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• Security researchers observe new botnet-building campaign called Murdoc
• Its attacks are targeting IP cameras and routers
• More than 1,000 devices have been identified as compromised

Cybersecurity researchers from the Qualys Threat Research Unit have observed a new large-scale operation exploiting vulnerabilities in IP cameras and routers to build out a botnet.

In a technical analysis, Qualys said the attackers were mostly exploiting CVE-2017-17215 and CVE-2024-7029, seeking to compromise AVTECH IP cameras, and Huawei HG532 routers. The botnet is essentially Mirai, although in this case it was dubbed Murdoc.

Qualys said Murdoc demonstrated “enhanced capabilities, exploiting vulnerabilities to compromise devices and establish expansive botnet networks.”

The persevering Mirai

The campaign most likely started in July 2024, and has so far managed to compromise 1,370 systems. Most of the victims are located in Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

With a network of internet-connected devices (bots) under their control, malicious actors can mount Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, bringing websites and services down, disrupting operations and causing financial and reputational harm.

Mirai is a highly popular botnet malware. Created by three college students in the US: Paras Jha, Josiah White, and Dalton Norman, Mirai became infamous in 2016 after orchestrating a large-scale DDoS attack on Dyn, that temporarily disrupted major websites, including Netflix, and Twitter.

The creators released the source code online, right before their arrest in 2017. They pled guilty to using the botnet for DDoS attacks and other schemes.

While law enforcement continues to target and disrupt the botnet, it has shown great resilience and continues to be active to this day.

Less than two weeks ago, a Mirai variant named ‘gayfemboy’ was found exploiting a bug in Four-Faith industrial routers. Although clearly spawned from Mirai, this new version differs greatly, abusing more than 20 vulnerabilities and targeting weak Telnet passwords. Some of the vulnerabilities have never been seen before, and don’t have CVEs assigned just yet. Among them are bugs in Neterbit routers, and Vimar smart home devices.

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When it comes to runtime, Snapdragon X laptops and the MacBook Air run laps around it.

A few cats have died from bird flu after eating raw food. And some raw pet food products have been recalled. Here's what to know about the risks to your fur babies, and how to keep them safe.

(Image credit: eclipse_images/iStockphoto)

Get rid of those monthly subscription fees on your home security system. These are the best security cameras without that dependency.

This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.

This year’s update to Asus’ Vivobook Pro 15 makes one thing obvious: the days when you had to pay over £2,000 for a powerful mobile workstation are gone. Packed inside this 1.8kg monster you’ll find Intel’s top-end Core Ultra 9 185H processor and GeForce RTX 4060 graphics, and with Nvidia’s Studio software it’s ready to go with a bunch of professional apps.

Asus certainly has its eye on designers here, even building a dial into the top left of the touchpad. If you’re dexterous enough to keep within its 3cm diameter then you can use it to whizz through timelines in Premiere Pro, adjust brush sizes in Photoshop and switch font sizes in PowerPoint. It’s no replacement for a hardware dial, but could be a time-saver on the move.

The huge touchpad includes a dial for use in apps such as Photoshop (Image credit: Future)

The Pantone-validated OLED display is another plus point. Not merely because it’s incredibly sharp, thanks to 2,880 x 1,620 pixels across a 15.6in diagonal, but also because it ships with presets for sRGB, DCI-P3 and Display P3. Or you can stick with its native color gamut, which covers 99% of the DCI-P3 space (with a 115% volume) and reproduces colors with near-perfect accuracy. It hit a respectable 387cd/m2 in SDR mode, and with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 600 certification it should be no surprise that films look incredible.

There’s a fine pair of speakers here, too, with vocals coming through with particular clarity. That quality extends to the 1440p webcam. If you find, as I did, that the captured audio isn’t as clear as you hoped, head into the settings within the MyAsus app and switch off all the AI enhancements.

At 1.8kg this is no lightweight, but in return you get pro levels of power (Image credit: Future)

This app is also where you’ll find the color gamut options and control over the fan settings. I don’t see the point of buying a laptop as powerful as this and not putting those fans into Performance mode; they’re noisier, but you’re rewarded with significantly faster frame rates in games: Metro Exodus Enhanced’s averages went up by over 10%, for instance, moving from 61fps at 1080p High settings to 68fps. And 3DMark Time Spy jumped from 7,969 to 8,605.

If you buy this laptop then you’ll get faster results still, as the system Asus sent me had RTX 4050 graphics rather than RTX 4060. As mentioned in the HP Omen Transcend review, you’ll struggle to get above 120fps to take advantage of the screen’s 120Hz refresh rate in most games – I only breached 100fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p medium and Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1080p High – but all current AAA games will play fluidly at reduced settings.

(Image credit: Future)

Our test machine came with a Core 7 Ultra, but shipping units include the Core Ultra 9 185H. With Asus providing combined CPU and GPU power of 125W it will never feel sluggish. The thick – by modern standards – chassis also has plenty of room for a chunky heatsink and fans, but the drawback is battery life. It lasted for 8hrs 19mins in PCMark’s video-rundown test, but switching to Modern Office dropped that to 5hrs 59mins. You’ll need to take the meaty 200W power supply with you.

This has its own power socket, which sits on the right-hand side of the chassis along with Thunderbolt 4, USB-C and USB-A ports. And a gigabit Ethernet connector, 3.5mm jack and HDMI 2.1 output. Safe to say it’s crowded. A single USB-A port and SD card reader sit on the left, along with the heat exhaust vents.

Asus includes every port you’ll need on the right-hand side of the chassis (Image credit: Future)

With a crisp keyboard, complete with number pad, this is a laptop computer that has appeal across the spectrum. I can see reasons for writers, gamers, designers and video editors to reach for their wallets.

You’ll notice its bulk and weight when travelling, but sometimes only a powerhouse will do. And that’s exactly what the Asus Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is.

We also ranked the best laptops for animation.

US age verification laws threaten people's data privacy and security – and not even the most secure VPN services are a solution.

This is the warning coming from experts at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), pointing out the risks of collecting more users' data to fulfill mandatory online age checks.

Florida citizens have been the last to turn en masse to the best VPN services to bypass new legislation requiring age verification to access adult content sites. Despite their privacy-enhancing technology, these tools "are not foolproof," the EFF explains, "nor should they be necessary to access legally protected speech."

More data, more dangers

In January 2025, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee joined 15 US States already enforcing age verification laws. Louisiana was the first to do so in 2023, alongside Utha, Texas, and Montana, among others. Seven States, including Kansas, Alabama, and Oklahoma, also joined this list in 2024. Georgia is also expected to enforce a similar law in July this year.

These laws come as an effort to regulate online content to protect children online. Florida's HB 3 rules, for example, include mandatory age checks to access adults and a ban on those under 14 from having a social media account.

To do so, these laws require online service providers to collect vast amounts of personal identifier data, such as government-issued identification. Companies could face penalties for failing to comply.

Privacy experts have long warned against the risks of getting rid of online anonymity. According to the EFF, these laws introduce "surveillance systems that threaten everyone’s rights to speech and privacy, and introduce more harm than they seek to combat."

While VPNs may be able to disguise the source of your internet activity, they are not foolproof—nor should they be necessary to access legally protected speech. https://t.co/rmZHsmDzZkJanuary 19, 2025

The more data collected, the higher the dangers of compromise. This is a risk that the popular adult site, PornHub, understood, deciding to block access to users based in the regions where intrusive age verification checks are in place.

"Any regulations that require hundreds of thousands of adult sites to collect significant amounts of highly sensitive personal information is putting user safety in jeopardy," said Aylo, Pornhub’s parent company, in a statement to local news, pointing out how easy it is for users to find ways of evading these laws.

On these premises, VPN usage spikes in Florida – reaching a peak of 1150% only four hours after the HB3 law came into effect, according to some statistics – aren't so surprising.

Did you know?

(Image credit: Photo by Jaque Silva/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

VPN usage also soared in the US on Sunday, January 19, 2025, reaching spikes of up to 1566% within minutes of the block against TikTok coming into force. While TikTok has now been restored in the country, VPNs weren't a one-click solution to bypass the blockage.

A virtual private network (VPN) not only encrypts your internet connection to prevent third-party access but also masks your real IP address location to make you appear like you're browsing from somewhere else entirely.

This is why streaming VPNs can help you access content unavailable in your region. However, Not even the most reputable VPNs come without limitations.

As the EFF experts explain, your IP address isn't the only method online services use to track down your location. They may also use GPS tracking, web cookies, mobile ad IDs, tracking pixels, or device fingerprinting.

Not only that, as age verification laws spread, experts predict that VPN apps will become less effective in circumventing these requirements as enforcement methods may improve.

All in all, the EFF said: "The ever-growing conglomeration of age verification laws poses significant challenges for users trying to maintain anonymity online, and have the potential to harm us all – including the young people they are designed to protect."

• Sega has launched a new Sega Account service
• It's free to sign up and offers exclusive in-game rewards
• This includes a bonus outfit for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Sega has just launched a brand new online account system, simply called 'Sega Account'.

The official Sega Account website reveals that its "lets you maximize Sega's online services" and that it "offers a ton of benefits." Much like Sega's email newsletter system, Sega Account is free to sign up for and seems like it'll offer exclusive in-game rewards for those who do.

Right now, users who sign up will receive an exclusive outfit for Majima in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. The Kazuma Kiryu Special Outfit dresses Majima in the garb of his best frenemy, which is sure to feel out of place in the best possible way when that game launches on February 21, 2025.

It also appears that Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis players will receive free in-game currency via Sega Account. This is a bit more convoluted, as the Sega Account link takes you to the Japanese Phantasy Star Online 2 website. However, a quick machine translation shows that players can link their PSO 2 account to their Sega account to receive the in-game benefits there.

Sega promises more features will be coming to Sega Account soon, including the ability to look at records for applicable Sega and Atlus games that you own. There's no date on this feature as of yet, but we imagine it'll be happening in the near future.

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This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.

We were hoping to review the AOC 27B3CF2 in this Labs, as you can buy it for a similar price to the 27B3CA2 and they’re identical but for one factor: the stand. Where the version with A2 at the end has a lightweight plastic stand that keeps the monitor at a fixed position, with the bottom roughly 110mm above your desk, the F2 offers 110mm of height adjustment.

Both monitors offer the tantalizing prospect of a 27in USB-C docking monitor for around £150, and to hit that price point AOC has had to make some compromises. Let’s start with the features: you only get two USB-A ports (5Gbits/sec), and nothing in the way of extras, unless you count the 3.5mm headphone socket. Aside from this, only an HDMI port graces the rear.

Nor do you get hedonistic features such as a stand with swiveling capabilities, but as this unit weighs a mere 4.4kg it’s easy to maneuver and to carry round an office. At least you get some tilting action, with 5° forward and 23° back.

(Image credit: Future)

Naturally, this is a Full HD monitor rather than 1440p. As with all its Full HD 27in rivals, you lose sharpness around text edges, and there simply isn’t as much room for details, which makes it less useful for workers who like to view two documents side by side, especially if one of those documents is a detail-packed spreadsheet. However, whites look fine, so we were happy to use it for day-to-day tasks, and with 65W power delivery over USB-C it could be rolled out in offices where workers bring in their own laptops.

You shouldn’t expect bags of color; next to the Acer Vero B277 Ebmiprzxv, there’s only one winner. It covers a reasonable 92% of the sRGB gamut, though, and an average Delta E of 1.35 suggests respectable color accuracy. The one area of our testing where it fell down was brightness and contrast uniformity: out of 24 test areas, DisplayCal only gave one the green light.

We would love to end on a complimentary word about speaker or OSD quality, but sadly, no. In “Englishmen in New York”, Sting sounds like he’s singing down a phone line from the 1970s, and AOC’s OSD is looking increasingly dated compared to rivals. It’s okay once you get used to it, but there’s an unnecessary learning curve.

All of which means that there really is only one reason to buy this screen: that you’re desperate for USB-C docking and only have £150 to spend. In which case we recommend you seek out its 27B3CF2 sibling with an adjustable height stand.

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In today’s increasingly connected world, the need for reliable, high-speed internet connectivity is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for both organizations and consumers alike. As more individuals and businesses continue to rely more heavily on digital platforms and technologies, the demand for seamless, secure and robust connectivity has never been so important. For many businesses, connectivity is not just about operational efficiency, it is at heart of business operations, innovation, and security in an age where even minor outages can cause significant disruptions.

This landscape highlights the important role vendors play in ensuring businesses have access to the necessary IT infrastructure and tools needed to succeed. Through focusing on inclusive policies, implementing advanced technologies, and offering tailored solutions, vendors can empower businesses to meet the challenges today’s digital world brings.

Bridging the digital divide for a more inclusive society

Delivering good connectivity for all is vital for fostering a more inclusive and safer digital society. The digital divide – the gap between those with access to reliable internet and those without – still remains a pressing issue globally. For organizations, this divide can translate into unequal opportunities, limited innovation, and reduced competitiveness in underserved regions. Addressing this issue requires a united effort among governments, industries, and internet service providers (ISPs).

Governments play a key role in facilitating widespread connectivity through funding infrastructure projects in underserved regions and establishing policies that incentivize private sector participation. Programs aimed at rural broadband expansion and low-cost internet services ensure that businesses in remote areas can compete on an equal footing with their urban counterparts.

Beyond access, connectivity must be affordable and environmentally sustainable. Vendors and ISPs need to have a bigger focus on low-cost, energy-efficient technologies, providing technology that can stand the test of time as networking continues to get more advanced, whether that’s through utilizing scalable solutions that doesn’t require costly replacements. These collective efforts foster a more inclusive digital society, ensuring businesses across the UK have the tools needed to succeed in today’s modern digital landscape.

Unlocking opportunities for ISPs and vendors

With increased innovation and advanced technology across a number of sectors, this presents a number of opportunities for ISPs and vendors to delivery comprehensive and advanced solutions that are tailored for the evolving needs of many businesses. Through adopting and implementing emerging technologies and enhancing service offerings, ISPs can strengthen their role in enabling businesses to succeed. ISPs and vendors can offer a number of benefits for businesses, including:

Premium services and tiered packages: Businesses often have varying and evolving needs when it comes to connectivity. Large organizations may require ultra-fast speeds and robust cybersecurity, while smaller businesses may prioritize affordability and reliability. ISPs can offer tiered service packages ensuring that businesses of all sizes can access the right level of support.

Enhanced network management: Advanced tools for network monitoring, optimization and management allow ISPs to adjust performance in real-time. For businesses, this translates to offering minimal downtime and consistent performance, which is essential for organizations to stay competitive.

Scalable solutions for growth: ISPs and vendors can provide businesses with flexible and scalable connectivity options that grow alongside their needs. Whether expanding to new locations, onboarding more users, or adopting cloud applications, these solutions ensure businesses maintain optimal performance and seamless connectivity as they evolve.

These tailored offerings not only benefit businesses but also enhance the ISP's reputation and customer loyalty. By positioning themselves as reliable partners, vendors and ISPs can secure long-term relationships which helps to drive mutual growth.

Transformative power of advanced technologies

The rise of technologies like Wi-Fi 7 represents a dramatic shift in the way businesses operate. These advancements go beyond offering fast connections, but address critical needs for stability, security, and scalability in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Wi-Fi 7 introduces groundbreaking features such as multi-gig connectivity and improved latency. For businesses, this offers a range of benefits, from uninterrupted video conferencing, smoother data transfers, to enhanced support for IoT devices. These capabilities are particularly important for verticals like education and hospitality, where unstable connectivity can cause significant disruption and financial loss.

Having reliable and seamless connectivity has never been more important. Next-generation technologies enable fast and efficient communication through advanced networks and optimized access points, empowering businesses to stay connected and operating. By leveraging these innovations, organizations can enhance collaboration, streamline operations, and adapt more effectively to today’s demands.

A collaborative path forward

For businesses to thrive in a digitally driven economy, robust and reliable connectivity is vital. The role of vendors and ISPs in delivering this connectivity is at the centre, but success requires a collaborative approach. Governments, industries, and technology providers must work together to bridge the digital divide, unlock the potential of emerging technologies, and create a sustainable and secure digital ecosystem.

By focusing on inclusivity, innovation, and tailored solutions, vendors can empower businesses to achieve their full potential. In turn, businesses can leverage these robust solutions to drive growth, foster innovation, and navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving digital world. The future of connectivity is not just about speed or reliability; it is about creating opportunities, ensuring equity, and building resilience in a world where technology is at the heart of business operations.

We've compiled a list of the best Wi-Fi extenders.

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

• A new study has revealed the benefits of muscle strength and cardio fitness in cancer patients
• A systematic review of 42 studies has revealed high muscle strength or cardio fitness cuts all-cause mortality by at least a third
• In some cases, being fitter and stronger can reduce the chances of cancer patient death by heart

If your 2025 resolutions have started to stall out, and you're finding it that little bit harder to roll yourself out of bed and into the gym or onto your treadmill, then a new study just dropped that could completely change your outlook.

While it's well known that exercise provides mental health benefits, helps you burn calories and lose weight, and even has social benefits, a new study has revealed that being strong and fit can drastically improve your chances of surviving cancer.

Research published this week in the British Journal of Sports Medicine outlines the findings of a systematic review of 42 studies, examining the link between muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with all-cause and cancer-specific mortality in patients diagnosed with cancer.

The results are clear and pretty astonishing. The research team discovered that cancer patients with high muscle strength or CRF levels "had a significant reduction in risk of all-cause mortality by 31–46% compared with those with low physical fitness levels."

Having muscle strength and CRF was also associated with "an 8–46% reduced risk of all-cause mortality in patients with advanced cancer stages," and a 19-41% reduced risk of all-cause mortality in lung and digestive cancers.

The upshot? High muscle strength and CRF "were significantly associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality" in cancer patients, while CRF was further associated with a reduced risk of cancer-specific mortality. What's more, both were "especially predictive" in patients with advanced cancer stages, lung, and digestive cancers.

A body of research

It might be time to strap on those running shoes... (Image credit: Future)

While it isn't the cheeriest of subjects, this new review builds on existing studies linking strength and fitness to cancer mortality and survival rates. This 2015 study found resistance training (lifting weights) specifically reduced all-cause mortality rates in cancer patients by 33%. Likewise, this 2017 study revealed that higher muscle strength is linked to prolonged survival in older patients with advanced cancer.

I caught up with TechRadar's very own Christian Guyton – Computing Editor and cancer survivor – to find out more. "Being in good shape was apparently a big factor in beating cancer for me," he shared. "It's not just about how your physical health affects the cancer's development itself, but it can also determine the degree of treatment your body is able to handle."

"Because I was fit and healthy when I was diagnosed, they were basically able to nuke me with a combination of heavy treatment approaches because they were confident the treatment itself wouldn't have a seriously detrimental long-term impact on me," he continued – "They said that in an older or less physically healthy patient, that treatment plan wouldn't be an option because it basically wouldn't be safe. It proved highly effective too since I'm two-plus years all clear now!"

So, we can definitely add cancer survival as another reason to get fitter and stronger, but where do you start? Here are a few tips.

Strength training apps

(Image credit: Future)

If you want to increase your muscle strength, you can get started pretty quickly by downloading one of the best fitness apps for building muscle. I recommend PUSH, but there are other great options. Find an app tailored towards building muscle and strength, with plans, progressive overload, rest counting, and more. You want an app that's pushing you to do a variety of exercises to support your whole body, with a good amount of structure, and of course some rest.

Get a smartwatch

(Image credit: Future)

One of the best smartwatches can help you track workouts for both strength and cardio. In fact, many smartwatches, like the best Garmins, even have strength plans built-in so you can follow the workouts on your wrist.

When it comes to CRF, a smartwatch can track runs, bike rides, hikes, and more. It'll keep a tab on your heart rate, calories, and progress. Personally, I've also found a nifty wearable is a real motivator that can encourage you to work out, even when you're not feeling it.

Lots of great smartwatches also come with wellness features like Daily Readiness scores (the best Fitbit trackers) or a Body Battery meter (the best Garmin watches) to help you keep on top of your sleep, rest, and recovery.

Take nutrition seriously

(Image credit: Future)

When it comes to either muscle strength or CRF, nutrition is a vital part of training that will help you grow and repair used muscles. A good nutrition scale like the COSORI smart scale can even track the calories of your raw ingredients, with a breakdown of macros like protein, carbs, and fats.

There are also great apps like MyFitnessPal to help you track your nutrition.

Tackling health, fitness, strength, and the gym can be a daunting task. But with a decent app, a smartwatch, or even a bit of willpower, you can definitely start moving in the right direction.

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• The education sector is a top target for cyberattacks, ESET report claims
• Many organizations don't have antivirus software
• Budget constrictions are the top reason for poor cybersecurity

As the world continues to become more digitally dependent, the threat of cyberattacks is always - amd healthcare and education are often the top targets for cybercriminals.

Following recent research revealing half of UK higher education institutions experiencing a cyber attack every week, a new study by ESET has found there’s a major cybersecurity gap in the education sector which is compounding this problem.

Despite a fifth of education organizations in the UK suffering three or more cyberattacks or data breaches in the last five years, many schools lack even basic protections against cyber threats.

Cyber insurance

ESET's study found a third of educational institutions lack protections like antivirus software and strong password policies, which are regarded as the bare minimum first line of defence against cyber threats. On top of this, the vast majority (79%), have not adopted advanced measures like managed detection and response either.

Another safeguard is regularly overlooked, the research shows, and that’s cyber insurance. Despite the regular attacks, only 44% of primary schools and just 36% of secondary schools report having a cyber insurance plan in place.

Every public sector worker is familiar with budget cuts, and this has left some schools (7%) to operate without an annual cybersecurity budget at all. When asked why they don’t have a cyber insurance policy, the top response is budget prioritization (37%), as well as the policies being too expensive (28%).

Institutions are confident in their staff, with 76% believing their staff have at least a good knowledge and awareness of cybersecurity best practices, but nearly half (47%) say that they would need to prove ‘potential detrimental and financial impact’ to the institution to help convince their finance department in order to approve a larger budget.

“Education organisations are sitting on a ticking time bomb,” said Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor at ESET.

“While it’s clear that the sector recognises the critical importance of cybersecurity, there is a huge disconnect between budget allocation, lack of insurance and its misconceptions, and inadequate measures, which is leaving institutions highly vulnerable.”

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iOS 18.3 is nearly here, and the free update coming to all the best iPhones is about to unlock even more Apple Intelligence features for iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro users.

The latest update for your iPhone is expected to launch in the coming weeks, and with the arrival of the iOS 18.3 Release Candidate for developers we've now got a glimpse of everything to expect.

One of the big additions coming in iOS 18.3 is a huge update to Visual Intelligence, the exclusive Apple Intelligence feature that's built into the iPhone 16's Camera Control. Visual Intelligence gets three new tricks in iOS 18.3, and it finally feels like Apple is delivering on the promises of that impressive unveiling during its iPhone keynote in September of last year.

Here are the three neat new upgrades coming to the iPhone 16's Visual Intelligence in iOS 18.3.

1. Add events to calendar from a flyer

(Image credit: Apple)

The biggest new trick coming to Visual Intelligence in iOS 18.3 is the ability to snap a photo of a poster or flyer – promoting a concert for example – and add all the details to your iPhone's Calendar app.

Visual Intelligence will now be able to quickly analyze a document, and allow you to tap on the date and time to create calendar events.

This is a very cool addition to Visual Intelligence, and one of the main features that Apple showcased initially. When I first tried Visual Intelligence towards the end of last year I was disappointed that this functionality wasn't available, so I'm excited to finally be able to quickly add events to my calendar when I spot something that I don't want to forget.

2. Identify animals

(Image credit: Apple)

How often do you see a cute dog or an interesting bird while walking through the park? Well, now you can use Apple Intelligence to identify the animal by simply snapping a photo with Visual Intelligence.

This is another trick Apple showcased when first unveiling Visual Intelligence, and one that should prove fun for animal lovers. In Apple's promotional video, a man snaps a photo of a dog on the street and instantly gets a pop-up identifying the breed.

As a dog owner myself, I often encounter different dog breeds while walking my French bulldog, and I this new addition to Visual Intelligence should be handy for the times I want to know more about them. That said, you won't want to start taking photos of someone's dog without asking.

3. Help with my allergies

This one might be a bit niche, but it could be hugely helpful for allergy sufferers. Visual Intelligence will be able to identify plants in the same way it can now identify animals. That might not sound that exciting, but I suffer from hay fever almost daily, and whenever my partner buys a new plant or adds flowers to our home, I usually end up with itchy eyes.

With Visual Intelligence's iOS 18.3 upgrade, I'll be able to snap a photo of any plant I see before we purchase it, and check whether it's likely to cause my allergies to flair up. Visual Intelligence works alongside ChatGPT and Google Search, allowing you to not only identify the plant but also ask questions related to it.

I wish I'd had this feature over the holidays, when my partner bought a poinsettia that made my eyes burn for a good week before we realized that it was the cause. So this one might not be interesting to everyone, but it's certainly exciting for me.

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Crime shouldn't be an excuse to break encryption. Encrypted communications are either secure – and private – or they are not.

That's what some experts told TechRadar, commenting on recent Europol's chief statement. Talking to the Financial Times, Catherine De Bolle said that technology giants have a "social responsibility" to give the police access to encrypted messages used by criminals.

"Anonymity is not a fundamental right," she said, arguing that law enforcement needs to be able to decrypt encrypted messages to fight back crime.

Experts, however, warn that creating a backdoor for law enforcement will undermine the protection for all, opening up to unmaintained consequences.

The encryption conundrum

Tensions between technologists and law enforcement around end-to-end encryption aren't new. Encryption refers to scrambling data into an unreadable form to prevent third-party access and ensure communications stay private between the sender and the receiver – end to end.

As encrypted messaging apps went mainstream, however, law enforcement has been arguing police officers need to be able to decode these private messages to successfully catch criminals.

The moment an end-to-end encrypted system contains a ‘backdoor’ it is no longer secure

Amandine Le Pape, COO at Element

In the EU, for instance, lawmakers are currently pushing for the so-called Chat Control proposal that, if enacted, will require all encrypted communications providers to create such a backdoor into their software. Other countries, including the US, are also considering similar legislation.

"The truth is that people - and organizations - want secure communications except when it causes inconvenience," said Amandine Le Pape, COO at Element, a secure communications platform used by organizations within governments, defense, and national security.

A police team, Le Pape pointed out, needs its own communication to be secure. Imagine what could happen if an organized crime gang could compromise law enforcement's network. This is, however, exactly what would happen to citizens if secure communication platform providers would need to come with mandatory encryption backdoors.

"On a technical level, the moment an end-to-end encrypted system contains a ‘backdoor’ it is no longer secure," said Le Pape, explaining how the same backdoor can also be exploited by 'the bad guys' with the same goal.

U.S. authorities installed backdoors to mass-monitor their own citizens. Someone hacked the backdoors, and millions of Americans' communications ended up in unintended hands.They are doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.Ad in today’s… pic.twitter.com/XgwmBNx1VfJanuary 20, 2025

Jan Jonsson, CEO of Mullvad VPN, agrees with this. "Either [De Bolle] is aware of the consequences of backdoors and wants to impose mass surveillance on the people. Or she doesn’t understand the basics," Jonsson told TechRadar. "Communication is either secure, or it is not."

The Salt Typhoon attack – the China-linked cyberattack targeting all major US telecoms – is a reminder of such a threat. Attackers exploit a backdoor with malware to gain access and spy on people's communications. This led to US authorities warning all citizens to switch to encryption.

This is why, according to Le Pape from Element, it's unlikely that the legal efforts to weaken the security of communication will be enforced in the near future.

Although the debate swings back and forth, she explains, the tech minds guiding legislation support the need for end-to-end encryption. This is also why, for example, the EU cannot agree on Chat Control after over two years.

Jonsson from Mullvad appears less optimistic about it, arguing that Europol was involved in both the Chat Control proposal and the so-called Going Dark initiative in the EU.

He said: "We hope that politicians realize the security risks and violations of fundamental rights that these initiatives come with."

• OpenAI announces Project Stargate, funded also by SoftBank, Oracle and MGX
• They will invest $500bn over four years, starting with $100bn now
• Azure consumption will rise despite end of exclusivity deal

ChatGPT maker OpenAI has revealed its huge new Stargate Project, which it hopes will improve the state of artificial intelligence and boost the tech sector across the US.

In a blog post announcing the launch, the AI giant confirmed it had signed a deal with SoftBank (lead partner), Oracle (initial equity funder) and MGX (initial equity funder) to provide $500 billion in funding over the course of four years.

Project Stargate’s wheels are already spinning, with $100 billion made available “immediately” to start work, OpenAI noted.

OpenAI Project Stargate

“This infrastructure will secure American leadership in AI, create hundreds of thousands of American jobs, and generate massive economic benefit for the entire world," the company's statement added.

OpenAI described the project as a “re-industrialization” effort for the US, adding that it would also help strengthen the national security of both America and its allies.

Investments are currently headed to Texas, but the partnership is exploring further sites across the US to build more campuses.

Key initial technology partners will include Arm, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle and OpenAI, but it’s the latter three that will build and operate the computing system.

“This builds on a deep collaboration between OpenAI and NVIDIA going back to 2016 and a newer partnership between OpenAI and Oracle," it added.

On the same day, Microsoft shared an update on its deal with OpenAI, confirming that it would no longer be the company's exclusive cloud provider. However, with the launch of Project Stargate, OpenAI said it would continue to increase its consumption of Azure, Microsoft’s cloud computing platform.

The announcement concluded: “All of us look forward to continuing to build and develop AI – and in particular AGI – for the benefit of all of humanity. We believe that this new step is critical on the path, and will enable creative people to figure out how to use AI to elevate humanity.”

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Prince Harry has agreed to settle his lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch's British tabloids. The deal ends a years' long battle to hold the newspapers accountable for invasions of privacy.

(Image credit: Frank Augstein/AP)

• A leaker posted images claiming to show the iPhone 17 Air’s camera design
• They show a wide bar housing the camera and flash
• However, there are many reasons to doubt the accuracy of the leak

Apple is widely expected to launch a so-called ‘iPhone 17 Air’ in the fall, adding a super-slim device to its iPhone roster and dropping the ‘Plus’ model in the process. That’s fueled a lot of speculation, some of it quite outlandish, and that’s definitely the case for the latest iPhone 17 Air claim.

It comes from leaker Majin Bu, who posted an image on X that they claimed depicted the design of the iPhone 17 Air – something that they later claimed was “confirmed.”

What’s interesting about the image is it shows the rear of the device with an elongated camera module that stretches across almost its entire back surface. There’s a single camera lens on the left, a flash on the right, and a small microphone cutout on the right-hand edge.

The image is very blurry and pixelated, making it difficult to see much in the way of details. Majin Bu also has a spotty track record when it comes to Apple leaks – they accurately predicted the “Desert Titanium” color name of the iPhone 16 Pro months before it launched, but have also published a slew of incorrect rumors, such as the claim that the iPhone 15 would have two front-facing cameras.

Reasons for doubt

Based on what was reported by my source, this would be the new iPhone 17 design. I can't be sure if the image is real, but if it were, it would reflect the leaked design. pic.twitter.com/vXhHqunzN7January 21, 2025

There are other reasons to be skeptical of the leak. For one thing, it would be a complete departure from Apple’s regular camera design. Every other iPhone places the camera in the corner of the device, and it’s been that way for years. If Apple was really going to implement a completely new design, you’d think some of the more high-profile leakers and analysts would have got wind of it from their sources. Yet they’ve all remained tellingly silent so far.

And there’s another problem. The iPhone 17 Air is, as the name suggests, expected to be far thinner than Apple’s other iPhones, which means much less internal space for components. If the camera bar stretches across the entire back frame, it will occupy the same space as the Face ID camera array on the front of the device. It’s highly unlikely that Apple will drop a feature as vital as Face ID, which makes it hard to imagine the company using a rear camera design like this.

Ultimately, we won’t find out for sure until Apple’s iPhone launch event in the fall (assuming the iPhone 17 Air is real and will arrive then). Until that time, we’d recommend treating this latest rumor with a huge dose of skepticism. Until more reputable sources confirm its accuracy, it’s probably safe to assume it’s wide of the mark.

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Hohem iSteady M7: two-minute review

Adding yet another premium option to the burgeoning smartphone stabilizer market, the Hohem iSteady M7 is Hohem's latest top-of-the-range gimbal. It’s built to carry almost any smartphone – including heavier or larger models that other gimbals can’t effectively stabilize – and comes with a wide range of features to justify its high price and (compared to some) bulkier proportions.

Hohem supplies the iSteady M7 with a detachable mini tripod (which screws into the standard tripod mounting point at the base of the gimbal handle), a detachable AI tracking module/fill light, and two USB charging cables: one USB-C to USB-C and one USB-C to USB-A. There’s no AC adapter included, so you’ll have to connect this cable to something else to recharge the battery. All of the above fits snugly into a hard-shell zip-up carry case, which also has a net-covered space in the lid to store extras such as manuals or additional cables.

The stabilizer folds flat for storage, with three locks keeping the gimbal arm firmly in place. When it’s time for use, these locks have to be manually disengaged so that the arm can move freely, and the arm also needs some simple manual balancing once the phone has been mounted. For mounting, the phone is placed inside a firm spring-loaded grip, which can be rotated 90º to switch the phone between landscape (16:9) and portrait (9:16) orientation.

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(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The grip and gimbal motor are powerful enough to accommodate smartphones up to 500g in weight, and 12.5mm in thickness. That impressed me, given that the last flagship gimbal I reviewed, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI, can only manage phones up to 300g and 10mm. If you own one of the larger smartphone models (including folding phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6) or like to have a chunky case or lens accessory fitted to your handset, this extra capacity could make all the difference.

Hohem has designed and built the iSteady M7 very well. The gimbal felt comfortable in my hand, and I found all the major controls – from the front trigger to the customizable zoom/focus/tilt/pan wheel on the left – to be thoughtfully located and easy to access. There’s even a built-in extension rod, which allowed me to add an extra 20cm of distance to the gimbal arm and achieve some otherwise impossible shooting angles.

For my money, though, the best design touch (and one feature that no other stabilizer offers, to my knowledge) is the 1.4-inch touchscreen panel on the handle. Not only does this enable access to a range of settings via swipes and taps, which meant I didn’t need to use the Hohem Joy companion app to delve into some of the stabilizer’s deeper functions, but it also unclips from the handle to work as a remote control unit. This meant I was able to set the iSteady M7 up on a flat surface using its tripod, then use the remote to control gimbal movements and more from a distance of up to about 10m.

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(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

It doesn’t stop there. The iSteady M7, like the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI, comes with a small removable module for AI-assisted subject tracking. This mounts securely onto the gimbal arm (facing either front- or backwards) and, via a tiny camera, enables tracking of human subjects no matter which camera app you’re using on your phone. Some stabilizers will only track when using the manufacturer’s app, but this module meant I could use the native iPhone app, Blackmagic Cam, TikTok, or any other app I preferred. The Hohem Joy app itself is fine, although thanks to some poorly translated text and odd design choices, I would rather use other apps with which I’m more familiar. There’s room for improvement there, then.

The module also sports a really useful LED fill light (which can be customized for brightness and color) but perhaps more impressive is the way it combines really well with the remote unit. Not only was I able to preview the tracking camera’s POV via the remote screen, but I could also double-tap on the screen to track other objects. It’s far beyond what you get with the Zhiyun gimbal’s AI tracking.

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(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

As for the 3-axis gimbal stabilization itself, I have absolutely no complaints. The usual modes – Pan Follow, Pan Tilt Follow, and POV – are supplemented by a full custom mode that allowed me to tailor movement speeds to my needs, and the ability of the gimbal to rotate through 360º on the pan axis gave me a lot of freedom to get creative with camera movement. The settings menu also features an ultra-wide-angle mode, which moves the gimbal arm out of the way of the camera during ultra-wide shots.

With a solid battery life of up to 12 hours with the gimbal largely static or eight hours with AI tracking enabled, you may want to pack a power bank for long weekend shoots, but I’m quite happy with the capacity. A USB-C socket on the gimbal arm even allows you to charge your phone’s battery while it’s mounted – just another example of the sort of thoughtful design touches that make the Hohem iSteady M7 arguably the best phone gimbal on the market right now.

Hohem iSteady M7 review: price and availability

The Hohem iSteady M7 is available now, and priced at around $299 / £269 / A$459. That puts it among the priciest of smartphone stabilizers out there, but given its spec level, I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing – particularly if you own a heavier handset that cheaper stabilizers aren't able to accommodate.

Hohem iSteady M7: specs Hohem iSteady M7 review: Also consider

Insta360 Flow Pro
Insta360’s compact foldable gimbal feels like the pick of the current mobile stabilizer bunch – at least where portability is concerned. With excellent battery life, and the ability to subject track when using third-party iPhone apps (or the native iPhone camera), it’s an impressive all-rounder that’ll fit into a large pocket when not in use.

Read our Insta360 Flow Pro review

Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI
With similar AI-driven app-agnostic tracking skills, Zhiyun’s flagship stabilizer is perhaps the Hohem iSteady M7’s main rival. It falls behind on several features, however, with no removable touchscreen remote and a much lighter maximum phone capacity – which is probably why it’s now substantially cheaper than the M7.

Read our Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI review

Should I buy the Hohem iSteady M7?

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen) Buy it if...

You own a heavy, bulky smartphone
With its 500g weight capacity and ability to grip devices as thick as 12.5mm, this is the go-to stabilizer for anyone owning a large and heavy smartphone. Most rivals don’t come close to its payload limits.

You want a highly flexible gimbal
Thanks to app-agnostic tracking, the built-in extension rod, the touchscreen remote control and its fully customizable pan, tilt and follow settings, the iSteady M7 is probably the most versatile smartphone stabilizer on the market.

Don't buy it if...

You need a compact, portable stabilizer
There are lots of smartphone stabilizers that fold down small enough to fit into a small bag or even a coat pocket. This is not one of them. While it’s not especially large or heavy, you’ll need at least a small backpack or similar to carry the iSteady M7.

You’re on a tight budget
You can pick up effective, well-equipped stabilizers for half the asking price of the iSteady M7, so check if you need all of its features and payload capacity before shelling out your hard-earned cash.

How I tested the Hohem iSteady M7

• One week of use
• Tested with an iPhone 13
• Used for B-roll and vlogs

I used the Hohem iSteady M7 in and around my home for a week, using it to record footage both handheld and with it sat on the ground or a desktop using its tripod. I tested it with my Apple iPhone 13 and several camera apps, including the native iPhone camera app and Hohem Joy, and used the phone’s front and rear cameras to record b-roll and vlog videos.

First reviewed January 2025