that he was still in control of the company:

“To strengthen our execution, I’m excited to announce Fidji Simo is joining as our CEO of Applications, reporting directly to me. I remain the CEO of OpenAI and will continue to directly oversee success across all pillars of OpenAI – Research, Compute, and Applications – ensuring we stay aligned and integrated across all areas. I will work closely with our board on making sure our non-profit has maximum positive impact. “

Simo was previously at Instacart, and had already been serving on the board of OpenAI for a year.

In a new article on the OpenAI website, Simo writes, “I’ve always considered myself a pragmatic technologist – someone who loves technology not for its own sake, but for the direct impact it can have on people’s lives.”

Six areas of impact

Simo goes on to set out six key areas of our lives that she sees AI making the most impact in – knowledge, health, creative expression, economic freedom, time and support.

Her vision starts with knowledge, where Simo notes that “people who use AI tutors learn twice as much as they do from human ones, and the gains are even bigger compared to learning in a traditional classroom”.

She then moves on to health, and explains how, “AI can explain lab results, decode medical jargon, offer second opinions, and help patients understand their options in plain language. It won’t replace doctors, but it can finally level the playing field for patients, putting them in the driver seat of their own care.”

AI is often thought to be the enemy of creativity, taking opportunities away from human artists, for example, but Simo neatly dodges that issue, saying, “If AI gives everyone access to the tools to transform their ideas into images, stories, or songs, it will make the world a much richer place.”

However, it’s her final area of AI innovation – support – that makes me raise my eyebrow most quizzically. Simo notes that “Many people don’t feel comfortable opening up to family or friends, and most people don’t have access to a therapist or coach they can call regularly. Even people who do have access often spend an hour a week or less with these professionals. AI coaches, on the other hand, can be available throughout every day, leverage their full understanding of all aspects of your life to help support you, and bring your subconscious patterns to your consciousness.”

(Image credit: Shutterstock/elenabsl)Trust in AI

I can see her point, but I’m also wary of a world where people begin to trust AI with their innermost thoughts, and start to shy away from talking to friends and family, or even human therapists. While I think it can be helpful for many, I worry about the power that it gives to the AI companies, who will know more and more intimate details about our personal lives.

As I found out in my conversation with serial entrepreneur Simon Squibb last week, trust is going to be a key value going forward as AI levels the technological and economic playing field, so that everybody can create a product and start a company without having to invest thousands of dollars.

If we put our trust in companies that are trying to make a profit (OpenAI has a complicated structure that combines a non-profit with a Public Benefit Corporation) then will we always be sure they have our best interests at heart?

We’ve already seen how easily it was for social media to be used to influence public opinion in an election. What happens when the AI we’ve come to trust as our help and support structure starts accepting adverts?

Currently, there are no adverts on the big AI platforms, but most of the experts I talk to think it’s only a matter of time before the AI giants seek to monetize the hugely expensive systems they’ve created.

I think that Simo’s overall point that AI can be used right now to enhance many areas of our lives, democratizing access to technology and giving us opportunities we haven’t had before, is valid, but there seem to be very few guardrails in place as we march towards this new AI future.

You might also like

• Google should be worried – ChatGPT users now send 2.5 billion prompts a day, here’s how that compares
• 5 ways ChatGPT Agent can change the way you use AI
• Rumors of GPT-5 are multiplying as the expected release date approaches

Pokémon Presents returns later today (July 22, 2025), and so far, we’ve only really gotten one small (and rather confusing) tease as to what’s going to be shown. Of course, Pokémon Legends Z-A is the big release coming later in 2025, so it’s highly likely we’ll see more, even if it’s just some more info on Mega Evolutions. We’ll be covering the event live, giving up-to-date coverage and impressions of each announcement as they happen.

Pokémon Presents key info

Start time
Duration
Teases
Predictions
Live coverage

While many fans will be hoping for big announcements on mainline Pokémon titles, it’s worth remembering that these Pokémon Presents events tend to cover a wide variety of different announcements.

We’ll likely see more on Pokémon Champions, which looks to focus entirely on battles, and then there are other games like Pokémon GO, Pokémon Unite, and Pokémon Sleep to cover too. Regardless, we’re betting on some surprise announcements, hopefully new additions to NSO (Nintendo Switch Online) like Pokémon Colosseum (GameCube) and the Pokémon Pinball games (Game Boy Color).

Here’s our live coverage of Pokémon Presents, including predictions for things we’d like to see announced. We’ll provide up-to-date details as the event is happening, as well as some commentary and impressions on any of the bigger announcements. Perhaps it’s wishful thinking, but we could even see a tease for Gen 10, which should be imminent. We’ll have to wait and see.

Pokémon Presents - cut to the chase

Looking for a quick overview? Here are the most important details of Pokémon Presents to know about:

• Start time: July 22 at 6am PT, 9am ET, 2pm BST, 3pm CEST, 11pm AEST
• Duration: 24 minutes
• Where to watch: YouTube or Twitch

Pokémon Presents start date and time

(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)

The next Pokémon Presents presentation is scheduled to air on July 22, 2025. You'll be able to watch it live on the official Pokémon YouTube and Twitch channels at the times below:

• 6am PT
• 9am ET
• 2pm BST
• 3pm CEST
• 11pm AEST

Pokémon Presents teases so far

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

At present, we only really have one tease for the Pokémon Presents event. An image has been shared on the official Pokémon X account showing Pikachu standing next to a pair of DJ decks (embedded below). This could mean a new music-focused game, or some tie-in with the Nintendo Music App. I’m certainly hoping it’s the former, as a Pokémon-themed DJ Hero-like experience could be really fun.

7月22日（火）に配信される「Pokémon Presents」は、同日21時から視聴ページがオープンするよ。ピカチュウが何やら準備しているみたい……？続報をお楽しみに！#ポケモンプレゼンツ pic.twitter.com/9CJWjwvL2WJuly 15, 2025

How long will Pokémon Presents be?

(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)

The Pokémon Company is yet to reveal how long the Pokémon Presents event will last, well, not officially. As reported by GamesRadar+, the Korean YouTube channel for The Pokémon Company appeared to upload the listed presentation before taking it down. This revealed that the upcoming showcase is 24 minutes long.

Pokémon Presents predictions

(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)

Given that there’s been very little teased for Pokémon Presents so far, we’re left to our own devices in terms of predicting what will be announced. The safe bets are Pokémon Legends Z-A and Pokémon Champions, as we’re yet to see a lot of either. Pokémon Legends Z-A is currently planned as the next major title, so I’d love to see some details on multiplayer and a look at how the game runs on Nintendo Switch 2.

I know it’s unlikely, but my dream is to have old mainline Pokémon games added to Nintendo Switch Online. This would mean the first three generations, though, as someone who never played Gen 5, I’d also love to see Pokémon Black and White added to the online service. Generation 9 launched back in 2022, so we’re due for Gen 10 sooner rather than later. It’s unlikely that we’ll get another mainline Pokémon game in 2025, but it’s possible we’ll get a tease for next year.

Finally, I’d love to see the Pokémon Pinball games added to Switch 2 in some form. These are underrated Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance games that’d fit perfectly into the current NSO offering. In terms of other games that could be added, it’d be great to see GameCube’s Pokémon Colosseum made available to modern platforms.

Live coverage as it happensHello and welcome!

(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)

Hello and welcome to my live coverage of today’s Pokémon Presents event. I’ll be following the show live, and posting every announcement, as well as my thoughts, right here on this live blog. Hopefully, we’ll get some info on future games, as well as some nice surprises. Let’s get started.

What time does Pokémon Presents start?

(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)

Let’s start by taking a look at when the event starts. Pokémon Presents will go live at 6am PT, 9am ET, 2pm BST, 3pm CEST, 11pm AEST. The show will last 24 minutes, and can be watched via the official Pokémon YouTube and Twitch channels.

Will we see more on Pokémon Legends Z-A?

(Image credit: Captura de pantalla del tráiler oficial de Pokémon Legends Z-A en YouTube)

The safest bet for today’s announcements is easily more info on Pokémon Legends Z-A. The game focuses on Mega Evolution, so I’m betting we’ll see some more on that. We also need to see more on multiplayer, which will no doubt be a big part of the endgame.

Pikachu is a DJ now?

(Image credit: The Pokémon Company)

The only tease we’ve gotten for today’s show came from the official Japan Pokémon X account. It’s an image showing Pikachu standing beside DJ decks (shown above). What this actually means is anyone’s guess, but I’m hoping to see a new Pokémon music game, perhaps in the style of DJ Hero. One can hope.

Gen 1-3, is now the time?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

One thing I've always wanted to happen in a Pokémon Presents broadcast is the announcement of the series' first three generations coming to Nintendo Switch Online. That's Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow for the Game Boy, Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal for Game Boy Color, and finally Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald for Game Boy Advance.

Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have always seemed oddly reluctant to host these legendary titles on Nintendo Switch Online's various libraries, and I'm not really sure why. Some of these games have been re-released in the past, on 3DS as Virtual Console titles. They'd surely also bring in new Switch Online subscribers in droves, especially while we wait on Pokémon Legends Z-A and a potential Gen 10.

Hopefully today is the day, but I won't hold my breath.

How likely is a Generation 10 reveal?

(Image credit: Niantic)

While there's certainly an outside chance the next mainline Pokémon titles get announced today, I don't think it's overly likely. Pokémon Legends Z-A is on the horizon, as well as Pokémon Champions.

Furthermore, Game Freak is currently developing Beast of Reincarnation, a multiplatform action game for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The developer will undoubtedly have its hands full with the upcoming game, so I'd estimate we're at least another year or two out from Pokémon's tenth generation.

That said, Pokémon games have routinely been on a notoriously rushed schedule. Most recently, we saw this with Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet launching within the same year, and you could clearly see the effects of this. I would hope Game Freak is instead given the proper amount of time to create Gen 10, better suited to the Switch 2's increased power.

One hour warning klaxon!

(Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)

This is your one-hour warning, people!

Only 60 minutes until we hopefully get a glimpse of some exciting new Pokémon news and details.

Get your snacks in order and your live stream of choice lined up! Remember, you can catch the presentation on YouTube or Twitch.

Eevee Mass Outbreak in Pokémon TCG Pocket

(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)

While you wait for the show to start, why not check out Pokémon TCG Pocket’s new limited time event? There’s now Eevee and Eevee evolutions in Wonder Picks, and even Missions that give out shop tickets as rewards. This event runs until July 29, so make sure to jump in and make the most of the new bonuses and rewards. It’s likely we’ll see more on Pokémon TCG Pocket during the event too.

• Existing Kiro users are being limited, new users are not currently being welcomed
• Pricing details have been pulled – could a change be on the way already?
• Users cited poor performance and a desire for additional models

Just days after Amazon Web Services launched its new Kiro AI coding tool, the company has imposed daily usage limits and a waitlist for new users due to high demand.

By imposing these temporary measures, AWS hopes to buy its teams time to scale the supporting infrastructure and improve performance, following complaints from early adopters that performance was already suboptimal.

Existing users are being advised not to install Kiro on multiple machines, with warnings now being triggered once they read the temporarily imposed usage limits.

AWS Kiro restrictions

Even though Kiro is barely a week old and the temporary restrictions are even newer, malicious actors have already been busy readying a fake download site to capitalize on users seeking unrestricted access. With no option to bypass limits or buy extra tokens, users are being urged to be patient.

Originally offered in free, Pro and Pro+ tiers, AWS has removed pricing details, stating that "updated pricing details for different tiers will be shared soon."

"The way humans and machines coordinate to build software is still messy and fragmented, but we're working to change that," Nikhil Swaminathan and Deepak Singh explained when they lifted the wraps off Kiro on July 14, 2025.

When it launched, Kiro was set to be free for users during a preview period, but that all changed when it popularity surpassed expectations.

Looking ahead, it's expected that paid plans with metering will return, though it's unclear whether AWS will make changes to the costs in light of high demand.

Further down the line, it's possible that AWS might also expand on the existing models available (Claude Sonnet 3.7 and 4.0), with users requesting support for Gemini 1.5 Pro.

You might also like

• Need an upgrade? These are the best laptops for programming
• Consider upgrading to the best AI tools and best AI writers for a handy boost
• From book sales to cloud market dominance: 30 years of Amazon have come and gone in a flash

Despite the growing hype around foldables from companies like Samsung and Motorola -- and maybe someday Apple -- most smartphone buyers aren't sold. Here's what's holding them back.