Technology

• Microsoft is improving sound quality for Bluetooth headphones
• This will allow for high-quality audio in Windows 11 while using a mic, benefiting gamers who often use in-game chat with a headset
• The PC and headphones will need to support Bluetooth LE Audio, though, and be running the latest version of Windows 11

Microsoft has announced that it's giving a major boost to the sound quality of Bluetooth headphones in Windows 11.

As Microsoft explains in a blog post (highlighted by Neowin), it's replacing the current way of facilitating wireless headphones, Bluetooth Classic Audio, with Bluetooth LE Audio in Windows 11. (The notable caveat being that you'll need hardware that supports the latter - and I'll come back to that).

Bluetooth Classic Audio is a rather clunky beast in that it has two modes of operation, neither of which offers a full solution for sound and the mic. With the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), you get full-quality audio, but there's no ability to use a microphone, which could be an issue if, say, you're gaming and want to use the headset's mic for in-game chat.

The alternative Hands-Free Profile (HFP) gives you support for the mic, but at a cost, namely lower audio quality. In fact, you don't get stereo with HFP, just mono audio played back in both ears. That has serious limitations in terms of not just poor sound quality - Microsoft compares it to listening to AM radio, versus CD quality with A2DP - but there's a lack of spatial effects too (which require stereo for their virtual positioning).

Bluetooth LE Audio solves these issues in one fell swoop, offering the same CD-quality audio as A2DP, but also allowing for the use of the mic at the same time. Indeed, this new way of working in Windows 11 offers 'super wideband' audio with a 32kHz sample rate, meaning even better voice quality.

(Image credit: gettyimages/luza studios)Analysis: it's about time, frankly

This is a welcome boost on the audio front, although in reality, it's more about making Bluetooth work properly - as it should - rather than a big step forward for Windows 11. Not having stereo playback if you want to use the mic is a huge downer, but sadly, this is the case for most people on Windows 11 right now.

What do you need to benefit from this new tech, then?

As already mentioned, your wireless headphones must support Bluetooth LE Audio, and your Windows 11 PC will also need to support LE Audio, too. Note that it's not enough for your PC to support Bluetooth LE, but specifically, you'll need LE Audio. Microsoft explains how to check if your Windows 11 device has this feature in a support document here.

If you have LE Audio - supported by your headphones, as well as a PC - you'll also have to be running Windows 11 24H2 updated to the latest version (the August update).

On top of this, you'll need a Bluetooth audio driver carrying support - and Microsoft notes that later this year, "some existing PC models will receive driver updates from the manufacturer to support the feature". So, you may have to be patient for a little while yet.

Microsoft also tells us that most new laptops being released late in 2025 should have this support baked in and be good-to-go from the off with this improved Bluetooth sound.

You might also like

• Windows 11 feature to resume Android apps on your PC is finally incoming - and I think this will be a great addition
• Microsoft promises to crack one of the biggest problems with Windows 11: slow performance
• Can't reset your Windows 11 or 10 PC? Microsoft rushes out fix after breaking vital recovery features

• Apple’s iPhone event will take place on September 9, 2025
• The event invitation might contain clues hinting at what we’ll see
• There are some products that definitely won’t be at the show, though

Invitations for Apple’s iPhone 17 event have just gone out, and the company has confirmed that the show will take place on September 9, 2025. That will give us our first glimpse of the iPhone 17 range and much more, and there could well be some hints buried in Apple’s “Awe dropping” invitation card.

The first clue lies in the event name. Apple has picked “Awe dropping” this year, and that suggests to us that the company is confident it has some big news to share. Based on the rumors we’ve seen so far, that could be the iPhone 17 Air, which will likely be Apple’s thinnest phone ever and something that could take the iPhone line in a new direction.

If you saw the Apple invitation on an iPad or iPhone, you might have noticed that you can interact with it: slide a finger or stylus over the Apple logo and its colors move to follow your input. That might be an allusion to Apple’s Liquid Glass redesign, which also features colorful visual effects that move and refract light.

Get ready for an awe dropping #AppleEvent on Tuesday, September 9! pic.twitter.com/uAcYp2RLMMAugust 26, 2025

Speaking of colors, Apple’s “Awe dropping” logo prominently showcases oranges, yellows and blues. That might point towards the iPhone 17’s colors, all of which supposedly feature in a photo from leaker Sonny Dickson that he claims showcases the entire phone line-up. Among the devices are dark blue and orange iPhone 17 Pro phones, as well as light blue and golden yellow iPhone 17 Air devices.

The event logo’s tones are also reminiscent of patterns produced by a heat-sensing device. Could that be an indication that Apple will improve the iPhone’s cooling abilities? There are rumors that the iPhone 17 roster will come with vapor chamber cooling, which would certainly be worth shouting about on Apple’s part.

What’s probably not coming to the show

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

All that said, there are a few things we’re unlikely to see at Apple’s September event. Firstly, pre-show indications suggest that the Mac line will be entirely absent, with Apple planning to launch new Macs either later in 2025 or in early 2026. If you want a new MacBook Pro or iMac, you’re probably going to have to wait.

Likewise, the HomePod is highly unlikely to make an appearance, despite strong claims that Apple is busy developing a HomePod with an integrated display and a version of the speaker that puts a screen on a robotic arm. There’s still a while to wait before those products are ready, though.

Finally, the AirPods Max headphones have been left largely unchanged since their 2020 launch, with just a USB-C port and new colors being added in 2024. Despite that, the device is not expected to be upgraded this September – and there are no suggestions that a new edition is planned for the foreseeable future, either.

Still, there should be plenty on show at Apple’s “Awe dropping” event. If the logo is anything to go by, we could have plenty on our plate.

You might also like

• iPhone 17 launch date official as Apple sends out invites for ’Awe dropping’ event – here are 5 things to expect
• iPhone 17: latest news and rumors for every expected model
• Why won't AirPods Max 2 be at the newly announced September Apple Event yet again? A report says they're 'too popular' to kill and 'not popular enough' to prioritize

KPop Demon Hunters has been the smash hit of the summer, and Netflix is keen to cash in. It's already rolling out KPop Demon Hunters experiences in its forthcoming Dallas and Philadelphia destinations, and according to Variety it's in early talks with Sony about making a sequel.

KPop Demon Hunters isn't so much a movie as a cultural phenomenon, according to Netflix's head of film Dan Lin who told The Hollywood Reporter: "As word of mouth spread and social media caught on, we saw viewing really take off and the movie became a cultural phenomenon – it’s one of the only films to grow its audiences in its fifth and six weeks of release."

This week it overtook Red Notice on Netflix's charts, taking the top spot as the most-watched film in Netflix's history. It also outgrossed Weapons and Freakier Friday in just two days of theatrical screenings that saw it topping the US box office.

The film has already racked up over 236 million total views on Netflix, and its soundtrack has broken records too. It's the first soundtrack to have four songs in the Billboard Top 10 in the same week.

Why KPop Demon Hunters is almost certainly going to get a sequel

The film has been a critical hit as well as a commercial one: it's currently sitting with 97% from the critics and 99% from the viewers on Rotten Tomatoes. As The Hollywood Reporter put it: "KPop Demon Hunters delivers not only a cornucopia of earworms whose melodies will be lingering in your brain for weeks, but also a fast and funny genre mash-up that puts most theatrical animated releases to shame."

Netflix's financial interest in making a sequel is obvious, but co-director Maggie Kang has already spoken of her desire to tell more stories in the KPop Demon Hunters universe. Speaking to Variety, she said that "We’ve set up so much for potential backstory. Obviously, there’s a lot of questions that are left unanswered and areas that are not explored, and we had to do that because there’s only so much movie you could tell in 85 minutes."

Where the first film focused on lead singer Rumi, "we have backstories for Zoey and Mira – ones that we actually put in the movie, but it just kind of rejected it. It just wasn’t the movie for those stories.”

KPop Demon Hunters is streaming now on Netflix.

You may also like

• Netflix cancels what could’ve been the next Virgin River even though the series had more views than Ransom Canyon
• 3 Body Problem season 2 filming is underway as star reveals: ‘The stuff they've got planned out is pretty epic’
• Ransom Canyon season 2: everything we know so far about the hit Netflix show's return

Commentary: Apple's fall event is coming on Sept. 9, according to an enigmatic invitation that raises more questions about what will be announced.

Where have you bean all my life?

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, August 27 (game #1311).

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 #1312) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

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

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

Quordle today (game #1312) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1312) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #1312) - 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 #1312) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• A

• T

• L

• N

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

Quordle today (game #1312) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1312, are…

• AFOOT
• TANGO
• LUMEN
• NAVAL

My Quordle nemesis – the letter V – caught me out again after I guessed banal instead of NAVAL. 

This was my only error of what was otherwise a really enjoyable game. I was particularly pleased to get AFOOT – Sherlock Holmes’s “the game is afoot” was whispering in my brain as I guessed that one.

Daily Sequence today (game #1312) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1312, are…

• WOOZY
• BURLY
• LOGIC
• IMAGE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1311, Wednesday, 27 August: TWEED, SCRAP, SHEIK, AWOKE
• Quordle #1310, Tuesday, 26 August: BEGET, WRATH, HEARD, INDEX
• Quordle #1309, Monday, 25 August: GEEKY, SHALT, CHIEF, JIFFY
• Quordle #1308, Sunday, 24 August: ROVER, GONER, ANTIC, OUTDO
• Quordle #1307, Saturday, 23 August: DEMON, GRATE, FLYER, SHEEP
• Quordle #1306, Friday, 22 August: TROOP, SCOPE, TORSO, BRINY
• Quordle #1305, Thursday, 21 August: QUEST, SPARK, WHITE, ACUTE
• Quordle #1304, Wednesday, 20 August: DOLLY, MERRY, BUGLE, WORST
• Quordle #1303, Tuesday, 19 August: KNAVE, SMART, CARRY, MAMMA
• Quordle #1302, Monday, 18 August: FIBER, TRADE, RAYON, TEASE
• Quordle #1301, Sunday, 17 August: FUNGI, AMITY, DRIER, CHECK
• Quordle #1300, Saturday, 16 August: OWING, QUAKE, SLIDE, ELITE
• Quordle #1299, Friday, 15 August: WHALE, PRISM, DRAKE, TEPEE
• Quordle #1298, Thursday, 14 August: LAPEL, IDIOM, RENEW, LIVER
• Quordle #1297, Wednesday, 13 August: CACTI, HOMER, EMAIL, ALBUM
• Quordle #1296, Tuesday, 12 August: SPOOL, TITLE, JAUNT, OVINE
• Quordle #1295, Monday, 11 August: ADULT, BROOM, PURER, CRUEL
• Quordle #1294, Sunday, 10 August: SCRUM, PIPER, TROLL, SPORE
• Quordle #1293, Saturday, 9 August: NOOSE, INLET, ELEGY, VIRUS
• Quordle #1292, Friday, 8 August: KNEEL, KINKY, RALPH, BOOZY

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, August 27 (game #808).

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 #809) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• CYBERSPACE
• KETTLE
• ROCK
• SNARE
• STEEL
• MAKESHIFT
• WEB
• WATER
• ICECAPS
• NET
• CUP
• DIAMOND
• TANGLE
• TEABAG
• CANTAB
• NAILS

NYT Connections today (game #809) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Caught up
• GREEN: Hot beverage 
• BLUE: Tough stuff 
• PURPLE: As seen on a laptop

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 #809) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: PLACES TO GET TRAPPED 
• GREEN: USED FOR TEA 
• BLUE: ASSOCIATED WITH HARDNESS 
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH KEYBOARD KEYS 

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

NYT Connections today (game #809) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #809, are…

• YELLOW: PLACES TO GET TRAPPED NET, SNARE, TANGLE, WEB
• GREEN: USED FOR TEA CUP, KETTLE, TEABAG, WATER
• BLUE: ASSOCIATED WITH HARDNESS DIAMOND, NAILS, ROCK, STEEL
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH KEYBOARD KEYS CANTAB, CYBERSPACE, ICECAPS, MAKESHIFT

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

I had an office job once in a team of eight British people and one American and I’ll always remember the latter's irritation after doing a tea run and discovering the many tea-making peccadillos of their co-workers: leave the teabag in, put the milk in first, put the milk in last, stir it five times, make sure you use boiling water, make it the color of terracotta.

Frankly, it’s no wonder that coffee has overtaken tea as the UK’s favorite beverage, it’s so much simpler.

My personal tea obsession helped me find USED FOR TEA quickly enough, although I did temporarily think we were looking for drums with SNARE, KETTLE and STEEL.

My mistake came in thinking that there was a group linked by words for the internet with CYBERSPACE, NET and WEB. I added CANTAB as the fourth. I had no idea what it meant, but I thought it might have been some 1950s version of the world wide web with people in universities chatting to each other via computers the size of houses. How wrong I was.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, August 27, game #808)

• YELLOW: RESTAURANT WATER OPTIONS BOTTLED, SPARKLING, STILL, TAP
• GREEN: ATM OPTIONS CHECKING, DEPOSIT, SAVINGS, WITHDRAWAL
• BLUE: BINARY QUESTION OPTIONS FALSE, NO, TRUE, YES
• PURPLE: ROULETTE OPTIONS BLACK, EVEN, ODD, RED

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, August 27 (game #542).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Do go on …

NYT Strands today (game #543) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• STALE
• BOAST
• QUOTE
• HATTER
• LIVE
• SORE

NYT Strands today (game #543) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #543) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 5th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #543) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #543, are…

• GABBY
• VERBOSE
• VOLUBLE
• TALKATIVE
• LOQUACIOUS
• SPANGRAM: CHATTERBOX

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 hint

Today’s theme gave us absolutely no clues at all, so I began by circling the board looking for possibilities and non-game words that would give me a hint. 

Among them, I saw Evita – which very briefly made me think we could be looking for musicals – but this was neither a game word or non-game word.

A hint gave me GABBY, which immediately made me think we were looking for words that describe someone who cannot stop talking. The first thing I thought of, and saw running across the board, was CHATTERBOX.

Some of the other words were less obvious – I had doubts over VOLUBLE as I connected the letters by guesswork and the wonderful LOQUACIOUS came last after several attempts to piece together a word that began with a Q.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, August 27, game #542)

• LAKE
• POND
• OCEAN
• HARBOR
• LAGOON
• SWAMP
• BAYOU
• SPANGRAM: BODIES OF WATER

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.

• CISA adds CVE-2025-48384 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
• Git patched it in July 2025, but there are also mitigations and workarounds
• Users should patch immediately, or face possible attack

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added a serious Git vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, warning of in-the-wild abuse and giving Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies three weeks to patch up.

The Git distributed version control system is a software development tool helping users keep track of code changes, allowing them to share it with others, and cooperate on different projects.

It was recently discovered that it had a bug where it handles special “carriage return” characters inconsistently - so when configuring submodules, this can trick Git into setting up a repository in the wrong place and then running hidden, attacker-supplied code.

Avoiding recursive submodule clones

The bug is tracked as CVE-2025-48384, and has a severity score of 8.0/10 (high). It was discovered in early July 2025, and fixed with a patch. Here is a list of patched up Git distributed version control system: 2.43.7, 2.44.4, 2.45.4, 2.46.4, 2.47.3, 2.48.2, 2.49.1, and 2.50.1.

Git is extremely popular. It is the standard version control system used by developers worldwide, and platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket all run on Git. Furthermore, almost every major software project, including Linux, Android, Chrome, and VS Code, uses it to manage code.

When CISA adds a bug to KEV, it usually means it has observed it being used in real-life attacks. This flaw was added on July 25, 2025, meaning FCEB agencies have until September 15 to patch it up or stop using Git altogether. Usually, other government agencies, as well as companies in the private sector, keep track of KEV and apply the updates at the same time, as well.

Those that are unable to patch can deploy a mitigation in the form of avoiding recursive submodule clones from untrusted sources. Furthermore, users should disable Git hooks globally via core.hooksPath, and enforce only audited submodules.

Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

• A cracked malicious version of a Go package lay undetected online for years
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

One of those stories you'd probably think was way too far-fetched if you didn't know it was based on true events, the five-episode Atomic hits screens on August 28 on Sky Atlantic in the UK and available for free in New Zealand thanks to TVNZ+. Read on for how to watch Atomic online from anywhere with a VPN and potentially for FREE.

Premiere date: Thursday, August 28

FREE stream: TVNZ+ (New Zealand)

Stream: Sky Atlantic (UK) | Binge / Foxtel (Aus)

Use NordVPN to watch any stream

Inspired by William Langewiesche’s account of his own barely believable story in the non-fiction book Atomic Bazaar, this miniseries takes viewers into the shady world of the nuclear weapons black market. Needless to say, it's a milieu fraught with danger, shady characters and potentially lethal consequences.

Expect plenty of tense confrontations and nail-biting chases across North Africa as drug smuggler Max (Alfie Allen) and mysterious JJ (Shazad Latif) are forced to join forces to pull off a perilous mission to traffic uranium across continents, with CIA operative Cassie Elliott (Samira Wiley) hot on their heels every step of the way.

We’ve got all the information on where to watch Atomic online and stream episodes from anywhere – including FREE options!

Can I watch Atomic for free?

You can watch Atomic online for free – but not in all countries.

The free-to-stream TVNZ+ website and app in New Zealand is showing episodes of Atomic absolutely free from August 28. All you need to do is register, using your email address, name, year of birth and gender.

Australians can also watch episodes for free by signing up to a free trial to streaming service Binge.

Not at home in those countries right now? That's where downloading the best VPN can help...

How to watch Atomic online from outside your country

If you’re traveling abroad when Atomic airs, you’ll be unable to watch the show like you normally would due to annoying regional restrictions. Luckily, there’s an easy solution.

Downloading a VPN will allow you to stream online, no matter where you are. It's a simple bit of software that changes your IP address, meaning that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home.

Use a VPN to watch Atomic from anywhere

NordVPN – get the world's best VPN
We regularly review all the biggest and best VPN providers and NordVPN is our #1 choice. It unblocked every streaming service in testing and it's very straightforward to use. Speed, security and 24/7 support available if you need – it's got it all.

The best value plan is the two-year deal which sets the price at $3.09 per month, and includes an extra 3 months absolutely FREE. There's also an all-important 30-day no-quibble refund if you decide it's not for you.

- Try NordVPN 100% risk-free for 30 daysView Deal

Can I watch Atomic in the US?

Shows like Atomic that go out on Sky in the UK often find their way to the Peacock platform in the US and the international rights for this are indeed held by NBCUniversal. However, it has not yet been confirmed if or when Atomic will be shown in the US.

Currently travelling to the US? You can watch your normal domestic stream using a VPN as described above.

Can I watch Atomic in Canada?

We suspect Atomic will eventually turn up on the Showcase channel and Global TV platform in Canada, but nothing has been announced at the time of writing.

Visiting Canada from New Zealand? Use NordVPN to access your free TVNZ+ stream of Atomic.

How to watch Atomic in the UK

Sky has the rights to will show Atomic in the UK.

It all gets started with two episodes from 9pm BST on Thursday, August 28 on Sky Atlantic. After that, the remaining three episodes will air one per week at the same on Thursday evenings.

Sky subscribers can stream episodes on their smartphone, smart TVs, games consoles and online via the Sky Go app. You can also watch Atomic through a Now Entertainment Membership from as little as £6.99 a month.

How to watch Atomic in Australia

Atomic will begin streaming on the Binge streaming service with episodes landing weekly on Thursdays from August 28. Try the service with its FREE 7-day trial, after which it costs from $10 a month.

On TV, episodes are due to go out on Fridays on Foxtel via Showcase at 8.30pm AEST, meaning you can also watch via Foxtel Now.

Atomic - Need to KnowAtomic cast

• Alfie Allen as Max
• Shazad Latif as JJ
• Samira Wiley as Cassie Ellio
• Brian Gleeson as Mark Ellis
• Franklin Virgüez as Antonio Alam
• Avital Lvova as Oksana Shirokova
• Stuart Martin as Rab Mackintosh
• Vahid Gold as Khaled Awad
• Charlie Murphy as Laetitia
• Mostafa Benkerroum as Rifat Atillah

Atomic episode guide

Atomic starts with a double bill in the UK on Thursday, August 28. Here's the full episode release date for UK viewers:

• Episode 1 – Thursday, August 28
• Episode 2 – Thursday, August 28
• Episode 3 – Thursday, September 4
• Episode 4 – Thursday, September 11
• Episode 5 – Thursday, September 18

VPN services are evaluated and tested by us in view of legal recreational use. For example:a) Access to services from other countries, (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).b) Safeguarding your online security and making your online privacy more robust when abroad.Future plc does not support nor condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. We do not endorse nor approve of consuming pirated content that is paid-for.

• Citrix fixes three flaws in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway
• Among them is a critical-severity one used as a zero-day which allowed for RCE and DoS attacks

Citrix has fixed three bugs in its NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway instances, including a critical zero-day flaw which was apparently being abused in the wild.

In a new advisory, the company said it patched multiple flaws, including a memory overflow vulnerability that could lead to remote code execution (RCE) or Denial of Service (DoS) attacks in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway (when NetScaler is configured as Gateway or AAA virtual server).

The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-7775 and has a severity score of 9.2/10 (critical).

Configuration flaws

Citrix has urged users to patch up immediately since the hackers are already leveraging the bug in real-life attacks.

"As of August 26, 2025 Cloud Software Group has reason to believe that exploits of CVE-2025-7775 on unmitigated appliances have been observed, and strongly recommends customers to upgrade their NetScaler firmware to the versions containing the fix as there are no mitigations available to protect against a potential exploit," it said.

Fortunately, leveraging the bug is not particularly straightforward, as devices need to be configured in a specific way for that to happen:

- NetScaler must be configured as Gateway (VPN virtual server, ICA Proxy, CVPN, RDP Proxy) or AAA virtual server

- NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway 13.1, 14.1, 13.1-FIPS and NDcPP: LB virtual servers of type (HTTP, SSL or HTTP_QUIC) bound with IPv6 services or servicegroups bound with IPv6 servers

- NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway 13.1, 14.1, 13.1-FIPS and NDcPP: LB virtual servers of type (HTTP, SSL or HTTP_QUIC) bound with DBS IPv6 services or servicegroups bound with IPv6 DBS servers CR virtual server with type HDX

Citrix has released configuration settings that can check if the NetScaler device’s configuration leaves it vulnerable to exploits.

Other two bugs patched are a memory overflow vulnerability tracked as CVE-2025-7776, and an improper access control on the NetScaler Management Interface bug tracked as CVE-2025-8424.

Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

• CitrixBleed 2 flaws are officially here - so get patching or leave your systems at risk
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

It's not long now until Foundation season 3 is over. Three episodes remain before the Apple TV Original's latest installment comes to a close, so I suspect you'll want to know when its eight chapter will air on the tech giant's streaming platform.

As I've done every week prior to this one, I'll tell you when the space opera's next entry will be available to watch on one of the world's best streaming services. If you're new around these parts, you'll also find a full release schedule at the end of this article, so you can see when episodes 9 and 10 will be released. So, hop to it!

What is the launch date for Foundation season 3 episode 8?

I'm not sure how Brother Day's going to get out of this one, fellow viewers... (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Season 3's eighth episode, titled 'Skin in the Game', will make its Apple TV+ bow on Friday, August 29. As always, I imagine North and South American viewers will be able to tune in a day earlier (August 28) due to the time zones that operate on these continents.

Like its Apple TV Original brethren, the release times for new entries of Foundation's third season aren't publicly revealed ahead of schedule. The below times, then, are the best predictions I can make, based on when other episodes have launched on the service, about the release time for 'Skin in the Game':

• US – Thursday, August 28 at 9pm PT / Friday, August 8 at 12am ET
• Canada – Thursday, August 28 at 9pm PT / Friday, August 8 at 12am ET
• UK – Friday, August 29 at 5am BST
• India – Friday, August 29 at 9:30am IST
• Singapore – Friday, August 29 at 12pm SGT
• Australia – Friday, August 29 at 2pm AEST
• New Zealand – Friday, August 29 at 4pm NZST

When will new episodes of Foundation season 3 come out?

No need to antagonize Doctor Seldon about new episode release dates, The Mule – just read our handy guide instead! (Image credit: Apple TV+)

Want to know when the final two episodes of one of the best Apple TV+ shows' third season will debut? Read on:

• Foundation season 3 episode 1 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 2 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 3 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 4 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 5 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 6 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 7 – out now
• Foundation season 3 episode 8 – Friday, August 29
• Foundation season 3 episode 9 – Friday, September 5
• Foundation season 3 episode 10 – Friday, September 12

You might also like

• Here's everything we know about Severance season 3
• Find out what we know so far about Ted Lasso season 4
• Or get the lowdown on Slow Horses season 5

• Users will no longer need to apply Windows updates after first signing in
• By updating during the OOBE, PCs are protected from day one
• The change applies to Microsoft Entra joined and hybrid joined devices

Starting from September 2025, Windows 11 (22H2 or later) devices will be able to install quality updates during the Out of the Box Experience (OOBE) by default, which means it’s set to become even easier for admins to install updates during setup.

The change applies to Microsoft Entra joined and Entra hybrid joined devices.

For IT admins, they’ll see Windows now checks for and installs applicable updates on the final OOBE page so that users won’t need to apply any updates when they sign in for the first time.

Smoother Windows updates for all

“With Windows Autopilot and Microsoft Intune (or alternative management solutions), you can maintain seamless control over quality update behavior during provisioning, while ensuring alignment with organizational security and compliance requirements,” Microsoft Product Manager Victoria Wang wrote in a blog post,

The system requires that devices are running Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, Education or SE, and companies must be using Microsoft Intune to manage Windows quality updates.

The OOBE updating experience is also only available for those who have had the August 2025 OOBE zero-day patch or those imaged with the June 2025 Windows non-security update.

Because devices will be handed out to workers with the latest security and quality updates, companies can improve security and compliance right from day one. It also reduces burden on workers and IT teams after device handout.

This marks a welcome change from the previous setup, which saw end users having to update their computers after receiving them.

The improvement comes as more companies update to Windows 11 ahead of the impending Windows 10 end of support in October 2025.

Canalys Research Manager Kieren Jessop explained that the commercial refresh cycle is now “providing vital momentum for the [PC] market” while consumers exercise more caution.

You might also like

• Ready to upgrade? These are the best business laptops and best mobile workstations
• Microsoft launches new hyper-powered disaster recovery service for Cloud PCs
• Desk workers should consider the best workstations

• Bluesound launches the big Pulse Cinema Dolby Atmos soundbar
• And also the much more compact Pulse Cinema Mini
• Pulse Cinema: $1,499 / £1,149 | Pulse Cinema Mini: $999 / £799

Bluesound has announced two serious soundbars in a choice of sizes. The flagship Pulse Cinema is a 47-inch-wide model, making it suitable for TVs of 55 inches and up, and the Pulse Cinema Mini is a more compact 33 inches, so should work for TVs of 40 inches and up.

Both models are pretty powerful, with Dolby Atmos support, hi-res audio and MQA support, and Bluesound's BluOS multi-room audio platform.

BluOS works with over 20 streaming services including TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora and Deezer, and it supports hi-res audio up to 24-bit/192kHz. And the speakers can be teamed up with other Bluesound speakers to create a larger, multi-channel surround system.

Both soundbars are compatible with home systems from the likes of Control4, Crestron, RTI and others.

(Image credit: Bluesound)Bluesound Pulse Cinema and Pulse Cinema Mini: key features and pricing

The Pulse Cinema is the star here, with 500 watts of power driving 16 drivers including a center channel, dual four-inch woofers and dedicated upfiring speakers. There's on-board digital signal processing to adjust the audio depending on placement – the soundbar can be wall-mounted as well as sat on a unit – and there's HDMI eARC, optical input, analog RCA inputs, Bluetooth in and out and AirPlay 2. There's also a subwoofer output.

This makes it an interestingly expandable competitor to the Sonos Arc Ultra – it adds more analogue inputs, and the subwoofer output means you can connect whatever kind of low-end driver you want, similar to the Marshall Heston 120.

But it also costs more than the Sonos Arc Ultra, so that power will have to really come through in the real-world.

The Pulse Cinema Mini is smaller but it still packs a punch: it has 280W of power. There aren't any up-firing Atmos speakers here but there are angled drivers and Atmos 2.1-channel virtualization. Once again there's a subwoofer out, optical and RCA inputs, Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 – and again, this makes it more versatile in some ways than the Sonos Beam 2, but also more expensive.

The Pulse Cinema and Pulse Cinema Mini will be available for pre-order on 24 September 2025 with shipping starting on October 24. The prices are:

• Pulse Cinema $1,499 / £1,149 / €1,299 (about AU$2,315)
• Pulse Cinema Mini $999 / £799 / €899 (about AU$1,543)

You might also like

• The best soundbars: TV audio upgrade for all budgets
• The best Dolby Atmos soundbars for all budgets
• The best cheap soundbars, all tested by our experts

• Framework and Nvidia have teamed up to introduce swappable laptop GPUs, starting with a new RTX 5070 module
• The Framework Laptop 16 with RTX 5070 is now available for pre-order, and the GPU module will soon be sold separately for upgrades
• This idea is an improvement from the swappable MXM laptop GPUs of the past

Upgrading a gaming notebook to get better performance usually means buying an entirely new system - maybe one of the best gaming laptops out there - but one laptop manufacturer, Framework, and Nvidia are hoping to change all that.

As reported by The Verge, the Framework Laptop 16 features an upgradable Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics module, allowing gamers to swap the existing GPU with a new and more powerful one. This Framework Laptop 16 packing the RTX 5070 module is now available for pre-order, with the first batch shipping in November.

Framework claims the installation of the Blackwell graphics module takes 'under five minutes' using the tools provided, and by the looks of it, installation should be a simple slot-and-screw process after removing the existing GPU.

While there's no option to buy it yet, Framework will be selling the Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics module individually.

Essentially, this is bringing the advantage of a desktop gaming PC to the laptop world, making easy GPU upgrades possible. Of course, the RTX 5070 mobile graphics card isn't as powerful as its desktop counterpart, but it still offers plenty of grunt for a notebook. And it's clearly a huge upgrade from the Framework Laptop 16's previous AMD Radeon RX 7700S GPU.

Now, it's worth noting that this isn't the first swappable laptop GPU. MXM GPUs allowed gamers to perform this same trick of switching out an old laptop graphics card for a new model.

However, these pretty much vanished in the last decade (at least for gaming or mainstream laptops), and besides, they weren't the best option for non-tech-savvy gamers anyway. Installation required deeper disassembly and complications including reapplying thermal paste.

In contrast, with Framework and Nvidia's new GPU module, it's claimed to only take a few minutes to install via a simple unscrewing and replacing process. The end result is a more than capable Blackwell GPU with tools like DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation at its disposal. There's also a USB-C output on the module that can transmit to an external monitor and charge the system simultaneously.

Graphics module removal may be easier than you think... (Image credit: Framework)Analysis: could we see something similar for handhelds in the future?

Swappable chips in handhelds might sound far-fetched right now, but what could we possibly write off at this point?

Swappable laptop GPUs aren't entirely unheard of, as already noted, but in contemporary times, they may have sounded like a myth to many – but now they are again a reality.

We're already seeing mind-blowing designs like a DIY RTX 4090-powered handheld, and the GPD Win 5 with detachable battery functionality (which may be a negative for some) while using AMD's most powerful APU, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395.

If that's not a strong sign that things are only heading upwards from here in terms of portable gaming PC hardware, then I'm not sure what is – and I won't be surprised if we see something similar to what Framework and Nvidia have cooked up here in future handhelds.

You might also like...

• Watch out, Nvidia: AMD's FSR 4 tech offers a big leap for PC games – but there's a catch
• The ROG Xbox Ally's official release date has been announced, but pricing is still a mystery
• I think the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is the only gaming laptop I'd spend money on – and it's all thanks to Nvidia's powerful RTX 5070 Ti

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair wrote a letter to 13 US tech giants, calling on them to resist foreign demands to weaken encryption or censor content
• FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson specifically mentions the EU Digital Service Act, UK Online Safety Act, and UK Investigatory Powers Act as problematic
• The pledge comes days after the US managed to get the UK to drop the encryption backdoor demand against Apple

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is calling on US tech giants to resist foreign demands to either weaken the security of their users by breaking encryption protections or impose censorship on their platforms.

On Thursday, August 21, 2025, FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson wrote a letter to 13 tech companies, including Apple, Alphabet (parent firm behind Google), Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon.

Ferguson specifically mentions the EU Digital Service Act, UK Online Safety Act, and UK Investigatory Powers Act as attempts to "censor content or degrade security for users." These actions, he warns, could also violate Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act that prohibits unfair or deceptive acts, while eroding Americans' freedoms and online security.

"Foreign governments seeking to limit free expression or weaken data security in the United States might count on the fact that companies have an incentive to simplify their operations and legal compliance measures by applying uniform policies across jurisdictions," wrote Ferguson.

This pledge comes only days after the US officials managed to score a win and made the UK agree to drop its encryption backdoor request against Apple, which was issued back in February via a Technical Capability Notice (TCN) under the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act.

A greater push for control

(Image credit: Photo Illustration by Idrees Abbas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The UK and the EU have pushed for greater control over the internet in the name of safety over the last few years, crafting legislation that often requires US tech providers to adjust their services.

There are two main areas of contention: encryption and harmful, but legal, content.

Encryption refers to the technology used by security software like the best VPN apps, secure email, and encrypted messaging apps to keep online communications private between you and the receiver.

While that's a crucial protection – especially as major cyberattacks like Salt Typhoon become the norm – authorities see this as an obstacle to criminal investigation and are pushing for the creation of backdoors into encrypted software.

The likes of Signal and WhatsApp have already voiced their concerns against laws and proposals such as the UK Online Safety Act and EU Chat Control.

US tech firms and officials alike have also been raising concerns about new UK and EU requirements to mitigate online dangers by halting the spread of misinformation and content that could harm minors.

These frictions led the Trump administration to consider imposing sanctions on the EU for censoring Americans and imposing higher costs on US tech firms under its Digital Service Act – Reuters reported on Monday, August 26.

You might also like

• Europe needs to decouple from Big Tech USA: Here are 5 ways it can be achieved
• The Online Safety Act isn't just about age verification – end-to-end encryption is also at risk
• "A war against online anonymity" – why Switzerland wants to change its surveillance law and what's at stake

• The ROG Xbox Ally X's early benchmark indicates strengths in power efficiency and cooling
• Gaming at 18W TDP with frame generation yields high frame-rates in Doom: The Dark Ages with low temperatures
• Pricing is still not confirmed ahead of its October 16 launch

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X launch isn't too far away, with the handheld landing on October 16 to challenge the best handheld gaming PCs on the market. However, early benchmarks have given us an insight into what we should expect performance-wise – and I'm not convinced just yet.

As highlighted by Windows Report, the ROG Xbox Ally X excels at power efficiency and cooling, based on early benchmarks by Cary Golomb on X. At 18W TDP (Thermal Power Design or, essentially, power consumption) with FSR upscaling, ray tracing, and frame generation enabled, it hit 70fps in intensive sequences in Doom: The Dark Ages.

This was achieved while using AMD's Ryzen Z2 AI Extreme processor, with the GPU load at 97%, and the temperature remaining stable at 57C. Gamers will be able to save plenty of battery life while using the Xbox Ally X on the go, thanks to its 80Wh battery, and this early benchmark is a clear indication of that.

ROG Xbox ALLY X Doom the Dark Ages1080p upscaled (FSR 50% 540p base res)Ray Tracing enabledCustom low-medium settingsFSR Frame-gen enabled.~70fps in this scene.~26w total (~18w TDP) but good news is we see the system self balancing power.My YouTube video tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/v6gh6uhpkhAugust 22, 2025

However, without the use of frame gen in this early benchmark, the frame rate would likely fall between 35 to 40fps, which isn't that much better than you would get with the Z2 Extreme's predecessor, the Z1 Extreme.

It's unclear whether the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor used in the ROG Xbox Ally will show significant performance differences over the standard Z2 Extreme. One thing that's clear to me (based on early showcases), though, is that this handheld isn't impressive enough to warrant a high price tag.

Analysis: A minor improvement from the Ryzen Z1 Extreme isn't worth the cost

Now, I must reiterate that the price for the ROG Xbox Ally X isn't confirmed and is due to be announced later in September once pre-orders become available. However, all the signs from rumors and leaks point towards the device costing €899 – that would work out to around $1,050 (about £775 / AU$1,600) or potentially more. If that's the case, then its future success could be in the balance.

It's worth noting that the ROG Xbox Ally will be the cheaper and less powerful alternative, reportedly costing €599 (which should be around $700, or about £520 / AU$1,070), but its Ryzen Z2A with RDNA 2 architecture is highly unlikely to challenge the Ryzen Z1 Extreme.

Based on benchmarks between the Ryzen Z2 Extreme and the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, the performance jump does not appear to be significant enough to warrant paying $1,000; the original Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go handhelds can be found much cheaper on sale.

As I've said before, I've got my eye on the Lenovo Legion Go S using the Z1 Extreme, since it's the only reasonable upgrade for me with 32GB of RAM and an 8-inch screen. Any other handheld is priced too high, and unfortunately, it looks like the ROG Xbox Ally X is joining that list, too.

You might also like...

• Best Xbox One games 2025: top titles to play right now
• New Xbox Series X games 2025 - the most anticipated Xbox release dates
• Where to buy the Asus ROG Xbox Ally handhelds: latest pre-order details, key information, and best early retailer links to bookmark now

• Square Enix has announced the dates for Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival 2026
• The three events take place next year across the US, Europe, and Japan
• We can likely expect the first details of the game's next expansion to be revealed

Great news, fellow Warriors of Light: Square Enix has just announced the official dates for Final Fantasy 14's Fan Festival 2026.

In case you're new to the popular MMORPG, or are generally unfamiliar, Fan Festival (usually shortened to 'Fan Fest') is a bi-annual in-person convention meant to celebrate everything Final Fantasy 14. You can usually expect game-related challenges, musical performances, cosplay contests and the like.

More importantly, though, is that developer Creative Studio 3 - including game director Naoki Yoshida - typically reveals the first details of Final Fantasy 14's next expansion at Fan Fest. So whether you're going in-person or not, you'll certainly want to tune in if you're a fan of the game.

The first of next year's Fan Fest events is to take place at Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, US, on April 24, 2026. The second is three months later at Messe Berlin, Germany, on July 25. Finally, Tokyo's Makuhari Messe will host the last of three Fan Fests on October 31. Spooky!

Typically a two-day event, each Fan Fest gradually reveals more information about Final Fantasy 14's upcoming expansion. If next year's events follow similar patterns, we can expect preliminary info and a title drop at the US convention. More detailed info, including new areas, jobs (read: classes), extended trailers and release date will then be revealed at the European and Japanese-based events.

While we won't know the next expansion's official release date for a while, we can speculate based off of Tokyo's Dawntrail Fan Fest, for the game's current major expansion. That took place on January 7, 2024, with the expansion launching roughly six months later on July 2.

With the next Tokyo Fan Fest airing on October 31 - November 1, there are some concerns among the fanbase that we may not get to play Final Fantasy 14's next expansion until mid-2027. That would be an awful long time to wait, so hopefully, we can expect to play it a little earlier than what we might think.

You might also like...

• Fortnite Dino Megazord release date and what to expect from the new Power Rangers skin
• 'Just rely on backwards compatibility' – Switch 2 dev kits aren't making their way to some studios, and it could be a deliberate move from Nintendo
• The next Nintendo Direct showcase will reportedly air next month, just in time for Super Mario Bros.' 40th anniversary

• Report find CISOs are less confident in their staff protecting their companies
• Nearly twice as many experienced a material data loss this year
• Many are worried about AI’s risks, some are set to use it to their benefits

Barely more than half (57%) of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) believe staff understand their role in protecting the company, new research from Proofpoint has claimed.

The figure is down from 84% in 2024, and comes alongside a finding that despite their best efforts and investments in preventative measures, human error remains the top vulnerability, cited by around three in five CISOs.

This comes as three in four (74%) UK CISOs experienced material data loss in the past year – nearly double the 39% in 2024.

UK CISOs are worried that workers are risking their companies

Proofpoint's research added 86% of the material data loss instances involved departing employees, yet despite awareness programs, 30% of organizations still lack insider risk resources.

Looking ahead, nearly two-thirds (63%) are expecting a material cyberattack in the next 12 months, and yet nearly as many (61%) admit their organization is unprepared to respond with 57% prepared to pay a ransom to quickly restore systems or prevent data leaks.

Cybercriminals aside (as AI tools have lowered the entry barrier while simultaneously boosting attack sophistication), CISOs are also worried about AI use within their companies. Two in three (66%) restrict employee GenAI use altogether, with only 60% boasting GenAI usage guidelines.

“As GenAI adoption accelerates both opportunity and threat, CISOs are being asked to do more with less, navigate unprecedented complexity, and still safeguard what matters most,” Proofpoint Global Resident CISO Patrick Joyce noted.

Still, more than half (55%) are exploring AI-enhanced defenses moving forward, with 72% prioritizing safe GenAI use over the next two years.

“CISOs now face a dual responsibility: harnessing AI to strengthen their security posture while ensuring its ethical and responsible use,” Proofpoint Chief Strategy Officer Ryan Kalember added.

However, all of this has resulted in increased pressure on CISOs – 67% report excessive expectations (up from 62% last year), and 58% have either experienced or witnessed burnout in the past year.

Kalember noted that CISOs have now become central to company decision-making, however Proofpoint’s research revealed boardroom alignment with UK CISOs has declined from 84% in 2024 to 57% in 2025, suggesting they’re not getting the support they need.

Looking ahead, companies can make subtle changes to close the insider risk gap and to enhance data loss protection while also establishing CISO role clarity in the AI era.

You might also like

• We’ve listed the best endpoint protection software
• Prepare for evolving attacks with the best ransomware protection
• UK firms at at risk of more cyber incidents - here's how to stay protected

The browser wars are back — only this time, the battleground isn’t tabs or load times. It’s intelligence.

A new wave of AI-powered browsers promises to transform how we interact with the web, turning passive pages into active assistants that summarize, search, automate, and act on your behalf. But while the tech may feel novel, the business model behind it isn’t. These browsers don’t just offer smarter tools — they risk ushering in a new era of data extraction, baked into the very architecture of how we browse.

On 9 July, Perplexity launched Comet — a slick new browser that promises to revolutionize how we interact with the web using embedded AI assistants. Soon, OpenAI is expected to follow, reportedly designing its browser to take on Google Chrome by baking agentic AI models directly into the browsing experience. These models won’t just help you navigate the web — they’ll act on your behalf, making decisions, summarizing content, and even initiating tasks.

For all the talk of innovation, though, there’s an uncomfortable sense of déjà vu. Because while the front end may be changing, the business model behind it all feels eerily familiar — surveillance, packaged as convenience.

Privacy failures

We’ve been down this road before. For anyone who remembers Cambridge Analytica or Google’s $5 billion Incognito tracking lawsuit, the idea that tech companies might exploit user data in the name of progress shouldn’t come as a surprise.

What is surprising, though, is how quickly AI companies are embracing the very same privacy failures that landed their Web 2.0 predecessors in hot water. Comet, for instance, reportedly tracks “everything users do online” to build hyper-personalized ad profiles — a move straight out of the early-2000s Google playbook.

But this isn’t just a repeat of the past. The stakes are much higher now. AI systems don’t simply store information — they learn from it. They don’t just record your browsing history — they analyze it, infer your intent, predict your preferences, and adapt to your behavior. This isn’t passive tracking. It’s predictive, persuasive, and increasingly invisible.

Invisibility

And that invisibility is part of the problem. When a browser starts finishing your sentences, anticipating your questions, and helping with your emails, it feels like magic. But behind that seamless experience is a complex black box trained on your digital life. And unlike cookies or ad IDs, this kind of data isn’t easily wiped.

Once an AI model ingests your personal information, there’s no reliable way to make it forget. What goes in becomes part of the model’s DNA — shaping its outputs long after you’ve closed the tab.

Some argue that users understand this trade-off — that people are willingly giving up privacy for smarter tools. But let’s not pretend “I agree” on a 12,000-word terms of service means informed consent.

Most users don’t know what they’re giving away, let alone how it might be used months or years down the line. We’ve normalized this kind of ambient data collection to the point that it barely registers as a privacy issue anymore. That doesn’t make it harmless. It just makes it harder to spot.

Building user trust

As the founder of Aloha Browser, I’ve spent years watching the industry flirt with these trade-offs. I understand the temptation to lean into data-driven personalization. But I also know that building user trust requires restraint, not reach. Respecting people’s boundaries shouldn’t be considered radical — it should be the baseline.

The urgency of this moment isn’t just technical — it’s also regulatory. Earlier this month, the European Commission released a voluntary Code of Practice for general-purpose AI models, marking the first major milestone in the rollout of the EU’s AI Act.

Full compliance will become mandatory by August 2026, but these early guidelines already signal the direction of travel — transparency, documentation, and accountability. Europe now has the chance to lead by example — to show that it’s possible to build transformative AI products without reverting to the surveillance capitalism model that defined the last digital era.

Invisible surveillance

But regulation moves slowly, and the industry doesn’t wait. The AI browsers launching now will set precedents — technical, legal, and cultural — that could shape the next decade of digital life.

If we let these tools define “normal” before the rules catch up, we may find ourselves trapped in an architecture of invisible surveillance that’s far more entrenched than anything we faced in Web 2.0. If we’re not careful, today’s AI browsers could usher in a form of surveillance even more pervasive — and less visible — than anything we saw with Cambridge Analytica.

We don’t have to accept that outcome. If we don’t fight for privacy now, we’ll lose it — not with a bang, but with an instant, frictionless click.

We've featured the best business VPN.

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