TechRadar News

• Netflix has confirmed Stranger Things season 5 has wrapped production
• Filming on the hugely popular show's final chapter has taken a whole year
• Netflix has also announced it'll arrive sometime in 2025

It's official: Stranger Things season 5's mammoth year-long shooting schedule has ended. In even bigger celebratory news, Netflix has confirmed one of its flagship TV Originals will return sometime in 2025.

Okay, we already knew that Stranger Things' last installment would air next year. Indeed, on November 6, aka Stranger Things Day, Netflix revealed that the main show's fifth and final chapter would make its debut in 2025. Nevertheless, it's pleasing to see Netflix double down on its commitment to release Stranger Things season 5 at some point in the next 12 months. Hey, making TV shows is hard, so there's never any guarantee that a series' next season will be released when people say it will.

THAT'S A WRAP ON STRANGER THINGS. See you in 2025. pic.twitter.com/DWkIwMMOJ3December 20, 2024

To commemorate the end of principal photography, Netflix released a bunch of new behind-the-scenes images of Stranger Things 5's cast and crew on social media. There's absolutely nothing new we can glean about the final season's plot from this photo dump, but at least everyone appears to be having fun on the set. It's a good thing they are, too, because one of the best Netflix shows' fifth entry is going to be its darkest and most emotional yet. That's what I'm hoping for, anyway, because it would be frustrating if Stranger Things bowed out with a whimper, rather than a bang.

It's been a long road to Stranger Things season 5. The hugely popular sci-fi supernatural horror show's fourth season launched in May 2022 – well, part 1, comprising six episodes, did. You can read my thoughts on those entries in my Stranger Things season 4 review. Its final two episodes arrived two months later and you can read about how it sets up season 5 via my Stranger Things season 4 volume 2 ending explained article.

It's been a loooooong time since we last visited Hawkins (Image credit: Netflix)

Surprising no one, Netflix renewed its massively successful TV Original for a fifth albeit final season weeks later. Unfortunately, Stranger Things 5's development was significantly impacted by the 2023 Hollywood strikes, which is why Stranger Things' fifth season couldn't make its debut in 2024. With filming on Stranger Things season 5 not starting until January of this year, I was really worried that we wouldn't see it until 2026 at the earliest. Thankfully, that won't be the case.

As long as the wait has been, we've been given small morsels of information about season 5 to tide us over until its arrival on the world's best streaming service. For one, on July 2, Maya Hawke, who plays Robin, said season 5's episodic runtimes will be huge, with the actor describing them as "basically, eight movies". Two weeks later, Netflix dropped a behind-the-scenes video of season 5 that teased new characters, fan-favorite team-ups, and a possible time jump, too.

Let's not forget that the first Stranger Things spin-off – a stage play prequel titled 'The First Shadow' – has also been available to watch on London's West End. It'll make its Broadway debut in early 2025, so be sure to read our review of The First Shadow before you check it out. Even if you do, I think Netflix will need to address some of The First Shadow's big lore reveals in season 5, otherwise Stranger Things 5 will run into the big Marvel and Star Wars problem.

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• Juniper Networks warns Mirai botnet is scanning for vulnerable routers
• The campaign started in mid-December 2024, and includes DDoS attacks
• Users should tighten up on security, researchers say

Operators of the Mirai botnet are back, and looking for easy-to-compromise Session Smart routers to assimilate, experts have warned.

Cybersecurity researchers from Juniper Networks, who recently published a new security advisory, warning its customers of the ongoing threat, noted the malware is scanning for internet-connected Session Smart routers that are using default login credentials.

Those that fall into this category are accessed, and used for a wide variety of malicious activities, but mostly Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. The campaign apparently started on December 11, and could still be ongoing.

Mirai's turbulent past

"On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, several customers reported suspicious behavior on their Session Smart Network (SSN) platforms," Juniper said in the security advisory. "Any customer not following recommended best practices and still using default passwords can be considered compromised as the default SSR passwords have been added to the virus database."

The best way to protect against the threat is to make sure your internet-connected devices do not use factory login credentials. Instead, they should be protected with strong passwords and, if possible, placed behind a firewall.

The Mirai botnet is infamous for targeting Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and then using them to launch massive DDoS attacks. It is also known for exploiting weak or default credentials on devices like routers, cameras, and other IoT hardware. It was first spotted in 2016, but gained notoriety after targeting Krebs on Security in September 2016 and mounting the Dyn DNS attack in October 2016.

Mirai is arguably the most popular botnet out there, but it’s not the only threat. StormBot, Mozi, Satori, or Mantis are all malware variants known for launching disruptive attacks across the web. It also survived multiple takedown attempts, including the source code leak from 2016, the arrest of its developers in 2017, and multiple law enforcement campaigns.

Via BleepingComputer

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Happy holidays, everyone! At long last, it's time to take a much-needed break from your job and enjoy as much food, drink, good company, and time sat in front of your TV as you can handle.

Where the last of those is concerned, our penultimate weekly 'what to watch this weekend' list of the year is, as always, filled with offerings from the world's best streaming services. From the final new movies of 2024 to the return of popular shows, you'll find something worth watching after sticking your out of office email on for the final time this year. You've earned it, after all. So, put your feet up and enjoy one of the below recommendations! - Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

The Six Triple Eight (Netflix)

2024 has been a good year for war dramas, such as Apple TV Plus projects Blitz and Masters of the Air. Now, we can add The Six Triple Eight to the list; the last of December's new Netflix movies telling the inspirational true story of World War II's only Women’s Army Corps unit of color, aka the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion.

855 women join the war effort to sort though a three-year backlog of mail that hadn’t been delivered to American soldiers far from home. Despite discrimination and war-torn conditions, they sort through 17 million pieces of mail and bring hope to the front lines. The Six Triple Eight certainly has a unique premise that could make it one of the best Netflix movies (although, it's Rotten Tomatoes critical rating suggests it won't). Nevertheless, I look forward to learning more about a heroic battalion that many of us didn't know existed on Netflix.

Grace Morris, entertainment writer

The Secret Lives of Animals (Apple TV Plus)

I love a good nature docuseries – and Apple TV Plus has delivered the goods this week with its latest natural history show in the form of The Secret Lives of Animals, which may become the latest addition to our best Apple TV Plus shows guide.

A 10-part series narrated by Downton Abbey and Paddington star Hugh Bonneville, the Apple program aims to enthral and educate us all with never-before-filmed behavior from over 70 different species across all seven continents. Before you watch it, check out our exclusive clip from episode nine that teases a nail-biting fight between two kangaroos. You don't want to miss it, I promise.

Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Virgin River season 6 (Netflix)

Virgin River season 6 couldn't have come at a better time and I desperately want an invite to Mel Monroe and Jack Sheridan's romantic wedding. As preparations for Mel and Jack's spring wedding get underway, the sixth season will feature new twists and turns, love triangles, wedding drama, and secrets from Mel’s father’s past, which takes us back to Virgin River in the 1970s.

Virgin River is, in my view, one of the best Netflix shows to watch out of everything new on Netflix this December, so make sure you don't miss the wedding of the year, either!

Grace Morris, entertainment writer

Juror #2 (Max)

Clint Eastwood's latest movie is one of the Max trailers I was most excited to see and, now it's streaming on Max, I can't wait to wrap my eyeballs around it. I love Gran Torino and Juror #2 seems to be another huge success for legendary the actor-turned-director. Unlike Gran Torino, Eastwood stays behind the camera and directs an all-star cast including Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, J. K. Simmons, and Kiefer Sutherland.

So, what's it about? The legal thriller follows Hoult's journalist character who is called up for jury duty and soon realizes that he may be responsible for the victim's death. Tense legal thrillers are one of my favorite things to watch and I know this one is going to deliver, the 94% Rotten Tomatoes rating is promising too! Keep an eye out for its addition to our best Max movies list, then.

Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking (Prime Video)

If you're anything like me, then you probably have the obligatory go-to movies that end up on the screen every Christmas – and for me, that list includes the best Harry Potter movies. Well this year, you can mix it up with this Prime Video gameshow that can only be best described as Harry Potter meets The Great British Bake-off in Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking.

The six-episode series caused such a stir when it premiered on the Food Network in the US in November that Amazon acquired the streaming rights to show it in the UK and Ireland. Hosted by James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), alongside culinary judges, Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef, make sure to savor this magical treat while we wait for HBO's Harry Potter reboot.

Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

Fast Friends (Max)

How well do you know the 90s sitcom Friends? Do you know the season were Ross and Rachel were "on a break"? What was the name of Joey's soap opera character? Or how about Phoebe's most famous song? If you can answer all those questions, then you're going to love Max's new original game show Fast Friends.

Hosted by comedian Whitney Cummings, it invites contestants to relive the best Friends episodes by challenging teams with trivia, puzzles, and games to determine who will win the title of 'The Ultimate Fast Friends Champion' by how fast they are at completing each task. Once you've finished it, why not see how you can stream every episode of Friends next?

Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

Aaron Rodgers: Enigma (Netflix)

This three-part docuseries follows NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers as he undergoes an intense rehabilitation program after a terrible Achilles injury. You can expect to see plenty of the defining moments from his life and career, with episode one exploring how his injury derailed his 2023 debut with the New York Jets. Elsewhere, we'll see how he experimented with with alternative medicine and religion, sparking some controversies and drew further criticisms with his stance on vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Netflix documentary will give Rodgers the chance to show his side of the story, including his reaction to winning Super Bowl XLV. There's a lot to unpack with this series and it certainly sounds like it could make for a great addition to our best Netflix documentaries guide.

Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

For more streaming recommendations, read our guides on the best Disney Plus shows, best Paramount Plus movies, best Hulu shows, and best Apple TV Plus movies.

• Windows 11 24H2 has a new bug that breaks audio output
• It's caused by Dirac Audio software, and a fix is being worked on
• Microsoft has blocked the update for PCs running Dirac

The latest big update for Windows 11, version 24H2, has run into yet another problem, namely an issue with audio output - or lack of it.

This is a bug that breaks the sound output from affected PCs, so you’ll hear nothing through built-in speakers, or Bluetooth speakers, or headsets - which is a pretty nasty development.

Microsoft has confirmed the glitch under its ‘known issues’ list in the release health dashboard for Windows 11 24H2, along with another recently identified problem with the Auto HDR feature which is causing colors to be displayed incorrectly in games.

The software giant explains that the sound bug is related to the Dirac Audio software (and its cridspapo.dll file), which is designed to make your audio clearer. Microsoft informs us that the problem has hit a “limited set of devices from one manufacturer,” but doesn’t tell us which vendor that is, sadly.

Whatever the case, to deal with the bug, Microsoft has put a temporary update block in place, preventing the installation of the 24H2 update. This policy is what Microsoft calls a “compatibility safeguard hold,” which is a way to ensure that the update isn’t delivered to devices that are going to run into trouble.

(Image credit: Shutterstock) The current state of play with this audio glitch

Right now, there’s no fix for this issue, so if you’ve already upgraded to 24H2 and are suffering from a silent PC all of a sudden, there’s not much you can do.

The good news is that Microsoft is working directly with Dirac to release a new version of its audio software to resolve the problem. When Dirac makes the new driver available, Microsoft will pipe it to PCs via Windows Update, and with the issue resolved, the upgrade block will be lifted - and those with Dirac Audio installed will be able to grab the 24H2 update.

The bug only affects version 24H2, so if you’re using an earlier release like Windows 11 23H2, you should be okay. You can read more about this audio glitch in Microsoft’s official documentation.

Interestingly, this isn’t the only audio-related issue we’ve seen with Windows 11 24H2. Another bug that cropped up causes some PCs to play sound at maximum volume without warning - so it’s the polar opposite of this new glitch - and Microsoft is still trying to implement a solution for that, as well.

I think that Windows 11 is definitely having a moment with the 24H2 update, running into a whole host of bugs, but it’s not like we haven’t seen this before - Windows 10 has suffered a multitude of issues at various points in its existence.

However, it won’t be long before Windows 10 reaches its End of Life - that happens next October, in fact - and Microsoft will have to continue to improve and hone Windows 11 to convince more people to switch over. With any luck, this bad run of bugs for Windows 11 will end sooner rather than later.

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• A Fortinet flaw, fixed in September 2023, was just flagged in a security bulletin
• The bug was first discovered in May 2023r, and allows crooks to take over vulnerable endpoints
• Users are advised to apply the patch immediately

Fifteen months after first patching, Fortinet has released a security bulletin to flag a critical severity flaw plaguing its Fortinet Wireless Manager (FortiWLM) product.

The flaw can be used to take over the devices remotely, so if you’re using an older version, make sure to update it immediately.

FortiWLM is a centralized platform for managing, monitoring, and optimizing Fortinet wireless access points and controllers, enabling secure and scalable wireless network deployments. It is usually used by large enterprises and government agencies.

Fixed in September

In May 2023, security researcher from Horizon3, Zach Hanley, discovered a relative path traversal flaw affecting the product. It is tracked as CVE-2023-34990, and was given a severity score of 9.8/10 (critical). The bug stems from improper input validation, which allows attackers to read sensitive log files from the system. Since these log files often contain administrator session IDs they can be abused to grant the attackers remote access to the vulnerable endpoint.

"Abusing the lack of input validation, an attacker can construct a request where the imagename parameter contains a path traversal, allowing the attacker to read any log file on the system," Hanley said at the time.

"Luckily for an attacker, the FortiWLM has very verbose logs – and logs the session ID of all authenticated users. Abusing the above arbitrary log file read, an attacker can now obtain the session ID of a user and login and also abuse authenticated endpoints."

The flaw affects FortiWLM versions 8.6.0 through 8.6.5 and 8.5.0 through 8.5.4.

However, despite discovering the bug and reporting it to Fortinet, the company did not publicly address it, prompting Hanley to disclose his findings, and release a proof-of-concept (PoC), in March 2023. Earlier this week, Fortinet published a new security bulletin, in which it stated that the bug was fixed in September last year.

That means that the flaw remained a zero-day for roughly four months, and remained completely out of user sight for 15 months.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Suyrvey finds Generative AI is being used more than ever in cybersecurity
• Security leaders overwhelmingly prefer GenAI through platforms
• The benefits don't yet outweigh the risks for most

New research has claimed cybersecurity leaders aren’t ready to adopt AI as a point solution just yet, with 80% of respondents preferring GenAI delivered through cybersecurity platforms.

The CrowdStrike 2024 State of AI in Cybersecurity survey found there are mixed feelings on AI in regards to safety and privacy controls, especially as Generative AI is in its infancy, and comes with significant security risks in its current form.

Top concerns for security leaders include the exposure of sensitive data to underlying Large Language Models, adversarial attacks on GenAI tools, and the tendency for hallucinations in GenAI, along with concerns about the lack of guardrails in GenAI tools and insufficient public policy regulations.

For security experts, by security experts

Crucially, security leaders are taking steps to ensure that policy frameworks are being used responsibly, and 87% of respondents have implemented new security policies, or are in the process of developing policies to govern AI adoption.

Do the risks outweigh the rewards? Not really. Whilst 39% of cybersecurity experts think that the benefits are greater than the risks, 40% think they're comparable, and 21% think the dangers outweigh the rewards.

Unsurprisingly, security workers believe GenAI should be specifically built for cybersecurity, with 76% of respondents preferring purpose-built tools over generic, one size fits all solutions.

This is reflected in the top purchase factors for IT workers, with the ability to improve an organization’s response and detection of attacks the top priority, alongside operational efficiency, and mitigating the impact of the IT skills shortage.

As generative AI is evolving, so is the cyber landscape. GenAI is increasingly being used in threat detection and automated security solutions, with most organizations optimistic about AI’s future in cybersecurity.

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Norton, the popular antivirus solution, has just revamped its VPN offering, making it a much more secure choice for Mac users by adding a kill switch.

In August, we reported how the upgraded Norton VPN may still risk Apple users' privacy. The issue was the VPN service still lacked a kill switch feature for both its Mac and iOS apps, making it vulnerable to data leaks.

Now, four months later, this crucial security feature finally landed on its Mac VPN app. Support for its iOS application is also expected to come soon. In addition to a new macOS kill switch, the provider has simplified its naming, becoming simply ‘Norton VPN’ across three-tier plans.

In August, the provider also added some new security tools to its VPN offering, including a malware and scam blocker, dark web monitoring, and password manager software.  (Image credit: Shutterstock) New security features, new name

All the best VPN apps include a kill switch. It's a guarantee that, if the VPN connection fails due to some technical or connectivity issues, the internet gets blocked. This is crucial from a privacy and security point of view as it prevents you from accidentally sending identifiable data outside of the encrypted VPN tunnel.

Every platform has its own tools for making this happen, with Apple devices notoriously requiring a more technical workaround. Norton VPN has offered this feature across its Windows and Android VPNs for a while, and MacOS is finally catching up, with iOS support also on the horizon.

When asked about this lack of support in August, Norton's spokesperson told TechRadar that macOS and iOS apps utilize the operating systems' built-in IPsec client. These use a feature of the operating system called Connect-on-Demand, which forces the VPN to be automatically turned on whenever the device initiates any network activity.

At that time, the provider ensured the team was working on a fix to make the kill switch behavior "consistent across our supported platforms." Now, they finally found it.

While its iPhone and iPad VPN apps still lack kill switch support at the time of writing, this is expected to be added soon. "Kill Switch on iOS is on the roadmap as part of planned product updates that are coming soon to further enhance Norton’s comprehensive VPN offering," Norton's spokesperson could confirm.

It's not just a new security feature that's arrived though. Norton VPN has changed its name again. After passing from Norton Secure VPN to Norton Ultra VPN in August, the provider has decided to simplify its branding even further by becoming simply Norton VPN.

Commenting on this decision, Norton said: "The new naming structure is clearer and distinguishes the new Norton VPN lineup of products from the old standalone Norton Secure VPN offering. Secondly, it makes it easier for people to understand the level of protection they’re getting from the three tiers available."

The provider now offers three plans, all including the new kill switch feature.

Norton VPN Standard (formerly Norton Secure VPN) is the most basic product, covering up to one device only.

Norton VPN Plus (ex Norton Ultra VPN) raises device allowance to up to five. It also adds a built-in AI-powered scam detection, malware blocker, virus removal, password manager, dark web alert, and even 10GB of secure cloud backup.

Former Norton Ultra VPN Plus becomes Norton VPN Ultimate and extends coverage to 10 devices and 50GB of backup while adding some advanced parental control features.

The August update saw Norton VPN add worldwide content access, service compatibility upgrades, more protocols across all three product tiers, and a new no-log independent audit to its arsenal. This latest addition sets Norton VPN on a path hopefully to better heights for its secure service offering.

• Retailers have leaked incoming laptops from Asus with RTX 5000 GPUs
• Nvidia RTX 5090, 5080 and 5070 Ti models have been spotted
• This is a hint that rumors of a desktop RTX 5070 Ti are on the money

Asus has some new gaming laptops incoming with Nvidia’s next-gen Blackwell mobile GPUs on board – and Intel Arrow Lake chips, too – with the details having been spilled by some leaks from online retailers.

VideoCardz was on the case here, noticing the leaks that reveal five different Asus laptops with Nvidia RTX 5000 graphics cards, including a really beefy-sounding ROG Strix notebook.

Add seasoning appropriately here as with any leak, and we should note upfront that the Nvidia Blackwell GPU models aren’t listed by their full name, such as RTX 5090. Instead, codenames are used – for example, GN22-X11 in the case of the flagship. We know what graphics cards those codenames correspond to based on a bunch of previous leaks, but still, we must be cautious about making too many assumptions.

In theory, then, the Asus ROG Strix G835 will have that RTX 5090 on board (with 16GB of VRAM) and an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (Arrow Lake) processor, backed with 64GB of DDR5 system memory. A power-packed set of components indeed, and the G835 will run with an 18-inch display sporting a 2048 x 1536 resolution, based on its leaked listing.

We can also see the Asus ROG Zephyrus GU605 which will apparently offer options on three Nvidia GPUs: the RTX 5090, 5080 and 5070 Ti. That notebook is set to use an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H CPU, again with 64GB of DDR5 system RAM, and a 16-inch screen.

Two Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 laptops, and a ROG Strix G16 model, have also had their specs spilled online, so three in total, running with RTX 5090, 5080 and 5070 Ti GPUs respectively.

(Image credit: Nvidia) Analysis: A raft of Blackwell launches at CES 2025?

This appears to back up some previous rumors which have suggested we will see RTX 5000 laptop GPUs at CES 2025, alongside Blackwell desktop graphics cards.

Based on this spillage, we’re going to see three mobile models on offer, in the form of the RTX 5090, 5080 and 5070 Ti, although there could be lower-tier models as well.

When Nvidia launched its current-gen of mobile GPUs back at CES 2023, we got a full house of the entire range presented to us: the RTX 4050, 4060, 4070, 4080 and 4090 GPUs. Note that they were all vanilla versions, so it’s interesting to see a purported mobile RTX 5070 Ti creeping in this time around.

On the desktop front, the grapevine reckons that of Nvidia’s next-gen offerings, we’ll see RTX 5090 and 5080 models at CES in January, and possibly one or other of the RTX 5070 or RTX 5070 Ti – maybe even both of those.

So, is the mobile RTX 5070 Ti popping up a sign that we’ll get this on the desktop, too? It could be, but whatever the case, we’re seemingly going to see a fair few Blackwell GeForce GPUs being revealed for both desktop PCs and gaming laptops at CES 2025. We might also see Nvidia DLSS 4, too.

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• Hisense announces a Dolby Atmos wireless speaker system
• 4.1.2 channels with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support
• Similar concept to the Sony Bravia Quad

Hisense has officially revealed the HT Saturn, a new speaker system to join its range of soundbars. Set for release in 2025, there is currently no specific release date or pricing info for the HT Saturn. It's been confirmed for US release and while there's no official confirmation for other regions, Hisense says it expects to have more news soon.

Initially shown at IFA 2024, the Hisense HT Saturn consists of four satellite speakers and a wireless subwoofer, comprising 4.1.2 channels in total, with two upfiring speakers providing Atmos height channels. During its initial announcement back in September, Hisense claimed the Saturn would have 720W of power, but didn't reference this in its specs during my more recent briefing. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. It has HDMI eARC for connection to the TV via a transmission box, which then sends the sound out to the speakers. For audio streaming, it supports Bluetooth 5.3, but there is no built-in Wi-Fi.

Hisense, which makes one of the best soundbars available in the form of the excellent-value Hisense AX5215H, seem to have taken inspiration from Sony's Bravia Theater Quad system, which similarly comprises four satellite speakers. However, the Quad is a 4.0.4-channel system, coming with two extra upfiring speakers, but lacking the dedicated subwoofer. When we tested the Sony Theater Quad here at TechRadar, we were impressed.

The Hisense HT Saturn also supports a room calibration feature, which Hisense says will allow users to place the HT Saturn speakers wherever they want and sound will adjust to fit the space and positioning, so it will still sound like an accurate surround sound system.

Hisense also announced its Hi-Concerto feature, which enables a compatible Hisense TV's speakers to be used in conjunction with not only the HT Saturn but also compatible Hisense soundbars, (though no specific models of TV or soundbar have been confirmed as of yet). This very reminiscent of Samsung's Q-Symphony feature, LG's WOW Orchestra feature, and Sony's Center Sync, all of which are featured on some of the best TVs available.

A potential Dolby Atmos hit

(Image credit: Hisense )

Hisense may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of home audio, but when I tested Hisense's 5.1.2ch Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Hisense AX5125H, I was amazed at just how good it was, establishing itself as one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars for such a budget price.

The Hisense HT Saturn is going up against the Sony Bravia Quad and already there are some key differences. The Saturn offers a subwoofer in-box whereas the Bravia Quad does not, with the Sony SA-SW5 and SA-SW3 wireless subwoofers supported as an optional extra. However, on the audio front, the Saturn is limited to Bluetooth whereas the Bravia Quad supports Wi-Fi for better-quality music streaming.

Where the Saturn will surely win the battle is price. At $2,499 / £1,999 / AU$3,699, the Bravia Quad is a pricey system that's more costly than the likes of the Samsung HW-Q990D, our choice for the best premium Dolby Atmos soundbar.

If Hisense can offer the Saturn for significantly cheaper than the Bravia Quad (which I strongly suspect it will) then Hisense could be onto a winner. Because I have little doubt about the sound side of things, thanks to what I've experienced with the Hisense AX5125H.

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• 72 directional fins move audio around
• Amps and processing are no longer external
• It'll cost "around" $20K if you don't want a fancy finish

Earlier this year, Danish high-end hi-fi expert Dynaudio unveiled its astonishing Symphony Opus One soundbar and everybody went "ooh", including us. And since then, its engineers have found ways to make it even better, and to make people go "oooooooooh".

It remains eye-wateringly expensive – final pricing hasn't been confirmed but Dynaudio says it'll cost "around $20,000 depending on the options chosen" as custom finishes will also be available. That'll be confirmed when the product actually launches, but for now there's going to be a new demo at the CES show in January.

(Image credit: Dynaudio) On the first day of CES my true love gave to me...

We got to experience the first Dynaudio Opus One demo demo when it was still a concept and far from production. To say we were impressed would be an understatement: it delivers genuinely room-filling Atmos sound from a soundbar that's fairly room-filling itself due to its large size. You're going to want one of the best 85-inch TVs if you want this to look like a normally sized soundbar.

It needs to be big because listing what's inside feels rather like singing the 12 days of Christmas: there are 72 wooden fins, six tweeters, 14 mid/bass drivers, FIVE GO-OLD RINGS, four dual-diaphragm force-cancelling subwoofers, 1500W of digital amplification, and a partridge in a pear tree. I'm lying about the rings and the tree; I suspect that wood isn't 'pear'.

The big difference in this new version of the design is that that amplification and processing is now inside; previously it was external. That makes for a more elegant appearance, and considerably less connecting when you're installing it. Or for whoever you're paying to install it, probably.

Sadly I won't be at CES to experience this or to try to stuff it into a comically large backpack, but TechRadar will have people there, so we'll aim to visit the behind-closed-doors CES demo. But if you're a big-spending fan of iconic design as well as intense audio, this could well be the soundbar you'll want to buy in 2025.

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• Spotify is reportedly pushing "ghost artists" into many playlists
• Ghost artists are similar to muzak: it's music to be in the background
• Some employees have refused to take part

Who makes the music you're streaming? On some Spotify playlists it might not be who you think. A bombshell new report in Harper's magazine says that a program called Perfect Fit Content, PFC for short, is stuffing some playlists with cheaply produced content.

The report goes into great detail, but here's the short version: rather than give individual artists some much-needed exposure in some playlists, Spotify is buying in music from production companies who effectively make musical wallpaper. It's music that's designed specifically to sound quite like other people's music and to cost Spotify as little as possible. And then Spotify's own employees are giving that music undue prominence in playlists at the expense of other artists.

That's good for Spotify's bottom line, because it means even less money is going to musicians; many music production companies pay a small flat fee without major future royalty payments going to the musicians. But as the Harper's report argues, "it raises worrying questions for all of us who listen to music."

Where are the ghost musicians on Spotify?

The playlists are ones primarily designed to be listened to in the background; think "chill instrumental beats" and "lo-fi house". And the music is being pushed into those playlists to make each playlist more profitable, ie. to make it pay less to musicians. As Harpers' Liz Pelly puts it, the idea is simple: why pay full royalties if people are only half listening?

The problem with that is that Spotify's idea of what constitutes background music is what many of us would just call, well, music. Think ambient music, classical music, electronica, jazz, lo-fi beats… you get the idea.

The reason this is a problem is that there is already tons of ambient, classical, electronica, jazz, lo-fi beats and other music on Spotify. And if that's being pushed down the playlists in favor of music Spotify has bought in specifically because it's generic but cheaper, that's going to damage not just the careers of musicians in those genres but also the genres themselves.

Pelly explains it very well in her piece:

"Spotify had long marketed itself as the ultimate platform for discovery—and who was going to get excited about 'discovering' a bunch of stock music? Artists had been sold the idea that streaming was the ultimate meritocracy – that the best would rise to the top because users voted by listening. But the PFC program undermined all this."

Pelly adds, however, that "Spotify denies that staffers were encouraged to add PFC to playlists, and that playlist editors were discontented with the program." I recommend reading the full piece and the quotes from editors, as well as Spotify's responses to individual elements, to form your own opinion.

And now there's AI…

When you look at Spotify through this lens, its embrace of AI – Spotify boss Daniek Ek, whose net worth is higher than any musician who ever lived, is very excited about it – starts to look a lot less fun: is the goal of AI really to improve your listening experience, or is it to stream the musical equivalent of crappy AI images?

We know that many AI systems have been trained using what artists and artists' organisations would characterise as widespread and blatant copyright infringement in order to churn out copies of the same artists' work; it might not be as good, but it's a damn sight cheaper.

As I wrote last month, "Many years back, a music business expert told me that music companies didn't care about music; they'd sell Brillo pads full of custard if that's where the money was." Swap custard pads for ghost artists and it's the same deal.

As one former Spotify playlist editor told Pelly about AI pumping out audio much like the PFC program does, “I’m sure it’s something that AI could do now, which is kind of scary."

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• Virtavo, a company selling web cameras and other security solutions, was found exposing user data
• Researchers at Cybernews found a large database full of PII unprotected
• The archive has since been closed down

Home security solutions provider Virtavo has been accused of harvesting and exposing sensitive data on (possibly) hundreds of thousands of users.

Cybersecurity researchers from Cybernewsfound an exposed data server with 3GB of personal information and telemetry from iPhones. in the summer of 2023

All the information had one thing in common - it was generated from an app called Home V, which manages Virtavo security cameras. These cameras allow video streaming, playback, two-way communication, motion alerts, and more.

Hundreds of thousands of users

The database included people’s phone numbers, device identifiers, IP addresses, firmware versions, and other device, network, and user information. The researchers said the data could be used to identify camera owners, which is particularly concerning. Furthermore, the data was updated in real-time, which is the Holy Grail of data for all cybercriminals.

In total, the server held more than 8.7 million records. Not all of them were unique, and some identifiers appeared up to 50 times. This led the researchers to speculate that at least 100,000 users are affected by the leak.

Most are located in China, but there are plenty of users from other parts of the globe, as well.

“The detailed device identifiers, IP addresses, user phone numbers, and other personal information can be exploited by malicious actors for various purposes, including targeted attacks, unauthorized access, identity theft, and surveillance,” the researchers said. “Updates in real-time exacerbate the issue, as it allows for continuous collection of fresh data.”

The researchers reported their findings to both the company and the Chinese Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), and the server was subsequently shut down. However, it remains unclear if any malicious actors found it before.

Via Cybernews

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• IBM study finds 89% of companies are maintaining or increasing AI investments in 2025
• Many are already benefitting from open-source ecosystems
• Using managed cloud and hiring specialized talent can also help

New research from IBM has claimed open source software could help fuel innovation and increase ROI when it comes to AI tools, helping companies to get the most out of their artificial intelligence projects.

Until now, some companies have been throwing money at the problem to no avail, but while three in five (62%) are set to continue increasing their AI investments next year and a quarter (27%) will maintain investments, more businesses are beginning to recognize open source’s role.

Investments aren’t fizzling out, either, with two-fifths (39%) of those planning to increase investments planning to do so by 25-50%.

Open source and AI is a match made in heaven

The good news is that businesses are finally beginning to consider other aspects and organizational changes in a bid to maximize their outlay – using managed cloud services (51%), hiring specialized talent (48%) and utilizing open source (48%) were at the top of IT decision-makers’ agendas.

It’s not a case of talking the talk without walking the walk, either, with six in 10 already using open-source ecosystems as an AI tool source. Four in five also noted that at least a quarter of their AI solutions or platforms were based on open source.

Lopez Research’s Maribel Lopez commented: “Companies now recognize the value of defining specific use cases and optimizing AI projects. They are leveraging hybrid cloud strategies and open source to drive AI innovation and deliver financial returns.”

Looking ahead, IBM revealed that traditional cash-based ROI metrics are becoming less important to companies as they explore other measurements of success, such as the speed at which AI projects transition from pilot to full deployment, productivity time savings and faster software development.

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• Google seems to be testing a new Quick Edit feature for Google Photos
• It allows users to apply an enhancement or crop a photo before sharing it
• There's no release timeline for the new feature yet

Google is seemingly testing a new feature for the Google Photos app called Quick Edit, which allows users to apply a last-minute touch-up to images before sharing them with family, friends, and other contacts.

Android Authority reports that a user named Alex – who was using version 7.10.0 of the Google Photos app on a Google Pixel 6 Pro handset – noticed a new screen on their Google Photos app, suggesting Google may be A/B testing the new feature with a limited number of users. We don’t know how these users would have been selected.

Though developed by Google and included with Android, Google Photos is available on a wide range of devices – so this new feature could prove useful whether you're rocking a Google Pixel 9, Samsung Galaxy S24, or iPhone 16.

At the moment, it seems the screen only appears when selecting a single image. However, those hoping for deep image editing before sending their snaps may want to defer to another app, as the Quick Edit screen seems to only offer, well, very quick and light-touch edits.

The Quick Edit interface on a Google Pixel 6 Pro (Image credit: Android Authority)

According to screenshots shared by the Android Authority tipster (above), users are only able to use Quick Edit to apply a one-and-done enhancement to the image or apply a crop to the photo. This appears to be the same enhancement available in the app’s existing Edit screen.

Limited... but better than nothing

The editing options coming to Google Photos might seem a tad limited, but I’m personally happy to see this feature being trialed, given the amount of time I spend cropping screenshots and document scans to send to others.

However, it would be nice to at least see basic brightness, contrast, and saturation controls added to the Quick Edit screen by release, as I find one-shot ‘enhancements’ can have unpredictable effects on colors and lighting.

There’s a balance to be struck here, as speed is the name of the game, but I can’t see myself needing to enhance screenshots, document scans, or purely informational images like photos of signs.

And as for pics of friends and family, I’m unlikely to just throw on a blanket enhancement filter and call it a day – though if the touch-ups are subtle enough, I can see this being useful for people who are less bothered or less experienced with editing photos on a smartphone.

In any case, this is a feature I could see myself using, and I’m a fan of anything that gives users more options to use their device how they like. Google hasn’t issued a release date for this new feature yet, so be sure to keep up with our Android coverage for the latest updates.

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VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) have been around for ages – or at least… they’ve been the go-to for secure remote access since the early days of the internet. The problem is however, the world has changed, and unfortunately, VPNs haven’t kept up – not even a little. They are simply not built for the way we work today. With cloud computing, a distributed workforce, and cyber threats evolving more and more every day, VPNs have grown increasingly outdated.

Here’s where Software-Defined Perimeters, or SDPs, come into play. Designed from the ground up for how we work and live today, SDPs bring a fresh approach to network security that’s more flexible, secure, and user-friendly than VPNs could ever be.

VPNs are reliable but outdated

For years, VPNs were a solid choice. Connecting users to a network by creating an encrypted “tunnel” to keep information safe. But the way they do it leaves something to be desired. With VPNs, once a user is in, they’re usually given access to the entire network – even parts they don’t need. In today’s security landscape, that’s a problem, and a rather serious one at that.

This is because, VPNs come in two main flavors:

• Remote Access VPNs – Letting individuals connect from anywhere, often with third-party apps
• Site-to-Site VPNs – Linking up entire offices or networks with dedicated hardware

So yes, these setups may work well in very simple situations. But as companies adopt more mobile and cloud resources, VPNs are struggling to keep up.

SDPs are the smarter alternative for modern needs

Instead of just verifying a user’s location, SDPs focus on who the user is. They make sure each person (and their device) has specific access to only the resources they need – and nothing more. You could think of it like a “need-to-know” approach, where only precise access is granted thereby reducing the risks of overexposure to sensitive and/or confidential data.

SDPs operate by splitting up the control plane (where access rules live) from the data plane (where data actually flows). When a user tries to connect, the SDP checks who they are, verifies their device, and then and only then, connects them to specific resources.

Why SDPs are outpacing VPNs

There’s a reason why more and more companies are turning to SDPs. They’re simply better suited for today’s requirements. Let’s look at some of the main advantages SDPs have over VPNs:

Security, the “Zero Trust” Way: SDPs are based on “zero trust,” which means everyone has to verify their identity and device before getting access – no one is automatically trusted. On top of that, SDPs “hide” resources behind an invisible layer (often called the “black cloud”) that blocks hackers from even seeing the network.

Pinpointed Access and Control: VPNs often give users more access than they need, but SDPs limit access strictly to what’s necessary. This not only makes the network safer but also limits any damage if a user’s credentials are compromised.

Scale Without the Headaches: VPNs can become clunky and expensive as an organization grows, especially in cloud environments. SDPs, however, are cloud-native and scale easily across different environments. Whether your resources are in private data centers, public clouds, or both, SDPs can handle it without requiring costly hardware or endless reconfigurations.

Easy Management with Fewer Hassles: VPNs are notorious for their ongoing maintenance. You’ve got hardware to deal with, configurations to set up, and frequent updates. SDPs, being software-driven, eliminate much of that hassle.

More Affordable, Greater ROI: VPNs require dedicated appliances and continuous upkeep, making them a costly choice as the user base grows. SDPs, in contrast, don’t need the same physical infrastructure, so they end up being more affordable – especially for companies that are scaling fast.

SDP in action

Companies with remote teams can finally take control with SDPs. No more worrying about users accessing sensitive parts of the network they shouldn’t touch. SDPs allow specific permissions for each user, letting them access only their designated apps and files. In highly regulated industries like finance and healthcare, SDPs are proving essential to meeting strict data protection laws that VPNs alone can’t satisfy.

Another plus? SDPs allow organizations to respond quickly to new security threats, without the need to reconfigure networks or hardware. They offer a faster, more flexible way to adapt to emerging risks – something VPNs struggle to keep up with.

SDPs lead the way for modern security

If there’s one thing to remember, it’s this: SDP provides an efficient and secure approach -- letting organizations control access, based on identity and device -- enhancing security in ways that VPNs just can't match.

By switching from VPNs to SDP, organizations can stay ahead of current challenges, not to mention, stay prepared for the future... with the utmost confidence.

We've featured the best business VPN.

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

• ICO finds 75% of us are holding on to old devices
• And 29% don't know how to delete their personal information
• There are several methods to deleting your data - some easier than others

Are you holding on to an old phone because you’re worried about the data it stores? A new report from the Information Commissioner’s Office shows you’re not alone, as one in five Brits reported they avoided selling on their old phones due to concerns about personal data being leaked.

The study found three-quarters of us (75%) are holding on to old devices, and most (71%) believe deleting your personal information is important, but almost a quarter of people believe it's too difficult to do (24%).

Many lucky people will be treating themselves to a new device this Christmas, so if you’re one of the 29% who don’t know how to wipe their personal information from their old device, then we have some tricks for you.

How to be sure

There are a few ways to erase the information on your device, including physical destruction, secure deletion software, and restoring to factory settings. All of these have pros and cons, but can ultimately give you peace of mind.

You don’t need specialist equipment to physically destroy the media on a device, but if you want to keep using or sell on the phone, then this probably isn’t the best way forward, as removing the media may void the warranty, and you’ll have to replace the storage (and it isn’t a particularly sustainable option!).

Reverting to factory settings is easy and cheap, but might not be the most secure, depending on the manufacturer's process. Alternatively, we’ve listed the best data removal services, some of which have generous free trials that you can take advantage of.

"We’ve all got that drawer of doom or cluttered cupboard with unused electricals at home - in fact there are over 800 million items stashed in our homes,” said Scott Butler, Executive Director of Recycle Your Electricals.

“One of the benefits of taking the time to delete your data, means that you might be able to safely sell some of your tech and electricals and make a bit of cash after Christmas. Just make sure that you follow Recycle Your Electricals guidance to destroy any data on your devices and our tips to get the best sale price.“

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• Overall cloud spend will rise 21.4% to $723.4 billion in 2025, Gartner claims
• However, the data set no longer includes some key areas
• 2024 performance is lower than anticipated

New data from Gartner has claimed global overall cloud spend is set to continue growing into 2025, but reading between the lines makes the certainty of some areas is more questionable.

As 2024 draws to a close, Gartner predicts growth seen across four key categories – cloud application infrastructure services (Paas), cloud application services (SaaS), cloud desktop-as-a-service (Daas) and cloud system infrastructure services (Iaas) – will level out at 19.2%, a touch under the 19.9% saw in 2023.

That said, there are some omissions from the data indicating not all areas of cloud spend are set to be so successful.

Cloud spend could be slowing

Overall cloud spend is predicted to rise dramatically, from $595.7 billion in 2024 to $723.4 billion in 2025, marking a healthy increase of 21.4% – more than what we've seen in the past two years.

However, the cloud market is so big that predicting accurately can be extremely difficult, and even minor trends could have a significant knock-on effect.

Key to the concern is Gartner has slowly been pulling categories from its predictions. In 2023, the firm took out cloud management and security services, and this year business process as a service (BPaaS) has been removed. Neither seem to have been packaged up into any of the remaining categories.

Of the remaining four categories, DaaS is predicted to see the smallest change in 2025, up just 0.5%. This year and last, the sector grew 0.6%. It might just be a tenth of a percentage point, but in terms of change, 0.5% is a 16.7% decrease over 0.6%.

The figures also reveal that IaaS compute, storage and networking capacity spend is set to be lower than previously anticipated earlier this year.

The news comes as many businesses consider reverting from the cloud to local infrastructure. Cloud used to be a cheaper and more flexible alternative, but the margin has decreased significantly.

Separately, Canalys Senior Director Rachel Brindley said that companies must “exercise caution to avoid overspending or inefficient resource allocation.”

Brindley added: “Ensuring the sustainability of these investments over time will be vital to maintaining long-term financial health and competitive advantage.”

Via The Next Platform

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• New information about the Nintendo Switch 2 has reportedly leaked
• It suggests the name of the console could simply be "Nintendo Switch 2"
• It also supports claims of magnetic Joy-Con controllers

New leaked information about the Nintendo Switch 2 could give us fresh details about the upcoming console.

As reported by The Verge, a Reddit user with the screen name 'NextHandheld' has allegedly got their hands on a Nintendo Switch 2 retail unit. The outlet claims to have seen two photos that may verify this fact, one showing a potential Switch 2 dock and the other showcasing the console's controller rail and kickstand hinge.

The user claims that the console could be announced as soon as January. This would line up with Nintendo's earlier confirmation that a Switch successor will be announced "'within this fiscal year" - which is to say before March 31, 2025.

The picture of the dock may also give us our first real idea of the system's branding. It reportedly has a logo that looks like that of the original Nintendo Switch, albeit with the number two slapped on to it suggesting that it could be formally known as the "Nintendo Switch 2".

According to the Reddit user, the dock doesn't feature and more ports than its Nintendo Switch OLED counterpart. There's two USB-A connectors, one HDMI port, one ethernet port, and one USB-C connector presumably for power.

The photos also seems to confirm the long-running rumor that the Nintendo Switch 2's controllers will be attached by magnets. A large button on the rear of the Joy-Con will be used to remove them. If you want an idea of what that could look like, third-party accessory company Dbrand recently shared a 3D render potentially offering an early glimpse at the handheld console.

On top of all of this, the user also claims that the controllers will feature more durable Hall effect thumbsticks - finally eliminating the dreaded Joy-Con drift. There's also the matter of the console's overhauled kickstand, which will allegedly be a 'U' shape.

That's an awful lot of information, most of which seems fairly plausible. Still, you should bear in mind that the source is still an anonymous Reddit account and, while they may have some convincing images, this is nowhere close to a formal announcement so should be taken with a mountain of salt. We'll have to wait for any official reveal see whether this latest set of claims is accurate.

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• Indian ride-sharing company Rapido was found leaking driver and customer data
• The flaw stemmed from a faulty API
• The company was leaking names, emails, and phone numbers

A major Indian ride-hailing platform was exposing sensitive user data thanks to a bug in one of its APIs.

The flaw in Rapido's systems was discovered by security researcher Renganathan P, who claimed it stemmed from a website form designed to collect feedback from auto-rickshaw users and drivers. Auto-rickshaw is a three-wheeled vehicle, popular across India and many Asian countries.

Users that provided the feedback have had their sensitive information exposed to the public, including full names, email addresses, and phone numbers.

Rapido exposure

The database has been seen by TechCrunch, which confirmed its authenticity. The data was supposed to be shared with a third-party service, used by Rapido, only, but the publication says the database counts more than 1,800 feedback responses, with a “large number” of driver phone numbers, and a “lesser number” of email addresses.

“This could have led to a big scam involving scammers or hackers, who may have ended up calling drivers and performing a large-scale social engineering attack, or simply these phone numbers and other data could have been exposed on the dark web if reached in the wrong hands,” Renganathan P said.

The publication subsequently reached out to Rapido, who locked down the database and prevented more unauthorized access. We don’t know if any malicious actors found this database in the past, or if the data was abused in the wild. Phone numbers and email addresses are vital in running phishing and identity theft scams.

“As a standard operating procedure, we are in the process of soliciting valuable feedback from our stakeholder community on our services. While this is being managed by external parties, we have come to understand that the survey links have reached some unintended users from the public,” Rapido CEO Aravind Sanka said in a statement.

Sanka added that the collected phone numbers and email addresses were “non-personal in nature.”

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• The Galaxy Store in the US has some new freebies to offer
• See an exclusive clip of the upcoming Squid Game season 2
• You can also get three months of Peacock Premium

Those of you with a Samsung Galaxy phone and a love of streaming entertainment are getting two free treats from Samsung just ahead of the holidays: an exclusive clip from Squid Game season 2 on Netflix, and three free months of Peacock Premium.

As per Samsung's announcement (via Android Police), you need to head over to the Galaxy Store to claim these benefits. As long as you download Netflix and Peacock from there, and are in the US, the perks should show up.

First up there's a clip from Squid Game season 2 inside the Netflix app, which Samsung says hasn't been made public before. The hit show is returning on December 26, so it's a way of whetting the appetite before the next batch of episodes drop.

Samsung also points out that the Squid Game: Unleashed game is now available from Netflix as well – though this isn't a Samsung Galaxy or US exclusive. If you want to take on players from around the world in Squid Game, head to the download page.

Get Peacock Premium

Load up Peacock for free for three months (Image credit: Shutterstock/DANIEL CONSTANTE)

The second bonus for Samsung Galaxy owners, via the Galaxy Store, is three free months of Peacock Premium – enough to get you through the holidays and beyond. This is an offer for first-time subscribers who haven't signed up before.

Peacock Premium would usually set you back $7.99 a month, so you can save yourself close to $24 with this Samsung deal. It's the cheapest Peacock plan, so there are also ads included, and you don't get the offline download support.

The Peacock streaming service gives you access to shows such as Parks and Recreation, Saturday Night Live, The Office, 30 Rock, Poker Face, Yellowstone, and The Day of the Jackal (a show we're particularly impressed by at TechRadar).

You have until June 4, 2025 to claim the deal, so there's no need to rush. Samsung has also announced that Spotify is now available on the Galaxy Store too, so you've got another reason to visit it instead of the Google Play Store.

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