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• Windows 11's August update reportedly introduced an SSD breaking bug
• It's been suggested that SSDs using Phison controllers are more likely to be affected
• Phison has conducted extensive testing, but couldn't reproduce the bug a single time, adding that its customers haven't reported the glitch either

The bug that recently emerged in Windows 11, which is reportedly breaking some SSDs, is being investigated by Microsoft and its partners - and now we've heard back from one of the parties involved.

This is Phison, which manufactures SSD controllers used across a wide range of drives from various manufacturers, and is involved in this controversy because some reports suggest that SSDs using these controllers were more likely to be affected by the bug.

Phison has now shared the results from its extensive testing pertaining to this matter, as Neowin reports, issuing the following statement: "Phison dedicated over 4,500 cumulative testing hours to the drives reported as potentially impacted and conducted more than 2,200 test cycles. We were unable to reproduce the reported issue, and no partners or customers have reported that the issue affected their drives at this time."

So, Phison feels it's in the clear, what with a whole lot of testing having turned up nothing, and no reports coming to the company directly from its customers, either. Of course, reports from individual consumers are going to go directly to the SSD maker (not those responsible for the controller), but when Phison says "partners or customers," it is talking about those drive manufacturers (and others, too, no doubt Microsoft included).

What hasn't helped Phison's cause here is a fake document that did the rounds online just after the bug came to light in Windows 11's August update. This purported to contain a list of affected Phison controllers, but was completely fabricated as the company quickly made clear.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)Analysis: Microsoft's findings are still to come

Although Phison has conducted extensive testing, this can't be regarded as a definitive conclusion. Microsoft's investigation into this SSD breaking bug in Windows 11 is still being carried out, and until we see the result of that, there remains doubt as to exactly what's going on here.

Reports of SSD failures still remain scattered. So it must be noted, that this seems to be a rare issue. At any rate, I'm hoping Microsoft will make its findings known sooner rather than later, and clear this matter up - as it's only becoming more confusing with this latest instalment of the saga.

Phison also tacked on some advice with its statement on best practices to "support high-performance storage devices" undergoing extended workloads, such as shifting large files - like prolonged write operations which apparently triggered the Windows 11 bug. Phison observes that a "proper heatsink or thermal pad" will help in terms of maintaining optimal temperatures and ensuring the drive doesn't get too hot (or throttles as a result).

Note that imparting this advice isn't directly related to the bug - meaning Phison isn't saying you should be using a heatsink to avoid coming off the rails with this Windows 11 glitch. This is just general advice aimed at all high-end SSD owners, letting them know that if they are running intense workloads over long durations, using extra cooling is advised.

Mind you, if your SSD doesn't have a heatsink already, adding one is a somewhat fiddly affair, especially for the less tech-savvy (although they are less likely to be running a high-performance solid-state drive, admittedly).

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Network Solutions was launched in 1979 as one of the first companies to provide DNS (domain name system) technology. Since then, it has developed to provide many more services, all related to web hosting. Today they provide “all you need, in one place”, that is: domain names and various hosting options with a whole variety of features and accessible applications including a page builder. The company is headquartered in the US, with its main office located in Herndon and its data center situated somewhere in North America.

In 2011, Network Solutions was acquired by Web.com Group, one of the leading web technology companies that provided services to millions of customers all over the world. Then, in 2021 web.com merged with EIG to become Newfold Digital. Later, in 2025 Newfold Digital consolidated brands and absorbed web.com into Network Solutions.

So, it's fair to say Network Solutions has had a long and varied life changing hands and merging more than most hosts. Is this Network Solution's final form? Who knows but one thing is certain. It's not staying power.

• Want to try Network Solutions? Check out the website here

• Also check out our roundup of the best shared web hosting

You'll have to opt for the Premium plan in order to get an SSL Certificate (Image credit: Future)Is Network Solutions good value for money?

Network Solutions’ Starter Plan is perfect for businesses just getting started. This plan costs only $2.99 per month for the first year and includes 10 GB of disk space, 1 website, and five email boxes. You also get 25 FTP accounts, a drag and drop page builder, and unlimited bandwidth.

For $4.99 per month, the Essential Plan gives you even more features than the Starter Plan. It includes 20 GB of disk space, 3 websites, 1,000 email boxes, and a domain name included in your package (for one year). If your business needs more than the Essential Plan provides, consider Network Solutions Premium Plan. This plan covers all of the features of the Essential plan plus 40 GB disk space and supports 10 websites for $6.99 for the first year.

Is Network Solutions easy to use?

Because Network Solutions doesn’t exactly have a myriad of hosting options, picking out a preferred plan shouldn’t be a time-consuming decision. The first thing you’ll need to know is if you want a simpler cloud-based solution or a WordPress-optimized one. For the most part, together with these hosting packages, you’ll be getting email services as well. If not (and you want them), digging a bit more around the website will take you to a few email hosting solutions as well.

Network Solutions is a decent choice for anyone looking for an easy-to-use web hosting service with sufficient features. Not only does it offer a good range of benefits such as domain registration, design tools, email hosting, marketing tools, and more but its user interface is also incredibly intuitive and simple to navigate whether you’re a novice or an experienced user. 

Network Solutions offers a drag-and-drop website builder in addition to its web hosting plans (Image credit: Network Solutions)

All plans come with a proprietary control panel, which isn’t as user friendly as some industry-standard alternatives, but we managed to find our way around. From there, most of the famous apps can be yours after a click or two (WordPress, Joomla, Durpal and so on) and all developers out there will be glad to hear that a whole variety of website development features are supported as well (PHP5, Python, Ruby on Rails, Java Servlets, Zend Libraries and much more). A number of e-commerce features (and all-inclusive ecommerce solution) are available for purchase, as well as a competent drag-and-drop website builder.

We used GTmetrix to measure the uptime and response time of our Network Solutions site (Image credit: GTmetrix)Speed and experience

When trying to convince us of the superiority of their services, Network Solutions brings up their “reliable” uptime with the guarantee of 99.9%, live tech support and flexible hosting plans, without any promises regarding the speed. Not knowing what to expect, we tested the speed performance of Network Solutions’ main website using GTmetrix as a tool. It placed the website's speed performance above the average with the conclusive result of B (85%), which is quite good.

We decided to test the uptime of Network Solutions’ main website by using UptimeRobot and see if we're going to take advantage of the guarantees they provided us with. After a month of constant monitoring, UptimeRobot reported a few occasions of downtime, with the longest one lasting for 19 minutes straight. However, the total of downtime was around 42 minutes. This means the total recorded uptime was 99.917% and that Network Solutions managed to deliver on their promises by a whisker.

While this isn't a true reflection of the speeds you can expect from your site on shared hosting, it is a good indicator of how reliable and powerful Network Solutions' infrastructure is.

Network Solutions has a searchable Help Center (Image credit: Network Solutions)Help and support

The first help options you’ll probably notice with Network Solutions are their telephone number (which is advised to be used for urgent matters only) and “Contact us” button that will present you with a few ways to help yourself. Their knowledgebase (titled as “Help Center”) can be browsed with the help of a search box or you can pick out some of the preselected categories. There seems to be a decent number of articles which are mostly written in an easy-to-follow way (often with pictures) and rated by users with a five-star rating system. 

If you would rather rely on support agents from Network Solutions’ technical team, you can get in touch with them via support ticket, live chat and telephone, all of which ought to be available around-the-clock.

Network Solutions features a community forum, where its registered users (we assume, since trying to proceed without registration made us hit the dead end) can seek answers to their questions, answer questions from other users or leave feedback for others to see. However, when we tried to register, not a single one from dozens of display names (and some were quite original) was deemed acceptable (the only explanation we got was “Name you entered is already in use”, which doesn’t seem to be the case), so we can’t report anything more than this.

The competition

Bluehost is also one of those hosts that will provide their users with everything need but also have servers in Europe and Asia. Even so, Bluehost provides a great value for money and offers (unlike Network Solutions) VPS hosting, managed WordPress and dedicated server in addition to basics, so it is better suited for more ambitious users.

HostGator can provide you with everything Network Solutions can and go beyond that, and we are not thinking about hosting types only. The entry-level (adorably named “Hatchling”) plan with HostGator includes a domain name, website transfer, unmetered bandwidth and SSL certificate, all cost-free. In comparison, Network Solutions’ elementary plan has less bonus features to attract new users with.

Both of those brands are also owned by Newfold Digital. If you wanted to look outside of that group you could also consider Hostinger.

Is Network Solutions right for you? 

Since it was founded at the end of the disco era, Network Solutions certainly knows how to get groovy with its hosting packages, offering a great deal of helpful tools to get your website down with a boogie in no time. 

When deciding on a web hosting service, there are many factors to consider such as price point, customer service availability, and uptime guarantee. Network Solutions offers all these features in one package, making them a great option for anyone who wants reliable web hosting without breaking the bank. 

Network Solutions FAQsDoes Network Solutions support WordPress?

The short answer is yes. Network Solutions supports WordPress, which means you can create a fully functioning website with ease. The service includes auto-installers so that you don’t have to worry about installing WordPress manually or dealing with complex server configurations. You also get access to hundreds of themes so you can customize your site with ease, as well as numerous plugins that further extend the functionality of your online presence.

What is Network Solutions used for?

Network Solutions can be used for much more than just hosting websites and registering domains. The service also offers support for email services, online stores, SSL certificates, marketing, and SEO tools.

• We've also featured the best web hosting

Yes, I'm a Sagittarius with chaotic, action-oriented tastes. Netflix's astrologically based recommendations worked for me.

Console game exclusivity is slowly waning. It's time to let go of the toxicity and play something fun.

A report from the World Health Organization says 1 in 4 people lack access to safe water to drink. Even more don't have water for sanitation. We asked someone who grew up that way to share childhood memories.

(Image credit: Ben de la Cruz/NPR)

• IBM and AMD partner to combine quantum and high performance computing
• Collaboration aims to accelerate research in fields from drug discovery to logistics
• Companies plan open source platforms and hybrid workflows with initial demo soon

IBM and AMD have announced plans to “build the future of computing” by collaborating on new architecture to blend quantum systems with high-performance hardware in a bid to solve some of the world's most difficult problems.

The partnership will combine IBM’s expertise in building quantum computers and related software with AMD’s background in processors, graphics, and AI accelerators in a step toward quantum-centric supercomputing.

The companies are looking at ways in which to integrate AMD CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs with IBM’s quantum computers, with the ultimate goal to accelerate emerging algorithms that neither quantum nor classical systems can handle on their own.

Pushing past the limits

"Quantum computing will simulate the natural world and represent information in an entirely new way," said Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO, IBM.

"By exploring how quantum computers from IBM and the advanced high-performance compute technologies of AMD can work together, we will build a powerful hybrid model that pushes past the limits of traditional computing."

The two tech giants will work together to build open-source platforms that can scale and support research in fields such as drug development, materials science, and supply chain optimization.

Lisa Su, Chair and CEO of AMD, also emphasized the importance of the partnership, saying, "High-performance computing is the foundation for solving the world's most important challenges. As we partner with IBM to explore the convergence of high-performance computing and quantum technologies, we see tremendous opportunities to accelerate discovery and innovation."

AMD has previously worked on some of the world’s fastest supercomputers, including Frontier and El Capitan.

This hybrid approach is also expected to support IBM’s roadmap toward fault-tolerant quantum computing, a milestone the company has said it hopes to reach before the end of the decade.

IBM has already begun similar work with other partners including Riken in Japan, as well as institutions like Cleveland Clinic and Lockheed Martin.

An initial demonstration is planned for later this year and will show how IBM quantum computers can work alongside AMD technology to deliver hybrid quantum-classical workflows.

The partnership will support open-source ecosystems, such as Qiskit, in a bid to encourage the development of algorithms for quantum-centric supercomputing.

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Once a prominent musician in New York City, Wachner was working as a grade school teacher in Indiana. Prosecutors have accused him of possessing sexual abuse imagery of young children.

(Image credit: Carolyn Cole)

Nearly two dozen states have passed laws regulating how tech companies collect data from our faces, eyes and voices. It comes as Congress has yet to pass any facial recognition technology.

(Image credit: Seth Wenig)

The friendly Copilot avatar is now available to help answer those burning entertainment questions.

• Hackers reach out to companies via a "Contact Us" website form
• They then talk with the victims for weeks before deploying the malware
• The hackers are attacking with custom-built backdoors

Cybercriminals are trying to deliver backdoor malware to US-based organizations by tricking them to sign fake non-disclosure agreements (NDA), experts have warned.

A new report from security researchers Check Point outlined how in the campaign, the miscreants pose as a US-based company, looking for partners, suppliers, and similar.

Often, they buy abandoned or dormant domains with legitimate business histories to appear authentic. After that, they reach out to potential victims, not via email (as is standard practice) but through their “Contact Us” forms or other communication channels provided on the website.

Dropping MixShell

When the victims get back to their inquiry, it’s usually via email, which opens the doors to deliver the malware.

However, the attackers don’t do it immediately. Instead, they build rapport with the victims, going back and forth for weeks until, at one point, they ask their victims to sign an attached NDA.

The archive contains a couple of documents, including clean PDF and DOCX files to throw the victims off, and a malicious .lnk file that triggers a PowerShell-based loader.

This loader ultimately deploys a backdoor called MixShell, which is a custom in-memory implant featuring a DNS based command and control (C2) and enhanced persistence mechanisms.

Check Point did not discuss the number of potential victims, but it did say that they are in the dozens, varying in size, geography, and industries.

The majority (around 80%) are located in the United States, with Singapore, Japan, and Switzerland, also having a notable number of victims. The companies are mostly in industrial manufacturing, hardware & semiconductors, consumer goods & services, and biotech & pharma.

“This distribution suggests that the attacker seeks entry points across wealthy operational and supply chain-critical industries instead of focusing on a specific vertical,” Check Point argues.

The researchers couldn’t confidently attribute the campaign to any known threat actor, but said that there is evidence pointing to the TransferLoader campaign, and a cybercriminal cluster tracked as UNK_GreenSec.

Via The Record

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• Tech brand Loewe and Jacob & Co. are collaborating on limited-editing headphones with real jewels
• Two versions: one with sapphires and one with diamonds
• Hi-res audio, ANC and 65-hour battery life

Luxury electronics brand Loewe have teamed up with luxury timepiece creators Jacob & Co to create two sets of headphones so expensive you'll need to give them a bodyguard.

The Loewe x Jacob & Co. over-ears have "have reimagined headphones as objets d’art." There are two versions: the Noir Rainbow, whose ear cups feature a 14K rose gold circle with 15.97 carats of multi-colored sapphires; and Ice Diamond, which is "radiant" with a 14K white gold ring and 12.47 carats of white diamonds.

Whichever pair you choose you're making a statement, and that statement is "I clearly don't pay enough tax". Because the cheaper Rainbow pair is €99,000 (about $115,235 / £85,440 / AU$176,945) and the Ice Diamond pair is €119,000 (about $138,500 / £102,700 / AU$212,690).

The Ice Diamond model is "radiant with 12.47 carats of white diamonds" (Image credit: Loewe)Loewe diamond headphones: features and availability

If you happen to have enough cash for a six-figure set of headphones you'd better move fast: there will only be five pairs of each model.

I suspect the would-be buyers couldn't care less about the specs, but whichever pair you go for you're getting hi-res audio "with expert tuning", adaptive ANC, integrated AI "for voice assistant and real-time translation" and up to 65 hours of battery life.

It's easy to go all Class War here and suggest that spotting such headphones in the wild is a great way to recognize the people who'll be first against the wall when the revolution comes (the launch is taking place on Loewe's luxury yacht, with the orcas).

But underneath all the gems there's what could be a very credible rival to the likes of the AirPods Max and other high-end headphone options, and I suspect that considerably more affordable versions of these headphones will arrive in due course.

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• Bioshock creator Ken Levine has provided a new update on Judas and the game's core gameplay feature: Villainy
• Villainy is a choice-driven system that affects who will become the villain out of the Big 3
• The studio isn't ready to share a release date

After over a year of radio silence, Bioshock creator Ken Levine has finally emerged to provide an update on his next game, Judas.

In Ghost Story Games' first developer log, Levine said that the studio is focusing all its efforts on finishing the game and has decided to begin having a more direct communication with fans, which will offer more frequent updates than before.

For this first update, Levine highlighted Villainy, a central feature of Judas that is essentially a choice-driven system that will affect who will become the game's villain out of three characters: Tom, Nefertiti, and Hope.

"In Judas, your actions will attract members of the Big 3 to you as friends. But ignore one of them enough, and they become the VILLAIN," Levine explained. "From there, they will get access to a new suite of powers to subvert your actions and goals."

Villainy is just one example of how the Big 3 can retaliate, and the "more dangerous and character-specific stuff" will be revealed at a later date.

Levine also touched on the game's relationship system and once again compared it to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor's reactive Nemesis system, explaining that the Big 3 will observe the player and have feelings about how you approach everything from combat, hacking, crafting, and how they interact with the other two characters.

"In Judas, you're going to get to know these characters intimately. We want losing one of them to feel like losing a friend," he said. "We want to play with that dynamic, and we want that choice to be super hard. The Big 3 are all going to be competing for your favor and attention.

"They can bribe you, save you in battle, talk s**t about the other characters, and share with you their darkest secrets. But eventually, you've got to decide who you trust and who you don't."

Judas still doesn't have a release date, because Ghost Story Games is "not quite ready to finalize that," but the game is expected to launch on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

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• Apple Music has partnered with free audio streaming platform TuneIn to give non-subscribers access to its live streamed radio stations
• You can now access six of Apple Music's live radio stations for free – a first for the music streaming service
• It looks like Apple is trying to entice more subscribers by expanding its reach outside of the Apple Music ecosystem

In a first for Apple Music, the music streaming service is offering free access to its six live streamed radio stations in a new partnership with TuneIn – a free online audio streaming platform that gives listeners access to radio, podcasts, sports, and more.

Apple Music has partnered with TuneIn to extend the reach of its live radio shows to the free audio streamer’s 75 million monthly listeners, The Wall Street Journal ($/£) reports, and you can access six Apple Music Radio stations outside of the Apple Music app for free right now. They are:

• Apple Music 1
• Apple Music Hits
• Apple Music Country
• Apple Música Uno
• Apple Music Club
• Apple Music Chill

Apple seems to be conducting another strategic move to entice new subscribers, or regain ones who may have made the switch to competing music streaming services – most notably Spotify. Just last week Spotify unveiled its rival to Apple Music’s AutoMix, and it announced its new Messages feature just a few days ago.

While Spotify offers an ad-supported tier, Apple Music doesn’t, and therefore lacks other means of attracting new subscribers beyond free trials. The decision to expand its radio station access enables it to reach millions of potential new listeners, and if you’re tempted to make the switch, these are the Apple Music Radio stations I’d try out first.

1. Apple Music 1

(Image credit: Future)

This is arguably Apple Music’s main radio station, which airs daily music shows from hosts such as Rebecca Judd, Matt Wilkinson, and of course, Zane Lowe. It’s a hot spot for both the latest music releases and for pop culture conversation, and often features guest hosting sessions from some of the biggest artists in the world.

2. Apple Music Hits

(Image credit: Future)

Similar to Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits also has dedicated slots hosted by both broadcasters and artists, but its main aim is to bring you the best hits from the last 20 years through radio segments highlighting specific genres and music of the ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s. It also has curated shows featuring today’s hits, but not to the extent of Apple Music 1.

3. Apple Music Chill

(Image credit: Future)

Apple Music Chill is exactly what the name suggests, serving up low-tempo, relaxing tracks which Apple describes as “an escape, a refuge, a sanctuary in sound”. It features laid-back artists and producers, and a variety of instrumental music including dinner party and coffee shop mixes, piano chill outs and spa music.

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• Hackers are advertising a database with 1.8 billion Discord messages on dark web forums
• It is possible that the scraped data is public
• Discord is expected to shut the service down

Someone is selling almost two billion Discord messages and other data, allegedly scraped from the platform, experts have warned.

Security researchers at Cybernews, who saw an ad on an underground hacking forum for the archive.

The data, most likely scraped from the platform, includes 1.8 billion Discord messages, 35 million users, 207 million voice sessions, and 6,000 Discord servers, and can be obtained for a fee.

A Spy.Pet copycat?

Discord is a communication platform that lets people chat via text, voice, or video, often in servers organized around communities, games, or interests. It’s popular for gaming, social groups, and professional communities alike, and many servers on the platform are public, meaning anyone can join and read the contents, including chat messages, member names, and more.

This also means that much of the data being sold by the miscreants could be public. Still, while the content is technically visible, harvesting it en masse still violates the platform’s Terms of Service, and using it for commercial purposes, or personal data collection, could run into privacy laws like the GDPR or CCPA.

Whether or not the data is public, can only be determined with a detailed analysis, which no one has done at press time. In any case, it is likely Discord will shut it down, similar to how it shut down a previous service that tried the same thing, called Spy.Pet.

In late April 2024, a website that offered billions of Discord chat logs for sale, was taken offline by the chat app provider. Discord accounts associated with the service were banned, and the company confirmed the service breached its ToS:

"Scraping our services and self-botting are violations of our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines,” the company spokesperson said in a statement at the time. “In addition to banning the affiliated accounts, we are considering appropriate legal action."

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Honor’s latest book-style foldable, the Magic V5, has finally landed in the UK and Europe after debuting in China earlier this year.

It arrives just a few weeks after the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and a month ahead of the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which is set to begin shipping on October 9.

But how does Honor’s latest foldable flagship compare? We’re currently putting the Magic V5 through its paces – stay tuned for our full review in the coming weeks – but below, we’ve detailed the new phone’s price and on-paper specs versus two of the best foldable phones of 2025.

The Honor Magic V5 with 512GB and 12GB of RAM starts at £1,699.99, undercutting the Pixel 10 Pro Fold by £50 and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 by a hefty £100. You'll also get twice as much storage for that price, though Google’s phone does offer a larger 16GB RAM capacity as standard.

Design-wise, Honor claims that the Ivory White version of the Magic V5 is the “thinnest foldable phone” on the market, but our own testing proved that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is, in fact, the thinnest book-style foldable in any orientation. Mind you, at 4.2mm when open and 9.39mm when closed, Honor’s Magic V5 is still improbably slim, and the difference in thickness between it and the Samsung is tough to discern with the naked eye.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, meanwhile, is visibly thicker than both the Honor and Samsung, but it does best the competition with a unique IP68 water and dust resistance rating; the Magic V5 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 get IP58 and IP48, respectively.

Here’s how all three phones compare on the specs front:

Honor Magic V5

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

Main display:

7.95-inch LTPO AMOLED (2172 x 2352) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

8-inch LTPO OLED (2076 x 2152) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

8-inch LTPO OLED (1968 x 2184) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

Cover display:

6.43-inch LTPO OLED (1060 x 2376) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

6.4-inch OLED (1080 x 2364) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

6.5-inch LTPO OLED (1080 x 2520) w/ 120Hz adaptive refresh rate

Chipset:

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite

Google Tensor G5

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy

RAM:

12GB / 16GB

16GB

12GB / 16GB

Storage:

512GB

256GB / 512GB / 1TB

256GB / 512GB / 1TB

OS:

Android 16 / MagicOS 9

Android 16

Android 16 / One UI 8

Main cameras:

50MP wide / 50MP ultra-wide / 64MP telephoto (3x zoom)

48MP wide / 10.5MP ultra-wide / 10.8MP telephoto (5x zoom)

200MP wide / 12MP ultra-wide / 10MP telephoto (3x zoom)

Selfie cameras:

20MP wide / 20MP wide

10MP wide / 10MP wide

10MP wide / 10MP ultra-wide

Battery:

5,820mAh (Si/C)

5,015mAh

4,400mAh

Charging:

66W wired / 50W wireless / 5W reverse wired

30W wired / 15W wireless (magnetic)

25W wired / 15W wireless / 4.5W reverse wireless

At a glance, the Honor Magic V5 boasts bigger ultra-wide, telephoto, and front-facing sensors than both the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, while its hefty 5,820mAh silicon-carbon battery could deliver superior battery life, too.

The Magic V5 ships in all colors except Reddish Brown in the UK (Image credit: Honor)

The phone's Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset also promises Galaxy-equaling performance, though we'll need to run our own in-house tests to confirm whether that's the case.

Nonetheless, we've come a long way from the days of the Royole FlexPai and original Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. The latest Honor, Samsung, and Google foldables are powerful, durable, and versatile devices that rival the very best phones on the market, and you're unlikely to be left disappointed with any of them.

The Honor Magic V5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 are available to order now, while the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is up for pre-order (as mentioned, the phone begins shipping on October 9). Our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review is live now, and we'll be posting our full Honor Magic V5 and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold reviews in the coming weeks.

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• Tesla's teaser images surface online showing a red spoiler
• Tesla insider believe it signals a new Model Y Performance trim
• Test vehicles have also recently been spied lapping the Nurburgring

Tesla’s Europe and Middle East X account posted a short teaser image yesterday that appears to show the rear of a Tesla vehicle, complete with a small spoiler. The post was also accompanied by the not-so subtle phrase “Spoiler alert”.

Considering multiple news outlets also spied the recently refreshed Model Y lapping Germany’s Nurburgring, complete with a new 21-inch alloy wheels, bucket seats and updates to the front and rear fascias, all hints point towards a new Performance trim level for the Model Y “Juniper”.

Spoiler alert pic.twitter.com/mEcYSAt2GjAugust 27, 2025

Since Tesla’s popular SUV was updated earlier this year, the company stopped selling the range-topping and fastest Performance model, so it makes sense that the silk sheet could be dropped tomorrow.

While some naysayers have bemoaned the fact that this isn’t new product, merely an update, those looking for a spicier and more focussed Model Y have been eagerly awaiting the announcement.

Sales boost

(Image credit: Tesla)

Although it does’t make a lot of sense to bestow a large, practical family SUV with sports car performance, previous generations of the Model Y Performance have sold well. The refreshed styling of the recently-updated model line will also arguably suit some of the sportier aesthetically changes better than they previously have.

Minor tweaks that were spotted on the vehicles caught lapping Germany’s most famous high performance circuit included Performance badging, upgraded brakes and rumors of upgraded suspension.

Tesla will hope that the release of a more premium and performance-orientated trim line will help boost sales, which have been particularly dreadful across Europe of late, with a 40% drop in July compared to the previous year.

We will have to wait for the full reveal to see what Tesla has in store.

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• Security researchers have found that the Russia-developed messaging app MAX comes with "excessive tracking" abilities
• The app must be pre-installed on every new device sold in Russia from September 1
• The Kremlin is also considering blocking WhatsApp, today's most popular messaging app in Russia

Russian WhatsApp rival, the state-developed Max messaging app, appears to be designed to spy on its users.

That's the verdict coming from multiple technical analyses commissioned by Forbes, only days before the app will be forced onto all devices sold in Russia. From September 1, tech vendors must pre-install the MAX app on all new smartphones and tablets.

Experts at the Russian digital rights group, Roskomsvoboda, however, told TechRadar that MAX actually comes with fewer permissions than rivals like Telegram and WhatsApp. Yet they still strongly suggest against using the app for confidential communication.

"The bigger issue lies in the fact that everything transmitted through MAX will be stored on government servers," Ilya Perevalov, Technical Expert of Roskomsvoboda and RKS Global, told TechRadar, adding that the full impact on users "will become clear in the future."

Developed by VK – the provider behind Mail.ru email and VKnote social media services – Max was first launched in March 2025 and already counts 18 million registered users, according to Russian news agency Interfax. Similar to the Chinese WeChat, MAX is also integrated with government services.

What are the risks of using MAX?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Security researchers who talked to Forbes have all found the app to constantly monitor users' activities thanks to "excessive tracking" capabilities. The app also seems to be lacking encryption protections, while being built on an overall insecure design.

These findings confirm what privacy experts have long feared – using MAX will make Russian citizens vulnerable to state surveillance. An allegation that, so far, the Kremlin has strongly denied, declaring to Reuters that "it has fewer permissions to access user data than rivals WhatsApp and Telegram."

While experts at Roskomsvoboda confirmed what the Kremlin claims about the number of permissions MAX asks for, they are still warning that the app could turn into a surveillance tool.

"MAX has enormous surveillance potential, as all information and communication within it is accessible to intelligence agencies in real time," explains Perevalov.

MAX users are also at higher risk of data breaches and fraud, especially considering that sensitive data like payment and banking details are set to be integrated within the app.

All in all, "MAX should under no circumstances be used for confidential communication," warns Perevalov.

Can people in Russia use other encrypted messaging services?

While Signal has been blocked in Russia since August last year, WhatsApp is still available and the most used messaging app across the country at the time of writing.

This could soon change, however, as authorities have recently confirmed their intention to ban WhatsApp in Russia, blocking access to the only Meta-owned service still functioning in the country.

Even more recently, on August 13, 2025, Interfax confirmed that authorities partially restrict calls on both Telegram and WhatsApp, allegedly as a measure to combat criminal and terrorist activities.

The looming WhatsApp ban comes as the Kremlin also recently passed a law to punish online searches for so-called 'extremist' content, while adding new penalties to those using VPN services.

This means that using one of the best VPN services to bypass a potential ban on WhatsApp, or any other app for that matter, has suddenly become ever more challenging.

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If you watched the recent launch of ChatGPT-5 from OpenAI, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it was purely a coding tool. While Sam Altman and his staff did interview one person who used ChatGPT to help understand the medical jargon her doctors were saying to her, the majority of the presentation seemed to be concerned with how great ChatGPT-5 was at writing code.

Out in the real world, however, people use AI and ChatGPT specifically a bit differently. As the outcry from the recent dropping of the old ChatGPT-4o model after the launch of ChatGPT-5 shows, a lot of people use ChatGPT for their mental health, and if you change its personality, it affects them directly. For them, it acts as a mix between a life coach, a therapist, and a friend.

OpenAI seems to be slowly waking up to this fact and the responsibility it bears, and has recently posted an announcement, in which it says, “We sometimes encounter people in serious mental and emotional distress. We wrote about this a few weeks ago and had planned to share more after our next major update. However, recent heartbreaking cases of people using ChatGPT in the midst of acute crises weigh heavily on us, and we believe it’s important to share more now.”

Strengthening safeguards

So, while OpenAI is not announcing anything new just yet, it wants to “explain what ChatGPT is designed to do, where our systems can improve, and the future work we’re planning.”

In a nutshell, OpenAI is working to improve ChatGPT in a few key areas related to its users' health and safety, firstly, by strengthening safeguards in long conversations: “ChatGPT may correctly point to a suicide hotline when someone first mentions intent, but after many messages over a long period of time, it might eventually offer an answer that goes against our safeguards. “

Secondly, it is refining how it blocks content. “We’ve seen some cases where content that should have been blocked wasn’t. These gaps usually happen because the classifier underestimates the severity of what it’s seeing. We’re tuning those thresholds so protections trigger when they should.”

OpenAI is also planning to expand interventions to more people in crisis. “We are exploring how to intervene earlier and connect people to certified therapists before they are in an acute crisis. That means going beyond crisis hotlines and considering how we might build a network of licensed professionals that people could reach directly through ChatGPT. This will take time and careful work to get right.”

Parental controls

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Another interesting innovation is introducing parental controls. “We will also soon introduce parental controls that give parents options to gain more insight into, and shape, how their teens use ChatGPT. We’re also exploring making it possible for teens (with parental oversight) to designate a trusted emergency contact. That way, in moments of acute distress, ChatGPT can do more than point to resources: it can help connect teens directly to someone who can step in.”

ChatGPT has evolved so far and so quickly that it often feels to me like OpenAI hasn’t really had time to sit down and think about all the implications of its latest innovations before it announces them.

Parental controls should have been an option for all AI chatbots while now, but it’s good that they are finally going to be added. Other AIs, like Copilot, for example, seem to have more guardrails than ChatGPT regarding the types of discussions you can have, but also farm out their parental controls to either the Windows or Apple operating systems.

How OpenAI implements effective parental controls that aren’t easy to circumvent remains to be seen (and is one of the reasons that AIs typically resort to recommending the operating system’s built-in parental controls instead), but I think it’s time for the conversation to start happening.

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• Healthcare Services Group suffered a cyberattack in late September 2024
• The attackers stole sensitive data on more than 600,000 people
• The company is offering free identity theft monitoring

The Healthcare Services Group (HSGI), a support services provider for healthcare facilities, suffered a cyberattack in which it lost sensitive data on more than 600,000 people.

In a data breach notification letter, the company said it spotted the intrusion on October 7, 2024, and after investigating the incident, learned, “certain files” were stolen between September 27, and October 3.

In total, more than 624,000 people had their data stolen, which includes full names, Social Security numbers (SSN), driver’s license numbers, state identification numbers, financial account information, and account access credentials.

Pending abuse

The stolen data is extremely sensitive and can be exploited in multiple ways. With names, SSNs, and driver’s license numbers, they can commit all sorts of identity theft, from opening bank accounts, to taking out loans, or even filing fraudulent tax returns.

Financial account information and login credentials allow attackers to steal money directly or gain access to other online accounts if passwords are reused. With personal details, criminals can carry out sophisticated phishing attacks or social engineering schemes, tricking victims into revealing even more information or impersonating them for fraudulent purposes.

According to CyberInsider, breaches like this "could lead to downstream privacy risks or compliance implications under HIPAA and other frameworks," as well.

None of this appears to be happening right now, as HSGI says there is no evidence the data is being abused in the wild - but this doesn’t mean it won’t happen, though, and all victims are being offered free identity theft protection services for either 12 or 24 months, depending on the combination of data stolen.

In the meantime, victims should be extra careful of incoming email messages, or other forms of communication, especially those claiming to come from HSGI. Emails carrying attachments, or a sense of urgency, should be particularly scrutinized, as these are most likely fraud attempts.

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What's new in Marvel Rivals?

(Image credit: NetEase)

Marvel Rivals just got a new update as part of Season 3.5. There's a new event called Chrono-Storm, which lets players earn 2x Chrono Tokens from Weekly Missions, Challenges, and Season Missions with up to 2000 bonus Chrono Tokens available. This will help you clear through the Battle Pass before the arrival of Season 4. There's still plenty of time to grind, and loads of challenges to complete before the season is over.

Marvel Rivals crosshairs can be tweaked to suit the Hero you're playing as, with hitscan characters like Luna Snow and Hela suiting a different kind of reticle when compared to projectile characters like Mantis and Moon Knight.

While this extra level of customization won't be necessary for everyone, it can really help if you're planning on taking on Marvel Rivals ranked mode. The game's high quality of competitive modes definitely makes it stand out from its competitors and is one of the main reasons it's already landed on our best crossplay games list. Now that we're well into Season 3.5, and since publishing our Marvel Rivals Tier List, we feel confident offering our expert opinion on the best ways to set up each Hero.

Here's what you need to know about crosshairs in Marvel Rivals Season 3.5, including info on how to change your crosshairs, as well as a selection of the best crosshairs codes to import into Marvel Rivals.

How to change your Marvel Rivals crosshairs

(Image credit: NetEase)

To change your crosshairs in Marvel Rivals, you just need to press pause and then select the following:

1. Select "Settings"
2. Scroll to "Controller" or "Keyboard"
3. Select "Combat"
4. Scroll down to "HUD"
5. You'll see options related to reticle, this is where you'll customize your crosshairs

One setting to keep in mind is the "Save Reticle" option. This allows you to save different crosshairs, that can then be switched out for each Hero. To customize settings for a specific Hero, just select "All Heroes" in the top left-hand corner, and then switch to the Hero you wish to apply new settings to.

How to import Marvel Rivals crosshairs

(Image credit: NetEase Games)

To import crosshairs in Marvel Rivals, just navigate to the HUD settings as per the previous section. Once there, look for the "Reticle Save" option, with a dropdown menu that allows you to add new saves. Once you select this, you'll get the option to import a code, if you're playing on PC that is. Importing crosshairs is unfortunately not available on console.

Crosshair codes are long strings of numbers shared by other creators. Just copy these and paste them when the game asks you for an import code. This will automatically apply the correct settings, allowing you to try out other people's recommended reticles.

Marvel Rivals crosshairs codes

(Image credit: NetEase)

The first crosshair code we're looking at is for Venom mains, a character focused on dive gameplay, with a mid-ranged tentacle attack as the primary fire. The code below comes from content creator Ares, and you can see their full breakdown in this YouTube video.

• Venom crosshair (Ares): 2;0.0;0.0,10.0,0.0,7.0;100.0,100.0,100.0,100.0;50.0,59.0,50.0,50.0;100.0,100.0,100.0,100.0;0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0;45.0,45.0,45.0,45.0;20.0;100.0,100.0,100.0,100.0;45.0;5,5,5,5;0.0,0.882,1.0;

(Image credit: NetEase)

Next up is Hela, who really benefits from a Dot crosshairs style. This is to make it easier to land headshots and get rid of unnecessary visual elements. For this crosshair, just select the "Dot" option for Reticle Type. You can then Adjust the dot width, but we recommend 12. From there, try out some different colors. We went with Light Blue.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: NetEase)

A Dot Reticle can be very effective for Hela, who throws hitscan daggers, doing massive headshot damage.

Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: NetEase)

(Image credit: NetEase)

Now, here's a great set of crosshairs for The Punisher. We got this one from The Marvel Rivals Merchant, who has a bunch of excellent recommendations for the best crosshairs to use depending on your Hero. This YouTube video is particularly detailed, explaining the reasoning behind this crosshairs option for The Punisher.

• The Punisher (The Marvel Rivals Merchant): 4;0.0;10.0,0.0,11.0,17.0;100.0,100.0,8.0,0.0;20.0,0.0,85.0,0.0;100.0,100.0,100.0,100.0;0.0,33.0,0.0,62.0;33.0,5.0,51.0,33.0;11.0;100.0,100.0,8.0,0.0;0.0;5,5,5,2;0.0,1.0,1.0;

Marvel Rivals crosshairs FAQs

(Image credit: NetEase Games)What color should my crosshairs be?

Changing the color of your crosshairs can be really helpful in Marvel Rivals. We recommend starting with a light blue or green, though, of course, this will depend on your specific eyesight and preferences. There's plenty of customization here, making it a great extra piece of accessibility options for those looking to make the game's readability a bit better.

Can you import crosshairs on console?

Unfortunately, you cannot import crosshairs codes if you're playing Marvel Rivals on console. This could change in the future, but for now, the codes are simply too long to be copied over using a controller. Players on PC can copy and paste them, though we're hoping developer NetEase adds a console-specific solution in the future.

Should I change my Marvel Rivals crosshairs?

Whether you want to change your Marvel Rivals crosshairs really depends on how deeply you want to get into Marvel Rivals. If you find yourself playing often, and you tend to stick to two or three Heroes, adding custom crosshairs for each can really help. Some crosshairs, for example, will help you see whether an enemy is within range, while others can assist with landing headshots.

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