TechRadar News

• Two US healthcare firms confirmed suffering a cyberattack
• More than 300,000 victims have had sensitive data stolen
• Rhysida claimed responsibility for the attack and added the data to its leak site

Ransomware operators Rhysida are claiming responsibility for cyberattacks on two US healthcare organizations.

On its data leak site, they listed Sunflower Medical Group, and Community Care Alliance (CCA). The former is a healthcare provider in the Kansas City metropolitan area offering services such as primary care, urgent care, pediatrics, and more. The latter is a unified human service agency offering more than 50 programs.

Combined, it seems that more than 300,000 people have had their sensitive data compromised as a result of these attacks.

No abuse yet

In a public announcement posted on its website, Sunflower said that the attackers broke into the systems on December 15, but were only spotted and ousted a month later, around January 7.

During that time, they stole people’s names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, medical information, and health insurance information. In a filing with the Maine Attorney General’s Office, Sunflower said 220,968 people were affected.

CCA, on the other hand, was struck in July last year, and claims that the miscreants took people’s names, addresses, dates of birth, driver's license numbers, and SSNs, as well as diagnoses and conditions, lab results, medications, patient ID numbers, health insurance information, provider names, and other data. Its filing with the Maine Attorney General’s Office puts the number of affected people at 114,945.

As for Rhysida, the ransomware operators claim to have 7.6 TB worth of Sunflower’s data, including a 3TB SQL database, The Register reports. Since the data is still listed on the site, it means either that the negotiations are ongoing, or that they’ve broken down.

In any case, Rhysida is yet to leak everything on the dark web, and at press time, there was no indication of abuse in the wild. Both organizations said they tightened up on security following the incident.

Via The Register

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• The Prime Video series Cruel Intentions has been canceled after one season.
• Cruel Intentions is Prime Video's TV remake of the 1999 cult classic movie.
• The series received critical reviews when it was released in November 2024.

The Cruel Intentions TV show has been canceled by Prime Video after one season, and I can't help but think its ending isn't so cruel after all.

Prime Video's TV remake of the 1999 steamy teen drama movie Cruel Intentions premiered in November 2024. Although it became Prime Video's second most-watched show at the time, Cruel Intentions wasn't met with kindness and received a 24% Rotten Tomatoes score from the critics.

While Cruel Intentions isn't one of the best Prime Video shows, it was well-received by the audience, who gave it an impressive 81% on Rotten Tomatoes. But despite this, the show has ended up on Prime Video's scrap heap alongside the hit crime comedy series The Sticky.

In Cruel Intentions, step-siblings Caroline (Sara Catherine Hook) and Lucien Belmont (Zac Burgess) will do anything to stay on top of the social hierarchy at the elite Manchester College. After a hazing scandal, they plot to seduce Annie Grover (Savannah Lee Smith), the daughter of the Vice President of the United States, to maintain their power and reputation.

Prime Video hasn't officially confirmed why Cruel Intentions was axed, but low viewing figures are usually to blame for cancelations, with Variety also revealing that it "failed to make an appearance on the Nielsen Top 10 Streaming charts."

A kind outcome for a cruel TV remake

When the Cruel Intentions trailer was released in October 2024, TechRadar's Tom Power wasn't convinced that it would be any better than its film namesake, writing: "Heck, if Amazon's 2021 TV adaptation of another cult classic 1990s young adult movie in I Know What You Did Last Summer is anything to go by – it was a massive flop, for those wondering – the chances are that Cruel Intentions will, well, suffer a similarly cruel fate."

Adapting an iconic blockbuster into a TV series was always going to be a tricky business and it's often rare to see the remake do as well if not better than its source material. Unfortunately this was the case for Cruel Intentions, so while the show has come to a rather mean end, I think this may have been the kindest outcome for the drama series.

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• The Russo brothers have revealed which 'Secret Wars' comic book series inspired the next two Avengers movies
• Two different comic runs, which were released in the 1980s and 2010s, bear the 'Secret Wars' title
• The films are influenced by both literary works

Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars' cumulative story isn't influenced by one of the latter's comic book namesakes over the other, the Russo brothers have revealed.

Speaking to TechRadar for their new movie The Electric State, which lands on Netflix this Friday (March 14), Joe and Anthony Russo revealed that they'll "draw inspiration" from the 1980s and 2010s comic book series that bear the 'Secret Wars' moniker.

Avengers: Secret Wars is one of two Marvel films that the siblings will direct over the next two years. And, with two different comic runs called 'Secret Wars' – the Jim Shooter-written one, which ran from May 1984 to April 1985, and the Jonathan Hickman-penned version that released between May 2015 and January 2016 – fans have wondered which series will directly impact the fifth and sixth Avengers movies.

Robert Downey Jr returns to the MCU as Doctor Victor von Doom in Avengers 5 and 6 (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

"Well, we always create our own version of the story," Joe Russo replied when I asked if they sought inspiration from one comic run over the other. "So, we use the comics as loose inspiration.

"But, you know, I grew up on the original run. That's something that got me into Marvel comic books. The Hickman run is also fantastic [and they're] very different from each other in a lot of ways, so we'll draw inspiration from both of them."

What can Marvel's Secret Wars comics tell us about the plot of Avengers 6?

What can each of Secret Wars' comic book series tell us about what may happen in its movie namesake? (Image credit: Marvel)

Projects developed by Marvel Studios are secretive at the best of times. However, I suspect the Disney subsidiary is taking things to a whole new level from a confidentiality perspective when it comes to Avengers: Doomsday, which lands in theaters in May 2026, and its sequel film.

Well, if you ignore the most recent leak concerning the next two Avengers movies, anyway. Oh, and depending what you'll read into the Russos' response to my query about which Marvel heroes will appear in Doomsday and Secret Wars.

So, what do Shooter and Hickman's literary works tease about Secret Wars' overarching narrative? (Spoilers follow for both comic book series and, potentially, Avengers: Secret Wars!)

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Shooter's '80s run, whose art was produced by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton, tells the tale of The Beyonder, a cosmic entity who becomes fascinated by the heroes and villains that inhabit the Marvel universe. Determined to find out who is the best superpowered being of them all, he transports them to a distant galaxy to do battle on a world called *ahem* Battleworld.

As for the limited series from Hickman and artist Esad Ribić, it involves the destruction of the Marvel Multiverse due to an Incursion – a cataclysmic event that causes various universes to collide and destroy each other. The fragments of these realities that remain are stitched together to form a new version of Battleworld, which is ruled over by the God Emperor iteration of The Fantastic Four's iconic villain Doctor Victor von Doom.

With Robert Downey Jr set to play the Marvel Cinematic Universe's (MCU) version of Doom, it seems likely that Avengers: Secret Wars will primarily pull from Hickman and Ribic's comic series. That much is made even clearer by the fact that we've been introduced to Incursions in other Marvel films, such as Doctor Strange 2, too, so this won't be a foreign concept to cinemagoers when Doomsday and Secret Wars are released.

That doesn't mean we can discard the '80s era story, though. That comic series saw the introduction of Spider-Man's classic black suit, which paved the way for Venom in the comics. With Spider-Man 4 sandwiched between the next two Avengers films, Doomsday could pick up a loose plot thread from Spider-Man: No Way Home – i.e., a piece of Venom's alien symbiote being left in a bar – we could see it bind to Tom Holland's Peter Parker, who might use said black suit in Secret Wars. Looking further ahead, it may also set the stage for Spider-Man 5, which could explore Parker's dark side, liberation from the symbiote suit, and even lead to the creation of the MCU's Venom.

That's just the tip of the iceberg, but I'll refrain from spoiling anything else about both comic runs and their Marvel Phase 6 movie namesake. Principal photography on Doomsday will reportedly begin in April, so don't be surprised if we start to hear more rumors about its cast and plot in the weeks and months ahead.

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In most time loop films – think Groundhog Day or Palm Springs – when things get quite dark as the characters depression at having to face the same day over and over again becomes too much.

The prospect endlessly repeating the same experiences is a disturbing one – yet something that end user computing (EUC) teams face almost every day. Nearly half (45%) of EUC time is taken up fixing recurring problems, such as employee on-boarding or resetting devices to their proper state.

Moreover, as IT management has become more complex, troubleshooting requires increased amounts of human intervention and decision-making at every step, slowing down the Mean Time to Remediation (MTTR) and creating a frustrating situation for all parties.

Employees have to wait longer to have their problems resolved, EUC teams are stuck doing repetitive, unfulfilling tasks instead of taking on more strategically important projects, and businesses waste substantial amounts of resources merely trying to maintain the status quo.

It's déjà vu all over again

To break the cycle of repetitive tasks, businesses need to be able to optimize and automate as many of these workflows as possible. Indeed, for the average enterprise, a single automated workflow can save nearly 3,800 hours per year across 100,000 devices.

For instance, when users neglect to install important updates on their devices, it can lead to major compliance and performance issues. However, getting users to restart their devices is a perennial problem for EUC teams.

In this case, having an automated workflow that can identify devices needing a restart and Windows update, issue multiple reminders to the user in a 24-hour period and, if necessary, a forced reboot and update verification would remove this as an issue entirely. Not only does this solve for the immediate problem, but it also reduces the risk of additional performance and compliance issues in the future.

Stretched to breaking point

The reason that these automations haven’t been introduced is simple – EUC teams are spread far too thin to take on the task. Just meeting the immediate business needs of ensuring that employees have working devices and access to applications is a huge ask without tackling major structural issues.

And, even if the burden on EUC teams could be alleviated, coding comprehensive scripts for IT problems is a lengthy process that requires a high level of PowerShell expertise that isn’t always available, especially for more complex tasks. Given that EUC teams are already overstretched, it’s simply not feasible to add more resources. It doesn’t scale.

Taking the low code road

The way to break the cycle is clear – automation has to become far simpler. Rather than doing extensive writing, testing, reviewing, signing, and updating of PowerShell code, EUC teams need a low code way to build and communicate workflows to the rest of the organization.

Having a low code, drag-and-drop approach to workflow automation not only democratizes the process so that people with little to no PowerShell knowledge can build a workflow, but it also makes it far easier to test and iterate so that missing steps can be added in. In addition, businesses need access to a library of fixes for the most common industry issues that can be adapted as needed.

Being able to quickly and easily construct automated workflows for a whole swathe of repetitive tasks not only allows EUC teams to reclaim vast amounts of time, but also allows issues to be escalated and resolved more quickly. For example, when a troubleshooting issue comes in that was unable to be resolved by the automated workflow, the support engineer doesn’t have worry about all of the common causes because those steps have already been attempted.

And, because the results of each workflow are automatically recorded, the ROI of bringing in the necessary solutions can be quickly and easily demonstrated to leadership.

Automatic for the people

Ultimately, the Groundhog Day-esque situation that EUC teams is simply not tenable. IT environments are only becoming broader and more complex, to the point where addressing each repetitive issue manually is like trying to drain a lake with a leaky bucket.

Any opportunity to reclaim time by reducing the workload must be taken. Practically speaking, the only way to do this is through the automation of the most low-value processes. Therefore, businesses need to invest in solutions that are going to allow EUC teams to build, test, and adapt these automations as swiftly as possible.

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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

• New York's Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Allstate for two data breaches
• The suit says the company did not notify customers and the government of the attacks
• Allstate denied any wrongdoing, saying it addressed the issue properly

US insurance giant Allstate has been hit with a lawsuit for allegedly losing sensitive customer data and not notifying victims about what had happened.

The State of New York has sued Allstate’s National General unit, with Attorney General Letitia James filing the lawsuit in a state court in Manhattan, claiming the company’s lax security practices resulted in two data breaches, one in 2020, and one in 2021, which weren’t even reported on until the lawsuit. The first breach, which happened between August and November 2020, apparently affected 12,000 individuals (9,100 New Yorkers). National General did not spot the attack for two months, and never notified affected customers, or state agencies of the attack.

The second attack, which happened in February 2021, affected an additional 187,000 customers (155,000 New Yorkers), and occurred after Allstate acquired National General in January 2021 for roughly $4 billion.

Violating the Stop Hacks act

These two attacks, and the way Allstate (failed to) tackled them, is in violation of the state’s Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security Act, James argued. Furthermore, the company violated state consumer protection laws, by misleading its customers about its data security practices.

Now, James seeks civil files of $5,000 per violation, plus other remedies, Reuters added.

"National General's weak cybersecurity emboldened hackers to steal New Yorkers' personal data, not once but twice," James said. "It is crucial that companies take cybersecurity seriously to protect consumers from fraud and identity theft."

In its statement, Allstate denied all wrongdoing and claimed to have addressed the incidents in a timely, proper fashion.

"We resolved this issue years ago, promptly securing our systems after finding vulnerabilities in online quoting tools that could have exposed drivers' license numbers," it said. "We promptly notified regulators, contacted potentially affected consumers and offered free credit monitoring as a precaution."

Via Reuters

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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, March 11 (game #639).

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

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

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

NYT Connections today (game #640) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• ORANGE
• KETCHUP
• ELMO
• COTTON
• SUGAR
• EYE
• ROSE
• MONTH
• EGGS
• ROCK
• PURPLE
• BUTTER
• FLOUR
• CARDINAL
• JOHN
• SILVER

NYT Connections today (game #640) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Ready, steady, bake
• GREEN: A color in common
• BLUE: Impossible verse
• PURPLE: Link rhymes with “dandy”

Need more clues?

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

NYT Connections today (game #640) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: INGREDIENTS IN CLASSIC POUND CAKE
• GREEN: THINGS THAT ARE RED 
• BLUE: WORDS SAID TO HAVE NO EXACT RHYMES 
• PURPLE: CANDY 

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

NYT Connections today (game #640) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #640, are…

• YELLOW: INGREDIENTS IN CLASSIC POUND CAKE BUTTER, EGGS, FLOUR, SUGAR
• GREEN: THINGS THAT ARE RED CARDINAL, ELMO, KETCHUP, ROSE
• BLUE: WORDS SAID TO HAVE NO EXACT RHYMES MONTH, ORANGE, PURPLE, SILVER
• PURPLE: CANDY COTTON, EYE, JOHN, ROCK

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

Today’s puzzle took me down a nostalgia rabbit hole and gave me the munchies.

My two blind alleys were firstly thinking I was looking for pirates and then thinking there was a group connected to classic rock acts Elton JOHN and Deep PURPLE, which I gave up on after randomly adding SILVER and ROCK to that list and wasting a guess.

John and Silver also made me think about fish and chips – thanks to Long John SILVER’s restaurants – something which admittedly is never far from my thoughts.

The key that unlocked all four groups was CARDINAL. The lyrics “Cardinal landing in the dogwood” from Old Friends by Pinegrove popped into my head, I remembered they’re red and KETCHUP is red and from there everything fell into place and I needled my way home without another error – although I did think BUTTER, EGGS, FLOUR and SUGAR was a reference to pancakes, rather than pound cake.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, 11 March, game #639)

• YELLOW: VARIATION FROM THE NORM ALTERNATIVE, BREAK, CHANGE, DEPARTURE
• GREEN: THINGS THAT RING ALARM, BELL, INTERCOM, PHONE
• BLUE: THINGS TRADITIONALLY MADE OF LEATHER FOOTBALL, MOCCASINS, SADDLE, WALLET
• PURPLE: SINGER-SONGWRITER PIANISTS KEYS, KING, LEGEND, WONDER

What is NYT Connections?

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

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

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

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

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, March 11 (game #373).

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

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

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

NYT Strands today (game #374) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Bearing gifts

NYT Strands today (game #374) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• POLL
• FAIL
• TALE
• LEAK
• TART
• SIGN

NYT Strands today (game #374) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 7 letters

NYT Strands today (game #374) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 6th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #374) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #374, are…

• CHOPS
• FLAIR
• SKILL
• KNACK
• TALENT
• PROWESS
• STRENGTH
• SPANGRAM: PRODIGY

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

A mildly troubling search to get us over hump day.

One thing I know for certain after laboring over today’s puzzle is that I am no puzzle prodigy. I needed a Hint to get me going, but CHOPS didn’t help at all – what did cuts of meat have to do with gifts? Any other word and I think I would have gotten there quicker.

By my second word I had it and felt all kinds of foolish – I think I must have a special KNACK for making life hard for myself.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, 11 March, game #373)

• TADA
• SHAZAM
• ABRACADABRA
• PRESTO
• ALAKAZAM
• SPANGRAM: CASTING SPELLS

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

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

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, March 11 (game #1142).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

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

Quordle today (game #1143) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

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

Quordle today (game #1143) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

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

Quordle today (game #1143) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1143) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

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

Quordle today (game #1143) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• A

• P

• R

• P

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

Quordle today (game #1143) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1143, are…

• AWASH
• PUSHY
• RALPH
• PROOF

I hesitated with my final guess today. Despite having all the letters and being unable to think of any alternatives, I asked myself “is RALPH really a word and not just slang? Surely there’s some mistake.”

But, no RALPH, which is one of our many words for vomit (what snow is for Finnish, puke is for English), is in the dictionary. Stemming from the 1960s, RALPH is an onomatopoeic and comes from the sound someone makes while throwing up, not from some very sickly person called Ralph.

On reflection not a great name for a supermarket chain.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1143) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1143, are…

• VAGUE
• FROCK
• FLUME
• GAMUT

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1142, Tuesday 11 March: LINGO, JUICE, SHARP, REVEL
• Quordle #1141, Monday 10 March: AVAIL, THESE, TITAN, GAUGE
• Quordle #1140, Sunday 9 March: SKILL, IDEAL, WHERE, REHAB
• Quordle #1139, Saturday 8 March: WATCH, LAPSE, WREST, HEFTY
• Quordle #1138, Friday 7 March: GLEAN, SHINY, DECRY, MANGA
• Quordle #1137, Thursday 6 March: TRICE, EIGHT, BELCH, RIPER
• Quordle #1136, Wednesday 5 March: PLEAD, TWANG, MAJOR, RISKY
• Quordle #1135, Tuesday 4 March: FLOWN, ETUDE, TOPAZ, JOKER
• Quordle #1134, Monday 3 March: FRILL, KAYAK, REBAR, WORDY
• Quordle #1133, Sunday 2 March: TUNIC, GLOSS, DEBUG, LARGE
• Quordle #1132, Saturday 1 March: DENSE, BONEY, KITTY, SMEAR
• Quordle #1131, Friday 28 February: PASTA, RAZOR, PLUMB, DROOL
• Quordle #1130, Thursday 27 February: THIEF, CHAIR, ETHER, GRIME
• Quordle #1129, Wednesday 26 February: LOVER, SPIED, VAPOR, METER
• Quordle #1128, Tuesday 25 February: TWIST, TWEAK, MEANT, CLEAR
• Quordle #1127, Monday 24 February: LEASH, LEVER, TOTEM, CREME
• Quordle #1126, Sunday 23 February: RABID, RELIC, SCRAM, BASIS
• Quordle #1125, Saturday 22 February: ETHER, SONIC, VAUNT, ROUSE
• Quordle #1124, Friday 21 February: STIFF, PRIZE, SCOWL, DONUT
• Quordle #1123, Thursday 20 February: HASTY, DRAPE, FICUS, CRAZE

• AMD’s RX 9070 GPUs are currently out of stock pretty much everywhere
• An AMD exec says that more supply of RX 9070 models is “coming ASAP”
• Some gamers are still worried about the prospect of entry-level RDNA 4 graphics cards not sticking to the MSRP, though

An AMD executive has promised that fresh stock of RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards – which are currently all sold out in the US, and seemingly most other regions besides – is winging its way to stores across the globe.

This news comes from Frank Azor, who is AMD’s head of consumer and gaming marketing, via a statement shared on X about the launch of these RDNA 4 graphics cards.

Azor assures us that: “More [RX 9070] supply is coming ASAP to partners all over the world.”

The use of the term ‘ASAP’ suggests that AMD won’t be messing around when it comes to restocking RX 9070 models, and that’s also suggested by what we’ve heard on the rumor mill recently.

Namely that AMD has a sizeable quantity of RDNA 4 stock rolling off the production lines, which has clearly not been the case with Nvidia’s Blackwell launch since the RTX 5000 GPUs debuted at the end of January.

(Image credit: Shutterstock) Analysis: Better stock prospects all round (but what about pricing?)

Actually, the hope expressed via the rumor mill – and it is just a hope, mind – is that Nvidia’s RTX 5000 stock is also going to become more robust. Or at least RTX 5090 supply will increase – quite dramatically, the theory is – and perhaps other Blackwell graphics cards, too.

AMD’s Azor is generally pretty reliable, too, so we can hope that it’s the case that both RDNA 4 and Blackwell GPUs will benefit from a spike in supply in the near future.

Notably, Azor wouldn’t be drawn on MSRP pricing, though. If you scrolled through the comments on the exec’s latest post on X, you’ll have seen a few gamers calling out AMD over the MSRP, and the reported practice of only having an initial batch of (subsidized) RX 9070 graphics cards pegged at that official recommended asking price. (And that was indeed what seemed to happen at the RDNA 4 launch).

Previously, Azor has addressed this issue though, and said that “MSRP pricing will continue to be encouraged” beyond the launch, so we should see some (entry-level) RDNA 4 GPUs back at those baseline prices. That said, words like ‘encouraged’ and a feeling of slight evasiveness around the issue of pricing in the latest post from Azor leave some room for doubt as to exactly what policy AMD is pursuing here.

As ever, time will tell, and with any luck, we won’t have long to wait for the next batch of RX 9070 graphics cards to hit the shelves. Keep an eye on our guide to where to buy AMD’s RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 which highlights the retailers you should be watching to grab stock when the supply lines open up again.

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• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is coming to iOS and Android
• It will launch on April 15 and cost $8.99
• All DLC is included

Dotemu, Tribute Games, Paramount Game Studios, and Pladigious have announced that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge will hit mobile devices next month.

The game is a 2D beat-em-up with a stunning pixel art aesthetic that looks like it would be perfectly at home on one of the best gaming phones or a big-screen gaming tablet. It's coming to both iOS and Android and will be available via the App Store and Google Play Store respectively.

It features 16 distinct levels, with multiple playable characters which of course means the chance to punch goons such as the iconic ninja turtles Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo but also some more unusual ones like news reporter April O'Neil.

On top of this, the mobile version will come bundled with all DLC content at no additional cost. This means you're getting the Radical Reptiles (which introduces two new playable characters) and Dimension Shellshock (with new characters, game modes, and exclusive mechanics) expansions.

All of this will cost just $8.99 - a fraction of the $32.90 asking price over on PC. Better still, those who pre-order the game ahead of its April 15 launch date will benefit from a special 10% discount which takes it down to only $7.99.

A free trial will be available, which would be a good way to assess performance on your device.

The port will feature full Bluetooth controller support too, which is perfect if you have a spare Xbox Wireless Controller lying around.

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• LG has revealed US pricing for its LG G5 and LG C5 OLED TVs
• Prices are the same or cheaper than their predecessors
• Both series are available to pre-order through LG

LG has announced pricing for two of its 2025 OLED TV series, the LG G5 and LG C5, and in some welcome news, prices are the same and or even cheaper for some sizes compared to last year's models.

Available to order now from LG, the LG G5 and LG C5 are successors to the LG G4 and LG C4, two of the best OLED TVs from 2024. Pricing for the 55, 65, 77, 83 and 97-inch LG G5, is as follows:

• LG 55-inch G5 OLED: $2,499
• LG 65-inch G5 OLED: $3,399
• LG 77-inch G5 OLED: $4,499
• LG 83-inch G5 OLED: $6,499
• LG 97-inch G5 OLED: $27,999

Interestingly, there is no mention of the new LG 48-inch G5, which was announced in the UK with the other models earlier this month along with pricing.

Pricing for the LG C5 series, available in six sizes, is as follows:

• LG 42-inch C5 OLED: $1,399
• LG 48-inch C5 OLED: $1,599
• LG 55-inch C5 OLED: $1,999
• LG 65-inch C5 OLED: $2,699
• LG 77-inch C5 OLED: $3,699
• LG 83-inch C5 OLED: $5,399

Compared with last year's LG G4 and LG C4, launch prices for the G5 and C5 are largely the same, with a couple of exceptions.

The 55- and 77-inch G5 and 42-inch C5 are all launching $100 cheaper than their respective 2024 counterparts, which is welcome pricing news.

Pre-orders for each model are available through LG's website, with links to each model below:

• Pre-order the 55-inch LG G5 at LG
• Pre-order the 65-inch LG G5 at LG
• Pre-order the 77-inch LG G5 at LG
• Pre-order the 83-inch LG G5 at LG
• Pre-order the 97-inch LG G5 at LG

• Pre-order the 42-inch LG C5 at LG
• Pre-order the 48-inch LG C5 at LG
• Pre-order the 55-inch LG C5 at LG
• Pre-order the 65-inch LG C5 at LG
• Pre-order the 77-inch LG C5 at LG
• Pre-order the 83-inch LG C5 at LG

The announcement of these prices also gives us our first release dates, with every model of both the G5 and C5 listed as available in March 2025. Although there is no specific date, this means availability is imminent as we're already into the second week of March. This release schedule follows the same pattern that LG's OLEDs have had for the past few years.

LG has yet to announce a release date or pricing for the LG B5 in the US.

A pricing surprise

The LG G5 (pictured) offers a real brightness boost over its predecessor, the LG G4. (Image credit: Future)

These are the first official prices for the LG G5 and LG C5 in the US that we've received. We initially predicted they would be pricier compared to their 2024 counterparts after a first look at CES 2025 (accounting for inflation and pricing trends over previous years). However, European pricing for the LG G5, C5 and B5 and UK pricing for the LG G5 was recently announced, revealing that prices remained the same for the G4 in Europe and the UK and for the C5 in Europe. We hoped this would also be the case for the US, and thankfully, it is.

What we didn't anticipate in all this pricing news is that some models would be cheaper. Yes, at the time of writing, prices are still at a premium and significantly higher than the 2024 LG OLED models, which have seen their prices fall throughout the past year. But for launch prices to match LG's 2024 OLED lineup, and even go cheaper, could be a good sign for the future. Could prices for the G5 and C5 series eventually drop even lower than their predecessors?

We've seen the LG G5 and C5 in person and are excited about how both advance on two of 2024's best TVs. LG suggested a 40% fullscreen brightness boost in the LG G5 compared to the LG G4 and now we've seen the G5 and G4 side-by-side and can confirm the brightness increase is very real.

We've also seen webOS 25 and its new range of exciting AI features, including the AI Sound Wizard, which enables users to customize their LG TV's built-in sound profile in action and, spoiler alert, it's very cool. From what else we've seen, the C5 looks like a very capable TV.

We haven't had a chance to test the new LG G5 or C5 fully yet, but hope to in the coming weeks. We're encouraged by what we've seen so far and are eager to get our hands on them.

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• Bitdefender has identified a malicious SMS campaign
• The texts promise up to 90% energy bills savings
• Elon Musk's likeness is used to try and trick victims

A malicious SMS campaign has been discovered by Bitdefender, taking advantage of Americans who want to save money on their energy bills.

The scammers sent an offer for an ‘innovative’ energy saving device via an SMS, usually including the victim’s real name, urging them to follow a link to “start saving” hundreds on their electric bill. The fraudsters most likely had access to the victim’s names through previous data breaches. Here’s one example of the SMS;

“Gary, your neighbors are paying 79% less for power. Why aren’t you? Stop overpaying- click here to start saving https://gimelove .com/eln”

ESaver Watt

As well as phishing and malware attacks, the link was found to lead some recipients to a fake news article featuring a photo and testimonial from Musk, promising an up to 90% saving on monthly electricity bills.

“The big power companies are scamming you. Yes, that’s right. Believe it or not, they have been using a secret to cheat you every time you run your lights, dishwasher, blender, vacuum and anything else that draws power”, says the fake Elon Musk.

“This is why your power bill is so expensive every month and keeps rising with some US residents paying as much as $500 a month in electric bills. Every American can slash their electricity bill by 90% using this revolutionary technology. You’re welcome.”

The article features a photo of the ‘device’, and links to product pages, where the plugin is sold for $40. Bitdefender has seen similar devices sold on Chinese marketplaces for just a few dollars - but to be clear, energy prices cannot be reduced by plugging in an outlet, and these devices will cost victims money and their personal information.

These are classic social engineering attacks, which are designed to panic or entice victims into action - usually clicking a malicious link which will steal their data. The best way to stay safe from attacks like these is to stay vigilant, and to never click any unsolicited links - remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

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• Empirical Health has released a new smartwatch health protocol
• Empirical Health Radar uses 40+ smartwatch biomarkers, combined with clinical results to give you a health score
• It can give you a deeper look at heart health, kidney function, liver health, and more

A new service from Empirical Health promises to deliver a comprehensive health score using combined data from your smartwatch and clinical records.

Available from March 11, Empirical Health Radar (no affiliation with TechRadar) can be found in the Empirical Health app on Android and iOS.

Empirical Health Radar takes 40 biomarkers from your Apple Watch or Wear OS smartwatch, and combines the data with blood tests to generate a doctor-designed health score.

The health score was designed by Dr Raquel Rodriguez, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Empirical Health, formerly of Kaiser and UC San Francisco, and features guidelines and risk models from the US Preventive Services Task Force, American Heart Association, and American College of Cardiology, and American Board of Family Medicine.

At its heart, Empirical Health Data is designed to supplement the fitness and health tracking of your smartwatch with clinical data, filling in the blanks that even the best smartwatches can't quite cover just yet.

The ultimate smartwatch health check?

(Image credit: Empirical Health)

Empirical Health Radar's health score categorizes biomarkers into six categories: heart health, sleep, lungs, exercise, mental health, and kidney/liver.

By way of example, Empirical Health notes even the best Apple Watches can't predict heart attacks, but cholesterol and blood pressure data can be used in an American College of Cardiology risk calculator to do just that. Empirical Health Radar combines that clinical test with your smartwatch's ECG data, irregular rhythm alerts, resting heart rate, and cardio recovery metrics to give you a more holistic heart health score than you'd get from either a smartwatch or a blood test individually.

You can upload a PDF or image of blood tests you've already taken, or import records directly from Apple Health using Apple's clinical records API in HealthKit.

If you don't want to surrender any clinical data, you can use Empirical Health Radar without recent blood tests and get a partial score. Or for convenience you can book a test directly through the Empirical Health app or complete one at a local lab for $97.

Empirical Health is available from the App Store or Google Play Store, or Empirical Health's website now.

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• The Alan Turing Institute has outlined recommendations to protect UK AI research
• Nation-state threat actors pose a serious risk to the UK's AI development
• Universities are increasingly targeted, so need to up protection

The Alan Turing Institute has issued a report warning ‘urgent action’ is needed to protect the UK’s ‘world leading AI research ecosystem’.

An urgent, coordinated response from the UK Government and higher education institutions is needed, the report says, to develop protections for the research sector. This includes recommendations to create a classified mapping of the AI higher education research ecosystem, and provide guidance to universities.

Higher education institutions in the UK are increasingly targeted by threat actors, with almost half experiencing a cyberattack every week. The report confirms that nation-based actors have been discovered using “espionage, theft, and duplicitous collaboration” to try and keep pace with the UK’s research and development.

Culture change

The rapid development of AI research makes it vulnerable to nation-backed threat actors looking to steal intellectual property, and using it for malicious purposes.

Concerns were raised about hostile states potentially gaining access to the “dual-use” nature of the technology, meaning that the tool can be repurposed or reverse engineered to be used for malicious activity, such as defence tools being converted to help attackers.

The report outlines a need for a change in culture to focus on building risk awareness and security-mindedness, and encouraging "consistent compliance” with guidelines and best practice.

The research also wants to address the UK's AI skills gap by ensuring domestic talent is retained, and delivering research security training for staff and research students. Research intensive universities are also advised to set up research scrutiny committees in order to support risk assessments for AI researchers.

“Furthering AI research is rightly a top priority for the UK, but the accompanying security risks cannot be ignored as the world around us grows ever more volatile,” says Megan Hughes, Research Associate at the Alan Turing institute.

“Academia and the government must commit to and support this long overdue culture change to strike the right balance between academic freedom and protecting this vital asset.”

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• Doom: The Dark Ages is a prequel, but won't end the way 2016's Doom reboot begins with the Slayer in the coffin
• Game director Hugo Martin says this wouldn't allow the team to tell more stories
• Martin also said the team is working on DLC so the game can't end with the Slayer in a coffin

Doom: The Dark Ages might be a prequel, but developer iD Software confirms it won't end the way 2016's Doom begins.

If you haven't played Doom, the game begins with the Slayer locked inside a coffin until he breaks free. Since Doom: The Dark Ages is a prequel to this story, some players have started to form ideas about how the upcoming game will end.

However, according to game director Hugo Martin, this won't happen as it would mean the team wouldn't be able to tell more medieval stories.

"I mean, that would end the Dark Ages, the medieval chapter of the Doom saga. This is kind of like the Chronicles of the Slayer," Martin told PC Gamer.

"So if we took it all the way to that point, then that would mean that we couldn't tell any more medieval stories. And I'm not announcing projects or anything other than to just say it's better to leave it open."

Martin went on to reveal that iD Software has downloadable content (DLC) planned for Doom: The Dark Ages, which would also go against the idea of the Slayer ending up in a coffin at the end of the game.

"We do have a DLC and things like that, so it won't - I'm not giving away spoilers - but it doesn't end with him [in the coffin]," the game director added.

"The story is that they collapsed a building on top of him and then put him inside of that sarcophagus that we find him in at the beginning of 2016. And this game doesn't end that way."

Doom: The Dark Ages launches on May 15 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC, as well as Xbox Game Pass on day one.

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• Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested that a major iOS overhaul is on the way with iOS 19
• VisionOS could serve as inspiration for Apple's next mobile OS
• A new software look could go hand-in-hand with rumored hardware changes

We’ve heard plenty about the rumored hardware upgrades for the iPhone 17 family, which is supposedly due at some point later this year, but a new report from the industry’s best-regarded Apple tipster suggests Apple’s next handsets will also usher in a huge software revamp.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that iOS 19 will represent “one of the most dramatic software overhauls” in the history of not only iOS, but Apple as a company. The last time iOS saw a truly massive change in form and function was with iOS 7, released in 2013 – even today, many of the apps and interface elements found in iOS 18 are based on their iOS 7 versions.

In terms of new functionality, iOS 19 could bring a reworked camera app and (finally) a more powerful Siri, but we’re still pretty light on tips about other features. Below, we’ve put together a roundup of the major rumors so far, as well as a few things I’d like to see from Apple’s next mobile operating system.

An overhauled design

iOS 19 may take inspiration from VisionOS (Image credit: Apple)

As mentioned, iOS 19 is strongly rumored to bring a total visual overhaul to Apple’s mobile operating system, the likes of which we haven’t seen in more than a decade.

Gurman’s report for Bloomberg suggests that iOS 19 will bring a similar visual refresh to iOS 7, with a major update to the “style of icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons” across the iPhone experience.

Furthermore, the Bloomberg report hints that the new interface could take inspiration from VisionOS, which could mean anything from full-on circular icons to subtler tweaks to UI overlays and menus.

However, a large part of Apple’s success as a brand depends on familiarity, so it’s likely that iOS 19 will at least resemble iOS versions from prior years – we wouldn’t expect to see the settings app lose its gear icon motif, for example.

This software overhaul may come in tandem with a reworked physical design; the iPhone 17 family is rumored to bring a new hardware look to the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and all-new iPhone 17 Air.

A new camera app

(Image credit: Front Page Tech)

The first major suggestion of an iOS 19 redesign came with rumors of a new camera app, which could use an uncluttered, open design reminiscent of VisionOS.

As we previously reported, a supposed iOS 19 leak hinted at the new camera app design earlier this year, with a handful of mocked-up screenshots to go with it.

In said screenshots, the shutter button appears to float freely over the lower part of the screen, with key settings available below it rather than crammed up at the top of the screen.

The buttons are all either circular or rounded, and there doesn't appear to be many of them. Overall, the new design looks pretty sleek. Still, but of course, this is just a leak, and may not reflect the camera app’s final look.

An improved Siri

(Image credit: Apple)

iOS 19 is also tipped to bring improvements to Apple’s digital assistant, Siri.

We had previously expected Siri to get some Apple Intelligence-flavored updates via mid-year updates to iOS 18, but it now seems more likely that Siri will get a proper AI upgrade during the life cycle of iOS 19.

9to5Mac notes that Apple could bring together the two separate systems that currently power Siri into one, offering a more conversational and efficient experience. Siri currently makes use of ChatGPT, but it’s suggested that Apple would prefer not to rely on third-party AI.

However, Gurman predicts that iOS 19 won’t bring any major consumer-facing Apple Intelligence features, so we could be waiting until later versions of iOS 19 to get a proprietary AI Siri.

iOS 19: what I want to see

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Personally, I’m a fan of the mellow, dependable interface that Apple has built out over the years. After smoothing out the sharp visuals of iOS 7 and adding expanded, modernized features with each iteration, iOS 18 looks and feels excellent in most situations.

Nevertheless, there are some things I’d like to see from the next version of iOS.

If a new, airier UI is on the way, it could be a chance for Apple to enable more fluidity in navigating through that UI. I’m a huge fan of the swipe navigation found on most of the best Android phones, and always find the lack of a universal “back” gesture a real loss when I switch back to iPhone.

I’d also like to see Apple go even further with customization. iOS 18 finally gave us the ability to move icons around the home screen and recolor them to fit with a given wallpaper or theme (here's how to customize your iPhone’s Home Screen in iOS 18 if you haven't done so already), but again, Android has been pulling ahead for years in this department.

The live wallpapers offered by Xiaomi or OnePlus could serve as valuable inspiration, and more control over widget size in a VisionOS-inspired aesthetic would make a lot of sense.

With that all said, I’m supportive of any potential shake-ups. From both a hardware and software standpoint, phone design can get pretty homogenous, so it’s nice to hear that Apple might be willing to take some risks. In any case, let us know what you want to see from iOS 19 in the comments below.

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• Google bug bounties see 660 researchers get a share of $11.8 million in 2024
• Chrome and Android VRPs were lucrative
• Google’s VRP program turns 15 next year

Google has revealed it paid out $11.8 million in bug bounties in 2024, with payments going out to 660 security researchers, equating to a theoretical average of around $18,000 each.

Its highest payout in 2024 was $110,000, with its total payout to date now standing at $65 million since 2010.

Chrome researchers and those revealing vulnerabilities in Android and other Google Devices accounted for around half of 2024’s payouts, marking the company’s commitment to security within its most popular devices.

Google paid out $12 million in bug bounties last year

Some changes to the structures last year resulted in higher payout potentials, with the Google VRP now paying out up to $151,515, $300,000 for the Mobile VRP, $151,515 for the Cloud VRP and $250,000 for Chrome awards.

In a blog post, Google's Dirk Göhmann said researchers contributing to the Android and Google Devices Security Reward Program and the Google Mobile Vulnerability Reward Program got over $3.3 million in rewards in 2024, adding that 8% fewer reports were logged. However, the company did see a minor 2% increase in critical and high vulnerabilities.

A total of 337 unique reports were made to the Chrome VRP – 137 received rewards totalling an additional $3.4 million.

Google also celebrated the launch of a new category – 2024 was its first full year of AI bug bounties, but payouts remained relatively low, at $55,000.

Other successes include two bugSWAT events and four init.g workshops to support the next generation of security researchers.

Looking ahead, Göhmann noted the company will be celebrating 15 years of VRP in 2025 – it’s unclear whether any changes will be made to its VRPs to commemorate this milestone.

Göhmann added: “We want to send a huge thank you to our bug hunter community for helping us make Google products and platforms more safe and secure for our users around the world – and invite researchers not yet engaged with the Vulnerability Reward Program to join us in our mission to keep Google safe!”

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• Fluance launches bookshelf and tower speakers
• The Ri71 and Ri91 retail for $399 and $799 respectively
• Bluetooth aptX HD, HDMI ARC, RCA, and a sub out

With speakers this good, who needs a soundbar? That’s the argument for these new Fluance stereo speakers, which are thoroughly geared up with useful ports and connections to boost your home theater setup, or for modern music needs.

Fluance is a North American audio brand that’s been around since 1999, producing a long line of great ready to vie to be ranked among the best stereo speakers and best turntables – and the line now included the new Ri71 bookshelf and Ri91 tower models, which are both now available to buy in the US.

The Ri71 Reference Stereo Powered Bookshelf Speakers offer 120W of amplification, with five-inch “woven glass fiber drivers” that promise “a rich midrange and deep bass without distortion”, 'Air Motion Transformer' tweeters, and an MDF wooden cabinet to limit unwanted resonance – all for $399 (about £319 / AU$635).

However, the Ri91 speakers are where things get serious. These $799 (about £640 / AU$1,270 floorstanding speakers boast 150W of amplification, dual 6.5-inch woven glass fiber drivers per unit, 'Air Motion Transformer' tweeters again, and the built-in height, porting and air volume needed to blare out immersive cinema sound, as long as you’re happy with the larger footprint.

(Image credit: Fluance) All about connections

While AV enthusiasts often have to choose between a well-connected, compact, all-in-one soundbar and the greater sonic potential of separate speaker units – which can be arranged to suit the layout and space of your own home – these Fluance speakers come with a host of ports for connecting other pieces of AV hardware.

Both models support HDMI ARC, for two-way communication between the speakers and your TV screen, as well as an RCA port for turntables (with no amp needed, because they're active speakers), and a subwoofer output for upping the bass with another speaker unit.

You’ll also get support for Bluetooth aptX HD, for easy music streaming from whatever device you want, at a higher level of quality if your phone or laptop supports it.

Fluance is best known for starter and mid-range audio products, –such as the four-star Fluance Ai41 bookshelf speakers, or the Fluance RT81 turntable, which we called “the best starter turntable you can buy” – rather than truly high-end models. And Fluance’s Reference series spans $150-$1,100 speakers, offering a range of channel, bookshelf, floorstanding and surround sound speakers for different budgets.

But if you’re looking for a soundbar alternative for a three-figure sum, these decked-out speakers may be a suitable option – we’ll look to update you when we’ve had the chance to test them out ourselves.

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• Some Warner Bros DVDs won't play due to material problems
• Affected discs were made between 2006 and 2008
• Warner Bros is replacing discs, but not all movies are still available

Of all the advantages of physical media – picture and sound quality, extra features, impressing visitors to your home with your excellent and eclectic taste – one of the most important ones is permanence. Unlike movies on the best streaming services, movies won't suddenly disappear from your shelves overnight because of licensing issues or cost-cutting.

Unless… they rot.

A new plague of disc rot has been discovered, and it's affecting Warner Bros Home Entertainment movies manufactured between 2006 and 2008. The rot renders the discs unplayable, and while Warner Bros is offering replacements, it can't replace them all.

Why isn't Warner Bros replacing every rotted disc?

The short answer is that it can't. As the firm explained in a statement, "Where possible, the defective discs have been replaced with the same title. However, as some of the affected titles are no longer in print or the rights have expired, consumers have been offered an exchange for a title of like-value."

Disc rot isn't new – it affected laserdiscs, and CDs, and every other shiny disc format since. But this particular outbreak is happening very early in the discs' lifespan.

Disc rot is oxidization, and it's very unusual to have that happen on discs that are still relatively young. In ideal conditions and with careful storage and handling a DVD could last as long as 100 years, and even the lowest lifespan expectation is around 30 years.

However, if the manufacturing isn't perfect, then the lifespan can be much shorter: for example, the phenomenon of disc bronzing, a form of disc rot affecting compact discs in the early 1990s, was largely found in discs made at a specific UK factory between 1988 and 1993.

There's no cure for disc rot, so if you think you might have some of the affected titles it's a good idea to check them now: disc rot is often visible on the disc itself, usually as a cloudy area, but it's most apparent when you actually play the disc: rot means it doesn't work properly.

As for prevention, other than careful handling and storage there's not a great deal you can do to prevent something that's mostly the result of manufacturing issues.

And it's all especially frustrating in this case, where collectors of physical media may be keeping these discs because a particular movie – or feature, or commentary – is hard to find or not available now. That's not a problem if Warner Bros can really replace the disc, but when it can't we're facing the question of how can we secure access to art for the future?

People who rip discs to make a backup aren't necessarily immune either: rewritable Blu-Rays and DVD discs may only have a lifespan of five to 10 years. But it's more understandable than ever that people want a backup of the things they want to keep most – even the physical object isn't safe from change.

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• Daredevil: Born Again is currently Disney+'s biggest show of 2025
• Its two-episode premiere got 7.5 million views in its first five days
• It's still not as successful as WandaVision follow-up series Agatha All Along

Daredevil: Born Again has become a huge hit for Disney+ since the Marvel character moved from being in a series on Netflix to one of its rival best streaming services.

I was a huge fan of the original Daredevil when it first launched on Netflix in 2015, and the follow-up has been just as good from I've seen so far. Daredevil: Born Again now has a permanent home on Disney+ and is performing very well indeed, with the new series amassing 7.5 million views in just five days, according to Variety.

Despite its success, however, it still hasn't beaten the performance of the WandaVision follow-up series Agatha All Along, which received 9.3 million views in its first week of availability last September.

Marvel continues to clock up high viewership numbers for Disney+, but it's not just comic book fans who are flocking to the service. Hulu original Paradise (available on Disney+ outside of the US) drew in 7 million views in its first nine days, and I was one of them, so felt relieved that Paradise season 2 has been confirmed after that mind-blowing finale.

Disney+ and Hulu continue to impress me: just look at our best Disney+ shows and best Hulu shows to see why. If you're keen to catch up on the biggest and best these streamers have to offer, there's a limited-time bundle deal that you won't want to miss (see details of the deal below).

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Why has Daredevil: Born Again been so popular?

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Daredevil: Born Again has a solid 83% Rotten Tomatoes rating from the critics, which means it can join many of the other great Marvel shows we have on our best Disney+ shows round-up.

Our senior entertainment reporter Tom Power called the series "a fearless revival" that "restored his faith in the MCU" in his Daredevil: Born Again review, and he's not alone with plenty of critics agreeing.

The new series features the same cast as before, with Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Wilson Bethel, and Jon Bernthal reprising their roles. If you're curious when you can watch, check out our Daredevil: Born Again episode release schedule.

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