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Trump dashes hopes of a trade deal with India by Aug. 1, announcing 25% tariffs

NPR News Headlines - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 09:55

President Trump said he would pose an additional penalty on India for its trade relations with Russia, which Trump is trying to pressure over its war with Ukraine.

(Image credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds)

Categories: News

YouTube's Age-Estimation Tech Will Spot Kids Pretending to Be Adults. Here's How It Works

CNET News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 09:43
The streaming service will use various methods to make sure kids aren't watching age-restricted content.
Categories: Technology

Dropbox Passwords will soon be no more - here's how to save your passwords, and our pick of alternatives

TechRadar News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 09:28
  • Dropbox is dropping Passwords from its product portfolio
  • The app and browser extension will be discontinued soon
  • Users will still be able to access their data until October 28, 2025

For users of Dropbox Passwords, it's time to take a look at the best password managers and find a new service to use, after the cloud storage company revealed it will soon discontinue the service.

The end of service for Dropbox Passwords will be October 28, 2025, giving users ample time to find a new credential manager to suit their needs.

In the announcement, Dropbox said it was discontinuing the tool, “as part of our efforts to focus on enhancing other features in our core product.”

So long, Dropbox Passwords

Dropbox Passwords users will still have ample time to access their saved usernames, passwords, and stored credit card information for export until October 28, but there will be some key changes before then.

On August 28, 2025 the password manager will become view-only on both mobile devices and on through the browser extension. You won’t be able to add any more credentials nor use the autofill feature from this date.

On September 11, the mobile app will be depreciated and will no longer be available for use. Your data will remain available through the browser extension.

The fateful date of October 28 will see all Dropbox Password data securely deleted and the dark web monitoring feature will cease to function.

In its blog post, Dropbox has provided some key information on how to export your data from both the app and browser extension. Mobile app users can follow these instructions to export their data:

  1. Open the Dropbox Passwords mobile app.
  2. Tap (settings).
  3. Tap Export.
  4. Tap Export to confirm.

To export data from the browser extension, do the following:

  1. Open the Dropbox Passwords browser extension.
  2. Click your avatar (profile picture or initials) in the bottom-left corner.
  3. Click Preferences.
  4. Click the Account tab.
  5. Click Export.
  6. Click Export to confirm.
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Categories: Technology

Levoit's new air purifier-sleep aid combo is designed for children, but it looks so soothing I'd quite like one myself

TechRadar News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 09:26
  • Levoit Sprout is an air purifier designed for children
  • It includes white noise and gentle night light functions
  • It also monitors humidity and temperature

Levoit's Sprout is an air purifier geared specifically towards children, and it has some nifty tricks up its sleeve. Not only does it purify air, but it also offers various extra features intended to help create the perfect safe, soothing sleep environment. Levoit calls it a 'three in one peacemaker'.

Today's best air purifiers are excellent at removing impurities from the air, and some even double up as fans, but I've never seen one that's designed to act as a sleep aid. I'm actually a little miffed that this one's really for children, because I'd quite like one in my bedroom.

There's a true HEPA filter, which can capture all kinds of nasties – including dust, pollen, smoke and viruses – from the air. On top of that, it's able to track the levels various pollutant types (PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10, TVOC and CO2) as well as monitoring the temperature and humidity in the room.

Soothing sleep

The Sprout doubles up as a night light, emitting soft, blue-light-free ambient illumination, and offers five different white noise settings to help create a soothing environment to drop off in. The curvy shape with rounded edges was created with nursery décor in mind.

The Sprout purifier connects to the VeSync app, where you can view air quality reports in real time, create personalized schedules, control the appliance remotely, and check how soon the filter needs replacing. It's also compatible with Amazon Alexa if you want to go hands-free.

The Levoit Sprout is available to purchase direct from Levoit or via Amazon US or Amazon UK, and costs $279.99 / £279.99 at list price. The good news for UK shoppers is that there's a deal available to take the price down:

There's £50 off the Levoit Sprout right now, taking the price of this child-friendly air purifier and sleep aid down to under £230. This multitasking appliance purifies the air and also has nightlight and white noise functions, plus the curvy design will fit seamlessly into a nursery or child's room.

The same deal is available direct from Levoit, via a coupon code.View Deal

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Categories: Technology

Greetings from Khartoum, Sudan, where those with the least offer their guests the most

NPR News Headlines - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 09:24

Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.

Categories: News

Agentic AI: the rising threat that demands a human-centric cybersecurity response

TechRadar News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 09:23

AI agents were once theoretical, but now they are a tangible force reshaping the modern threat landscape. Also known as Computer-Using Agents (CUAs), these advanced AI bots can use applications and browse the internet to complete complex, often time-consuming tasks with minimal or no human oversight. Their rapid evolution is unlocking new efficiencies across a variety of sectors with automation and analysis, enabling more informed decision-making.

But this leap forward comes with a caveat. As they grow more capable, AI agents introduce a new class of cybersecurity threats. Malicious actors can hijack these tools to orchestrate sophisticated cyberattacks, exploiting predictable patterns of human behavior to infiltrate systems and exfiltrate sensitive data.

From theory to reality

To move beyond theory and speculation, our team undertook a series of controlled experiments to assess how agentic AI could be weaponized. We found that these agents can automate a wide range of malicious tasks on behalf of threat actors when instructed correctly.

This includes, but is not limited to, credential stuffing and reconnaissance, which previously required significant human effort. To make matters worse, they can even perform outright cyberattacks by guessing passwords and sending out phishing emails en masse.

This marks a watershed moment in cybersecurity’s fight against AI-powered threats. The automation of attacks significantly lowers the barrier to entry for threat actors, enabling even low-skilled individuals to launch high-impact campaigns. This has the potential to rapidly escalate the scale at which phishing attacks can be carried out.

The growing capabilities of AI agents

The largest AI players are redefining what agents can do. Platforms like OpenAI’s Operator, alongside various tools developed by Google, Anthropic and Meta, all have their own strengths and limitations, but share one critical feature. The ability to carry out real-world actions based on very simple text prompts.

This functionality is a double-edged sword. In the hands of responsible users, it can drive innovation and productivity. But in the wrong hands, it becomes a powerful weapon, one that can turn a novice attacker into a formidable threat.

The good news is that widespread abuse of these tools is not yet common. However, that window is closing fast. The simplicity and accessibility of agentic AI make it an ideal tool for amplifying social engineering attacks.

Automating reconnaissance at scale

To illustrate the real-world implications, we investigated whether agentic AI could be utilized to automate the collection of information for targeted attacks. Using OpenAI’s Operator, which features a sandboxed browser and possesses uniquely autonomous behavior, we issued a simple prompt: identify new employees at a specific company.

Within minutes, the agent accessed LinkedIn, analyzed recent company posts and profile updates, and compiled a list of new joiners from the past 90 days. It extracted names, roles, and start dates, all the information needed to craft highly targeted phishing campaigns. And, it did this in the blink of an eye.

Some might be tempted to dismiss this as a simple information-gathering exercise. But this experiment displays that seemingly harmless human behaviors like posting job updates on social media can inadvertently expose organizations to significant cyber risk. What once took hours or days can now be accomplished in minutes, at scale.

Exploiting identity through credential stuffing

Another alarming capability of agentic AI is its potential to facilitate identity-based attacks. Credential stuffing, a method where attackers use previously compromised username and password combinations to gain unauthorized access, is a prime example.

To test this attack vector, we instructed Operator to attempt access to login flows on several popular SaaS platforms, equipping it with a target email address and a publicly available list of breached passwords. Based on this limited information, it was able to get into one of the accounts. This underscores how agentic AI can be used to automate credential abuse, bypass traditional defenses and exploit a weak link in the security chain. Human error.

Injecting heightened urgency into human risk management

Our research confirms that agentic AI is already capable of executing a broad spectrum of malicious activities, from phishing and malware delivery to exposing vulnerabilities. While current capabilities are still in their early stages, the potential is there for automated attacks at scale in the not-so-distant future.

This calls for a fundamental shift in how organizations approach cybersecurity. Historically, the focus has been on protecting systems, not people. However, traditional methods like annual training and awareness campaigns only serve to place the burden on employees. This is an outdated approach, and it papers over the real root causes of human error.

Human-centric cyber risk needs to be proactive. And, it needs to be in real-time. This includes two main steps:

  • User-focused controls: Implementing strong authentication, behavioral monitoring, and phishing-resistant technologies shifts the focus to identifying common risky behaviors
  • Threat mapping: Visualizing and prioritizing human-centric risks in the same way software risks are tracked by the MITRE database, for example, can inform more targeted interventions tailored to specific risky user behaviors

By understanding the human behaviors that create openings for threat actors, businesses can deploy smarter, more effective defenses. This shift from reactive to proactive security is well established for software defense, so there is no good reason human risk should be treated any differently.

Adapt before it’s too late

Agentic AI is not just a technological advancement, it is a vehicle for cyberattacks at scale. As these tools become more powerful and accessible, the cybersecurity community must shift its mindset. The future of cyber defense lies not just in securing systems, but in understanding and protecting the people who use them.

The clock is ticking, and the attackers are already adapting. So should you.

We've featured the best encryption software.

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

Categories: Technology

Harnessing the chaos: the strategic imperative of the Generative AI era

TechRadar News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 09:06

The world has been captivated by the sheer magic of generative AI. In what felt like an instant, we were handed a technology capable of creating endless streams of enterprise knowledge — from customer support scripts and detailed technical manuals to entire marketing campaigns and even lines of code. The first phase of this revolution was one of chaotic, yet thrilling, experimentation. But the novelty is giving way to a stark reality: Creating an avalanche of information isn’t a strategy. It's a liability.

At the Responsible AI Summit in June 2025, the urgency was palpable. Across every conversation I had, one truth kept resurfacing: The very tools designed to drive innovation and accelerate growth could just as easily expose us to risks. What was once seen as a ‘golden ticket’ of sorts is now being viewed through a sharper lens — one that reveals reputational risks, regulatory landmines, and the potential for operational chaos if left unchecked.

The second act of generative AI: compliance

We’re now entering the second, more critical act of this technological shift. The primary challenge is no longer about generation, but about governance and scale across the entire organization. The siloed, human-centric workflows that have managed our information pipelines for decades are breaking under the strain of this new volume. It's not lost on me that the generative AI boom has made content production quicker and easier than ever. But speed without oversight is a liability.

The strategic imperative has shifted from creating more content to creating the right content, reliably and with purpose, regardless of its function. The companies that thrive will be those that move from frantic experimentation to building a unified, strategic creation engine.

Every piece of content either builds your brand — or breaks it. Whether it’s content that strays from brand guidelines, defies industry standards, or is misaligned with regulatory compliance, these missteps in content expose your organization to legal, financial, and reputational risks. We’re seeing the consequences of poor quality content unfold in real-time.

The infrastructure behind AI intelligence

This requires building a new kind of digital factory for enterprise intelligence. This isn't just a metaphor; it's an operational necessity built on three pillars.

At the heart of it’s a robust MLOps (Machine Learning Operations) pipeline specifically designed for the nuances of generative models, serving as the factory's core assembly line. With generative AI models demanding continuous tuning, evaluation, and oversight, MLOps is what’s behind running the engine, adapting to evolving enterprise needs, and preventing misuse before it occurs.

Second, a mastery of prompt engineering, which acts as the skilled artisan, ensures the AI’s output is refined and aligned with specific departmental intent. Generative AI will only ever be as good as its inputs and the instructions it’s given. Prompt engineering acts as a quality control in translating business context into meaningful, actionable outputs — each purpose-built for the teams that need it.

Finally, a network of powerful APIs serves as the distribution network, seamlessly integrating this new creation engine into every facet of the business, from technical authoring platforms to conversational AI interfaces. Embedding AI into the platforms that employees are already using, APIs bring new capabilities into everyday, scalable workflows.

Together, these three pillars move you beyond fragmented AI experiments and into operational reality. They create a foundation where AI becomes a native part of how your business runs: Consistently, safely, and at scale.

Defining quality by determinism

Yet, even with a perfect factory, a fundamental question remains: What’s "good" content when it could be anything from a line in a legal contract to a spoken response from a chatbot? Quality is no longer subjective; it must be defined by accuracy, consistency, and safety. This is where we must install creative guardrails.

The answer lies in a concept that seems at odds with generative AI’s nature: Determinism. While AI’s probabilistic power is the source of its creativity, an enterprise requires certainty. We need a technical document to cite the correct API endpoint every time. We need a support chatbot to follow a specific, compliant troubleshooting protocol. We need our legal boilerplate to be exact.

By embedding deterministic rules into our AI systems, we don’t stifle innovation; we create a safe space for it to flourish. These guardrails are the mechanism that safeguards that whether the output is for marketing, engineering, or customer support, it’s verifiably accurate and trustworthy.

Building the intelligent enterprises of the future

Looking ahead, this controlled, strategic approach will unlock a future of knowledge that’s truly dynamic and multi-modal. We’re on the cusp of creating interactive, voice-navigated repair manuals for technicians in the field, real-time multilingual voice support for global customers, and hyper-personalized onboarding documents for new employees. As data from McKinsey suggests, this level of personalization and efficiency lifts revenues by 5-15% and dramatically improves operational effectiveness, turning a universal business function into a powerful engine for growth.

The era of siloed experimentation with generative AI is over. The competitive advantage now belongs to those who can master it as a unified, enterprise-wide capability. The leaders of the next decade will be the ones building their intelligent information factories today, harnessing the chaos to create value that is not only innovative but also intentional, consistent, and mission-critical. The revolution is here; it’s time to give it direction.

We've featured the best AI website builder.

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

Categories: Technology

Minnesota mobilizes National Guard after major St. Paul cyberattack

TechRadar News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 09:03
  • The National Guard has been called to help recovery from cyberattack
  • An intrusion was detected in Minnesota systems in St Paul
  • Networks have been shut down to isolate and protect systems

Following suspicious activity being detected in the computer networks of the capital St Paul, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has activated the state's National Guard to help defend against attackers.

The attack led to local officials shutting down the information systems in St Paul as a defensive measure, including network access for a range of internal applications, in order to contain the threat. Mayor Melvin Carter assured residents 911 services were operating as normal, but shared that the city has experienced some ‘back-end’ challenges;

“We recognize that these outages have created inconveniences for residents and city staff alike. While these disruptions are difficult, they are necessary steps to limit exposure, preserve system integrity, and protect sensitive information as our investigation and recovery efforts continue,” Carter continued.

A deliberate effort

The city has been working with Minnesota Information Technology Services as well as an external cybersecurity vendor, but even still the ‘scale and complexity’ of the attack has exceeded ‘both internal and commercial response capabilities’, former Democratic VP candidate Walz explained.

It’s not yet clear if this was a ransomware attack, but a range of networks and services have been intentionally and proactively shut down in order to ‘isolate and secure’ Minnesota systems.

These are ‘necessary steps to limit exposure, preserve system integrity and protect sensitive information’ argues Carter, who reveals that the breach was intentionally caused by a ‘criminal, external threat actor’.

"This was not a system glitch or technical error. This was a deliberate, coordinated digital attack carried out by a sophisticated external actor intentionally and criminally targeting our city’s information infrastructure," Carter explained.

Critical infrastructure is a top target for cybercriminals, who leverage the importance of the services they provide and the sensitive data they hold to request higher ransoms.

The US government recently warned Medusa ransomware has hit hundreds of critical infrastructure targets in similar incidents - although no threat actor has yet taken responsibility for this attack.

Via; The Record

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Categories: Technology

How to watch Deadliest Catch season 21 online from anywhere – stream much-loved fishing doc

TechRadar News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 09:00
Watch Deadliest Catch season 21 online

20 years after it originally aired, Deadliest Catch is back once again with more death-defying exploits from a fleet of fearless fishermen. A Discovery Channel original, Deadliest Catch goes out on the network around the world, while US viewers can also tune in via Sling TV and HBO Max. Read on for how to watch Deadliest Catch season 21 online from anywhere with a VPN.

Premiere date: Friday, August 1 at 8pm ET / PT

US broadcast: Discovery Channel via Sling TV

Global streams: HBO Max (US) | Discovery Plus (US, UK & CA)

Use NordVPN to watch any stream

Season 21 sees the intrepid Dutch Harbor voyagers head back to the Bering Sea, looking to bring in a haul of red monster king crabs. Making their way to the abandoned military island of Adak off the unforgiving tip of Alaska, there's a 21st century-style gold rush on to find the finest specimens first – hence the name of the first episode: The Wild West.

Familiar face Captain Sig Hansen and John Hillstrand are back to navigate their ship Time Bandit through the perilous seas and, although the full list of vessels and crew are being kept close to Discovery's chest ahead of the series, Jake Anderson has confirmed separately that he will also be returning.

Below we have all the information you need on where to watch Deadliest Catch season 21 online and stream every episode from wherever you are.

Can I watch Deadliest Catch season 21 for free?

Not subscribed to Discovery Plus before? New users of the streaming platform get to try it without paying thanks to its 7-day free trial. The trial period is available in the US and Canada.

How to watch Deadliest Catch season 21 online in the US

Deadliest Catch season 21 premieres in the US on Discovery at 8pm ET / PT on Friday, August 1. Episodes will go out in the same slot weekly.

Cord cutters can access Discovery via an OTT service such as our favorite, Sling TV. Sling Blue carries Discovery and starts at just $45.99 a month with 50% off your first month.

Episodes will also be available stream online the day after they air Discovery Plus (from $5.99 per month) and HBO Max (from $9.99 per month).

Have one of these subscriptions but away when Deadliest Catch is on? You can still access your usual streaming services from anywhere by using a VPN.

Get 50% off your first month of Sling TV
Sling TV gives you live TV at an affordable price. The Sling Blue package includes more than 50 channels including ABC, Fox and NBC (in select cities), AMC, Bravo, Food Network, HGTV, Lifetime and USA.

How to watch Deadliest Catch online from outside your country

If you’re traveling abroad when Deadliest Catch season 21 episodes air, you’ll be unable to watch the show like you normally would due to annoying regional restrictions. Luckily, there’s an easy solution.

Downloading a VPN will allow you to stream online, no matter where you are. It's a simple bit of software that changes your IP address, meaning that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home.

Use a VPN to watch Deadliest Catch season 21 from anywhere.

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How to watch Deadliest Catch season 21 online in Canada

New episodes of Deadliest Catch go out on Discovery in Canada, with the season 21 airing at the same time as south of the border at 8pm ET/PT on Friday, August 1.

You'll be able to stream episodes on Discovery Plus, too, with subscriptions costing CA$5.99 per month for Canadian subscribers.

US viewer in Canada? If you’re away from home, you can access your usual services easily with NordVPN.

How to watch Deadliest Catch season 21 online in the UK

Discovery is the home to Deadliest Catch in the UK and season 21 is slated to get started on Tuesday, August 5 at 9pm BST.

Discovery is available through TV providers such as Sky and Virgin Media. You can also stream its shows on demand through the Discovery Plus streaming service (where you'll also find all 20 other series) for as little as £3.99 per month.

Brit abroad? You can still watch the show as you usually would by using a VPN.

Can I watch Deadliest Catch season 21 online in Australia?

Deadliest Catch has previously gone out on Foxtel and the Binge streaming service in Australia. However, season 21 is not yet in their listings.

If you’re visiting Australia from abroad and want to watch on your home service, simply download a VPN to stream Deadliest Catch season 21 just as you would back home.

Deadliest Catch season 21 Need to KnowDeadliest Catch season 21 episode guide

Deadliest Catch seasons tend to have around 20 episodes, but season 21 episode names for only the first two have been released at the time of writing:

(US TV premiere dates)

  • Episode 1 - "The Wild West": Friday, August 1
  • Episode 2 - "Abandon All but Hope": Friday, August 8
Can I watch Deadliest Catch on Netflix?

No, Deadliest Catch season 21 and all the other seasons aren't available on Netflix anywhere around the world.

You can catch all the action on Discovery+ in the UK, US and Canada.

VPN services are evaluated and tested by us in view of legal recreational use. For example:a) Access to services from other countries, (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).b) Safeguarding your online security and making your online privacy more robust when abroad.Future plc does not support nor condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. We do not endorse nor approve of consuming pirated content that is paid-for.

Categories: Technology

The next Nintendo Direct has been announced – here's when and where you can watch it

TechRadar News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 08:16
  • A Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase has just been announced
  • You can tune in on July 31
  • The showcase will be 25 minutes long and feature third-party Switch 2 releases

Nintendo has officially announced the next Nintendo Direct showcase. And in typical fashion, there's not long to wait until we can watch it live. The company usually announces Nintendo Directs just a day or two before they go live, and that's no different here.

Announced via Nintendo's social channels, the next Nintendo Direct is taking place on July 31, 2025 at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST. You'll be able to watch the presentation live as it happens over at Nintendo's regional YouTube channels.

The presentation is due to last around 25 minutes, which is to be expected for a more focused partner showcase. There are still plenty of Nintendo Switch 2 games we're waiting for more details on throughout the rest of this year and next, though these will likely be reserved for a larger first-party Direct.

Join us for a #NintendoDirect Partner Showcase tomorrow, July 31, at 6am PT! Tune in for roughly 25 minutes of information on upcoming #NintendoSwitch2 and #NintendoSwitch games from our publishing partners. Watch here: https://t.co/PvBBmmxGTI pic.twitter.com/8hJBngwXHwJuly 30, 2025

Games we're looking forward to hearing more about include Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Drag x Drive, Kirby Air Riders, and FromSoftware's The Duskbloods. All except The Duskbloods are slated to release this year, with the multiplayer Bloodborne-like arriving in 2026. Also keep in mind that this is a Partner Direct, meaning Nintendo's first-party titles are less likely to be featured here.

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Categories: Technology

FBI, CISA warn of more Scattered Spider attacks to come

TechRadar News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 08:06
  • Scattered Spider is evolving, CISA, FBI and others have warned
  • Hackers are employing additional malware, including DragonForce
  • Companies should use phishing-resistant MFA to defend

Scattered Spider is only getting warmed up with its cyberattacks, and businesses should be on their guard for possible attacks, law enforcement forces have said.

A warning given by the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and a handful of other security agencies in Canada, the UK, and Australia, says the group has evolved to use more advanced social engineering - mostly impersonating employees to trick IT help desks into resetting passwords and transferring MFA tokens to attacker-controlled devices.

The hackers have also added new malware such as RattyRAT for stealthy access and DragonForce ransomware to encrypt systems and demand payment - especially targeting VMware ESXi servers.

More to come

Also known as Okto Tempest (and a handful of other names), Scattered Spider is described as a highly aggressive and sophisticated cybercriminal group known for targeting major companies through social engineering, phishing, and identity-focused attacks.

The group is infamous for its use of SIM swapping, MFA fatigue attacks, and help desk impersonation to gain initial access, and it’s the latter that CISA is now further stressing.

Scattered Spider is generally engaged in double-extortion attacks, exfiltrating sensitive files to third-party servers before encrypting the target infrastructure. To store the stolen files, they’re using MEGA.nz and Amazon S3, and in some cases, they’ve run thousands of queries against Snowflake environments to steal large volumes of data quickly.

To stay hidden, they create fake identities backed by social media profiles, monitor internal communications like Slack and Microsoft Teams, and even join incident response calls to learn how defenders are reacting.

CISA says more Scattered Spider attacks are to be expected in the coming weeks and months, and urges organizations to use phishing-resistant MFA (like FIDO/WebAuthn), audit and restrict remote access tools, monitor risky logins and unusual account behavior, maintain offline, encrypted backups, segment networks, and patch known vulnerabilities.

Via Cybernews

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Categories: Technology

The U.S. economy rebounds to 3% growth in second quarter — but tariffs skew picture

NPR News Headlines - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 08:03

The U.S. economy grew this spring after a slowdown earlier this year. A report from the Commerce Department shows the nation's GDP grew at an annual rate of 3% in the second quarter of the year.

(Image credit: Spencer Platt)

Categories: News

Blink's new video doorbell can run for up to two years on the same set of AA batteries

TechRadar News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 08:00
  • Blink has launched a new version of its budget-priced video doorbell
  • It runs for up to two years without replacing or recharging its batteries
  • It's available to pre-order from Amazon now for delivery in August

Blink makes some of the best video doorbells and home security cameras we've tested here at TechRadar, and now it's launched a new version of its budget-friendly doorbell that can run for up to two years without you needing to recharge or replace the batteries.

The new Blink Video Doorbell runs from three AA lithium batteries, plus the Blink Sync Module Core, which also acts as a central hub that connects your Blink devices to one another, and to your home Wi-Fi network.

The new doorbell also has an improved 150-degree field of vision (upgraded from 135 degrees horizontal and 80 degrees vertical), 1:1 video aspect ratio, and HD infrared night vision.

Like the previous model (which we reviewed back in March), the new doorbell also offers person detection if you have a Blink subscription, and can be configured to only send notifications to your phone if a person is identified (and not an animal or object).

The new Blink Video Doorbell is available to pre-order now from Amazon for £59.99 (about $80 / AU$120) for delivery in August. International prices and release dates are yet to be confirmed.

Blink cameras

The new Blink Video Doorbell sits alongside the Blink Outdoor 4 and Blink Mini 2, both of which have earned a place in our roundup of the best home security cameras thanks to their impressive battery lives and affordable price tags.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Blink)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Blink)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Blink)

If you want advanced features like person detection, cloud storage, and photo capture, Blink subscription plans start at $3 / £2.50 / AU$4.95 per month for one device, or $10 / £8 / AU$15 per month for unlimited devices.

For more details, take a look at our full Blink Mini 2 review and Blink Outdoor 4 review.

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Categories: Technology

We Tried Splendid Spoon. Here's What We Thought of the Vegan, Gluten-Free Meal Service

CNET News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 07:17
Splendid Spoon sends colorful, premade vegan and gluten-free smoothies, soups and bowls so you can whip up healthy meals in under a minute. This popular subscription service may give you back time you'd otherwise spend cooking.
Categories: Technology

Google's massive Veo 3 update could now lets users generate videos faster than ever

TechRadar News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 07:17
  • Veo 3 Fast will allow users to create short clips like ads even more quickly
  • Image-to-video is coming in public preview from August 2025
  • Google wants you to use it for ads and product demos

Google has given its Veo 3 video generation model a major upgrade which should improve its speed considerably.

The new Veo 3 Fast, which has been optimised for speed and rapid iteration, now enables users to create short clips like ads, demos and short films much more quickly.

The model will also support image-to-video in public preview from August 2025 for creating eight-second clips, further reducing the time it takes to generate a video by speeding up the prompt process.

Veo 3 Fast is... faster

With Veo 3 Fast, users can generate 1080p HD video with native audio generation, including lip-synced speed and fitting sound effects.

In a blog post, Vertex AI Director of Product Management Jason Gelman explained Veo-generated videos are great for creating localized video where companies may need to create the same clip in multiple languages quickly.

With Vertex AI, businesses also benefit from SynthID watermarks and indemnity coverage for full enterprise readiness.

Although the technology is new, Google is already paying close attention to how businesses are using Veo 3 to generate videos in order to further tailor its tools to real-world use cases. The latest upgrade, Veo 3 Fast, is perfect for quickly iterating ad concept variations, turning still product images into demo videos and developing animated explainers or training content efficiently.

With more than 70 million videos created with Google's Veo 3 since May 2025 and more than six million videos created by enterprise customers since its launch on Vertex AI in June, the new model is sure to attract users fast.

Canva has already integrated the Veo 3 model into its app, too. CPO Cameron Adams explained that Canva AI has democratized access to powerful models, and users can access Veo 3's capabilities from within the app's familiar and easy-to-use interface.

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Categories: Technology

The Tesla Cybertruck is officially a flop, but a smaller version could be en route – here are 5 things I think it needs

TechRadar News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 07:01
  • Sales of Cybertruck have consistently underperformed original forecasts
  • Media outlets have placed it among the biggest automotive flops in decades
  • Tesla could be planning a smaller electric pick-up to soften the blow

Tesla originally predicted it would sell around 250,000 Cybertrucks every year, with Elon Musk going on to state that the number could increase to 500,000. The reality has been much harsher, with just 20,000 angular, electric trucks sold each year.

There are so many reasons why the vehicle has proven to be a commercial misfire, ranging from Musk’s involvement in politics to the myriad build quality and recall issues Cybertruck has suffered. Not to mention the fact that it looks the way it does.

However, Business Insider reports that Tesla’s VP of vehicle engineering, Lars Moravy, discussed the possibility of developing a smaller pick-up during a recent interview. "We've definitely been churning in the design studio about what we might do to serve that need for sure,” he revealed.

It is not 100 per cent clear whether Moravy is talking about a smaller version of the Cybertruck, or a more practical, entirely new small pick-up that is likely in response to the recent launch of Slate Auto — the Amazon-backed business founded by Jeff Bezos.

After all, completely ripping up the design of the original Cybertruck and changing most of its defining features would, effectively, be admission that Musk was wrong all along – something that is very unlikely to happen.

Secondly, Moravy also mentions the smaller pick-up in the same breath as the Robotaxi, suggesting that goods and items need to be autonomously hauled around as much as people.

A pick-up for the people

(Image credit: Slate Auto)

Tesla has been resting on its laurels of late, stalling a number of potential new vehicle lunches that could add further revenue streams and dig the company out of a hole.

A more affordable, $25,000 Tesla was hyped as being the next great hope, while the long overdue Roadster has been kicked around for so long, many of the original investors have lost all trust and interest in the project.

If a smaller Tesla pick-up is to be successful it needs to do all of the things that the Cybertruck can’t – namely, be more affordable and practical to use for everyday tasks, rather than a flashy lifestyle extension.

The pick-up truck market is enormous in North America, but it is also growing rapidly in Asia-Pacific and the BRICS countries. Research by IMARC Group suggests that the market with reach $260 billion by 2033.

The simple fact is, many individuals, families and business use the utilitarian vehicle for both business and pleasure. So, firstly, Tesla’s smaller pick-up will have to be able to perform, haul larger loads and prove reliable over rough ground. The almost invincible Toyota Hilux is testament to this philosophy.

Secondly, it will also have to be efficient, offering the sort of practical range that can handle daily journeys and charge rapidly when the larger road trips are required. Forget monstrous battery packs, 800V electrical architecture and rapid charging should take care of the bigger trips.

While technology has always been part of Tesla’s DNA, it’s not anywhere near as important here.

Harnessing the company’s excellent infotainment system and seamless charging experience will prove a huge selling point, but the company won’t really have to worry about passenger screens, flashy light displays and other such trivial trickery. At the end of the day, a pick-up is a workhorse. Leave the lifestyle stuff to Rivian and keep the costs down.

Finally, Tesla needs to bury the ego and start making cars for the people again. It needs to convince the general public that an electric pick-up truck is a solid investment, dispelling range and EV anxiety in the same way it almost single-handedly converted a large chunk of the car-buying community to electric with the Model S back in 2012.

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The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could offer a bigger upgrade than usual - here are 5 reasons why

TechRadar News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 07:00
  • Several new rumors point to significant spec bumps for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
  • The next-gen Samsung flagship could get 60W charging, a thinner design, better cameras, and more
  • The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has not been announced, and we don't expect any confirmation either way for these rumors until next year

It seems hard to believe, but it’s been almost half a year since the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Since launch, Samsung’s latest top-end handset has continued to impress, holding spots in our lists of the best phones, best camera phones, best Android phones, and more.

Now, a handful of new rumors point to some major upgrades for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, which could make the best Samsung Galaxy phone even more impressive.

Faster charging

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

The first suggests the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could launch with an increased maximum charging speed of 60W – for reference, the Galaxy S25 Ultra charges at 45W.

That’s according to user erenyilmaz075 on X, who managed to find references to 60W charging in what appears to be the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s unreleased firmware.

Compared to its western contemporaries, the Galaxy S25 Ultra actually charges pretty quickly – we previously reported the iPhone 16 Pro Max had been recorded as drawing 28W during testing by ChargerLAB, while the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is rated at 45W also.

However, many Android phones now offer very fast charging speeds. OnePlus and Oppo phones benefit from the proprietary SuperVOOC technology, for example, which typically offers speeds of around 80W.

With the Galaxy S26 Ultra expected to inherit the same 5000mAh cell from the Galaxy S25 Ultra, I think a bump in power draw will be a worthwhile and valuable addition that should cut charging times significantly.

A thinner frame

(Image credit: Peter Hoffmann)

Samsung recently launched the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the latest in its line of foldable phones – and it’s clear just by looking at the new handset that Samsung invested heavily in a new thinner design for its most expensive phone.

Another rumor suggests that the Galaxy S26 Ultra could be next in line for a slimmed-down redesign.

In a post to X (formerly Twitter), notable tipster UniverseIce (formerly known as Ice Universe, and now using the display name PhoneArt) said the Galaxy S26 Ultra would come in at “7.x mm”, down from 8.2mm on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. That could imply a reduction of 0.3mm up to 1.2mm.

UniverseIce also shared a render of the Galaxy S26 Ultra which shows the largest three cameras contained in a Galaxy Z Fold 7-style housing, likely because the main body of the phone would be too thin to fit the cameras.

This is what we currently know about the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra:The body will become even thinner at 7.x mm, with slightly increased width and height, while weighing a few grams less6.9-inch display featuring CoE depolarizer technology + third-generation anti-reflective… pic.twitter.com/Jp0M8RtQ9mJuly 28, 2025

A new chipset

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to launch with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset, which is as yet unannounced but will likely be the most powerful chipset available for Android users when it launches.

This could mark a split between the Galaxy S26 Ultra and regular Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus, both of which are expected to launch with Samsung’s own Exynos 2600 chipset.

This was suggested following a firmware deep dive by SamMobile, and backed up by further comments from UniverseIce.

OneUI 8.5

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

OneUI 7 launched with the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, the Galaxy S25 Ultra amongst them – but One UI 8 is already here, having launched with the new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 folding phones.

According to another report from SamMobile, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will instead launch with One UI 8.5, an updated version of Samsung’s current-gen software.

This should allow Samsung to release the Galaxy S26 Ultra with some new features without committing to a full version update.

Given the rollout of One UI 7 was staggered across multiple months, Samsung may also be keen to avoid surrounding news of the Galaxy S26 series’ launch with news of a slow software release.

Upgraded cameras

(Image credit: Future / Roland Moore-Colyer)

As we’ve previously reported, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is tipped to get some upgrades to its camera system.

UniverseIce has again suggested that the main sensor will get a larger aperture, and that the 3x telephoto camera will get a larger sensor. The tipster also hinted at a larger aperture for the 5x telephoto camera.

The upgrade cycle for the Galaxy S series has felt pretty incremental in recent years – but if these rumors hold true the Galaxy S26 Ultra could be a much bigger upgrade than we had expected. Let us know what you want to see from Samsung’s next high-end flagship in the comments below.

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Categories: Technology

Stop Taking So Long to Reply to Texts. You're Sabotaging Your Friendships

CNET News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 07:00
Commentary: You might think it's no big deal to regularly leave your friends on Read. But it can irreparably strain your relationships.
Categories: Technology

Some Windows 10 PCs are reportedly being offered a Windows 11 upgrade even though they don't support the OS – here's what to do if this happens to you

TechRadar News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 06:40
  • There are scattered reports of Windows 10 PCs being offered a Windows 11 upgrade
  • That's despite the fact that these devices don't meet the Windows 11 hardware requirements
  • This has happened in the past, too, and it looks like it's a recurring bug – and not an offer you want to take up

There are scattered reports of Windows 10 PCs being offered an upgrade to Windows 11 even though they don't meet the requirements of the newer operating system.

German tech blog Born City brings us this news (via Neowin), with the author of the post describing an incident with their Dell Latitude 7490.

That laptop is running Windows 10 22H2, and keeps being offered an upgrade to Windows 11 every few months, even though it isn't compatible with the latter OS, and the author says they're having to repeatedly dismiss the upgrade prompt.

On top of this, a reader contacted Born City, explaining that their Lenovo IdeaPad, also using version 22H2 of Windows 10, was offered a Windows 11 upgrade despite having TPM 2.0 switched off in the BIOS (this is a hard-and-fast requirement for running Windows 11).

This annoyed the reader, seeing as they had specifically turned off this TPM functionality to avoid getting prompted about an upgrade.

Furthermore, the report points out previous incidents earlier this year, where an IT admin at a company contacted Born City complaining that multiple PCs had been automatically upgraded to Windows 11 24H2 (from Windows 10 22H2) without their knowledge, bypassing all the usual update procedures in place for these business machines.

(Image credit: Future / Jeremy Laird)What's going on here?

The author of the article asks if any other readers have encountered these offers of Windows 11 upgrades that have been piped through to PCs that shouldn't be getting them. Notably, there are no responses saying that other people have, and scouring the usual online forums, I can't find other recent reports of this kind of behavior (on the likes of Reddit, for example).

So, my conclusion at this point is that these are very much scattered incidents, but what's interesting is that they aren't happening for the first time.

In my digging around on Reddit, I found reports from early in 2023, reminding me of a very similar incident whereby Windows 10 devices were offered an upgrade to Windows 11.

Back at the time, Microsoft told us: "These ineligible devices did not meet the minimum requirements to run Window 11. Devices that experienced this issue were not able to complete the upgrade installation process." This was, in fact, a bug that was fixed on the same day.

There are also historic reports of Windows 10 users receiving the Windows 11 upgrade despite having switched off TPM 2.0 (in order to avoid the newer OS, as was the case with the Born City reader mentioned above).

What does all this mean? In my book – and this is just my opinion – this looks to be a recurring bug with Windows 10 (as was previously the case, and seemingly one with a very limited impact this time).

And it's not like there's any shortage of glitches that keep making a comeback with Microsoft's desktop OS – just look at the persisting installation failures with Windows updates across the years.

There are theories around that this could be Microsoft somehow forcing Windows 11 upgrades to help with adoption numbers of the newer operating system, which have spiked recently, which is only to be expected with Windows 10 End of Life now drawing ever closer.

Granted, these theorists could have a point in terms of updates being forced with PCs that have actively tried to avoid them – as in deliberately turning off TPM 2.0, when it's supported on the device – but I remain skeptical even then.

Neowin points out that a recent stealth update for both Windows 10 and 11, which can force-upgrade PCs to a newer version, may have something to do with all this, and that again is a possibility.

Still, I feel this is buggy behavior, even if that's true – Microsoft would surely never intentionally push an upgrade to unsupported hardware. And if the rules have changed regarding Windows 11 compatibility somehow, it would be very remiss of Microsoft not to point this out.

(Image credit: Microsoft)What should you do if you encounter an upgrade prompt on an unsupported PC?

So, the question you may have is this point is: what should you do if, by chance, you're offered a Windows 11 upgrade when your Windows 10 PC doesn't meet the system requirements of the newer platform?

The simple answer here is: don't take that upgrade. For starters, the update may fail (especially given that it's possibly being offered in error), as was the case with previous instances of this happening. And even if it was to succeed, there's no telling if things might go awry with your Windows 11 installation in the future.

Just like a fudged upgrade to avoid the requirement of having TPM 2.0 – which can be done – the recommendation remains not to take this route.

If you're worried about the impending death of Windows 10, remember that even though support is going to be officially ending in October 2025, you can now sign up for free updates for another year (all you need to do is sync PC settings to OneDrive, which isn't a big deal I don't think – though your opinion might vary).

That'll give you plenty of breathing space – until October 2026 – to work out what you're going to do, but I really don't think trying to run Windows 11 on an officially unsupported PC is a good idea. Not, at least until Microsoft clarifies that Windows 11's system requirements have somehow been changed, if that's indeed true (and as mentioned I very much doubt it), or of that happens in the future – and I don't see that in my crystal ball, either.

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Categories: Technology

Meta says it will let candidates use AI in some job interviews

TechRadar News - Wed, 07/30/2025 - 06:27
  • Meta is internally testing AI-assisted interviews for developers
  • It's a closer reflection of real-world developer environments
  • Much of Meta's code will soon be AI-written

Meta is reportedly testing AI-enabled coding interviews in which it will allow candidates to use AI tools.

For the time being, it looks like the company could be recruiting internal employees as volunteers for mock interviews to help it develop the shape and format of them, with the initiative revealed via internal communications and verified by 404 Media.

The reality is AI assistants and agents now form part of most workers' workflows – especially developers – so permitting them within the interview stage more closely reflects the real worker environment.

Meta could allow interviewees to use AI tools

"Meta is developing a new type of coding interview in which candidates have access to an AI assistant," the post reads.

"This is more representative of the developer environment that our future employees will work in, and also makes LLM-based cheating less effective."

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg already believes AI could eventually write most of Meta's app and AI code, ultimately ending up as mid-level engineers as soon as this year and freeing up humans to focus on more creative tasks. It's a similar story with Microsoft and Google – two companies that claim around one-third of new code is AI-generated.

However, Meta's approach to AI-assisted interviews marks a different direction to other companies in the space. Anthropic currently bans AI use during interviews, presumably seeking genuine worker talent that can be further enhanced by AI.

The benefit of AI-generated code is that it can be produced far more quickly than human-generated code, however its accuracy relies heavily on the quality of the prompts and thorough reviewing is crucial.

"We're obviously focused on using AI to help engineers with their day-to-day work, so it should be no surprise that we're testing how to provide these tools to applicants during interviews," a Meta spokesperson added.

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