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The US Department of Justice has filed an antitrust lawsuit against payment service giant Visa for its alleged monopoly over the debit card network.

The DOJ says Visa has been engaging in anticompetitve business practice by suppressing competition and innovation, in turn violating Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act.

It claims Visa controls over three in five US debit transactions, resulting in $7 billion in processing fees annually.

Visa accused of monopolistic practices

The US government’s lawsuit argues Visa has maintained its dominance of the payments market by striking up exclusionary agreements that penalize merchants and banks for using its competitors.

In doing so, US officials say consumers have had to deal with inflated costs, while smaller payment processors and fintech companies have been unable to grow. The DOJ also found Visa guilty of partnering up with would-be competitors by offering generous monetary incentives in order to “insulate itself” from competition.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland confirmed: “We allege that Visa has unlawfully amassed the power to extract fees that far exceed what it could charge in a competitive market.”

Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer added: “Today’s action against Visa reminds those who would stifle competition rather than competing on price or investing in innovation that the Justice Department will never hesitate to enforce the law on behalf of the American people.”

This isn’t the first time that Visa has come under fire in the US. In 2020, the DOJ set out to stop the company from acquiring fintech app technology company Plaid. The proposed $5.3 billion deal was indeed called off.

TechRadar Pro has asked Visa to respond to the DOJ’s announcement, but the company did not immediately respond.

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Google’s attempt to block infostealer malware grabbing data stored in its Chrome browser seems to have been short-lived, with multiple variants claiming to have already successfully bypassed it.

In late July 2024, Google released Chrome 127, which introduced App-Bound Encryption, a feature which looked to ensure sensitive data stored by websites or web apps was only accessible to a specific app on a device. It works by encrypting data in such a way that only the app that created it can decrypt it, and was advertised as particularly useful for protecting information like authentication tokens or personal data.

Now, mere months after it was introduced, the protection mechanism has already been cracked by some of the most popular infostealers out there, BleepingComputer reports, claiming the likes of MeduzaStealer, Whitesnake, Lumma Stealer, Lumar, Vidar, and StealC have all introduced some form of bypass.

Prioritizing impact

Some of the upgrades are also confirmed to be working with Chrome 129, the newest version of the browser available at press time. TechRadar Pro has reached out to Google for comment, and will update our article if we hear back.

“Added a new method of collecting Chrome cookies,” Lumma’s developers allegedly told its customers recently. “The new method does not require admin rights and/or restart, which simplifies the crypt build and reduces the chances of detection, and thus increase the knock rate.”

Exfiltrating information from browsers is a key feature for most prominent infostealers out there. Many people save things like passwords, or payment data, inside their browsers for convenience and quick access. Many also use cryptocurrency wallet add-ons for their browsers, as well. By stealing cookies, crooks are even able to log into services protected by multi-factor authentication (MFA). All of this makes browsers one of the most important targets during data theft.

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Windows 11 could get another feature to develop a tighter level of integration between your PC and smartphone, and it’s called ‘Hand Off.’ 

Windows Latest noticed that a Windows tester on X, @techosarusrex, pointed out the feature in a tweet, having discovered the hidden capability in a recent Beta channel preview of Windows 11 (build 22635).

Windows 11 will be getting some new continue from device/handoff capabilities (seen in build 22635.4225) https://t.co/xxD7GiQz5J pic.twitter.com/kOMNYUJGDmSeptember 21, 2024

Windows Latest observes that the Hand Off feature looks to be related to the ‘Continue from Phone’ functionality the tech site previously wrote about a few months back (also in testing).

Whatever the case, the screenshots provided on X give us more clues as to how it might work, as there are settings to control which apps can use Hand Off (only OneDrive right now), as well as a toggle to turn on (or off) the actual Hand Off feature itself.

The overall idea is that when a Hand Off is available - meaning the ability to carry on what you were doing on your phone, on your PC instead when you return to sit at your computer - an icon will appear in the taskbar to notify you. As shown, when you’re back at your PC, it’ll allow you to, for example, pick up work on a document you were previously editing on your phone.

As far as we can tell, this ability won’t be limited to Android phones, and you should be able to carry on your activity from an iPhone as well (we don’t see why not). While OneDrive is the only option to use with Hand Off currently, this is very early (still hidden) work in testing - so broader support for more apps could be brought in yet.

(Image credit: Shutterstock/sergey causelove) How does Hand Off fit in with Continue from Phone?

Exactly how Continue from Phone and Hand Off are related remains to be seen - the latter could even be the new name for the former. Clearly they are tied together closely, though, but we’ll just have to wait for more details on exactly how Hand Off will work (assuming it ever goes live in testing, that is). It’s possible Hand Off could work in both directions, meaning you can pick up activity from your PC on your phone, too.

Some of you may have noticed the similarity between this hidden Windows 11 feature and Apple’s ‘Handoff’ functionality, which allows users to seamlessly continue activities between their iPhone, iPad, and Mac. With Apple’s Handoff, you can start an email on your iPhone, for instance, and pick up where you left off on your Mac. 

Windows 11’s Continue from Phone and Hand Off features aim for a similarly seamless experience, but what’ll be interesting is that given Apple’s Handoff is tied to its iCloud ecosystem, whether Microsoft’s take will only be usable with OneDrive. Or, as mentioned above, whether support will be made more expansive.

Smoother and more robust integration between Windows 11 and smartphones will give users a reason to stick with the OS, and I think if Microsoft focuses on improving this aspect, it will prove fruitful.

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Independent auditors have confirmed that Opera's free VPN never logs what you do online. This is especially great considering that the security tool comes built into one of the best web browsers on the market. 

Security experts at leading cybersecurity auditing firm Deloitte inspected Opera VPN's technical infrastructure to ensure users' data linked to their activities is never stored or logged as stated on Opera's no-log policy. Auditors did not identify any instances of non-compliance.

"The audit reaffirms our commitment to protecting user privacy by certifying that your data is never logged or stored when you use our free VPN," Jan Standal, VP at Opera, told me. "We have had a no-log policy since we launched the service in 2016. Since then it has become the norm for major VPN providers to do third-party audits as part of their transparency commitment."

We’re excited to announce that we completed an independent audit of our no-log policy for our free browser VPN, conducted by Deloitte! The audit reaffirms our commitment to protecting user privacy by certifying that your data is never logged or stored when you use our free VPN. pic.twitter.com/BDrsWtC5InSeptember 25, 2024

Deloitte spent time thoroughly reviewing the controls in place and the technical configuration of the system and VPN infrastructure. It did the same with Opera's internal documentation, policies, and procedures. 

After careful consideration, experts could confirm that Opera VPN respects the company's strict no-log policy. 

While also offering a premium version, the free virtual private network tool comes directly integrated into the Opera browser apps for desktop, Android, and iOS. This means you don't need to download any extra apps or extensions to start browsing more privately. Even better, Opera VPN doesn't require any registration, so you can use it completely anonymously.

The importance of no-log VPNs

As a privacy expert, I particularly value a strict no-log policy when I assess any VPN software – even better when this is regularly independently audited. Such a feature is especially crucial if the main reason you're using a virtual private network in the first place is boosting your privacy.

As mentioned earlier, a no-log VPN ensures that none of your personal data is ever recorded. So, while some logs, like the number of users connecting to the same server and the email address associated with a user's account, are inevitable as they are necessary for the software to work properly, a no-log policy is your guarantee that no data linked to you or your activities is ever collected.

This is very advantageous for a few reasons. For example, if a hacker manages to compromise your VPN account or provider, there will be almost no sensitive data that could be compromised. The same goes if authorities ordered the company to disclose users' data. These details simply won't exist.

The importance of this feature has already been proved in real life on a few occasions. In 2019, Proton was unable to help authorities identify a Proton VPN user as they didn't store any identifiable information. More recently, Swedish authorities were left empty-handed after an inconclusive police raid on Mullvad's servers last year.

Now, you can be sure that also when using Opera VPN, everything you do online will remain as private as it can be.

Microsoft has unveiled a new tool which looks to stop AI models from generating content that is not factually correct - more commonly known as hallucinations.

The new Correction feature builds on Microsoft's existing ‘groundedness detection’, which essentially cross-references AI text to a supporting document input by the user. The tool will be available as part of Microsoft’s Azure AI Safety API and can be used with any text generating AI model, like OpenAI’s GPT-4o and Meta’s Llama.

The service will flag anything that might be an error, then fact check this by comparing the text to a source of truth via a grounding document (i.e. uploaded transcripts). This means users can tell AI what to view as fact in the form of grounding documents.

A stop gap measure

Experts warn that whilst the existing state of play may be useful, it doesn’t address the cause of hallucinations. AI doesn't actually ‘know’ anything, it only predicts what comes next based on the examples it is trained on.

"Empowering our customers to both understand and take action on ungrounded content and hallucinations is crucial, especially as the demand for reliability and accuracy in AI-generated content continues to rise," Microsoft noted in its blog post.

"Building on our existing Groundedness Detection feature, this groundbreaking capability allows Azure AI Content Safety to both identify and correct hallucinations in real-time before users of generative AI applications encounter them."

The launch, available in preview now, comes as part of wider Microsoft efforts to make AI more trustworthy. Generative AI has struggled so far to gain the trust of the public, with deepfakes and misinformation damaging its image, so updated efforts to make the service more secure will be welcomed.

Also part of the updates is ‘Evaluations’, a proactive risk assessment tool, as well as confidential inference. This will ensure that sensitive information remains secure and private during the inference process - which is when the model makes decisions and predictions based on new data.

Microsoft and other tech giants have invested heavily in AI technologies and infrastructure and are set to continue to do so, with a new $30 billion investment recently announced.

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Box has finally announced the general availability of its Hubs feature.

First teased last year, and now reaching general availability, Box Hubs are customizable portals designed to simplify how businesses organize and publish content – the usual system of files in folders still applies, but Hubs act as a layer on top, similar to a mini-site, where teams can put together specific content from across their organization.

The cloud storage giant has also used AI to help surface key insights from content with advanced search and summarization tools.

Box Hubs is now generally available

In its initial teaser, Box said that there would be 73,000 exabytes of data globally in 2023, indicating that companies have having to reimagine how they store and share files.

“One of the biggest obstacles they face is making it simple for people to organize and publish critical information so it’s easy to find and accessible to the right people, both inside and outside their company," noted Box CPO Diego Dugatkin.

In addition to customized content curation and external sharing, enterprise customers can also use Box Hubs features like global search, vanity links and industry regulation compliance, such as Section 508.

Among the early adopters of Box AI are a municipality, which created an HR hub to consolidate company resources, and a professional services firm that deployed a Hub for customer insights and competitive analysis.

Enterprise plan users and above can now get access to Box Hubs, with the Box AI functionality reserved for Enterprise Plus plans. The company has not indicated whether it will roll out Hubs to other business plans in the future.

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Editors note (10/3/24): This article was updated to include comment from OpenAI and new details of the EU and UK rollout of Advanced Voice mode.

As reported recently, ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice mode is launching this week for all ChatGPT Plus and Teams subscribers. However, the launch won’t happen in the EU, and we think we know why.

A tweet by OpenAI on X.com states simply, “Advanced Voice is not yet available in the EU, the UK, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein.” We initially wondered if this might have been because of the EU AI act, however when we contacted them, OpenAI denied this, pointing out that the EU AI act has not been enacted yet, and "Some parts of the world require additional external reviews before launching new products. This is a common practice to ensure the feature aligns with local requirements. These can take a little time. We hope to share an update soon."

Since our initial report Advanced Voice mode has launched for ChatGPT Plus, Enterprise, Teams and Edu subscribers in the UK. Europe Teams, Enterprise and Edu is now starting to be available, but in Europe ChatGPT Plus rollout is still to come.

The persistence of memory

With Advanced Voice mode, you can talk to ChatGPT using your smartphone and get responses that make it feel like a real conversation with a human. To make it sound natural, Advanced Voice mode uses the GPT-4o LLM for faster responses and can interpret text, vision, and audio inputs. For example, you can ask it to look at something with your smartphone’s camera and give an opinion. It can also remember things about you, making your interactions more of a sustained conversation over time.

Additionally, there have been some improvements to Advanced Voice mode since we saw the first Alpha version. Now you get nine new voices (more than the five originally promised) including Arbor, Maple, Sol, Spruce, and Vale, and there’s a new blue orb visual effect as it talks.

Meet the five new voices. pic.twitter.com/F9BOUaJqG1September 24, 2024

Accents in foreign languages have also been improved:

We’ve also improved conversational speed, smoothness, and accents in select foreign languages. pic.twitter.com/d3QOIBFCZbSeptember 24, 2024

How do I know if I've got Advanced Voice mode?

(Image credit: OpenAI)

Advanced Voice mode is only available to ChatGPT Plus and Teams subscribers. The rollout will be gradual but should be finished by the end of the week. You’ll know when you’ve got it because you’ll see a pop-up message next to the entry point to Voice Mode. But, as we mentioned previously, Advanced Voice is not yet available in the EU.

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The journey from initial interest to final purchase is seldom linear in the world of B2B technology. As tech companies wrestle with this challenge, many recognize the pivotal role that education and trust play in engaging and persuading buyers that their brand is the preferred option. Public relations (PR), the proactive management of what you say and do through the delivery of communications, content and thought leadership campaigns, can hold the attention of your target audience long before the sales enablement software is aware of any opportunity.

Savvy tech firms understand that in today's market, traditional sales pitches are not working as hard as they once did. They are leveraging PR strategies and thought leadership initiatives to establish credibility and trust. By sharing valuable insights and demonstrating industry expertise, these companies prime their audience long before formal sales discussions begin. This approach isn't just about generating buzz; it's about creating a foundation of knowledge and respect that smooths the path to purchase. In essence, strong PR and thought leadership are becoming indispensable tools in the B2B tech sales arsenal, capable of shortening sales pipelines and improving conversion rates in ways that traditional methods alone cannot match.

Understanding the B2B tech buying landscape is essential for effective sales strategies

The purchase of sophisticated tech software and services is far from spontaneous. It involves a complex process with multiple stakeholders, each bringing their own biases and perspectives to defining problems, developing criteria and gathering information about potential solutions. Gartner research reveals a startling statistic: when considering a purchase, B2B buyers spend only 17% of their time meeting with potential suppliers. This limited window of direct interaction underscores the critical importance of effective communication and positioning outside of these meetings. Adding to this complexity is the growing aversion among buyers to engage with salespeople early in the process.

Public relations and thought leadership play a critical role in influencing buyers

In this challenging environment, PR and thought leadership emerge as valuable tools for tech companies looking to influence and accelerate the buying process. But what exactly do we mean by these terms? Public Relations (PR) is the practice of managing everything a company says, does and develops to further its business interests by creating consistent, compelling and credible relationships with its target audience. Thought leadership, on the other hand, is the demonstration of specific subject matter expertise, knowledge and insight through stories and articles designed to build trust. When executed effectively, PR and thought leadership can establish trust and credibility, increase visibility and awareness and build long lasting relationships. All these factors help support and accelerate the sales process.

Understanding buyer intent in B2B tech is crucial for targeting the right audience

To accelerate the B2B buying process, particularly for software, tech companies must first understand the various types of buyer intent. Identifying what your ideal buyers need can be approached in several ways. First, ask your internal experts who interact with customers most regularly, to describe the concerns of those customers who represent your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). Conduct desk research by utilizing online communities, trade media, analyst reports, podcasts and LinkedIn to identify common and unusual pain points. Consider business networking with industry professionals who can provide further insights. If budget permits, invest in quantitative and qualitative research to refine your understanding of how you can address customer problems.

Move beyond common complaints like lack of time and money by developing a sophisticated understanding of underlying problems to stand out and be memorable. By following these steps, tech companies can effectively tailor their communication strategies to match the specific needs and concerns of their prospects, ultimately speeding up the entire purchasing process.

Effectively utilizing your communication strategy can enhance your business outcomes

By reducing misunderstandings, facilitating quick responses, and fostering strong relationships, a good communication strategy will lead to faster, more efficient transactions. A comprehensive communication strategy comprises six essential elements: a concise value proposition highlighting your unique point of difference; an Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) identifying your most profitable and satisfying target buyer; detailed target personas encompassing psychographics and demographics; a positioning statement describing your product's solution to specific needs; persuasive messaging aligned with the AIDA funnel and validation from trusted advisors.

Common pitfalls to avoid when assessing buyer intent

As previously discussed, assessing buyer intent is crucial for tech companies aiming to effectively target and convert prospects quickly. However, several common mistakes can undermine this process. Tech companies often misinterpret high engagement metrics like clicks, downloads and page views as strong buying intent, when they may only indicate curiosity. Not all interactions are equal; for example, downloading a white paper shows preliminary interest, while requesting a demo or pricing information indicates a prospect further along the buying journey. Tech companies frequently fail to differentiate between these behaviors and delay the purchasing process.

Software and services acquisition are often held up by a lack of comprehensive buyer profiling or simplistic buyer personas. The buying process can only be accelerated through knowing all the details, like pain points, decision-making processes and preferred channels of communication. Tech suppliers often emphasize features and generic benefits instead of the specific emotional benefits for individuals in the buying group, focusing on product updates rather than outcomes. Tech companies unfortunately often only engage with the initial contact. Focusing too much on one individual can cause a deal to fall through if they leave the business. Understanding the decision-making unit, which typically consists of 6-10 people, and their priorities is crucial for grasping true intent. When multiple stakeholders engage with your team, ensure they can easily find the information they need.

Providing accessible and effective content will help build their confidence in you as a supplier.

PR can significantly boost sales in the B2B tech sector

In the increasingly complex and often prolonged journey from initial interest to final purchase in the B2B tech landscape, traditional sales tactics fall short. Instead, a strategic approach leveraging PR and thought leadership is proving to be a game-changer. By proactively managing communications, content and thought leadership campaigns, tech companies can engage and persuade buyers well before the sales management software detects an opportunity.

The modern B2B buyer spends minimal time directly interacting with suppliers, making it essential for tech firms to establish trust and credibility through PR efforts outside these limited interactions. Effective PR and thought leadership not only generate buzz but also create a solid foundation of knowledge and respect that smooths the path to purchase, shortens sales cycles and boosts conversion rates.

Understanding the complexities of the B2B tech buying process and identifying specific buyer intents are critical. Through comprehensive communication strategies that include clear value propositions, detailed buyer personas, and tailored messaging, tech companies can significantly enhance their engagement with potential clients. By avoiding common pitfalls and focusing on genuine buyer signals, they can streamline the sales process and foster strong, lasting relationships with their audience.

In summary, integrating PR and thought leadership into your sales strategy is not just a supplementary effort—it's a fundamental shift that can drive faster, more efficient and more successful B2B tech sales.

We've listed the best sales CRM.

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

One of the most controversial announcements from last night's Sony State of Play presentation was undeniably the reveal of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. This enhanced version of the 2017 open-world PlayStation game is set to arrive on October 30 and is coming to PlayStation 5 and PC.

While it's easy to dismiss this release as a pointless upgrade, some of the technical information that was recently shared on the PlayStation Blog is actually quite promising. This remaster is being developed by Nixxes, known for high-quality PC ports of PlayStation software including Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut and Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered features fully overhauled character interactions, with hours of re-recorded dialogue and remade motion capture scenes. The audio is being upgraded in more subtle ways too, including a new sound mix with full PS5 Tempest 3D Audio Tech and Dolby Atmos support. 

Character models have been upgraded too and, while I'm not a huge fan of Aloy's glammed-up new look, they are undeniably higher quality with noticeably better depth and detail. A range of improvements have also been made to the world and overall performance, which the post said aims to "bring the game to the same visual fidelity" as Horizon Forbidden West.

Forests look more lush and vibrant, with more plants and more life-like lighting effects. You can see three images for comparison below, one from Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition, another from Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition, and the last from Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.

Image 1 of 3

Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition (PC) (Image credit: Sony)Image 2 of 3

Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition (PC) (Image credit: Sony)Image 3 of 3

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered (PS5) (Image credit: Sony)

Each focuses some foliage at roughly the same distance from the camera. Although there's not a huge amount in it, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered does look noticeably better than the original game, especially with regards to detail and anti-aliasing. Of course, these are just promotional shots so I'll be reserving full judgment until I have my hands on a copy of the game,  

Even if these visual changes aren't for you, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered will also offer significantly faster loading times. If this is anything like the jump from Marvel's Spider-Man on PS4 to Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered on PS5, then this alone could be worth the price of admission and a seriously game-changing upgrade that makes one of the best PS4 games event better.

The DualSense Wireless Controller will also be fully supported, with the expected haptic feedback and adaptive trigger features. New accessibility features are also being introduced, such as the option to enable sound and haptic feedback when pickups are nearby plus remappable controls and assist toggles. 

It should come as no surprise that Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered will take full advantage of the upcoming PS5 Pro too with even greater framerates and more graphical features. For PC players, expect Nvidia DLSS 3 and AMD FSR 3.1 with frame generation support with further details on the way in the future.

All of this might not be enough to incentivize you to part with $49.99 for a copy if you already own the game but, luckily, there is a pretty reasonably priced upgrade path available for current owners. If you already have a copy of Horizon Zero Dawn on PlayStation or PC, you can pay just $9.99 to upgrade to Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.

It's hard to complain at that price really and I'll certainly be picking it up when it releases on October 31.

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German software giant SAP and Virginia-based product reseller Carahsoft Technology are under investigation in the US for allegedly conspiring to overcharge government agencies, including the US military.

The longstanding investigation, which has been underway since 2022, is largely focused on SAP’s alleged price-fixing on software and other services it sells to the government.

US authorities could be looking into an estimated $2 billion in technology sales to the US government since 2014, highlighting the scale of the investigation.

SAP accused of overcharging the US government

The reason the investigation has hit the headlines this time is because of an FBI and military raid of Carahsoft’s offices in Reston, Virginia (via Bloomberg).

The company found itself in 45th place on the Forbes 2023 Largest Private Companies List after making $13 billion in revenue in 2022, however as a private company, the effects of the investigation and unknown.

SAP, Germany’s most valuable company, saw shares drop by 4% following the news, however this year alone they’re up 42%.

Federal prosecutors had also been brought on board to force Carahsoft to produce communications, contracts, staff lists and other information related to its sale of SAP software and it “obstinately refused to provide this basic information.”

TechRadar Pro has asked both companies to comment on the ongoing investigation, but neither responded immediately.

Carahsoft spokesperson Mary Lange told Bloomberg that the company is “fully cooperating on this matter.”

This isn’t the first time that the two companies have found themselves in hot water. Carahsoft has already paid out $75.5 million in a settlement relating to overcharging the government, while SAP agreed to a $220 million settlement with the US DOJ in January this year over bribery allegations with South African and Indonesian government officials.

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Despite using social media platforms every day, we all know that they may be bad for our digital privacy – even if you're using security software like the best VPN apps. But how bad are they, exactly? This is what the team at Incogni, a data removal service provider, set out to discover.

After looking into the top 15 most popular social networks, researchers uncovered stark differences in how these platforms handle our personal data. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, Facebook and LinkedIn came out as the worst when it comes to protecting our privacy. Reddit, Snapchat, and Pinterest (in order) are the platforms representing the lowest risk.

Keep reading as I go through some of the biggest takeaways and some tips to boost your social media privacy.

Social media services have different views on privacy

Researchers assessed the privacy risks for each platform according to five categories. As expected, the data collection and retention category significantly shaped the final privacy ranking (see the graph below), with Meta's Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram getting the worst results.

Another variable researchers looked at was the level of user control and consent. These include privacy settings, default privacy settings, and opt-out or visibility options. Again, some Meta platforms (Messenger and WhatsApp) performed the worst alongside TikTok.

Experts at Incogni were especially surprised not only by how many data points each of these platforms collects and shares with third parties, but also by the number of data points you can't opt out for. 

The transgressions category refers to fines and data breach incidents. Here, Telegram, Reddit, Quora, and Discord obtained a very positive score: 0. Not so good for X (formerly known as Twitter) which saw over a quarter of its total score come from this category, alongside LinkedIn with over 27%, and Facebook over 30%.

In terms of transparency – meaning how much user data reaches governments and the accessibility of certain features – Quora and LinkedIn had the worst ratings, while Discord, Snapchat, and YouTube performed the best.

Lastly, user-friendliness looked at how easy is to understand the platform's privacy policy and how many steps you need to take to delete your account. Needless to say, Facebook products performed badly here, too, alongside Google-owned YouTube.

You need a degree to understand social media policies

"Everything seems designed to make it hard for people to fully understand what’s happening with their personal information," Emilia Jasinska-Dias, Incogni spokesperson, told me. 

Researchers found, in fact, that to understand the privacy policy of the platforms analyzed, a user would need to be at a college literacy level. Jasinska-Dias believes this may be intentional. She said: "It seems that they’re constructed so that people won’t read them."

According to experts, a consistent, standards-based format that is easy to navigate is needed to ensure that anyone can make informed decisions about which social media platform they want to use – and which data they're comfortable giving away.

It takes up to 6 clicks to delete your account

If you've ever embarked on a mission to close an old Facebook account, then you probably know this already – deleting a social media profile is anything but easy.

Researchers found that the steps required to delete a social media account can vary from a minimum of two clicks (TikTok, Telegram, and Discord) to a maximum of six. The latter category includes all of Meta's products besides WhatsApp, which requires three, as well as YouTube.

Yet, as the report points out, "account deletion ought to be a relatively easy process."

Your data stay up to 180 days after leaving a platform

"The most shocking discovery was how long data is sometimes held after a user decides to delete their account," said again Jasinska-Dias. "In some cases, it might be as long as 6 months."

Among the platforms holding onto your personal information for about 180 days, after clearly expressing the intention to depart from a specific service, are Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, YouTube, and Discord. On the contrary, Telegram retains your data for just a few days after deletion.

This is especially worrisome considering that some of the most invasive platforms (Facebook, X, and LinkedIn) suffered at least two data breach incidents in the past.

Data protection laws aren't enough

While most social media platforms have constructed their business model around harvesting your personal data since the beginning, in recent years many countries have implemented new privacy laws aimed at minimizing data collection and retention. So, are these measures helping at all? Well, according to Incogni, not much.

Did you know?

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

Experts at Proton, the provider behind ProtonVPN and ProtonMail, found that only after a week into 2024 the likes of Meta, Google, Apple, and Microsoft earned enough to pay off all the fines they got in 2023.

Facebook, for instance, was hit the most by legal fines for breaching the privacy of its users – three from EU bodies and five from other jurisdictions. WhatsApp, another Meta-owned product, was fined five times, while TikTok and X received four fines each. Despite this, the research clearly shows how these platforms remain among the worst for privacy protection.

"Examining the number and amounts of fines imposed on each platform, it’s apparent that they aren’t enough to make platforms change their approach toward how user personal information is handled," Jasinska-Dias told me, adding that, at the moment, there are no regulations that would sufficiently secure users' interest.

She believes the only way for policymakers to limit the extent of personal data collection is to ensure that violating the law isn’t more profitable than complying with it.

How to boost your privacy on social media

As Incogni's research shows, the most popular social media platforms are also the most invasive services around. While privacy-respecting alternatives do exist – think Mastodon, Nostr, and Matrix, for instance – you might not be willing to give up your social media presence on other platforms just yet. It's then crucial to learn how to minimize the data you share.

As a rule of thumb, Jasinska-Dias suggests opting for services that allow registration without using your real details whenever possible. If you cannot do that, you might want to think about creating a dedicated email account instead of giving away your main address. I would refrain from signing up with your phone number if you can, too.

"It’s worth noting that platforms belonging to Google and Meta make managing your privacy more complicated," said Jasinska-Dias. It's vital to keep in mind that these services are integrated into a bigger group and they share your data between them.

I strongly suggest reviewing your privacy settings to make sure you're sharing only strictly necessary information with the social media company. 

You should also become more confident with the provider's usage and privacy policies while staying up-to-date with any changes that occur. For example, last week LinkedIn silently began training its AI data with user data. If you haven't done so already, here are some instructions on how you can opt out.

It’s been more than a year since news of the MOVEit breach first emerged, and we’re still getting information on new victims.

The latest firm to add to the list is The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a US federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that oversees the nation’s major healthcare programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and so plays a critical role in administering health coverage to millions of Americans.

The agency has now confirmed suffering a data breach incident as a result of the MOVEit vulnerability that saw sensitive data belonging to 3,112,815 people stolen. Many of those are either deceased, or not Medicare beneficiaries, since CMS only notified roughly 950,000 people.

Personally identifiable information stolen

In the breach notification letter, which was also sent to the HHS, CMS said crooks took people’s names, social security numbers, individual taxpayer identification numbers, birth dates, mailing addresses, gender data, hospital account number, dates of service, Medicare beneficiary identifiers, and health insurance claim numbers.

This is more than enough data to mount identity theft or phishing attacks that could result in even more disruptive attacks.

CMS explained that it patched its MOVEit Transfer instance in early June last year, and assumed it would be safe. However, by the time the patch was installed, Cl0p operatives had already extracted all of the information they needed, and CMS only realized that in May this year.

Last year, ransomware operators Cl0p found a flaw in the managed file transfer service and used it to steal sensitive data from hundreds of organizations around the world, leading to the SEC launching a full investigation.

Via BleepingComputer

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Ryan Murphy's and Ian Brennan's second season of the true crime anthology series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has become Netflix's most-watched show with over 12 million views worldwide in the week ending September 22.

Despite being the number one show on the best streaming service, it has been met with criticism. The series has 44% on Rotten Tomatoes from the critics, with The Guardian calling it an "exhausting horror show" in their two star review. 

Meanwhile, the first season of the series, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story received a slightly better critical reception of 57% and saw a higher view count in its opening weekend (Deadline reports that Dahmer had around 21 million views, while Menendez received 12 million), but both wouldn't make it onto our best Netflix shows list.

The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is a true-crime drama that centers on the lives of the Menendez brothers, Lyle (Nichola Alexander Chavez) and Erik (Cooper Koch), who were convicted of killing their parents in 1989. But there are plenty of better crime dramas to watch on Netflix – here are three with over 85% on Rotten Tomatoes to watch instead.

Unbelievable

• RT Score: 98%
• Age rating: TV-MA
• Length: ~48 minute episodes
• Creators: Susannah Grant, Ayelet Waldman, and Michael Chabon

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning article by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, Unbelievable follows the police investigation into the Washington and Colorado serial rape cases between 2008 and 2011. The hard-hitting series explores the survivors' perspectives and the injustices they suffer by the American judicial system, including teenage girl Marie (Kaitlyn Dever) whose report of being raped is criticized and dismissed by the cops.

Meanwhile, Toni Collette and Merritt Wever are outstanding as two detectives on a mission to uncover the truth about a spate of similar attacks (their empathetic performances are something I often think about when it comes to gripping crime dramas). Even just watching the trailer is goosebump-inducing as it showcases a spectrum of raw emotions from all the cast.

Mindhunter

• RT Score: 97%
• Age rating: TV-MA
• Length: ~53 minute episodes
• Director: David Fincher

Mindhunter is arguably one of the best Netflix shows ever and is adapted from the 1995 true crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Serial Elite Crime Unit written by former FBI agent John E. Douglas. Set in the late 70s and early 80s, Mindhunter focuses on the creation of FBI's Behavioral Science Unit and the beginning of criminal profiling.

Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, and Anna Torv star as two FBI agents and a psychology professor who interview serial killers to understand their damaged minds and motives. Fincher's signature style makes this dark, chilling piece of television well worth a watch as it leaves you haunted by how depraved and complex real-life monsters can be.

Griselda

• RT Score: 86%
• Age rating: TV-MA
• Length: ~55 minute episodes
• Director: Andrés Baiz

Sofia Vergara proves she’s as gifted a dramatic actor as she is a comedian in the titular role of Colombian crime boss, Griselda Blanco. Inspired by her real-life story, the Emmy-nominated series documents Blanco's journey from fleeing Medellín to protect her children into becoming the notorious drug lord known as the Godmother of Cocaine. 

Vergara perfectly captures the complex and multifaceted personality of Blanco, from her ardent maternal instincts to her ruthless and more vulnerable side as her hunger for power and wealth in the Miami drug scene becomes all-consuming. 

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Fuel storage is an essential part of worldwide logistics, marking it as critical infrastructure and therefore a target for state-sponsored cyber attacks.

As with most things today, many fuel depots have some form of internet facing technology to help manage fuel levels remotely using automated tank gauges (ATG), and research from Bitsight has warned these systems have multiple critical vulnerabilities that could give an attacker full control over the fuel storage, allowing for the possibility of physical and environmental damage as well as economic loss.

The company identified multiple critical zero day vulnerabilities across six different ATG systems produced by five different companies. Despite multiple warnings about the potential for these systems to be easily attacked over the internet, many remain online and unpatched, making them prime targets for hacktivists and state-sponsored attackers.

ATG vulnerabilities

The Bitsight research outlines legacy vulnerabilities, such as those relating to a certain protocol in ATG systems known as Veeder-Root, Gilbarco, or TLS protocol. These protocols use an interface for communicating functions to the ATG, with many of the operational manuals detailing different protocols that can be used. Some such protocols could be abused by an attacker to change network configurations, change volume and fill limit configurations, stop leak or pressure detection tests, and put the ATG into a denial of service (DoS) loop by repeating a remote reboot. DoS attacks can be highly disruptive if done en-mass, potentially putting the fuel distribution infrastructure of entire regions offline affecting both civilian, logistical and military function.

As for new vulnerabilities, Bitsight discovered 10 unique vulnerabilities in one week relating to OS command injection, hardcoded credentials, authentication bypass, SQL injection, cross site scripting (XSS), privilege escalation, and arbitrary file read, with CVSS scores ranging from 7.5 to 10.

Using one of the protocol vulnerabilities the researchers discovered in Maglink LX4, they were able to force a relay to turn on and off 50 times per second, which is fast enough for the relay to damage itself and potentially the components around it. A relay damaged in this way could prevent detection and warning systems from operating properly, such as ventilation systems, alarms and pumps.

A further potential use of ATG vulnerabilities is intelligence gathering. By monitoring the volume of fuel storage through ATGs, state-sponsored attackers can gain valuable information into fuel sales, delivery times, and when is best to strike a fuel tank with a kinetic attack to cause the most damage.

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Strava, one of the best fitness apps for tracking outdoor workouts, has rolled out an update called Quick Edit starting today (September 25). The new Quick Edit feature will let users quickly tweak a suite of commonly used options and add a name with ease (no more Morning/Evening Runs all over the timeline, hooray!).

“Each activity upload is a chance for Strava athletes to personalize their authentic story behind the effort. Quick Edit puts the power in the hands of our users to easily tailor what they share and how they connect with their community,” said Zipporah Allen, Strava’s chief business officer via a press release.

The update to the Strava app is available for all users, whether you pay for Strava Premium or not, and you can just open the app after syncing an activity to get the following options:

• Audience Settings
• Hide Details
• Activity Title
• Map visibility
• Photos and videos

Analysis: Quick Edit could be a game-changer

(Image credit: Strava)

We've all been there: after a big run, before you can hit the shower or just enjoy a sit-down, you need to fumble with your workout app of choice to ensure it was tracked properly. 

As information from your best running watch is often logged in Strava automatically, you might want to open the app and quickly hide your location or regular running route from prying eyes. Strava just made it easier to control your data from a privacy standpoint, and that should be applauded: runners should feel as though they can use the app without compromising their safety.

Strava says you'll be able to log default workouts still by skipping past the Quick Edit function, but if you're gaining a bit of a following on the social network side of things, those privacy tweaks will be a huge boost.

Being able to hide your maps, times, or just about anything else without having to publish the data first and revisit it after could help newcomers grow in confidence with the platform, too.

I rarely take my phone with me on a run, but when I do, the option to quickly attach a photo to an activity is much more likely to get me to use it than having to go back in later and add it in.

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Cate Blanchett thrilled audiences as Lydia Tár in the 2022 movie and now she's back as an equally as compelling character in a new Apple TV Plus thriller series called Disclaimer, which sees her playing a journalist called Catherine Ravenscroft with a dark secret. The series arrives on the streamer on October 11. 

The new trailer is gripping stuff and really showcases why this is one of our best streaming services. Out of all the best Apple TV Plus shows to sink your teeth into, this new 7-part series by Roma director Alfonso Cuarón looks like it's a worthy potential entry onto our curated list.

Take a look at the trailer below to see for yourself.

What else should we know about Disclaimer?

Disclaimer is based on the novel of the same name by Renée Knight. The story follows a famed documentary journalist, who discovers she is a prominent character in a new novel. This wouldn't be so alarming if it wasn't for the fact said novel exposes a secret she's tried to keep buried...

Considering Catherine Ravenscroft's work saw her uncovering difficult truths, it's ironic that this novel is set to expose her instead. This series follows Catherine as she fights to keep her reputation, while trying to balance her own professional and personal relationships along the way. It's difficult not to compare Ravenscroft to Blanchett's other role in Tár, a composer who also had her fair share of secrets, which was one of our favorite women-led movies on Prime Video. 

Of course, plot details are pretty vague as we don't want to know exactly what she's hiding, so we'll have to tune in to watch as things unravel throughout the episodes.

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We already know that upgraded PlayStation 5 Pro games will feature a special label, but a new post on the PlayStation Blog has given us some further insight into the ways in which developers are leveraging the power of the upcoming PS5 Pro in order to improve their games.

The blog post, which was published alongside a trailer showcasing some PS5 Pro compatible games in last night's State of Play livestream, contains a variety of quotes from 14 studios regarding the upcoming console. These range all the way from first-party Sony studios to third-party teams and could give us a good idea of what to expect when the console launches.

Here are the most significant takeaways.

Enhanced first-party performance

(Image credit: Sony / Guerrilla)

As you might expect, a suite of performance improvements will be coming to first-party games. Mike Fitzgerald, core technology director at Insomniac games, confirmed that Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 will all be able to achieve 60fps at 4K in "a new default Performance Pro mode".

Updates will also released for The Last of Us Part 1 and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered according to Naughty Dog. These will offer 4K via PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) upscaling that "maintains the 60fps target, offering an ideal balance of framerate and resolution."

Interestingly, the original Performance and Fidelity modes will still be an option in these games, though will run more smoothly than before.

Jan-Bart van Beek, studio director and art director at Guerrilla Games outlined the big boost coming to Horizon Forbidden West. The existing quality mode will be able to run at 60fps, plus benefit from "improvement to shadows, depth-of-field, skin and hair shaders, clouds, god rays and so much more" due to the system's greater rendering power.

The newly revealed Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered will also launch with native PS5 Pro support.

Finally, Gran Turismo 7 is getting some love. The game, which "was already able to render in native 4K" per main programmer Shuichi Takano at developer Polyphony Digital, will gain "more detail and higher image quality than ever before" on PS5 Pro.

Part of this will be due to the addition of ray tracing, "which was previously impossible" on the base PS5. This will allow for more realistic car surfaces, increasing immersion in races. The game will also support 8K output at 60 fps for those with particularly high-end displays, though this is currently just "experimental". There's also no word on whether 8K resolution, which was originally advertised on the box of the base PS5, will be available in many other PS5 Pro titles.

Boosted third-party titles

(Image credit: NEXON)

Naoki Hamaguchi, director at Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth developer Square Enix, has revealed that the game will offer a "new Enhanced Mode developed especially for PS5 Pro [that] combines the characteristics of the existing Performance Mode and Graphics Mode." This mode will run at 60fps and leverage PSSR upscaling in order to achieve a high resolution.

He does clarify that the name of this mode is still under development, so may change in the future, but claimed that it will "result in even richer rendering for all aspects of the game".

Developers from Ubisoft echoed a similar sentiment. The technical director at Ubisoft Ivory Tower Didier Blanché stated that the PS5 Pro will offer "sharper and cleaner image quality thanks to PSSR, with more objects on-screen" at a solid 60fps in The Crew Motorfest. Technology director Pierre Fortin added that Assassin's Creed Shadows will use many PS5 Pro features including its enhanced ray-tracing capabilities and more powerful GPU for cleaner rendering.

Dongki Lee from Stellar Blade developer Shift Up argued that the PS5 Pro will now allow for a 4K 50fps experience in the game. A high framerate option is also supported "allowing you to enjoy a fluid gaming experience" at an enhanced 80fps on supported 120Hz displays.

Similar performance improvements are coming to Alan Wake 2 according to Remedy Entertainment communications director Thomas Puha. The 60fps performance mode will feature overhauled "visuals and effects" and now run at 4K, "making the experience look even better than before". This is no small feat given just how visually intensive Alan Wake 2 is and suggests that it could become the first real showcase of the PS5 Pro's potential.

The First Descendant will also benefit from enhanced ray tracing to achieve "more lifelike and natural lighting and shadow effects" according to the lead engine programmer from Nexon Games. This is on top of the addition of FSR 3.1 Frame Generation, which could boost performance further.

PSSR will be used extensively in the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta per Konami Digital Entertainment creative producer Yuji Korekado. This will help "deliver a smoother gameplay experience with better framerates throughout the entire game".

Players of both Rise of the Ronin and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will also undoubtedly be pleased to hear that both titles will run better on the PS5 Pro according to their respective developers.

Electronic Arts also confirmed that Dragon Age: the Veilguard will be able to hit 60fps in its performance mode on the system, running at an increased resolution compared to the base PS5.

Capcom also revealed that Dragon's Dogma 2, which was originally shown in the PS5 Pro announcement trailer, will make full use of PSSR for more stable framerates. On top of performance upgrades to Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Village will receive a 120fps setting, which could make for one incredibly smooth experience.

Finally, Hogwarts Legacy developer Avalanche Software has stated that the game will benefit from PSSR, increased performance due to the great GPU power, and new ray tracing features for "crisper, richer, higher resolution graphics".

A promising start?

(Image credit: Sony)

This all sounds very promising and could make for a every compelling reason to upgrade, though obviously only time will tell if the PS5 Pro is able to measure up to some of these lofty performance claims. The console, which was announced and officially revealed by Sony earlier this month, is set to launch on November 7.

PS5 Pro pre-orders go live this week and we expect stock to sell out fast. If you want to secure a system, before sure to keep an eye on our detailed guide on when you can buy one and the retailers to try.

Sony also recently revealed some very attractive 30th anniversary PS5 and PS5 Pro designs that are filled with tiny hidden details.

The limited edition PS5 Pro is strictly limited in quantity and even more likely to sell out quick, so be sure to check our guide on where to pre-order the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection this week if you don't want to miss out.

Last night's State of Play also showed off new PS5 Chroma Collection DualSense and console cover colorways, which might be some of the best looking yet. Consult our guide on where to pre-order the PS5 Chroma Collection if you're keen to get your hands on them.

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Google has announced its Gemini generative AI-powered assistant is set to be included in Google Workspace Business, Enterprise and Frontline plans, significantly expanding the platform's user base.

The offering promises compliance with an organization’s security and privacy policies and extra controls for IT admins.

Aparna Pappu, GM and VP of Google Workspace, explained the company hopes to make the widely promised productivity benefits of GenAI accessible to even more workers.

Gemini now available for certain Google Workspace plans

Those looking to integrate Gemini into the suite of office apps will still need to buy an add-on, which costs from $20 per month on an annual basis for the Gemini Business subscription.

Being a business-focused product, Google promises not to use organizational data, user prompts or generated responses to train or improve its AI models. Admins will also have control over how long Gemini stores user-generated content in order for companies to adhere to their data retention policies.

Moreover, SOC 1/2/3, ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 certifications on top of the HIPAA support announced earlier in 2024 should also get Gemini into the hands of more users, particularly in highly-regulated industries like healthcare and finance.

To coincide with the Gemini for Workspace updates, Google has also rolled out a new security advisor tool designed to give administrators actionable recommendations against cyber threats and other security-related issues.

According to internal research surrounding the use of Gemini, users saved an average of 105 minutes per week. Three-quarters of daily Gemini users also noted that their quality of work had improved.

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Pro-Ject, maker of some of the best turntables you can buy, has just launched a new trio: the T1 EVO, the T1 EVO Phono and the T1 EVO BT. And they're priced to sell, with the most affordable model coming in at just $449 (about £335 / AU$650) and the range-topping model a still reasonable $599 (about £450 / AU$870).

According to Pro-Ject the improvements include "a classic groove-slayer in the Ortofon OM10 MM phono cartridge, a larger Debut-sized [referring to the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon] sub-platter as well as electronic speed change for all 3 models."

The firm has stuck with its usual naming conventions, so the EVO is the conventional turntable without its own pre-amp; the Phono adds a phono stage; and the BT model is the Bluetooth version, which in this iteration delivers aptX HD over Bluetooth 5.0. The BT model also includes the phono stage.

These are clearly intended as step-up products for people who've dabbled in beginner turntables, such as Pro-Ject's own E1 series, which has equivalent models to these – a basic one, a phono one, and a Bluetooth one – plus one with a full amp built in. We were very impressed with these, as you can read in our Pro-Ject E1 review, and our Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 review, so stepping up to higher-quality build and components should mean these are ideal if you want to connect them to a bigger, beefier amp and speakers, so simply want to eke more detail and range from what you already have.

Pro-Ject T1 EVO: key features, price and availability

Phono stage and Bluetooth capability aside, all three models share the same spec: push-button speed control; an anti-resonant sub-platter, and an 8mm thick tempered glass platter; a low-friction, no-vibration tonearm; and vibration-absorbing feet. 

They're belt-driven with an 8.6-inch one-piece aluminum tonearm with adjustable tracking force and counterweight, both of which are pre-set for easy setup.

There are three colors to choose from: gloss black, satin white and satin walnut. And all three turntables will ship in late October in the US. We don't have word on wider availability yet, but we expect them appear anywhere you can buy Pro-Ject products.

The prices of the new Pro-Ject T1 EVO range are:

• Pro-Ject T1 EVO: $449 (about £335 / AU$650)
• Pro-Ject T1 EVO Phono: $499 (about £370 / AU$725)
• Pro-Ject T1 EVO BT: $599 (about £450 / AU$870)

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Lyft, which is one of the largest ride share and transportation services in North America, has partnered with software platform provider Smartcar to reduce range anxiety among those professional drivers opting for electric propulsion.

A new feature, dubbed Rides in Range, will only offer ride requests from those customers that are within the remaining battery range of EV drivers.

Available now to drivers on the platform, the system builds in a 20-mile buffer on an EV’s battery range to accommodate different driving styles or route obstacles.

Lyft has implemented the new Rides in Range feature as it understands that range anxiety still plagues many of its drivers, claiming that juggling the remaining range mathematics adds an additional and unnecessary headache to proceedings.

What’s more, drivers can lose out on fares and garner negative feedback should they have to stop to charge mid-fare or turn down a ride request due to a lack of remaining range.

Smartcar says its consent-based API (application programming interface – essentially the technology that enables apps to 'talk' to each other) requires a one-time set-up through the existing Lyft app, which then only shares the necessary data permissions with Lyft, maintaining privacy while improving the driver experience.

The company’s neat solution retrieves data on the vehicle’s remaining battery range via the manufacturer’s range-estimation tool, ensuring increased accuracy depending on climate conditions, vehicle ancillaries in use, and driving style.

Lyft has set itself the target of achieving a goal of reaching 100 million EV rides on the platform by the end of 2025. 

Its Rides in Range feature will not only hunt for ride requests within battery range, but will also alert drivers to charge after completing a trip if their battery level is expected to fall below 20%, ensuring more time on the road and more money in the pockets of drivers.

Keen to be green

(Image credit: Lyft)

Lyft has ambitious targets when it comes to electrifying its fleet of ride-share vehicles, with the company stating in June 2020 that it wanted its entire fleet to be 100% electric by 2030.

That's not an easy ask, considering drivers use their own vehicles, so have to be convinced to make the switch like every other new car customer. 

It has attempted to smooth the transition by offering drivers a suite of incentives, including giving Lyft operatives in California an extra $150 every week when giving 50 rides in their personal EVs.

There are also discounts on a number of public fast-charging networks, as well as cashback when paying for the public charging network with a specific Lyft Direct debit card, and discounts on home wall-box charging solutions from a number of top-tier suppliers.

Perhaps more interesting is the fact that Lyft’s research found that customers who had ridden in an EV were 38% more likely to purchase one for private use. 

Speaking to those using EVs on a daily basis for professional reasons has helped displace many myths surrounding them, potentially helping to speed up EV adoption in general.

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