TechRadar News

• CWWK S7 mini PC offers up to 48GB DDR5 RAM and 12TB storage
• Fanless design minimizes noise and dust
• Dual internal fans enhance the passive cooling system

There are many unique mini PC options available, and the new CWWK S7 is set to join them, running on the Intel Core i3-N355 processor with eight cores, eight threads, and a maximum speed of 3.9 GHz.

Per AndroidPC (originally in Spanish), the chip is built using Intel’s 7nm process and has a maximum TDP of 15W, ensuring efficient power use. The integrated UHD graphics, with 32 execution units running at 1.35 GHz, supports multimedia playback, light gaming, and design applications.

Unlike many mini PCs that use active CPU cooling, the CWWK S7 has a fanless design (though it does include two internal fans to maintain performance under heavy workloads), with an aluminum alloy housing that helps dissipate heat and reduces noise and dust build-up — making it suitable for industrial use, digital signage, and home office setups.

Connectivity and networking

The S7 includes two 10Gb Ethernet ports (AQC113-B1-C controller) and two 2.5Gb Ethernet ports (i226-V controller), offering strong networking performance for NAS setups, firewalls, and virtualization.

It supports up to three 4K monitors at 60Hz via HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, and a USB-C port with video output.

Additional connectivity options include two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (10Gbps), a USB-C port (with power delivery) for data transfer and display output, two USB 2.0 ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The CWWK S7 supports up to 48GB of DDR5 RAM via a single SO-DIMM slot, operating at a maximum speed of 4800 MHz.

It also includes two M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD slots, allowing for a maximum storage capacity of 12TB. One of these slots can also be used for an M.2 Wi-Fi module.

The S7 comes with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed, but also supports the best Linux distributions. It is priced at approximately 558 euros (about $579) on Amazon, with free shipping available in some regions.

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I have spent a lot of time talking to AI. I’ve tested every voice assistant, every chatbot, and every “next-generation” conversational AI that tech companies love to hype up. But I’ve never encountered anything quite like Sesame. This AI companion isn’t just good, it’s eerily accurate at mimicking how people talk because of the very imperfections it imitates.

Let’s start with what Sesame actually is. Unlike the AI voices we’ve come to know from ChatGPT, Gemini, or going back to the early days of Siri and Alexa, Sesame is designed to perform like a human in its failures, not like a perfect customer service agent. The AI’s speech is fluid, expressive, and unpredictably human. It briefly chuckles when it says something mildly amusing, hesitates before answering a question, and even seems to change its 'mind' mid-sentence, pausing and starting a new sentence. It not only lets me interrupt it, it can interrupt me as well, and will even apologize for doing so.

(Image credit: Sesame)

The secret sauce is Sesame’s Conversational Speech Model (CSM), which blends text and audio into a single process, meaning that it doesn’t just generate a sentence and then “read it out.” Instead, it creates speech in a way that mirrors how humans actually talk, with pauses, ums, tonal shifts, and all. ChatGPT and Gemini’s voice options, while impressive, still operate in a structured way, generating text and then converting it into speech. Sesame, on the other hand, speaks as if it’s thinking, making its responses feel incredibly natural.

I decided to put Sesame through a series of tests to see just how human-like it could get. The results were impressive, if not a little unsettling.

Talk me through it

I wanted to see if Sesame could handle a real-world, anxiety-inducing problem, so I gave it an imaginary but realistically tough scenario: “I have this big opportunity at work, but I’m nervous I’ll mess it up.”

Instead of immediately launching into a generic pep talk, Sesame paused. Just a tiny beat, but enough to make me feel like it was actually considering what I said. Then, in a voice filled with artificial sympathy, it responded, “That’s completely normal. Big opportunities can feel overwhelming. What about it makes you the most nervous?”

It didn’t assume anything, and it engaged before offering any bland advice. Sesame suggested, “Have you practiced in front of a friend or recorded yourself? Sometimes hearing yourself back can help you tweak your delivery.” The voice isn't exactly foolproof, the hesitations and other foibles felt a little measured, but overall it was an impressive effort

Interruptions

For this one, I wanted to see how well Sesame handled a truly natural, messy conversation, the kind where people talk over each other, change subjects abruptly, and circle back to things they mentioned ten minutes ago.

I started with: “Tell me a story about a detective who’s also a magician.”

Sesame immediately jumped in with a classic noir setup: Okay. Here's one. Picture this smoky jazz club. Dimly lit. The smell of bourbon. And regrets hanging in the air. This detective. Call him Jack Harrow. He's got a fedora at a rakish angle, cigarette smoldering in a holder and a look that could melt steel. But Jack's not just any gumshoe. See, he's got a secret. He's got the touch. A dame shuffles in all nerves."

I interrupted then to ask, "Wait, what's his favorite trick?"

Maya responded with: "Mm. Good question. Jack's signature. It's a sleight of hand that's more than meets the eye. He calls it The Vanishing Witness. He can make a person seem to disappear right before your eyes. Just for a moment. Long enough to slip them a note. Plant evidence or just make them question what they saw. It throws people off balance. You know, a good magician knows. Perception is everything."

I jumped back in to tell Maya to go back to the story, to which it said "Right. Where was I? Oh, yes. The dame slides into the booth across from Jack, all worry lines and trembling hands. She whispers something that a stolen ruby, a jealous husband, and a shadowy figure lurking in the fog."

The AI seamlessly continued the story, weaving that detail back in as if I hadn’t just derailed the whole thing. That’s the part that floored me—most AI assistants would stumble or restart, but Sesame's conversational AI model handled it like a person telling a story at a party.

Party Planning

Speaking of parties, for the final test, I wanted to see if Sesame could help me plan something useful. “I want to plan a surprise for my best friend’s birthday, but I don’t know what to do.”

Instead of rattling off a lifeless list of ideas, Sesame asked, “What kind of things does your friend love?” I told it sci-fi movies and adventurous food, and after a thoughtful pause, it suggested: “How about a ‘Sci-Fi & Snacks’ night? You could book a themed escape room, then hit a futuristic-style restaurant, maybe one with molecular gastronomy?”

When I told it I had a budget of $100, Sesame adjusted. “You could do a home movie night with their favorite sci-fi films and make themed snacks, like ‘Galactic Popcorn’ or ‘Alien Sliders.’ I can find recipes for you if you’d like.”

It wasn’t just spitting out generic recommendations. It was collaborating with me. And that’s what made it feel different.

What's real?

Sesame didn’t just pass these tests, I'd say it nailed them. The pauses, the hesitation, the filler words, the way it would change its mind mid-sentence—it was all eerily real. I’d start talking, expecting the usual AI smoothness, and then hear a sudden “Uh, actually, no, wait, let me rephrase that…” and immediately forget I wasn’t talking to an actual person.

If AI is this realistic in its speech, would we even know we were talking to an AI? With Sesame, there are telltale audio issues that give the game away, but ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode and Google Gemini's own voice options are good enough to mostly skip past those issues. Combine their voice powers with the speech patterns of Sesame, and it might genuinely get difficult to tell when you are talking to an AI, at least in short conversations.

Sesame is still niche, but this technology won’t stay niche forever. The cliché today is that younger people never make phone calls, but if they start, they may have to figure out if the person on the other end is real before anything else.

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• BMAX MaxPad I10 S Pro has a massive 10,000mAh battery which reduces frequent recharges
• Stay connected with 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, dual-band Wi-Fi, and GPS
• Unisoc T616 SoC may not be the fastest, but keeps costs down

While rugged tablets are common, finding one priced under $200 is rare - enter the BMAX MaxPad I10 S Pro, a reinforced Android device with dual 4G SIM support, allowing users to make calls and browse the internet without Wi-Fi with full mobile connectivity; beating Apple's iPad range to the punch.

Per BMax (via AndroidPC, originally in Spanish), it features IP68 certification for dust and water resistance, along with a rugged build that can withstand drops of up to 1.2 meters.

However, this added protection comes at a cost - the tablet weighs 881 grams, making it heavier than the best business tablets.

Performance powered by Unisoc

The MaxPad I10 S Pro uses the Unisoc T616 processor, an octa-core chip featuring two high-performance Cortex-A75 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8 GHz. Graphics are managed by the Mali-G52 MP1 GPU, enabling it to handle multimedia applications.

The tablet comes with 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card up to 1TB.

The MaxPad I10 S Pro features a 10.1-inch IPS In-Cell display with a resolution of 1920 × 1200 pixels, offering relatively thin bezels for its price range.

It also includes a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera, which should be sufficient for casual photography and video conferencing.

Keeping it running is a 10,000mAh battery, charged via a USB Type-C port. It's not currently clear as to whether it'll support fast charging.

The MaxPad I10 S Pro was originally listed at $404.03 on AliExpress, but it's currently available at a 50% discount, bringing the price down to $202.01.

Additionally, using the coupon code “VX9TWLCSD2BH” between February 24 at 00:00 (GMT+1) and March 3 at 08:59 (GMT+1) allows for an extra $31.90 discount, reducing the final price to $170.11.

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• Google is working on a new Shielded Email feature, similar to Apple's Hide My Email
• The new tool hides your main email address from service providers when creating accounts
• There's no release date yet, but testers have been able to activate the feature pre-release

If you’re anything like me, your Gmail inbox has slowly filled with promotions, pointless updates, and newsletters from accounts you probably never use, simply because you use the same email address for logging in as you do for actually writing and receiving emails.

Luckily, Google appears to be taking steps to remedy this annoying issue by taking some inspiration from its long-time competitor, Apple.

The new Shielded Email feature for Android phones creates an alias when signing up for new accounts, immediately issuing a new single-use or limited-use email address to use in the sign-up process.

The feature was successfully enabled pre-release by Android Authority which reports that the new tool exists as part of Google’s autofill features, alongside the same pop-ups that appear at the top of your keyboard to automatically type out phone numbers, credit card information, and addresses.

Emails sent to an alias address are automatically forwarded to your main email address, which you can turn off at any point. Using an alias address creates a buffer between you and the service provider, which means fewer people have their hands on your main email.

That buffer also means bad actors can be easily removed from your inbox without having to jump through hoops: you don’t even have to block or unsubscribe from these emails to get them to stop showing up. It’ll also make your online presence harder to track, as your identity will be largely hidden from data collectors who seek to build an image of your activity across various sites and platforms – easily done if you're using the same email address in multiple places.

As mentioned, Shielded Email is effectively the same tool as Apple’s Hide My Email, and seeks to offer a very similar result – though given how much inspiration the best iPhones have taken from the best Android phones over the years, I’m sure we can let Google off this time. There’s no release date yet, though.

What do you think of this new feature? Would you use Shielded email, or do you not care so much about your digital footprint? Let us know in the comments.

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• Rugged indeed with IP68/IP69K and MIL-STD-810H ratings
• Supports a 50MP Sony sensor, night vision, and thermal imaging
• Massive 10,600mAh battery supports 120W fast charging, and 50W wireless charging

Ulefone has unveiled the Armor 28 Ultra, a rugged Android smartphone designed to deliver high-end performance in a durable body.

Ulefone, known for similarly rugged smartphones like the Armor 25T Pro and Armor 27T Pro, claims the Armor 28 Ultra is the first-ever AI-enabled rugged smartphone with Google Gemini built into the system for seamless app interactions.

This durable smartphone is thought to be the first of its kind to feature the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset, thought to outperform the A17 Pro found in Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Built for extreme conditions

Ulefone equipped the Armor 28 Ultra with 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage and 32GB of RAM, combining 16GB LPDDR5X with an additional 16GB of virtual RAM for smoother multitasking.

As expected from a rugged phone, the Armor 28 Ultra meets MIL-STD-810H certification, offering protection against shocks, drops of up to two meters, and harsh environments. It also holds IP68/IP69K ratings for dust, water, and high-pressure spray resistance.

The device measures 6.86 x 3.29 x 0.76 inches and has a reinforced frame with rubberized port covers for the USB-C charging port and headphone jack.

The Armor 28 Ultra features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. A peak brightness of 2200 nits helps maintain visibility even in bright sunlight.

A rear secondary 1.04-inch AMOLED screen provides quick access to notifications and essential functions, similar to the iPhone Dynamic Display.

Rugged phones often sacrifice camera quality for durability, but Ulefone have fitted the Armor 28 Ultra features a prominent rear camera module with three sensors and an LED flash.

Its primary camera is a 50MP Sony IMX989 sensor, with a 1-inch sensor size for enhanced light capture and image quality. It also includes a 64MP night vision camera with an OV64B sensor and a 50MP ultra-wide camera with a 117.3° field of view, which supports thermal imaging. The front camera is also 50MP, ensuring high-resolution selfies and video calls.

Under the hood, this device houses a massive 10,600 mAh battery that It supports 120W fast charging for rapid recharging, along with 50W wireless charging. Reverse charging capabilities allow it to function as a power bank for other devices.

The Armor 28 Ultra is the first rugged smartphone to support Wi-Fi 7. It offers dual SIM functionality and supports 5G, 4G, 3G, and 2G networks, though availability may vary by carrier.

It includes NFC for payments, an IR blaster for remote control, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Ulefone confirmed to TechRadar Pro the Armor 28 Ultra will be available for purchase on AliExpress, with the standard version priced at $749 and the thermal imaging variant at $899. Sales are set to begin on March 17.

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What if your laptop could get a full hour’s worth of charge simply by leaving it in sunlight for 20 minutes? That’s the promise of Lenovo’s latest concept laptop, a Yoga model featuring a photovoltaic solar panel on the rear of the screen, converting light into charge for the laptop’s battery.

I’ve seen a lot of great concept devices from Lenovo and other laptop makers at events like MWC 2025, and I’m usually pretty excited about them. So let me be absolutely, unequivocally clear about this one:

THIS RULES.

I am curious as to whether the Lenovo logo in the middle affects the solar panel's performance... (Image credit: Future)

I’m serious. To be honest, I can’t believe it took this long for a tech company to strap a solar panel to the back of an ultrabook. We need more of this. It feels like such a straightforward idea; naturally, the Yoga Solar PC can be charged conventionally via a cable, but just being able to close the lid and let it soak in the solar rays is brilliant - and basically ensures that you’ll never be stranded without any charge again (unless it’s the middle of the night, I suppose).

The power of the sun, in the palm of my hand

I can’t be the only one who’s gone on a trip or even just off to work, only to find that I’ve forgotten my laptop charger. Thus begins that stressful game of watching the battery life tick down, turning on efficiency mode, lowering the brightness, and praying.

But with Lenovo’s Solar Yoga? I could just leave it on a windowsill for an hour while I have lunch, and come back to a freshly-charged battery.

It’s also just a general triumph of eco-friendly engineering. The solar panel on the rear of the display (which, incidentally, doesn’t appear to make the laptop noticeably thicker than Lenovo’s other Yoga ultrabooks) offers an energy conversion rate of more than 24%, which is among the very best you’ll see in any type of photovoltaic solar cells.

Lenovo also designed a ‘Dynamic Solar Tracking system’, which continually monitors the influx of electricity and adjusts the laptop’s battery consumption to prioritize the solar energy to better preserve your battery life.

Despite packing an entirely new energy source atop its lid, this laptop is still impressively thin and light. (Image credit: Future)

Solar-powered devices aren’t a new thing, of course - fellow laptop manufacturer Acer sells a foldable 200W solar panel that you can hook up to a power bank, ideal for charging your devices when you’re out in nature (or in a Mad Max-style apocalypse). But the Yoga Solar PC is the first ultrabook in the world with a fully-integrated solar power solution - and even though it’s just a concept right now, it’s one that I seriously hope makes it beyond the prototyping phase.

Having handled the device in person at MWC, it certainly looks and feels like it could be retail-ready. I can practically picture myself taking this bad boy camping, or even just down to the cafe.

The downsides?

Alright, okay, as much as I love this, I will admit that there are some potential stumbling blocks to this sort of tech being widely implemented in our laptops. For starters, solar panels aren’t exactly the most durable things in the world - and I have to imagine that replacing an integrated panel like this would be a costly and difficult affair. Having a laptop with glass on the outside does feel a little bit like a recipe for disaster. Drop it once, and it might be game over.

Heat buildup also feels like a natural problem here. After all, you generally don’t want your laptop to be too hot. But surprisingly, Lenovo had the Yoga Solar PC sitting under a bright lamp on their stand at the expo (presumably for hours at a time), and while the back panel itself was a bit warm to the touch, the rest of the laptop didn’t feel hot at all. In fact, I’d be willing to bet that a metal exterior lid would probably cook your laptop more if you left it out in the sun.

The Yoga Solar PC is also partially constructed with recycled and eco-friendly materials. (Image credit: Future)

Lastly, I suspect that if it were to make it to general production, the Yoga Solar PC would be very expensive. I’ve looked into getting solar panels installed on my house - and sure, this is just one solar panel, and it’s a lot smaller, but it’s also part of the laptop chassis rather than a standalone item - oh, and these Yoga laptops aren’t exactly bargain-basement hardware to begin with.

Still, as someone who enjoys a good foray into the great outdoors, I think this proof-of-concept is a fantastic idea and I’d gladly throw money at Lenovo to own one. A laptop that’s more eco-friendly and can save my bacon if I forget my charger? Sign me up.

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• Meta's Aria Gen 2 glasses are on their way
• They bring some major battery and sensor upgrades
• These upgrades could tease improvements for Meta's consumer specs

Meta has just launched new AI smart glasses: Aria Gen 2. The bad news is you probably won’t get a pair unless you’re an AI or robotics researcher, but the good news is the upgrades the glasses boast might tease updates we can expect to see from its next-gen consumer specs that are rumored to be landing this year – and the consumer versions of its Meta Orion AR glasses. At least, that’s what I’m hoping for.

Aria is Meta’s researcher-focused AI glasses line used by researchers to help them improve their own hardware and software development, with the glasses being outfitted with all sorts of sensors Meta’s consumer specs lack. Aria Gen 2 boasts eye tracking cameras, a barometer, a PPG sensor for measuring heart rate, and a contact microphone to distinguish the wearer’s voice from that of bystanders to name just a few.

The PPG and contact microphone are new to Aria Gen 2, and they’re two sensors I could see Meta’s next-gen consumer specs adopting. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses are already very good at picking up when I’m talking to them – I was on vacation with them recently and even in a crowded space with a crowd around me they could pick up and answer my questions on Rome’s Colosseum – but even better voice detection wouldn’t be a bad thing

Meanwhile, a heart-rate sensor would be an ideal inclusion in the rumored Oakley smart glasses Meta is said to be making, which are aimed at athletes. Meta’s existing specs don’t seem super athlete focused in terms of hardware or software, and this would be one immediate remedy to that issue.

A big battery boost

(Image credit: Meta)

Sensors aside, the biggest benefit of Aria Gen 2 is that the glasses are apparently capable of six to eight hours of continuous use, which is at least four times longer than the roughly one and a half hours you could expect from Aria Gen 1.

I’m not expecting the same degree of battery life improvements from Meta’s consumer specs (in part because Aria’s design is typically more bulky, allowing for a function over fashion approach, such as bigger heavier batteries) but if even some of Aria’s battery improvements can make it to Meta’s other glasses then that would ease my concerns over its leaked Meta Ray-Bans with an inbuilt display.

The current display-less model only lasts for about three hours of use, and I could see the display-equipped version running out of charge much faster. But with some battery upgrades borrowed from Aria Gen 2, the new Meta glasses with a screen might be able to maintain the three-hour battery life we’ve become accustomed to.

Lastly, Meta claims its Aria glasses are packing best-in-class open-ear force-canceling speakers. The Meta Ray-Bans can leak a fair amount of audio, so an improved design would be excellent for privacy – and better speakers in general would make them more capable headphone alternatives.

We’ll have to wait and see what Meta has in store for us if and when its next smart glasses launch. There’s of course no guarantee that any of these Aria upgrades will come to Meta’s consumer specs but I’ll have my fingers crossed that at Meta Connect 2025 in September we’ll see at least a couple make their way to new smart glasses.

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At MWC 2024, ZTE subsidiary Nubia unveiled the Nubia Flip 5G, a bona fide budget alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, which launched just a few months later. Now, at MWC 2025, Nubia has returned with the Nubia Flip 2 5G – a slightly more expensive model that still undercuts its premium competition by some margin.

The first thing to note is the new phone’s design, which looks akin to that of the Oppo Find N2 Flip. The original Nubia Flip’s circular front-facing display has been replaced by a more conventional-looking 3-inch OLED display, and despite its modest size, this front-facing panel can host almost all of the same built-in apps that you’ll find on the phone's 6.9-inch, 120Hz-capable AMOLED inner display.

At 193g, the Nubia Flip 2 5G is significantly lighter than last year’s model (209g), and with a 1.2m drop resistance, it’s also much more durable (the Galaxy Z Flip 6, for reference, weighs 187g). In the camera department, there’s a 32MP selfie snapper on the front, and a 50MP wide lens on the back, which is joined by a 2MP depth sensor.

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar

The Nubia Flip 2 5G is powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 7300X chipset, and – surprise, surprise! – you’ll find plenty of baked-in AI features straight out of the box, like real-time call translation and integrated Google Gemini functionality.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Future)

Battery size (4,300mAh) and charging speed (33W) are largely unchanged versus last year’s original Nubia Flip model, as are the RAM and storage capacities (128GB and 6GB, respectively).

One thing that has changed, though, is the phone’s price. Where the Nubia Flip 5G launched for the local equivalent of $599, the Flip 2 5G costs €699, which equates to around $730. US pricing probably won’t be like-for-like, but it’s safe to expect a sizable price increase in regions like the US, UK, and Australia for the Nubia Flip 2 5G this year. We’ll update this article once the phone’s international pricing and availability have been confirmed.

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• Lenovo's AI Stick connects to non-NPU PCs, adding AI-powered abilities
• Showcased at MWC 2025, pricing and availability remain unknown
• The device is compact, around 9cm long, and requires a Thunderbolt port

If you want to benefit from on-device AI capabilities but aren’t currently in the market for one of the many fancy new laptops with built-in NPUs, Lenovo is working on a couple of intriguing solutions.

The first of these is the AI Display, which is a screen that has a built-in discrete NPU that not only adds intelligent features to the monitor but can also add AI functionality to non-AI laptops or desktops. The other is the AI Stick, a small brick-like device that connects to any non-NPU-equipped PC.

Both of these concepts were showcased at MWC 2025, and while there’s no word on pricing or availability for either device yet, I can’t imagine Lenovo will want to hang around too long before launching them.

Thunderbolt required

Although we don’t know the dimensions of the AI Stick, based on the render that Lenovo has shared with a USB-C cable plugged into it, it looks to be about 9cm long - so pretty tiny.

Lenovo says of the AI Stick that it will give “users with a non-NPU-equipped PC access to advanced AI features such as local Large Language Models (LLM) and AI-enhanced graphics apps on their device.”

The company goes on to explain that the device “contains a 32-TOPS NPU that connects to a PC via a USB-C Thunderbolt port to allow the PC to use Lenovo AI Now functionalities and can also be plugged into a wall socket to unleash maximum performance for demanding AI tasks.”

Lenovo AI Now is the PC maker’s personal assistant designed to boost productivity and automate tasks on the company's various AI-powered devices.

While the AI Stick, like the AI Display, is a great idea, it’s one that’s sadly limited by the fact that any PC you use it on will need a Thunderbolt port. If you were hoping to give AI smarts to that older laptop or desktop, it looks like you’re going to be out of luck.

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• A lawsuit against criminal gang Storm-2139 has been updated
• Four defendants have been named by Microsoft
• The group is allegedly responsible for creating illegal deepfakes

A lawsuit has partially named a group of criminals who allegedly used leaked API keys from “multiple” Microsoft customers to access the firm’s Azure OpenAI service and generate explicit celebrity deepfakes. The gang reportedly developed and used malicious tools that allowed threat actors to bypass generative AI guardrails to generate harmful and illegal content.

The group, dubbed the “Azure Abuse Enterprise”, are said to be key members of a global cybercriminal gang, tracked by Microsoft as Storm-2139. The individuals were identified as; Arian Yadegarnia aka “Fiz” of Iran, Alan Krysiak aka “Drago” of United Kingdom, Ricky Yuen aka “cg-dot” of Hong Kong, China, and Phát Phùng Tấn aka “Asakuri” of Vietnam.

Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) filed a lawsuit against 10 “John Does” for violating US law and the acceptable use policy and code of conduct for the generative AI services - now amended to name and identify the individuals.

A global network

This is an update to the previously filed lawsuit, in which Microsoft outlined the discovery of the abuse of Azure OpenAI Service API keys - and pulled a Github repository offline, with the court allowing the firm to seize a domain related to the operation.

“As part of our initial filing, the Court issued a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction enabling Microsoft to seize a website instrumental to the criminal operation, effectively disrupting the group’s ability to operationalize their services.”

The group is organized into creators, providers, and users. The named defendants reportedly used customer credentials scraped from public sources (most likely involved in data leaks), and unlawfully accessed accounts with generative AI services.

“They then altered the capabilities of these services and resold access to other malicious actors, providing detailed instructions on how to generate harmful and illicit content, including non-consensual intimate images of celebrities and other sexually explicit content,” said Steven Masada, Assistant General Counsel at Microsoft’s DCU.

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The first full length trailer for the new season of Doctor Who, which arrives in April on Disney+ internationally and on BBC iPlayer in the UK, is here – and it looks like we’re in for a wild ride across time and space as Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor faces sinister cinemas, an Interstellar Song Contest and the return of Anita Dobson’s mysterious Mrs Flood.

Most intriguingly, the trailer – which you can check out just below – gives us our first proper look at new companion Belinda Chandra, played by Varada Sethu, who’s appearance as a different character in last season’s 'Boom' appears to be more than a Karen Gillan-like case of impressing producers enough to bag a full-time role.

Throughout the trailer, we see glimpses of Sethu's original character Mundy Flynn, with The Doctor commenting "there is something already connecting us." Could we be in for a Clara-esque character sprinkled throughout the Doctor’s timeline? Either way, Belinda isn’t keen on being along for the ride, with the season-long arc seeing the duo head on an epic quest to get the new companion back to Earth.

The new footage also reveals Traitors US host Alan Cumming’s new villain, Mr Ring-a-Ding who emerges terrifyingly from the silver screen in 1952 to cause cartoon chaos, as well as confirming that we haven’t seen the last of Dobson’s mischievous neighbor as she pops up in the audience of a universe-spanning version of the Eurovision song Content, hosted by none other than Rylan Clark.

As expected, there’s also the return of former companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) alongside Mel (Bonnie Langford) and Kate (Jemma Redgrave), despite the pair gearing up for their own UNIT spin-off.

The trailer arrives amidst rumors of cancellation for the show, with some claiming that the increasingly in-demand Gatwa had quit the role and that Disney, disappointed by last season's viewing figures, were looking to end the production partnership after the latest batch of episodes – both of which could lead to the BBC putting the sci-fi adventure on ice.

However, the broadcaster recently released a statement to the Radio Times debunking fans’ concerns stating: "This story is incorrect, Doctor Who has not been shelved. As we have previously stated, the decision on season 3 will be made after season 2 airs.”

Were Gatwa to leave after season 2 of the show, it would mark the shortest tenure for an actor in the role (not including David Tennant’s 60th Anniversary guest spot as the Fourteenth Doctor) since Christopher Ecclestone’s surprise departure after one season way back in 2005.

It’s worth reiterating, however, that nothing is confirmed at present, and with no official sign that the Fifteenth Doctor will be regenerating anytime soon, eyes are firmly on what awaits us when the new season drops on BBC iPlayer and Disney Plus on April 12.

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• BlackFog says ransomware rose significantly in 2024
• Two groups particularly stood out - LockBit and RansomHub
• Infections increased across industries, despite increased awareness

2024 was a record-breaking year for ransomware attacks, with more groups, more malware variants, and higher payouts than ever before, new research has said.

Cybersecurity researchers BlackFog found compared to 2023, there were 65% more groups detected in 2024r - 48 in total. A significant number of these - 44 new variants - were responsible for almost a third (32%) of all undisclosed attacks in 2024.

In the last two months of the year, threat actors that first emerged in 2024 accounted for more than half of the attacks in each month.

LockBit and RansomHub

When it comes to disclosed attacks, the majority went to healthcare, government, and education verticals. These three took up almost half (47%) of all reports for the year. Attacks on healthcare increased by 20% year-on-year, on government 15%, and on education 10%. However, percentage-wise, there were industries who reported significant rises, as well, including retail (96%), services (88%), and finance (66%).

For undisclosed attacks, the top three industries were manufacturing (17.6%), services (12.2%) and technology (9.7%).

Two groups stood out as particularly dangerous - LockBit and RansomHub. The former is one of the most prominent threat actors in recent years, and in 2024, it targeted 603 victims. In May 2024 alone, the group launched almost 200 attacks, taking up a significant portion (36%) of all attacks reported that month.

RansomHub, on the other hand, did not lag much. Despite only being introduced in February 2024, it managed to affect 586 victims, including government entities and 78 organizations in the global manufacturing sector.

BlackFog also said the Medusa group was worth mentioning, even though it accounted for “just” 5% of all disclosed incidents for the year, as it was known for demanding enormous fees, often exceeding $40 million.

“The report shows 2024 was a landmark year with organizations facing growing financial and reputational damage from ransomware attacks, with high-value sectors particularly pressured to pay ransoms to restore operations,” said Dr. Darren Williams, Founder and CEO of BlackFog.

“As cybercriminals continuously refine their techniques to exploit vulnerabilities and launch large-scale attacks, defending against ransomware is becoming increasingly complex. Governments are stepping up efforts to counter this growing threat, introducing new measures such as mandatory ransomware incident reporting. However, the global ransomware crisis continues to escalate at an alarming rate. In this evolving threat landscape, proactive and preventative strategies to mitigate ransomware and data exfiltration have never been more crucial.” 

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• Some Tado customers received a notification about a new subscription
• The message claimed that the Tado app will soon cost £1 per month
• Tado says it was part of a marketing study and no users have been charged

Some owners of Tado smart thermostats are feeling hot under the collar after the company ran a marketing study suggesting its app might soon require a subscription. A handful of users and potential customers shopping in the Tado web store recently saw a message saying that there would soon be a monthly fee to use the Tado app – though those who clicked a checkbox to confirm they understood were informed that it was only a test.

The pop-up message, which has been shared on Reddit and the company's support forums, says that app users will soon be charged £1 (about $1.20 / AU$2) per household per month "to continue offering you innovative features and top-notch service" and to offset increasing business costs.

According to the alert, the fee would come into force from 1 May, but using Tado devices through Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit devices would still be free.

Tado App Monthly charge from r/tado

When TechRadar contacted Tado for a comment, a spokesperson said: "As is typical in the industry, Tado routinely does marketing studies and research, and looks at customer feedback every day. Those involved in this study about paid apps retained full access to the Tado App with no charge and the tests are now complete."

Free or fee?

So is Tado really going to start charging a fee? We don't know. It certainly looks like a possibility, but at this point it could go either way.

Tado does already have a subscription service called Auto Assist, which lets users fully automate their household heating and cooling and unlocks extra features. For example, rather than just sending a notification if a window is left open, Auto Assist will automatically adjust the heating to avoid wasting energy. It can also use geofencing to turn your heating off automatically when nobody is home, and switch it back on when the first person gets back.

Some Tado owners have said they don't mind the idea of paying a fee to use the app if it comes with Auto Assist rolled in as well to sweeten the deal.

Comment from r/tado

The problem is that other customers purchased Tado hardware in the belief that the basic app would remain subscription-free, and many users on the company's support forums and on Reddit are unhappy about both the idea, and the way Tado concealed the fact that it was conducting a marketing study until users clicked through.

We'll have to wait and see what the company decides to do with the information it's gathered, and whether it goes ahead with a subscription or keeps the free model with Auto Assist as an optional paid add-on.

Do you own a Tado smart thermostat, and would you be willing to pay to use the app to control it? Let us know in the comments.

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• Tim Cook just teased that something's in the AIR this week
• It's not an event invite, but rather a video teaser for something new
• If rumors are right, we could see a new MacBook Air with M4 or a new iPad

Hot off the heels of fresh rumors about a MacBook Air refresh with the latest, super-speedy M4 chip, Apple CEO Tim Cook is teasing that there is something in the ‘AIR’ this week. It’s likely a very smart choice of words, but this all but confirms that there is at least an Apple launch on the horizon.

As with the tease for what turned out to be the iPhone 16e, Tim Cook took to X (formerly Twitter), writing “This week.” and then a six-second teaser video. While it doesn’t show any product, it flashes one word individually at a time, writing out: There’s something in the AIR. And that points to two of Apple’s products – the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air and the iPad Air.

Hinting at speed is the fact that something slides through the word Air, causing a ripple effect. That could be a new MacBook Air or an iPad Air, likely with some improved performance courtesy of Apple Silicon.

This week. pic.twitter.com/uXqQaGNkSkMarch 3, 2025

The teaser, which was posted at 10:54AM ET on March 3, 2025, comes a day after Bloomberg's Mark Gurman shared that Apple's planned refresh for the MacBook Air with the M4 chip could come as soon as this week.

Apple initially launched the M4 chip in May of 2024 with the iPad Pro and then brought it to the iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch) in October of 2024. So you could say it's about time to arrive in Apple's most popular and portable laptop, the MacBook Air.

We're not expecting a wildly different design with the new MacBook Air, but the M4 chip could speed up tasks thanks to an improved CPU and GPU, and it could also be better at Apple Intelligence thanks to bigger leaps with the Neural Engine. It should also help stretch the battery life even further.

Tim Cook also chose an important set of words that have some history at Apple. You might recall that before Steve Jobs pulled the original MacBook Air out of the manila envelope, the event was teased with the sub-line, "2008 There's something in the air." This time around, there is extra emphasis on the AIR.

Considering that this tease from Apple doesn't specify one new addition to the family, we could be getting more than one new product from the Cupertino-based tech giant.

According to recent reports, Apple is also preparing an upgraded iPad Air and a new entry-level iPad, likely the 12th gen. Apple refreshed the iPad Air, bringing down Face ID and a design that was more similar to the iPad Pro in May of 2024, but it could be improving performance by either the M3 or M4 chip, as well as new accessories.

Regarding the base entry-level iPad, it should also see a speed improvement, but rumors suggest that will be about it. In the same report as the MacBook Air, Bloomberg noted that the iPad launches could be further out.

We'll know more soon, though, as Apple says the news will be made this week. Of course, stick with TechRadar for the latest as we break down whatever Apple has in store. In the meantime, I'm asking Siri to play a Phil Collins classic – In The Air Tonight.

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• Zapier sends data breach notification letter to affected customers
• It says a threat actor a 2FA misconfiguration to breach an account
• They accessed some sensitive customer information

Popular automation tool Zapier has suffered a cyberattack which saw the company lose sensitive customer information.

News of the attack was reported by The Verge, which obtained a copy of the breach notification letter the company’s Head of Security, Zeeshan Khadim, sent to affected customers.

According to the letter, an unnamed threat actor abused a “two-factor authentication (2FA) misconfiguration” on an employee’s account to gain unauthorized access to certain Zapier code repositories. “

Training AI

Normally, this would not impact our customers,” the letter further states, but after auditing the contents of the repositories, Zapier found some customer information that was “inadvertently copied to the repositories for debugging purposes”.

These were “isolated incidents”, the security boss said. We don’t know exactly how many people were affected, or what kind of information was stolen. We know what wasn’t, though: “This incident did not affect any Zapier database, infrastructure or production, authentication, or payment systems.”

Once Zapier was aware of the incident, it secured access to the repositories and invalidated the compromised account. The company also generated a secure link on which affected customers can see a copy of their impacted data.

“Please review this data, and take appropriate actions, which may include rotating any valid plain text authentication tokens that may have been used in places such as code, or webhook step configuration which were found in the impacted data,” the letter further states, suggesting what information may have been taken. “Note that your Zap/App authentication tokens were not impacted by this incident. We also recommend that you review security settings on your Zapier account and your other online apps, including activating 2FA where available.”

The company is now running a thorough audit and internal process remediation to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, as well.

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I always assumed tri-fold smartphones were a clever way to squish a decent-sized tablet into a smartphone-sized form factor, but a tantalizing new concept from Infinix, the ZERO Series Mini Tri-Fold, has me thinking differently about this form factor and wishing that everyone would follow its lead.

Infinix, a mobile technology company focused mostly on markets outside the US and Europe, teased an exciting tri-fold concept design this week that starts as a standard-sized flagship phone and then folds – twice – into a versatile, palm-sized tech companion.

(Image credit: Infinix)

In the images shared in a press release, the ZERO Series Mini Tri-Fold looks incredibly thin (no specs were given) and features a metal back and dual camera system. The front is an edge-to-edge display that can fold accordion-like so that the first bend folds the top two-thirds of the display in on itself and the last third bends out. Fully folded, the phone has the cameras on one side and the screen on the other.

Bending the right

What's immediately appealing about this design to me is that it takes Samsung's Z Flip 6 folding design, and raises the stakes with a phone that folds to roughly the same visual thickness as the Flip but is even more compact. Instead of losing screen real-estate to the cameras, they end up on one side of the phone while the other side is nothing but display.

(Image credit: Infinix)

There are even, as Infinix envisions it, benefits to keeping that display bend visible when the phone is folded. In one image, Inifinx shows how the phone can be attached to a mountain bike handlebar, with the top third of the main display used as a viewfinder for the cameras, the middle portion delivering route guidance, and that thin bend space displaying additional details about the ride.

Fully folded, the ZERO Series Mini Tri-Fold concept is small enough that you could attach it to your vest as a sort of lifecam for hiking or other activities.

Infinix claims it's "lightweight, intuitive, and built for single-handed use – blurring the lines between a smartphone and an all-in-one tech companion." Like I said, lots of versatility.

A better folding way

Seeing this concept made me realize I'd been thinking about tri-folds in the wrong way. I'd assumed, based on current tri folds heading to the market, that these flexi phones were the best way to get mid-sized tablets into our pockets. I like drawing on tablets and appreciate a larger screen that I can take anywhere without the bulk, but the iPad Mini has always neatly split the difference for me (and is still larger than, say, an unfolded Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6).

The Huawei Mate XT looks nice but unwieldy when unfolded. What if, as this Infinix concept suggests, a tri-fold doesn't try to turn a smartphone into something bigger but instead takes the framework of a smartphone and makes it far smaller. Granted, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is pretty small, but folded, it's thick and would not hang lightly in a coat pocket or vest.

The ZERO Series Mini Tri-Fold is a true convertible, transforming the flagship phone design into first a flip-style device and then, with one more fold, into something approaching a GoPro – but with all the smarts and capabilities of a smartphone.

(Image credit: Infinix)

Obviously there are tons of questions here. Can Infiinx really build such a thin and light tri-folding phone? If the screen is folded and that screen bend is on the outside, how do we know that it can survive one hard knock during an intense hike?

A thin design like that won't accommodate periscope cameras, which means limited zoom. Also, we don't know the megapixels for any of the cameras.

I can, though, make some assumptions based on Ifinix's Zero Flip. It's a 6.9-inch, 195g foldable with just one bend and two 50MP cameras on the back. I have to assume that might be the starting point for this far sexier tri-fold.

That's not a bad place to start. Let's see Infinix build it, and then watch as Samsung, Huawei, and even Apple race to catch up.

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Before the prequels, sequels, theme parks, video games and more, an independent sci-fi turned out to be the smash hit of summer 1977. Audiences today are almost grappling with Star Wars fatigue, but back in the late seventies, moviegoers couldn’t get enough of Luke, Han and Leia’s adventures in a galaxy far, far away.

For modern audiences, finding the original version that screened in theaters when the film was originally released has been as tough as trying to complete the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs, but now, thanks to little known streamer Cinema Box (available on Roku devices), the pure, un-tinkered with version of the seminal sci-fi is available to stream, and what’s more, it’s totally free (via Men’s Journal).

Under creator George Lucas, the Star Wars franchise has been re-edited and remastered a number of times over the years, dating all the way back to 1981, when the re-release of Star Wars (in the run up to the release of The Empire Strikes Back) saw the ‘Episode IV - A New Hope’ subtitle added.

The biggest changes came in 1997, when the entire original trilogy was given a CGI sheen, much to the dismay of long-time fans. Desolate locations became densely populated circuses, Jabba the Hutt was shoehorned where he didn’t belong and most egregiously, Han shot first. The films were altered again for the flagship 2004 DVD release, and again for their Blu Ray bow in 2011.

Since Disney’s acquisition of the franchise in 2012, no major alterations have been made bar changes to opening logos to reflect new ownership, and slight adjustments to the color, compositing and effects resolution for a 4K HDR release.

The theatrical versions of the original trilogy, particularly the pre-1981 version of Star Wars, have previously been available on VHS, LaserDisc and as bonus features on the 2006 DVD releases of the films, but to my knowledge, this is the first time the 1977 release of the OG movie has appeared on streaming.

Over on Reddit, one user pointed out that this particular edition of the film appears to be a version known as Harmy's Despecialized Edition, a fan-edit aiming to recreate the original as closely as possible – using footage from the Blu-ray release and the 1993 LaserDisc as a guide – as opposed to a genuine copy of the original master.

Comment from r/StarWars

While Cinema Box appears to be exclusive to Roku devices (so not available via a browser), it also seems to come and go – if you're interested in seeing this curio, you may need to take action at hyperspeed.

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As finance functions have become increasingly automated, the CIO and CFO have been bought into closer collaboration than ever before. However, this partnership often faces friction. A CFO that focusses on margins and cost control closely might view technology investments as a luxury rather than a necessity, while conversely, a CIO prioritising innovation without regard for finances can alienate F&A teams.

Ultimately, this tension arises from a misalignment of priorities; while the CIO sees technology as a strategic enabler of growth, the CFO’s lens is often shaped by immediate financial outcomes. These differences in approach, if left unaddressed, can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and a fracture in alignment at the highest branch of the business.

Both roles need to meet in the middle – acknowledging each other’s value and creating a shared vision for leadership that will align their teams and build the most productive partnership possible.

Striking the balance between cost-cutting and innovation

Balancing cost-cutting with innovation calls for a mindset shift. It’s not about one approach trumping the other; it’s about finding harmony between the two. For example, CIOs should frame tech investments in terms that resonate with CFOs: cost savings, operational efficiencies, and measurable ROI. CFOs, on the other hand, must embrace a forward-looking perspective, recognizing that innovation often requires upfront investment in order to deliver long-term value.

Practical steps are key to bridging this divide. Joint workshops or strategy sessions where both executives can evaluate tech plans through a shared lens – discussing both financial viability and business potential – can encourage alignment. In addition, breaking down large-scale projects into smaller phases with measurable milestones can allow both sides to see tangible progress without overcommitting their resources.

Business leaders need to reframe technology as an enabler of financial discipline, not as an expense. For example, automation tools in F&A can reduce manual workload while improving accuracy and auditability – delivering measurable benefits both in the office of the CFO and in IT teams.

The importance of communication, trust, and shared accountability

A strong CIO-CFO partnership hinges on three core elements – communication, trust, and shared accountability. Regular and transparent communication ensures that both leaders are on the same page when it comes to priorities, risks, and goals. This requires a shift away from siloed decision-making towards a collaborative approach.

Building trust takes time but pays dividends. CIOs can demonstrate credibility by presenting clear, data-backed cases for technology investments while delivering on promised outcomes. CFOs, in turn, should acknowledge and celebrate successful technology implementations, reinforcing their value.

Shared accountability is also critical. Both leaders must view technology investments as a joint responsibility rather than an IT-only initiative. This means incentives and KPIs need to be as aligned as closely as possible. For example, measuring the success of a digital transformation initiative based on cost savings alone might miss broader benefits such as enhanced customer experience or improved scalability. By co-owning metrics for success, both business functions can work towards the same goals.

The impact of a thriving CIO-CFO relationship

When the CIO and CFO operate in harmony, the effects ultimately impact the entire organization. A united front sends a powerful message to other departments – and so ensures a culture of collaboration and shared purpose.

For example, a CFO who publicly supports an IT-driven initiative fosters buy-in across the company, while a CIO who consistently delivers value ensures that IT is seen as a strategic partner rather than a business unit of high costs. Together, they can drive enterprise-wide transformation, uniting the Offices of both the CIO and CFO to make the organization more agile, competitive, and resilient.

Take digital transformation in F&A as an example. When CIOs and CFOs collaborate effectively, they enable smarter resource allocation, faster decision-making, and better risk management factors that are critical to ensuring financial resilience in today’s business environment.

Driving growth

The partnership between CIOs and CFOs will only grow in importance as businesses continue to navigate economic uncertainty, technological disruption, and shifting market demands. To succeed, both roles must evolve, with CFOs becoming champions of strategic innovation beyond traditional F&A, and CIOs deepening their understanding of financial principles.

The goal is the same – to drive sustainable growth by fostering mutual respect, maintaining open communication, and aligning on shared objectives. CIOs and CFOs can transform their relationship from a potential battleground to one striving for joint success at the very top of a business.

Collaboration isn’t just a ‘nice to have’ anymore – it’s a necessity for thriving in business. The question isn’t whether CIOs and CFOs should work together; it’s how they can work better together.

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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

The government's push to "mainline AI into the veins" of the nation marks a transformative era. However, the very foundation of this progress - the energy grid - has become a lucrative target for malicious actors. AI-driven technologies promise greater efficiency and resilience, yet their dependence on the UK’s energy sector puts a bigger target on the country’s critical infrastructure. As the UK advances toward making its mark as a global AI leader, its energy sector faces a critical challenge of the rising threat of cyberattacks.

With national security and technological leadership at stake, energy providers must urgently fortify their defenses to safeguard the UK's AI ambitions from disruption.

The growing cyber threat against legacy systems

According to Trustwave’s latest report, the average cost of a data breach in the energy sector stands at a staggering $5.29 million, significantly exceeding the cross-industry average of $4.8 million. The financial toll is just the tip of the iceberg; a successful cyber-attack against the UK’s energy sector could lead to far more severe consequences such as operational disruptions, national security risks, and a loss of public trust. Given the centrality of the energy sector to AI-powered progress, any interference could derail the UK's momentum towards technological leadership.

One of the more significant challenges is the sector's reliance on ageing infrastructure and legacy systems. Thames Water highlighted in 2024 that some IT systems date back to the 1980s, leaving them highly vulnerable. Outdated systems also hinder compatibility with modern security solutions, essential for protecting against cyber threats without disrupting operations.

Moreover, the sector is integrating its physical infrastructure with digital systems like Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and IoT. While this enhances efficiency, increasing digital transformation also expands the risk of cyberattacks. This integration exposes vulnerabilities and complicates securing both operational technology (OT) and IT infrastructures. Securing OT systems requires specialized cybersecurity approaches due to their proprietary nature and direct impact on physical infrastructure. Balancing security with operational reliability is crucial, as using traditional IT security methods could leave energy organizations on the back foot.

Finally, energy companies face significant challenges in overhauling aging infrastructure due to costs and operational risks. Connecting legacy systems to modern networks or IoT devices could pose further security risks without appropriate and proactive cyber hygiene measures. Protecting these systems while transitioning to more secure technologies demands strategic planning, investment, and collaboration between IT and OT teams.

Ransomware on the horizon

When it comes to cybersecurity, IT or OT infrastructure is unfortunately not the only concern that the energy and utility sector needs to be aware of. Especially since the UK’s ambition for AI leadership has further raised the critical importance of the energy and utilities sector in the UK, it has become that much more of a lucrative target for cybercriminals and nation-state hackers to disrupt essential services and cause further financial, economic and community damage.

There has been a significant increase in ransomware attacks targeting the energy and utilities sector, with an 80% year-over-year increase globally. The number of attacks was notably higher in the second half of 2023 and the first half of 2024. This increase in the number of ransomware attacks can be linked to the rise in Ransomware-as-a Service (RaaS) groups, which has enabled less-skilled attackers to carry out highly-sophisticated ransomware campaigns. Additionally, as ransomware groups refine their tactics, they become more effective at exploiting weak links within the sector, increasing the chances of widespread disruption and financial loss.

A pressing concern is the sector's supply chain weaknesses. Ransomware groups frequently target suppliers and service providers, who often have privileged access to critical systems but lack the same level of security controls as energy companies themselves. A single compromised supplier can serve as an entry point, allowing attackers to infiltrate multiple clients and escalate their impact across the industry.

Compounding this challenge is a fundamental lack of visibility within energy organizations. Many struggle to maintain an accurate inventory of their assets, track their access levels, and understand interconnections between systems. This opacity leads to security blind spots, making it easier for ransomware groups to exploit overlooked vulnerabilities and move laterally within networks undetected.

Remote services further expand the attack surface, providing cybercriminals with a pathway into critical systems. Attackers frequently exploit remote access tools such as SMB/Windows Admin Shares and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to gain persistence within a network. Without stringent access controls and monitoring, these services can serve as a gateway for ransomware deployment and data exfiltration.

Building cyber resilience in the energy sector

Addressing the challenge of legacy systems in the energy and utilities sector, many of which were not designed to withstand modern cyber threats, requires energy companies to implement virtual patching for unpatched systems, strict access controls, and network segmentation to isolate vulnerable assets. A phased approach to infrastructure modernization, coupled with secure OT-IT integration is an additional critical requirement as this allows energy companies to upgrade systems while maintaining operational stability.

Zero-trust security frameworks need to be established as these require continuous verification of all users and devices. Such a framework further reduces risks associated with interconnected IT and OT environments. Furthermore, investing in specialized OT cybersecurity measures, including intrusion detection systems (IDS) tailored to industrial environments, ensures that security efforts do not disrupt critical operations.

Operational stability and resilience is, of course, especially critical for energy and utilities providers given the profound impact to businesses and communities that an operational halt could have. For instance, our research report found that an attack on one such facility that houses 400 million cubic meters of gas, could leave London (8.87 million people) without gas for over two weeks (14.6 days).

Energy and utility providers must begin to prioritize bolstering resilience through the use of proactive threat intelligence, dark web monitoring, and incident response planning to prepare for and respond to emerging threats. Strengthening supply chain security, enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA), and ensuring regulatory compliance are supplementary steps in a robust defense against cyber adversaries.

The path forward

Ultimately, as the UK pushes forward with its AI ambitions, the energy sector must remain vigilant against the escalating cyber threats that could hinder this progress. AI’s transformative potential hinges on a stable and secure energy infrastructure—without it, the nation's leadership in AI and digital innovation is cut off at its knees.

By prioritizing modernized security frameworks, proactive threat intelligence, and comprehensive incident response planning, the UK can safeguard its critical infrastructure from cybercriminals seeking to exploit its digital evolution. A secure energy sector is not just an operational necessity; it is the backbone of the country’s AI-driven future. Only through decisive action and strategic investment in cybersecurity can the UK ensure that its pursuit of technological leadership remains uninterrupted.

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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

• US digital transformation maturity is below the global average
• Workers don’t have the right tools or training
• Basic security measures are missing

Despite world-class investments in AI and other tech, US businesses are lagging when it comes to digital transformation, new research has claimed.

A report from Zoho found as many as two in five (39%) US organizations are still only in the early stages of transformation, with the whole country ranking 1.2 percentage points beneath the global average in terms of transformation maturity.

The slow progress is being blamed on security weaknesses and delayed tool adoption, with only 15% of workers feeling that workplace tools meet their expectations - with separate WalkMe research finding only 28% of employees feel adequately trained.

US digital transformation is lagging

Zoho noted progressing from Level 2 (standardization) to Level 3 (structured operations) could take between three and five years, coming at the cost of $250-500 per employee annually. Reaching Level 4 (optimized digital operations) requires around twice the resources – 10 or more years and $500-1,000 per employee each year.

The majority of companies (85%) are still said to be relying on manual task delegation over automation, with the likes of hospitality, logistics and retail struggling more than their tech-adept counterparts in IT and finance industries. SMBs also lag behind larger firms, likely due to more limited resources - and WalkMe’s research backs this up, uncovering that only one in four use AI to improve efficiency.

Some of the problems highlighted include poor implementation of multi-factor authentication (MFA) (used by just half of the companies analysed), the provision of secure access policies like VPN (available to just one in four) and limited physical security controls (adopted by fewer than one in three).

To put a price on the losses, WalkMe estimates $104 million in losses throughout 2024 due to underutilized technology, as well as 36 days wasted each year by inefficient workers. On the flip side, proper digital adoption could nearly triple returns on transformation investments.

“US businesses have strong foundations in collaboration and digital tools, but security and process inefficiencies are major barriers to transformation," noted Zoho Chief Evangelist Raju Vegesna.

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