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With the announcement of a PS5 Pro being on most folks' bingo cards for this year, it seemed likely that we were going to get official confirmation sooner rather than later. Especially with the rumor mill hitting a fever pitch. 

And with Sony just yesterday announcing a PlayStation 5 Technical Presentation to be aired today (September 10) at 8am PDT / 11am EDT / 4pm BST, it seemed like we were finally going to be able to put the rumors to bed. But then again, there's always room for it to be something else, right?

Well, no, actually. As spotted by Wario64 on X / Twitter, it looks like today's technical presentation will indeed focus on the PS5 Pro. A screenshot of an unlisted video displays the title 'PS5 Pro' with the technical presentation's teaser as the video itself. You can still check the link out, but the video has since been renamed to 'PlayStation 5 Technical Presentation - September 10' as was likely intended in the first place.

an unlisted YouTube video confirms it's PS5 Pro (duh) https://t.co/TkuEPocXcW https://t.co/aCh54rS5xP pic.twitter.com/E8R50AZf1NSeptember 9, 2024

It's not the first sign of the PS5 Pro trying to breach containment before its official reveal. The mid-gen refresh was seemingly accidentally revealed (or potentially even deliberately teased) in the promotional material for PlayStation's 30th anniversary celebrations. Looking at the image here, you can spot what appears to be a new-look PS5 wedged between the PlayStation logo and the '3'.

Still, while revealing the PS5 Pro announcement before the technical presentation was undoubtedly a flub, Sony might welcome the distraction considering it quietly bumped up the price of its DualSense Wireless Controller by $5 / £5 over at PlayStation Direct and other retailers.

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Representatives from MI6 and the CIA have revealed the agencies have adopted generative AI in the fight to improve intelligence activities.

In a joint opinion piece, the agencies pointed to the ‘sea of data’ they need to comb through in order to identify and tackle security threats.

The intelligence chiefs describe the ‘accelerated’ challenges brought about by advances in technology, with an ‘unprecedented array of threats’ that the two countries face. The pair identify the war in Ukraine as the first of its kind in combining open-source warfare with ‘cutting-edge battlefield technology [..] high and low sophistication cyber warfare, social media, open-source intelligence”

A special relationship

The move is perhaps not hugely surprising, with Microsoft confirming it designed generative AI models specifically for use by intelligence services. For example, the large language model developed for data analysis uses an ‘air gap’ to ensure a separation from any unsafe internet connections.

The piece indicated China’s rise to power is the primary intelligence and geopolitical challenge of the 21st century for both the CIA and SIS - stating that both have reorganized services to reflect the new priority.

This directional change is supported by foreign policy moves, with the US in particular placing restrictions which aim to curb China’s technological power.

Since cyberattacks from both Russia and China have become more prevalent threats, the chiefs confirm the strategy, noting “We are training AI to help protect and “red team” our own operations to ensure we can still stay secret when we need to. We are using cloud technologies so our brilliant data scientists can make the most of our data, and we are partnering with the most innovative companies in the US, UK and around the world.”

The partnership of course don’t confirm the exact uses of their algorithms or AI operations, but it is clear that technology will play a crucial role in intelligence and public policy for the future.

Via Financial Times

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DOOM, the 1993 cult classic, has turned into somewhat of an internet meme. Playable on nearly everything, from microwaves to electric toothbrushes, it’s more of a question of what can’t play DOOM rather than what can. Now, thanks to Google’s AI GameNGen, AI can even generate a playable version of one of the most beloved video games of all time, and it’s seriously impressive. 

GameNGen is a new video game engine that is powered by a neural model able to generate gameplay based on different prompts. In the case of this recreation of DOOM, GameNGen is essentially learning to play the game as masterfully as possible, dodging bullets, slaying demons, and interacting with the environment.

Once the AI has understood exactly how to play the game, GameNGen then uses a diffusion model to recreate a perfect image of the content it has just consumed. The game is produced in real-time with the AI model generating each individual frame based on the last one.

The recreation of DOOM is something to behold, but with GameNGen only able to recreate the game at around 20fps, it’s obviously not comparable to id Software’s 120fps in DOOM Eternal, or the graphics we’ve seen of the upcoming DOOM: The Dark Ages. However, considering that artificial intelligence has imagined one of the most famous video games and it's playable, we're impressed.

More than just a DOOM Slayer

GameNGen’s powers are not limited to DOOM, while the game engine might not be able to recreate any game on the planet very well, in theory, it should be able to reimagine most of your favorite games — albeit in a way that will probably cause motion sickness, with all the frame drops.

Just earlier this week, Virtuals Protocol demonstrated MarioVGG, an AI video tool that recreated a glitchy version of Super Mario Bros. While it leaves a lot to be desired, this appears to only be the beginning of AI’s involvement in video game development with an exciting, and potentially terrifying, future upon us. 

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Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Wordle hints and answers, Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #457) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• STARS
• STRIPES
• HAND
• DELIVER
• SORTS
• DECK OF CARDS
• THUMBS
• MONARCHY
• PASS
• TYPES
• NHL
• A-F
• PERCENTAGE
• CHECKERS
• GIVE
• KINDS

NYT Connections today (game #457) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• Yellow: Things of a particular quality
• Green: Move to another person
• Blue: Ways of ranking
• Purple: They have a regal aspect

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #457) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: VARIETIES
• GREEN: TRANSFER
• BLUE: RATINGS SYSTEMS
• PURPLE: THINGS WITH KINGS

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

NYT Connections today (game #457) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #457, are…

• YELLOW: VARIETIES KINDS, SORTS, STRIPES, TYPES
• GREEN: TRANSFER DELIVER, GIVE, HAND, PASS
• BLUE: RATINGS SYSTEMS A-F, PERCENTAGE, STARS, THUMBS
• PURPLE: THINGS WITH KINGS CHECKERS, DECK OF CARDS, MONARCHY, NHL

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

It's been a long time since I've found a Connections puzzle to be as easy as this one. All four are straightforward collections of things/words, with no more complicated 'blank' types, let alone any real head-scratchers. It was simply a case of solving them one by one, which made the process easier each time as more solutions got removed.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, 9 September, game #456)

• YELLOW: GET RED IN THE FACE BLUSH, BURN, FLUSH, GLOW
• GREEN: CONTINUOUS CONSECUTIVE, NONSTOP, SOLID, STRAIGHT
• BLUE: FLAVOR ASSORTMENT FLIGHT, PLATTER, SAMPLER, TASTING
• PURPLE: SITCOMS BLOSSOM, COACH, COMMUNITY, FULL HOUSE

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #191) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Give it a whirl!

NYT Strands today (game #191) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• RICE
• SICK
• SOCK
• BALL
• TALL
• SORT

NYT Strands today (game #191) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Come dancing

NYT Strands today (game #191) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: right, 5th row

Last: left, 6th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #191) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #191, are…

• WALTZ
• QUICKSTEP
• FOXTROT
• SALSA
• JIVE
• RUMBA
• SPANGRAM: BALLROOMDANCE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

I have never tried ballroom dancing, and I almost certainly never will – but that didn't stop me completing this Strands puzzle in quick time. It's a very simple one, helped no end by the fact that the spangram, BALLROOMDANCE, is very long and winds its way across the center of the board. This reduces the possibilities for the letters surrounding it, making it easy to spot the likes of QUICKSTEP and SALSA. Uncommon letters helped, too – there's an X, a Z and a Q in there, and all are typically easier to work with than more common characters.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday 9 September, game #190)

• BOCCE
• CROQUET
• CORNHOLE
• HORSESHOES
• BADMINTON
• SPANGRAM: LAWNGAMES

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now nearly 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #960) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

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

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

Quordle today (game #960) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #960) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

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

Quordle today (game #960) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #960) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• P

• S

• A

• E

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

Quordle today (game #960) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #960, are…

• PLUMB
• SEIZE
• EARLY
• ASSET

If this is the 'Classic' Quordle by difficulty, then spare a thought for anyone attempting the new 'Extreme' variety. I only solved classic on the last guess, tripped up along the way by the likes of SEIZE (with its two Es and one Z) and ASSET (two Ss).

As it happened, I decided to attempt Extreme too today, and did manage to solve that – but only after a rollercoaster game that saw my secure the victory on the last attempt. And I was never playing within my comfort zone, that's for sure.

On the plus side, the Daily Sequence version of the game was relatively simple today – which was some relief after the other two Quordles.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #960) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #960, are…

• FLACK
• SHAKE
• SCARY
• ALTAR

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #959, Monday 9 September: CHIRP, BEADY, THETA, MINUS
• Quordle #958, Sunday 8 September: TEASE, AGATE, PRIDE, PLATE
• Quordle #957, Saturday 7 September: LASSO, TILDE, BUNCH, PRONG
• Quordle #956, Friday 6 September: FARCE, WOOLY, LOCAL, NIGHT
• Quordle #955, Thursday 5 September: SNIDE, EGRET, AMONG, SHINY
• Quordle #954, Wednesday 4 September: POINT, WITTY, GAFFE, ABUSE
• Quordle #953, Tuesday 3 September: ATOLL, ANGER, OCEAN, SWEEP
• Quordle #952, Monday 2 September: HABIT, LODGE, PLAIN, DRIFT
• Quordle #951, Sunday 1 September: RABBI, CRAWL, GUPPY, BRAND
• Quordle #950, Saturday 31 August: AWOKE, TIBIA, ITCHY, SNACK
• Quordle #949, Friday 30 August: ARISE, OLDER, ISSUE, ERUPT
• Quordle #948, Thursday 29 August: DECAY, DRUID, AVOID, KNEED
• Quordle #947, Wednesday 28 August: VIOLA, GONER, CAVIL, SHARE
• Quordle #946, Tuesday 27 August: ABYSS, DAILY, AGONY, MUSKY
• Quordle #945, Monday 26 August: NEVER, CHUNK, AUNTY, CROUP
• Quordle #944, Sunday 25 August: APTLY, LEVER, STORK, WIDOW
• Quordle #943, Saturday 24 August: EVENT, APNEA, SWATH, IRONY
• Quordle #942, Friday 23 August: LAUGH, SATYR, CACHE, CLONE
• Quordle #941, Thursday 22 August: BEARD, PAYER, BROWN, TRUCK
• Quordle #940, Wednesday 21 August: ALOFT, SNUCK, LAPSE, COMIC

It’s official: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max have arrived, and with them the next generation of Apple smartphone chips – the A18 and A18 Pro.

The new iPhone 16 lineup and A18 series chipsets were revealed at Apple's September 9 'It's Glowtime' event.

You’ll find the A18 in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, and the A18 Pro in the newly enlarged iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max 

Apple claims you’ll see serious performance gains with these new chips, but in typical fashion hasn’t provided any concrete benchmarks, only percentage improvements compared to the previous generation.

For reference, when we say “previous generation”, we’re referring to the A16 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, and the A17 Pro chip found in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. 

Until we get our hands on the iPhone 16 lineup ourselves for testing, these claims from Apple are the best indication we have of the performance of these new chipsets.

A18 specs and performance improvements  

The A18 chip found in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus come equipped with a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU (which Apple dubiously calls “desktop class”), and 16-core Neural Engine optimized for large generative models. 

The CPU is split into two performance cores for heavier tasks, and four efficiency cores for lighter ones. Apple claims this CPU is 30% faster than the one found in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. 

Apple says A18 achieves the same performance as the previous generation while using 30% less power.

Apple makes bolder statements about the GPU, claiming a performance improvement of 40% compared to the previous generation, with native support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing – a way of realistically rendering light that's increasingly used in modern games.

Apple says the A18’s GPU achieves the same performance as the previous generation while using 35% less power.

The entire chipset has 17% more memory bandwidth compared to the A16 Bionic – this is how much data the system can process at once, though Apple hasn't provided specific figures.

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar  A18 Pro specs and performance improvements 

Apple claims more modest improvements for the A18 Pro as compared to the A17 Pro, but this isn’t surprising given the already fantastic performance of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The company did, however, call the A18’s CPU the “fastest CPU in any smartphone” during the now-concluded 'It’s Glowtime' event.

The A18 Pro’s 6-core CPU is divided into two performance cores and four efficiency cores, with Apple claiming a 15% improvement in performance compared to the previous generation. 

The company says the A18 Pro achieves the same performance as the previous generation while using 20% less power.

Apple says the A18 Pro’s 6-core GPU – that’s one more core than the A18 – boasts a 20% performance boost over the A17 Pro.

Apple showed Death Stranding as an example of the type of games the A18 Pro can handle. The Kojima Productions game was first released on home consoles in 2019. 

Like the A18, the A18 Pro comes equipped with a 16-core Neural Engine, but also includes what Apple calls “next-generation machine learning accelerators”, ostensibly to improve AI performance. And, as with the A18, memory bandwidth is improved by 17%.

The A18 Pro comes with two extra sweeteners for pro users: Apple claims doubled video encoding speeds and faster USB 3 data transfer speeds, though this is as much detail as we were given during the event.

 The first 3nm smartphone chips 

Apple says the A18 and A18 Pro are the world’s first 3nm smartphone chipsets. In chip production, nanometers (nm) refers to the microscopic width of a single transistor on a chip, processor, or SoC. Each transistor can store one bit of information, so the more you can cram onto a surface, the more operations a chipset can complete.

We’ll have to check for ourselves whether Apple’s implementation of 3nm technology has generated any tangible benefits, but it’s an impressive first either way, and will most likely spur on other manufacturers to adopt 3nm over the coming year. 

A recent report by CYFIRMA has revealed the emergence of a new keylogger operating via a PowerShell script, a task automation and configuration management framework from Microsoft.

A keylogger is a type of malicious software that captures every keystroke on an infected system. By recording keyboard inputs, keyloggers can gather sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card numbers, and personal communications, and are often used to steal financial data or spy on individuals and organizations.

The keylogger analyzed in CYFIRMA's research uses Microsoft’s PowerShell script to capture keystrokes stealthily. PowerShell's native integration with Windows, combined with its powerful scripting capabilities, makes it an attractive target for attackers seeking to execute commands without direct user interaction.

PowerShell based keylogger

The researchers note this PowerShell keylogger showcases several advanced features that enhance its stealth and effectiveness in capturing sensitive information.

This includes its command and scripting interpreter, which enables the keylogger to execute commands through PowerShell without requiring user interaction, significantly complicating detection efforts.

The keylogger also performs system discovery, gathering critical information such as user profile directories, volume details, and cryptographic settings.

Furthermore, the keylogger establishes Command-and-Control (C2) communication through both a cloud server and an Onion server on the Tor network. This dual-channel communication not only maintains anonymity for the attackers but also complicates tracing efforts back to their source. It also incorporates a screen capture feature, allowing attackers to obtain visual data from the infected system in addition to logging keystrokes.

To evade detection, the keylogger employs encoded command execution, transmitting commands using Base64 encoding. This technique obscures the commands from traditional security measures.

It also makes persistent connection attempts via a SOCKS proxy, ensuring that even if initial connection attempts fail, the keylogger will continue trying to establish communication. While the current version of the keylogger lacks a fully developed persistence mechanism, the incomplete code indicates that future updates may enhance its ability to maintain a foothold on infected systems.

Given the advanced nature of this PowerShell-based keylogger, CYFIRMA notes organizations should implement robust cybersecurity measures to defend against such threats, including:

• Enhance security policies: Organizations should enforce stringent security policies to restrict the execution of unauthorized PowerShell scripts. This may involve disabling or limiting PowerShell usage where it is unnecessary and actively monitoring for any unauthorized execution attempts.
• Invest in advanced threat detection: Implement advanced threat detection systems that leverage machine learning and behavioral analytics. These systems can more effectively detect and respond to sophisticated threats, such as keyloggers.
• Educate employees: Conduct regular training sessions to raise awareness among employees about the dangers of phishing and other social engineering techniques, which are frequently used to deploy keyloggers.
• Conduct regular system audits: Schedule frequent system audits and integrity checks to detect any unauthorized modifications, including the presence of keyloggers. These audits help ensure compliance with established security policies.
• Deploy endpoint protection: Utilize endpoint protection solutions designed to detect and block keylogger activities. These solutions should be capable of identifying threats that operate using non-interactive PowerShell processes to bolster overall security.

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MASV has officially launched its new free-tier service, signaling a shift from a trial-based model to a fully functional free product.

The company says its move is designed to help media professionals, particularly those dealing with massive amounts of data, streamline their workflows and scale their operations without breaking the bank.

By offering up to 10 GB of data transfer per month at no cost, MASV seeks to address the growing need for fast, secure, and reliable file transfers in industries such as film, television, and digital media.

Helping high-volume data workflows

Traditional file transfer services often fall short when it comes to high-volume workflows, while legacy on-premises tools are plagued with complexity, security risks, and high costs. MASV says its free tier is designed to eliminate these challenges, allowing teams to build scalable and reliable workflows with minimal effort.

While MASV is offering 10GB of data for free every month, those handling larger files or requiring more frequent transfers have the option of pay-as-you-go and committed-use plans.

MASV can also integrate with existing tools and storage solutions, including over 25 of the most popular cloud storage applications.

The platform offers a self-serve model, meaning that users can quickly build and manage their workflows with little to no technical support, and MASV says its platform is designed to provide lightning-fast transfers without compromising data security.

The offer of 10GB of free cloud storage comes with a set of conditions that users should consider before diving in. While the initial 10GB is complimentary, the pricing structure for additional storage can quickly add up. After the first 10GB, users will be charged $0.25 per GB for the next 490GB. If your storage needs exceed that, the cost decreases slightly to $0.22 per GB for the next 2TB. For those requiring even more space, the rate drops further to $0.20 per GB for over 2.5TB.

In addition to the storage costs, there are also fees associated with the duration of storage. Users enjoy five days of free storage, but after that period, the cost is $0.07 per GB per month. This means that if files are stored beyond the initial five days, users will incur ongoing charges, which can accumulate depending on the amount of data stored. The initial allure of free storage may be overshadowed by the costs associated with additional storage and extended retention periods. Thus, potential users should carefully evaluate their storage needs and the long-term costs before committing to this service.

“The launch of our new free tier is an invitation for media professionals to build on the massive platform,” said Greg Wood, CEO of MASV. “MASV is committed to providing exceptional value and file transfer tooling to businesses with complex file transfer needs. We are proud of the innovation, continuous improvement of the product, and the close support we provide to customers, and we’re excited to see how people will use the free tier to build new high-performance file transfer workflows."

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Apple has announced the Apple Watch Series 10 at its iPhone 16 event, and there’s a lot about it that I really, really like, including the new larger screen, thinner body, and lighter weight. I’m also itching to try the improvements made possible by the new S10 chipset, such as improved call clarity and the Translate app, while the new Jet Black colorway looks awesome. 

As a keen surfer, the Tides app is also guaranteed to be a game-changer for me: my go-to app was always the now-defunct Magic Seaweed, which was bought out by Surfline, and a dedicated Apple replacement on my wrist seems too good to be true.

However, for many people, the new sleep apnea detection functionality, Breathing Disturbances, could have been the biggest game changer. Breathing Disturbances, a feature reportedly soon-to-be FCC certified, checks across 30 days of sleep tracking for signs of sleep apnea and presents the information in a report to be read by your doctor. It could help millions of undiagnosed sleep apnea sufferers.

Along with the new Vitals app from watchOS 11, Apple seems to be doubling down on sleep and sleep tracking data. 

However, for these new features to be able to work effectively, users need to be able to wear their Watch overnight, and there's still a big obstacle here: battery life. With no changes advertised at this point, it's almost certainly still going to be a measly 18 hours."

(Image credit: Apple)

The Apple Watch Series 10 did make strides in the battery department this year, with the introduction of the fastest-ever charging capabilities in an Apple Watch to date. It can reportedly reach 80% battery capacity in just 30 minutes of charge thanks to the new “innovative” metal back design. Theoretically, it’s not a problem at all to dap it on a charger for 30 minutes before bed time.

However, if you were to charge it to full capacity at 9pm, the watch would be theoretically dead again by 5pm the following day. You’d have to charge it again in the middle of the day, and if you don’t have a cable or 30 minutes to hand, you’re left with a useless piece of aluminum on your wrist. If you charge it first thing in the morning, it may even die overnight. I know Apple’s battery life tends to exceed the stated value, but it’s still ludicrously short. If you forget to charge it, or you’re out and about for most of the day, you’re left with a new 50mm black mirror on your wrist.

Samsung, which made a similar investment in sleep features this year, has its watch batteries cap out at 40 hours. Even the Google Pixel Watch 3 manages 24 hours with the always-on display mode active.

I believe Apple would get far more people using the new Breathing Disturbances and Vitals features on their watches, as it so clearly wants people to do, if it could extend the battery life to just 24 hours. If the Apple Watch Ultra 2 can manage 36 hours, what’s the holdup?

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YouTube is continuing to tapdance ahead of the rush of AI-produced content popping up on the platform with a new set of tools to spot when AI-generated people, voices, and even music appear in videos. The newly upgraded Content ID system is expanding from looking for copyright infringement to looking for synthetic voices performing songs. There are also new ways to spot when deepfake faces are popping up in videos.

The "synthetic singing" voice identification tool for the Content ID system is fairly straightforward. The AI will automatically detect and manage AI-generated imitations of singing voices and alert users of the tool. Google plans to roll out a pilot version of this system early next year before a broader release. 

On the visual content front, YouTube is testing a way for content creators to detect AI-generated videos that have their faces without their approval. The idea is to give artists and public figures more control over how AI versions of their faces are deployed, particularly on the video platform. Ideally, this would stop deepfakes or unauthorized manipulations from spreading.

Both features build on the policy quietly added to YouTube's terms and conditions in July to address AI-generated mimicry. Affected individuals can request the removal of videos with deepfake aspects of themselves through YouTube's privacy request process. That was a big shift from simply labeling the video as AI or as misleading content. It enhanced the takedown policy to address AI.

"These two new capabilities build on our track record of developing technology-driven approaches to tackling rights issues at scale," YouTube Vice President of Creator Products Amjad Hanif wrote in a blog post. "We're committed to bringing this same level of protection and empowerment into the AI age."

YouTube's AI Infusion

The flip side of the AI detection tools is for creators who have seen their videos scraped to train AI models without their permission. Some YouTube videomakers have been annoyed about how their work is picked up for training by OpenAI, Apple, Nvidia, and Google itself for training without any requests or compensation. The exact plan is still in early development but presumably will deal at least with the Google scraping.

"We’ll continue to employ measures to ensure that third parties respect [YouTube's terms and conditions], including ongoing investments in the systems that detect and prevent unauthorized access, up to and including blocking access from those who scrape," Hanif wrote. "That said, as the generative AI landscape continues to evolve, we recognize creators may want more control over how they collaborate with third-party companies to develop AI tools. That's why we're developing new ways to give YouTube creators choice over how third parties might use their content on our platform."

The announcements are part and parcel of YouTube’s moves to make AI both a deeply integrated part of the platform and one that people trust. That's why these kinds of protection announcements often come right before or after plans like YouTube's Brainstorm with Gemini tool for coming up with inspiration for a new video. Not to mention anticipated features like an AI music generator, which in turn pairs well with the new tool for removing copyrighted music from your video without taking it down completely. 

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So when it comes to the iPhone 16 release date and the iPhone 16 Pro release date , it's all very easy: all four models of next-generation Apple phone will be released on September 20. 

And if you can't wait until then, you can pre-order the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max from September 13; check out our guide on iPhone 16 pre-orders. 

The phones were revealed at the 'Glowtime' Apple event and, if you read our iPhone 16 launch live blog, you'll note that while these new iPhones look similar to their predecessors, they have a whole suite of upgrades that not only make them more powerful but also a fair bit smarter. I reckon if you have an iPhone 14 you might want to consider an upgrade. And all models will support Apple Intelligence smart features. 

Same price, more of nearly everything 

(Image credit: Apple)

In terms of how much that'll cost you, well the iPhone 16 starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,399, the iPhone 16 Plus starts at $899 / £899 / AU$1,599, the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,799, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149.

I'm rather surprised Apple hasn't ramped up the price of its new iPhones given the power the Pro models offer with the new A18 Pro chip, and how all the phones get a new Camera Control button that can detect certain gestures to trigger camera modes and shooting options without needing to tap at a screen. And the standard and Plus modes also get the Action button that was previously reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

In fact, given the upgrades and I think all of the iPhone 16 models now offer a fair bit for the money. They are sure to be contenders for spots on our best phones list, so I'd low-key suggest getting a pre-order in if you're hyped for them.

Also once the new phones are put in the wild, I'd recommend taking a look at our iPhone 16 deals page, as there are carrier who could offer some compelling phone and network deals worth your attention.

More Apple September event news

• Apple Intelligence has an official release date – but it won't be on your new iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro at launch
• Two Apple AirPods 4 models launch
• Apple Watch Series 10 announced with biggest screen yet

Launched at IFA 2024, the Ulefone Armor 28 Ultra is a rugged Android smartphone loaded with the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chip. I went hands-on with the device, to get a feel for the company’s latest ruggedized phone.

Ulefone make some of the best rugged phones we’ve tested – well-built, well-designed, and reliably durable. And while performance isn’t always the fastest, the company’s phones and rugged tablets have survived all the shock and drop tests we’ve thrown at them. 

So, I was curious to see what the new Ulefone Armor 28 Ultra felt like in hand. And in short, it feels like a thoughtfully designed beast. Swipe through the gallery below for more close-up photos. 

Hard knocks

The Armor 28 Ultra sports all the specs you’d expect from a phone built for extreme conditions and hostile environments. Alongside the better-performing Dimensity 9300+ processor, the 5G-capable device comes equipped with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. The 10600mAh battery supports wired and wireless charging. Performance-wise, the Android 14 phone was snappy, although there was no opportunity to really push the demo unit to the max. It will be interesting to find out whether it resolves the issues of sluggish software on rugged phones. 

Measuring 6.86x3.29x0.76in, in my hand it was pleasingly chunky with a good weight behind it. The casing is hardened, machined, contoured, and reinforced. On the durability front, it has MIL-STD 810H, IP68, and IP69K ratings, making it resistant to dust, water, and it should survive up to two-meter drops. Rubberized port coverings for the USB-C charging and audio jack are a snug fit, firmly closing and – with what little time I had with the unit – feeling as if they will reliably stay-put and protect the device. 

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The AMOLED display is a good-sized 6.67in with Full HD+ (1080 x 2400) resolution and 120hz refresh rate. Under exhibition hall lights, this looked crisp, clear, and bright. Expect to see similar results outdoors, especially with the device’s 2200nits peak luminance. 

Flip over the phone to find the camera array. The device features both front-facing 50MP  camera, 50MP camera ultrawide with thermal imaging, and a 64MP night-vision camera. We’re keen to see how these play out under real-world tests – night-vision is notoriously difficult to capture in the well-lit Messe Berlin. Those rear cameras are housed within a frame not dissimilar to a gentleman’s timepiece. Fittingly, at the heart of the optical array is a small screen displaying an analog clock. Users can swipe over that mini screen for additional quick-view apps without unlocking the phone, and all the distractions of the home screen. It’s an elegant touch and a thoughtful design element that marks the model out from others on the market. 

So, some impressive specs for working on-site and in the field, if not the best-of-the-best. Overall, there is a chunkiness to the Armor 28 Ultra, and those with particularly small hands may struggle to get a full and tight grip on it. But that’s part of the appeal of a phone like this. It’s supposed to be built like a tank – and feel like it, too. 

As yet, the company hasn’t revealed the cost of the Ulefone Armor 28 Ultra. Users won’t even see pre-orders available until November, but we’re hoping that Ulefone continues its trend for reasonably priced devices offering a fair amount of bang for the buck. 

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New AirPods Max 2 were heavily rumored for Apple's iPhone 16 event – but it turns out we'll have to make do with some quality-of-life updates to the existing AirPods Max instead.

Perhaps the audio industry’s worst-kept secret, major updates to Apple’s AirPods line were heavily touted earlier this year and, true to form, Apple announced the new AirPods 4 and some decent updates to the AirPods Pro 2. But as the oldest headphones in Apple’s stable – they were released back in 2020 – the AirPods Max were the most in need of an upgrade.

However, if you were expecting a tranche of new features, you should temper your expectations – the updates we’ve seen to the AirPods Max are modest to say the least, making just a couple of minor changes to bring them more in line with their stablemates. 

So, if like us, you were waiting with bated breath for a significant upgrade to Apple’s premium over-ear cans, you might have to wait a little longer.

AirPods Max: the updates you need to know about

Given this is the first update the AirPods Max have received in four years, there have been many rumors on the kinds of features expected from this new version. But as mentioned above, Apple has only introduced scant upgrades.

In a change that everyone knew would be coming, that Lightning port is gone, replaced with the more universal USB-C. Given this has been mandated by EU regulators, this was entirely inevitable but still it’s a welcome upgrade. The AirPods Max were the last Apple device to still be using Lightning, so it will be nice to finally ditch the separate cables and be able to charge your laptop, phone or headphones all with the same charging cord.

In terms of the design, the AirPods Max have only had a purely cosmetic refresh, with a whole new swathe of colorways coming to the market. The new shades available are Midnight, Orange, Starlight, Blue and, our personal favorite, Purple. Looks like we’re finally getting that purple colorway Apple originally planned for the AirPods.

But, unfortunately, that’s it. While we would argue this is a real missed opportunity for Apple to justify the AirPods Max’s premium price point – with new features like lossless audio, weatherproofing and the new AirPods 4 Conversation Awareness feeling like particular oversight – it seems like we’ll have to just wait a while longer for the AirPods Max 2.

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Apple has just confirmed that iPhone 16 preorders will go live this Friday worldwide, so there's not long to wait to get your hands on the latest premium flagships from the brand.

The new devices are, as expected, the Apple iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. All four carry significant new upgrades to the chipset, cameras, and a host of new AI features that the brand is calling 'Apple Intelligence'. Overall, Apple has put a massive focus on not only internal hardware improvements but also on software with these devices, although you'll still see new colors and fresh design tweaks like the new Camera Control button.

The devices will debut at the same starting price as last year ($799), and preorders will start at 5:00 AM PDT / 8:00 AM ET / 1:00 PM GMT. The devices are due to ship by Sept. 20 so there will be a short wait time before the iPhone 16 range is officially released.

What promotions will there be?

• Trade-in rebates confirmed for both US and UK
• Up to $650 off at Apple
• Up to £645 off at Apple UK
• Up to $1,000 off at major carriers

While preorders aren't live just yet, Apple has already confirmed several of the trade-in rebates that will be available from Friday. As expected, Apple itself has a rebate of up to $650 / £645 off for unlocked devices across the entire range, which is exactly the same discount that's been available at the official store for a few months now.

Apple's keynote event also mentioned trade-in rebates of up to $1,000 off in the US, which will almost certainly be from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. No deals have been listed on the Apple site just yet so we'll have to wait until Friday for official confirmation in regard to specifics. Similarly, contract deals at the major networks in the UK won't be going live until Friday so we can't list pricing just yet.

Our standalone iPhone 16 deals page will be covering launch promotions in more detail over the next few days, including recommendations for the best savings this Friday. 

What's new with the iPhone 16?

(Image credit: Aplpe)

• New A18 and A18 Pro chips
• Massive focus on new AI-integrated features
• 48MP "Fusion" camera
• Physical camera control function

Both the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro represent fairly substantial upgrades compared to the previous models. From the new A18 series chips built from the ground up for AI integration to the improved cameras, these devices offer plenty of enticing new features. 

First up, the A18 Series chipsets come with the debut of 'Apple Intelligence', which, as the name suggests, is a whole suite of new AI features across the entire range of existing Apple apps. Think ChatGPT-like language models for texts or emails, image and emoji generators, and a new 'Visual Intelligence' app that is just like Google Lens. 

In terms of hardware, the iPhone 16 series not only features new chipsets but also an improved camera with a new physical camera control button that directly interacts with the camera app. Apple is calling the new 48MP main camera the 'Fusion camera' since it can seamlessly switch between high-resolution images and more storage-friendly images, plus Stereoscopic capture for Apple Vision Pro. 

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max feature slightly bigger 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays with slimmer bezels versus their predecessors. The main upgrades for the Pro models this year include the option for 4K video at 120FPS (perfect for slow motion) as well as the usual 48MP wide angle lens and 5x telephoto (12MP and 2x on the standard iPhone 16).

Apple Intelligence, the brand-new AI feature suite coming to the best iPhones, now has an official release window – and we don't have long to wait.

Releasing in October as part of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, Apple Intelligence will be available in beta, with more features arriving throughout this year and into 2025.

Apple officially announced the arrival of Apple Intelligence at its Glowtime' event alongside the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. You can catch up with everything Apple announced at our iPhone 16 event live blog.

The new iPhones are available to preorder from Friday, and will start shipping on September 20, albeit without Apple Intelligence.

When Apple Intelligence launches next month it will bring writing tools such as proofreading, Mail and notification summaries, improvements to Siri, and Clean Up for photo editing, to name just a few of the AI features. The initial launch, however, will only support US English, with localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK arriving in December.

The new iPhone's Visual Intelligence feature won't arrive until later this year alongside other previously announced Apple Intelligence features such as Image Playground and Genmoji.

No Apple Intelligence at launch

During the Apple event, Tim Cook said the iPhone 16s are the "first iPhones designed from the ground up for Apple Intelligence" but you'll also be able to use the AI features on last year's iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max too.

Some features, such as the new Visual Intelligence will be exclusive to this year's models, however, so if you want the best Apple Intelligence has to offer you'll need to upgrade.

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Content creators and influencers are increasingly becoming targets for cybercriminals seeking to exploit their influence and reach.

In order to help mitigate these threats, Bitdefender has introduced a new service specifically designed to protect the digital assets and online reputation of creators who are exposed to cybercrimes.

Bitdefender Security for Creators provides consistent surveillance for unusual activities on YouTube channels, and safeguards user devices such as computers, tablets, and mobile phones against phishing emails, harmful URLs, files, and malware, delivering real-time alerts.

Growing threat to content creators

Bitdefender Security for Creators looks to offer a comprehensive suite of features to protect content creators across Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, offering easy setup and operation, connecting to both the creator’s channel and personal devices.

The surge in attacks against content creators coincides with the widespread availability of deepfake technologies, which make it easier for cybercriminals to impersonate individuals and conduct sophisticated scams. Bitdefender’s research highlights the scale of this threat, noting that a single hijacked account can reach billions of views, significantly amplifying the impact of malicious campaigns.

Cybercriminals are particularly attracted to accounts with large followings, as they provide a potent platform to spread malware, steal sensitive information, and perpetrate scams.

One of the key features of the software is the continuous monitoring of YouTube accounts. If there are mass deletions of videos, and unauthorized changes to the account name, profile, or channel description, an alert is immediately sent to the owner.

The service also offers robust protection against a variety of cyber threats, including zero-day vulnerabilities, spyware, ransomware, and malware designed to steal login credentials and sensitive information.

Bitdefender Security for Creators employs AI-driven anti-phishing technology that automatically detects and flags suspicious messages. By analyzing the language and context of emails and texts, it helps creators avoid falling victim to phishing scams, even those crafted using sophisticated AI.

As content creation often involves collaboration, Bitdefender offers a team plan option that extends its robust security features to all members of a creator's team who may have access to sensitive account information. By ensuring that all team members are protected, the service minimizes the risk of account compromise from internal sources.

In the unfortunate event of an account takeover, Bitdefender Security for Creators provides detailed guidance on how to recover control. This includes steps to remove the malicious actor and regain access to the compromised account, reducing downtime and potential losses.

"Cybercriminals target YouTube, online influencers, and other popular platforms to exploit the trust content owners have built, gaining access to millions of followers to expand the reach of their malware and scam campaigns. A single breach could erase years of content and established reputation," said Ciprian Istrate, senior vice president of operations, Consumer Solutions Group at Bitdefender. “Bitdefender Security for Creators is the first comprehensive security solution that guards content, online channels, and owner integrity around-the-clock."

Bitdefender Security for Creators is now available for both new and existing customers. At the moment, it is only available for YouTube accounts but there are plans to extend support to other popular platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.

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Huge news, AirPods lovers! The Apple AirPods 4 are finally here – in two variants! On top of that, Apple has unveiled significant updates across the entire AirPods lineup. The AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation just made their entrance at Apple's much-vaunted It's Glowtime iPhone 16 event.

We shouldn't be surprised; Apple's biggest AirPods launch to date was prophesized earlier in the year, and we have to hand it to Apple – that's what has happened. 

So here we are. Here's the full scoop from Apple Park (yes, we've got our people on the ground – but if you need to catch up, our Glowtime live-blog is the place to go) and here are the main differences between the two sets of AirPods. 

Oh, and in case you came here looking for them, the cheaper pair is likely the hotly-anticipated AirPods 'Lite'. Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro 3 haven't landed, but there have been several updates to the software. 

And although new AirPods Max did land (to a degree) Apple Park shindig, it's not the lossless audio support we might have hoped for. 

That said, we'll take two all-new sets of AirPods over none at all (we've been waiting a while). 

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar AirPods 4: the dual AirPods release you need to know about

(Image credit: Aplpe)

The design of both sets is… well, at a glance, it's just another day at the office for Apple (and if you wanted the purple colorway Apple once planned, you'll be disappointed) but Apple has worked extensively on its open-ear sizing, developing over 50 million size mapping charts, and there's an "all new acoustic architecture" in what Apple's calling its "best AirPods design ever, in this open-ear design". 

Specs-wise, the headline-grabber is the inclusion of Apple's H2 chip – in both pairs.

This means support for personalised Spatial Audio and gesture detection in both sets, using machine learning for better hands-free calls. You'll be able to shake your head no, or nod your head yes in response to Siri's announcements. Voice isolation tech promises to instantly remove extraneous noise in calls, too. 

Also in both pairs, the stems feature a force sensor, which you can squeeze to play or pause music or to end (or mute) calls.

Now, active noise cancellation: it's only in the step-up set (for the first time in non-Pro AirPods and the first in this open AirPods design) along with upgraded mics and processing. You also get support for Conversation Awareness (which lowers playback when you speak) and wireless charging support in the case for the pricier pair – which now also contains a speaker for easier Find My support. The cheaper case charges via USB-C, natch – and it's also the smallest case ever made for AirPods.

Battery life was one area ripe for improvement in 2024 across Apple's pioneering earbuds, and Tim Cook's behemoth has… well, been a little quiet about the stamina within these new Spatial Audio-supporting headphones. All we have is a slightly underwhelming 30-hour total claim – yes, that's as much as we have, thus far. 

The pricier AirPods 4 also get transparency mode and Adaptive Audio, which automatically adjusts the levels of noise-nixing as you move into different environments. 

Pricing? Of course – it's a big factor when considering whether to buy a new set of AirPods. You won't be shocked to learn that while they might well land in our best noise cancelling earbuds guide soon, neither is a set of  truly budget wireless earbuds. That said, they're not ridiculously expensive either, at $179 for the active noise-cancelling AirPods 4 (so probably £179 / AU$279) and $129 / £129 for the entry-level AirPods 4. 

Availability? September 20. 

Given that the 2021-launch AirPods 3 arrived priced at $179 / £169 / AU$279 and the late-2022 issue AirPods Pro 2 landed with an asking fee of $249 / £249 / AU$399, it's (dare we say it?) sensible pricing from Apple. Because Apple. 

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Sony has increased the DualSense controller's price by $5 at PlayStation Direct and other retailers right around the time people are expecting a potential announcement of the PS5 Pro via a Mark Cerny-hosted Technical Presentation on September 10.

While the mid-gen refresh console has yet to be announced by Sony in an official capacity, you can now expect to pay slightly more for the standard DualSense Wireless Controller. As spotted by Wario64 on X / Twitter, the PS5's official gamepad has gone up from $69.99 to $74.99.

Meanwhile, special edition colorways, including Sterling Silver, Cobalt Blue, and Volcanic Red, have jumped from $74.99 to $79.99. The price increases have been reflected at retailers like GameStop as well as the official PlayStation Direct website.

The premium DualSense Edge controller has, at the time of writing, retained its $199.99 price tag. Plus, the DualSense Charging Station also remains at $29.99. It also looks like the price has increased in the UK, too. The standard colorways have gone from £59.99 to £64.99 at PlayStation Direct, though they are still available for their original price at Amazon right now, likely while stocks last. If you're in the UK and planning to pick up a DualSense controller soon - either as a replacement or a spare - it may be best to shop now at Amazon before a potential increase here.

The price increase here will undoubtedly catch some folks off guard, especially given Sony has made no official announcement of it. The company may make a brief statement about the increase during tomorrow's PS5 Technical Presentation, though this is considered to be centered on the much-speculated PS5 Pro.

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Cisco’s official merch store has been the subject of a cybersecurity attack that may have resulted in compromised customer information, including payment card details.

A report by The Register claims suspected Russia-based attackers injected data-stealing JavaScript into the company’s merch store thanks to a flaw in Adobe's Magento platform.

Despite the potential severity of the issue, Cisco has confirmed no credentials were compromised during the attack, which it says was remediated swiftly.

Russian hackers target Cisco merch store

“A Cisco-branded merchandise website that's hosted and administered by a third-party supplier was temporarily taken offline while a security issue was addressed," the company noted.

The attackers exploited a vulnerability tracked as CVE-2024-34102, which affects Adobe Commerce versions 2.4.7, 2.4.6-p5, 2.4.5-p7, 2.4.4-p8 and earlier. Arbitrary code execution is possible through the vulnerability, which has been awarded a critical 9.8 severity score on the CVSS scale.

Although Adobe has issued a security patch, it’s believed as many as 75% of firms using Adobe’s tool have not applied the fix, including the Cisco merch store.

According to c/side security workers, the script was hosted on a domain associated with an IP address located in Russia. Moreover, the domain was registered just days before the attack, raising suspicions that it could have been a “fly-by-night operation designed for quick exploitation.”

While the attack may have been spotted early enough, it serves as a gentle reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and security patches in an increasingly digital world where cyberwarfare is becoming an escalating threat.

A Cisco spokesperson added: “Based on our investigation, the issue impacted only a limited number of site users, and those users have been notified.”

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