TechRadar News

• AWS Security Incident Response aims to tackle the challenge of addressing various security incidents
• Looks to lessen strain on cybersecurity teams
• Available to AWS customers across the world now

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched a new service to help businesses address the issues of cybersecurity and cyberattacks.

AWS Security Incident Response is designed to help businesses prepare for, respond to, and recover from different security incidents such as account takeovers, data breaches, and ransomware attacks.

AWS argues addressing various security events has gotten too cumbersome. Between a flood over daily alerts, time-consuming manual reviews, errors in coordination, and problems with permissions, many businesses struggle to contain their security challenges.

Cutting down on time spent

“There is an opportunity to better support customers and remove various points of undifferentiated heavy lifting that customers face during security events,” the blog reads.

Therefore AWS introduced a tool that, first and foremost, automatically triages security findings from GuardDuty and supported third-party tools through Security Hub to identify high-priority incidents requiring immediate attention. Through automation, and customer-specific information, the tool can filter and suppress security findings based on expected behavior.

Furthermore, it aims to simplify incident response by offering preconfigured notification rules and permission settings. Users get a centralized console with different features such as messaging, secure data transfer, and more. Finally, AWS Security Incident Response offers automated case history tracking and reporting, which allows IT teams to focus on remediation and recovery.

AWS Security Incident Response is now available via the AWS management console and service-specific APIs in 12 AWS Regions globally: US East (N. Virginia, Ohio), US West (Oregon), Asia Pacific (Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo), Canada (Central), and Europe (Frankfurt, Ireland, London, Stockholm).

Incident response is critically important for businesses, especially in an era of increasing cybersecurity threats and reliance on digital infrastructure. It minimizes downtime and financial loss, protects the business’ reputation, ensures regulatory compliance, and keeps customer trust.

Via TechCrunch

You might also like

• Consolidating your incident response plan against cyber attacks
• Here's a list of the best firewalls today
• These are the best endpoint protection tools right now

• Cerebras hits 969 tokens/second on Llama 3.1 405B, 75x faster than AWS
• Claims industry-low 240ms latency, twice as fast as Google Vertex
• Cerebras Inference runs on the CS-3 with the WSE-3 AI processor

Cerebras Systems says it has set a new benchmark in AI performance with Meta’s Llama 3.1 405B model, achieving an unprecedented generation speed of 969 tokens per second.

Third-party benchmark firm Artificial Analysis has claimed this performance is up to 75 times faster than GPU-based offerings from major hyperscalers. It was nearly six times faster than SambaNova at 164 tokens per second, more than 14 times faster than Google Vertex at 30 tokens per second, and far surpassing Azure at just 20 tokens per second and AWS at 13 tokens per second.

Additionally, the system demonstrated the fastest time to first token in the world, clocking in at just 240 milliseconds - nearly twice as fast as Google Vertex at 430 milliseconds and far ahead of AWS at 1,770 milliseconds.

Extending its lead

“Cerebras holds the world record in Llama 3.1 8B and 70B performance, and with this announcement, we’re extending our lead to Llama 3.1 405B - delivering 969 tokens per second," noted Andrew Feldman, co-founder and CEO of Cerebras.

"By running the largest models at instant speed, Cerebras enables real-time responses from the world’s leading open frontier model. This opens up powerful new use cases, including reasoning and multi-agent collaboration, across the AI landscape.”

The Cerebras Inference system, powered by the CS-3 supercomputer and its Wafer Scale Engine 3 (WSE-3), supports full 128K context length at 16-bit precision. The WSE-3, known as the “fastest AI chip in the world,” features 44GB on-chip SRAM, four trillion transistors, and 900,000 AI-optimized cores. It delivers a peak AI performance of 125 petaflops and boasts 7,000 times the memory bandwidth of the Nvidia H100.

Meta’s GenAI VP Ahmad Al-Dahle also praised Cerebras' latest results, saying, “Scaling inference is critical for accelerating AI and open source innovation. Thanks to the incredible work of the Cerebras team, Llama 3.1 405B is now the world’s fastest frontier model. Through the power of Llama and our open approach, super-fast and affordable inference is now in reach for more developers than ever before.”

Customer trials for the system are ongoing, with general availability slated for Q1 2025. Pricing begins at $6 per million input tokens and $12 per million output tokens.

(Image credit: Cerebras)

(Image credit: Cerebras) You might also like

• Gigantic AI CPU from Cerebras has almost one million cores
• Biggest rival to Nvidia demos million-core super AI inference chip
• Donut design could create quadrillion-transitor compute monster

• 01.ai trained an AI model for $3 million using 2000 unnamed GPUS
• “Efficient engineering” allows 01.ai to compete globally, company claims
• 01.ai reduced inference costs to 10 cents per million tokens

Tech companies in China face a number of challenges due to the American export ban, which restricts access to advanced hardware from US manufacturers.

This includes cutting-edge GPUs from Nvidia, critical for training large-scale AI models, forcing Chinese firms to rely on older or less efficient alternatives, making it difficult to compete globally in the rapidly evolving AI industry.

However, as we’ve seen time and again, these seemingly insurmountable challenges are increasingly being overcome through innovative solutions and Chinese ingenuity. Kai-Fu Lee, founder and CEO of 01.ai, recently revealed that his team successfully trained its high-performing model, Yi-Lightning, with a budget of just $3 million and 2,000 GPUs. In comparison, OpenAI reportedly spent $80-$100 million to train GPT-4 and is rumored to have allocated up to $1 billion for GPT-5.

Making inference fast too

“The thing that shocks my friends in the Silicon Valley is not just our performance, but that we trained the model with only $3 million," Lee said (via @tsarnick).

"We believe in scaling law, but when you do excellent detailed engineering, it is not the case you have to spend a billion dollars to train a great model. As a company in China, first, we have limited access to GPUs due to the US regulations, and secondly, Chinese companies are not valued what the American companies are. So when we have less money and difficulty to get GPUs, I truly believe that necessity is the mother of invention."

Lee explained the company’s innovations include reducing computational bottlenecks, developing multi-layer caching, and designing a specialized inference engine. These advancements, he claims, result in more efficient memory usage and optimized training processes.

“When we only have 2,000 GPUs, the team has to figure out how to use it,” Kai-Fu Lee said, without disclosing the type of GPUs used. “I, as the CEO, have to figure out how to prioritize it, and then not only do we have to make training fast, we have to make inference fast... The bottom line is our inference cost is 10 cents per million tokens.”

For context, that’s about 1/30th of the typical rate charged by comparable models, highlighting the efficiency of 01.ai's approach.

Some people may be skeptical about the claims that you can train an AI model with limited resources and "excellent engineering", but according to UC Berkeley’s LMSIS, Yi-Lightning is ranked sixth globally in performance, suggesting that however it has done it, 01.ai has indeed found a way to be competitive with a minuscule budget and limited GPU access.

You might also like

• China wants to be the global AI leader in personal computing
• AMD launches a new single-slot GPU for data centers
• This startup may be the answer to running AI training on any GPU

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of AWS re:Invent 2024!

We're live in Las Vegas and ready for a jam-packed few days at the computing giant's annual event.

Starting tomorrow, we're looking forward to a host of keynotes, news, announcements and much more - so you can follow our live blog below for all the updates you'll need at AWS re:Invent 2024.

Good morning from a beautiful sunny Las Vegas! The sun is out and preparations are underway for AWS re:Invent 2024, which officially kicks off tonight with an introductory keynote from Peter de Santis, Senior Vice President of AWS Utility Computing, before the main action starts tomorrow.

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

As noted, the main program at AWS re:Invent 2024 starts tomorrow, when AWS CEO Matt Garman will take to the stage for his keynote.

There will no doubt be lots of news and updates - and we already know the identity of one special guest - his predecessor, and current Amazon President and CEO Andy Jassy.

• Security researchers from Trustwave discover new phishing kit capable of stealing Microsoft 365 accounts
• Rockstar 2FA can relay MFA codes and obtain session cookies
• The service is being offered on the dark web for just $200

There is a worrying new phishing kit that enables cybercriminals to go after people’s Microsoft 365 accounts, even those protected by multi-factor authentication (MFA). It is called “Rockstar 2FA”, and it goes for $200 on the dark web.

Cybersecurity researchers from Trustwave recently discovered, and analyzed the new kit, noting how since August 2024, it has been aggressively promoted on Telegram and among other cybercriminal communities.

The kit’s developers claim it supports Microsoft 365, Hotmail, GoDaddy, SSO, and offers randomized source code and links to evade detection. Furthermore, it uses Cloudflare Turnstile Captcha to screen the victims and make sure it’s not sandboxed or analyzed by bots.

Bypassing MFA and stealing cookies

Phishing, as a method of attack, hasn’t changed much over the years. Crooks send out emails with fake documents, or fabricate urgent warnings the users need to address immediately, or face the consequences. As a result of hasty actions, the victims end up infecting their devices with malware, losing sensitive data, granting valuable access to cybercriminals, and more.

To counter this method, most businesses these days deploy multi-factor authentication , a second layer of authentication that prevents unauthorized access, even when the crooks steal the login credentials. Criminals, on the other hand, responded by creating adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) methodology, something Rockstar 2FA integrated, as well.

By using the phishing kit, the attackers can create fake Microsoft 365 login pages. When the victim enters their credentials there, they are automatically relayed to the legitimate login page, which then returns the request for MFA. The phishing page returns that request back to the victim, ultimately leading to the account being compromised.

Finally, Rockstar 2FA will grab the authentication cookie being sent from the service to the user, allowing the attackers to remain logged in.

Since May 2024, which seems to be the kit’s date of origin, it set up more than 5,000 phishing domains, the researchers concluded.

Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

• This dangerous new phishing kit is hitting victims across Europe
• Here's a list of the best firewalls today
• These are the best endpoint protection tools right now

People in Pakistan may still be able to use VPN services without restrictions as the country's telecom body has decided not to ban VPN usage after all. This came as Pakistan's Law Ministry said the government cannot legally block VPNs.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) originally set the deadline for November 30 to begin implementing a new policy regulating VPN usage. According to the new rules, businesses and freelancers could only use a registered service for legitimate purposes such as banking, foreign missions, corporate enterprises, universities, IT companies, and call centers.

On Saturday, November 30, however, the PTA's chief Chairman Major General (retired) Hafeezul Rehman announced the government's decision to extend the registration deadline. A day later, the PTA withdrew the VPN ban completely "over lack of legal grounds" – the Pakistani English-language newspaper Dawn reported.

What's behind the Pakistan VPN debate?

Pakistanis have been increasingly turning to the best VPN apps throughout 2024 as a means to bypass ever-growing government-imposed restrictions.

WhatsApp is the latest social media platform blocked in the country this year. The block was implemented only two days after authorities restricted Bluesky amid a surge in popularity worldwide. X ( formerly Twitter) has been inaccessible without a VPN since February. Meta's Facebook and Instagram were also restricted in July 2024 and May 2023, respectively, according to Surfshark's Internet Tracker.

While such circumventing software becomes a crucial resource for both residents and visitors, authorities reportedly targeted VPN usage during the year, too. Residents have faced temporary connectivity issues since February (exactly when X was first restricted).

In August, the government first shared the plans to regulate the use of VPNs as a way to curb VPN misuse. Authorities would later deem unregistered VPNs a "security risk" for Pakistan as they can be used to access "sensitive data."

Proton VPN has been recording spike in VPN sign-ups from Pakistan since the beginning of the year, with the most recent increase reaching +2860% over baseline on November 26, 2024. (Image credit: Proton)

The PTA has been urging businesses and freelance workers to register their VPN service with the telecom body to avoid any disruptions. Yet, the lack of guidelines for non-commercial VPN users opened up the debate on whether or not the government could actually legally ban VPNs in the country.

Now, it looks like they found the answer – a Pakistan VPN ban goes against the law, according to the country's Law Ministry.

"There was an interpretation issue with the clauses in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, and eventually, it has been noted that the reading of the Interior Ministry in this regard was weak, and the courts would allow the functioning of the VPNs," a source within the Interior Ministry told the Dawn.

Do you know?

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

A virtual private network (VPN) is security software that encrypts your internet connections to prevent snooping. It also spoofs your real IP address location to boost anonymity and grant access to otherwise geo-restricted content.

As per section 34 of PECA, the government can block content but not tools (like VPNs, in this instance).

The news is likely to come as a relief for the thousands of Pakistanis relying on VPN services to keep accessing the free web and protect their privacy online. Yet, issues for VPN users across the country may not end here.

Prominent individuals close to the government have often criticized VPN usage. On November 15, for example, Pakistan's religious chief argued that using a VPN is against Islamic law and called for a ban. The Ministry of Interior also called to block all "illegal" VPNs on the same day, claiming that terrorists use these tools "to facilitate violent activities and financial transactions in Pakistan."

In a briefing to a Senate committee, the PTA Chairman also reiterated that "individuals should not access unauthorized social media apps or websites through VPNs," the Dawn reported.

Besides a growing anti-VPN sentiment, Pakistan has reportedly implemented a China-like internet firewall that "has the ability to block VPNs" – a Ministry of Defence official, familiar with the new deployments, told Al Jazeera.

Whether or not VPN censorship will increase it's still difficult to say for certain, but we can expect the Pakistan VPN debate to keep evolving over the next weeks.

Light spoilers follow for Creature Commandos.

It's been eight years since DC Comics' mainline universe was rebooted for the fifth time. Back then, the comic giant's latest relaunch, titled 'DC Rebirth', was viewed as an apology to fans for the creative missteps that DC made with its unpopular 'New 52' literary line-up.

Now, DC's cinematic franchise has similarly undergone a hard reset. By the time it ended in late 2023, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), Warner Bros' first attempt at replicating the wildly successful Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with iconic DC superheroes, had run out of track. Indeed, whether it was the tonal whiplash from movie to movie, bad characterization, studio interference, controversies surrounding certain DCEU actors, or a combination of two or more of these issues, it was a dead franchise walking. 'DC Rebirth', then, would be an equally apt title for James Gunn and Peter Safran's rebooted DC Cinematic Universe (DCU) if it hadn't been used before.

Rather than usher in this new era with a tentpole movie starring a legendary hero like Superman or Batman, though, Gunn and Safran's franchise reset is curiously led by Creature Commandos, an adult animated series that shines the spotlight on numerous B-tier supervillains and anti-heroes. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my time with this freakishly fun first foray into DC Studios' reanimated shared universe, even if it's a show not without its abnormalities.

Monster mash

Rick Flag Sr (center) leads the titular group of monstrous misfits in this tragicomedy series (Image credit: Max/DC Studios)

Set after the events of DCEU projects The Suicide Squad and season 1 of Peacemaker – I'll discuss the confusing crossover between both cinematic universes later – Creature Commandos opens on Rick Flag Sr (Frank Grillo), a decorated military officer visiting Belle Reve, a prison facility that houses supervillains and anti-heroes. There, Flag meets ARGUS commander Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), who tasks him with leading the titular group of ragtag monsters, also known as Task Force M, on a death-defying mission.

The assignment? Protect Princess Ilana (Maria Bakalova), the de facto leader of fictional Eastern European nation Pokolistan, from a supremely powerful sorceress known as Circe (Anya Chalotra). The reason? The US government is trying to strike a deal with Pokolistan for their – surprise surprise – untapped oil reserves.

The tonal chasm between Creature Commandos and the Guardians movies couldn't be starker

By its very nature, Creature Commandos sounds a lot like Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy movie trilogy. Gunn wrote and directed those MCU films, and penned all seven scripts for this series, so comparisons between the two, especially from a social outcast ensemble perspective, are inevitable.

Creature Commandos has its fair share of thrilling action sequences (Image credit: Max/DC Studios)

But the tonal chasm between the pair couldn't be starker. Sure, Gunn's trademark humor and penchant for telling heart-wrenching, character-driven stories permeate Creature Commandos' overarching plot. But, as Sean Gunn, James' brother and frequent collaborator who voices the anthropomorphic Weasel and Nazi-hunting G.I. Robot, told me, the DCU's first TV show feels "very different" to the Guardians movies.

He isn't wrong. Unlike Gunn's live-action Guardians films, Creature Commandos is unashamedly gruesome in a way that only animated projects can be. Whether it's heads gratuitously exploding in a hail of gunfire, Doctor Phosphorus' (Alan Tudyk) thermokinetic powers melting his foes in graphic detail, or limbs being ripped from people's bodies, the anime-flavored series isn't afraid to dial up the hyperviolence. In that sense, its brutal action sequences, of which there were enough to satisfy me and juxtapose the show's melodrama, are more comparable to The Suicide Squad than Guardians of the Galaxy.

Are we human, or are we monsters?

The Bride's origins story is one of the more heart-wrenching flashbacks in Creature Commandos (Image credit: Max/DC Studios)

Creature Commandos doesn't solely rely on its ultraviolent tendencies to illicit an emotional response. Gunn's writing is as admired for its gut punches as much as its darkly comedic sensibilities, so I fully expected it to be a tear-jerking watch.

Nevertheless, I was surprised by the number of emotionally devastating moments that populate it. In addition to following Creature Commandos' central plot, individual chapters, from episode 2 onwards, flesh out a specific monster's story – via a series of flashbacks – that provide important insights into each creature's trauma-laced past and do a largely good job of humanizing Task Force M's superpowered individuals. Some of these trips down memory lane, such as Nina Mazursky (Zoe Chao) and Weasel's, are absolutely soul-crushing to bear witness to. Others, though, are either disappointing in their storytelling execution – the end of Eric Frankenstein's (David Harbour) is particularly vexing – or, like Doctor Phosphorus' origin story, narratively thin and hurried.

I was surprised by the number of emotionally devastating moments that populate Creature Commandos

Doctor Phosphorus' retrospective is among the examples whereby this DCU Chapter One project's genre harmony is at its weakest. At its core, Creature Commandos is a tragicomedy, so a delicate balance needs to be struck between moments of levity and those of a distressing nature. However, it's a blend that Creature Commandos doesn't always get right, with the emotional impact of some of its most agonizing scenes lessened by the immediate delivery of a witty one-liner or an ill-timed mood change.

Creature Commandos' darker moments don't always gel well with its light-hearted ones (Image credit: Max/DC Studios)

That's not to say that every tonal shift is jarring. Some, which had me laughing one minute and figuratively ripped out my heart the next, work really well. Even so, there's more than one instance where Creature Commandos' handbrake turns between its comedic and tragic leanings are discombobulating.

It's a problem hampered further by Creature Commandos' plot pacing. Episodes clock in between 21 and 28 minutes, which are ordinarily suitable for animated productions. That said, Creature Commandos' episodic runtimes make it feel sluggish and rushed at various point, while its primary story has the air of being constricted as it battles the Max show's flashback sequences for screen time. A case in point is how quickly Flag Sr and Ilana's arc evolves from strangers to salacious seduction – a scenario that plays out in the premiere's first 15 minutes and feels narratively unearned.

Creature Commandos' episodic runtimes make it feel sluggish and rushed at various point

And what of the elephant in the room I alluded to earlier, i.e. that some plot points from some DCEU projects are quizzically carried over into Gunn and Safran's new look DCU? The short answer, according to Gunn, is any DCEU event referenced in Creature Commandos, such as Waller's throwaway comment on The Suicide Squad's Project Starfish assignment, and other DCU projects is considered canon in DC's rebooted cinematic franchise. Still, I maintain the belief that such references will bewilder anyone who hasn't watched the aforementioned duo, especially if some viewers seek more information on them and then wonder why Peacemaker and The Suicide Squad exist in a completely different franchise.

Friend or foe

The bond that Princess Ilana and Rick Flag Sr strike up is more than risqué to say the least (Image credit: Max/DC Studios)

Like most Gunn-developed projects, Creature Commandos is at its strongest when it focuses on its eclectic cast of characters and the awkward-yet-amusing interactions between them. Indeed, forced to co-operate by Waller and Flag Sr, the titular group's bickering, physical squabbles, and regular misunderstandings make for entertaining viewing.

Of the show's numerous dynamics, The Bride and Nina's is the most developed

There are moments of genuine warmth between some of Task Force M's oddball personalities, though, as certain relationships evolve. Of the show's numerous dynamics, The Bride (Indira Varma) and Nina's is the most developed. There's a real satisfaction to the progression of this complex female bond, with the pair's distinct personas, worldviews, and experiences dovetailing to pleasing effect and allowing a genuine friendship to form.

Eric Frankenstein and Rick Flag Sr are one of Creature Commandos' best pairings (Image credit: Max)

The odd-couple partnership between Frankenstein and Flag Sr, which develops in Creature Commandos' latter half, is similarly effective. Although not as endearing as The Bride and Nina's dynamic, their bromance might be the funniest fellowship in the entire show. Much of its success is down to Harbour's impetuous but incredibly dangerous man-child, who fulfils the role of a secondary antagonist as he pursues The Bride in a screwball comedy manner throughout the series. Energized by the Stranger Things star's comedic timing and expert line delivery, Frankenstein's tragic hilarity made me laugh out loud more than once. In my mind, he's easily Creature Commandos' most valuable asset and elevates the entire show.

I would've liked to have seen more of G.I. Robot and Nina's friendship (Image credit: Max/DC Studios)

If I had one criticism of Creature Commandos' character-driven element, I wish it explored other dynamics in the same manner as the aforementioned ones. Some can't be examined more thoroughly due to how its story unfolds but others, such as The Bride and Doctor Phosphorus' fractious bond, are only studied in a limited capacity.

Could this, and other issues I had with Creature Commandos, be rectified in a second season? Perhaps but, at the time of writing, there's nothing to report on another outing for the majority of its kooky-yet-lethal cast. Even if another installment isn't greenlit, there'll be ample opportunity to see some characters in other DCU projects, such as Grillo's Flag Sr, who's already confirmed to appear in Gunn's Superman movie and Peacemaker season 2, which arrive next July and August.

My verdict

Despite my nit-pickings, Creature Commandos is a show I had fun with. Indeed, it's a highly satisfying entry point to the DCU that not only sets the stage for DC Studios' forthcoming projects, but puts the onus on its lineup of new movies and shows to tell just as solid, if not better, stories about the comic titan's most popular and underrated characters.

Could Creature Commandos have been better? Certainly, but it still does a good job of telling a compelling story and establishing version 2.0 of DC's cinematic universe. Maybe I've significantly lowered my expectations after the DCEU's wildly inconsistent nature of its forebear, but Creature Commandos is a monstrously solid start to the DCU. For the time being, that's worth accepting.

Creature Commandos debuts on Max with a two-episode premiere on Thursday, December 5, after which new episodes air weekly. UK and Australian release dates are TBC.

• Meta is believed to be working on its own subsea cable plans worth $10bn+
• They would link the US with South Africa, India and Australia
• The company’s services account for 10% of fixed and 22% of mobile traffic

Meta is reportedly planning to build its own global network of subsea cables spanning more than 40,000km, a plan which could cost the company in excess of $10 billion.

Access to all of its services, including popular social networking sites Facebook and Instagram and messaging platform WhatsApp, accounts for 10% of all fixed traffic. This extends to 22% of all mobile traffic, making its servers some of the most widely accessed globally.

New TechCrunch reporting has revealed Meta is now looking to invest in its own fibre optic cable, which would belong solely and entirely to Zuckerberg’s empire.

Meta subsea cable network

Unnamed sources familiar with the matter have confirmed Meta’s plans, adding that the project is in its infancy. Plans and budgets have not been confirmed, however subsea cable expert Sunil Tagare expects the company to spend in excess of $10 billion over the course of several years.

Meta is expected to share early information in 2025, including the cable’s intended route.

However, Meta’s plans could be delayed or the company could see costs rise if submarine cable industry analyst Ranulf Scarborough’s observations are true – that the ships responsible for laying cables are booked up years in advance due to hot demand.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the cable could extend from America’s east coast – Myrtle Beach and Virginia Beach – down to Cape Town and Durban in South Africa, then back up to Mumbai and Chennai in India.

From there, it could drop back south to Darwin, Australia, before returning to the US’ west coast – Grover Beach and Eureka. Because of its shape when drawn out on a map, it’s being dubbed the ‘W’ cable.

Besides being able to give its own services priority on its cables, Meta is also likely to sell its plans on the basis that it could support underserved regions financially, much like Google has done with recent subsea cable projects.

Others have suggested that connecting its cable to India’s mainland would allow Meta to expand its AI data center infrastructure in the country, where resources and time can be cheaper than in other regions.

TechRadar Pro asked Meta for a comment, but the company did not immediately respond.

You might also like

• Make the most of your connection with the best Wi-Fi routers and best mesh systems
• Google is spending billions on new data centers and subsea cables to connect them
• We’ve listed the best cloud hosting providers

• A new DJI Flip drone could be imminent, according to new leaks
• Leaked video suggests the Flip will be a tiny, foldable drone
• It could be another affordable rival for the HoverAir X1

If you thought a complete lack of competition plus the looming threat of US ban might slow down DJI's drone-making powers, you needn't have worried. A leak has just revealed that a tiny new DJI Flip is coming – and it could potentially be a DJI Mini series successor.

The reliable DJI leaker @JasperEllens revealed a DJI Flip video on X (formerly Twitter) that shows how the foldable drone packs down into an incredibly compact, perhaps even pocketable, form. The design is reminiscent of the HoverAir X1, which is effectively a flying point-and-shoot camera.

We don't know how the DJI Flip's camera setup might compare to the X1, but a recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filing in the US (picked up by @Quadro_News) has given us a few more hints.

Breaking: Thanks to my friend YueYue this is the worlds first view of the #DJIFLIP. The Flip will be the next gen #foldable DJI drone (video). If you were waiting on a Mini 5. This is it. It will have O4 and probably LiDAR. Prop guards are like FPV carbon fiber. Cheers! Jasper pic.twitter.com/uhumLWXLupDecember 1, 2024

That filing suggests the Flip will have a 3,110mAh battery (that's bigger than the DJI Mini 4 Pro's 2,590mAh cell), while separate rumors suggest the drone will have the Lidar-powered obstacle avoidance sensors plus the latest OcuSync 4 (O4) transmission to make it compatible with DJI's RC 2 and RC-N2 controllers.

Overall, this makes the DJI Flip a curious little drone, and it isn't clear yet where it might sit between the new DJI Neo and existing DJI Mini series. As always with DJI, expect new leaks to reveal more soon...

Analysis: Who might the Flip be for?

The DJI Neo (left) and DJI Mini 4 Pro (right) are already compelling compact drone options for different reasons, so the Flip would have strong competition just within the DJI stable. (Image credit: DJI)

As the happy owner of a DJI Mini 3 Pro, I don't quite know what to make of these DJI Flip leaks.

The recent DJI Neo is predominantly an FPV (first-person view) drone, so that new model with its fresh design made sense. But the DJI Mini series, which the Flip appears to compete with, is already tiny and fits into the sub-250g weight class that gives pilots more flying freedom in some regions.

This means it's quite difficult to see how the DJI Mini series and DJI Flip could co-exist – unless the Flip is a more beginner-friendly, DJI Spark-style model that sits beneath the likes of the DJI Mini 4 Pro.

That scenario could make sense, as DJI has been keen to corner the market for drones that are built for social content creators. Like the Neo, the Flip appears to have the propellor guards needed for indoor flight or hovering around people, so it could act like an aerial selfie stick with accurate, Lidar-powered obstacle avoidance to keep it out of trouble.

That said, the leaked DJI Flip image shows that it has a gimbal-stabilized camera, so it's no toy like the Ryze Tello either. For now, my money is on the Flip being a successor to the standard DJI Mini 3 (which it still sells), leaving the Mini 4 Pro as a higher-end travel option. But I'm certainly looking forward to see more of those inevitable leaks to help fill in the gaps.

You might also like

• Who needs wall sockets? DJI's powerful new expansion battery lands to give you an 11kWh setup for charging drones and more
• Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs GoPro Hero 13 Black vs DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: the best of the best action cameras fight it out
• DJI rumors predict another 5 big launches soon – here's what's coming

• Interpol announces Operation HAECHI V, which lasted five months
• The operation resulted in the arrest of dozens of people, and seizure of millions of dollars
• 40 countries and regions around the world participated

Over the past five months, Interpol and its national partners have arrested more than 5,500 individuals and seized over $400 million stolen through various cybercrime campaigns and fraud schemes.

In an official announcement, Interpol outlined how Operation HAECHI V, launched in July 2023, targeted seven types of cyber-fraud: voice phishing, romance scams, online sextortion, investment fraud, illegal online gambling, business email compromise, and ecommerce fraud.

Interpol did not list any names, but it did say that it helped Korean and Chinese authorities dismantle a voice phishing organization that cost more than 1,900 people around $1.1 billion. The operation resulted in the arrest of at least 27 group members, and the indictment of 19 of them.

Stopping payments

Interpol added it had also dismantled a crypto scam, in which victims were first coaxed into buying a “stablecoin” called Tether (USDT) from a legitimate service provider. A stablecoin’s value is tied to that of a fiat currency, such as the US dollar, and its value is always the same as its fiat counterpart. Then, the victims were enticed into “investing” that stablecoin, which is where the crooks would steal the funds.

Finally, it used its Global Rapid Intervention of Payments (I-GRIP) stop-payment mechanism to save a business from wiring $42.3 million to the fraudsters. The victim had already transferred the money, but Interpol managed to intercept the majority of the funds, and recover the rest later during investigation.

“The effects of cyber-enabled crime can be devastating - people losing their life savings, businesses crippled, and trust in digital and financial systems undermined,” commented Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza.

“The borderless nature of cybercrime means international police cooperation is essential, and the success of this operation supported by INTERPOL shows what results can be achieved when countries work together. It’s only through united efforts that we can make the real and digital worlds safer.”

Law enforcement firms in roughly 40 countries and regions participated in HAECHI V.

You might also like

• Consolidating your incident response plan against cyber attacks
• Here's a list of the best firewalls today
• These are the best endpoint protection tools right now

• Researchers found 15 predatory loan apps on the Play Store
• These apps promise cheap and quick loans, and then extort money and harass their victims
• The apps have since been removed

Another set of malicious Android applications from the SpyLoan malware family were discovered, and subsequently removed, from the Google Play Store.

Unfortunately, by the time the 15 apps were identified and ousted, they amassed millions of installations around the world.

SpyLoan apps are also called “predatory loan apps.” They trick the victims into losing money in a somewhat different fashion. Once installed, they will still ask permission to gain access to things like contacts lists, SMS, camera, call logs, and the device’s location.

Targeting South America and Asia

The apps are advertised as personal finance software, promising users quick and flexible loans with low rates and minimal requirements.

These rates and requirements are fraudulent, and if the user accepts the service, they will end up paying high-interest rates. If they appeal, they will be harassed, blackmailed, and will even have their family members dragged into it, as well.

McAfee’s researchers found the 15 apps cumulatively had eight million downloads between them. The top four had a million installations each. The full list of malicious apps can be found on McAfee’s blog here.

The apps primarily targeted people in South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. The top four apps, with four million downloads between them, were designed for users in Mexico, Colombia, and Senegal. Once the user installs the app, it will send a one-time passcode which it uses to identify the victim’s location, and thus decide whether to proceed or not.

The scariest part about this campaign is that the apps were found on Google’s official repository, the Play Store. Google is usually quite stringent when it comes to mobile apps, and quick to remove any offenders. As such, it has built a reputation of a trusted repository. These SpyLoan apps are another proof that consumers should not blindly trust anyone, not even Google, and should always verify.

To make sure an app is legitimate, make sure to check its rating, the number of downloads, and the reviews. Also, make sure the reviews aren’t randomly generated by bots. Ultimately, read a few lowest-rated reviews, to see what other users were most dissatisfied with.

Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

• These malicious Android loan apps could leave millions of users seriously out of pocket
• Here's a list of the best firewalls today
• These are the best endpoint protection tools right now

Imagine a hidden marketplace where sensitive information, proprietary data, and corporate vulnerabilities are bartered, sold, and exploited—all in complete anonymity. This is the dark web, a concealed layer of the internet where illegal activity takes place under our noses.

Recent high-profile data breaches show just how urgent this threat has become. In May 2024, over half a billion Ticketmaster customers had their personal information leaked on a dark web forum. Just a month earlier, AT&T faced a similar blow when data from 73 million customers, including social security numbers and passcodes, appeared in dark web listings. Even LinkedIn couldn’t escape; in 2021, data from 700 million users—over 90% of its user base—was posted for sale.

While it occupies only a sliver of the internet, the dark web has become a growing threat to businesses everywhere. From stolen credentials to trade secrets, corporate data circulates in these encrypted spaces, out of reach and often out of sight, creating potential crises for any company that handles valuable information.

To protect against these threats, companies need to stay informed and prepared.

Pulling back the veil on the dark web

The dark web is a hidden layer of the internet that most people never see. Unlike the websites we visit every day, it requires specialized tools like the Tor browser for access, and it operates under unique .onion domains that aren’t seen or indexed by search engines. Originally created by the U.S. Department of Defense for secure communications, the dark web has grown into a largely unregulated space where anonymity reigns.

Although it makes up a tiny fraction of the internet—less than 0.01%—the dark web has become notorious for illegal activities. Under its cloak of encryption and multi-layered routing, users can find marketplaces for drugs, stolen data, counterfeit documents, and even weapons. While some people use the dark web for legitimate reasons, such as protecting privacy or bypassing censorship, this hidden network is rife with risks. Users face exposure to scams, malware, and potential legal trouble if they wander into illegal territory.

Government agencies actively monitor the dark web to counter these threats, but it remains a place where law and order have limited reach. For most, the dark web is best left alone—a reminder of the internet’s power to enable both secrecy and risk.

So, what can businesses do to protect themselves in this high-stakes environment?

Protecting against the dark web

Organizations need to assume their attack surface is bigger than they previously thought. What we used to simply call an “attack surface” has very quickly become an “extended attack surface” due to the growing complexity of IT environments.

Given this, the first step is to accept that some of the organization's data (like leaked credentials to access details available for sale) is already circulating on the dark web—because it is. Then, take action:

Scan for leaked credentials: Regularly monitor for any exposed username and password combinations associated with the organization. This includes tracking hashed credentials that attackers could decrypt. By catching these vulnerabilities early, you can secure accounts before they’re exploited.

Search for accounts and access for sale: Dark web marketplaces often list user accounts and privileged access for sale. Actively scanning these spaces lets you identify compromised accounts linked to the organization, allowing you to promptly disable or re-secure them and prevent unauthorized access.

Monitor for IP-based leaks: Sensitive data leaks are sometimes associated with specific IP addresses tied to the company. Proactively searching for IP-based information on the dark web gives you visibility into potential network vulnerabilities, allowing you to shut down access points before attackers can exploit them.

Identify data from past breaches: Ransomware and data breaches often lead to sensitive information being leaked online. This could include internal documents, customer data, or other proprietary information. Recognizing which data has been exposed helps you understand where the organization is most vulnerable.

Now map them back to the attack surface graph for added context and to prioritize remediation efforts. Here, context is everything—it shows you not just where the data has ended up, but also where the security efforts need to focus next. By overlaying these risks onto the existing attack surface, you gain a clearer, strategic view of how the exposure on the dark web intersects with the organization’s vulnerabilities, guiding the team to address the most critical gaps first.

Securing the business from dark web threats requires not just the right technology but a proactive approach rooted in vigilance, strategy, and readiness. Acknowledging that even a seemingly small leak can have devastating consequences is essential. By educating teams and embedding this awareness into your security strategy, you strengthen your defenses and ensure everyone is prepared to respond swiftly and effectively.

We've featured the best encryption software.

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

Gen AI is transforming much more than technology—it’s set to reshape entire industries. Case in point: a recent McKinsey study projects that it could add up to $4.4 trillion to the global economy every year.

Gen AI isn’t just another tool; it’s a powerful driver of growth, capable of streamlining operations, sparking innovation, and unlocking entirely new business models

But here’s the kicker: while the potential is enormous, many companies are struggling with where to even start. With an overwhelming number of Gen AI tools and technologies flooding the market, figuring out which ones to adopt—and how to actually see meaningful results—has become a major challenge.

For businesses that want to get ahead, the key isn’t just jumping on the Gen AI bandwagon, but knowing exactly which applications will drive real, measurable impact.

How to unlock value

Rather than trying to implement AI everywhere, businesses should invest in areas where Gen AI can deliver real, measurable impact. Here’s how companies are driving meaningful results by applying Gen AI in three key areas:

Automating for efficiency: Gen AI can take on repetitive tasks that drain time and energy from teams—like content creation, data entry, and reporting—allowing employees to focus on higher-value work. This shift doesn’t just save time; it improves productivity and reduces costs. To see its impact, track metrics like time saved, productivity gains, and cost reductions.

Making data-driven decisions easier: Gen AI processes large datasets at remarkable speeds, uncovering insights that fuel smarter, proactive decisions. Through predictive analytics and trend forecasting, Gen AI helps companies anticipate shifts and respond effectively. When measuring success, consider faster decision cycles, greater accuracy, and how these insights drive positive outcomes.

Fueling innovation and speeding up product development: With Gen AI, companies can speed up every stage of product development, from ideation to prototyping. This acceleration enables businesses to get new products to market faster and gives them a competitive edge. Metrics to monitor include shorter development timelines, increased product launches, and revenue growth tied to new AI-driven offerings.

Where to Invest

For Gen AI to act as a true growth engine, CIOs should allocate budgets toward technologies that bring out its full potential: AI-Driven Personalization: Tailored customer experiences are essential for fostering loyalty and engagement. By leveraging AI to personalize interactions—whether through product recommendations, targeted content, or one-on-one communications—companies can make each customer touchpoint more relevant and impactful, strengthening long-term relationships.

Advanced data analytics: Real-time data platforms empower teams to make swift, informed decisions and proactively respond to customer needs. Investing in advanced analytics not only keeps businesses agile in a dynamic market but also sharpens their competitive edge. With real-time insights, teams can pivot quickly to meet shifting demands.

AI governance and risk management: To ensure sustainable growth, it’s critical to build frameworks for responsible AI usage. Establishing clear guidelines around transparency, accountability, and ethical practices helps to mitigate potential risks and build trust with customers and stakeholders. By prioritizing governance, businesses lay the groundwork for reliable, secure, and trustworthy AI-driven innovation.

How to measure impact

For Gen AI initiatives to demonstrate real value, organizations need a clear framework to track their impact over time. Defining and measuring success not only justifies investments but also aligns teams on goals and benchmarks that matter. Here’s a look at some key metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of Gen AI:

Time and cost savings from automation: Start by tracking how much time and cost are saved by automating repetitive processes. For instance, calculate the hours saved in areas like data entry, content creation, or customer service, and quantify these reductions as cost savings. Monitoring these efficiencies over time highlights the tangible ROI of automation and provides a strong case for continued AI investment.

Increase in employee productivity and satisfaction: With AI taking on time-consuming tasks, employees can focus on more meaningful, high-impact work. Measure productivity gains by looking at metrics like tasks completed per hour or customer requests handled daily. To understand the broader impact, conduct employee satisfaction surveys to gauge how AI-enabled tools are affecting morale and job satisfaction, as a positive shift here translates to higher retention and better overall performance.

Revenue growth attributed to AI-driven innovations: Track revenue generated directly from new products, services, or customer segments enabled by Gen AI. By isolating the revenue streams that are AI-driven, companies can better understand how much their Gen AI investments contribute to top-line growth. For example, a retailer that introduces personalized recommendations powered by Gen AI could measure the lift in average order value or repeat purchase rates to attribute revenue gains to these innovations.

Improvement in customer satisfaction and retention rates: AI-powered personalization, faster response times, and enhanced product experiences all contribute to customer satisfaction. Using metrics like Net Promoter Score (NPS), customer retention rates, and satisfaction survey scores, companies can gauge the customer-facing impact of their Gen AI initiatives. Higher customer satisfaction not only leads to retention but also boosts brand loyalty and positive referrals

Watch for the pitfalls

As businesses embrace Gen AI, it’s important to navigate potential challenges carefully. Here are a few common pitfalls to watch for to ensure AI investments stay aligned with business goals:

Overinvesting in technology without a clear business case: Jumping into AI without a defined strategy can lead to costly investments with minimal return. Avoid this by establishing specific business objectives and measurable goals for each AI initiative. Before committing to new technology, consider whether it aligns with your broader business priorities and how it will drive value in concrete ways.

Neglecting to retrain and upskill employees: AI can enhance team productivity, but only if employees are equipped to work alongside these new tools. Neglecting to upskill staff can result in underutilized technology and frustrated team members. Invest in training programs to familiarize employees with AI tools and workflows, and provide ongoing support to help them leverage AI effectively in their roles. Empowering employees to integrate AI smoothly into their day-to-day work will maximize its impact.

Failing to address ethical concerns and bias in AI systems: As AI becomes a central part of business operations, so too does the need for ethical responsibility. Overlooking ethical considerations and potential biases in AI systems can damage customer trust and lead to unintended consequences. To build a foundation of trust, prioritize transparency, and ensure AI systems are developed with fairness, accountability, and inclusivity in mind. Regularly audit AI models to check for biases and communicate openly with customers about data usage and privacy protections.

Bottom line: Take a practical approach to Gen AI to stay competitive and drive growth. Focus on real applications and track results to turn Gen AI into a core advantage for your business.

We've featured the best AI chatbot for business.

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

• The filmmaker behind Spider-Man's three MCU movies says he's not involved in the superhero's next film
• Jon Watts "doesn't know anything" about the forthcoming Marvel-Sony project
• Star Wars: Skeleton Crew's co-creator says he's "excited to watch it as a fan again"

Spider-Man 4 is officially in development, but the man behind the superhero's three previous Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies says he isn't involved in any capacity.

Jon Watts, who helmed the webslinger's first three solo films in the MCU, confirmed he's had no creative input on the upcoming flick. Speaking exclusively to TechRadar, Watts simply stated he was "excited" to see what Marvel and Sony were cooking up for Spider-Man's next big screen adventure.

With Watts performing press duties to promote Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, the forthcoming Lucasfilm series for Disney Plus that he co-created, I had the opportunity to ask if he would have a hand in its development. However, while Watts didn't outright deny if Marvel and/or Sony had contacted him to ensure there was creative continuity between his films and Spidey's next flick, his short but polite response suggested that neither studio had done so.

"Honestly, this one, I'm excited to not know anything," Watts replied. "I don't know anything. I'm just excited to go [and] watch it as a fan again."

Swinging onto something new

Spider-Man: No Way Home is one of the most profitable movies ever made (Image credit: Sony Pictures/Marvel Entertainment)

Watts' lack of involvement isn't a great surprise. In late October, it was confirmed that Spider-Man 4 would not only swing into theaters in July 2026, but that Shang-Chi director Daniel Destin Cretton had signed on to direct it. Clearly, after helming three of the character's first MCU film trilogy, Watts wanted to move onto other things. Indeed, he was previously attached to The Fantastic Four: First Steps before, well, stepping away from that film and joining frequent collaborator Christopher Ford on Skeleton Crew.

To some, though, Watts' somewhat non-committal reply will suggest he may be involved in some capacity. As I mentioned, he directed Spider-Man's first three solo movies in the MCU, and the final one of those – Spider-Man: No Way Home – is still the highest grossing non-Avengers film in Marvel Studios' history. Per Box Office Mojo, the Tom Holland-starring threequel earned an absolutely massive $1.95 billion globally, thereby making it the seventh most lucrative film of all-time.

Considering the amount of money that No Way Home's predecessors – Spider-Man: Homecoming ($880m) and Spider-Man: Far From Home ($1.13bn) – also made, it wouldn't be a complete shock if Marvel and Sony sought (or will seek) Watts' input. With the writer-director moving onto other projects, though, and the two studios putting their faith in Cretton, plus writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, on this Marvel Phase 6 flick, my reading of the situation us that Spider-Man 4 will act as a clean slate for all concerned.

Spider-Man 4, which Holland says will start shooting in mid-2025, is set to arrive in theaters worldwide on July 24, 2026. Depending on where you live, Holland's other outing as the famous wall-crawler are available on some of the world's best streaming services, including Netflix and Disney Plus.

You might also like

• Check out how to watch the Spider-Man movies in order
• Or find out how to watch the Marvel movies in order
• Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse might be about to get an exciting release update as fans spot a big Miles Morales logo in downtown New York

• ITU and ICPC announce the launch of a new subsea cable protection board
• 40 members from around the world will oversee the international initiative
• The news comes as sabotage threats rise amid geopolitical tensions

Following recently news of two undersea cables being sabotaged in Europe, two telecoms giants have launched an international advisory board to protect subsea cables from future attacks.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) have announced the formation of the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience.

From launch, 40 members will form the committee, including Ministers, Heads of Regulatory Authorities, industry executives, and senior experts.

New board launched to protect subsea cables

The ITU wrote: “The Advisory Body will address ways to improve cable resilience by promoting best practices for governments and industry players to ensure the timely deployment and repair of submarine cables, reduce the risks of damage, and enhance the continuity of communications over the cables.”

“The Advisory Body will mobilize expertise from around the world to ensure this vital digital infrastructure remains resilient in the face of disasters, accidents, and other risks," added ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin.

Subsea cables are believed to carry 99% of the world’s international data exchanges. The ICPC says that 150-200 subsea cable faults occur globally every year – fishing and anchoring mistakes together with natural causes like abrasion are often to blame, however increased geopolitical tensions are adding to the threat of sabotage.

Looking ahead, the Body has committed to meeting at least twice a year to consult with experts on telecommunications, digital resilience infrastructure development, infrastructure investment and international policy. The first meeting, a virtual one, is scheduled for this month.

In February 2025, the Submarine Cable Resilience Summit in Abuja, Nigeria will mark the Board’s first in-person meeting.

Professor Sandra Maximiano, Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Communications Authority of the Republic of Portugal and co-chair for the Advisory Body, added: “This initiative underscores the global community's commitment to strengthening these networks and advancing international cooperation for digital resilience.”

You might also like

• Check out the best cloud hosting providers
• NATO plans to send internet to space if subsea cables are cut
• We’ve listed all of the best broadband deals available this month

• Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is reportedly populated with Easter eggs and other Star Wars references
• Its creators says some aren't as obvious as others, but one in episode 1 "isn't hidden at all"
• However, the pair are confident that Star Wars fans will eventually find them all

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew's creators say there's "no doubt" that Star Wars fans will find every reference to Lucasfilm's sci-fi franchise in the Disney Plus series.

In an exclusive chat with TechRadar, Jon Watts and Christopher Ford admitted Star Wars fanatics won't find every secret right away. However, the duo have full confidence that diehards will eventually unearth every Easter egg hidden in Skeleton Crew.

With Skeleton Crew being set in the post-Return of the Jedi part of the Star Wars timeline, there won't be any nods to events that transpire in the sequel movie trilogy. Nonetheless, with many other shows and films set before and around the eight episode series, there will be more than enough surprises for viewers to discover – and one, which appears in its premiere, won't be so difficult to spot.

"Checking in to see if you've found every Easter egg so far, over?" (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

"[There's one] in the first episode that's not hidden at all," Watts revealed. "As soon as everyone sees it, they'll know [what it refers to]."

"Yeah, that one's just blatant," Ford said with a smile. "I'll just say there are references to Ewok Adventures, but there are also other very subtle ones that might not be obvious at first. So, yeah, look close."

"We've no doubt that fans will find them all," Watts added. "Never doubt the Star Wars fandom!"

These are the secrets you're looking for

"Huddle up, gang, we're going Easter egg hunting!" (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

Possible spoilers follow for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.

Eager though Watts and Ford are for fans to locate every Easter egg on their own, the duo have already jumped the gun and revealed a couple that'll appear in the last of 2024's new Star Wars movies and shows.

Indeed, speaking to Empire magazine in mid-October, Watts and Ford confirmed that the Teek, a species that, like the teddy bear-esque Ewoks, are native to the planet of Endor, will appear in Skeleton Crew. The Teek were seen for the first and last time in two Ewok-starring movie spin-offs Caravan of Courage: Ewok Adventures and The Battle of Endor – films that aren't considered canon in the Star Wars franchise. The Teek's appearance in Skeleton Crew, though, may just change that.

Meanwhile, in a chat with The Holo Files, Watts and Ford also stated that the forthcoming series would include nots to the oft-maligned Star Wars Holiday Special. That bizarre project isn't good enough to book a spot on our best Disney Plus movies and best Disney Plus shows list, but maybe Skeleton Crew will be in order to join the latter.

Having watched Skeleton Crew's first three episodes, I can attest to the number of Star Wars references that are littered throughout. I won't spoil any here, nor do I do so in my Star Wars: Skeleton Crew review, which you can read very soon. So, fear not, you'll be able to find them all on your own if you so wish. While you wait for my Skeleton Crew review to be published, check out more of our other Star Wars articles, plus other exclusive pieces concerning Skeleton Crew, before it debuts on one of the world's best streaming services, below.

You might also like

• Star Wars: Skeleton Crew creators reveal who inspired the creation of Jude Law's Jod, and it's not Han Solo: 'it feels like he's already been in Star Wars'
• Find out how to watch the Star Wars movies in order
• Or get the lowdown on what we know about Andor season 2

Cyber Monday PS5 deals

(Image credit: Future/Sony)

Cyber Monday PS5 deals are taking over where the Black Friday discounts ended, and we're still seeing a bunch of discounts, sales, and offers across everything PlayStation.

What's more the Cyber Monday PS5 deals are genuinely quite good. You can trust me on this as I've been tracking gaming hardware and PlayStation deals, writing about gaming tech, and covering sales periods for years now. That includes covering the PS5 stock shortage of a few years ago and covering all the major sales events every year since 2018.

• See all of today's best deals at Amazon

As a result, I know how to find the best deals, and what they look like on all things PlayStation. I'm also joined by our team of PlayStation experts, who have tested every game and accessory under the sun to weed out which ones are the very greatest value for your money.

One pertinent question to address right away is: will we see 30th Anniversary stock? It looks like we might! Best Buy is having a drop through its app today (December 2), and we have seen some PS5 bundles throwing in the 30th Anniversary DualSense which is good news for sure.

Away from that, be it PS5 Slim bundles, discounts on the best PS5 headsets, controllers, storage solutions, or PS5 and PS5 Pro-enhanced games, I'm here to guide you through the swathes of deals and discounts as we approach the Cyber Monday deals. Let's start with a few of my top picks.

US Cyber Monday PS5 deals - quick links

• PS5 Pro: Walmart still has the best price on the Pro
• PS5 Slim: Save $75 on both Slim models
• PS5 Slim bundles: Get the Fortnite Cobalt bundle for $75 off
• Controllers: Save up to $31 on DualSense pads
• 30th Anniversary: Check controller stock at Best Buy
• Games: Save $20 on Silent Hill 2, Metaphor: Refantazio
• Headsets: Get over $20 off the Pulse Elite headset
• SSD: Our favorite SSD now $100 off
• TVs: Top OLED TV for PS5 at a lowest-ever price
• Monitors: Five-star Samsung OLED G8 for a record-low price

UK Cyber Monday PS5 deals - quick links

• PS5 Pro: Get the Pro for just £659 at EE
• PS5 Slim consoles: Discounted to just £399 at Amazon
• PS5 Slim bundles: Save up to £90 on bundles at Currys
• Controllers: Save over £20 on DualSense pads
• Games: Save on Astro Bot, Stellar Blade, and more
• Headsets: Get my favorite PS5 headset for a record-low price
• SSDs: Get 2TB PS5 SSDs with heatsink from just £115
• TVs: Pick up our top-budget gaming TV for a lowest-ever
• Monitors: 4K PS5 monitors from £199

My top US Cyber Monday PS5 deals

PS5 Pro stock seems to be back at Walmart after a period of instability. As a result, it's the best place to get the console right now, but the below retailers are worth checking should Walmart's stock become wobbly again. coming and going at Walmart as we near Cyber Monday, but it's still available at other retailers. I would recommend heading to Amazon for speedy delivery or checking the other retailers below.

Also in stock at: $699 at Amazon | $699.99 at Best Buy | $699.99 at Target | $699.99 at PlayStation DirectView Deal

If you're after the best-value PS5 Slim console as well as the best-value bundle, then this Fortnite Cobalt Star listing at Walmart is the way to go this Cyber Monday. It gives you a PS5 console with its disc reader attachment plus loads of exclusive Fortnite in-game items.View Deal

If you're happy to go digital then the same price cut is available on the Fortnite PS5 Slim Digital Edition bundle and represents excellent value for money if you haven't jumped into all things PS5 yet. Again, this bundle comes with some Fortnite items.View Deal

Every single DualSense colorway is discounted at Walmart this Cyber Monday. Picking up a spare gamepad is always a good idea, so be sure to take advantage of this offer while it's still around. View Deal

The Sony Bravia 8 4K TV is our pick for the best PS5 OLED TV and will be a brilliant companion for any PS5 or PS5 Pro this holiday season. It scored highly in our review and represents incredible value for money at this price.View Deal

Horizon Forbidden West is probably the best-looking game on a console I've ever seen since testing it for my PS5 Pro review last month. It's one of the best games to get first for Pro owners and a superb one for the Christmas list for any PS5 player. Twenty bucks off is nothing to sniff at either, which is also its lowest-ever price.View Deal

The Nova 5 is my favorite gaming headset of this year and is exceptional value at this Cyber Monday price. Offering supreme comfort, brilliant audio quality, and battery life, as well as excellent flexibility when used in tandem with the Arctis Companion App, this is all the PS5 headset you'll ever need.View Deal

The PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds at their lowest-ever price in the US makes for a much more compelling proposition. They've never offered better value and this brings their price down right into the face of the competition. Go planar for less with this deal.View Deal

This new lowest-ever price for Astro Bot is the easiest PS5 game deal recommendation I can make in 2024 - I've just completed it myself and am so close to the platinum. It's easily one of the top games to play on PS5 and a bargain at this price just a few months after release.View Deal

If you're looking for a quality 4K gaming monitor to team with your PS5 Pro or PS5, then this Acer model is worth considering with over $120 off its list price. It's got a 28-inch panel, so isn't too massive, and channels all that make Acer screens great with loads of ports, a 1ms response time, 144Hz refresh rate and it's also G-Sync compatible for PC gaming too. It's only $20 or so off its lowest-ever price right now.View Deal

This is a brilliant game deal with the Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition now at a new lowest-ever price. This version of the critically acclaimed horror mystery game includes all the DLC and even a free copy of Alan Wake Remastered for the complete experience. Plus, it's PS5 Pro enhanced for good measure.View Deal

My top UK Cyber Monday PS5 deals

It's a Cyber Monday miracle! EE still has PS5 Pro stock and for £40 cheaper than any other retailer. If that wasn't good enough, it comes with free standard 1-3 working day delivery too. You can see other offers on this powerful console below.

Also in stock at: £699 at Amazon | £689.99 at Argos | £699 at Very | £689 at Currys | £699.99 at PlayStation DirectView Deal

For those in the UK looking for the best-value PS5 bundle (or console deal generally, to be honest) then the Fortnite bundle is for you offering a few free Fortnite cosmetics alongside a discounted console. Nice.View Deal

Digital gaming fans in the UK looking for a new PS5 can get the Digital Edition PlayStation 5 console for a massively discounted rate this Cyber Monday too. Yup, it's got the Fortnite bits in it too which makes it slightly better value.View Deal

The DualSense controllers are discounted in the UK too, with prices dropping across the whole color range which is excellent news for those who need another or are building a collection (like me).View Deal

This new lowest-ever price makes the premium Alienware AW3225QF QD-OLED monitor the best value it's ever been. If you're looking for a premium beauty of a screen to go with your PS5 Pro or PS5 then look no further than this. Add code AFF5MON to get another 5% off and get it down to the above price.View Deal

This white variant of the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is 2p cheaper than the black version but, being white, is more in-keeping with the slick PS5 aesthetic. It's a brilliant headset, and this new lowest-ever price makes it a great hit for those looking to go big this month.View Deal

The Pulse Explore earbuds are much better value for money at this price and probably should have launched at this rate to begin with. They offer exceptional audio and are perfect for anyone on PS5 or PlayStation Portal.View Deal

This chunky discount takes the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro wireless gaming headset down a few notches and to a much more tempting (though still premium) proposition at £199. If you've been after a top-end gaming headset for less then this is a fine one to consider.View Deal

While EE doesn't list this as an official discount, it certainly is one with the Portal not receiving a price cut from Sony, and still retailing at its MSRP of £199.99 almost everywhere else. Regardless, this is a solid price on the PS5 remote play device and could make an excellent augmentation to any new PS5 Pro setup.View Deal

This edition of one of 2023's finest bags you all the expansions as well as the base game and only came out recently too! A neat saving of a fiver is very welcome and it's also one of the best Pro-enhanced games you can get right now.View Deal

The DualSense Edge is a superb premium PS5 controller that's usually just a touch too expensive to recommend. This current Cyber Monday sale price is more in line with similar controllers on the market, and thus it's much easier to recommend currently.View Deal

This is a terrific price to bag Assassin's Creed Mirage, with John Lewis offering it for less than 15 quid. It's a new lowest-ever price and is absolutely worth it.View Deal

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is one of the sleeper hits of the year and is an absolute banger if you're into third-person action shooters. Even better if you're a Warhammer 40K fan. Even better at this new lowest-ever price.View Deal

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Cyber Monday PS5 deals, where I'll be picking out all the best discounts across consoles, bundles, accessories, and games for your convenience and consideration.

The sales season has been pretty good for PS5 discounts and deals on the whole and I'm really pleased to say that a lot of the best stuff has continued on to Cyber Monday, with Black Friday firmly in the rearview mirror.

If you've held off committing to a purchase in the hope of a better deal, forgotten something else you'd like to buy, or are in gift-buying or impulse-purchasing territory then keep it right here as I serve up some of the best Cyber Monday PS5 deals going right now.

(Image credit: Future)

The best starting point for our Cyber Monday PS5 deals coverage is with the big price cuts on the PS5 Slim console - they're still running after BlackFriday and they are belters.

These prices are for the console only but represent the lowest-ever prices and thus the best-ever time to jump into this generation of PlayStation gaming. In the US, Walmart's Fortnite bundles are the better value option, by the way, throwing in a bunch of in-game goodies for the same price as the console on its own.

As a PlayStation expert let me tell you that it is so worth it and these are brilliant prices to jump in on.

US - PS5 Slim (Fortnite bundle): was $499.99 now $424 at Walmart

US - PS5 Slim Digital Edition (Fortnite bundle): was $449.99 now $374 at Walmart

UK - PS5 Slim: was £479.99 now £399 at EE

UK - PS5 Digital Edition: was £389.99 now £309 at EE

(Image credit: Future)

However, if you're looking to pick up Sony's latest console at a discount then things are a bit tougher. Especially in the US - but there is one definite retailer to try in the UK.

Our pick for the latter region is EE which is currently running a solid discount of 41 quid off the retail price of the console. However, the shop is also offering an attractive trade-in offer that could see you bag up to £260 for your old console (a trade-in value that's then boosted by a code emailed to you). This would take your cash outlay on a new PS5 Pro down to £399 which is pretty attractive if you were thinking of upgrading and definitely cements this as the best route to maximizing the value of a PS5 Pro in the UK.

Readers in the US are limited to retailers who are selling the console for $699, rather than $699.99 to get the best value price - which is Walmart and Amazon.

US - PS5 Pro: $699 at Walmart or $699 at Amazon

UK - PS5 Pro: was £699.99 now £659.99 at EE

(Image credit: Future/Sony)

I've got one or two deals and discounts to highlight for UK shoppers coming up now.

The first of which is for those who have been hoping for a 30th Anniversary DualSense restock - if that's you then there's a Cyber Monday miracle (kind of) for you.

Despite not selling the 30th Anniversary DualSense pad individually, it looks like the EE store has stock of the controller as it is throwing it in with PS5 bundles - one of which actually makes for a genuine saving.

You'll have to scroll down a bit to find the bundles - on both disc drive and digital consoles) that include the 30th Anniversary DualSense but they are there and the extra steps are worth it for the limited edition gear if that's what you've been trying to get this month along with a PS5.

PS5 Slim disc edition Fortnite bundles: bundles from £459 at EE

PS5 Slim digital edition Fortnite bundles: bundles from £375 at EE

(Image credit: Future)

My second pick for those in the UK this Cyber Monday is the DualSense Edge which is still at a lowest-ever price.

UK fans can now bag the pro controller for its lowest-ever price after it received a chunky price cut of £30. This is a record low so it's never been better value and might be tempting enough for folks to finally commit.

PS5 DualSense Edge controller: was £209.99 now £179.97 at Amazon

(Image credit: Future/Sony/Guerrilla)

Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition on PS5 Pro is quite possibly the best-looking game I have ever played on any console.

It is stunningly good and, as a result, it's one of the first games I recommend to new PS5 Pro owners. It's also great on the original PS5 and I will be pointing out any discounts I see on it between now and, well, ever.

You can currently get it for $39.99 at Best Buy, beating its recent $10 Amazon discount by taking $20 off the retail price. A bargain.

US - Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition: was $59.99 now $39.99 at Best Buy

UK - Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition: was £59.99 now £42.89 at PS Direct

(Image credit: Future)

Another brilliant PS5 game offer this Cyber Monday is for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, one of the best PS5 games you can play right now, and also a game that just received a PS5 Pro enhancement upgrade.

Saving you $40, this offer is the cheapest online deal currently available, and it's half-price in the UK too. Result.

US - Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: was $69.99 now $29.99 at Best Buy

UK - Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: was £59.99 now £29.49 at Argos

(Image credit: Future)

Moving back to PS5 accessories, this next deal may give you cause to skip Sony's fancy DualSense Edge as another PS5 "pro" controller is now 25% off at Amazon in the US, and heavily discounted in the UK too.

While a bit more on the expensive side, even with the price cut, I think it's totally worth it for the standout features alone. This controller is officially licensed for PlayStation gaming, as well as PC, and boasts trigger stops, mappable buttons, Bluetooth audio, and more.

US - NACON Revolution 5 Pro Wireless Gaming Controller: was $199.99 now $149.99 at Amazon

UK - NACON Revolution 5 Pro Wireless Gaming Controller: was $199.99 now £159.99 at Argos

(Image credit: Future)

If you're planning on stocking up on games this Cyber Monday, then you might well need some extra storage. Lucky for you, I've found an excellent deal for a top external hard drive.

The Seagate Game Drive for PS5 offers 5TB of storage and is partiocularly perfect if you're taking a big library of PS4 games with you onto the PS5 or Pro. (You can't play PS5 games from an external drive, just store them on it.)

US - Seagate Game Drive for PS5 5TB External USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive: was $169.99 now $124 at Walmart.

UK - Seagate Game Drive for PS5 5TB External USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive: was £132.93 now £112.59 at Amazon.

(Image credit: Future/SteelSeries)

Turning our attention to headsets, you can currently get one of my favorites of recent years and one of the best headsets I've tested in 2024 for a record-low price in the UK. It's also got a deep price cut running on it in the US too.

It's such a good headset that offers great value even at its full price, so this is stupendous and not to be missed if you're after something brilliant audio-wise this sales season.

UK - SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P: was £129.99 now £94.99 at Amazon

UK - SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P: was £129.99 now £94.99 at Amazon

(Image credit: Future)

If you're looking at investing in more storage for your PS5, then a PS5 SSD deal could be just the ticket for you - and we have exactly that for you right now.

Currently, the WD Black SN850X SSD is on offer at Amazon, negating the expense that some high-end SSDs can demand. The Amazon UK price is super low, but only on the model without a heatsink too so you'll need to source that bit yourself.

US - WD Black SN850X 1TB SSD: was $129.99 now $87.60 at Amazon

UK - WD Black SN850X 1TB SSD (no heatsink): was £157.99 now £69.95 at Amazon

(Image credit: Sony / Future)

Here's a great deal if you're shopping for PS5 games this Cyber Monday!

PS5 exclusive Stellar Blade is massively discounted at Amazon and currently far below its digital price. This is a new lowest-ever price for the popular action game, which has been one of this year's most sought-after releases. It's a sci-fi adventure with stunning graphics and seriously challenging melee combat.

It's PS5 Pro enhanced too and easily one of the best games to experience on the system. You can choose between either a wonderfully smooth 80fps performance mode, or a richly detailed 4K 50fps quality mode - both good options if you want to really see what the PS5 Pro can do.

The game also recently received a major update, adding all-new features like a photo mode. A DLC that adds some cool Nier: Automata crossover content is also available, but is sold separately.

US - Stellar Blade: was $69.99 now $49.97 at Amazon

UK - Stellar Blade: was £69.99 now £44.95 at Amazon

(Image credit: Future)

One of the biggest attractions of the PS5 Pro is that its sizeable 2TB of storage means you'll have no trouble getting a whole library of games at your fingertips.

However, if you're looking for a way to take multiple PS4 games onto PS5 Pro, or just store them with your regular PS5, then an expandable storage like I've found here is well worth considering.

The WD Black P40 1TB external hard drive is a perfect device for doing just that, and it's come crashing down to a second lowest-ever price at Amazon right now! Snap it up and sort your storage woes (hopefully) in one fell swoop!

WD Black P40 1TB: was $139.99 now $99.99 at Amazon

(Image credit: Insomniac Games / Sony)

Treat yourself to 19 inches of Venom with this incredible Marvel's Spider-Man 2 deal. Right now the collector's edition version of the game is discounted by a massive $70 / £70 at PS Direct.

It includes a voucher code for the Digital Deluxe edition of the game, plus all pre-order bonuses. You also get a physical package with a steelbook case for your shelf and a massive 19-inch statue that features Spider-Man and Miles Morales fighting together to defeat Venom.

It almost goes without saying, but this would also make for a fantastic gift, especially for anyone with a PS5 Pro given the game's enhancements for that console.

US - Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Collector's Edition: was $229.99 now $149.99 at PS Direct

UK - Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Collector's Edition: was £219.99 now £149.99 at PS Direct

Best Buy's 30th Anniversary restock today

In case you didn't know, Best Buy is having a PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Edition and DualSense 30th Anniversary Edition restock today for Cyber Monday, potentially letting you get your hands on the highly desirable limited edition gear.

There is a catch though - as it will only be available through Best Buy drops in the Best Buy mobile app. Head to your app store of choice and download it now, sign in then come back here to hit the links below to navigate to the items quickly so that you don't miss out when the time comes...

PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary Bundle: $499.99 at Best Buy (December 3)

30th Anniversary DualSense: $79.99 at Best Buy (December 3)

(Image credit: Future)

One of our favorite deals of this entire Black Friday and Cyber Monday PS5 sales period is the massive savings on PSVR 2 that we're seeing across both sides of the Atlantic.

Furthermore, the PSVR 2 - Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle has dropped to the exact same price at many retailers, including PlayStation Direct! This is the model we'd recommend if you immediately want to pair one of the best PSVR 2 games with your headset at no extra cost.

US - PSVR 2: was $549.99 now $349.99 at PS Direct

US - PSVR 2 Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle: was $599.99 now $349.99 at PS Direct

UK - PSVR 2: was £529.99 now £335 at EE

UK - PSVR 2 Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle: was £569.99 now £349.99 at PS Direct

(Image credit: Future)

As folks finish work in the UK, it's a good time to remind readers on that side of the Atlantic of the excellent DualSense deals currently running at EE - even on some of the most recently released variants.

Among almost the whole range of DualSense controller discounts the retailer has got running, the best are on the new Chroma colorways - where you can save a whopping 26 quid!

PS5 DualSense Chroma Pearl: was £69.99 now £43.99 at EE
PS5 DualSense Chroma Indigo: was £69.99 now £43.99 at EE

(Image credit: Future)

There's a superb US deal on one of my favorite ever wireless gaming headsets which would be perfect for PS5 and PS5 Pro users.

The excellent Astro A50 wireless gaming headset is down to what I believe is its lowest-ever price right now at Best Buy and offers a brilliant way of getting premium gaming audio for less right now. Yes, this model is a little bit older, but quality endures and so this is a super deal.

Just note: you will have to get an HDMI adapter like Astro's own one to make the A50 work well with the PS5 but this huge price cut helps to offset that expense.

Astro A50 wireless gaming headset: was $249.99 now $149.99 at Best Buy

(Image credit: Razer/Future)

This Cyber Monday deal lets you nab a high-quality wired gaming headset that's perfect for PS5 at a new lowest-ever price in the US.

Right now the Razer BlackShark V2 X is $25 off at Amazon taking it down to its cheapest yet at the online retailer. This headset plugs directly into the headphone jack on your DualSense Wireless Controller and boasts a lightweight 240g design with memory foam ear cushions.

It also has Razer's distinctive pilot-like aesthetic, meaning that it's both stylish and practical.

Razer BlackShark V2 X: was $59.99 now $34.99 at Amazon

• Google Cloud offered CISPE at least €114 million in financial incentives
• Despite perfect timing, Google says it’s unrelated to the Microsoft complaint
• Microsoft is accusing Google of fabricating the Open Cloud Coalition

According to a presentation seen by The Register, Google offered millions of euros in incentives to the Cloud Infrastructure Service providers in Europe (CISPE) to continue its antitrust complaint against Microsoft.

The offers reportedly included financial contributions and software credits to encourage the group to take on Google’s hyperscaler rival.

However, although Google hasn’t denied offering such financial rewards to CISPE, it says that they were not linked with an alleged effort to take on Microsoft.

Google denies trying to take on Microsoft through CISPE

The documents revealed that former Google Cloud VP Amit Zavery presented a package of benefits including a €4 million ‘Members Innovation Fun’ and an additional €10 million for trade association activities. The company also reportedly offered €100 million in Google Distributed Cloud software credits over a five-year period.

A CISPE spokesperson told The Register, “I can confirm that the CISPE members were presented with alternative options to accepting the Microsoft deal. I cannot reveal any of the terms.”

CISPE’s complaint revolves around Microsoft’s unfair licensing terms that made it expensive and technically challenging to run Microsoft software on non-Microsoft cloud platforms. A successful outcome would have benefitted Google, and indeed did when Microsoft reached a settlement with CISPE. The trade body is believed to have settled with Microsoft for €10-30 million and access to an enhanced version of Azure.

A Google spokesperson added: “Google Cloud has long supported the principles of fair software licensing. We were having discussions about joining as a member to help CISPE continue to fight against anticompetitive licensing and promote choice, innovation, and the growth of the digital economy in Europe.”

In the months that have followed the investigation, Google has joined the Open Cloud Coalition (OCC) which advocated for fairer practices and terms in the cloud market to encourage interoperability and competition. Microsoft Deputy General Counsel Rima Alaily hit back at the formation of the OCC, accusing Google of engaging in ‘shadow campaigns’ – Alaily said that Google recruited smaller companies as the face of the campaign, but that it is the leader.

You might also like

• Take a look at the best cloud storage
• We’ve rounded up a list of the best cloud computing providers
• Microsoft claims Google is running "shadow campaigns" to discredit its cloud work in Europe

• The Help page for Surface devices has a new banner for Windows 11 upgrades
• Report notes Microsoft’s tweaked ‘hundreds’ of support docs in this way
• Expect this promotional activity to kick into a higher gear still in 2025

Microsoft appears to be on another drive to remind Windows 10 users that their operating system will be out of support next year, and that they should be thinking on what to do about that already.

We’ve seen a few such initiatives of late – since Windows 10 had less than a year left on the clock, back in October – and Windows Latest pointed out a further spurt of activity on this front.

The tech site noticed that on one of Microsoft’s help pages, in this case for troubleshooting the installation of updates for Windows 10 on a Surface device, there’s a new banner at the very top of the page that states: “Support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025.”

That’s followed by a short message advising users: “After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.”

To ‘recommend’ is putting it mildly – if you don’t have security updates to patch up vulnerabilities as they appear, you’re really exposing yourself to some major risks when online.

There’s also a ‘Learn More’ button underneath the banner which links through to Microsoft’s hub for advice about out-of-support operating systems (or platforms soon to join this club, namely Windows 10).

Windows Latest further observes that Microsoft has recently tweaked “hundreds of support documents” that pertain to Windows 10 to add this banner, or similar efforts.

(Image credit: Microsoft) Analysis: Time to take action

The idea is obvious enough, then. As 2025 rolls into view, Microsoft is updating pretty much every help article and support page it has for Windows 10, reminding those still on the older OS that it’s time to think about migrating to Windows 11.

Of course, there are more options available than simply upgrading to Windows 11 – which may not be possible for some folks with older PCs that don’t meet the hardware requirements for Microsoft’s newest operating system – and we cover those in our article about preparing for Windows 10 End of Life.

They include moving to a different operating system entirely – such as a Linux distro (maybe one that resembles Windows somewhat) – or paying for an extra year of support (a choice Microsoft has only introduced for consumers with Windows 10).

As 2025 progresses, we can expect more of these banners to appear across Microsoft’s various web pages, no doubt – and Windows 10 users will doubtless get some pretty big nag screens hitting them, too, especially as October 2025 comes close.

You may also like...

• Cyber Monday laptop deals 2024: don't miss these awesome offers that are now live
• Windows 11’s feature to allow typing with your Xbox controller has vanished in a blow for owners of handheld gaming PCs
• Can’t upgrade your PC to Windows 11? Buy a new one, is Microsoft’s laughable solution

• A leak suggests the next top Snapdragon chipset could be at least 20% more powerful than the current one
• However it could also cost a lot more
• This chipset is likely to be used in the Samsung Galaxy S26

All signs point to the Samsung Galaxy S25 series being tremendously powerful, thanks in large part to these phones likely using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. But while the Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers true laptop-level power, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 could be substantially more powerful again.

Leaker Digital Chat Station (via NotebookCheck) has claimed that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 will be at least 20% more powerful than the current chipset, while still being energy efficient.

And while we don’t yet know for sure which phones will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, based on past form we can be almost certain that the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will, and it’s very likely that the rest of the Samsung Galaxy S26 line will as well, at least in some parts of the world. Beyond those phones, numerous other high-end 2026 Androids are also likely to use it.

An expensive upgrade

However, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 could also come with a downside, as leaker @Jukanlosreve has claimed that its price is set to “increase significantly” relative to the first-gen Snapdragon 8 Elite. And if it does cost more, then that could mean the phones that use it will also cost more.

Qualcomm is expected to significantly raise the unit price of the 8 Elite 2nd Generation AP, just as it did this year.Key points:•Due to various internal and external factors, the price of the 8 Elite 2nd Gen is set to increase significantly.•Notifications have been sent to…December 2, 2024

The first-gen Snapdragon 8 Elite is itself thought to costing phone manufacturers a lot more than the previous-generation chipset, which could lead to the Samsung Galaxy S25 and other upcoming handsets costing more than their predecessors – and if this latest leak is accurate then we could be in for at least two years of price rises in a row.

That would be unfortunate, even if it does allow for enormously powerful devices, but it’s worth remembering that these are extremely early leaks. The first-gen Snapdragon 8 Elite was only announced back in October, and hardly any phones even use that yet, so we’re still probably almost a year away from seeing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2.

As such, we’d take these leaks with a pinch of salt, as even if they reflect Qualcomm’s current plans and goals a lot could change in the next year.

You might also like

• Samsung Galaxy S25 colors all but confirmed by leaked images
• Samsung Galaxy S25 specs: all the key rumored specs for every model
• Samsung Galaxy S25 price: how much is the S25 line likely to cost?