TechRadar News

• Burger King Russia’s 2024 breach via Mindbox exposed 3.2 million customer records, now leaked online
• Data includes emails, names, genders, birth dates, phone numbers, and geolocations (2018–2024)
• Payment details weren’t compromised; users warned of phishing and identity theft risks

Back in 2024, the Russian arm of Burger King suffered a data breach at the hands of unknown threat actors - now, that data has finally been leaked online.

In October 2024, Burger King told TASS, Russia’s national news agency, that unidentified hackers attacked Mindbox, a domestic marketing automation platform the company had been using.

Through Mindbox, the crooks managed to obtain sensitive company data, including information belonging to the customers.

As a customer data and marketing automation platform, Mindbox helps businesses gather and use customer information for personalized, omnichannel marketing campaigns. Its tools cover email and SMS campaigns, push notifications, loyalty programs, chatbots, and more. According to the company, more than 1,100 businesses use its platform, including L’Oréal, Panasonic, KFC, JBL and United Colors of Benetton.

One victim in a supply-chain attack

At the time, there was no word on the nature of the information that was taken, apart from the fact that payment information was not compromised.

"Among the victims of the attack may also be the data of customers of the Burger King restaurant chain," the company said at the time.

“Burger King confirms that among the personal data, the accuracy of which is being clarified, there is no information about payment details: open information about transactions is not transmitted or stored by third parties.”

The details about the hack were also not disclosed. We don’t know if the platform contained a zero-day, or if a company employee had their login credentials or session tokens exposed. Third-party supply chain attacks such as this one are common and often rather disruptive, affecting numerous companies using the same tools. For Mindbox, however, there have been no reports of additional victims.

In its 2024 results announcement, Mindbox said the attack was its “first serious information security incident”, which was quickly detected and contained “thanks to threat detection tools.”

In the aftermath of the breach, Mindbox said it “found and eliminated points where employees without access rights to sensitive data could indirectly obtain them,” hinting that the attack was, in fact, an identity-based attack rather than a zero-day exploit.

The company also “changed development processes to find such points before they get into the product,” and reformed Mindbox's internal role system to make permissions stricter and more granular. It also limited project access scenarios, introduced a mechanism for confirming access by another employee, and introduced mandatory two-factor authentication, among other things.

Have you been pwned?

Today, more details were released on Have I Been Pwned?, a website that aggregates information stolen in various hacks and helps people learn if their email addresses and other information had been compromised in the past. According to the newest entry, more than three million people have had their data exposed in this incident:

“The breach exposed 3.2M unique email addresses along with names, genders, dates of birth, phone numbers and approximate geolocations, with the data spanning 2018 to August 2024,” Have I Been Pwned? writes. “Burger King Russia acknowledged the incident and advised it did not include payment or passport details.”

The latest findings seem to be somewhat in line with what the media reported at the time. According to The Register, initial reports claimed around 5.6 million lines of data as exposed, which included information about a customer’s favorite dish and previous order dates. While this information was not mentioned in the newest report, if every data line includes one email, one name, or one phone number, it could amount to around 5.6 million.

While the information might be a few years old, things like names and birth dates, and genders rarely change, but are vital in identity theft, social engineering, and similar attacks. Burger King users, especially those in Russia, should be wary of incoming email messages, particularly those claiming to come from the fast food chain.

The Geekom A5 2027 Edition combines an eight-core AMD processor, upgradable memory and extensive connectivity, and our exclusive code cuts the price significantly.

Best for: Remote workers, programmers and home office professionals looking for an expandable desktop computer that occupies very little space.

The deal: The Geekom A5 2027 Edition mini PC is $495 (was $549) at Amazon.com and £423 (was £469) at Amazon.co.uk when you use our exclusive code TRA527FF

Why it matters: The Geekom A5 has consistently proven itself as a solid mini PC for work in our tests, and the 2027 Edition is no different. The eight-core Ryzen 7 processor, expandable memory and multiple internal storage options provide a versatile foundation for everyday computing. We've selected the 16GB/512GB configuration as it's more versatile, but a 16GB/256GB model is available with our promo code, too.

A5 2027 Edition Mini PC: was $549 now $495
The Geekom A5 2027 Edition features an eight-core Ryzen 7 7730U processor, Radeon Vega 8 graphics, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, dual HDMI, dual USB-C, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity. For the full discount use code TRA527FF.

In the UK: now £423 (was £469)View Deal

• You can also save on the A5 2027 Edition direct from Geekom using the same code, where it's $478 (was $549) in the US and £426 (was £489) in the UK.

Why we recommend it

In his 4-star review of this mini PC, our expert Mark said it was "good value, well-made, and a decent user experience." He added that it was "a machine that runs cooler and quieter, backed by a new IceBlast 3.0 cooling system that Geekom claims cuts noise to as low as 28dB at idle."

He also noted that "Geekom is now pitching the A5 2027 Edition for 24/7 office and commercial use, rather than as a budget performance desktop."

The Geekom A5 is powered by AMD's Ryzen 7 7730U processor, which has eight cores, 16 threads and a maximum boost clock of 4.5GHz.

Its integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics are suitable for most tasks and the supplied 16GB of DDR4-3200 RAM can be expanded to 64GB.

Storage options include an M.2 SSD slot, an additional M.2 2242 slot and a 2.5-inch drive bay.

The A5 supports up to four external displays through its two HDMI and two USB-C connections, with support for resolutions up to 8K. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, 2.5Gb Ethernet and an SD card reader.

Price context & historical value

Our exclusive TechRadar code (TRA527FF) knocks 10% off the price at Amazon, and 13% buying direct from Geekom, making it the cheapest we've seen for the Geekom A5 2027 Edition.

In the US, you can save more by opting for the model with 256GB storage if you're happy to upgrade the SSD yourself. But oddly, this configuration is £30 more expensive at Amazon.co.uk, so I recommend grabbing the 512GB option if you're in the UK.

US: Amazon | Geekom

UK: Amazon | Geekom

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Geekom A5 2027 Edition if...

You want a compact computer that can drive a substantial multi-monitor workstation without occupying much desk space.

❌ Skip the Geekom A5 2027 Edition if...

Your work involves demanding 3D rendering, advanced video production or other applications that benefit substantially from dedicated graphics hardware.

• Shop all mini PCs at Amazon

• Epic Games Launcher has been identified as the culprit behind mysterious chimes on users' PCs
• Epic has confirmed it's planning to update the launcher to reduce the frequency of its 'party chimes'
• Users have requested a feature that turns off the chimes altogether

Multiple PC users have recently noticed mysterious sounds playing at random, and it appears the Epic Games Launcher is the culprit.

As reported by TweakTown, a Fortnite news page on X discovered the Epic Games Launcher randomly playing sounds on their PC, as several audio files matching them were found in the Epic Games 'social chimes' folder.

Each sound represents actions in a game party, such as a party user leaving, push-to-talk activation or deactivation, and message notifications, which sounds bizarre as this occurs even when users aren't in Epic Games parties.

Epic has since confirmed (via a FortniteStatus X page) that the 'party chimes' were playing more frequently than necessary, and it is now updating the Epic Games Launcher to 'narrow which events play a sound while the launcher is in the background'.

These party chimes are sounds I've noticed on my Windows 11 system, playing at very random intervals, and sometimes even when the launcher isn't visibly open. The sounds aren't accompanied by pop-up notifications either, which only added to the confusion for me and many other PC users previously trying to pinpoint the source.

Thanks for providing feedback about this, @FireMonkey!After taking a look, these party chimes are triggering more often than we intended. We're updating the Epic Games Launcher to narrow which events play a sound while the launcher is in the background, so you'll hear fewer of them when you're not actively using it.September 19, 2026

(Image credit: Future)

TweakTown states that Epic plans to introduce an option to toggle the chimes on or off in the future, but, surprisingly, a toggle option isn't a top priority as of now — especially since user replies berate Epic for not including an option to remove the sounds altogether.

For now, at least, a quick workaround is to delete the files from the directory as follows: Program Files (or Program Files x86)\Epic Games\Launcher\Portal\Extras\SocialChimes. It's worth noting that this is only a temporary fix, as Epic Games Launcher updates will likely overwrite this and place the files back into the directory.

Perhaps this entire case serves as yet another reason to use Steam for many users, where bugs are rare occurrences — but at the very least, PC users can rest knowing there isn't some unwanted or unknown application running on their system.

• An Australian PC maker has produced an innovative case design
• It has a miniature tree inside with metal cherry blossoms
• The blossoms are made of a heat-reactive titanium alloy, so they 'bloom' as the case gets warmer

We continually see striking new concepts for PC designs hitting the market, but here's one that really caught my eye, blending nature with technology in a highly innovative way. VideoCardz spotted the PC from Aftershock — an Australian provider of custom-built rigs — and the central concept is a model of a cherry blossom tree within the case.

That's eye-catching enough in itself, but the additional twist is that the 70 cherry blossom flowers — which are handcrafted, as is the tree — are made from a special titanium alloy which reacts to heat.

As the computer heats up in use, the flowers slowly open and 'bloom', which is a really smart-looking effect. The case has full glass panels on two sides, as well as a transparent roof, so you can clearly view the tree and its blossoms.

(Image credit: Aftershock)

The overall effect with this "world-first blooming Gaming PC" is really quite spectacular, but there's a catch in this fancy design — and that's the price. Aftershock is selling this 'Cherry Bloom' PC for AU$19,995 (which works out at around $14,000 or £10,500).

You get an Nvidia RTX 5090 for that money, though, right? Well, no, as this is a gaming PC built around a Zotac RTX 5080 (the rig is made in partnership with Zotac) and an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D. It has 64GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB SSD, with a 1300W platinum power supply.

Analysis: in bloom

(Image credit: Aftershock)

You're paying a lot of money for the tree and blossom concept in this computer, which really is a thing of beauty. The lack of an RTX 5090 is disappointing, though, whichever way you dice it. Aftershock sells a standard case (the 'Creator Max') that offers an RTX 5090 plus Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and 64GB of RAM for AU$11,695 (around $8,300 / £6,200), to give you an idea of the 'blooming' premium here.

Maybe we could have a scaled-down version with a small collection of blossoms, where the price tag is reduced? Or maybe this flowery concept could be picked up and run with elsewhere. Could it replace your basic digital readout as a more novel way of monitoring temperature — providing a clear signal when a heat threshold level is reached?

At any rate, props to Aftershock for the design here, even if the price tag is a true wallet-stinger. Incidentally, if you're a fan of different takes on case design, check out the floating PC case trend which is about more than good looks.

Meta has launched a new personal artificial intelligence (AI) agent called Muse, and it seems to be pretty powerful. A little too powerful, perhaps, as one writer has just revealed how the tool read his personal text messages without permission, then lied about what it did when questioned.

As explained by Inc writer Jason Aten, “I was having a conversation with my Primary Technology podcast co-host, Stephen Robles, about the new iPhones. Moments later, I got a push notification from Muse suggesting that the conversation we were having would make for a good column and offered to put together research for me to write about. It even flagged a message from my editor about having a column ready for Monday.”

The problem here is that “not only had I not asked it to do that sort of thing,” Aten stated, “I never gave it permission to read my messages. In fact, I remember explicitly choosing not to let it have access to my messages, calendar, and other personal information.”

After Aten asked Muse how it knew about his messages, the AI agent flubbed that it grabbed the relevant info from push notifications relating to Aten’s texts, not from inside the messages themselves. The problem? Aten is sure that’s not true.

The author discovered that Muse syncs your messages to Meta’s servers. On his device, this feature “had been activated and synced to row 187,462 of my Messages database,” Aten noted. “I’m not sure how many messages that equates to, but it’s obviously more than whatever Muse told me about what it was doing.”

Meta says it designed Muse to be “a safe, secure, private, and widely available personal AI agent.” But sending a user’s private messages to Meta’s servers then providing a misleading answer about what it was doing doesn’t exactly align with Muse’s stated goals. It we’re to judge companies on their actions rather than their words then Meta doesn’t come out of this smelling much like roses.

A familiar pattern

(Image credit: Meta)

This is just the latest incident in a recent glut of bad press for Meta, with much of it centering on its AI efforts. For example, a security researcher discovered that Muse can be manipulated into sending your voice recordings and more to a hacker’s server, while Amazon has banned the AI agent from shopping on its website. And Meta is apparently considering using a “human concierge” system that would involve real people handling a percentage of the potentially sensitive phone calls that can be placed using Muse.

And that’s not forgetting the controversy over its “pervert glasses” that can record random members of the public without their consent. Meta’s smart glasses have been used for harassment, stalking and more since they launched, garnering considerable hostile attention in the process.

I wish I could say that this was just a blip or an unexpected turn of events, but when it comes to Meta, privacy violations very much feel like the norm. They’ve happened so often in the past that it’s hard not to conclude that the functionality that allows its AI to browse and upload your messages without permission is there by design, not by accident.

And when we’re talking about a company that seems to feel it has an absolute right to all of your private data — regardless of your wishes — then it’s no wonder that I wouldn’t touch Meta Muse with a bargepole. I’ve tried plenty of AI tools and services, but Muse is one that I just won’t go near.

But let’s be fair here: Muse is only the most egregious example of a worrying trend among AI agents to treat user privacy as an annoying afterthought, one that can be ignored as long as they can get away with it. You only need to look at the recent spate of AI security incidents to know that trusting an agent with your private data is a risky proposition.

Throw Meta into the mix and you’ve got a recipe for disaster, as Aten discovered. If you’re running Muse on your devices right now, you might want to consider what permissions you’ve granted it — or think about uninstalling it completely.

ChatGPT just got GPT-6, except there’s a catch: you can’t actually use it in Chat.

If that sentence makes absolutely no sense to you, I don’t blame you. Until now, you could use ChatGPT quite happily without giving much thought to the distinction between Chat and Work functionalities. I certainly did. It was just that little slider at the top of the screen I never bothered with.

I suspect most of you are the same. Chat was where I talked to ChatGPT, while Work was something sitting alongside it that I could largely ignore because the Chat setting let me do almost everything I wanted.

GPT-6 changes that. OpenAI’s newest model has arrived in ChatGPT, but instead of appearing in the familiar model picker on the right hand side of the prompt bar, GPT-6 Astra, Sol and Luna are available in Work and Codex only. So, naturally, the first thing I did was go looking for them.

And somewhere between opening Work, figuring out what OpenAI actually expects me to do there, and finally getting my hands on GPT-6, I realized this launch is about more than a new model. OpenAI has just made the difference between chatting with ChatGPT and asking it to work for you in a way it never really did before.

When to Chat and when to Work

The easiest way I’ve found to understand the difference is to think about how much of the job I want ChatGPT to take responsibility for. In a normal Chat conversation, I’m usually working alongside the AI. I ask something, look at the response, add more information and gradually steer it towards what I need.

Work feels different because I’m handing over more of the process. I can give ChatGPT a larger task involving multiple steps and let it work out how to approach it, which might mean researching information, looking through files or using websites rather than waiting for me to tell it what to do at every stage.

If I’ve got a bigger job involving several files or lots of moving parts, I’ll often start there and let ChatGPT work out what it needs before I get involved again. Chat feels collaborative; Work feels much more like delegation.

I wouldn’t nominate OpenAI for any interface design awards because one of the reasons that the distinction between Work and Chat is so confusing is that they both use exactly the same interface, with a prompt bar at the bottom of the screen.

In fact, you can choose Work mode and then just start chatting to the AI as you normally would, although I've tried this, and it's not a particularly good experience. Responses can take considerably longer than they do in Chat, because Work is designed around longer, multi-step jobs rather than firing back quick conversational answers. If I just want to ask ChatGPT something, Chat remains the obvious place to do it.

And once you understand that distinction, putting GPT-6 Astra, Sol and Luna in Work rather than Chat starts to look considerably less strange.

(Image credit: Apple / OpenAI)So what exactly is GPT-6?

OpenAI calls GPT-6 Astra “the most intelligent and aligned model in the world”. Think of it as the heavyweight of the family: OpenAI's most capable model, built for the really difficult jobs where you want maximum intelligence rather than maximum speed. OpenAI particularly emphasizes Astra's ability to operate software, browse, conduct research and complete multistep professional workflows.

And because not every job requires the power of a burning sun to complete, OpenAI has also released two smaller versions called GPT-6 Sol and GPT-6 Luna. These models are more lightweight and less expensive to use. They’re trained using similar methods to GPT-6 Astra, but OpenAI say they “build on the advances behind GPT-6 Astra” and bring much of its strengths into faster and more affordable models.

There is one wrinkle here. GPT-6 Astra has actually been around since earlier this month, and GPT-6 Pro, which is powered by Astra, is available in regular Chat on some higher-tier plans. I'm a ChatGPT Plus subscriber, however, which means my access to Astra — and now the new GPT-6 Sol and Luna models — is through Work and Codex.

If I switch to the Work tab in my Plus account then in the model picker I get access to GPT-6 Luna High, GPT-6 Sol Light, GPT-6 Sol Medium, GPT-6 Astra Light and GPT-6 Astra Medium.

Until now, I could happily spend all my time in Chat, using GPT-5.6 Sol, and largely ignore Work. GPT-6 changes that. OpenAI isn't just giving us smarter models; it's starting to separate the AI we talk to from the AI we give jobs to. If its most powerful new models are going to live on the Work side of that divide, then that little switch I've spent months ignoring suddenly matters a lot more.

It's officially fall, which means cooler temperatures and marathon season for those who participate. If you're looking for a new pair of running shoes to train for an upcoming marathon, Amazon has its top-rated sneakers on sale.

Below are the top deals on men's and women's running shoes, including up to 40% off from brands like Brooks, Asics, Hoka, and Nike. I selected Amazon's best-selling sneakers that have recieved thousands of positive reviews and are on sale.

You'll find a wide range of shoes in this list, offering different levels of support, so whether you're a casual runner or you're in serious training mode, there's a shoe for everyone. Remember, these are limited-time offers and a perfect opportunity to save money on your new running companion.

Amazon running shoe sale – quick links

• Women's best-selling running shoes on Amazon
• Men's best-selling running shoes at Amazon

Women's running shoes at Amazon

Brooks Men's Adrenaline GTS 25

Under Armour Men's Charged Assert 10 Shoes

Adidas Men's Lite Racer Adapt 7.0

New Balance Men's Fresh Foam Arishi V4 Running Shoe

ASICS Men's Gel-Venture 11 Running Shoes

New Balance Men's Fresh Foam 520 V9 Running Shoe

Brooks Men’s Ghost 17 Neutral Running Shoe

Nike Men's Run Defy Road Running Shoes

HOKA Men's Clifton 10

Men's running shoes at Amazon

Brooks Women's Adrenaline GTS 25

Brooks Women’s Ghost 18 Running Shoe

Brooks Women’s Ghost Max 3 Neutral Running Shoe

New Balance Women's Fresh Foam Arishi V4 Running Shoe

ASICS Women's Gel-Excite 11 Running Shoes

Nike Women's Revolution 8 Road Running Shoes

HOKA Women's Bondi 9 Running Shoe

New Balance Women's Fresh Foam Arishi V4 Tiralux Running Shoe

ASICS Women's Gel-Nimbus 27 Running Shoes

All six episodes of The Split Up are now on BBC iPlayer and, in the best possible way, it feels a world apart from main series The Split. Both are about families involved in divorce law, but the shape of their family dynamics look entirely different.

The new spin-off follows the Kishan family firm, with Aria (Ritu Arya) poised to take over leadership from her father Dhruv (Sanjeev Bhaskar). However, the death of Aria's mother six months prior causes Dhruv to hesitate.

Add in a workplace love triangle, complicated siblings, and a messy divorce trial walking through their doors every week, and you've got a pretty delicious watch. But, I quickly wondered whether viewers would become preoccupied with the show's (excellent) South Asian representation — so much so that it overshadowed what actually happens in each episode.

Based on press and public reactions to its opening weekend, I was right. The Daily Mirror has reported that fans have "switched off" in droves, while comment section of the YouTube trailer (which you can catch up with below) is sporting exactly the kind of racist rubbish you'd expect from the internet.

However, before any episodes were released, I asked the cast how they felt about others making The Split Up's focal point its representation — and, as expected, their answers were even more insightful than I could have expected.

'The Split Up goes beyond representation'

"Ursula [Rani Sarma, writer] beautifully said that The Split Up goes beyond representation, and there's a universality in how we all feel human," star Arya told me. "I couldn't agree more. It's all about how we bring our authentic selves to the table... I find that a lot more interesting to talk about."

I love how simple yet effective this answer is, but it's Bhaskar's take that I'm the most interested in. Long-time fans of his will know that he was the star and co-creator of the 2001 comedy chat show The Kumars at No. 42, which followed a British Indian family supporting the fictional Sanjeev's dreams to be a TV presenter.

More than two decades on, I still can't believe that Meera Syal, who later married Bhaskar, was the woman playing his grandmother.

"I've got some experience in terms of representation versus family because of The Kumars at No. 42," he said. "That did pretty well around the world even though it was about a British Asian family interviewing guests in their London home. The reason for that was because it was a family... and everyone understands that.

"In terms of people tuning into The Split Up, if they decide to look at representation, that's more of a political issue. Most people will see a family and see themselves reflected in that. The Split did so well, and at no point did I watch it and think of it as a matriarch having nothing to do with me. I watched it as a drama. I think people who will enjoy this will not be thinking about representation."

I couldn't have said it any better myself — and trust me, The Split Up is a drama not to be missed.

A habitual Bluetooth earbuds wearer, I often forget about the sheer audio pleasure of a pair of over-the-ear headphones (or as my audiophile friends like to call them, "cans"), which is why my experience with the new Beats 360 wireless Bluetooth headphones was even more revelatory.

You see, the Beats 360 — announced today — reminded me why I usually eschew headphones in favor of, say, AirPods: over-the-ear audio is usually too uncomfortable for me to wear for any length of time. That, though, has not been the case with the new Beats 360, an elegantly engineered pair of headphones that push the technology to each earcup, thereby stripping down and lightening the head strap.

They also feature far more forgiving memory foam and cover material than I've found on other headphones. As a result, the cups form to the contours of my head without unnecessary pressure, and my ears aren't throbbing after hours of listening.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Comfort is important for headphones — and to be honest, earmuffs — but what will matter most is audio quality. Beats has done a lot of work to ensure high-quality sound. The audio company, which is owned by Apple, describes it as a high-fidelity acoustic architecture, built around a high-dynamic-range amplifier and a custom-designed dual magnetic transducer. There's even a custom venting system around the transducer to help reduce distortion.

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureA host of good design and audio choices

As I noted above, a lot of this technology — even most of the wiring — sits in each of the headphone cups. That leaves the headband thinner, lighter, and more comfortable. Beats 360 let you turn each headphone 90 degrees to flatten the entire headphones for easier travel.

The band does not fold in half, but at least the Beats 360 headphones are light enough (294.5g) that throwing them into your backpack (as I did, with the included fabric case), or walking about with them around your neck won't be a problem.

The headphones even support swappable ear-cushions: if you sweat on one pair, you can wash them while popping on a different set. Mine arrived with a couple of pairs, including a plush set. Each took a simple quarter turn on the headphones' body to remove and replace.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Beat 360 are easy to set up and use. I had them unboxed and connected to my MacBook Air in no time, and the controls make sense. On the left ear cup is my power and pairing button, as well as one for a quick touch switch between transparency mode and effective active noise cancellation (ANC). There's also a USB-C charge port. On the right cup is the volume rocker and play/pause button.

The metal band has enough give to fit over a head considerably larger than mine. A comfortable memory foam cushion sits on top of my head, and the metal band extends to line the cups up perfectly over my ears.

Putting the super in Supergirl

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios)

Since I was traveling when I first tried out the Beats 360 headphones, I decided to treat myself to a movie on HBOMax, which had just added Supergirl. As an avid Superman fan and someone who truly enjoyed James Gunn's 2025 Superman movie, I was anxious to see this in-universe take on Supergirl.

I settled into my hotel room bed with the MacBook Air propped on my lap and the Beats 360 headphones over my ears. The movie is, unfortunately, a misfire. While not miscast, Milly Alcock is stuck in a repetitive and muddled quest story with uninspiring heroes and villains, and while aiming to show the main character's growth, it seemed unsure of whose story it's telling. (We officially awarded it three stars in our Supergirl review.)

Ah, but the sound. Through the Beats 360, and probably thanks in part to the adaptive EQ, which automatically adjusts the audio to work with my fit, it was thoroughly engrossing, punchy, and loud, but never screeching, with clear effects and sharp audio. The sound often felt like it was coming from all around me. I honestly think the Beats 360 headphones made Supergirl watchable.

The incredible sound of silence

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

At home, I started wearing them while working, listening to my favorite David Bowie playlists and then a string of Simon and Garfunkel hits on Apple Music.

On Simon and Garfunkel's The Boxer, I was shocked to hear what sounded like a kazoo but is, in fact, the rough sound of a bass harmonica. I swear, in all the decades I've listened to that song, I never detected that before, nor have I previously heard what sounds like someone gently tapping on their guitar but is actually an analog recording artifact that is so in sync with the tempo that it's easy to mistake it for fingers gently beating on wood. So many exquisite details jumped out at me; it was like listening to these iconic hits for the first time.

Overall, Beats 360 produced fantastic, head-filling audio in every scenario and were also quite good for my Google Meet video meetings, providing clear voice, and with the 3 voice-pickup mics (out of a total of 9 — 6 are for ANC) doing a good job of delivering my voice to my fellow attendees. Naturally, the headphones include access to Siri, accessible via voice or by long-pressing the power button. So I used them for hands-free audio control and to ask some general interest questions.

I did not get to push the headphones to their battery limit, but they're rated for 32 hours (with ANC on) and, since I've had them, I have yet to charge them up.

At $349 (UK and AU price TBC), Beats 360 ends up in the more affordable range of top-tier headphones. Sure, they're pricier than a pair of AirPods, but, as I see it, you can't put a price on this combination of sound quality and comfort.

• LinkedIn reveals more move to help users and business verify on the site
• Users will now be able to ask their network for references in verification
• Businesses can cut off those pretending to be employees

LinkedIn has revealed new methods to help expand verification on its site in the latest battle against fake accounts and AI slop.

The social media network is making a stand in order to ensure its platform focuses on what it says matters most - helping users build grow a business-focused network.

It's not just users either - the move will also mean that businesses will be able to better protect their brand reputation on the site thanks to new controls and tools.

Verification improvements

First up for users is a new way to ensure verification is as effective as it can be. LinkedIn users will now be able to ask people in their network to verify connections to those they have worked or studied with - and when the user receives enough confirmations, LinkedIn adds a verification badge to their Profile, with the option to opt out.

LinkedIn says this method helps add "peer-backed credibility and reassurance", and says it will also soon let members proactively ask their connections to verify their experiences, helping members build authenticity through their professional network.

(Image credit: LinkedIn)

For businesses themselves, looking to protect their brand from employee impersonation, LinkedIn will now let Company Page Admins, who have verified their Page, instantly remove known imposter accounts, meaning they can no longer appear in search results under their company name. The platform is also testing a pilot which will give companies the ability to require workplace verification for anyone claiming current employment at their organization to associate with their Page.

"As AI reshapes the workplace, trust has become our most valuable professional asset," Oscar Rodriguez, VP of Trust Product at LinkedIn wrote in a blog post announcing the news.

"LinkedIn has invested tens of millions of dollars in verification, helping to build a more trusted professional community where more than 115 million members have now verified their identity or workplace for free. Now, we’re continuing our expansion of verification across LinkedIn and integrating with new partners, giving members more ways to verify who they are and more signals to help you know who’s real and credible, both on and off LinkedIn."

The expansion isn't just limited to LinkedIn, as the site is also allowing verified members to show off their status on partner platforms too. Truecaller and Peerspot have joined existing partners including Adobe, giving users on those platforms extra peace of mind that the person messaging them really is who they say they are.

"Whether you’re a member verifying the credibility and experience of a former colleague, a business protecting its brand reputation, or a platform looking to integrate LinkedIn trust signals, you are helping build a more trusted network where professionals can connect with confidence," noted Rodriguez.

• Samsung is reportedly adding authentication chips to its Galaxy A Series of smartphones
• Security chips will help distinguish safe, genuine batteries from fake third-party replacements
• They also make the lithium recycling process a lot smoother

Samsung could be making quite a big change to certain Galaxy Phone models — the Korean tech giant is tipped to add security chips to batteries starting next year.

The report comes from The Elec, which says the new security-chipped batteries will roll out to roughly 50 million devices, starting with Samsung’s low-end and mid-range Galaxy A series (which make up the largest share of Samsung’s smartphone sales). It would mark the first time the company adds a layer of security to its phone batteries, but the company hasn’t confirmed anything yet.

According to the report, the chips will be manufactured using Samsung Electronics' 28-nanometer foundry process, using VIA PUF (physical unclonable function) technology to create unique identities for each one. It’s believed that analog devices in the US (ADI) and ICTK in South Korea will split the supply of authentication chips.

So what’s the reason behind this? Well, there are several, but the main purpose is to put an end to fake replacements destroying your devices.

If your smartphone battery is nearing the end of its life, it’s safer to get a new one by going through Samsung’s official repair services, so you know you’re getting a replacement from the company itself. However, some users find it more convenient and cost-effective to opt for a third-party replacement service, but the quality isn’t always guaranteed.

(Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)

For one, these types of batteries aren’t always built to the standard of quality you get with ones manufactured by Samsung itself, which could pave the way for further battery issues and even lead to fires while charging or during use. So, these embedded authentication chips not only identify genuine Samsung batteries from dodgy ones, but could be the one and only component that prevents your home from being engulfed in flames.

Reinforcing quality and safety is a no-brainer, but there’s also a sustainability element to battery authentication chips. Using chips makes it a lot easier for repairers to review battery usage history, allowing them to customize the lithium recycling process based on the state of individual batteries, instead of recycling batteries with different characteristics using the same method.

If the reports are on the money, then Samsung's authentication chips should arrive roughly around the same time the new EU regulations come into force. As of February 2027, the EU will require phone makers to fit 'readily removable' batteries, but as Gagadget.com notes, there's also the EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542.

What this means is that as of February 2027, industrial and EV batteries must have digital battery passports for identification purposes. While this applies to vehicles and not smartphones (yet), it appears that Samsung is getting a head start, preparing itself for a potential change of law.

Unlike Apple, which started integrating authentication chips in 2018 with the launch of the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, this would be the first time Samsung introduces a similar technology to its own smartphones, so it’s been a long time coming, to say the least.

As mentioned, Samsung hasn’t commented on anything yet, but we’ll update this story if and when we hear more.

• Taste Profile is expanding to US listeners following a test trial
• It's essentially Spotify's interpretation of your listening habits
• You can interact with Taste Profile directly, telling it what you want and don't want to hear

Spotify’s dedication to creating a complete personalized listening experience is still one of its biggest priorities, and the best music streaming is bringing one of its smartest tools to even more listeners.

After its successful test run in New Zealand, Spotify is taking the next steps by expanding Taste Profile, a feature that allows you to see exactly what Spotify thinks about your music taste and streaming habits. The tool is rolling out today (September 23) in beta for Premium users in the US over the age of 18.

If you’re a Spotify user with beta access, you can find the new Taste Profile tab in the sidebar by tapping on your profile image.

(Image credit: Spotify)

Essentially, Spotify is bringing Taste Profile out of the shadows of the algorithm and into the forefront of the mobile experience, but Spotify’s growing music tool is designed to give you a more robust way of controlling your recommendations.

Not only can you read Spotify’s interpretation of your music taste, you can communicate directly with the algorithm and fine-tune the recommendations that appear on the Home page — so you don’t have to rely solely on your in-app activity to shape music discovery if you don’t want to.

Interested in branching out to a genre you’ve always wanted to explore, but never found the time to? With the Taste Profile prompt box, try typing specific requests like ‘show me more experimental pop’, and your Home feed will adjust accordingly. It also works for finding new artists to add to your radar — I’d suggest using the tool to find emerging artists and give them the streaming boosts they deserve.

Secondly, you can tell Taste Profile what you want to see more of, and what you want to see less of. While you can already remove individual songs from your Taste Profile, this could allow you to remove entire genres from your recommendations. Additionally, you can use Taste Profile to quickly summon tunes that fit your current mood, a handy workaround to finding music that complements a social gathering or personal listening session — but it doesn’t have to be all about the music.

(Image credit: Spotify / Future)

Unlike music discovery, getting started with podcasts can be a bit tricky; at least that’s how I find it anyway. The in-app Podcasts hub is a rich epicenter of shows, but sometimes I feel Spotify bumps the most popular ones in favor of those that explore more niche topics. Podcasts about classic cinema are my thing, and it’s taken me a long time to find shows I feel give me what I’m looking for.

If you feel you’re in a similar boat, Taste Profile could help you. Similar to music prompts, you can tell Taste Profile what topics interest you most, triggering your Home page to feed you suggestions to match. You might already be a huge fan of true crime podcasts, but want to find shows or episodes that explore individual criminals, specific crimes, or the most famous cases from certain historical periods.

For seasoned users, most of the hard work and fine-tuning of the algorithm has already been done. Thanks to years' worth of non-stop listening, creating playlists, and using existing tools such as 'Don't play this artist' to help Spotify understand me, I'm confident that I don't need to do any further tweaking. That being said, if you've just made the switch to Spotify or AI-generated music is infiltrating your recommendations, it could be a game-changer.

As we approach perhaps the biggest and busiest three months in gaming in recent memory, Argos has just launched a huge gaming sale, featuring up to 30% off consoles, bundles, games, and accessories. Whether you're thinking of buying a PS5 to get ready for GTA 6, want to upgrade your setup with some new tech, or just pick up a new game for cheap, you can find it all in the 'Next Level Gaming' event.

• Browse the full Argos gaming sale

Unsurprisingly, with many potentially considering a console ahead of Rockstar's massive November release, Argos is pushing PS5 and Xbox Series X deals heavily in the sale. And while it's shy on straight-up discounts, you can save on extras when buying a console, including getting Marvel's Wolverine for £20, getting 30% off a charging station, or 25% off a stand.

Elsewhere, there are some great prices on several games and accessories. Discounts of up to 30% are available when you use the voucher codes 'GAMING10', 'GAMING20' or 'GAMING30'. Just check the red banners on individual products to see which code is eligible to use.

For example, you can get an official Microsoft Xbox Controller for £39.99 (was £49.99), Crimson Desert on PS5 for £39.19 (was £48.99), and Orbitals on Nintendo Switch for £31.49 (was £34.99).

There are dozens more offers on hardware, software, and accessories in the sale, so have a browse through the key categories below. I've also picked out a handful of standout deals I've spotted further down if you're looking for some inspiration.

Argos Gaming Sale — quick links

• Accessories: up to 25% off controllers & headsets
• Furniture: up to 20% off desks & chairs
• Games: up to 30% off PS5, Xbox & Switch games
• Laptops: free accessory bundle with gaming laptops
• Nintendo: get a game for £20 with a Switch 2
• PC: keyboards, mice & coolers from £19.99
• PlayStation: save up to 30% on console bundles
• TVs: 10% off select LG and Samsung TVs
• Xbox: get £35 off the Series X Digital Edition

My 7 best deals in the Argos gaming sale

PlayStation 5 Slim + Marvel's Wolverine: was £629.98 now £589.99
The PS5 is the console I use the most and this Slim bundle at Argos is one of the best value options after recent price hikes. As well as a copy of Marvel's Wolverine for £20, this bundle has everything you need to get started, including a controller and all cables. This version also includes a disc drive, if that's important to you and you want to be able to play physical media.View Deal

Deals on the Nintendo Switch 2 have disappeared recently, but here's a chance to get it for the best price in months. You can also throw in a game for £20, including big hitters like Cyberpunk 2077, Metroid Prime 4, Pokémon Pokopia, or Star Fox. Any one of those will be a great way to start your collection.View Deal

You can use the code 'GAMING20' to get the official Xbox Wireless Controller for £39.99 at Argos. This well-loved and easy-to-use gamepad is compatible with most Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles, PCs, tablets, and mobile phones. This is a good price to bite on, as I've only seen these controllers for £5 less in the past, and that hasn't happened in a long time.View Deal

Quantum 650: was £129.99 now £90.99
The JBL Quantum series is an impressive lineup of gaming headsets, and this is a solid deal for one of the mid-range options. You get 50mm carbon dynamic drivers for powerful audio quality, a detachable mic with excellent background noise filtering, a lightweight design to ensure comfortable gaming sessions, multi-compatibility, and all the handy customisation and sustainability features that Quantum gear is known for.View Deal

Retro Receiver for PS1 & PS2: was £19.99 now £17.49
This is a cool bit of kit that lets you use modern Bluetooth controllers on classic PS1 and PS2 consoles. I've dug out my old consoles recently and found that short cables and ageing tech meant the original controllers weren't the best to use. Being able to plug this in and use a current-day DualSense, Xbox controller, or any other compatible Bluetooth pad is a blessing.View Deal

Crimson Desert: was £48.99 now £39.19
Here's a great price for one of this year's biggest surprises. The enormous action-RPG scored an impressive four stars in our review for its "breathtaking open world" and "fantastic set pieces". One of our writers has sunk over 160 hours into the game, too, so you'll certainly get your money's worth with this one.View Deal

Ideal for younger gamers, the Nex Playground comes with games ready to play out of the box, such as Fruit Ninja, Whac-a-Mole, and more. It relies on intuitive motion controls and is a locked-down system designed specifically with young children in mind.View Deal

Headlines at this time of year are usually dominated by iPhones — and you'd expect nothing less, considering Apple always unveils its next-gen devices in September. Nonetheless, Android fans aren't being completely left in the dark.

For example, if you're looking for something a little different, then check out the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro at Amazon for $509 (was $599) this week. This is the lowest price yet for the 12GB/256GB configuration, which is one of our favorite mid-range Android phones here at TechRadar.

We awarded this exact model an almost perfect four and a half stars out of five when we reviewed it earlier this year, praising its excellent display, polished software, and decent performance. In terms of sheer bang for the buck, there's definitely a strong argument for the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro — especially if you want to break away from the usual suspects.

Even though we're on the cusp of another Amazon Prime Day (there's another sale in two weeks), I'd say this one is well worth a look. This device is still only a few months old as of writing, so I doubt it will fall that much lower over the next few weeks. Note: you can also trade in for a further discount of up to $500 off if you're looking to upgrade.

Today's best phone deal at Amazon

Looking for something a little different? Amazon currently has the excellent Nothing Phone (4a) Pro listed at its lowest price yet. Awarded an almost perfect score in our review, we think the Phone (4a) Pro is a great mid-range option for most people. Not only do you get a fantastic 144Hz AMOLED display, but the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset also provides great bang for the buck. Of course, the main selling point is the device's stunning modern (and unique) design. View Deal

A worthy alternative to the big names?

(Image credit: Future)

The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is positioned as a mid-range phone that tries to deliver flagship-style features without the high price.

Its biggest strengths are its distinctive design, huge 6.83-inch 144Hz AMOLED display, clean Android 16 software, Glyph Matrix notification system, and surprisingly strong gaming performance from the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4. The 5,080mAh battery and 50W charging are also solid, though we found the battery life didn't quite match the brand's claims in testing (not that unusual).

Overall, we think the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is a solid alternative to mid-range Apple, Google, and Samsung devices.

If we had to nitpick, we'd say that the camera isn't quite as good as those on the high-end flagships (somewhat understandable, given the price). For example, the 3.5× telephoto is decent, but we found that colour accuracy and exposure aren't as consistent as some brands.

The abolition of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has created uncertainty about what happens next to Britain’s AI ambitions.

Kanishka Narayan’s promotion to Minister for AI gives the technology a dedicated voice at Cabinet, yet folding DSIT’s responsibilities into other departments raises questions about how the Government will coordinate the infrastructure, investment and public-sector adoption needed to support those ambitions.

Recent parliamentary scrutiny of critical public-sector AI contracts has highlighted growing pressure on institutions to strengthen control over AI operations and deployment continuity. Britain has focused on adoption speed; the next step is operational control in ongoing public-service AI use.

The case for sovereign AI is becoming stronger as a result. Britain needs more than access to capable models; it needs controlled operations for the services that depend on them, even when a provider, contract or political relationship changes.

Sovereignty goes further than where data sits

Sovereign AI is often reduced to data residency, with the assumption that keeping information inside Britain is enough to keep it under British control. Data location remains important, particularly in healthcare, defense and public administration, but it describes only one part of the relationship between an organization and the technology it uses.

A hospital could store every patient record in a British data center while relying on models and software that only the original provider can operate or modify. Where that provider is based remains relevant, but the more useful test of sovereignty is whether the hospital can understand the system, govern how it is used and continue running it if the commercial relationship changes.

An organization should know how its systems operate, determine which data a model can access and retain the ability to move a workload or introduce another model without rebuilding the entire service. Once that system becomes essential, it also needs enough internal expertise to keep it running rather than discovering that continuity depends on the decisions of one supplier.

Britain does not need to reproduce every layer of the stack, but it does need predictable control where public services run. Modern AI draws on international research, complex supply chains and open-source projects, and recreating them domestically would consume enormous resources without necessarily producing better technology.

As DSIT’s responsibilities move across Whitehall, the Government needs to decide which dependencies it can accept without threatening security, public trust or an essential service.

Capability and control can reinforce one another

Government AI plans sometimes present sovereignty as the slower alternative to using the largest commercial models, as though Britain must choose between world-class AI and control over its deployment. That assumes every organization needs the same frontier system, when the question is which model suits the work.

For many public workloads, a fit-for-purpose model in a controlled environment is more valuable than one large generic option, especially when governance obligations are strict.

A specialized model can be adapted to the organization's data, tested under the conditions in which it will operate and governed according to the consequences of getting a decision wrong. In those circumstances, greater control can make the system more useful as well as more independent.

Open and portable technology can support this approach by allowing organizations to run models across different infrastructure, examine how systems behave and replace components as better options emerge.

Openness does not guarantee sovereignty, since organizations still need secure infrastructure, skilled teams and clear governance, but it reduces the chance that an entire service becomes inseparable from one provider’s platform.

I have seen the AI market move quickly enough to make that flexibility increasingly valuable. The best model for a task today may be overtaken within months, while pricing, regulation and access can change almost as quickly.

An organization that builds around one proprietary service may struggle to benefit from that progress, whereas one that controls the environment in which its models operate can introduce better technology without starting again.

Government can turn sovereignty into capability

Britain already has many of the ingredients it needs, including strong universities, experienced researchers, growing AI companies and public investment in compute. The next step is to connect those assets with sustained demand in the parts of the public sector where sovereignty has the greatest practical value.

Government does not need to select one national champion or exclude international companies. It can create a market in which providers compete while public bodies retain control of the systems they buy.

Procurement rules for critical AI could require workloads to be portable, independently testable and capable of running within infrastructure controlled by the customer, making the ability to change course part of the original decision rather than a problem discovered at the end of a contract.

This would give hospitals, councils and government departments credible sovereign options while providing British AI companies with a route from pilots to long-term deployment. It would encourage partnerships in which knowledge and operational authority remain with the institution responsible for the service, even when private companies provide the technology and expertise.

The restructuring of DSIT should be treated as an opportunity to clarify Britain’s objective rather than reduce its ambition. A Minister for AI can bring different parts of government together, but the strategy should be judged by whether public institutions can use the best technology available while retaining meaningful control of the systems that matter most.

That is what will allow Britain’s AI ambitions to endure as departments, suppliers and technologies change.

We've featured the best AI tool.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

Have you been getting an unusual amount of spam calls recently? Automated voices asking you to add a number on WhatsApp? Don’t worry, it’s not just you.

The UK appears to be going through a sudden spike in spam calls and messages, but the reason why isn’t immediately clear. Luckily it seems many of them are following a similar script.

In the spirit of combatting the spam scourge, I’ve spoken to friends and colleagues about the types of messages they have been receiving to help you spot the legitimate calls from the illegitimate - and how spam filtering can help you screen calls before you answer.

Types of scam calls

From what I have gathered so far, there are a few different spam and scam call campaigns going around at the moment. Here’s what you might have heard:

• An automated voice saying “Please add me on WhatsApp”

By getting you to add the number on WhatsApp, these callers can then bypass spam filtering and allow the scam to continue. It also makes it much easier for scammers to pass on malicious files or links that are difficult to check before opening.

WhatsApp-based scams can sometimes be ‘task scams’ - where the recipient is offered a job testing services or apps for real money. These scams offer rewards that can be cashed out for completing tasks, but instead of banking your reward, they instead steal your financial information.

• Automated Phil

Automated Phil (who isn't always called Phil) will address you directly by name and ask you yes or no questions. In doing so, they will record your voice saying “yes” which they can then use to try to trick voice-recognition systems used by financial services and banks. When you receive a call such as this, never answer the question with “yes” and instead ask “who is calling?”

• Fake reps of companies offering introductory pricing/offers

These calls are usually people pretending to be representatives of mobile networks or internet service providers. They’ll ask if you’d like to hear about an offer, ask which network you are currently with, or tell you that someone has opened an account in your name. If you are expecting a call from your service provider, call back using the official number listed on their legitimate website instead.

• Calls from immigration regarding outstanding cases

A rather sinister scam call that is designed to create panic on the receiving end, hoping to trick the victim out of their senses to get a callback where the scam can continue.

In some scam calls, you may receive a voicemail and decide to call back, thinking it is a legitimate call from a friend or family member only to be greeted by a stranger who has no idea what is going on and is just as confused as you are.

The scammers could be using a legitimate Voice-over-IP (VoIP) service that allows an international call to pose as a number with the correct number format for where you live. This works by routing their call through the internet and delivering the call as a local number.

How did they get my number?

Hackers are largely indiscriminate when it comes to breaking into computer systems, and - unless it is a targeted attack - they often don’t know what company they have breached until they exfiltrate any data.

But some breaches are worse than others. Supply chain attacks may not necessarily hit the company that you gave your data to, but a different company that works with the victim company.

For example, a clothing brand will need to provide your email address or mobile number to a logistics company that handles delivery. That logistics company may handle deliveries for more than one clothing brand, so when hackers hit the logistics company they can steal all of the data from multiple brands.

But the recent rise in spam calls may not necessarily be caused by a new data breach.

In order to make some quick cash, some hackers will collect data from multiple separate breaches and organize them into one big file before offering it for sale. The data contained within this trove could be from months or years ago, but many of the email addresses and phone numbers will still be active and are a potential victim.

What can I do?

There are a few ways to stay safe when trying to navigate potential spam and scam calls.

If a caller claims to be from a service you use such as your internet or phone provider, always ask for their name and then call back the company using the official number listed on the website. If it was a legitimate call, you’ll be routed back through to them. If not, you’ll know for sure that it was a scam.

Your bank will never ask you to tell them your PIN or card reader codes over the phone, nor will they ask for your password or ask for money to be transferred to a new account that you haven’t set up. If you aren’t sure if it is a legitimate call, use the same technique as above to find out if it really is from your bank.

One key thing to keep in mind when getting a spam call: don't hang up.

If you receive a call that your phone marks as spam, let it ring until it stops. If you hang up before answering, it lets scammers know that the phone number is active and monitored, so they will likely call back or pass on your number to other scammers.

Alternatively, you can also set up call screening on most phones. Here is how to set up call screening on iPhone and Android:

How to set up call screeningHow to set up call screening on iPhone:

Call screening is only available on iPhone 11 and above running iOS 26 or later.

• Go to your Settings App
• At the bottom, tap Apps
• Scroll down and tap on Phone
• Scroll down until you see 'Screen Unknown Callers’
• Turn on ‘Ask Reason for Calling’

This will mean that any incoming call from a number that isn’t saved to your contacts will be asked for more information before your phone rings. This information will be displayed as plain text so you can see if the call is legitimate before answering. Just beware that calls from legitimate numbers will also be sent through call screening.

How to set up call screening on Android:

• Open the Phone app
• Tap the three vertical dots in the top-right corner
• Tap Settings and then tap Spam and Call Screen or Call Screen
• Turn on 'Automatically screen calls'

On Android, you will be able to select which calls are screened; maximum protection will screen all unknown numbers; medium protection will screen calls marked as suspicious and will outright decline spam; basic protection will not screen any calls and will only decline known spam.

If you've encountered a new spam or scam campaign not included on this list, leave us a comment below to help others spot the calls before they become victims.

Not only did we have the season finale of Reacher season 4 hit Prime Video last week, but all eight episodes of spinoff series Neagley were released at exactly the same time.

Understandably, most fans hopped straight from one to the other, despite the two storylines contrasting in the most jarring way possible. While Reacher season 4 has followed a length political espionage plot, Neagley took the Amazon TV franchise back to its roots, exploring the mysterious death of a young man in the heart of Chicago.

If you asked me, I'd say that the two seasons are neck and neck. The pair is flawed for different reasons, yet feel like exactly the same show... especially as Alan Ritchson's Jack Reacher features heavily in both.

But, if you were to ask fans, there's a clear winner. In fact, Neagley is so "superior" to Reacher season 4 that, based purely on Reddit, Amazon should look to greenlight Neagley season 2 immediately.

'I'm always happy when a spinoff turns out to be better than the original'

"Neagley is superior to Reacher season 4 in nearly every way," one fan posted. "You can clearly see where the energy went from the overlapping schedules."

A second fan doubles down, writing: "Not nearly. Literally every way." But, what is it about the spinoff that makes it the better watch?

"I love the supporting characters and that they’ll continue working with Neagley. I really hope we get a season 2," one fan weighs in, which another adds, "Reacher 4 was all over the place. Too many characters. They should go back to the basic of season 1. Reacher in a small setting uncovering some nefarious activities."

"To me Neagley just felt overall better with the pacing and supporting actors, I even enjoyed the plot line more," a poster in a second thread agrees. "Maybe it’s just because it’s something fresh. We didn’t get to know too much about Neagley and I was intrigued by her past and seeing a badass female led role always makes me happy!"

Not only is Maria Sten's return to the titular role near flawless, but Neagley gets the IP basics right in a way that the already confirmed Reacher season 5 needs to pivot back to. Think smaller stakes, bigger impact.

Surely it's just a matter of days before we get the news we're waiting for. In the meantime, don't panic — ideas are already being formed.

"We have so many great action sequences in this show, and if we get another season, I want to build on that... make it even bigger. Continue to develop these characters, get them into trouble, and get them to face the consequences of their emotional problems," Sten told TechRadar.

• Microsoft is rolling out an in-app browser for the Copilot app
• When you open links provided by the AI, they'll appear side-by-side with the chat
• While this is likely to prove a convenient feature for some, others have their doubts, and there's an ulterior motive of sorts in terms of pushing Edge

The Copilot app in Windows 11 is getting its own browser, which means that when you follow links provided by the AI, you'll stay within the confines of the app.

Windows Central noticed that Microsoft is set to roll out the in-app browser for the Copilot app on Windows 11 (and macOS), where it will open links in a panel to the side of the chat.

Normally, links would be fired up separately in the default web browser, but with this change, Microsoft aims to keep more activity within the Copilot app.

This feature has been in testing since early this year, and is available for admins to enable now, with a "broader rollout" happening in late November.

If you use the Copilot app, then, you can expect to see this ability appearing in a couple of months (or maybe a bit longer depending on the pace of the rollout).

Analysis: edging forward

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Prostock-studio)

Obviously, there is an aspect of convenience here, as you can peruse web pages that Copilot highlights right there in the app window. Some folks might like the idea, then, but on Reddit, the feedback that's been shared has been pretty negative.

Windows Central poses a question for the story headline, namely: "Will this upcoming update make Copilot your preferred browser on Windows 11?" And the Redditors who can't resist replying to that query are all overwhelmingly negative.

One reply says: "No. Copilot is a scourge that I avoid at all opportunities. Having a browser inside Copilot sounds like Hell."

Another states: "Definitely not. As it is, if I click a link in Copilot I have it open it in my actual web browser. The built-in browser would have to be really good to get me to change that."

Okay, so it's a loaded question and one that AI skeptics are more than happy to jump on and shoot down – but these aren't the people that Microsoft is considering here. It's introducing this for folks who use the Copilot app, who, obviously enough, aren't part of the anti-AI crowd who are very quick to fire flak at anything related to the topic.

On the other hand, this isn't something Microsoft's doing purely out of the goodness of its heart. It's a way to keep more activity within the Copilot app, as noted, and also another method of (indirectly) pushing the Edge browser. Because naturally enough, that's what the in-app browser is based on (what else would it be).

That doesn't mean the feature isn't useful, though, and if you like the sound of the in-app browser for Copilot, you've not got long to wait.

A good mechanical keyboard can make long working days more fun, especially if you spend hours writing, coding or working with spreadsheets. The Keychron V6 Max offers a full-size layout, extensive customization and several ways to connect your devices.

• Best for: Writers, programmers and office workers who spend a lot of time typing and want a customizable mechanical keyboard with a dedicated number pad for Windows or Mac.

• The deal: The Keychron V6 Max wireless customizable keyboard is now $110 (was $120) at Amazon. In the UK, the cheapest price for the V6 Max is £92 (was £115) at Argos.

• Why it matters: This is the best mechanical keyboard for professionals that we've reviewed - our hardware editor has been using this everyday since he reviewed it in June without complaint. Its gasket-mounted construction, sound-absorbing foam, replaceable Gateron Jupiter Red switches and durable PBT keycaps offer plenty of options for customizing the typing experience.

V6 Max Wireless QMK Mechanical Keyboard: was $119.99 now $109.19
This keyboard features 108 keys, Gateron Jupiter Red switches, 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C connectivity, QMK customization, gasket-mounted construction, double-shot PBT keycaps, adjustable RGB lighting and hot-swappable switch sockets.

In the UK: now £92 (was £115) at ArgosView Deal

Why we recommend it

The V6 Max has a gasket-mounted design with sound-absorbing foam, helping reduce typing noise and providing a comfortable typing experience.

Its double-shot PBT keycaps are designed to resist wear and prevent the lettering from fading, and it comes with pre-lubed Gateron Jupiter Red switches that provide smooth keystrokes without the tactile bump found on some mechanical keyboards.

The hot-swappable PCB supports most three-pin and five-pin MX mechanical switches, making it possible to experiment with different typing characteristics. And there's a volume knob you can tap to instantly mute your computer. It's an especially nice touch.

In his five-star review, our expert Steve said, "if I could, I’d sit at my desk all day and all night just to feel that pleasing feedback, listening to the satisfying clackety-clack as my fingers depress the keys. It might just be the best office keyboard I’ve ever used."

He also added, "For me, it’s one of the best keyboards around, perfectly positioned for productivity-minded professionals, students, programmers — effectively anyone who’s going to be spending a lot of time at their desk. On that score, it delivers an awesome experience."

Price context & historical value

The reduction from $119.99 to $109.19 represents a relatively modest saving of $10.80, or approximately 9%. That's not a huge discount, but any price cut on such a great keyboard is worth grabbing. I've seen it cheaper in the past, but only as low as $95.99, so you're paying just $13.20 more than the previous low.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Keychron V6 Max mechanical keyboard if...

You regularly switch between several computers or want a keyboard that works across different operating systems. The V6 Max supports 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.1 and wired USB-C connections. Bluetooth allows you to pair up to three devices, while the 2.4GHz and wired modes support a 1,000Hz polling rate.

❌ Skip the Keychron V6 Max mechanical keyboard if...

You have limited desk space or regularly carry your keyboard between locations. Its 108-key layout includes a dedicated number pad, so it occupies considerably more room than a compact mechanical keyboard.

• In the US: Shop all keyboards at Amazon
• In the UK: See all PC keyboards at Argos

Financial crime has never stood still. In my nearly three decades in financial services, I have watched fraud move in lockstep with the technology built to stop it, and at times, even stay a step ahead of it​,​ given the speed fraudsters adopt new technology.

I have witnessed decades of AI innovation ​that raised​ the bar on fraud detection, yet criminals continue to test those boundaries. Fraud remains a top consumer concern, with over ​87.5 million American adults experiencing a scam or financial fraud each year. That’s roughly one in every three American adults.

The question for financial institutions isn't whether AI has a place in fraud prevention​,​ but whether the AI they've deployed is built for the threat landscape they're facing today – and the one that's coming.

Compute has finally caught up with mathematical vision

For decades, data scientists working on fraud prevention had theories they couldn't implement. The ideas were sound, but the computers at the time weren't powerful enough to get the math done. That constraint no longer exists.

Historically, most fraud detection has been carried out by building a profile summarizing a customer's typical behavior using sophisticated features, a neural network, and the customer’s current transaction to flag transactions that are suspicious. It's an approach constrained by the computational limitations of time.

Today, access to GPU and other high-performance compute is changing the art of the possible. Rather than analyzing a transaction in the context of a profile, GPUs allow us to implement entirely new algorithms that can evaluate a customer's extensive transaction history in real-time as the transaction happens.

The result is a significantly sharper, more accurate prediction and far fewer false alarms that can delay or stop legitimate purchases​,​ eroding customer trust.

Built for one job, not every job

Thanks to greater GPU availability and computational power, we're now seeing new opportunities to support fraud prevention with a sequence-modeling transformer – not a generic transformer, but one purpose-built for transaction analytics and financial crime.

With a purpose-built transformer architecture that’s trained exclusively on financial transaction data and engineered for a single focused task, financial services institutions can detect financial crime in real time using deep personalization and the context of the customer transaction history.

These are not overarching ‘do everything’ models. They are focused foundation models purpose-built to deliver auditable, high-performing, low-latency generative AI for the fight against financial crime. Each of these models specializes in distinct areas, such as account takeover, scams, mule detection, and first-party misuse.

Independent models focused on their specialty allow for a more complete, accurate, and transparent picture than any single model working alone. And this is just the start​,​ as the same methodology applies to risk decisions, hardship, collections, and any application where understanding our customers leads to better engagement, protection, and service.

The future is now

The fraud prevention capabilities that will define the next five years are being built right now. Enterprises investing in protecting customers from fraud – both now and in the future – understand that purpose-built models, use of specialized compute, and AI agents are the path to protecting their customers.

The math protecting consumers today was invented decades ago by AI scientists who saw the potential in algorithms even before the compute and infrastructure existed. I've spent much of my career continually chasing that goal to ensure that the industry is ready to bring the best algorithms when compute shows up.

Some of my proudest work came from refusing to settle and trust that technology will catch up with AI invention and math. Every patent, every model, every AI experiment has served the same purpose: making sure the industry is ready to lead with the best AI tools once compute catches up with scientific invention.

That work is happening right now. The only question is whether ​​​​​​financial institutions are​​ part of it or racing to catch up.

We've featured the best antivirus software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to 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/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit