Technology

• XeSS 2's SDK is now freely available to game developers, as Intel releases it via GitHub
• Assassin's Creed Shadows will feature XeSS 2 when it launches on March 20
• This will be great for handheld, Intel Arc GPU, and ultrabook laptop gamers

While AMD and Nvidia make big moves for gamers with the Radeon RX 9000 series and RTX 5000 series GPUs respectively, Intel remains a potential dark horse for affordable PC gaming this generation. Its already-launched Battlemage Arc B580 and B570 GPUs offer strong alternatives to AMD and Nvidia's more affordable options - and now, it's taken a great step that will further help gamers.

As reported by TweakTown, Intel's XeSS 2 SDK is now available to download via GitHub, meaning game developers will be able to implement the technology (with full functionality) into their games. This means XeSS 2 (powered by AI) Super Resolution, Frame Generation, and XeLL Low Latency will likely show up in upcoming titles - and the prime example is Assassin's Creed Shadows, which will feature XeSS 2 and launches on March 20.

A wide range of Intel's hardware including the Arc B580 and B570, Lunar Lake APUs, and the full suite of Intel Core Ultra laptop chips will have access to the full range of XeSS 2 features, notably within the best Ultrabooks and the recent MSI Claw 8 AI+. However, some older hardware won't have access to XeSS 2's Frame Generation due to a lack of AI capabilities - this is similar to Nvidia's DLSS 3 and 4, as its AI-powered Frame Generation tech isn't available on RTX 3000 and older GPUs.

In short, Team Blue is making a serious effort to catch up to AMD and Nvidia; the Battlemage GPUs are a great starting point, and future enhancements to its XeSS technologies could take it a step closer.

I want it... (Image credit: MSI) This has me even more excited to own an MSI Claw 8 AI+ handheld...

As much as I love my Asus ROG Ally, it's gradually starting to collect dust. I yearn for a more powerful handheld gaming device, to push performance levels higher, and the MSI Claw 8 AI+ looks like the perfect answer. With XeSS 2's SDK now readily available for developers, it's probably the ideal time to get my claws on a Claw.

AMD's FSR 4 won't be available on anything other than RDNA 4 hardware - and that's a huge bummer for me and many other hoping that the likes of the ROG Ally or Lenovo's Legion Go (including its new prototype) would benefit retroactively from the new upscaling technology. The only other serious option (for now) is the MSI Claw 8 AI+, as it has access to all of XeSS 2's offerings - and I've been absolutely gushing over it based on performance showcases and benchmarks.

The same goes for Ultrabooks using compatible Intel processors - gamers will be able to enjoy XeSS 2 in more games in the future, and as integrated graphics keep improving, it's exactly what is needed for more variety away from Nvidia and AMD: it's worth noting that DLSS 4 and FSR 4 are already available in a decent amount of titles (a number that will only continue to grow), so it's great to see that Team Blue has made efforts to expand XeSS 2's reach.

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• Bitdefender found more than 300 Android apps used to display unwanted ads
• Almost all apps have so far been removed from the Play Store
• Some of the apps even tried to steal sensitive data

Hundreds of Android applications, installed millions of times from the Google Play Store, were part of a large-scale ad fraud campaign that displayed unwanted ads and tried to steal sensitive data from the victims, experts have warned.

Cybersecurity researchers from Bitdefender, who also credited IAS Threat Lab, said they discovered at least 331 apps that were available via the Google Play Store which, cumulatively, amassed more than 60 million downloads, mostly on older Android variants (Android 13 and older).

The apps were mimicking simple utility apps such as QR scanners, expense tracking apps, health apps, wallpaper apps, and others.

Protecting your Android phone

Most applications first became active on Google Play in Q3 2024, and by the time Bitdefender’s research completed, only 15 remained active. The vast majority of victims are located in Brazil, followed by the US, Mexico, Turkey, and South Korea.

When the victims downloaded one of the apps, they first hide their icons from the launcher (something that’s only possible on older versions of Android). The apps retained “some functionality”, but they are able to show out-of-context ads over other applications in the foreground. Some try to gather user credentials, credit card data, and other information.

Some apps can even start without user interaction, something that shouldn’t be possible even on Android 13.

While eventually all of the apps will be removed from the Play Store, people who have them installed on their devices remain at risk. If your Android smartphone is acting strange (lagging, displaying ads over different ads, overheating, spending data while idle), make sure to remove any unwanted apps, or those that you aren’t actively using.

Furthermore, if possible, make sure to use the latest version of Android. At the moment, that is Android 15, with the next iteration scheduled for later in 2025.

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• Microsoft is sending out emails to push people to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11
• While on the face of it, that seems a useful move to help some users, Microsoft’s angling of the email is far from ideal
• It also runs the risk of making Windows 10 users feel spammed, particularly as they’re still getting nudged numerous times within the OS itself

Microsoft is once again trying to persuade Windows 10 users that they need to upgrade to Windows 11, ahead of the impending cessation of support for the older operating system later this year.

This time, though, the nudge to upgrade isn’t being delivered within Windows 10 itself, but via email – although it isn’t the first time Microsoft has tried this approach.

I received an email from Microsoft (sent to the email address linked to my Microsoft account) regarding my Windows 10 PC needing an upgrade at the end of November 2024, a few months back, but now the software giant is sending out fresh messages to upgrade this month.

I didn’t get this latest mail (not yet, anyway), but Windows Latest did, and although it carries the same title, a warning that ‘End of support for Windows 10 is approaching,’ the email itself is somewhat different.

The overall thrust of the content is similar though. There’s a prominent reminder of the exact date that Microsoft halts support for Windows 10 – which happens on October 14, 2025 – and some suggestions of what to do with your old PC (trade it in, or recycle the machine). You can also click a link to check your upgrade eligibility for Windows 11.

Microsoft also clarifies that your PC will continue to work, it’s just that there will be no more support – as in software updates – piped through. There’s also a link to some blurb on how Windows 11 is more secure (which is certainly true), and a nudge to use OneDrive to back up your files if you plan to use Windows 10 after the deadline has passed, heading into 2026.

(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird) Analysis: Overstepping boundaries and taking some odd angles

There are a couple of things that strike me as odd here. Firstly, the plug for OneDrive feels very gratuitous, and hardly a solution to counter the prospect of having your PC compromised by running an out-of-date OS. Where on earth is the stern warning that it really isn’t a good idea to run Windows 10 on your PC when support for the operating system expires?

As you may be aware, without security updates, your computer will be left vulnerable to exploits, as when holes appear in Windows 10, they will no longer be patched up – a recipe for disaster, potentially.

Of course, if you really want to stick with Windows 10, then for the first time ever, consumers can pay to extend support, and I’d recommend you do so (for other options, explore my article on how to prepare for Windows 10 End of Life). Oddly enough, Microsoft doesn’t mention this extension of support in its email.

I say it’s odd, but then, Microsoft would really prefer you upgrade to Windows 11 anyway, either on your current PC – if it’s eligible – or by purchasing a new Windows 11 computer. And to that end, there’s a link in the email to ‘explore new computers’ which is something Microsoft has been urging us to do for a while now. As I’ve discussed before, there’s arguably merit to the suggestion in some ways, but a whole lot of other concerns outweighing that around the environmental toll that a ton of Windows 10 PCs ending up on the scrapheap might usher in.

These are serious worries, and likely why Microsoft is sending the other message in this email advising on recycling (or trading in) your old Windows 10 PC if you do upgrade.

The other point here is do you want to be getting emails direct from Microsoft about Windows 10 upgrades? Well, in some ways, I guess it’s better (or at least slightly less annoying) than being pushed to upgrade within the operating system itself, but the problem is, Microsoft is doing that as well – so Windows 10 users are getting both barrels, as it were. Sigh…

We can likely expect several further barrages of these kind of emails as 2025 progresses, and the October support deadline draws nearer – messages that folks may well be wanting their spam filter to deal with, frankly.

Don’t get me wrong here: I’m not saying it isn’t important to warn consumers about the dangers of an out-of-date operating system – it definitely is – but Microsoft is rather overstepping with its broad approach here, and worse still, this particular email actually undersells those dangers (while overselling other Microsoft products).

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• Adobe launches 10 new CX and marketing agents at Summit 2025
• One of them will optimize your website for you completely hands-free
• AI agents are also enhancing customer interactions

Adobe has introduced 10 new purpose-built AI agents it says can enhance customer experiences and marketing workflows across its Adobe Experience Cloud and has already promised to add more soon.

Unveiling the new offerings at its Adobe Summit 2025 event, the company boasted of the one trillion experiences per year its Adobe Experience Platform activates, which gives its latest AI tools a “deep, semantic understanding of enterprise data, content and customer journeys.”

Adobe’s approach revolves around simplicity, and while many enterprises might want to personalize their agents, the pre-configured tools have data governance and regulatory compliance built-in off-the-shelf, which all helps companies get up to speed more quickly.

Adobe agents - and an Agent Orchestrator

To manage agentic AI, Adobe has launched a new Adobe Experience Platform Agent Orchestrator interface, which works with Adobe’s own agents and third-party ecosystems.

From launch, the 10 new agents include: account qualification, audience, content production, data insights, data engineering, experimentation, journey, product advisor, site optimization and workflow optimization agents.

Adobe’s content production agent is perhaps a standout, allowing marketers and creatives to automate parts of their workflows by generating and assembling content based on a brief. The system adheres to pre-defined brand guidelines to produce accurate results the first time around.

The site optimization agent is also noteworthy for its always-on support for performant brand websites – it can automatically detect, recommend and then fix issues to boost customer engagement.

“Adobe is uniquely positioned to help brands meet this moment, with deep expertise in unifying AI, data and content production workflows to execute the right digital experiences with precision, while uncovering unseen problems,” said Digital Experience Business SVP Amit Ahuja.

At the same time, Adobe launched its Brand Concierge, a new AI application that enables conversational experiences tailored to individual brand interactions by using a company’s unique brand attributes and customer data.

Citing a 1,200% increase in traffic to US retail sites from GenAI sources between July 2024 and February 2025, Adobe Brand Concierge can create a more tailored experience in B2C settings, for example booking follow-up meetings on behalf of customers, but it also has B2B applications such as connecting sales and marketing teams.

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• The Xbox Adaptive Joystick is now available to purchase from the Microsoft Store
• It's fully compatible with the Xbox Adaptive Controller and other Xbox devices
• It can be bought now for $29.99 / £24.99

Microsoft has officially launched the Xbox Adaptive Joystick, which can be purchased now exclusively at the Microsoft Store.

Available for $29.99 / £24.99, the Xbox Adaptive Joystick is a wired Xbox accessory that connects via USB-C to other Xbox devices, such as an Xbox Series X or Series S console or Xbox Wireless Controller. It's also compatible, and perhaps best used, with the Xbox Adaptive Controller.

The Xbox Adaptive Joystick is quite sleek and simple in design. Its flat top features a single analog stick that can be pushed in similar to those on the Xbox Wireless Controller. The front of the joystick houses one bumper and one trigger-style buttons, while four face buttons rest at the top-middle of the device.

Players are able to fully customize their button layout on the Xbox Adaptive Joystick. They can also create and swap between multiple button profiles via the Xbox Accessories app which is available on both console and PC.

It also seems like the Xbox Adaptive Controller will be a fuss-free setup too. As a Windows device, it'll seamlessly work with Xbox Series consoles and Windows PCs without any updates required.

Microsoft's accessibility push on Xbox has been quite impressive, with dedicated controllers available to meet the needs of disabled players. Sony has also thrown its accessibility hat into the ring with the PlayStation Access controller, which our own managing editor, Rob Dwiar, awarded four out of five stars in his review.

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• Nvidia is collaborating with Google and Disney to create a physics engine for robotics
• The open-source engine is titled Newton and is expected to launch later this year
• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang revealed Blue, a Star Wars-inspired robot using Newton for complete real-time simulation

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has announced a new collaboration between the company, Google DeepMind, and Disney Research which is bringing AI-powered Star Wars robots to life.

Taking to the stage at Nvidia's GTC 2025 keynote on Tuesday, Huang revealed Blue, a Star Wars-inspired research robot capable of incredible movement akin to those seen in your favorite sci-fi movies.

The companies have teamed up to create Newton, the physics engine behind the robot's movement, which is expected to be released as open source later this year.

Huang said, "Can you believe you're looking at complete real-time simulation? This is how we're going to train robots in the future. Blue has two Nvidia computers inside." Nvidia's CEO went on to interact with Blue on stage before telling the robot to go home.

Nvidia's press release reads, "Newton is open source, empowering the entire robotics community. This enables roboticists to use and distribute the framework freely and contribute cutting-edge research to its development."

Now, this is all very proof of concept for the consumer, so what does Nvidia, Google, and Disney's collaboration mean for you and me? Well, we might not reap the rewards any time soon but after seeing Blue in action on stage, I'm convinced Disney's dream of having droids in Disney World is now going to become a reality.

In fact, just last week a report from Axios at SXSW stated that Disney is planning to showcase the robots in its entertainment parks at some point this year.

I've always wanted a robot, please make this a reality

You know, robots are pretty scary, I get it. But as someone who constantly struggles to deal with the stress of life in the 21st century, I'd absolutely jump at the opportunity to have a Star Wars droid in my home.

While I love my French Bulldog, Kermit, he can't do the dishes, he can't do the washing up, and he sure as heck can't understand what I'm saying (although I think he chooses to ignore me).

Now, this concept of a small cute robot doing all my chores in my home is not going to arrive anytime soon, but Newton's physics engine makes it a real possibility in the near future, and I'm sold on that idea.

Give me a robot that can make my life easier through the power of AI and I'll take out a loan to get one. My productivity would soar, my mental health would improve, and best of all, I'd hopefully never have to wash the dishes again.

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Full spoilers follow for Daredevil: Born Again's first four episodes and Echo.

We're halfway through – well, give or take – Daredevil: Born Again's first season. The arrival of episode 4, titled 'Sic Semper Systema', on Disney+ pretty much marks the midway point of the show's debut outing. And, thankfully, Marvel is finally starting to peel back the layers on some of its biggest mysteries.

So, if you want more details on Adam and/or Muse, the meaning behind this episode's title, or answers to an entirely different question, I've got you covered. Major spoilers follow for Daredevil's standalone Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) adventure, so proceed with caution if you're not caught up.

Who is Daredevil: Born Again villain Muse and who is playing him?

Muse's backstory might be expanded upon in the MCU compared to his comic book counterpart (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

I already covered Muse's comic book history in my Daredevil: Born Again cast and character guide. But, here's another quick rundown on the masked individual with a penchant for the macaber.

In the comics, Muse is a nameless serial killer who uses his victims to create grotesque works of art. And, when I say "uses his victims", I mean that in the literal sense. Indeed, everything from their blood, skin, and other body parts are put to use by Muse to make stomach-churning paintings, sculptures, and other forms of art.

A recent addition to Daredevil's rogues gallery, Muse only made his comic book debut in Daredevil Volume 5 #11, which was released in September 2016. He was known to possess superhuman strength and agility, and had the ability to make himself imperceptible to Matt Murdock and his vigilante alias. That made Muse more difficult to track down.

Which actor is actually playing Muse? (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

In Daredevil: Born Again, it doesn't seem like Muse will be superpowered. With the MCU favoring a more grounded, realistic take on Marvel's illustrious literary works, it appears Muse will be an ordinary (if that's the right word to use) serial killer who won't be able to go toe-to-toe with someone like Daredevil.

Indeed, Born Again's official trailer briefly showed Murdock's crimefighter making light work of Muse. Sure, it's only the tiniest of clips, so it's hard to determine if the MCU's Muse would stand any chance of holding his own in a duel with Daredevil. Based on that evidence, though, he won't.

Alright, so which actor is playing Muse? We still don't know. Four episodes in, Born Again's end credits sequence hasn't given us any indication who it might be. Marvel fans, myself included, have a wild theory about which Born Again character may be moonlighting as the murderous Muse, though. Hopefully, it won't be long before we find out if we're right.

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Who is Adam in Daredevil: Born Again and who portrays him?

Well, now we know what happened to Adam! (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

This question is far easier to answer.

The Marvel Phase 5 TV show's first three episodes heavily implied that Wilson Fisk's estranged wife had an affair with a man named Adam. That happened while Wilson Fisk was recuperating after his surrogate daughter Maya Lopez shot him in Hawkeye, and then after she used her own superhuman abilities on Wilson to mess with his head in Echo's final episode.

'Sic Semper Systema' finally confirms that Vanessa had an extramarital affair with Adam while Wilson wasn't in New York City. It also reveals that Wilson Fisk tracked him down and, to paraphrase the city's newly-installed mayor, had a polite chat with Adam to prevent him from seeing Vanessa again.

Despite promising Vanessa that he'd never hurt Adam, though, the ever-deceptive Wilson Fisk hasn't exactly kept his word. In episode 4's final moments, it's revealed that Wilson Fisk has got Adam locked up in an undisclosed location. Not only that, it appears as though Fisk is denying Adam his basic human rights as he has no access to food, water, and clean clothes. Judging by Adam's appearance, he's been imprisoned for some time, too.

As for which actor is portraying Adam, that'll be Lou Taylor Pucci, who starred in 2013's Evil Dead remake, Apple TV+'s Physical TV series, and American Horror Story: 1984 on Hulu.

What does Born Again episode 4's title 'Sic Semper Systema' mean?

Episode 4's title has a deeper meaning for numerous Born Again characters (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Translated into English, the Latin phrase roughly means "thus always to the system".

There are multiple things we can read into its use in one of the best Disney+ shows' fourth chapter. The most obvious one relates to Matt Murdock, who's spent the past three-and-a-half episodes battling the US legal system to get justice for his clients.

Then there's Fisk, who continues to beat his head against a brick wall when it comes to the bureaucracy and red tape that stands between him and his mayoral pledges to get things done.

'Sic Semper Systema' also relates to Muse and Frank Castle/The Punisher, both of whom make their first MCU appearances in this episode. The pair are fighting the system in their own unique ways – Muse getting away with literal murder, while Jon Bernthal's anti-hero has railed against the status quo and doled out his own form of justice for years now. So, this chapter's title could refer to any number of characters in the show.

Who is Leory Bradford in Born Again? Episode 4's connection to Secret Invasion and The Marvels explained

No, Leroy Bradford isn't a Skrull masquerading as a human (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Amid everything else that goes on in 'Sic Semper Systema', the MCU weaves its interconnectivity magic once more by making a passing reference to two of the lowest-rated MCU projects of all-time.

At points throughout episode 4, Murdock meets Leroy Bradford, a petty thief who becomes the former's lates client. Bradford is facing another stint in prison after he's accused of stealing groceries from a local store.

In spite of Bradford's protestations that he didn't do it, Murdock confirms the evidence is firmly stacked against him to the overwhelming evidence that Bradford is the culprit. In a last-ditch attempt to prove his innocence, Bradford asks "could it have been a Skrull?", to which Murdock replies "nope".

Episode 4's reference to the Skrulls, aka the shapeshifting alien race we've seen in multiple Marvel projects, is pretty significant. It means their presence on Earth is no longer a secret. If a petty criminal like Bradford knows they exist, then all of humanity will.

Regardless, the Skrulls haven't exactly been used to their full potential in the MCU. The three projects they've appeared – Captain Marvel, Secret Invasion, and The Marvels – aren't exactly fan favorites. In fact, the latter two are considered to be among the worst MCU productions ever. You've got to wonder, then, if we'll ever see the Skrulls used in another Marvel movie or TV show.

When will the next episode of Daredevil: Born Again air on Disney+?

"Hey Matt, just to let you know that two new episodes will drop next week!" (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Episode 5 is set to be released on Tuesday, March 25 in the US. It'll air on Wednesday, March 26 in the UK and Australia.

It won't be the only one that does so, though. I previously reported on Daredevil: Born Again's unusual release schedule, which confirmed there'll be a two-parter next week. So, you'll be able to watch episodes 5 and 6 on Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services, on the aforementioned dates.

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• Leaked European Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge prices suggest it will cost more than the Galaxy S25 Plus
• Storage configurations and colors have also leaked
• The predicted colors suggest the phone will have a titanium frame, like the Galaxy S25 Ultra

We’ve long predicted that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge could be positioned between the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and now a pricing leak suggests we were right.

Android Headlines claims that – in Europe at least – the Galaxy S25 Edge will start at somewhere between €1,200 and €1,300, for which you’ll apparently get a model with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM.

We won’t bother with a price conversion here as those are rarely accurate, but for comparison, in France, you can get a Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus with that amount of storage for €1,172, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at €1,472. So that Galaxy S25 Edge price would put the phone somewhere between the two, but closer to the S25 Plus’s price.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

For reference, in other regions the 256GB Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus costs $999 / £999 / AU$1,699, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1,299 / £1,249 / AU$2,149. So if the pricing above proves accurate then we'd expect to see the Galaxy S25 Edge cost somewhere between those two.

It’s a similar story for a version of the Galaxy S25 Edge with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, which Android Headlines says will cost somewhere between €1,300 and €1,400.

That again would put it between the cost of the 512GB Galaxy S25 Plus and the 512GB Galaxy S25 Ultra, which elsewhere cost $1,199 / £1,099 / AU$1,899 and $1,419 / £1,349 / AU$2,349 respectively.

Three titanium shades

Android Headlines also shared the colors that the Galaxy S25 Edge will apparently be sold in, saying we can expect Titanium Icyblue, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Jetblack, which likely means titanium will be used in the construction of the phone.

We’d take all of this with a pinch of salt for now, but the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge might be announced quite soon, with Android Headlines saying to expect it next month. Not all sources agree, but most leaks suggest we’ll see it by the end of May at the latest.

So hopefully we’ll know all the official specs and prices before too long, but in the meantime we’ll be sure to bring you all the credible leaks and rumors about Samsung's upcoming slim smartphone.

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• The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 are due in July
• We might have to wait longer for the cheaper Galaxy Z Flip FE
• The phone could feature the Exynos 2500 chip

Samsung has got a host of foldable phones in the wings ready for later this year, but it's not clear exactly when we're going to be able to get our hands on them – and a fresh rumor suggests the Galaxy Z Flip FE could be the phone we're waiting the longest for.

According to South Korean outlet The Bell (via 9to5Google), the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip FE – believed to be a cheaper flip phone option – is going to launch several months after the more expensive Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, expected in July.

The main problem, as per the report, is that Samsung is struggling to make enough chips for the foldable. The company is said to be aiming to get its own Exynos 2500 chip inside the Galaxy Z Flip FE, but issues are continuing with production.

Those same production issues are reportedly part of the reason that the Samsung Galaxy S25 series went all-in with Qualcomm chips. The Exynos slices of silicon missed out with those flagship phones, and it looks as though they may miss out again with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

Display and specs

The cover display on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 (Image credit: Samsung)

While Samsung continues to toil away on Exynos 2500 production, it sounds as though the development of the Exynos 2600 is now well underway too (something that's been previously rumored). Samsung's aim is to make sure this next series is ready for the Samsung Galaxy S26 line-up.

In years past, Samsung has mixed up the chipsets used in its phones, depending on region and model: the Exynos chips are cheaper for Samsung to include, though they typically don't quite match the power of the Qualcomm Snapdragon alternatives.

As for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip FE, we're anticipating that it's going to come with the same display as the Galaxy Z Flip 7, but a less powerful camera and overall specs. The phone has even been teased early by Samsung itself.

However, none of this is certain yet – Samsung's plans remain up in the air for its 2025 release schedule. Well-known tipster @MaxJmb suggests the Galaxy Z Flip FE may indeed launch alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, most probably in July.

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• Flashpoint report outlines a rise in stolen credentials and data breaches in 2024
• Over 3.2 billion credentials were compromised in 2024
• Profits from these attacks are fueling the cyber threat landscape

Over 3.2 billion credentials were compromised in 2024, new research has claimed, with these details then used to ‘fuel a number of illegal campaigns’.

Flashpoint’s Global Threat Intelligence Report said the figure represents a 33% spike year-on-year, and of these stolen credentials, an overwhelming 75% of these were obtained through information stealing malware, or ‘infostealers’ - which have now infected over 23 million devices worldwide. The most prolific of these is Redline - infecting 9.9 million hosts in 2024.

Unsurprisingly, 2024 saw a rise in ransomware attacks, with Flashpoint identifying a 10% increase across all sectors, adding to the 84% increase from the previous year - reinforcing reports that 2024 was the worst year for ransomware on record.

A resilient market

When ransomware and infostealer groups are disrupted, the market bounces back remarkably quickly, with new groups and malware strains emerging - indicating a “highly adaptable and resilient threat landscape”.

This makes life much more difficult for security teams and law enforcement, so robust threat monitoring and adaptability will be key for cybersecurity going forward.

A key takeaway from the report is the increase in data breach activity, with 6,670 publicly reported data breaches in 2024 - responsible for the exposure of over 16.8 billion records - putting organizations, customers, and users at risk, and funding cybercriminal organizations around the world.

“We live in interesting times, where technology is both a blessing and a curse,” said Ian Gray, VP of Intelligence at Flashpoint.

“The cybersecurity community will find new challenges in AI-augmented attacks, expanding attack surfaces, and increasingly sophisticated social engineering. Threat actors will find not just the opportunities they seek, but also the heightened scrutiny, improved defenses leveraging AI-tools shepherded by human intelligence, coordinated law enforcement actions, and inevitable consequences that follow.“

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• A German promotional video for the Google Pixel 9a has leaked
• Numerous promo images have also been shared by a leaker
• Between them they reveal numerous likely specs and features of the phone

It’s hard to believe that there’s anything left to leak about the Google Pixel 9a, as in the last couple of weeks we’ve seen specs lists, pictures, and even videos emerge. But now, some seemingly official promotional materials have leaked, in both picture and video form.

First up, there’s a short promo video shared by reputable leaker Roland Quandt on Bluesky. The video is in German, but it provides a good look at the phone, complete with its widely rumored new camera design.

The video is particularly focused on showing off the Google Pixel 9a’s AI skills, including the presence of Gemini, and Google’s Add Me feature, which lets you combine multiple group photos so the photographer can also be in the shot.

9a pic.twitter.com/MKPoqNW3eEMarch 18, 2025

Next up, leaker @MysteryLupin has shared several promotional images showing the Pixel 9a and highlighting various specs and features. Those features include photography tools like Macro Focus mode and Best Take, the latter of which merges multiple group photos to get the best combination of facial expressions.

The images also mention other existing Pixel features, like various theft protection tools and Call Screen.

A long-lasting battery and drop protection

On the specs side, there’s apparently a 6.3-inch screen, a Tensor G4 chipset, 8GB of RAM, a 48MP main camera, a 13MP ultra-wide one, a 13MP front-facing camera, and the promise of over 30 hours of battery life. The images also mention water resistance and “enhanced drop protection.” We've largely heard this stuff before, but 30-hour battery life sounds promising.

Finally, the Pixel 9a apparently comes in Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white), Peony (pink), and Iris (blue) shades.

As ever we’d take these leaks with a pinch of salt, but not only do they come from reputable sources, they also look very convincing, so we expect these are genuine promotional materials.

We should find out very soon, as leaks suggest the Google Pixel 9a could land later today (March 19), so stay tuned for all the official details.

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• The iPhone 17 Air will come with MagSafe, according to a new leak
• This is Apple’s magnetic charging tech that snaps your phone into place
• A leaked image of an iPhone 17 Air case has also surfaced

For months now, we’ve been hearing rumors that Apple will soon release an ultra-thin iPhone supposedly dubbed the iPhone 17 Air. Now, a new rumor has emerged regarding the device, and it’s good news for fans of wireless charging.

According to leaker Digital Chat Station on Chinese social media site Weibo, the iPhone 17 Air will support Apple’s MagSafe technology. This ensures optimal wireless charging efficiency by magnetically snapping the back of your iPhone to the charging puck.

Digital Chat Station used its post to back up rumors posted by leaker Sonny Dickson over the past weekend. Writing on Weibo, Digital Chat Station said that “The whole series has MagSafe,” referring to the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup, which would include the iPhone 17 Air should Apple unveil that phone.

That stands in contrast to the iPhone 16e, which came without MagSafe functionality when it launched. That was presumably to help keep the cost down, but with the iPhone 17 Air expected to be a mid-range phone when it arrives, that concern is presumably less pressing for Apple.

iPhone 17 Air case leaks out

(Image credit: TechRadar)

This isn't the only iPhone 17 leak we’ve recently come across. The aforementioned Sonny Dickson has posted a new photo of a case which they claim has been made specifically for the iPhone 17 Air. It features a clear back shell, and a large horizontal cutout for the camera and rear sensors.

Posting on X, Dickson said that “If you didn’t know an Air was coming, you’d swear it was a Google Pixel case.” Google’s Pixel phones have a horizontal bar along the back that houses the camera array, and multiple rumors have suggested that the iPhone 17 Air will adopt a similar look.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 Air alongside the rest of the iPhone 17 range at an event in September. Until then, we can’t be sure exactly what that device will include; but if the latest rumors are true, both MagSafe and the horizontal camera bar could be ticked off your bingo card.

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• Google has shared 6 health AI updates at its annual event The Check Up
• It is improving AI Search results for health queries, and helping researchers parse large volumes of literature
• It has also created a model that could improve AI-powered drug discovery

At its annual The Check Up event, Google has shared six ways it says it's using AI to improve health care and advances in medicine and science.

The company claims "AI can lead to scientific progress and cutting-edge products that help improve health outcomes for people all around the world." While some of the benefits of tools like Gemini are much more obvious when it comes to sifting through emails or doing research, the medical application can appear less obvious, although no less exciting.

Here are the six developments the company shared, including one that I think might cause some concern.

1. AI Overviews Search improvements

(Image credit: Google)

The first development is a change to Google's AI Overviews in Search, which I believe will have the biggest day-to-day impact on Google users and should be treated with the most caution.

Google says Search and AI Overviews "to find credible and relevant information about health, from common illnesses to rare conditions," and that it's improving the AI Overview results on health topics to be "so they’re more relevant, comprehensive and continue to meet a high bar for clinical factuality."

The change is a new What people suggest section. "While people come to Search to find reliable medical information from experts, they also value hearing from others who have similar experiences," Google says.

To that end, AI will organize different perspectives from online discussions to help you sift through helpful experiences from people in similar situations. The example Google uses is a person dealing with arthritis who might want to know how other people with the condition exercise.

Obviously, there's the potential for misinformation to surface here. Google's image includes a disclaimer that the results are "for informational purposes only" and suggests consulting a medical professional for advice or diagnosis.

As with everything you read on Google, a level of caution and discernment is required, all of this information already exists on the internet, Google is just trying to make the helpful stuff easier to find. Real-world results will determine whether or not it's successful.

2. Medical Records changes

Google has also launched a new Medical Records API globally in Health Connect, which lets apps read and write medical record information like allergies and medications in a standard format that you can share with your doctor's office.

3. Pixel Watch 3 Loss of Pulse Detection

Announced last month, the Pixel Watch 3, one of the best Android smartwatches, is getting Loss of Pulse Detection in the US at the end of March. The tool can automatically call emergency services and notify people close by if your heart stops beating.

4. AI co-scientist

Google's recently launched AI co-scientist can help researchers "parse large volumes of scientific literature and generate high-quality, novel hypotheses." Google says the tool won't automate the scientific process but is designed "to help experts uncover new ideas and accelerate their work." The company says it's already being used in Imperial College London and Stanford.

5. TxGemma

Google has launched a new collection of Gemma-based models it hopes "will help improve the efficiency of AI-powered drug discovery." The AI can "understand regular text and the structures of different therapeutic entities, like small molecules, chemicals, and proteins," which means researchers can use it to predict how safe or effective new therapies and drugs might be.

6. Cancer treatment

Finally, Google highlighted how it's helping a hospital in the Netherlands develop an AI tool that can "accelerate the identification of personalized cancer treatments by combining vast public medical data and de-identified patient data." It can reportedly generate "summaries of treatment options and relevant medical publications," giving Doctors more time to focus on patient care.

The efficacy and reach of all of these initiatives remain to be seen, but Google's update is a clear sign that as AI continues to permeate the world around us, its advance into every facet of life including medicine appears inevitable. With lives at stake and patient well-being on the line, getting it right is more important than ever, but the rewards for success are also infinitely greater.

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• Ransomware operators Babuk adds Orange to their data leak site
• They claim to have broken into Orange in mid-March 2024, stealing sensitive data
• Researchers believe there is merit to the claims

Telecom giant Orange has reportedly again been hit by a ransomware attack after cybercriminal organization Babuk posted a data sample on its website, claiming proof of a successful breach at the company.

The group claims to have broken into Orange on Sunday, March 16, stealing “all information related to orange.com and orange.ro from Romania.”

“We will publish 1TB if they do not want to negotiate with us,” Babuk apparently said on its website. “And there is still a lot more that we stole, the sample is not much.”

"Very detailed information"

Babuk is not as popular as LockBit, or RansomHub, but it’s still a major ransomware player, who allegedly claimed 60 victims this year alone. It’s been around for years, although with long periods of inactivity.

If the group is telling the truth, they stole 4.5TB of “very detailed information”, including email addresses, customer records, source code, internal documents, invoices, contracts, projects, tickets, user data, employee data, messages, credit cards, call logs, and other personally identifiable information (PII) among the stolen data.

Researchers from Cybernews reviewed the sample posted on the website and say the claims “might be credible.”

“The threat actor uploaded a 6.44GB Orange data sample with thousands of Orange internal documents,” Cybernews explained. “Some files include employee data, like names, usernames, email addresses, and time zones, as well as a list of various Jira projects related to the Orange.ro domain.”

In late February, Orange Group confirmed suffering a cyberattack, but said at the time it was still looking into claims of valuable data being stolen. This attack was claimed by a member of the HellCat ransomware application, who also stole data belonging to Orange Romania.

Orange has not yet made any statement on the attack, but has been contacted for comment.

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As data centers push for higher data throughput and reduced latency, many are transitioning from hard disk drives (HDDs) in their servers to solid-state drives. This shift aims to boost performance, increase efficiency and cut operating costs. But not all SSDs are built the same, making it key to select the right type for enterprise and other environments.

SSD classes are distinguished by the two main components: the flash storage controller and the non-volatile NAND flash memory used to store data.

In today’s market, SSD and NAND flash memory consumption are split into three main groups:

• Consumer devices (tablets, cameras, mobile phones)
• Client systems (found in personal computers such as notebooks, desktop computers, and Ultrabooks)
• Enterprise computing platforms (HPC, data center servers)

Choosing the right SSD for enterprise use involves more than simply replacing HDDs. SSDs come in various form factors (such as 2.5") and interfaces including Serial ATA (SATA), Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) and the newer NVMe PCIe which directly connects storage to the server’s CPU.

Despite their ease of deployment, not every SSD is suitable in the long term for enterprise workloads, and the cost of making the wrong – or cheapest – choice can lead to premature wear, inconsistent write performance and increased latency.

To guide the selection process, let’s explore the three key characteristic that separate enterprise-grade SSDs from their client-class counterparts: performance, reliability and endurance.

1. Performance

Enterprise SSDs are designed to provide sustained high-speed read and write operations for both sequential and random data requests from the CPU through multi-channel architecture and parallel access from the SSD’s controller to the NAND flash chips.

In environments handling complex workloads like real-time data analysis, CAD collaborations or global banking transactions, the storage devices must deliver low latency and simultaneous multi-client data access without any degradation in response time. User productivity is a direct result of low latency.

Client applications involve only single users or application access with a higher tolerable delta between the minimum and maximum response time (or latency) on any user or system actions.

SSDs used in complex storage arrays, such as Network Attached Storage, Direct Attached Storage or Storage Area Network can also be negatively impacted by mismatched performance, causing problems with the storage array latency, the ability to sustain performance and, of course, quality of service as perceived by users.

Unlike client SSDs, enterprise SSDs use multi-channel architectures and parallel NAND access to maintain peak and steady-state performance, ensuring consistent quality of service (QoS) even during traffic surges.

2. Reliability

NAND flash memory, though fast, comes with inherent limitations such as finite life expectancy (as NAND flash cells wear during repeated writes) and natural error rates. Enterprise SSDs combat this with advanced Error Correction Code (ECC) mechanisms to manage bit errors and maintain data integrity.

The SSD controller’s ability to correct bit errors can be interpreted by the Uncorrectable Bit Error Ratio (UBER), “a metric for data corruption rate equal to the number of data errors per bit read after applying any specified error-correction method”, as defined by the industry standards association, JEDEC. Enterprise class SSDs differ from client-class SSDs in terms of their ability to support heavier write workloads, more extreme environmental conditions and to recover from a higher Bit Error Ratio than a client SSD.

To further enhance reliability, enterprise SSDs often integrate end-to-end data protection. This ensures data accuracy as it moves between the host and NAND storage, using parity data and redundancy checks to recover corrupted data blocks. In these SSDs, periodic checkpoint creation, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) and ECC error correction are also implemented in an end-to-end internal protection scheme to ensure the integrity of data from the host through the flash and back to the host.

SSDs can incorporate physical circuitry for power loss detection that manages power storage capacitors on the SSDs. This allows the capacitor to complete pending writes during sudden outages, adding another layer of security. Power loss protection (PLP) circuitry is usually required for applications where data loss is not recoverable.

There are environments in which the use of software-defined storage or server clustering can cut the need for hardware-based power fail support as any data is replicated onto a separate and independent storage device on a different server or servers. Web-scale data centers often dispense with power fail support using software defined storage to RAID servers to store redundant copies of the same data.

3. Endurance

Endurance reflects how long an SSD can reliably handle data writes. NAND Flash cells degrade with each program or erase (P/E) cycle until they are unable to store data accurately. When this happens, the degraded block is removed from the user addressable storage pool and the logical block address (or LBA) is moved to a new physical address on the NAND Flash storage array.

A new storage block is used to replace the bad one on the SSD. This also means that the Bit Error Ratio rises, resulting in a set of management techniques being implemented on the enterprise SSD controller to manage the cell capability to reliably store data over the expected life of the SSD.

Enterprise SSDs are built for continuous 24/7 use, unlike client SSDs that typically operate on an 8-hour cycle, but in both cases their endurance needs to be understood. To measure this, manufacturers usually use the JEDEC committee endurance measurement metric of ‘terabytes written’ (TBW), which estimates the amount of data an SSD can handle before the NAND flash becomes unreliable.

The write amplification factor (WAF) – the ratio of actual NAND writes compared to data received from the host – also impacts endurance. Higher WAF can accelerate wear, so enterprise SSD controllers use sophisticated algorithms to manage data distribution and extend lifespan.

When considering other measures of component reliability, the ‘mean time between failure’ (MTBF) is an important model. Enterprise SSD components are assessed on longevity and their ability to manage the voltages across all NAND flash memory over their lifespan. All enterprise SSDs should be rated at least at two million hours MTBF.

SMART monitoring and reporting on enterprise-class SSDs allows the device to be assessed for life expectancy prior to failure based on the current write amplification factor (WAF) and wear level. Pre-failure predictive warnings for failure events, including loss of power, bit errors occurring from the physical interface or uneven wear distribution, are often also supported.

Client-class SSDs may only feature the minimum SMART output for monitoring the SSD during standard use or post failure.

Some SSDs also allow for an increased reserve capacity of NAND flash memory to be allocated as an over-provisioned (OP) spare capacity. Not visible to the user and operating system access, this is a temporary write buffer for higher sustained performance and as a replacement of defective flash memory cells and enhances the reliability and endurance of the SSD.

In summary

Understanding the differences between enterprise and client SSDs — from NAND endurance to performance optimization — is essential when upgrading data center storage. Enterprise SSDs offer robust solutions tailored for high-intensity workloads, ensuring reliability and minimizing downtime.

By carefully selecting SSDs suited to specific applications, organizations can future-proof their storage infrastructure and maintain seamless operations.

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

Leadership teams across the public and private sectors face some tough decisions that could ultimately define their technology strategies for years to come. Rising cloud computing costs and the accelerated uptake of artificial intelligence (AI) now rank highly on the agenda for many. At the same time, the ongoing reliance on legacy systems continues to impede further digital transformation.

With budgetary pressures mounting and the need to demonstrate the value of IT now more urgently than ever, leaders need to get a handle on the rapidly changing IT landscape or risk falling behind. As they plan for the future, here are my top five trends set to dominate the agenda in 2025.

1. A return to on-premises infrastructure

Over the past decade, cloud computing has become foundational for IT infrastructure, promising flexibility, scalability, and cost efficiency. Today, many organizations are reconsidering their cloud-first strategies and looking to return to—at least partly—on-premises infrastructure.

This shift is primarily driven by rising overheads, which are exacerbated by unpredictable pricing models, data egress fees, and the increased costs associated with the shift to AI. As a result, enterprises are exploring hybrid models, such as repatriating some services, to reduce costs and gain more control over their infrastructure. Although this may seem surprising, the return to on-premises infrastructure is not about rejecting the cloud but optimizing IT investments for long-term sustainability.

2. AI—From buzzword to business process revolution

No one can doubt the impact of AI on the digital world. For many, 2025 is the year AI moves from the ‘hype phase’ to a mainstay of business processes. Organizations are no longer simply experimenting with AI–they’re embedding the technology into their workflows to drive efficiency gains and competitive advantage.

AI-driven automation is key. Routine tasks that once required significant human effort are all being optimized with AI tools. It’s a similar story with AI’s predictive capabilities reshaping decision-making at the executive level. However, to truly integrate AI into business processes, organizations must address concerns around bias, data integrity, and regulation to establish AI as a reliable, ethical, and scalable tool for transformation.

3. The end of legacy systems as companies accelerate digital transformation

Reliance on legacy IT systems has long been a challenge for enterprises, but 2025 may mark a tipping point where organizations can no longer afford to delay modernization. Companies will need to replace outdated systems to reap the benefits of AI, automation, and advanced analytics.

Still, the replacement of legacy systems is being hastened thanks to ongoing regulatory pressures and ever-present security concerns. In today’s digital world, organizations need modern IT infrastructures to support real-time data access and seamless integrations.

4. Dismantling IT silos for collaboration and better results

It’s a similar story with IT silos, which for years have stifled innovation and prevented organizations from fully realizing the benefits of emerging technologies. With AI and automation transforming industries, organizations want to foster stronger collaboration between IT, security, operations, and business teams. Without this, the roll-out of AI risks stumbling before it can succeed.

As a result, cross-functional collaboration is becoming increasingly important as organizations embrace methodologies such as DevOps, SecOps, and DataOps. Platforms that unify data access and provide real-time insights across departments will be essential in breaking down silos.

5. Leaders need to prove value amid rising costs

Without acknowledging chief information officers' (CIOs) growing budgetary challenges, no discussion about the year ahead would be complete. As each quarter passes, IT leaders are being asked to stretch their resources further by streamlining operations, cutting redundant tools, and seeking maximum ROI.

As a result, there’s a stronger push for IT teams to demonstrate how their spending directly supports business goals. In some cases, this drives a renewed focus on IT financial management (ITFM), where CIOs are expected to align technology investments directly with business outcomes.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead, IT departments designed to show real impact—whether through cost savings, boosting revenue, reducing risks, or driving innovation—will secure continued investment. With economic uncertainty and rising costs, there’s a growing belief that IT should be regarded simply as an expense but as a key driver of business success.

The year ahead poses some interesting challenges for business leaders. AI is becoming a core part of operations; cloud costs are making companies rethink their strategies, and legacy systems are reaching their limit. At the same time, CIOs are under growing pressure to show the actual value of IT investments while bringing teams together to work more effectively. The balance between opportunities and threats will be key to success in the coming months.

We feature the best IT management tools.

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

• Valve's SteamOS 3.7.0 Preview comes with "beginnings of support for non-Steam Deck handhelds"
• Non-Steam Deck handheld PCs could soon use SteamOS instead of Windows 11
• Such a move could unleash more power from handhelds made by the likes of Asus, Lenovo and MSI

I’d be lying if I said I’d not been wishing for ages that Valve opened up SteamOS to other handheld PCs and machines beyond its excellent Steam Deck. And after some waiting, that looks to be finally happening with the recent SteamOS 3.7.0 Preview coming with the "beginnings of support for non-Steam Deck handhelds."

Now that’s not a vast amount to go off given it's only for a preview version of SteamOS. But with a model of the Lenovo Legion Go S being powered by SteamOS and set to arrive in May, we could see the advent of a new range of SteamOS-based handheld PCs.

There are already ways to run SteamOS on non-Steam Deck machines, but support for them is unofficial and they lack the slick handheld integration of Steam in the same vein as the Steam Deck. The best handheld PCs tend to run Windows 11 with a form of handheld interface on top of the operating system and then tap into Steam’s Big Picture Mode to enable a console-like handheld gaming experience.

Having native SteamOS support would surely make all this slicker for new handheld PCs and those that could be retrofitted or dual-booted with Valve’s Linux-based operating system. In our hands-on time with the Lenovo Legion Go S, we were certainly sold on the idea of the SteamOS version.

Steamy dreams

While I still want Microsoft to work on refining Windows 11 to work more smoothly on handheld PCs, especially if it does indeed make a form of Xbox handheld, I feel SteamOS is more up to the task of supporting handheld PC gaming, especially given it’s had some three years to mature.

What excites me further, is that by dropping Windows 11 reliance, handheld PCs from the likes of Asus, Lenovo and MSI could tap into an operating system that requires less overhead resources and can thus unlock more power out of the chips on handheld PCs.

The Steam Deck’s AMD Zen 2 and RDNA 2-based APU isn’t as powerful as other chips in other handhelds, such as the Asus ROG Ally X that sports a more powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and RDNA 3-based graphics. But the Steam Deck arguably offers the slickest and smoothest gaming experience when one takes into account software and hardware in tandem.

Letting SteamOS take care of the operating system and interface could be the best of both worlds, with, say, a next-generation ROG Ally sporting a powerful APU with silicon horsepower that can be readily accessed thanks to a smaller need for overhead compute resources.

All this could open up a new avenue for handheld PCs that could finally challenge the Steam Deck, at least in my eyes.

The only caveat would be access to third-party game services. SteamOS and the Steam Deck were been built around users tapping into the wide array of games supported on the Steam Store, rather than enable easy access to Xbox Game Pass or the Epic Games Launcher.

However, there are already workarounds to get the likes of Xbox Cloud Gaming running on the Steam Deck; Valve doesn't appear to discourage this. So I’d not be surprised to see hardware makers work to build on SteamOS to integrate other launchers in a neat, easy-to-use fashion.

It's hard to say when we could see more SteamOS-based handhelds. But given we’ve just got the latest SteamOS preview, it shouldn’t be long before a full version is let out into the wild; that could come in April.

If that happens we could see a bunch of handheld PCs that eschew Windows 11 for SteamOS this side of 2025; I’m crossing my fingers.

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• Volvo’s partnership with Nvidia goes beyond chips in cars
• Gaussian splatting creates high-fidelity 3D scenes
• The technique can recreate “edge cases” to train models faster

Volvo is using a new AI technique called 'Gaussian splatting' to train its vehicles and accelerate its goal of zero collisions on the roads – and it's all thanks to its recently expanded partnership with Nvidia.

Last month we reported that the upcoming Volvo ES90 will be the most powerful car it has ever created in terms of core computing capacity, due to it packing a dual Nvidia AGX Orin configuration.

Now, the company has revealed how this sort of supercomputing is also helping it to more quickly train its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.

Volvo claims that it can now synthesize incident data collected by the advanced sensors in its latest vehicles, such as emergency braking, sharp steering or manual intervention.

This then allows the company to reconstruct and explore them in new ways to better understand how incidents can be avoided.

The novel method is dubbed Gaussian splatting and it allows the company’s software to produce realistic, high-fidelity 3D scenes and subjects from real-world visuals.

(Image credit: Volvo)

Once these scenes have been created, Volvo’s engineers can manipulate them to generate a number outcomes. The video clip examples the Swedish marque provides are freakishly realistic.

It's akin to a human learning how to skateboard by playing Tony Hawk's Pro Skater for hours and hours on end.

“We can select one of the rare edge cases and explode it into thousands of new variations of the scenario to train and validate our models against," Alwin Bakkenes, Head of Global Software Engineering at Volvo Cars, explains.

Bakkenes says this has the potential to unlock a scale that Volvo has never had before and even to catch edge cases before they happen in the real world.

Now the computers are training the computers

(Image credit: Volvo)

Gaussian splatting is a relatively new 3D rendering technique that doesn’t rely on neural networks, unlike more complex methods such as Neural Radiance Field (NeRFS).

This allows for incredibly complex 3D scenes to be created in real time. The technique is currently being explored in multiple industries, from gaming to interactive app development.

Volvo’s use of advanced Lidar, sensor and high-definition camera technology, as first showcased in the EX90, collects reams of data that can then be reproduced in a manipulatable 3D model, which allows its engineers to then train the vehicle’s AI to perform better in the real world.

There was some disappointment when the EX90 launched, seeing as its Lidar technology would remain offline for consumer use, effectively banished to merely collecting data until Volvo’s compute power was at a level where the company was happy to introduce ADAS systems that rely on the sensor suite and software stack.

Thankfully, its recently announced partnership with Nvidia will help the Swedish marque, which is synonymous with road safety, to realize its vision of zero collisions and driver assistance systems that actually help, rather than simply nag.

What’s more, the company has also stated that early EX90 models will be updated with the dual Nvidia AGX Orin System on a Chip set-up, so they too can make the most of the latest developments in autonomous driving and ADAS systems.

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• Free file converters are scamming victims, law enforcement warns
• The FBI has warned against using untrusted the services
• Malware can put victims at risk of identity theft and fraud

Many of us have used file converters before, as when you need an MP3 but your recording is an M4A, free online file converters are a first port of call.

However the FBI has now warned some of these “free tools” are increasingly infecting victim’s devices with malware.

It says criminals are using the enticing offer of an easy and swift file transfer, like a .doc to a .pdf file, or combining files, like multiple .jpegs into one .pdf - useful when you need to upload something or send it in a particular format.

Risk of ransomware

AThe conversion tools will convert your files, but in the meantime, will infect the converted file with hidden malware, which it then hands over to the victim.

The malware can then exfiltrate personal information like names, social security numbers, banking information, crypto currency, and more - leaving the user at risk of identity theft or fraud.

s if that isn’t bad enough, some of these attacks also infect the victim’s device with ransomware, taking control of the computer.

Viruses and malware infections can have disruptive consequences for users, but there are key tools that can help.

“The best way to thwart these fraudsters is to educate people so they don’t fall victim to these fraudsters in the first place,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek.

“If you or someone you know has been affected by this scheme, we encourage you to make a report and take actions to protect your assets. Every day, we are working to hold these scammers accountable and provide victims with the resources they need.”

If you think you may have accidentally downloaded malware or a virus, we have advice on how to remove malware from your device, but the best defense is being careful and never downloading anything from an untrusted source.

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