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Want the image quality of a DSLR without the bulk? These WIRED picks do more with less.

The plant, formally known as Ovicula biradiata, is especially notable for being the simultaneous discovery of a new species and genus. It was found with help from the community science app iNaturalist.

(Image credit: D. Manley)

• Sony unveils FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS and FE 16mm F1.8 G lenses
• The 400-800mm lens is Sony's first-ever with 800mm reach
• The full-frame lenses cost $2,900 / £2,550 and $800 / £850 respectively (AU pricing to follow)

Sony has unveiled two lenses for its full-frame cameras, covering wide-angle and telephoto extremes between them. The headline-grabbing lens is the FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS, because it's Sony's first-ever telephoto lens to reach the 800mm focal length.

Costing $2,900 / £2,550 (AU pricing to follow) and available from early March 2025, the 400-800mm joins Sony's other telephoto zooms – a 100-400mm and a 200-600mm – as the one with the longest reach, making it particularly ideal for wildlife and action photography where you can't get close, such as birding and motorsports.

What's more, it works with Sony 1.4x and 2x teleconverters. The latter can extend the maximum reach up 1600mm, even if the reduced f/16 maximum aperture is impractical for most scenarios, besides sunny weather.

Alongside the 400-800mm lens, Sony is also introducing the FE 16mm F1.8 G, which costs $800 / £850 (again, AU pricing to follow) and should be available from early April 2025. The ultra-wide prime joins a crowded section of Sony's expansive lens line up, with plenty of alternatives to consider.

Where it hopes to stand out against the likes of the FE 14mm F1.8 GM, FE 20mm F1.8, FE 16-25mm F2.8, FE 16-35mm and F2.8 GM II is its competitive price, compact build, ultra-wide perspective and fast f/1.8 aperture. For users of either of those zooms who generally stick to the widest angle, then the new 16mm prime could make way more sense.

We are currently carrying out an in-depth review of the 400-800mm lens, coming really soon, so do look out for that. (Image credit: Chris Rowlands) The ultimate super-telephoto zoom?

Sony isn't the first to launch a super-telephoto zoom with maximum 800mm focal length. No, that accolade went to Canon with its RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM in 2023.

There's plenty going for the 400-800mm lens, mind. Sony says it is dust-resistant and moisture-resistant, plus its focusing and zoom are internal – the latter being a welcome surprise.

An internal zoom means the lens doesn't extend as you zoom in and out, with the center of gravity essentially unchanged. Most enthusiast zoom lenses extend as you zoom, including Canon's, and there's potential for dust and moisture to enter the lens through its extending barrel. Not so with Sony's 400-800mm.

This is an optically complex lens too, comprising 27 elements in 19 groups, 6 of which are ED elements, plus an 11-blade circular aperture for what should be pleasant bokeh. Sony says there's minimal flare, ghosting and chromatic aberration – our incoming in-depth review will reveal all.

The lens' minimum focus distance is 1.7m, delivering a maximum 0.23x magnification – this is no macro lens. It's equipped with two linear motors and supports autofocus tracking up to 120fps, meaning the autofocus performance of Sony's best cameras can realize its full potential with this lens in play.

We're also testing the 16mm F1.8 lens – here it is attached to the Sony A7C II. (Image credit: Chris Rowlands)

The lens is stabilized, which is an essential feature for a super-telephoto zoom, but unfortunately Sony couldn't tell us what the lens's OIS is rated up to. We should have that info by the time our in-depth review is published.

At 2,475g, Sony's 400-800mm lens is weightier than Canon's super-telephoto, plus it's slightly pricier while Canon's lens has a 4x optical zoom which can zoom out wider to 200mm.

For people with a Sony camera, however, the new FE 400-800mm offers the longest reach possible at a competitive price. It's not a pro-grade Sony lens, but I can see it being particularly popular with enthusiast wildlife and action photographers, for whom the maximum F6.3-8 aperture is acceptable.

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Amazon Prime Video have released the first trailer for brand new thriller Holland and what could be one of the best new movies on Prime Video looks as darkly funny as it is deeply unsettling.

The film stars Nicole Kidman as “the meticulous Nancy Vandergroot, a teacher and homemaker whose picture-perfect life with her community pillar husband (Matthew Macfadyen) and son (Jude Hill) in tulip-filled Holland, Michigan, tumbles into a twisted tale. Nancy and her friendly colleague (Gael García Bernal) become suspicious of a secret, only to discover nothing in their lives is what it seems.”

The film has actually been in development for over a decade, with the screenplay topping the 2013 blacklist. Back then, Naomi Watts and Bryan Cranston were attached to star, with Errol Morris on directing duties. The film rights were acquired by Amazon as part of their purchase of MGM studios in 2022.

Judging by the trailer, which you can watch just below, the film looks to be a mash-up of Hitchcockian mystery and Lynchian suburban satire, with a hint of The Truman Show – all shot through an A24-style lens. And from Fresh director Mimi Cave, we’d expect nothing less, after that movie’s skewering of the horrors of modern dating.

The film sees Macfadyen continue to soar post-Succession following his villainous turn in Deadpool & Wolverine, in a role that may not be all it seems. While Fred Vandergroot is ostensibly the perfect family man, the trailer hints at a sinister side, and that, potentially, the husband and father may be the orchestrator behind the bizarre goings on that plague Kidman’s character. Meanwhile, Bernal’s teaching colleague Dave joins Nancy as she investigates the unfolding mystery.

Kidman has been carving out quite a niche for herself as the queen of the streaming thriller in recent years after turns in Nine Perfect Strangers, Big Little Lies and The Perfect Couple. While still very much in the ‘suburban wife with a secret’ mould of those characters, Vandergroot looks to be a refreshing change of pace, with a quirkier performance from the star than we’ve seen recently, as Nancy spirals out of control.

Holland isn’t the only project that sees Kidman teaming up with Amazon either after she fronted Lulu Wang’s drama series Expats. Prime’s upcoming crime adaptation Scarpetta will see Kidman star alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, while an adaptation of Andrew Bovell’s award-winning play Things I Know to Be True is still in production for the streamer, which ranks among the best streaming services.

Also starring Rachel Sennott, Lennon Parham, Isaac Krasner and Jeff Pope, Holland is set to premiere at South by Southwest Festival on March 9 before landing on Prime Video on March 27, 2025.

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Although it can't match the speeds of fiber or cable, satellite internet is an essential lifeline for rural communities.

• The ES90's 800V architecture is more efficient and faster to charge
• Mammoth 111kWh battery offers huge range
• Recycled materials and battery passport will also feature

Volvo is poised to reveal its handsome all-electric saloon next week, claiming that this "supercomputer on wheels" will be the most powerful electric vehicle it has created concerning processing power.

But the Swedish marque continues to drop enticing tidbits as we speed towards the full reveal, including the fact that it can manage 700km of range on a single charge – that’s 435-miles for imperial unit fans.

This is thanks to an enormous 111kWh battery pack and 800V electrical architecture borrowed from the EX90 SUV, which is not only more efficient during operation but can also assist in charging at speeds of up to 350kW.

Volvo says that if you can find the appropriate fast-charger, you can add 300km (186 miles) in the time it takes to use the toilet and order a coffee – or 10 minutes, in other words.

When developing the ES90, Volvo introduced lighter e-motors and other components to reduce overall weight, as well as creating the latest in-house battery management software that provides a more “robust charging experience,” according to the Swedish brand.

Harnessing the brains behind Breathe Battery Technologies, a company Volvo invested in last year, the carmaker has been able to shave down the time it takes to charge the ES90’s batteries from 10 to 80% by as much as 30 per cent, down to just 20 minutes from the fastest chargers.

The ES90 also includes plenty of recycled materials to reduce its carbon footprint, including the fact that 29 per cent of all aluminum and 18 per cent of all steel used in the ES90 is recycled, while the ES90 also contains 16 per cent recycled polymers and bio-based materials.

Volvo's blockchain-based battery passport initiative will also feature in the latest model, allowing owners to track the exact raw materials used, where they came from and its overall CO2 footprint.

Volvo feels premium saloons still have a place

(Image credit: Volvo)

Despite the SUV body style still making up the bulk of vehicle sales around the world, Volvo still feels there is a place for long and luxurious saloons, with the ES90 set to offer a massive amount of legroom in the rear for those who like to be ferried around.

Speaking to Autocar recently, Volvo boss Jim Rowan explained that its Chinese buyers still favour luxury cars with “really long leg room” in the rear, indicating that the ES90 is likely to boast plenty of space to stretch out.

On top of this, the latest Superset tech stack, which we reported on last week, will allow Volvo’s suite of sensors, which includes cameras, radar and Lidar, to offer the next generation of advanced safety functionality and increasing levels of autonomous driving – something that Chinese customers also rank high on their list of must-haves.

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• Microsoft CEO says AI is yet to have its Excel moment
• The real benefits should be measured in its GDP contribution
• AI will allow knowledge workers to focus on knowledge work

Satya Nadella has said that AI should be measured on its benefit to GDP, rather than “self-claiming some AGI milestone,” the Microsoft CEO said on Dwarkesh Patel’s podcast earlier this month.

“That's just nonsensical benchmark hacking,” he continued, stating AI was yet to find the application that would make the years of hype a reality.

“When we say: 'Oh, this is like the industrial revolution,' let's have that industrial revolution type of growth. That means to me, 10 percent, seven percent for the developed world. Inflation adjusted, growing at five percent, that's the real marker,” Nadella said.

Boosting GDP, enhancing “knowledge work”

Nadella used Microsoft Excel as a comparison for how AI is yet to find its proper place in the modern workplace, with physical documents and faxes delivering being an arduous task that would present a forecast “maybe just in time for the next quarter.”

“Then somebody said: 'Hey, I'm just going to take an Excel spreadsheet, put it in an email, send it around, people will go edit it, and I'll have a forecast.' The entire forecasting business process changed because the work artifact and the workflow changed. That is what needs to happen with AI being introduced into knowledge work,” Nadella said.

But the Microsoft CEO doesn’t think AI will replace knowledge work, but rather free up more time for knowledge workers to focus on higher-value tasks, asking “who said my life's goal is to triage my email?”

Many workers already live in fear of being replaced as companies see AI as a tool to reduce costs and increase profits. Luckily for us, the main obstacles to prevent AGI - or AI models with cognitive capabilities that exceed the human brain - from replacing human workers are legal issues.

“Today, you cannot deploy these intelligences unless and until there's someone indemnifying it as a human,” Nadella said.

Via TheRegister

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Xbox's February update has expanded the fittingly named 'stream your own game collection' feature, allowing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play more games that they own via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

The news comes from an official Xbox Wire post. Alongside now being able to invite your friends to a cloud gaming multiplayer session, the post details all the games now added to the stream your own game collection feature. Those recently added are as follows:

• Blasphemous 2
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
• Slime Rancher 2
• Subnautica
• Subnautica: Below Zero
• The Talos Principle 2
• Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered

There are also a healthy number of games being added to the streaming service soon, including:

• Atomic Heart
• Cult of the Lamb
• Hotline Miami
• Killer Frequency
• Neva
• Overcooked! All You Can Eat
• Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate
• Serious Sam Collection
• Trepang2
• Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition

This brings the total number of owned games players can stream to more than 50, and it seems like there's going to be even more added to the feature in the near future.

While Xbox Cloud Gaming itself covers a range of titles available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, this feature is specifically designed to give players the option to stream the games that they own beyond the subscription service.

Still, to make use of the stream your own games collection feature to begin with, you will need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. You can check the box below for all the best rates on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in your region, should you need to renew your sub or add some more time to it.

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• Following the Black Ops 6 easter egg, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 seems to have been listed by Singapore's ratings board
• The burglar is back in The Sims 4 and, while they may have taken ten years to add, at least it's free
• Warner Bros. has closed three studios and canceled its Wonder Woman game

• A new rumor suggests the Samsung Galaxy tri-fold phone won't be revealed at the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked after all
• Prior rumors suggested the new device would be revealed alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7
• We aren't convinced by either side of the argument

We’ve heard plenty about the rumored Samsung Galaxy tri-fold (or, as Samsung might call it, multi-fold) phone recently, but if a new tipoff is anything to go by, we might not have the new foldable in-hand until quite a bit later than some might have hoped.

According to tipster Max Jambor, the Samsung Galaxy tri-fold phone will not launch alongside the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 – both of which are expected to be revealed at this year’s summer edition of Samsung Galaxy Unpacked (or winter edition, if you're in Australia).

Jambor shared the tipoff to X (formerly Twitter), countering previous rumors that suggested the tri-fold Galaxy phone would launch at Samsung’s semi-annual event.

However, Jambor didn’t offer much in the way of context or justification for this claim, so we aren’t totally sure that it’ll hold true.

Samsung first teased a tri-fold device at this year’s first Samsung Galaxy Unpacked showcase, just before revealing the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Galaxy S25 Edge – it would feel satisfyingly symmetrical to have the device officially revealed in the same way.

Samsung first teased a tri-fold device at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked in January 2025 (Image credit: Future)

However, as we previously reported, Korean outlet ET News recently suggested that the tri-fold Galaxy phone would be revealed at the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked.

Overall, it’s hard to gauge which rumor is more reliable – but I think it’s worth keeping expectations tempered for the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked livestream.

As it stands, there are no tri-fold phones available worldwide. Huawei has stated its intention to launch the Mate XT Ultimate tri-fold phone in global markets, but this won't include the US as Huawei is banned from doing business there.

As we’ve previously covered, the Samsung Galaxy G Fold is expected to feature two panels that unfold from a central panel, rather than the Z-shaped configuration used by the Huawei Mate XT.

We haven’t heard much about tri-fold devices from other phone makers, so it seems that Samsung has a solid chance of being the first company to produce a truly globally available tri-fold device, which will no doubt rocket into a spot on our lists of the best Samsung phones and best folding phones.

What do you think of these rumors? Is a Samsung Galaxy tri-fold phone something you’re looking out for? Let us know in the comments below.

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• A convincing Google Pixel 9a hands-on video has mysteriously disappeared, but I think it could’ve been the real thing
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• More Pixel 9a pricing leaks have now emerged
• The 128GB model may match the Google Pixel 8a
• However, the 256GB version could cost more

The mid-range Google Pixel 9a could be with us as soon as next month, and freshly-leaked pricing information gives us some idea of how much this phone is going to cost across the world – and it seems Google will manage to hit the price points of last year's model.

According to Android Headlines, the phone will cost £499 in the UK for the 128GB version, and £599 for the 256GB model. We also have European pricing here, which comes in at €549 for 128GB of storage and €649 for 256GB of storage.

The same source previously posted US pricing in January, and that's repeated again here: $499 for the 128GB model and $599 for the 256GB model. Those are all fairly standard mid-range phone prices, but how do they compare to the Pixel 8a?

As our Google Pixel 8a review will tell you, it launched at a price of $499 / £499 / AU$849 / €549 (128GB) and $559 / £559 / AU$949 / €609 (256GB). Across the board (including Australia, presumably, which we don't have leaked prices for yet) it's price parity for the 128GB edition and a slight price bump for the 256GB edition.

The price is right?

The Pixel 9a could challenge the Pixel 9 (shown here) for value (Image credit: Future)

It's perhaps no surprise that there's a small price hike for the 256GB version of the Pixel 9a, after we've seen the iPhone 16e just hit the market for a starting price of $599 / £599 / AU$999 – replacing the iPhone SE 3, which cost a mere $429 / £419 / AU$719 at launch.

Instead of lamenting the increased cost for the extra storage, maybe we should be pleased that the base model of the phone costs the same as the 2024 version. The extra processing power for all this on-board AI doesn't come cheap, after all.

Of course, this comes with the rather big caveat that none of these prices are confirmed yet. As reliable as Android Headlines usually is, we're not going to know the actual cost of owning a Pixel 9a until the phones are officially unveiled.

There have been plenty of Pixel 9a leaks in recent weeks to whet our collective appetites: the phone is rumored to be doing away with the iconic Pixel camera bar on the back, and could come with a 6.3-inch, 120Hz display, as well as a battery that beats both the Google Pixel 8a and the Google Pixel 9.

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• A new leak claims Apple’s smart doorbell will have MagSafe compatibility
• This could allow it to be wirelessly recharged, but there are few details
• The doorbell is also expected to feature Face ID security

There are several great ways you can use Face ID to improve your security, such as unlocking your iPhone and confirming purchases. But there’s one device that feels like a natural fit for Face ID: a smart doorbell. Apple is rumored to be building just such a device, and a new leak has claimed that it will add a few intriguing extra features that rivals won’t be able to match.

The leaker Kosutami has claimed in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) that the smart doorbell could find a way to integrate Apple’s MagSafe tech. Kosutami has been correct about future Apple products (like the iPhone 16 Pro), but they've also had some misses as well – so it's worth taking these rumors with several helpings of salt.

“There’s something Apple ringing on your door,” the leaker posted, followed up by the tidbit, “MagSafe on your door, it rings.” MagSafe enables accessories to magnetically attach to all the best iPhones, and it can also be used for wireless charging.

That’s not all. Both posts were preceded by Kosutami writing the following cryptic post: “Guess what, home accessories is knocking your door! And you can hear from next generation AirPods Pro!”

While Kosutami didn’t mention Face ID, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has previously alleged that Apple will work the facial recognition technology into its smart doorbell product. Gurman believes the doorbell will support Apple’s upcoming Proxima Wi-Fi chip and the Thread wireless standard.

A smart home push

(Image credit: Arlo)

If both Gurman and Kosutami are correct, Apple’s rumored smart doorbell could come with a range of features seen in other Apple products. That makes a lot of sense, as Apple often borrows features from across its product lineup when upgrading products and releasing new devices. And in the case of a doorbell, elements like Face ID and AirPods Pro compatibility make a lot of sense.

For instance, you could use Face ID to ensure that the door only unlocks for you, keeping your home safe and shutting out would-be intruders. It would also be a lot more convenient than using a key or even an existing smart lock solution like tapping an Apple Watch onto a sensor.

The AirPods Pro tie-in, meanwhile, might allow people to communicate via the doorbell. When wearing AirPods Pro, for instance, you might get an audio alert that a person is at the door. You’d then be able to communicate with them using just your earphones.

What’s a little more unclear is how MagSafe might be applied to the doorbell. Kosutami’s post might imply that you will be able to wirelessly charge the doorbell using a MagSafe-compatible charging puck, but the leaker didn’t go into detail on this point. Attaching the doorbell to a wall using MagSafe doesn’t make much sense, as it would be very easy to detach and steal.

With Apple reportedly developing several smart home hubs and a home security camera in addition to the smart doorbell, it looks like the company is planning to make a serious push into the smart home market. Gurman believes the doorbell won’t launch until 2026 at the earliest, but it could make quite a splash when it eventually lands.

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SABnzbd is a free and open-source NZB downloader that simplifies downloading from Usenet with an intuitive, browser-based interface. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS devices, and even Docker containers, making it widely accessible and easy to integrate into various setups.

Built on Python, SABnzbd prioritizes flexibility and ease of use, offering a range of automation features and a web-based interface that works across multiple platforms. However, it is not as lightweight as NZBGet, which is written in C++ and optimized for minimal system resource usage. While SABnzbd may consume more CPU and memory, it compensates with an extensive feature set and broad compatibility.

With helpful automation tools like RSS filtering, custom scripts, and integration with popular NZB indexing services, SABnzbd is a favorite among Usenet users. It automatically handles unpacking, repairing, and organizing files, making Usenet transfers easy.

To access Usenet newsgroups with SABnzbd, you’ll need a Usenet subscription. Check out our best Usenet provider guide for our top recommendations.

SABnzbd: Features

(Image credit: SABnzbd)

• Cross-platform compatibility: Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS devices, and Docker, making it easy to install on virtually any system.
• Web-based interface: Manage and monitor downloads from any browser.
• Automation-friendly: Supports RSS feeds, API access, and integration with automation tools like Sonarr and Radarr.
• Smart download management: Handles NZB queueing, prioritization, and automatic retries for failed downloads.
• Automatic unpacking and repair: Uses built-in PAR2 verification and unpacks files automatically to save time.
• Multi-server support: Allows users to configure multiple Usenet servers for improved reliability and speed.
• Extensive plugin support: Works with third-party scripts and add-ons to enhance functionality.
• Supports over 18 languages: SABnzbd's web interface is available in more than 18 languages.

SABnzbd: Performance

SABnzbd is a well-optimized downloader capable of handling high-speed Usenet connections with ease. However, due to its Python-based architecture, it consumes more system resources than lightweight alternatives like NZBGet. In contrast, NZBGet’s C++ foundation allows it to run with minimal CPU and memory usage, making it a better option for lower-powered devices.

Despite this, SABnzbd’s robust feature set, built-in queue management, parallel connections, and post-processing capabilities offer an efficient experience. Users with fast Usenet providers will benefit from SABnzbd’s ability to fully utilize their bandwidth.

SABnzbd: Installation and setup

Installing SABnzbd is simple, with dedicated installers for Windows and macOS. Docker, Snap, Flatpak, Ubuntu, Debian, and FreeBSD users can also deploy it easily using images and guides, which can be found on the SABnzbd downloads page.

(Image credit: SABnzbd)

Once installed, the initial setup is guided through a wizard that helps users configure their Usenet server settings, download preferences, and automation features.

Adding Your Usenet Server Settings:

To start downloading, you need to add your Usenet provider’s server details:

1. Open SABnzbd’s web interface in your browser.

2. Click on Servers

3. Enter your Usenet provider’s details, including:

• Server address
• Port number (typically 563 for SSL, 119 for non-SSL)
• Username and password for your Usenet account
• Connection limit
• Click ‘Save Changes’

4. Click ‘Test Server’ to ensure connectivity.

5. Save Settings: Once the connection is successful, click “Save Changes’ to store your server settings.

SABnzbd: Pricing

SABnzbd is free and open-source, with no fees or premium upgrades. You can download the latest version directly from its official website or the SABnzbd GitHub page.

SABnzbd: Support

The SABnzbd website offers comprehensive guides on installation and configuration, along with detailed step-by-step instructions and FAQs to help users optimize their setup. There is also an active community forum where users can ask questions, share tips and ideas, and receive support from both experienced users and developers.

SABnzbd: Final verdict

SABnzbd is an excellent choice for both beginners and advanced users, thanks to its user-friendly web interface and deep automation capabilities. While it may require more system resources than some alternatives, namely NZBGet, seamless integration with popular Usenet tools and hands-free downloading features make it a reliable NZB downloader.

• Windows 11 24H2 just received a new optional update
• It has some interesting new features and fixes, but also brings in an advert
• That PC Game Pass ad in the Settings app will very likely be coming to all Windows 11 users next month with the March patch

Microsoft has deployed a new (optional) patch for Windows 11 24H2 and it does some important work, introducing some useful touches and critical fixes – but there’s a catch in that an advert has strayed in here.

I say advert, Microsoft would doubtless call it a recommendation, but it’s all about pushing other services from the firm, whatever label you pin on it. And in the case of this new KB5052093 preview update, it’s for PC Game Pass, and you’ll see it in the Settings app.

Microsoft explains: “Some of you might see a new referral card for a PC Game Pass subscription on the Settings home page. With it, you can invite friends and family to try PC Game Pass for free. If you qualify, the card only appears when you sign in to your PC using your Microsoft account.”

Other additions will prove much less controversial, such as a useful ability to be able to share files from a jump list on the taskbar. (If you right click an app on the taskbar, the menu that pops up is the jump list, allowing quick access to various useful functions in a context-sensitive manner).

There’s also some laudable work in the accessibility stakes, with Narrator getting fresh bits of functionality with its scan mode, such as a shortcut to ‘skip past link’ which will take you straight to the text after a link, and another that lets you jump straight to a list in a document.

Microsoft has also changed Windows 11 to allow multiple apps to access a webcam simultaneously. As the company explains, this has been developed for people with hearing disability to allow “video streaming for both a sign language interpreter and the end audience at the same time.”

There are a bunch of bug fixes here, too, with a lot of tinkering going on with File Explorer (the windows that show your folders and the files in them). Some of the more important cures include ensuring the context menu invoked with a right click doesn’t appear in a sluggish manner when working with cloud files, and improved performance when opening folders that have a large quantity of media files.

Problems with scanners not being properly recognized by Windows 11 have also been fixed, and a bug that caused the system volume to be ramped up to maximum when the PC wakes from sleep has been squashed (an unwelcome intrusion that doubtless woke up the owner of the computer on a few occasions, as well as the system). Indeed, Windows 11 has suffered a number of audio-related bugs in the recent past.

(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan) Analysis: Optional becomes mandatory next month, and that likely includes this new ad

As I outlined earlier this week, it’s apparent that File Explorer does need some considerable work in its Windows 11 incarnation, and it’s good to see some of that happening here. And the accessibility changes are obviously welcome, with this being an area Microsoft continues to score well in, too, so that’s all good.

The not-so-good is that advert, of course. The Game Pass ad was recently spotted in beta builds of Windows 11, when I went on a bit of a rant about it – and sadly, it appears to be motoring very swiftly through onto the release version of Microsoft’s OS. This preview update for February is not something you have to install – it’s optional – but it will transform into the March patch for Windows 11 next month. At which point, you will have to download it (and it’s unlikely the advert will be removed at the last minute).

True, the ad won’t appear for everyone, only those signed into a Microsoft account who are PC Game Pass subscribers. And arguably, you might even want to give your friends a free trial of the service (for two weeks), so they can join you in tackling some of the best coop games, perhaps. But still, I can’t help but feel frustrated with Microsoft continuing to push its own services in parts of the Windows 11 interface, when this is an OS that people have already paid quite a chunk of money for.

If Windows 11 was completely free (not just for Windows 10 upgraders), then ad-supported would be fine and perfectly understandable – but it isn’t free, so instead users are kind of getting the worst of both worlds. And I’ve never quite understood why Microsoft doesn’t get this.

Clearly, though, things aren’t going to change for the foreseeable, as integrated ads in the form of recommendations or suggestions is an angle Microsoft seems intent on exploring more often these days.

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• Southern Water avoids question on ransomware payout
• February 2024 attack saw customer data stolen in apparent attack
• It is left unclear if the payment was made or not

Southern Water has avoided confirming or denying claims it paid a ransomware demand to hackers following a major cyberattack.

News broke that the company suffered a ransomware attack back in February 2024 which reportedly saw it lose a lot of data to the attackers, data that ended up spilling on the dark web by an infamous ransomware operator known as Black Basta.

However recently, someone leaked approximately 200,000 messages exchanged between members of Black Basta, prompting security firm HudsonRock to create a BlackBastaGPT tool to help sift through the data easier.

Payment and other hallucinations

Journalists from The Register have now used the tool, in combination with raw chat data, to try and find out if Southern Water paid the ransom or not.

Apparently, the group demanded $3.5 million, which was too high for the water company, which allegedly asked to reduce the asking price to $750,000.

While the chat logs don’t clearly state if the terms were agreed, at one point a member allegedly said “These have already paid, remember?"

However The Register notes the GPT hallucinates a lot, and that the information should be taken with a grain of salt. Reaching out to Southern Water directly, it did not receive a clear response, with a spokesperson saying, "As soon as we became aware, over a year ago, of an illegal intrusion affecting our IT systems (not affecting our operations or services to customers), we informed all relevant bodies, including NCSC and Defra. We and our advisers worked closely with NCSC throughout the incident."

Southern Water is a utility company that provides drinking water and wastewater services to customers in the south of England, including Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight. It operates water treatment facilities and sewerage systems.

Black Basta was formed in 2022, and has since targeted at least 500 organizations, with notable victims include Ascension Healthcare, Capita, ABB, and the American Dental Association.

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• Hackers are carrying out attacks faster than ever, report claims
• ReliaQuest research says encryption of exfiltrated data is becoming less likely
• Phishing remains the top attack vector

As well as boosting businesses across the world, the adoption of AI by security teams and hackers has also changed the cybercrime landscape, with new research from ReliaQuest claiming cybercriminals are now faster than ever at breaching systems, with the average time between initial access and lateral movement now just 48 minutes.

Interestingly, the report found hackers are relying less and less on encryptions, with 80% of all breaches involving data exfiltration, but just 20% including encryption, and many attackers are, abandoning encryption altogether, focusing solely on data theft, "a faster, more profitable approach,” the report confirms.

This suggests companies are perhaps less inclined to pay ransoms, and hackers are finding more success in simply selling the stolen data, rather than making demands.

Old habits die hard

This isn’t perhaps entirely surprising, as fewer than half of ransomware incidents result in payment, and of those who pay the ransom, only around 7% actually ever fully recover their information - so there’s not much incentive on either side.

The research also shows phishing is once again the top initial access technique, and 30% of these attacks include credential harvesting. Social engineering attacks are evolving too, with ‘voice phishing’ now behind 14% of breaches - especially targeting the manufacturing sector, likely due to the ‘frequent IT interactions and lenient help-desk policies’ needed to handle the high volumes of support requests.

But the findings also mean security teams are going to have to rethink their priorities in the coming months, and in 2025, companies will have to bolster their defenses to avoid any costly downtime.

“The focus can no longer be solely on restoring encrypted systems—strategies must also address protecting data privacy, managing reputational risks, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements,” the report adds.

“To prepare, CISOs must implement defenses to detect and prevent exfiltration attempts while developing playbooks that prioritize business continuity and resilience against these evolving ransomware tactics.”

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