TechRadar News

• Three in five workers now have a hybrid working routine
• Two-thirds have their own at-home office setup
• Businesses need to consider employee experiences

We might be approaching half a decade since the world was sent home and remote working really took off, with new research finding hybrid working is still winning despite many companies’ efforts to get workers back into the office.

A CCS Insight survey of 600 workers from the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands highlighted the popularity of hybrid working and evolving employee priorities.

The study found that more than three in five (63%) of workers now adopt a hybrid routine, however unlike the early days when workers spent most of their time at home, nearly half spend more than 50% of their time in the office, suggesting that companies and employees are coming to a mutual balance.

Hybrid working is here to stay

Indicative of the rise in hybrid working and continues home working, two-thirds (67%) now have a dedicated home office setup, up from around half (49%) last year, reflecting the normalization of remote work environments.

While the current reality may paint a positive picture of flexible working setups, many companies are pushing for conventional office-based working. Tech giants have also reversed their stances on hybrid and remote working, with many reconsidering their three-day-per-week office mandates in favor of full-time office working.

CCS Insight Senior Analyst Maria Bell commented: “Organizations have made great strides in establishing the required technical foundations, but they risk employee dissatisfaction and potential attrition if they ignore these preferences.”

Although workers are increasingly favoring flexibility, that’s not to say that they’re disinterested in their jobs. Three in four (76%) say that access to advanced tools are critical for career growth, with four in five using AI tools in some capacity and 84% noting enhanced overall productivity as a result.

CCS Insight Director of Enterprise Research Bola Rotibi added: “Restricted roll-outs risk leaving significant potential untapped. Organizations must balance security concerns with empowering their workforce to maximize the benefits of AI.”

Looking ahead, the report calls for companies to consider employee experience as a strategic priority, including training opportunities, democratized access to advanced tools and flexible working setups.

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The world's most festive holidays are rapidly approaching, but the world's best streaming services aren't slowing down ahead this year's winter-themed celebrations. Indeed, many of them are still releasing new movies and TV shows for us to enjoy, with Netflix gifting us no fewer than seven new things to watch this weekend.

That'd be enough to ensure Netflix fills this week's streaming list on its own but, in the interests of fairness, you'll only find three of them in this article. The others have been saved for four other unmissable (for good and bad reasons) films and series – unfortunately for Elton John and Bookie fans, though, neither the former's Disney Plus documentary and the latter's second season have secured a spot this time around. Nonetheless, I'm sure you'll find something worth streaming with the below picks. Enjoy! - Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Carry-On (Netflix)

If airport security wasn't hard enough, one of December's final new Netflix movies Carry-On just made it even more difficult thanks to an evil Jason Bateman promising to ruin everyone's Christmas this year.

Prepare to see Die Hard's Bruce Willis replaced with modern-day action hero Taron Egerton in this festive thriller as he plays young TSA agent Ethan. While working the nightmare airport shift, Ethan's day takes a deadly turn when he's blackmailed by a mysterious passenger into letting a dangerous package onto a Christmas Eve flight. With car crashes and gun fights galore, Carry-On is certainly on my Christmas watch list this year and, with its 82% Rotten Tomatoes critical score, has the potential to join our best Netflix movies list.

Grace Morris, entertainment writer

• Watch Carry-On on Netflix

Dream Productions (Disney Plus)

As if Disney and Pixar didn't already have one of the biggest animation hits ever on their hands, there's a brand new spin-off series from one of the best Disney Plus movies that's sure to delight Inside Out 2 fans.

Taking the spot of Pixar's first original series Win or Lose, which had originally been slated to arrive in December but has been moved to next February, Dream Productions arrived on the service on Wednesday. Set between Inside Out and the sequel, it takes us back inside the mind of Riley to meet the team behind her dreams. Like the movie business, it’s a full scale production making dreams that require different directors depending on whether it’s a comedy, action, or a dreaded nightmare. I've no doubt it'll carve out a dedicated spot in our best Disney Plus shows list.

Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch Dream Productions on Disney Plus

Joker: Folie a Deux (Max)

Considering the first Joker movie won two Oscars, DC fans everywhere were excited for its follow-up. Unfortunately, the reception Joker: Folie a Deux has been met with is mostly negative. So, if you were waiting to see this on streaming instead of paying for a movie ticket, it's made its Max debut just two months after originally airing in theaters.

Given how panned it's been, we won't be adding it to our best Max movies round-up. However, since films are subjective, you might enjoy this one and go against the general consensus. And, if you want to revisit the original which is, admittedly, very good, that's also streaming on the same platform.

Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Joker: Folie a Deux on Max

Secret Level (Prime Video)

Fresh from leading development on Netflix's R-rated sci-fi anthology series Love, Death, and Robots, Tim Miller and the masterminds at Blur Studio have teamed up with Prime Video and numerous other animation studios to create Secret Level. An anthology series comprising non-canonical stories set in the universes of popular videogame franchises, Secret Level aims to entertain the masses and convince them to try out titles including New World, Sifu, Warhammer 40K, and – if you've been living under a rock for the past 40-plus years – Pac-Man.

Unfortunately, Secret Level isn't all that great. I've seen all 15 episodes and, while I can vouch for how gorgeous some of them look and the intriguing stories they tell, many of them come across as hollow, cash-grab-esque advertisements – one entry is just four minutes long, for crying out loud – that could've been much more creative with their art styles and innovative with their storytelling. Don't expect to see this one on our best Prime Video shows list anytime soon.

Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

• Watch Secret Level on Prime Video

No Good Deed (Netflix)

After watching the trailer for No Good Deed, I knew it was a dark comedy that I couldn't wait for. From the creator of one of the best Netflix shows Dead to Me, this series follows three very different families vying to purchase the same 1920s Spanish-style villa in LA. However, what might be the house of their dreams may not be so perfect after all.

If The White Lotus can produce a critically acclaimed show about wealthy people visiting a hotel, then I guarantee Netflix will have success transforming this seemingly ordinary premise into something extraordinary with its star-studded cast.

Grace Morris, entertainment writer

• Watch No Good Deed on Netflix

Red One (Prime Video)

After watching this movie a few weeks ago, I concluded that Red One isn't perfect but it proves we need more action-packed Christmas movies. And, if you want to swap Hallmark romance for something that's arguably even more ridiculous, I really recommend this story about a kidnapped Santa Claus and the people that fought to rescue him and save Christmas.

Yes, its Rotten Tomatoes score suggest it's pretty rubbish, but it's nonetheless entertaining and has an impressive ensemble cast that includes Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, JK Simmons, and Lucy Liu. Now it's streaming on Prime Video, it could make the perfect double bill alongside Carry-On.

Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch Red One on Prime Video

One Hundred Years of Solitude (Netflix)

Netflix has only gone and done the impossible. Thought to be unfilmable, the first-ever screen adaptation of Gabriel García Márque's Noble Prize-winning novel One Hundred Years of Solitude has arrived in the form of a TV show comprising 16 episodes. The first eight of those are now available, with part two set to be released at an unconfirmed date.

Before you watch them (and I appreciate this is the opposite of a streaming recommendation, but I hope you’ll let me off just this once), I'd suggest reading the book first. This fantasy epic is a family saga of heroic proportions that can only really be first experienced on page. Based on its trailer, Netflix's adaptation promises to be authentic and has the support of the author's family, making it an ambitious project and one that I hope will be as good as it looks.

Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment editor

• Watch One Hundred Years of Solitude on Netflix

For more entertainment-based coverage, read our guides on the best Disney Plus movies, best Hulu shows, best Paramount Plus movies, and best Apple TV Plus shows.

• A sequel to PS2 and Wii gem Okami is now in development
• Hideki Kamiya's new studio, Clovers, is heading up development
• It's been 18 years since the original game first released

Arguably the biggest surprise The Game Awards 2024 had in store for us was the reveal of a sequel to Okami, a PS2 and Nintendo Wii classic that originally launched way back in 2006.

Currently being referred to simply as 'Okami sequel,' the project is being published by Capcom. Spearheading development is director Hideki Kamiya and his new studio Clovers. It's also being co-developed by M-Two and Machine Head Works, both of which house staff members that also worked on the 2006 game.

Kamiya served as director of the original Okami, and the name of his new team is starkly reminiscent of original developer Clover Studio; the predecessor to PlatinumGames and maker of cult hits such as God Hand and the Viewtiful Joe series in addition to Okami.

The short trailer shown at The Game Awards confirms that wolf protagonist Amaterasu is returning, as well as that gorgeous painterly art style that made the original game stand out all those years ago.

We're naturally not too sure what form the project will take in the end, but the Okami sequel's website states: "a new adventure in the same vein as Okami has been set in motion," hinting that it'll likely retain what made the original so special.

There is also currently no release date attached to the project, which is understandable for a game that's just started development. Even the website says that: "it will be some time before we greet you again, but we really hope you look forward to this project."

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• Pixels can now limit their battery charging to 80%
• This helps keep batteries healthier for longer
• The feature also adds support for 'bypass charging'

One of the updates now being pushed out to Pixels users in the December Pixel Drop is a new option to limit battery charges to 80% – and Google just clarified exactly how the feature works.

In a statement to Android Authority, Google confirmed that the update means bypass charging is enabled once the battery reaches 80% – that's assuming the Limit to 80% option is turned on in the Battery > Charging optimization section of Android Settings.

Bypass charging is, as the name suggests, where the battery is bypassed. If the phone is still plugged in, the power will be sent directly to the components in the phone, leaving the battery alone – rather than continuing to trickle charge the battery.

It should mean a cooler, healthier battery once it reaches that 80% limit, because power is no longer being sent into it. It also means you can carry on using it while it's plugged in, without worrying about too much heat building up.

Know your limits

A new Limit to 80% option has been added (Image credit: Future)

The idea of only charging a phone up to 80% is that it keeps the battery in a healthier condition for longer: filling up a battery all the way to 100% isn't dangerous, but it does gradually wear down the component a little faster.

It's actually a feature that's been around on Samsung phones, iPhones, and various other models for a while now, because of the battery health benefits – so it's good to see it arriving on the Google Pixel series at last.

Which models are able to support the Limit to 80% option isn't clear at the moment. It's not specifically mentioned in Google's blog post announcement, and the team at Android Authority wasn't able to get clarification from Google either.

The easiest way to check if you can use this on your Pixel is just to see if the option is there: Head to Battery then Charging optimization from Settings. If it's available, Limit to 80% shows up underneath the existing Adaptive Charging setting.

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The original Bank of Dave movie was a real surprise for me when I first watched it on Netflix. It was the kind of movie I put on wanting something a little more lighthearted, and was impressed by just how good it was, so I am so excited to see it returning to one of the best streaming services.

When we last saw Rory Kinnear's (The Imitation Game; Skyfall) portrayal of David Fishwick in the original 2023 movie, we saw him battling London's elite financial institutions where he competed for the first banking licence in more than 150 years, based on the gripping true story about the real-life Burnley-based businessman.

You can take a look at the first trailer below before it arrives on Netflix on January 10.

What do we know about Bank of Dave 2?

Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger follows the businessman taking on a new dangerous adversary, the payday loan companies that have caused so much misery among his local community and beyond. The new movie will explore how he tackles these companies head-on. The more Dave's reputation grows, the more we start to see him appearing on daytime TV in the UK and beyond to spread awareness of the situation.

In an effort to take down these predatory corporations, Dave recruits an American investigative reporter and a local Citizen’s Advice counsellor to help him with his efforts. Set between the UK and the US, this story is even bigger than the first and I'm excited to see it when it arrives on the streamer.

In the meantime, why not check out these new Netflix movies that are streaming right now as well as our round-up of best Netflix shows for plenty more entertainment.

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• Expected to launch before the iPhone 17
• New Wi-Fi chip that'll also be in the next Apple TV
• Probably won't be called Mini 2: Siri Boogaloo

What's got two thumbs and has a minor bit of news about the HomePod mini? The answer is me. A new report says that Apple is working on a refreshed version of its smallest smart home speaker, and that it should arrive before the iPhone 17.

The HomePod mini was launched in November 2020 and other than a few new color options, hasn't been refreshed since.

That's not necessarily a bad thing: in our HomePod mini review we gave it four stars for its impressive sound and of course, it still sounds the same today. But in the exciting world of Bluetooth and wireless speakers four years is a very long time, and the HomePod could do with at least a refresh to keep it current.

What's happening with the HomePod mini?

The new report, from Bloomberg, says that Apple is working on its own Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip with support for at least Wi-Fi 6E. That chip is destined for multiple devices – iPhones, iPads and Macs – and it'll be coming first to a refreshed HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K. Given that the annual iPhone launch is always in September, that suggests a launch some time before that.

Details of other improvements to the mini are entirely absent. But the report states that Apple is making the improvements as part of its wider smart home refresh: it's been lagging behind rivals for a while now and 2025 is the beginning of the fight back.

Previous reports have revealed other smart home plans for 2025 and beyond: the long-rumored and occasionally leaked HomePod with touchscreen display, which could well be marketed more as a smart home hub (or soundbar) than a smart speaker; a similar HomePod with an old-iMac-style display on an arm, possibly a robotic one; and a smart home security camera, currently tipped for a 2026 launch with sales expectations in the tens of millions.

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• Security researchers claim Prometheus carries numerous dangerous vulnerabilities
• Other researchers have been shouting from the rooftops for years now
• The bugs could be used to steal credentials, run arbitrary code, or mount DoS attacks

Prometheus, an open source monitoring and alerting toolkit, is reportedly flawed in a way that allows cybercriminals to steal sensitive information, run denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, and even execute arbitrary code, remotely.

Designed for recording and querying metrics from systems, containers, and applications in real time, Prometheus features a powerful query language (PromQL), time-series data storage, and integrations with visualization tools like Grafana. Furthermore, it supports flexible alerting through its Alertmanager, enabling notifications based on complex conditions across diverse endpoints.

However, cybersecurity researchers from Aqua noted Prometheus servers or exporters are often lacking proper authentication, which allow threat actors to gather sensitive information “such as credentials and API keys.” Some components, such as the /debug/pprof one, can directly impact the host machine/pod and serve as a vector for DoS attacks.

RepoJacking

“In our view, this vulnerability demands attention and mitigation,” the researchers added.

Finally, hackers could introduce malicious exporters through abandoned or renamed GitHub repositories, a vulnerability called “RepoJacking” which, ultimately, allows them to run arbitrary code, remotely.

Aqua said that a Shodan search query came back with more than 296,000 internet-facing exporters, and 40,000 Prometheus servers, totaling roughly 336,000 vulnerable endpoints.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time Prometheus made headlines for all the wrong reasons. The Hacker News reminds that both JFrog and Sysdig warned about sensitive data leakage through the toolkit, back in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

“Unauthenticated Prometheus servers enable direct querying of internal data, potentially exposing secrets that attackers can exploit to gain an initial foothold in various organizations,” Aqua concluded.

While there don’t seem to be any patches for these flaws, the researchers did suggest a number of mitigations, including adding proper authentication mechanisms, limiting external exposure, and monitoring and securing debugging endpoints. Finally, users should limit resource exhaustion, and inspect open-source links to avoid RepoJacking.

Via The Hacker News

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• Adobe has launched an experimental new 'Reflections Removal' tool
• It's available in beta for raw files in Photoshop and Adobe Bridge
• The impressive tool is also "coming soon" to Lightroom

The next big AI photography trick is removing pesky window reflections from our photos – and Adobe has seemingly cracked it with a new feature that's available in beta now for Adobe Bridge, Photoshop and soon Lightroom.

The sensibly-named 'Reflection Removal' tool can instantly remove reflections from photos you've shot through the windows of homes, vehicles, shops or airplanes. And best of all, it doesn't do it in an overly artificial way using generative AI.

Instead, Adobe says the 'Reflection Removal' model has been trained using millions of simulated photographs that task it with separating an underlying photo from a reflection. By rewarding the correct answers, the tool learns how to separate the 'real' photo from the reflection and allow you to fix it accordingly.

Right now, the tool only works on raw photos – so that's the uncompressed files taken on your camera (like DNGs or CR2s) or the likes of ProRaw from iPhones. And it's currently only a "technology preview" for Adobe Bridge and Photoshop, with Lightroom support "coming soon".

But it's clearly something that could ultimately become a built-in feature on the best camera phones. And it's the latest AI tool that automates something that professionals have long battled with, in this case either by using pricey polarizing filters or advanced editing techniques.

How to try it

(Image credit: Adobe)

To take 'Reflection Removal' for a spin, open Photoshop's Camera Raw plug-in (which pops up when you open a raw file in the app), then go to the Settings cog > Technology Previews, and check the 'New AI Settings and Features' box.

Once you restart Photoshop or Adobe Bridge, head to the Remove panel (which is the eraser symbol on the right) and in the Distraction Removal section check the 'Reflections' box.

After a few seconds, you'll see an estimation of what the final image will look like with the reflections removed, but you can also tweak the strength of the effect.

By default, the slider will be set to 100, but like most Adobe sliders, you'll likely be best going for something more subtle by moving the slider to the left.

Analysis: Not perfect yet, but it's an impressive start Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Adobe)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Adobe)

Adobe admits that the best fix for this photography problem is to avoid reflections in the first place, rather than using its experimental tool. For example, when taking photos through a window, you want to press the lens as close to the glass as possible (photographers also use a 'lens skirt' to help with this).

The 'Reflection Removal' tool does also have a few weaknesses. It doesn't currently work very well with cityscapes at night, and it might end up removing some reflections that you actually want in the photo. That's why Adobe's included the slider to adjust the strength of the effect.

But considering how complex removing reflections from photos is, the tool is a solid first step and something I'd consider using in the editing process. Some aspects of the photo may end looking artificial, but Adobe isn't relying on generative AI to 'guess' at what should be in the photo – and it could ultimately rescue shots that would otherwise head straight to the trash can.

The technique will also clearly become much more user-friendly and approachable. Adobe says it's "planning to support JPEGs, HEICs, and other non-raw files" and I can see the tool, albeit in less powerful form, arriving natively on Pixel phones, Android and iOS, with Google and Apple presumably looking on with interest.

Interestingly, Adobe also says it wants to "extend our tool to the removal of dust, scratches, rain, snow, or other things that land on windows", like bugs on windshields. It isn't clear how that differs from existing object removal tools, but the problem may ultimately become – how sanitized and perfect do we want our photos to become? For those who have long struggled with photo-ruining reflections, that'll be a nice dilemma to have.

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• Surveillance tools are being used by Chinese law enforcement
• Messages, call logs, and audio recordings were taken
• Spyware and surveillance software is being increasingly widely used

A new surveillance tool is being used by Chinese law enforcement to collect ‘extensive’ information from mobile devices since 2017.

A new report by Lookout notes EagleMsgSpy is a lawful interception tool developed by a Chinese software firm. Targeting Android devices, the spyware requires physical installation, most likely through law enforcement officers who gain access and unlock the device. From there, a headless surveillance module remains on the device and collects and exfiltrates large volumes of sensitive data.

By analyzing the installer app, cybersecurity researchers believe that the surveillance tool is used by multiple customers of the software supplier. This is because the user is required to input a ‘channel’ which corresponds to an account.

Extensive surveillance

Researchers found indications that the spyware is actively maintained by developers who are continuously protecting the software from discovery and analysis, with an evolution in the ‘sophistication of the use of obfuscation and storage of encrypted keys over time’.

As part of the surveillance, the software collects hordes of information on the victim, including all messages from sites such as Telegram and WhatsApp, call logs, SMS messages, GPS coordinates, audio recordings, and screenshots of the device in use.

This isn’t the first time in recent months that Chinese state actors have been found to be using spyware. Earlier this year, US telecommunications companies Verizon and AT&T were breached.

The breach used the existing infrastructure for ‘lawful interception’ by American law enforcement, which of course was then opportunistically exploited by threat actors. National security concerns in the US (and presumably in China) means that spyware and backdoors for law enforcement are developed at an alarming rate.

Critics of these software point out that the existence of spyware and surveillance tools, even if they are only used by officially sanctioned actors, means there is a risk that the tools will be exploited by threat actors.

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• Expectation for Nvidia RTX 5090 is a 60% to 70% gen-on-gen uplift
• RTX 5070 might be way behind that on 20% to 30% faster than 4070
• With RTX 5080 landing in-between at 30% to 40% quicker than 4080

Nvidia’s RTX 5000 GPUs are just around the corner – Team Green has now officially teased new GeForce graphics cards for CES 2025 – and we’ve just heard some more buzz on the potential performance levels these Blackwell products might achieve.

This is a rumor that you need to load up on the seasoning with, because as the source – regular leaker on X, OneRaichu – points out, these are just their expectations.

In the post which was flagged up by Digital Trends, OneRaichu believes that the flagship (RTX 5090) will be 60% to 70% faster for the GPU’s generational uplift.

The prediction is that ‘high-level’ Blackwell GPUs – which we’d take to mean the RTX 5080 – will be 30% to 40% faster, and for mid-range, that tapers down to 20% to 30% quicker than Nvidia’s predecessor graphics cards. In that latter case, we presume this refers to the RTX 5070 – and maybe to a lesser extent the RTX 5060, although this GPU is likely to be a lot further out, going by the lack of rumored specs (and any performance forecasts) around it.

(Image credit: Future) Analysis: Great news for PC enthusiasts, in theory – not so much for the mainstream

As noted, these are just expectations, but of course those expectations are built on a bedrock of leaks which OneRaichu has been hearing for some time.

What’s interesting is that regarding the RTX 5090, in past rumors, we’ve been hearing about the next-gen flagship being anything from 50% to 70% faster than the RTX 4090. So, this leaker’s assertion is that it’ll be towards the top-end of those previous estimates, a hint – taken with plenty of skepticism – that this is going to be a mighty graphics card from Nvidia. Likely with an equally mighty price tag (as in you ‘might’ not be able to afford it unless you take out a second mortgage).

On the other hand, the RTX 5070 may be a much more modest gen-on-gen uplift, which is disappointing to me – and all mainstream gamers with more typical gaming PC budgets – and this also fits with some of the rumors that we’ve heard about that graphics card. (Notably the purported 12GB of VRAM which, even if it is much nippier GDDR7, could be a real sticking point for many).

At least we don’t have long to wait to find out how accurate this forecast – and the other speculation from the grapevine – will be, as Nvidia is almost certainly going to reveal RTX 5000 graphics cards at CES 2025, given that fresh teaser. (And the fact that the new Witcher 4 trailer also used an unannounced RTX GPU, likely the 5090).

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• A group that lobbied on behalf of Exxon Mobil has been implicated in a hack-and-leak campaign
• The campaign targeted environmental groups critical of the oil and gas industry
• Accounts were broken into and emails leaked to stop investigations and lawsuits against Exxon progressing

A report by Reuters has claimed a group lobbying on behalf of energy giant Exxon Mobil is allegedly being investigated for its targeted hack-and-leak operations against critics of the oil industry.

The report stated critics were targeted in a prolonged campaign between 2015 and 2018 which saw over 500 email accounts hit by attacks that were in an apparent effort to stifle investigations and lawsuits being filed against Exxon Mobil.

Now, two Democratic senators and numerous environmental groups are calling for an investigation into the hacking and for greater accountability to be levied against Exxon Mobil for its potential involvement.

Greater oversight

In response to the report, Exxon Mobil denied having any involvement in the attacks, further stating, “if there was any hacking involved, we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”

The report stated the DCI Group, who was working on behalf of Exxon Mobil at the time, was investigated by the FBI for hacking into oil industry critics and leaking their emails to the press. DCI responded to the report in a statement saying the company “has not been involved in nor commissioned others to hack or to obtain information unlawfully.”

Groups named as victims in the report include the Center for International Environmental Law and The Union of Concerned Scientists, alongside several other environmental organizations such as Oil Change International, SKD Knickerbocker, and Earthworks.

Senate Budget Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse voiced his concern at the implications in the Reuters report stating that the Department of Justice, who have not yet commented on the allegations, should “take a good, long look at Exxon and its fellow fossil fuel flunkies.”

Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden echoed these concerns, emphasizing that cyberespionage “threatens the very core of America's democracy and fundamentally undermines our justice system.”

Via Reuters

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• Final Fantasy 16's Clive Rosfield is coming soon to Tekken 8 as a playable character
• Season 1 Pass holders can access the character from December 16, 2024
• The Phoenix Gate stage is also being added to the game

Tekken 8's fourth and final DLC character for its year one season pass is none other than Clive Rosfield - protagonist of Final Fantasy 16.

Clive will be added to the Tekken 8 roster on December 16 for owners of the Playable Character Year 1 Pass, which also includes fighters Eddy Gordo, Lidia Sobieska and Heihachi Mishima. Clive will be released for individual purchase after a 72-hour early access period on December 19.

Clive's fighting style in Tekken 8 looks to be a very faithful rendition of his abilities in Final Fantasy 16. He fights with a sword and can call upon the power of Eikons like Titan, Leviathan and Phoenix to launch opponents, extend combos and perform Heat actions. His powerful Rage Art also sees him transform into the Eikon Ifrit.

A brand new stage is also being bundled with Clive: Phoenix Gate. This is an iconic and important location from Final Fantasy 16, and it's hard to think of a more fitting backdrop for his Tekken 8 appearance.

I'm sure that a lot of folks - myself included - would have preferred Tifa Lockhart to take that guest character spot. Her move set in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth makes her seem tailor made for a fighting game appearance.

That said, I'm still plenty happy with Clive, and it's awesome to see Ben Starr returning to voice the beloved protagonist. And hey, Tekken 8 isn't going anywhere fast - there's still every chance Tifa gets added down the line, perhaps around the time that Part 3 of the Remake series gets announced.

We already knew that the fourth Tekken 8 DLC character was to be revealed during The Game Awards 2024, as game director Katsuhiro Harada confirmed as much during last week's Tekken World Tour finals.

Tekken 8's winter update, which includes improvements to photo mode, player search function and 30th anniversary cosmetics via a new Fight Pass, should follow shortly after Clive's release.

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• Security researchers find an unprotected S3 bucket with millions of screenshots
• Many screenshots were of people's credit cards, report warns
• The database could still be available

The details on roughly five million credit and debit cards were recently leaked online, putting millions of people at risk of wire fraud, identity theft, and various privacy violations, experts have warned.

Cybersecurity researchers from Leakd.com recently found an unsecured Amazon S3 bucket containing 5 terabytes of screenshots.

Among the screenshots were “unsuspecting users entering sensitive details into too-good-to-be-true promotional forms for fake offers.”

Deliberate data harvesting

As the team explained in a blog post, many people were lured into fake promotional forms, offering things like free iPhones, gift cards worth hundreds of dollars, mouth-watering discounts for various apps and retailers, and so on. They didn’t explain who took the screenshots or how, but they did say that the data that was exposed includes people’s full names, billing addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and credit card details.

Many of the screenshots also included the logo of Braniacshop, and other “generic names”. “While Braniacshop’s exact role remains uncertain, its connection to the data raises concerns about deliberate data harvesting,” they said.

If you’ve recently shared this type of information in a form that promised free, or ultra-cheap iPhones, $500+ gift cards, or similar, the team advises extra care, especially over the holidays. Potential victims should monitor their financial accounts for suspicious activities, enable alerts with the bank or credit card provider, update their credentials, and be wary of potential phishing attempts.

Furthermore, the team hints that the S3 bucket has not yet been locked down.

“Immediate steps should be taken [by law enforcement] to lock down the exposed information and prevent further access,” its report said, adding that the police should also notify affected individuals.

“We have notified the Amazon AWS Abuse Team about this issue to mitigate the risks for consumers and secure the exposed data promptly,” the report concludes.

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• Microsoft's 'Recall' feature for Windows has been mired in controversy over privacy concerns
• The tool uses AI to constantly take screenshots and create a searchable timeline of your activity
• A new 'sensitive information' filter has been deployed for testing, but it doesn't appear to work very well

That’s right folks, it’s that time of the week again: Microsoft Recall has yet again stumbled straight out of the gate, this time accused of storing personal user data such as credit card details and social security numbers - even with a supposed ‘sensitive information’ filter switched on.

A highly controversial feature originally announced for Copilot+ PCs way back in June, Recall uses AI to effectively take constant screenshots of whatever you’re doing on your computer and arrange those screenshots in a timeline, allowing you to ‘recall’ back to an earlier point by prompting Copilot to search back through your system history.

I wasn’t kidding with that “time of the week” remark, by the way. Just last week we reported that a glitch was stopping Recall from working at all for some users, and literally one week before that we reported a bug with the screenshotting portion of the tool. Before that, it was delayed multiple times due to privacy and security concerns. It’s been far from a smooth rollout, to say the least.

But Microsoft has now officially pushed out Recall for public testing (via the Windows Insider Channel) as an opt-in feature, so naturally some enterprising folks are trying to break it – and our friends over at Tom’s Hardware have had some immediate success.

So what’s the problem with Recall?

TH’s Avram Piltch did some in-depth testing with Recall, specifically investigating how the supposed new sensitive data filter worked. As it turns out, it doesn’t work very well at all: across multiple apps and websites, only two online stores were barred from letting Recall screenshot personal details, even when inputting financial information on a custom HTML page with an input box that literally said, “enter your credit card number below.”

Piltch obviously didn’t publish screenshots of his own credit card details, but noted that he did test using his real info and Recall still captured it. However the filter functions (it presumably uses AI to identify private information on-screen), it clearly still needs some work.

Microsoft has made a big deal about Recall's security features, but it's been a rough journey for the new AI feature. (Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft does say on its blog that it plans to “continue to improve this functionality” and that “you can delete any snapshot in Recall that you don’t want and tell Recall to ignore that app or website in that snapshot going forward”, but as it stands right now, Insiders using the tool are effectively putting their data at risk. The screenshots are encrypted and not shared with Microsoft or any third parties, but keeping an exhaustive record of your PC use like that is basically creating a perfect database for bad actors to nab your personal information from.

Of course, the feature is still technically in testing even if members of the public can access it now, so there’s every chance that by the time Recall hits full release (whenever that ends up being) it’ll have had these kinks fully ironed out. But with so many concerns buzzing around it, I personally don’t think I’ll be using – my memory is just fine, Microsoft.

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• Specs for a Eufy lock with palm recognition have leaked via Reddit
• The tech identifies you using the pattern of blood vessels in your hand
• The lock is likely to debut at CES 2025 in January

Eufy is preparing to launch its first smart lock with palm recognition, according to newly leaked product specs. Don't want to use a wave of your hand? The upcoming Eufy Security Video Smart Lock S3 Pro will also support keyless entry via voice recognition, mobile app, or a passcode, with a physical key as a backup option for emergencies.

The product specs were shared on the subreddit for Eufy's parent company Anker, and were posted by moderator joshuadwx, who has a strong track record of digging out details of unreleased smart home tech.

It looks like the lock will support the Matter smart home standard, meaning it should be compatible with smart home devices from other brands, and play equally nicely with Amazon Alexa, Apple Homekit, and Google Home. It will also have built-in Wi-Fi, meaning it doesn't need a separate hub to connect to your home network, and can be powered by either four AA batteries or a rechargeable power pack.

First Look: Eufy Security Video Smart Lock S3 Pro from r/anker Seriously handy

Most of the best smart locks rely on passcodes and apps, but palm recognition is starting to become more widespread too. At CES 2024, Philips introduced the Wi-Fi Palm Recognition Smart Deadbolt, which can be released using the unique pattern of veins in your hand. This is almost certainly the same technology that will be used by Eufy's new lock

Philips' smart lock can store up to 50 different palm patterns, and includes a proximity sensor that can unlock the door from the inside as you reach towards the handle.

We don't yet know how many hands Eufy's lock will be able to recognize, but according to the leak, it will also function as a video doorbell with two-way audio and a built-in camera. I'll be interested to see how it compares to the best video doorbells in terms of video quality, battery life, and ease of use. So far it appears that the lock only has one camera, meaning it will be able to show you who's calling, but won't offer a secondary view of packages left on your doorstep.

If these details are correct, the Eufy Security Video Smart Lock S3 Pro will probably be among the new smart home devices debuted at CES 2025 in January. TechRadar will be there on the show floor to bring you all the latest news and product reveals, so stick with us to make sure you don't miss a moment.

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• The Outer Worlds 2 is launching in 2025 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC
• Obsidian unveiled the first gameplay trailer at The Game Awards 2024
• The studio calls the sequel a "fresh adventure" set in a brand-new colony

Obsidian Entertainment has officially announced The Outer Worlds 2, a sequel to its 2019 hit.

During The Game Awards 2024, the studio unveiled the first look with an action-packed gameplay trailer, confirming a 2025 release for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC. It will also be a day-one release for Xbox Game Pass.

"The call to go beyond the stars is here once again, and it’s bigger, bolder, and more unpredictable than ever," Obsidian said.

The studio was also able to share some extra details about the game's story and direction, calling it a "fresh adventure" set in a brand-new colony.

"In true Obsidian Entertainment fashion, you carve your path through Arcadia, a colony teeming with factions, intrigue, and chaos. It’s also home of skip drive technology and where the fate of the entire colony - and the galaxy - rests.

"As a daring, undeniably good-looking, and questionably competent Earth Directorate agent, you’re tasked with uncovering the source of devastating rifts threatening the entire galaxy... The choice of how to deal with the rifts is up to you."

"Are the rifts the only thing threatening Arcadia? Of course not! That would be too easy," the game description continues. "A factional war between the 'benevolent rulers' known as the Protectorate, a rebellious scientific religious order, and a corporate mega power has the colony torn apart. Each is trying to close or control the rifts for their own good/monetarily profitable needs..."

Obsidian adds that this first-person action-adventure game will lean heavily on role-playing game (RPG) mechanics, confirming it will feature ability points, skill checks in conversations, and crew companions that you can enlist.

You can now wishlist The Outer Worlds 2 on Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app, Steam, and PlayStation 5.

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• A new rumor has corroborated prior speculation that the iPhone 17 lineup will have 120Hz displays across the board
• This is a crucial – some would say overdue – upgrade for the iPhone
• Separate rumors point to a new connectivity chip and camera module design

We've been hearing for some time that Apple could finally consign 60Hz phone displays to history with next year’s iPhone 17 lineup, and a new rumor has lent further weight to this claim.

According to a report by Korean news outlet Digital Times (via notable tipster Jukanlosreve on Twitter), LG Display is considering upgrading its LTPO OLED production capability in anticipation of increased orders from Apple in 2025.

For reference, LTPO refers to low temperature polycrystalline oxide, a type of display technology that allows higher and variable refresh rates than a typical OLED or LCD. In smartphones, these displays almost always top out at 120Hz, though some phones (see the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro) have pushed this figure up to 144Hz and beyond.

Apple brands its LTPO panels as ProMotion displays, which offer a variable refresh rate from 1 to 120Hz. This technology has been used in every Pro-level iPhone since the iPhone 13 Pro, as well as the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro lines.

Whether the base iPhone 17 and rumored iPhone 17 Air will receive ProMotion or instead utilize a fixed 120Hz refresh rate isn’t yet clear. The latter option would almost certainly be cheaper, though the new iPhone Air is expected to be marketed as something of a premium product.

The report adds that the share of iPhones using LG panels could rise from the present 30% to 40% next year, possibly due to rival display manufacturer BOE’s inability to keep up with LTPO demand. In the comments of their Twitter post sharing the story, Jukanlosreve suggests that the majority of iPhone 17 displays will continue to be made by Samsung.

Furthermore, the report quotes market research from UBI Research, which also corroborates the rumored transition to LTPO for all iPhones.

Late to the party

The iPhone 16 uses a 60Hz display (Image credit: Apple)

Apple is the last major phone manufacturer to produce a flagship device with a 60Hz display, having shipped every base-model and Plus iPhone with a 60Hz panel since the very first iPhone in 2007 – an era this latest rumor suggests may be coming to a close.

I, for one, welcome the rumored change with open arms, having repeatedly chastised Apple for saddling the supposedly premium iPhone 16 with a 60Hz refresh rate (an example of the company's worst habit).

In fact, the upcoming iPhone generation seems to be bringing with it a slew of design changes, both external and internal.

For instance, we recently heard rumors of a new camera module design for the iPhone 17 Pro and even the base iPhone 17, with three cameras mounted in a horizontal bar configuration not dissimilar to that on the Google Pixel lineup.

And a new rumor has surfaced that suggests the iPhone’s internal WiFi and Bluetooth chip, currently produced by Broadcom, will be replaced by a proprietary Apple design with the iPhone 17 lineup.

This may prove to be a double-edged sword, however: as Android Authority notes, the new connectivity chip could offer better efficiency over time at the cost of connection strength and capabilities.

It’s very unlikely that we’ll hear anything official about the iPhone 17 lineup until late next year, when we expect Apple to reveal its next crop of iPhones. Until then, be sure to keep up with our iPhone coverage for the latest updates – and why not check out our list of the best iPhones for a refresher on the top Apple handsets currently available?

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• A new suggestion from a reliable leaker hints at Qualcomm's new CPU heading to desktop PCs
• The 2nd-gen Snapdragon X Elite processor codenamed 'Project Glymur' was tested with liquid cooling AIO
• The chip likely be unveiled at CES 2025 in a few weeks

Both Intel and AMD have dominated the desktop PC scene when it comes to providing powerful processors for productivity and gaming - and now, Qualcomm could be joining the party, with 2nd-gen Snapdragon X Elite processors potentially making their way to desktop PCs.

As highlighted by Notebookcheck, reliable leaker Roland Quandt has hinted at Qualcomm's new processor coming to desktop PCs as the brand is reportedly testing the SC8480XP (Project Glymur chip codename) with a 120 mm liquid cooling AIO. This assumption comes from the fact that AIOs as such being used for gaming desktop configurations, unlike the cooling mechanisms that would be required in lightweight laptops.

With CES 2025 now only weeks away, we could soon see what Qualcomm has to offer and whether Quandt's prediction is accurate. The 2nd-gen Snapdragon X Elite processors may take advantage of Oryon V3 cores according to Quandt (based on Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon's 'next-gen' CPU statements), so there could be a lot to get excited about here.

(Image credit: Qualcomm) Could 2025's CES event be one of the best in years?

Considering AMD and Nvidia's presence at CES 2025 and their inevitable reveals of the Radeon RX 8000 series and RTX 5000 series GPUs, Qualcomm's inclusion could easily make this one of the more interesting CES events in years.

While a potential new Snapdragon X Elite processor for desktop PCs could be beneficial for gamers with tight budgets (especially as a second-gen version of the existing X Elite), it's still a little too early to suggest this. On laptops such as the Lenovo Yoga 7x Slim, gaming is possible but certainly not comparable to gaming laptops or handheld gaming PCs, and Qualcomm itself has stated that the X Elite chips are not targeted at serious gamers.

Nonetheless, the Yoga 7x Slim and fellow X Elite laptops come without discrete GPUs - for a desktop gaming PC that has a discrete GPU, a new Snapdragon chip could be promising depending on the improvements made with the new processors; potentially adding to the list of surprises I hope to see at CES 2025. Mind you, I don't want to have to buy a new motherboard...

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• Microsoft is deprecating Windows 11’s “Suggested Actions” menu, introduced in 2022
• A new AI-powered tool, “Click to Do,” will replace it on newer Copilot+ PCs, but older devices won’t get a replacement
• Microsoft continues streamlining Windows 11 by retiring underused features

Windows 11’s “suggested actions” menu will soon be a thing of the past, as it’s apparently due to be axed in a future update.

The “suggested actions” menu was introduced to Windows 11 back 2022 and it was designed to provide helpful quick shortcuts and suggested actions when copying information like a phone number or a date. For instance, copying a phone number might suggest apps to make a call, while copying a date could show options to set a reminder or create a calendar event.

This feature now tops the list in Microsoft’s deprecated features documentation, reading:

“Suggested actions that appear when you copy a phone number or future date in Windows 11 are deprecated and will be removed in a future Windows 11 update.”

When Microsoft deprecates a feature, that means it won’t continue to develop it and is (probably) headed towards removing the feature altogether.

(Image credit: Microsoft) Why is "suggested actions" getting cut?

The reason for the removal of “suggested actions” that’s speculated by Windows Central is that it probably doesn’t see a lot of use. Not only that, but it appears as if Microsoft already has a replacement feature lined up - a newer tool called ‘Click to Do,’ which will offer suggestions for actions based on context and be powered by AI. ‘Click to Do’ will, however, only be available for newer Copilot+ PCs that have modern hardware for AI capabilities.

If you’re on an older computer, you won’t get a replacement feature in place of “suggested actions” and I imagine the feature will just be removed.

Windows 11 has been on a journey of its own, having had a grand total of 16 features retired from the OS in 2023 alone, often targeting tools that were outdated or saw little use. The year is not quite over yet, but 2024 has had fewer features removed by comparison.

If you feel like you’re going to be impacted by the removal of “suggested actions,” you can get in touch with Microsoft using the Feedback Hub app. My bet is most people won’t notice this change, and, if anything, it’s encouraging to see Microsoft continue to try and streamline Windows 11’s user experience.

You can check out the Microsoft Graveyard, an online project that documents and explains deprecated Microsoft features throughout its history, to see which other features have seen a similar fate.

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• The next Apple TV could land in 2025 with a custom Wi-Fi chip
• It would replace the existing chip, which is made by Broadcomm
• It’s a risky move, but could bring big benefits to your devices

The third-generation Apple TV 4K landed over two years ago, but a successor is finally in the works according to new rumors – and it's likely to benefit from a new Apple-made Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip.

The new report from Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman suggests that Apple is on the brink of launching its own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, replacing those made by Broadcom that can be found in many Apple devices today. This chip will first find its way into the Apple TV 4K set-top box and the HomePod mini, Gurman claims, which will apparently both launch at some point in 2025.

This type of component is vital to the Apple TV. Wi-Fi allows you to connect the set-top box to the internet in order to download shows, play games, and more. The Bluetooth connection, meanwhile, lets you pair accessories such as remotes and controllers. If successful, the new chip will enable Apple’s smart home devices to “work more closely together and potentially synchronize data more quickly,” Gurman believes.

What other new features could a next-gen Apple TV get? Previous rumors have pointed to an upgraded processor like the A17 Pro (which it'd need for Apple Intelligence features). Respected analysts like Ming-Chi Kuo have also previously suggested that a new Apple TV could also hit a lower price point than the current 64GB model's $129 / £149 / AU$219 tag.

More outlandish rumors in April suggested that Apple could be planning to give a future Apple TV a built-in camera for gesture controls. That would certainly make losing its remote less annoying, but those rumors (also from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman) didn't specify whether or not the tech might be for the next Apple TV or a future version.

Full steam ahead

(Image credit: Future)

The Apple TV and the HomePod mini are not the only devices set for this new chip. Gurman says it will also come to the iPhone in 2025 and the iPad and the Mac in 2026.

Apple is making a major push into the smart home arena and will launch new products next year, Gurman says, including a home hub with a built-in display and a home security camera, so it makes sense for it to debut a new chip for these products in the coming months.

Apple has long sought more control over the components that go into its devices. This mindset contributed to its drive to develop the chips that became known as Apple silicon, and it’s behind the company’s long-rumored switch away from Qualcomm modems in its iPhones.

But the chip will bring another benefit, Gurman believes: it will be able to power “thinner iPhones and wearable technology” made by Apple. That suggests that the slimline iPhone 17 Air rumored for 2025 could be a direct beneficiary of Apple’s own chip.

It’s not without its risks, though. As with the move away from Qualcomm modems, Apple will have to rely on its own largely untested technology for a critical component in its devices. The iPhone 4’s Antennagate provides ample warnings of what can happen when the wireless technology in people’s devices is disrupted.

But that’s unlikely to slow Apple down. With new devices powered by Apple’s wireless chips just around the corner, we won’t have long to wait to see if they can pass muster.

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