Feed aggregator

Los Angeles has wildfire policies that are far tougher than many of those in Western states. The destruction from the recent fires shows there are still major gaps to address.

(Image credit: AGUSTIN PAULLIER/AFP via Getty Images)

The US is increasingly intent on winning the AI race with China. Experts say this ignores the benefits of collaboration—and the danger of unintended consequences.

'/>

The World Monuments Fund list seeks to raise awareness and funds to help preserve the sites it spotlights. Africa's Swahili Coast, Maine's lighthouses and Buddhist grottoes in China are also in peril.

(Image credit: Mohammed Abed)

It's a crucial north London derby for both teams at the Emirates.

Jesse Eisenberg's directorial debut is gaining Oscar buzz.

• Chinese reviewer showcases the RTX 5080 FE and its new power connector
• The embargo is expected to be on January 29, a day before its launch
• The new power connector has new wires for a more secure connection

Following Nvidia's RTX 5000 series unveiling at CES 2025, we’re waiting for our first look at the RTX 5090's performance from user benchmarks to find out how well the new Multi Frame Generation feature really works - but for now, we've got our first look at its little brother, the RTX 5080 Founders Edition, and its new power connector.

This comes from a reviewer on the Chinese social media site Bilibili (as reported by VideoCardz), who showcased the RTX 5080 FE along with its new power adapter and stated that the embargo date for reviews will be January 29 (a day before launch) - although this conflicts with a previous VideoCardz report that embargoes will lift on January 24. At the time of writing, the Bilibili post appears to have been taken down - potentially due to a legal notice from Nvidia - but the VideoCardz article is still live, at least for now.

The RTX 4080 and 4090 power connector, called the 12VHPWR connector, wasn't ideal for users - considering it was a potential fire hazard, and its short length left a lack of space and flexibility for side panels on PC cases to close (it also wasn't very pleasant to look at, frankly).

Based on the early image shown in the VideoCardz article (which we’re not posting here because we’d rather not invoke the fury of Nvidia’s legal department), it seems that Nvidia is providing a much longer and more flexible power adapter now - I recently covered the RTX 4080 Super and its performance in the Resident Evil 4 remake, and the only glaring issue I found wasn't with the card's performance itself, but rather the finicky power adapter.

While there's only so much information we can take from a leaked image like this, it looks to be a little more case-friendly if it operates in the same manner as the likes of Seasonic's 12VHPWR power cable - VideoCardz also pointed out the additional sense wires that have been added to ensure a secure 8-pin connection, hopefully preventing any connection issues that caused the connector meltdowns we saw with the previous generation.

(Image credit: Nvidia) What solutions are available for the RTX 4080 GPU power adapter?

For those sticking with the RTX 4080, depending on your PC's power supply, there are plenty of options on the market that work as viable alternatives to the problematic RTX 4080 power connector. It's important to buy the correct cable that provides a sufficient amount of power and is compatible with your PSU - you don't want to run the risk of buying a cheap, unreliable one either.

It isn't exactly clear from the provided pictures whether the new power adapter for the RTX 5080 (and the RTX 5090) will be compatible with the RTX 4080 or any other RTX 4000 cards, but if it is, that could be the easy solution to this matter.

January 30 is on the horizon, so we'll be seeing more of what Nvidia’s new powerhouse GPUs will have to offer - hopefully, there are no recurring issues concerning potential melting cables on this occasion.

You may also like...

• I can't believe I'm saying this, but Nvidia, good on you - RTX 4000 series GPUs will receive DLSS Frame Generation enhancements this month
• Rumored prices for third-party RTX 5080 graphics cards soar above Nvidia’s MSRP, and I’m worried entry-level models will sell out in a flash
• Leaked Nvidia RTX 5090 laptop GPU benchmarks are weird - but there's no need to panic

New AI tools spawn almost hourly these days and companies inundate my email inbox promising the world with tools that can do anything and everything from making my dog speak to editing subjects out of photos. While shiny new products with headline AI features pique my interest, I’ve been quietly waiting for a small, yet significant, ChatGPT update to become available – and now it’s finally here.

An actual AI personal assistant

Since the first AI-powered smartphone tools popped onto the market, I’ve been trying to find the perfect chatbot to become my very own personal assistant, able to learn everything that I tell it and cleverly remind me when I need important information. At the end of last year, I stopped using my trusty task manager apps like Things 3 and Siri to see what OpenAI’s chatbot was truly capable of. After a day without notifications and reminders, I canceled the challenge and returned to my regular workflow, after all, using an app to help take control of my life that can’t remind me of anything was a complete dealbreaker.

Fast forward to 2025, and OpenAI has added one of the biggest, yet subtle, improvements to ChatGPT with tasks and it might honestly be the biggest update we’ve had yet. ChatGPT tasks might not be as headline-stealing as an AI video generator like Sora, or a new model like o3, but it’s the kind of addition that could drastically improve millions of lives around the world and I can’t wait to incorporate it into my workflow.

Why is ChatGPT tasks such a big deal?

Announced on X, ChatGPT tasks is still in beta, rolling out to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro subscribers. The new feature allows ChatGPT to set reminders, becoming your go-to task manager with the added functionality of all the power that OpenAI’s chatbot has to offer. This means you can go about your day updating ChatGPT with information about your life and then ask tasks to suggest alerts and notifications proactively, such as daily weather reports, reminders of what bus to take, and even when bills are due.

When I first attempted to use ChatGPT as my go-to life management tool, I loved its memory feature because it meant I could tell it things that I wanted to remember and then ask the AI at a later date to bring back that information. It was very useful for tracking bus times and routes, as well as remembering key information that I often forget such as the last time I ordered contact lenses, or when I needed to reorder my blood pressure medication. Now with tasks, I can harness the power of ChatGPT’s memory functionality and dump everything that comes to my brain onto the app so I can focus on the things that matter most instead of remembering the mundane.

I have been waiting for ChatGPT to have notifications on iOS with reminders and tasks for a very long time, so much so that I could be tempted to pay the hefty $20 / £16 / $AU 32 monthly subscription fee for a Plus account just to get early access. OpenAI says the task management functionality will be coming to free users at a later date.

One of my most anticipated AI tools of 2025 is the major Apple Intelligence update coming to Siri as part of iOS 18.4 in a few months. That update gives Siri personal context and on-screen awareness so it can function as your on-device AI-powered personal assistant. While not built into iOS in the same way, ChatGPT tasks as part of the ChatGPT app or accessed through Siri integration could make OpenAI’s chatbot your go-to for all your everyday needs. Combined with a souped-up Siri, I’m beyond excited at the prospect of AI taking control of my day-to-day life in 2025 so I can focus on the things that matter most, like drinking coffee and eating pizza.

You might also like

• ChatGPT's new Projects feature can organize your AI clutter
• ChatGPT adds eyes to its voice with new screen and video sharing feature
• ChatGPT's Canvas feature is a real-time editor to inspire your writing and coding

• New screenshots of Apple’s CarPlay 2 have just surfaced online
• They purport to show widgets designed for Apple’s car dashboard system
• CarPlay 2 has seemingly been delayed and lacks a release date

CarPlay is Apple’s digital system for interacting with your car – listening to music, using maps, that sort of thing. And the company has been teasing CarPlay 2 for what seems like forever, all with very little to show for it. Now, though, it looks like we’ve just been given a glimpse of how it will work, including a set of widgets that will give you all sorts of abilities from your dashboard.

The leaked images were posted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris on X. There, Perris uploaded four shots of a rectangular dashboard populated with various widgets. All of the images were monochrome, but it’s likely that the final CarPlay 2 release will feature much more color.

The first image displayed a large, empty rectangle that can be populated with widgets. Some of those widgets were shown in the second picture, which depicted square widgets for the Clock, Weather, and Calendar apps. Perris also showed a widget for a combined navigation and music display next to a standalone music player.

Despite that, Perris didn’t reveal where these images came from or provide any more information on what we can expect from CarPlay 2, leaving us with plenty of questions to answer.

Where is CarPlay 2? Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Aaron Perris)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Aaron Perris)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Aaron Perris)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Aaron Perris)

CarPlay 2 has had a long, bumpy road since it was first announced. Apple teased it at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in 2022, saying it would release the updated system before too long. Yet there’s been nothing but radio silence since then.

In fact, Apple’s CarPlay website still says that the first models featuring CarPlay 2 will “arrive in 2024.” Clearly, that’s not going to happen anymore.

One reason for the delay could be that CarPlay 2 is not the same plug-and-play outfit as the original CarPlay was. The first edition of the car dashboard system uses the same rectangular layout in every car, making it easy for vehicle manufacturers to include it. CarPlay 2, on the other hand, promises a complete dashboard takeover, which means that Apple has to work directly with each carmaker to weave it into their unique layouts. That has likely, at least partially, caused the delay with the rollout.

The revelation of the new CarPlay 2 screenshots should give Apple fans some hope that work is progressing well. But without any word from Apple, there’s no way of knowing when it will finally make its long-awaited and much anticipated arrival.

You might also like

• Apple promised us CarPlay 2.0 in 2024 – but it hasn't arrived yet
• I finally tried CarPlay and now I’m convinced Apple should never build a car – but not for the reason you think
• Where is Apple CarPlay 2? A 2024 launch is looking unlikely, but not impossible

In celebration of what would have been Martin Luther King Jr.'s 96th birthday, pianist Lara Downes examines how musicians have followed in his footsteps, and faced the cost of taking a stand.

(Image credit: AFP)

• Buying domains from businesses that shut down could grant access to their SaaS accounts, research finds
• Google argues it's not a vulnerability, and that businesses should make sure they're not leaving sensitive information behind
• Researchers propose additional safeguards

Experts have found a vulnerability in Google’s OAuth “Sign in with Google” feature which could allow malicious actors to access sensitive data belonging to businesses that have shut down.

Google acknowledged the flaw, but is not doing much to address it, rather saying that it is up to the businesses to ensure the security of the data they are leaving behind.

The vulnerability was first discovered by security researchers from Trufflesecurity, who reported it to Google in late September 2024. However, it was only after the company’s CEO and co-founder, Dylan Ayrey, presented the issue at Shmoocon in December 2024 that Google reacted.

Google suggests mitigations

Here is how it works, in theory:

A business signs up for an HR service using its business email account and the “Sign in with Google” feature. It uses the HR service for things like employee contracts, payouts, and more. Some time later, the business shuts down, and terminates the domain. After that, a malicious actor registers the same domain, and recreates the same email address used to log into the HR service.

They then proceed to log into the account on the HR platform, where they can access all the information and files left behind.

Google awarded Trufflesecurity a small bounty, but decided not to pursue a fix: "We appreciate Dylan Ayrey’s help identifying the risks stemming from customers forgetting to delete third-party SaaS services as part of turning down their operation," a Google representative told BleepingComputer.

“As a best practice, we recommend customers properly close out domains following these instructions to make this type of issue impossible. Additionally, we encourage third-party apps to follow best-practices by using the unique account identifiers (sub) to mitigate this risk.”

In other words, it’s up to the businesses to make sure they’re not leaving residual data behind.

Ayrey notes a quick look through Crunchbase returns more than 100,000 domains that can be abused this way. He suggested Google introduce immutable identifiers, while SaaS providers add cross-referencing domain registration dates.

Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

• Chinese hackers are switching to new malware for government attacks
• Here's a list of the best antivirus tools on offer
• These are the best endpoint protection tools right now

It should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with my work that I spend quite a bit of my free time browsing gaming- and tech-related social media. This includes r/pcmasterrace, a PC gaming community currently embroiled in a virtual civil war over a highly divisive topic: AI-powered resolution upscaling and frame-gen technology.

The debate is largely focused on Nvidia’s DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation right now (apologies to Intel and AMD, but XeSS and FSR are often left out of these conversations), with most PC gamers falling into one of two camps: ‘DLSS is great’ and ‘DLSS is bullshit’. Well, it turns out the former camp is a lot bigger than the latter, based on new statistics released by Nvidia.

DLSS use has been steadily on the rise ever since its introduction back in 2019 (in an update to Battlefield V), with Nvidia’s user data now indicating that more than 80% of players with RTX GPUs turn on DLSS in their games - with some individual games sporting even higher percentages. DLSS adoption is becoming more commonplace among developers too, with more than 540 games and apps supporting it, including 15 of the top 20 most-played PC games of 2024.

The DLSS debate

At the end of the day, a community like r/pcmasterrace won’t be truly indicative of the wider PC gaming community: it’s a gathering place for hardcore gamers and PC builders, and that sort of clientele inevitably leads to some hot-blooded discourse.

Some argue that tools such as DLSS and frame-gen are a good way to squeeze extra performance from your PC, while others complain about input latency, ‘fake frames’, and the modern prevalence of AI in gaming. The naysayers aren’t completely without justification, either; DLSS has historically run into some issues with maintaining image quality, frame blurring, and input latency - although like all emergent technologies, it’s only improved with each generation.

Personally? I’m on the fence about it. On the one hand, I do believe that DLSS has improved a great deal since its first iteration, and the Multi Frame Generation feature coming to the newly-announced Nvidia RTX 5000 GPUs feels a bit like dark and forbidden magic - a piece of software quadruples my framerate without me actually needing to do anything? Witchcraft!

But on the other hand, there’s no ignoring that there are some downsides to DLSS and frame-gen tech. While I don’t subscribe to the ridiculous ‘fake frames’ argument I often see bandied about on Reddit - come on guys, it’s not like the regular frames are being lovingly handcrafted by generations of artisanal frame-makers in a Tibetan mountain village - it’s not yet a perfect tool, and there’s one obvious pitfall here.

An AI-powered world of gaming

As my colleague Isaiah Williams recently pointed out, DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation can provide some phenomenal results - but there are fears among PC gamers that this could lead to developers falling into an over-reliance on AI tech in games, particularly when it comes to the optimization of PC ports.

As consoles begin to implement similar tech too - with the terribly-named PSSR landing on Sony’s PS5 Pro last year and a DLSS-like feature potentially coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 - it’s clear that upscaling is here to stay even before looking at Nvidia’s latest stats. As the hardware demands of modern triple-A games continue to grow, there’s a fear among gamers that developers will start viewing it as a band-aid for poor game optimization - while users running older hardware that doesn’t support upscaling are left out in the cold.

It’s a legitimate fear, though I don’t think we should be using it to crap all over Nvidia; DLSS and Team Green’s wider gaming software suite are frankly very impressive, and the GPU giant is now consciously focused on mitigating the drawbacks of upscaling and frame-gen through generational improvements and features like the latency-reducing Reflex 2.

Besides, the blame for poor optimization in PC games lies with developers and publishers - while there’s an argument to be made that Nvidia is enabling this behavior, I think it’s fair to say that Team Green is developing and implementing these tools purely with the goal of improving game performance. As for the argument that players with older GPUs shouldn’t be left out, well… unfortunately, we all have to upgrade eventually. So next time you see a spirited argument about frame-gen on Reddit, maybe think about giving Nvidia a bit of slack.

Got some pressing thoughts about this? If you've read this article all the way through then I'll bet you do. Tell me how much of a genius (or moron) I am in our shiny new TechRadar comments section below!

You might also like...

• I can't believe I'm saying this, but Nvidia, good on you - RTX 4000 series GPUs will receive DLSS Frame Generation enhancements this month
• Nvidia RTX 5050 was missing in action at CES 2025 – but the budget GPU might just have been spotted in a surprising laptop
• Rumored prices for third-party RTX 5080 graphics cards soar above Nvidia’s MSRP, and I’m worried entry-level models will sell out in a flash

New research from The Access Group finds that 35% of UK workers admit to using generative AI without telling their managers. As employee use of AI is on the upswing, many organizations are still developing their plans for how to govern its use. Shadow AI is quickly becoming a challenge for many IT teams.

Shadow IT isn’t a new concept. The rapid evolution of SaaS technology has created technology sprawl within organizations as employees turn to tech tools to support their day-to-day work. IT is often out of the loop on technology being used within their organizations, so what options do they have to govern new technology, including AI and the risks that come with it? The answer lies in making it easier for employees to bring new technology into the organization with IT’s involvement.

The root cause of shadow IT

There are numerous reasons why employees choose to bring unauthorized technology into their organizations. In the UK, hybrid working models, easy access to cloud services, and the evolution of AI have meant shadow IT has become a major concern for businesses. Some employees may also opt to bring in their own technology because they are too busy or are concerned that they will be bothering IT if they go through the proper channels. Regardless of the reason, the root cause of shadow IT adoption is tied to inefficient and perhaps, broken processes.

But the responsibility doesn’t solely rest with employees. For example, if an employee does follow the process to submit a technology request but it is delayed or goes unnoticed by the IT team, they’re also likely to turn to shadow IT. In this scenario, not only do organizations open themselves up to security concerns around unauthorized software, but it also strains IT teams and wastes time for employees’ working requests.

The key to improving IT processes

Far too often, inefficient processes exist because they are manual and disconnected. Businesses don’t know where the breakdown is because they have no visibility into the end-to-end process, data isn’t shared between the people and systems it should be, and the user experience is riddled with challenges. This is where process automation comes into play.

That statement may seem like a given, especially in the context of IT processes. But unfortunately, many companies struggle to automate their processes, including IT processes. The reasons vary, including manual processes being intricate and difficult to automate, legacy systems lacking the integrations needed to automate, and more.

Following a simple framework for automation can help most organizations overcome these challenges:

1. Identify where automation can be helpful and applied
2. Automate those processes with low-code tools
3. Scale adoption of new processes through modern, easy-to-use user interfaces

By following this framework, organizations can speed up the fulfillment of new IT requests and curb shadow IT use. Here are a few examples: Map the IT fulfillment process – Get an end-to-end view of each step in the fulfillment process to visualize where bottlenecks and inefficiencies occur. Common bottlenecks occur around assigning requests and leaving reviews in the pending stage.

Enhance experience and scale engagement – It’s also important to look at the user experience to ensure it has low barriers to entry. How are employees submitting their requests to the modernized process? By leveraging low-code application development tools, you can create an intake form for employees that’s digital and intuitive to use.

Automate bottlenecks – Once you’ve identified where inefficiencies are in the process and modernized the user experience, apply automation to streamline the sticking points. For example, automation can help you avoid requests being stuck in the “assignment” stage by automatically assigning requests to the appropriate team or team member. It’s important to note that automated processes can succeed with a “set it and forget it” mindset. Continual monitoring and improvement are needed to ensure that the process functions properly.

The rapid evolution of technologies like AI will only exacerbate the shadow IT challenge. That’s why organizations must modernize their IT processes today to avoid further shadow IT creep and prevent future security risks. End-to-end process automation is key to understanding where IT processes are breaking down, applying automation, and scaling new processes for maximum engagement – all while reducing the need for employees to turn to shadow IT for their technology needs.

We've featured the best IT management tool.

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

• Marvel has finally released Daredevil: Born Again's first trailer
• The teaser arrives less than two months before its March 4 launch date
• It had been delayed due to the devastating wildfires that are currently ravaging LA

After what's felt like an eternity, Marvel has finally released Daredevil: Born Again's first trailer to the public.

Just two days after Daredevil: Born Again star Vincent D'Onofrio revealed the teaser had been delayed due to the LA wildfires, a Stories post on Marvel's official Instagram account confirmed that the trailer would arrive today (January 15). And, with the two-minute video debuting at 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm GMT, you can now watch it below.

As has become the norm with Marvel trailers, there's tons to unpack from the TV-MA-rated show's first teaser. There's a surprising and increasingly tense meeting between Cox's Matt Murdock and D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk in a diner. Then there's the multiple shots of bloody and wince-inducing action sequences. Oh, and brief looks at the series' stacked ensemble cast, including confirmation – if more was needed – that two fan-favorite Daredevil characters in Karen Page and Foggy Nelson are definitely back for Born Again. In fact, there are plenty of familiar faces, including Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle/The Punisher and Wilson Bethel's Bullseye, among a whole host of newcomers, such as the late Kamar de los Reyes' White Tiger and this season's other villain in Muse, a serial killer who's being played by, well, we don't actually know yet.

The trailer may have only just been revealed, but we've know about the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) show's story synopsis for a while. For those who haven't read it, here's what it tells us about Born Again's plot: "Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer with heightened abilities, is fighting for justice through his bustling law firm, while former mob boss Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) pursues his own political endeavors in New York. When their past identities begin to emerge, both men find themselves on an inevitable collision course."

Outside of that, we know Born Again will be a direct continuation of the story told in Daredevil, which originally ran on Netflix (it was one of the streamer's most beloved TV Originals) between 2015 and 2019. You can learn more details about the the Marvel Phase 5 project's confirmed cast and story details in my Daredevil: Born Again hub.

Marvel Television’s all-new series #DaredevilBornAgain premieres March 4 at 6pm PT/9pm ET. Only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/4POqX6A8DVJanuary 15, 2025

Daredevil: Born Again's first trailer has been a long time coming. The Disney Plus show's inaugural teaser received its worldwide debut at D23 Expo 2024 last August. However, it was exclusively shown to attendees, so the rest of us have had to wait five months for its public reveal.

We have caught glimpses of the highly-anticipated series since then, though. Marvel revealed the briefest of sneak peeks at Daredevil: Born Again in a video celebrating the comic titan's 85th birthday in August 2024. A further 20 seconds of new Born Again footage formed part of Marvels 2025 TV line-up trailer last October, too, but that's all we'd been treated to until today's full trailer debut. Well, aside from leaked set photographs that have Daredevil fans worried about the fate of a beloved character.

Daredevil: Born Again will premiere exclusively on Disney Plus, aka one of the world's best streaming services, on March 4 (US) and March 5 (UK and Australia) – and I, for one, cannot wait.

You might also like

• Find out what we know about Captain America: Brave New World
• Or get the lowdown on The Fantastic Four: First Steps
• Alternatively, learn how to watch the Marvel movies and TV shows in order

Since the inception of the internet, passwords have been the primary authentication factor to gain access to online accounts. Yubico’s recent Global State of Authentication survey of 20,000 employees found that 58 percent still use a username and password to login to personal accounts, with 54 percent using this login method to access work accounts.

This is despite the fact that 80 percent of breaches today are a result of stolen login credentials from attacks like phishing. Because of this, passwords are widely understood by security experts as the most insecure authentication method that leaves individuals, organizations and their employees around the world vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated modern cyber attacks like phishing.

In fact, even passwords which are considered ‘strong’ by websites – i.e., they contain more than a dozen characters comprising uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols – can still be easily guessed or stolen by bad actors. Once they obtain the password, they can then bypass all legacy multi-factor authentication (MFA) systems and access individuals’ personal details with ease. Combined with the fact that people tend to reuse passwords across multiple accounts – which gives hackers the ability to breach multiple accounts with a single login – it becomes abundantly clear that passwords as an authentication method are flawed and extremely insecure in countless ways.

Surprisingly, there remains a lack of awareness regarding best practices for authentication: according to the same Yubico survey, 39 percent of individuals believe a username and password is the most secure form of authentication, while 37 percent consider mobile SMS one-time passcodes (OTPs) the most secure authentication method. While any form of MFA is superior to relying solely on a password, it’s important to recognize that not all MFA methods offer the same level of security. Traditional MFA techniques, including SMS-based OTPs and mobile authenticator applications, have significant vulnerabilities, with cyber criminals displaying an ability to easily circumvent these through phishing attacks.

As individuals and organizations become increasingly aware of the cyber risks associated with passwords and legacy MFA, enterprises have started to transition away from outdated authentication methods and move towards stronger, more cyber resilient technologies, in the form of phishing-resistant, passwordless solutions like passkeys.

A passwordless future with passkeys

Understanding the risks that passwords bring, organizations and individuals around the world are looking for a solution that provides improved security and a better user experience. Passkeys have taken the world by storm as the de facto authentication solution across apps and websites to replace passwords – helping both individuals and enterprises achieve this easily. Passkeys seamlessly authenticate users by using cryptographic security “keys” stored on their computer or device. They are considered a superior alternative to passwords since users are not required to recall or manually enter long sequences of characters that can be forgotten, stolen or intercepted.

As passwordless-enabled FIDO credentials, passkeys deliver phishing resistance and accelerate a move away from problematic passwords that are easily breached. Passkeys are utilized for logging into applications and services efficiently and safely, thereby improving both productivity and online security. For example, passkeys require verification of possession as well as the user's physical presence during the login process, which effectively safeguards them from interception or theft by remote cyber criminals.

Beyond enhanced security, accessibility is also improved significantly by using a passkey – highlighted by two different forms of passkey options: authentication protocols can either be stored in the cloud (synced passkey) or on a device like a hardware security key (device-bound passkey).Then, it is then exchanged effortlessly at login via a swipe, press, tap, or biometric gesture.

From a security perspective, passkey login makes it far more challenging for malicious actors to exploit credentials and gain unauthorized access since it utilizes public key cryptography based on mathematical principles. They can also be conveniently, and securely stored on hardware security keys, which offers a higher level of security as it prevents the passkey from being copied or shared across the cloud and other devices. However, each passkey option brings different benefits – and it’s important to understand which type is right for your situation and threat model.

The right passkey strategy for you

Firstly, it is important to establish the difference between synced and device-bound passkeys. Synced passkeys are primarily designed for broad consumer use rather than enterprises, and are stored in the cloud. This means the credentials can be copied across all the devices connected to a user’s account. For individuals and families sharing devices and accounts, this can be a big advantage. However, for organizations, this can create some concerning failure points and expose major flaws in key enterprise scenarios such as remote working and supply chain security.

Device-bound passkeys offer greater manageability and control of their FIDO credentials than synced passkeys - making them better suited for security savvy and high-risk individuals, as well as businesses. Device-bound means that authentication must originate from one particular piece of hardware separate from everyday devices, where the passkey cannot be copied or shared. Despite the lack of flexibility that comes with having to register each device separately, these solutions deliver higher security assurance as the only method of authentication is to possess a specific, previously registered device.

However, even within device-bound passkey options there are important differences: some options are located in general purpose everyday devices like smartphones and laptops, and others that reside in hardware security keys, that are recognized as offering the highest security assurance. Hardware security keys equip organizations with reliable credential lifecycle management and the necessary proof to validate the security of their credentials, ensuring enterprises can achieve optimal security and remain compliant with the most rigid requirements across different industries.

In cybersecurity, finding a balance between accessibility and security is imperative – and it is no different when considering passkeys. Enterprises should opt for a passkey solution that provides security and convenience in equal measure. The solution ought to enhance the security of online accounts and sensitive data, as well as protect users and the wider organization against phishing and unauthorized access, while at the same time allowing employees to take advantage of a seamless login experience.

As we navigate the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, the integration of passwordless authentication, particularly through the widespread implementation of passkeys, will prove to be instrumental in protecting our digital identities and securing the systems and services that are integral to our daily lives.

We've featured the best identity theft protection.

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

The world of portable monitors is incredibly vast and diverse, and it has only been going on more these last few years with people working from home, coffee shops, and their couches. I'm writing this paragraph from my home office away from my home office -- my dining room table, my couch, or my chair in my bedroom. Yes, there are plenty of times that I work strictly from my laptop, but sometimes, there are tasks that I could benefit from having a second display. When it's time to complete those tasks, and I am unable to grab my monitor, I opt for a portable monitor instead.

Over the years, I have tried many portable monitors; I always used my 11in iPad Pro as a portable monitor (until I swapped it for an iPad Mini 7). Though all of those portable monitors are fantastic for one reason or another, there is something incredible about the Plugable 15.6-inch Portable USB-C Monitor. It's not the most brilliant-looking display, at only 1920 x 1080, it's not the largest display at 15.6 inches, and it's not the fanciest display, but it is the one I have been grabbing most frequently over the last few months of working from home a ton with sick family I am taking care of.

Plugable has somehow found a way to give me what I need in this regard, without any fluff. One of the best portable monitors I've used, this one is incredibly lightweight, easy to use, and even upgradable (but more on that later).

Plugable 15.6" Portable USB-C Monitor: Price and Availability

The Plugable 15.6" USB-C Display is sold through the official Plugable website (click here) and online retailers such as Amazon for $199.95 and is backed by lifetime support. This purchase gets you the monitor, a magnetic folio, and a USB-C Cable to connect to your device.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Plugable 15.6" Portable USB-C Monitor: Unboxing and First Impressions

As I previously said, I have tried a lot of portable monitors and monitors in general. The one thing that immediately stood out about this monitor was its light. I was blown away taking it out of the box and thought something was wrong. Then, once I added the folio case, it was barely any heavier. I quickly got acquainted with the ports and a couple of buttons on the monitor, grabbed the USB-C cable, and plugged it into my laptop. It sprung to life immediately, showcasing how easy this monitor is to use.

Right off the bat, I thought the monitor looked great and wanted to use it. The folio base is excellent for stability on a couch, bed, chair, table, desk, café, and everywhere I have tried. The folio adds protection to the screen without needing another pouch or sleeve that will go unused, helping this setup stay incredibly minimal, and this portable monitor is super easy to slide into a bag, backpack, or purse to bring with you anywhere and everywhere.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Plugable 15.6" Portable USB-C Monitor: Design and Build Quality Specs

Screen Size: 15.6 inches.
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz.
Panel Type: IPS with LED backlight.
Brightness: 300 nits.
Ports: 1x USB-C for host connection, 2x USB-C 10Gbps hub ports with pass-through charging
Weight: 840g (1.85lbs) with folio.
Viewing Angles: 178° vertical and horizontal.

The Plugable 15.6" portable USB-C Display is incredibly slim, portable, minimalist, and durable. I've taken this monitor with me on numerous trips, putting it in my backpack for some and in a suitcase for others, and it just keeps working. Something about it being so slim and light makes me think it won't hold up, but I'm surprised every single time that it's durable, too.

In addition to being durable, it's packed with the valuable features you need and none that you don't. This portable monitor has three high-speed USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports with up to 10Gbps data transfer and up to 100W PD (85W charging) for your laptop or another connected device through TAA-compliant ports that will work with most USB-C, USB4, and Thunderbolt, and USB-C cables. It also has a glare-resistant screen, a sharp 300-nit IPS LED display, universal compatibility, and even playback-protected content (HDCP) from streaming services, which some displays block.

Lastly, the folio with this display works as the stand, meaning it's incredibly minimal and does not need additional accessories to hold the display up.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Plugable 15.6" Portable USB-C Monitor: In use

The Plugable 15.6-inch portable USB-C display has been a game changer for me for the last few weeks. It is not the best in every area, but it's phenomenal in most places that count, which makes it just right for almost everyone. To quickly list a few things this doesn't have, there is no VESA mount option or any Magsafe or stand options even though the folio snaps into place, nor is this a high-resolution or high-brightness screen. Instead, it's a 1920 x 1080 display with 300 nits of brightness, a few ports, and a folio stand.

But, what this has been able to do for me is extend my work to another screen pretty much anywhere I am. It's helped me get so much more done when another screen is helpful, whether I have my fancy home office, another monitor to plug into, or a proper workspace. This monitor offers 85W charging, which is plenty for even my 13" M2 MacBook Pro, or most of my laptops. Plus, I can do that with the third port if I ever need to charge another device (such as my laptop light bar modification (more on this later) or transfer data with a drive, all with whatever computer I am using as long as it has USB-C, which is all even semi-recent computers.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

There are a few things that I have added to this monitor that have taken it to another level. Since I have used it heavily for the past few months, especially on trips or working at night away from my home office, I have worked a lot in the dark, either late at night or early in the morning. I don't know about you, but the glaring difference between a screen and a dark room can sometimes be very straining on my eyes, or if there are other things I am referencing or other things around my workspace, even a drink, I like seeing my workspace a bit, if nothing else to help me stay awake on those very long nights.

So, what I did was I added the BenQ Laptop Light Bar to my portable monitor; this way, it can stay as a single desk setup, and I can unplug my laptop, go wherever else I may need to go and come right back to a complete setup. I did this by adding a MagSafe adhesive on the back of the monitor (specifically, it was an extra one from a Rolling Square attachment I have on my laptop). Then, the laptop light bar magnetically sticks to that. Now, anywhere I am working, I can have a replica of my full desk setup in a tear-down that can easily fit in a backpack. I also added a right-angle adapter to the end of the USB-C cable to pull my laptop close to the monitor and have the cable out of the way, but this is just a personal preference.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Plugable 15.6" Portable USB-C Monitor: Final verdict

The Plugable USB-C Portable Monitor stands out as an excellent tool for professionals seeking an extra screen. Its premium build, IPS display, and seamless connectivity make it a valuable asset for productivity and entertainment on the go. While its brightness limits outdoor use and the resolution may not be the best for graphic designers or video editors, it remains a solid choice for anyone in need of a versatile portable monitor.

For more display options, we've reviewed the best business monitors.

• Analyst firm Context has shared sales data for Q4 2024
• Copilot+ PCs didn’t see much growth, despite price cuts
• More affordable Arm-based Copilot+ PCs are likely to help Microsoft’s cause in 2025

Microsoft and its manufacturing partners reportedly dropped prices for Copilot+ PCs substantially at the tail-end of last year, but the cuts didn’t stimulate sales, according to an analyst firm – which could be a worry indeed for the future.

The Register highlighted the move seemingly made in the final quarter of 2024, in which these AI laptops were reduced by 10% - going by the average distributor sale price in Europe.

Marie-Christine Pygott, a senior analyst at Context, told The Register: “While price reductions helped stimulate some interest in Q4, the value proposition of these devices [Copilot+ PCs] still needs to be communicated more effectively to users.”

On a more positive note, Pygott added: “As the concept matures, awareness grows, and a greater range of price points is being addressed, we expect adoption rates to increase in 2025.”

The analyst tells us that more broadly, PC sales in Europe (for desktop computers and tablets, as well as laptops) witnessed some solid growth in the final quarter of last year, and sales for December were up 7% year-on-year, in fact.

During the quarter, AI-capable laptops saw their adoption rate grow to 32%, up from 22% in Q3 – but despite the upward movement, that didn’t match some forecasts (of 40% growth).

However, the definition of an AI-capable laptop is any device with an NPU to pep up AI workloads, no matter how strong that NPU is. Copilot+ PCs are a separate category within that, calling for a powerful NPU of at least 40 TOPS, and in that subdivision, growth was much weaker – it went from 3% to only 5%, according to Context.

Pygott told The Register that the leading notebooks in the world of AI PCs were Apple MacBooks (in Europe and the UK), but Lenovo and HP were making strong headway for market share (based on distributor sell-through data, we should note, not retailer sales).

Whereas Microsoft’s Surface devices are in pole position among the subcategory of Copilot+ PCs, unsurprisingly given how good these laptops are (the latest Surface Laptop is not just a great Copilot+ device, but also our best laptop overall, in fact).

(Image credit: Future) Analysis: Pricing and perception

We must be cautious around a single set of analyst figures, but the sales picture presented here does look rather weak. What to do, then, for Microsoft and its big Copilot+ PC project?

As Pygott points out, there are two obvious problems. Firstly, these devices were too costly at launch, and secondly, people don’t really understand what the AI in an ‘AI PC’ adds to the whole experience (with good reason, and we’ll come back to that).

As Pygott observes: “These [Copilot+ PCs] are currently in the premium price range, but their value add is not always clear to users. We believe this will change as it becomes clearer to users what these PCs can do, and how the way they use a PC will change with AI, but it will take some time.”

As to the issues around cost, as Pygott tells us, a “greater range of price points is being addressed,” which refers to the progress made in bringing in cheaper Snapdragon X chips. This will facilitate the release of more affordable Arm-based Copilot+ PCs (and Arm CPUs are still the majority for these devices).

First off, we had the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor arrive in September 2024 ushering in more affordable Copilot+ PCs around the $800 level. Then, the new vanilla Snapdragon X was revealed at CES 2025, and this promises to reduce the cost of these AI laptops to around the $600 mark.

The evolutions of these Arm-based notebooks may cut down the Snapdragon CPU, but crucially they do not mess with the powerful integrated NPU – it’s the same as in higher-tier Snapdragon chips – so they still fully qualify as Copilot+ PCs, just models in truly affordable territory (come Black Friday or the like, we might see $500 price tags). And that should go a long way to helping stoke sales, which, after all, have been predicted to really take off this year (and going forward into the rest of the decade).

The other sticking point of getting folks to realize the benefits of an AI-focused laptop is a trickier proposition, involving Microsoft bolstering the AI tricks infused in Windows 11, and particularly the Copilot+ PC exclusive features, naturally – such as Recall.

That’ll be the first order of the day – getting Recall out of testing, and working well so the feature sheds its controversial reputation (if indeed that is possible, at this stage of the game). But it feels like a tall order for Microsoft to have its suite of AI capabilities make a real impact on public perception, at least in 2025, anyway.

The danger is that if it takes a lot longer for that to happen, the Copilot+ PC project is going to be saddled with a sense of confusion and pointlessness around these devices, which won’t do the brand any favors.

On a more positive note, it’s not like good things aren’t being done with this category of devices – they certainly are. As noted, Microsoft’s latest Surface devices seriously impressed us here at TechRadar, and a Copilot+ PC from Asus was one of the most promising laptops we saw at CES 2025 recently. But while these might be great machines in many respects, the idea of where AI fits, and why it’s such a key aspect – when it isn’t really, not yet – remains the thorny issue.

You may also like...

• The best MacBooks and Macs: top Apple desktops and laptops
• Here's a list of all the apps that can run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite
• Windows 11 remains an unloved OS – but why won't people upgrade?

• Marc Benioff calls “this Copilot thing” “a huge disaster” for Microsoft
• He was responding to Satya Nadella who, on a completely different podcast, forecasted that software-as-a-service will collapse with the rise of easy-to-create AI chatbots
• Benioff also pointed out Microsoft is leveraging external technology with its deal with OpenAI - “they’re not even making the AI themselves”

Marc Benioff, the CEO of top CRM software firm Salesforce, has clapped back at his Microsoft counterpart Satya Nadella after the latter suggested software-as-a-service companies like Salesforce could go bust in the wake of the AI chatbot agent boom.

Speaking on The Logan Bartlett Show, Benioff claimed, “customers don’t look at them and don’t take them seriously”.

“I’ve spoken to these customers,” he went on, “they barely use it, and that’s only if they don’t already have a ChatGPT license or something like that in front of them.”

Salesforce’s Agentforce 2.0 platform

Benioff pointed out that Salesforce has its own “agentic platform” in production, while adding Microsoft “[isn’t] even making the AI themselves” - referring to its $10 billion USD investment into OpenAI - the company behind ChatGPT.

Nadella made his remarks on the Bg2 podcast in December 2024, albeit without referring to Salesforce by name.

Salesforce even launched Agentforce 2.0, an AI chatbot agent creation platform, in December 2024 - a clear effort to keep up with the AI trend, so it’s not entirely clear why he has Microsoft in his sights, because Microsoft doesn’t seem to have Salesforce on its own radar.

Benioff does have form for taking aim at Microsoft’s Copilot AI, mind you. At Dreamforce 2024, he compared Copilot to Microsoft’s erstwhile mascot Clippy, and has maintained that comparison in tweets.

Back in a missive from October 2024, he wrote “Copilot’s a flop because Microsoft lacks the data, metadata, and enterprise security models to create real corporate intelligence.”

Via IT Pro

You might also like

• Salesforce reveals major hiring push to sell AI products
• We’ve listed the best productivity tools right now
• UK Government to trial AI projects in bakeries, farms, and more

Netflix has revealed the full trailer for Apple Cider Vinegar, a new series launching on February 6, 2025 – and it looks like a relentless ride of outrageous influencer grifting.

Set during the early days of influencers really breaking out and becoming a dominant voice in the media, it follows self-styled two wellness gurus who both encourage a healthy diet and lifestyle to overcome cancer. Belle Gibson (Kaitlyn Dever) builds an empire based on her diet that 'cured' her cancer… except she never had cancer in the first place.

The series looks like it'll dig deep into the delusions that take hold among competitive personalities in a world in which success defined by how many people will listen to you, and the fear of what will happen if someone else has a more compelling story is ever present.

It's described as "true-ish" by Netflix, which says it's based on a real person and real events, but with heavily fictionalized elements and characters added to tell the story in the way the creators want to… which is basically the norm for this kind of series, so it's nice that Netflix is acknowledging that more than usual. However, it's possible that this has less to do with conscientiousness, and more to do with the lawsuit over Baby Reindeer being a 'true' story.

Apple Cider Vinegar seems like it'll be a deep and unflinching look at the insecurity and desperation that leads someone down the path of inventing a third cancer to fake-survive, and how the structures of social media can support and encourage such behavior.

I think Kaitlyn Dever is an excellent actress who's been slightly underused since breaking out in Booksmart, though I did really enjoy No One Will Save You, and Dopesick was a big hit. Apple Cider Vinegar looks like it'll give her something really unhinged to chew on, and I'm absolutely here for that.

You might also like…

• Netflix's Celebrity Bear Hunt trailer looks so bizarre, I can't tell if its satire or not – but I think I'm in
• 4 movies leaving Netflix in January with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes you won't want to miss
• Missing You is Netflix's #1 show, but it's a 'miss' for me – here are 3 better mystery thrillers with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes

Some people team up with an "accountability partner" or "accountability group" to accomplish big goals or tasks. Here's how to set up a successful partnership.

(Image credit: cienpies)

• Biden wants to roll out more powerful AI data centers across the US
• “Frontier AI data centers” will be able to develop powerful AI models
• Operators must also factor in clean energy and security measures

US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to expedite the construction of data centers in the country.

The order outlines a focus on the development of domestic AI infrastructure, as well as plans for how the White House intends to improve national security while also addressing environmental concerns like clean energy generation.

Key to the order is that the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy must each identify three suitable sites for so-called “frontier AI data centers” by early 2025.

Biden wants the US to lead the way with AI data centers

The President described “frontier AI data centers” as facilities “capable of being used to develop, within a reasonable time frame, an AI model with characteristics related either to performance or to the computational resources used in its development that approximately match or surpass the state of the art at the time of the AI model’s development.”

As part of the intended data center expansion, President Biden said the operators must match their electricity consumption on an hourly basis with clean energy like geothermal, nuclear, wind, and solar.

Just days before he hands over office to Donald Trump, and in light of ongoing geopolitical tensions, Biden also said campuses should impose stringent physical and cyber security standards, including further along the supply chain.

“The executive order announced today will ensure the United States has the infrastructure — including large-scale data centers and clean power facilities — necessary to maintain America’s competitive advantage and safeguard our national security interests," noted Vice President Kamala Harris.

The news comes shortly after President-elect Trump confirmed Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani would invest $20 billion, or more, in America’s AI infrastructure.

You might also like

• Take a look at our pick of the best AI tools
• We’ve rounded up a list of the best cloud computing services
• AI might end up creating more jobs than it ends - and these jobs in particular should be safest