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A new report tries to capture the true cost of incarceration to families of people behind bars. It found it costs them around $350 billion every year – almost four times the government's estimate for the cost of incarceration.

• Vanta admits it introduced a bug in its code
• The bug resulted in a small subset of customers having data exposed
• The error is being fixed, and affected customers notified

Security and compliance automation company Vanta has confirmed sharing sensitive customer data with other customers by mistake.

In a statement (via TechCrunch), the company said a change it had made in the code resulted in a security breach. In it, some sensitive data from a small subset of customers was shared with other customers.

The incident was spotted on May 26, and remediation efforts are currently underway, with the process set to finish by June 4.

Hundreds of victims

As a result of the incident, “a subset of data from fewer than 20% of our third-party integrations” was exposed to other Vanta customers, the company’s chief product officer Jeremy Epling said.

He added that fewer than 4% of Vanta customers have been affected, and they have already been notified.

Since the company has more than 10,000 customers, that would put the breach at up to 400. At the same time, the data breach notification letter Vanta sent out says that the data typically includes employee names, roles, and information about different tools, such as 2FA. The company did not confirm exactly what type of data was grabbed.

Vanta is a security and compliance automation platform that helps businesses achieve and maintain certifications like SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR more efficiently through continuous monitoring and integrations.

Among its customers are Atlassian, Omni Hotels, Quora, and ZoomInfo.

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• Ballerina: From the World of John Wick shouldn't be called a spin-off, its director says
• The film series' latest entry is set between the third and fourth John Wick movies
• It "expands on the mythology" of the action thriller franchise, he adds

Ballerina director Len Wiseman has rejected claims that the John Wick film franchise's latest entry is a spin-off.

Speaking to TechRadar ahead of the movie's release, Wiseman argued that it should actually be called a "spin-on" – i.e. a film that puts its own spin on a film franchise's well-established formula.

Wiseman admits that very few people, if anyone, will have heard the phrase "spin-on" before. Nevertheless, he insists that the Ana de Armas-starring film is "fully connected" to the movie series' other entries – and not just because Wick appears in it.

Ballerina's first trailer raised eyebrows about Wick's inclusion. After all, at the end of John Wick Chapter 4, Keanu Reeves' iconic hitman was – spoiler! – presumed dead. With John Wick 5 in early development, though, it's likely that the well-dressed assassin hasn't taken his last breath.

However, Ballerina takes place between John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum and its sequel, which is why Reeves' gun-for-hire is, at this point on the John Wick timeline, still alive and kicking. For more on said timeline, read my guide on how to watch the John Wick movies in order.

But I'm getting off-track. With Ballerina set between Parabellum and John Wick Chapter 4, plus Reeves' involvement in its story, the franchise's latest entry should be viewed as the mainline series' newest flick. It's for that reason that Wiseman has coined the "spin-on" moniker for one of 2025's highly anticipated new movies.

When I ask him if Ballerina should be labeled an "in-between-quel" – another industry term for a movie that's set between two other films – Wiseman replied: "Yeah, it is. I've seen people call it a spin-off, which is really misleading.

"Ballerina's events mostly run parallel to John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum. We're really building out the world of John Wick, so it's more of a 'spin-on' than a 'spin-off'. I know that's not a phrase, but it should be!"

John Wick will have a supporting role to play in Ballerina (Image credit: Lionsgate)

Asked to explain how Ballerina explores the movies series colloquially known as the 'John Wick universe', Wiseman added: "One of the things that first attracted me to this film was the mythology of John Wick and how layered it is.

"Here, we're able to dive deeper into that mythos and explore the Ruska Roma, who we've met in previous movies. Before, we've seen this group through John Wick's eyes and his experiences [with them]. Now, we get to sift through the layers of their folklore, and try to balance that with what was previously established. We had a ton of fun with that and I think audiences will appreciate it."

Ballerina: From the World of John Wick lands in theaters worldwide on June 6.

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Automation has been a cornerstone of industrial revolutions throughout history, driving productivity, efficiency, and profitability. From Britain’s late 18th and 19th-century industrial revolution to the United States’ post-World War II boom, automation has radically transformed economies and societies.

Today, we stand on the brink of a new wave of automation, powered by agentic AI, which promises to revolutionize business operations in unprecedented ways. In fact, our recent research found that 82% of organizations plan to integrate AI agents by 2027.

What are AI agents, really?

AI agents are, at their core, software programs that interact with their environment, collect data, and autonomously perform tasks to meet predetermined goals. They represent an evolution from traditional automation technologies like robotic process automation and machine learning that have powered enterprise operations for the past two decades.

An agentic AI workflow employs technology such as Large Language Models (LLMs) that perform specific tasks and integrates these in a system that can interact with users and perform tasks autonomously and effectively. Unlike their predecessors, AI agents can perceive, reason, and act in changing environments to achieve their goals, often deciding independently how to reach them, thanks to the explosion in advanced reasoning capabilities of LLMs in recent years.

The benefits of agentic AI in enterprises are widespread. We will undoubtably see enhanced customer service, IT support, and overall business functions because of agentic systems in the coming years. By automating complex tasks and integrating with external tools such as web searches, APIs, and dedicated databases, AI agents can execute more sophisticated tasks and collaborate with each other, driving productivity and efficiency.

Businesses can use agentic AI to improve and differentiate their offers to customers ahead of competitors, adding communication channels and styles that appeal to specific customer bases. They will also reduce the cost of operations as trust in agents is built, and human oversight is reduced.

How to make AI agents that can transform organizations

To build agentic AI systems that deliver real impact and return on investment, businesses have a clear set of tasks. AI agents must have defined roles, need to be able to easily find and locate the data they will use, seamlessly define the tasks or goals they will execute, and set boundaries with guardrails.

Multiple agents, each with its own specialized role, can cooperate in a decentralized structure to solve more complex tasks collaboratively. For example, in processing insurance claims, one agent verifies documentation, another evaluates policy criteria, and a third processes payments, completing the task jointly and the user only needing to engage with one interface.

As organizations transition toward agentic systems, it’s vital that leaders collaborate closely with AI specialists to effectively design and streamline these processes. Integrating AI agents into existing systems can be complex and disruptive if not managed carefully. Building an architecture that accurately reflects real-world activities requires creating digital descriptions and definitions of business operations.

Clearly defined tasks can then be mapped to AI agents as needed. Designing systems for human/AI collaboration needs to be front of mind, ensuring that AI agents collaborate seamlessly with human workers. This involves careful orchestration to maintain human oversight and compliance with safety regulations.

Data quality and optimization is an easily-overlooked element to consider for the entire agentic architecture. Fragmented data will block AI agents from working effectively. Organizations must assess data quality, implement robust governance and security measures, develop pipelines for real-time data availability, and continuously enhance processes through feedback loops.

Governance strategies are also essential for managing AI agents. Human intervention must be a safeguard in case decision-making from AI agents appears to be biased, inaccurate, or breaches company ethics. Testing for compliance and failure, including for bias, fairness, and operational performance, is non-negotiable.

Systematic logging of agent activity, capturing performed tasks, actions taken, evaluation metrics, and the agent’s internal state, is necessary for effective monitoring and error tracing.

Use of agentic AI across industries

The integration of AI agents in various sectors is already underway, and there are huge benefits to be reaped for enterprises. In customer service, we’re seeing AI agents automatically draft responses to customer queries based on historical interaction data, taking ownership of client issues and resolving them without human input.

For example, an AI agent can request more information from a customer, analyze the enquiry, and offer a solution, even overriding standard procedures if circumstances justify making an exception. This level of autonomy and adaptability enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty.

In financial services, AI agents can create personalized investment strategies and dynamically monitor client portfolios. They can also detect fraud by identifying suspicious transactions and initiating appropriate responses.

Looking at life sciences, AI agents can support drug discovery by extracting actionable insights from drug mechanisms, disease progression, and clinical outcomes. They can refine clinical trial design and monitor real-time data for mid-trial adjustments, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of research.

Manufacturing and retail sectors can also benefit from AI agents. Smart camera-based process monitoring can improve shopfloor performance and safety compliance, while agentic systems monitor shelves in-store and warehouses, automatically triggering stock replenishment using stock-keeping unit codes.

The future of agentic AI

The agentic AI future is here, and it’s set to revolutionize business operations. Organizations must seize this moment to review their processes for suitability and unlock unprecedented gains in productivity and cost saving. As expertise in adoption spreads, more sectors will join the agentic AI journey, transforming how we work and interact.

By harnessing the autonomous, goal-oriented, and adaptive capabilities of AI agents, enterprises can supercharge their functions and stay ahead of the competition. The future of business is agentic, and the time to embrace this transformative technology is now.

I tried 70+ best AI tools.

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

Hello and welcome to our coverage of InfoSecurity Europe 2025!

Held at London's Excel center, Infosec 2025 (as everyone actually calls it) is one of the biggest security-focused events on the calendar, packed with big names, informative talks, and news from the biggest firms around.

We're here in London and live on the ground for Infosec 2025 - here's what we've seen so far!

Good morning from InfoSecurity Europe 2025! We're here at the Excel, and off to collect our badge before heading in.

Despite it being June, it's a cloudy and blustery day here - let's hope things are warmer inside...

(Image credit: Future / Ellen Jennings-Trace)

We're heading in to the show now!

As you can see from our pictures, the theme of Infosec 2025 is "Building a Safer Cyber World" - something you can bet we'll hear more about over the next few days.

(Image credit: Future / Ellen Jennings-Trace)

(Image credit: Future)

We're now seated for a super packed keynote, plenty of people are standing - so this is clearly a popular one! We're about to hear from Graham Cluley, host of the Smashing Security Podcast who'll introduce us all to Infosec's 30th year!

Fiber internet reaches most homes in Fort Wayne. CNET’s experts picked the best high-speed plans to consider.

Are you a Louisville resident looking for a new internet service provider? Look no further! CNET has uncovered the best internet deals for high-speed and reliable connections.

Like other NATO members, the U.K. has been reassessing its defense spending since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

(Image credit: Andy Buchanan)

The stock exchange had closed during the chaotic days leading up to the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive.

(Image credit: Omar Sanadiki)

President Donald Trump wants to double the amount of oil coursing through Alaska's vast pipeline system and build a massive natural gas project, a top administration official said Monday.

(Image credit: Jenny Kane)

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for June 3.

• Netflix's latest crime drama series Dept Q has received a lot of praise from viewers
• At the time of writing, it has a solid 81% Rotten Tomatoes score
• The Guardian called it a "grimy, gothic treat" in their 4-star review

With so much to choose from on Netflix, it's easy to let good shows pass us by. That's why you should make time to watch Dept. Q, a fantastic new crime series which has been hailed as a "grimy, gothic treat" by The Guardian.

Dept. Q currently has an 81% Rotten Tomatoes score, meaning it can grab a spot on our best Netflix shows list. Since its release, it's received a lot of praise from viewers and critics alike, with many binge-watching the nine-part series.

Take a look at the trailer below for a peek at what people are raving about.

Why are people loving Dept. Q?

People on social media have praised Dept. Q, highlighting the "next level" acting from Matthew Goode. Some have even called for a second season to be greenlit, because it's just that good.

Dept Q on Netflix is such a good crime thriller . Matthew Goode's acting was next level !I hope they make season 2 of this series .#DeptQ #DepartmentQ #Netflix pic.twitter.com/KzTdARCO0fMay 30, 2025

I finished the rest of the #Deptq episodes last night.I can't say enough about how good Goode's performance is in this one. I think with a better overall mystery, this show has the potential to be one of the best. The ending was emotional and I can't wait for another season. pic.twitter.com/dldDTlnP0TMay 31, 2025

While we currently have no word on Dept. Q's future, it would definitely be nice to see it return to one of the best streaming services. I've always been a huge fan of police dramas, most recently the outstanding BBC series Line of Duty, and one of its stars, Kelly Macdonald, appears in Dept. Q as well.

She joins a brilliant cast alongside Goode, Mark Bonnar, Jamie Sives, Shirley Henderson, and Kate Dickie, whose performances really do elevate this gritty, nail-biting drama.

The series follows the creation of a new police unit, a cold-case division formed "in hopes of generating good press for a beleaguered Edinburgh police department."

It was created by Scott Frank, who co-created the brilliant Netflix show The Queen's Gambit, and it's safe to say he's done it again here.

While the two shows are very different, he's definitely had people glued to their television sets, and we can only hope that Dept. Q comes back for another round.

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President Trump is gearing up for what a senior White House official said will be an "all-out advocacy effort" to push Republican senators to advance the bill their House colleagues passed last month.

(Image credit: Alex Wroblewski)

Demis Hassabis' work ranges from finding cures for diseases to making email less bothersome. Which will he achieve first?

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A new study from Yale University finds that singing to babies improves their overall mood. NPR wants to know what songs our listeners sing to their babies.

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• Asus is trying to persuade those who can’t upgrade their Windows 10 laptop to switch to a Copilot+ PC
• This is ignoring concerns about millions of PCs heading to the scrapheap because of Windows 11’s spec requirements
• Asus is also overselling the abilities of Copilot+ PCs, which just aren’t that impressive overall – not yet, anyway

For some time, Microsoft has been urging folks with a Windows 10 PC that can’t upgrade to Windows 11 that they should buy a new computer, preferably a Copilot+ PC – and Asus is now playing that same tune.

Windows Latest noticed a post from Asus about why now’s the time to switch to Windows 11, and to consider upgrading to a Copilot+ device (from Asus, naturally).

This is aimed at folks who are in the unfortunate situation where their Windows 10 laptop is too old to support the stricter hardware requirements of Windows 11, and so they can’t upgrade. Notebooks with older CPUs are left out in the cold, of course, as you can’t switch out those parts like you can with a desktop PC.

Asus reminds us that Windows 10 runs out of support in October 2025, which is rapidly approaching, and that you shouldn’t run an OS without security updates, which is certainly true.

The laptop maker then moves on to persuade us that what everyone in this situation needs is a new Windows 11 notebook, and that what makes these devices different is one word: Copilot.

Moreover, Asus argues: “But here’s where it gets even better: with Copilot+ PCs, Windows 11 takes the AI experience to a whole new level. These devices are equipped with an NPU – a dedicated AI processor, specifically designed to handle AI tasks locally, making your experience smoother, faster, and more secure.

“If your current laptop isn’t up to snuff for Windows 11 or Copilot+, this is the perfect time to upgrade to a device that’s built for it.”

Thereafter follows a series of plugs for Asus Vivobook models, Copilot+ PCs with both Snapdragon (Arm-based) and traditional Intel processors.

(Image credit: Photo by Tom Fisk via Pexels)Analysis: Landfill woes and unwise overselling

The problem with these marketing campaigns, which are nudging people to simply dump their Windows 10 PC, is that this isn’t a very green-friendly perspective to serve up.

Going way back, there have been alarm bells rung about potentially towering piles of scrapped PCs heading to landfills later this year, thanks to Microsoft’s policy of enforcing steeper system requirements with Windows 11. If it wasn’t for some of those – generally security-related – measures, those folks could upgrade to the newer OS just fine and keep their current laptop (or indeed desktop PC).

So, when companies like Microsoft and now Asus push the benefits of throwing out old hardware for a shiny new Copilot+ PC, you can see why this frustrates organizations that are working to promote eco-friendliness in one way or another.

At any rate, if your laptop isn’t compatible with Windows 11, is it really ready for the bin when October 2025 and the End of Life for Windows 10 rolls around? Of course not – one option is that you can pay to extend support for a year.

That’s a choice Microsoft has provided for consumers for the first time ever, actually, likely to placate those with the aforementioned environmental concerns – though it’d be good if this support could be extended even further. (It can be for businesses, but we don’t know if that’ll be the case for everyday users).

Another option is switching to Linux, of course, as has been highlighted recently.

The other problem with the argument Asus presents here (and Microsoft is guilty of this too) is that it’s overselling the ability of Copilot+ PCs. While there are some impressive powers for these devices – like improved (natural language) Windows 11 search, and the same search trick in Settings too – most of the AI exclusives for Copilot+ devices aren’t overly compelling (Recall included right now).

While Copilot+ laptops may eventually take your Windows 11 computing experience to ‘another level’ as Asus mentions in its blurb, we definitely aren’t there yet. This is marketing fluff, essentially, and while that’s hardly unexpected, companies need to be careful about how they’re framing these kinds of posts, given the environmental concerns in play here.

No, you can’t keep your PC running forever, but Microsoft and its partners need to be more thoughtful about the state of tech landfill and our planet. And I’d really like to see Microsoft confirm extended support for updates to consumers for more than just a year, without making that additional time prohibitively expensive.

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Commentary: This bingeworthy detective show cast my hometown in a noirish light.

Representatives from Russia and Ukraine gather for peace talks in Istanbul. The meeting comes after the two countries each launched large-scale drone attacks on one another over the weekend, including an audacious Ukrainian strike on Russia's bomber aircraft fleet. We hear the latest from the talks and about how Ukraine's drone capabilities have evolved.

• We're just days away from the Switch 2 launch on June 5, 2025
• A safety manual reveals the Switch 2 has a protective film layer as part of its screen
• If you're getting a Switch 2, don't try and peel it off ... though it's not a traditional screen protector

The Nintendo Switch 2 is nearly here, and we’re still learning more about the console in the short lead-up until the June 5, 2025, launch. Case in point, Nintendo of Europe has shared the Nintendo Switch 2 safety manual as a PDF online.

While it contains standard operating instructions we’d expect for a portable game console, Nintendo Soup spotted that it tells us a bit more about the display. Mainly, “The screen is covered with a film layer designed to prevent fragments scattering in the event of damage. Do not peel it off.”

That brings back memories of the original Galaxy Fold for some, including myself, but this is less a screen protector and more a layer of the display. Even so, Nintendo is making it as clear as possible, as a key bullet, and reminding folks not to risk removing it. In the unfortunate event that you drop the Switch 2 and crack the display, the film layer could prevent the crack from spreading.

@techradar

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Now, this film layer isn’t exclusive to the Switch 2, as it’s found in most glass displays to prevent further injury from a cracked screen. You don’t want splints or pieces of glass going everywhere. It’s not a knock on the Switch 2’s durability by any stretch, and the Switch OLED features a similar layer.

Further, if you want to add another layer of protection to the Switch 2’s 7.9-inch display, you can still affix a screen protector. And keep in mind, this film layer isn't a screen protector in the traditional sense.

The rest of the manual has some other helpful operating tips that are all pretty standard for a portable game console. You can see it in full here.

If you’re lucky enough to be holding a successful preorder for the Switch 2, you’re only just days away from receiving the gaming system. But if you’re like me and countless others, you might still be on the hunt for a console. You can check out TechRadar’s live blog tracking pre-orders and, come launch day, the ready availability of the console.

Though if it’s anything like previous Nintendo launches or, say, the PS5, don’t be surprised if the Switch 2 is hard to find.

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