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• Nvidia’s initial Blackwell GPUs are rumored to have ‘extremely limited’ stock
• It’s claimed that the RTX 5090 will be particularly thin on the ground
• This is the case for the German market, but it could well reflect the wider picture

We’ve heard our first rumblings that Nvidia’s initial next-gen GPUs, the RTX 5080 and 5090, due at the end of January, will be thin on the ground for stock levels.

VideoCardz flagged up a post from a moderator (Pokerclock) claiming this, on the forums for German site PC Games Hardware. And yes, if your rumor-sense is tingling at this point, you’re quite correct – this needs to be regarded with a robust amount of skepticism.

So, armed with that caution – and also the knowledge that this is all translated from German, so some accuracy may be lost in that process – the broad assertion is that stock levels for these first Blackwell GPUs will be ‘extremely limited’ and this will be particularly the case for the RTX 5090.

That’s according to ‘well-informed’ insiders in the trade, but the good news, at least as far as PC gamers go, is that B2B and wholesalers – those selling to businesses – aren’t getting much Blackwell stock at all (if any, if this rumor is right).

The majority of GeForce graphics cards going to gamers, then, is a positive element here, albeit this is just how it should be. These are gaming GPUs after all, they are not supposed to be drafted into AI work and the like (but they invariably are).

Pokerclock predicts that you’ll need a lot of luck to get your RTX 5090 or RTX 5080 on launch day, and that there’ll likely be queue systems at retailers for those purchasing, meaning the usual GPU scramble amidst scalpers and bots. Sigh…

(Image credit: Nvidia) Analysis: Say it ain’t so… your stock is a heartbreaker

Bear in mind this is a forecast for the German market, where the big retailers like Mindfactory are expected to secure the lion’s share of RTX 5090 and 5080 stock. Even if Pokerclock is correct in their claims, this may not apply to other regions.

However, Germany is a large European market, and if there’s creakiness here regarding supply, it’s not an unreasonable expectation that there will be elsewhere. Okay, perhaps the US might fare better in this potential future of scarce Blackwell stock, but American gamers are going to have their own troubles – in terms of the rush to buy before Trump’s tariffs kick in and spike pricing upwards. (Not just for the best graphics cards, either, which Nvidia, and indeed AMD, are surely going to have new candidates for).

There’s already an expectation that next-gen GPUs could be thin on the ground, and difficult to buy, in the early days of Blackwell (and maybe AMD RDNA 4 too, who knows). This isn’t exactly uncommon when it comes to new hardware launches, and PC enthusiasts are always prepared for a potentially frustrating hunt for available stock, and instances of just missing out, then seeing the inevitable appearance of new GPUs on auction sites laden with infuriatingly eye-watering price tags.

If you can be patient, these wrinkles will all come out in the wash eventually, but as noted, those in the US face a very different kind of pressure this time around to buy quick before the hefty price inflation that’s on the horizon for electronic goods kicks in.

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• Severance fans are convinced that Keanu Reeves appears in season 2 episode 1
• The Matrix, John Wick, and Sonic 3 star seems to voice an animated character in the show
• Apple isn't commenting on whether Reeves has an uncredited role in its hit TV Original

Severance season 2 has finally arrived and, while there's plenty to discuss after its Apple TV Plus debut, fans have one big question that episode 1's release: does Keanu Reeves make a cameo?

Yes, you read that right. Severance fans, myself included, are convinced that Reeves makes an uncredited appearance in season 2 episode 1, aka 'Hello, Ms. Cobel'. He doesn't appear in the flesh, nor does his name appear in the highly-rated Apple show's end credits, so it's hard to tell if The Matrix and John Wick actor is actually part of proceedings.

So, where and how does Reeves apparently show up? Full spoilers immediately follow for Severance's season 2 premiere, so turn back now if you haven't seen it yet.

Severance fans think Keanu Reeves voices the animated Lumon building in season 2 episode 1 (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

If you've watched 'Hello, Ms. Cobel', you'll have heard a very familiar voice about midway through Severance's latest episode. Indeed, it seems Reeves' distinctively calming voice can be heard when the Macrodata Refinement (MDR) team sit down to watch the animated 'Lumon is Listening' video that Lumon Industries has prepared for them.

During this felt puppet animated broadcast, an anthropomorphic version of Lumon's building discusses the changes that the sinister biotech megacorporation has made as part of 'Severance Reform'. That's the implementation of a new program that seemingly puts the wellbeing of Lumon's severed employees above everything else, for those wondering. It's at this point in one of the best Apple TV Plus shows' newest episodes that Reeves supposedly appears. Indeed, it seems he's the voice of the animated Lumon building and, as I said, many of us would recognize his voice anywhere.

So, is this really Reeves? Right now, I can't confirm if it is. Many of my fellow viewers think that's the case, though, with multiple comments in various season 2 premiere threads on the r/television, r/severance, and r/appletvplus Reddit pages all saying the same thing – i.e. that it has to be Reeves because, well, nobody else sounds like him.

John Wick in the Severance universe confirmed? (Image credit: Lionsgate)

There is some actual evidence that it might be Reeves. Earlier today (January 17), Collider published an article, which carried quotes from creator Dan Erickson, that appears to confirm that Reeves was asked to voice the Lumon building in season 2's first episode.

Here's what Erickson said when Collider asked if Reeves plays the aforementioned character: "All I can say is that we talked about a couple of different people for that role. We always wanted it to be somebody that people have certain associations with, but also, it had to be a very warm presence. The Lumon building is very friendly in the context of this video, and there’s a friendliness to that particular voice and a heart to that particular voice."

Sure, the fact that Erickson doesn't deny it means that it's like to be Reeves. However, Erickson doesn't actually confirm that the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Toy Story 4 voice actor is part of proceedings, so the headline of that article is somewhat misleading.

Anyway, I've reached out to Apple to ask if they can confirm or deny whether Reeves has a small role in Severance's newest chapter. I'll update this article if I hear back, too. In the meantime, read my Severance season 2 review (if you haven't already) before you stream its first episode. If you've watched it, see if you agree with these seven big theories I came up with after Severance season 2's premiere.

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• Severance star Patricia Arquette says Harmony Cobel's loyalty to Lumon will be tested in season 2: 'There's a desire to be loved by them and also punish them'
• Severance creator Dan Erickson reveals the funniest fan theory he's heard about the popular Apple TV Plus show: 'I think that's ridiculous'
• Severance creator 'has a sense' of what the Apple TV Plus show's final scene will be – and how many seasons would be 'ideal' to reach it

• At press time, Cleo’s Lexicom, VLTransfer and Harmony contain a bug it disclosed in October 2024
• Threat actors were first observed to be exploiting it in December 2024
• Ransomware group Clop has claimed 59 victims on its leak site, though some are disputing any intrusion

Clop, the Russian state-linked ransomware group, has now claimed to have hacked 59 companies after exploiting a known bug in a number of file transfer applications developed by software house Cleo.

The flaw, CVE-2024-50623, affects Cleo’s LexiCom, VLTransfer and Harmony software, inadvertently enables remote code execution, and was first disclosed on October 30, 2024. Clop later published the list of victims on its dark web site, though many are denying that a breach has taken place.

Clop is claiming to have issued intrusion notices to its victims, including Cleo itself, on its own website, but also that impacted companies are refusing to submit to ransom demands.

Cleo RCE bug impact

Przemyslaw Jedrysik, a spokesperson for German manufacturer Covestro, was one of the few willing to reveal the extent of the intrusion to TechCrunch.

He disclosed unauthorized access by Clop to a US logistics server, but that it has since “taken measures to ensure system integrity, enhance security monitoring and proactively notify customers”. He also claimed that information on this server wasn’t of a sensitive nature.

Spokespeople for several companies including car rental firm Hertz and Australian logistics company Linfox have, however, explicitly denied intrusions in statements to TechCrunch.

Clop also listed as a victim software supply chain enterprise Blue Yonder as a victim, though, at press time, it hasn’t issued any cybersecurity incident updates since December 12, 2024. However, a spokesperson did say in a statement to TechCrunch that Blue Yonder does use Cleo software, and that it was investigating potential unauthorized access to its servers.

The group is claiming it’ll disclose more of its victims in this attack on January 21, 2025, though the true scale of the attack remains unclear.

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• Xiaomi's rumored phone could have the battery capacity of two iPhone 16s
• The phone is expected to release via Xiaomi's Redmi sub-brand
• Samsung could be eyeing similar tech for next year's Galaxy S26

A new rumor suggests that Xiaomi is working on a new phone with an enormous 7,500mAh battery, tipped for release via the company’s Redmi brand.

Noted tipster Digital Chat Station shared a Weibo post which says Xiaomi has begun testing on the 7,500mAh “super-large” battery for a “sub-series”, which, as Android Authority reports, refers to Redmi, a Xiaomi subsidiary.

It’s likely that a battery with this much capacity would make use of a silicon-carbon design, which offers a much greater energy density than the previously standard lithium-based batteries still found in the iPhone 16, Samsung Galaxy S24, and Google Pixel 9.

For reference, the Google Pixel 9 sports a 4,700mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy S24 sports a 4,000mAh battery, and the iPhone 16 comes in at 3,561mAh – less than half the capacity of the rumored Redmi phone.

As with most aspects of smartphone hardware, numbers don’t tell the full story – battery life is determined by a wide range of factors in addition to capacity, such as chipset efficiency, display resolution and brightness, and heat dissipation. For example, Apple is able to achieve satisfactory battery life with the iPhone thanks to the company’s famously great optimization.

Still, we would generally expect a phone with a 7,500mAh battery to substantially outlast one with a 3,500mAh battery in an equal test, simply because the hardware gap is so wide.

Across the latter half of 2024, we saw Chinese phone manufacturers fit silicon-carbon batteries to new flagship phones like the Oppo Find X8 Pro and the OnePlus 13, but Xiaomi doesn’t tend to issue flagship-level devices through its Redmi brand.

Typically, Redmi devices occupy the budget to mid-tier space in Xiaomi’s portfolio, which does allow for a handful of higher-end features with each new device. The recently released Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus, for example, comes equipped with a 6,200mAh battery and support for 90W wired charging.

Analysis: Return of the stamina monsters?

Phones like the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro (above) have offered large battery capacities like 5,800mAh recently, but Xiaomi's phone would comfortably eclipse that. (Image credit: Future)

While we have seen specialized, battery-focused phones released in the past (see Energizer's 28,000mAh battery phone), as well as ruggedized handsets with very large batteries designed for extended periods away from the charger, a 7,500mAh battery would without a doubt be the largest we’ve ever seen in a conventional smartphone.

Personally, I think developments in battery technology are some of the most exciting in modern smartphone hardware: larger, more efficient batteries are a truly consumer-friendly addition, and could have a positive impact on the environment too if there’s a reduced need for charging.

Furthermore, we’re all no stranger to being out with friends or family and hearing the familiar request for a portable charger or to find somewhere with a wall socket to top up – bigger, better batteries should be able to allay that anxiety.

This is all contingent on the big three phone makers – Apple, Samsung, and Google – taking note of the progress being made by global manufacturers. The best Xiaomi phones are impressive, truly premium units that push the envelope, but with a limited presence in Europe and none whatsoever in the US, it doesn’t have too much of a chance of making waves.

Luckily, we’ve already heard suggestions that Samsung could be picking silicon-carbon batteries for the Galaxy S26 lineup, which we’d expect to launch next year. I’m hoping our list of the best Samsung Galaxy phones will soon be full of handsets that push the envelope when it comes to battery life.

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The Trump-Xi phone call came hours before the Supreme Court on Friday upheld a U.S. law that effectively bans TikTok starting Sunday.

(Image credit: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images; Greg Bowker/Getty Images.)

• Vulnerability was discovered in W3 Total Cache WordPress plugin, allowing for data exposure, and more
• It affects all versions up to 2.8.2, which was released in response
• Hundreds of thousands of WordPress websites are still vulnerable

W3 Total Cache, a popular website performance optimization WordPress plugin, reportedly carried a high-severity vulnerability which allowed attackers to access sensitive information, abuse service plan limits, and run unauthorized actions.

The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2024-12365, and has a severity score of 8.5/10 (high). It occurs due to a missing capability check in a function, and affects all versions up to, and including, 2.8.1.

“This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to obtain the plugin's nonce value and perform unauthorized actions, resulting in information disclosure, service plan limits consumption as well as making web requests to arbitrary locations originating from the web application that can be used to query information from internal services, including instance metadata on cloud-based applications,” it was said on the National Vulnerability Database website.

WordPress and its plugins

The WordPress plugin repository states that W3 Total Cache has more than a million downloads, with less than half (42.8% running the latest version), meaning more than 500,000 websites could still be vulnerable.

The plugin’s vendor, BoldGrid, has released a fix with its version 2.8.2, and WordPress security project Wordfence urged all users to apply the fix immediately.

WordPress is the world’s most popular website builder platform, powering roughly half of all the websites on the internet.

As such, it is a popular target for cybercriminals, as well, but since the platform is relatively secure, threat actors are mostly focused on third-party plugins and themes, especially those with poor developer or community support.

W3 Total Cache is a powerful WordPress plugin designed to improve website performance by caching content, minimizing code, and optimizing server resources. It claims to be able to help reduce load times, enhance user experience, and improve SEO by integrating features like content delivery network (CDN) support and database caching.

Via BleepingComputer

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UGreen Uno Charger 100W review

Have you ever wished your charger could express its deepest, most heartfelt emotions? Perhaps you wondered how it really feels while it juices up your devices? OK, maybe you haven’t. But even so, the UGreen Uno Charger 100W is sure to put a smile on your face with its charming expressions and super-fast charging, which make it a standout product in a competitive market.

Something that’s amazing about the UGreen Uno Charger 100W is that you get four charging ports, three of which are USB-C with the other being USB-A. This means that even if your phone, laptop, wireless headphones and tablet (just for example) need juicing up, you can get all of them back to life simultaneously. It’s worth mentioning, however, that the UGreen Uno Charger 100W doesn’t come with any charging cables, so you’ll need to acquire these separately.

So how does it fare charging-wise? Very well indeed. I attempted to charge the Samsung Galaxy A35 via a USB-C port while charging three other devices in the remaining slots. And luckily, it got back to full power in the expected timeframe of one hour and 30 minutes – that’s in-line with some of the best iPhone chargers and best Android phone chargers. However, if you’re not using all of the ports, power output can scale to fit your device’s requirements. For instance, the top two USB-C ports can deliver up to 100W each (if only one is being used at a time), making this a great choice if you want to charge more demanding devices.

But I’ll be honest, reader, I know why you’re here…you want to hear about the Uno Charger’s emotive display. And it works very nicely. The charger is bursting with emotions – from joyful, through surprised, to flushed. And there are a few more too, for instance, the Uno Charger sometimes assumes an eating animation when in-use or displays a ‘cool’ emoji when a device is fully charged. Am I easily amused? Perhaps so, but given this is nothing but a charger, I appreciated the personality UGreen injected into this product.

Other design choices are strong too. The placement of USB ports on top of the robot is practical and it’s a decently compact charger overall given the amount of power it can supply. And although prongs aren’t foldable, you can insert them into something of a sheath – or should I say the robot’s lower half. That’s right: when you remove the charger from the lower half you’re actually taking away his legs and feet. A bit mean really.

So, I actually have very little in the way of complaints. I would argue that the display isn’t super-bright, so at more awkward angles it might be slightly harder to ascertain the robot’s emotion. It could be fun too, if there was a button to manually change emojis, or perhaps even see power usage between the different ports – but these are very nitpicky complaints/suggestions.

Finally, I know this may not be the cheapest charger on the market, but when it comes to value it performs nicely. For instance, the Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger (3 Ports) has one less port, the same maximum power output, but lacks any kind of display – not to mention it has a considerably higher list price. So overall, you’re getting a stellar product with the UGreen Uno Charger 100W – great performance, versatile charging options, strong value, and a fun, original design. It really doesn’t get much better.

(Image credit: Future) UGreen Uno Charger 100W review: Price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the UGreen Uno Charger 100W? Buy it if…

You want super-fast, multi-port charging
The UGreen Uno Charger 100W boasts four charging ports, one of which is USB-A, the rest USB-C. On top of that, it has a very solid maximum power output of 100W, meaning you’ll be easily able to bring multiple devices back to life in no time.

You’d like a splash of personality
It’s quite rare that a wall charger exudes any kind of personality and I love the originality from UGreen here. There’s a fun selection of emojis available here, including eating, smiling and blushing and I can’t lie, I got a lot of joy out of watching these play out.

Don't buy it if…

You only need to charge your phone
If you only need to revitalize your handset after a long day of scrolling, there’s no need to spend this much money. There are a bunch of high-quality chargers out there for less than half the price of this robotic guy – one of my personal picks would be the excellent Anker Nano USB-C Wall Charger (30W). If you really want emojis though, it may still be worth splashing the cash on the Uno Charger 100W.

You’re on a very tight budget
This charger has a list price of $59.99, and even if that’s solid value-wise, it’s still a fair amount to shell out for a charger. There are some decent, cheap multi-port options out there too, for example, the UGreen USB-C 40W.

UGreen Uno Charger 100W review: also consider

Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger (3 Ports)
In terms of basic functionality, this is very similar to the UGreen Uno Charger 100W. Anker’s alternative only has three ports and costs a bit more too, but it does have excellent build quality with sturdy outer casing. So, if you’re not a fan of the quirky robo-display, this could be a more appropriate choice for you. Read our full Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger (3 Ports) review.View Deal

• New FCC filings suggest the Powerbeats Pro 2 launch is imminent
• The filing suggests Bluetooth LE for iOS and Android users
• A slimmer, more modern-looking design

We know the Powerbeats Pro 2 exist (after a slew of leaks sprouted up in September last year), and we all-but-know they're launching in 2025. And it now looks like the launch is imminent, which means we could be just weeks away from getting them in our ears.

As 91Mobiles reports, Apple has been filing the regulatory paperwork for its new buds with a bunch of official bodies. That's something Apple tends to do just before its new products go on sale.

You can usually glean some interesting details from the official filings, and the Powerbeats Pro 2's accompanying documentation is no different.

What do we know about the Powerbeats Pro 2?

According to the filing with the US FCC, the Powerbeats Pro 2 work with both iOS and Android, have Bluetooth Low Energy and do not have simultaneous transmission capability, which may mean you won't be able to connect to multiple devices at the same time.

We've previously gleaned a few other details too, thanks to those Apple teasers of the new buds back in late 2024. The design is similar to the current model but it's evolved, with more rounded edges and a more modern look.

The main section is significantly thinner and appears to be a little more angled. And thin is good, because it's likely to mean better comfort and less weight. Based on details found in the code for iOS, we're expecting black, beige, purple and orange color options.

Improved audio quality and battery life are expected, as are active noise cancelling and spatial audio. Multiple rumors have also suggested the addition of some health tracking features and possibly integration with Apple's Health app on iPhone.

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I’ve been using Apple Intelligence Notification summaries since September, and over five months later, I’m still yet to truly understand the benefit of Apple’s AI tool.

Apple Intelligence loves summaries in general, and most of the time, they're actually pretty good. Whether that’s summarizing emails or articles, Apple Intelligence has you sorted. It’s definitely not a necessity, nor are these summarizing tools worth upgrading to an iPhone 16 Pro for, but it’s a nice-to-have and I’ve grown to appreciate the options.

However, Apple has been in the news recently due to the notification summarization feature completely misinterpreting news from outlets like the BBC and The New York Times. From claiming Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing the UnitedHealthcare CEO in New York, had killed himself to announcing Luke Littler had won the World Darts Championship final before the match had even begun, Notification summaries have been plagued with criticism.

There is so much criticism, in fact, that Apple has decided to halt Notification summaries for News and Entertainment apps altogether in the latest iOS 18.3 betas for the time being, as well as emphasize that all Apple Intelligence features, including this one, are still in beta.

AI requires trust and patience

(Image credit: Apple)

The AI era of software development is tricky for consumers like me to wrap their heads around; after all, we’re used to features launching when ready with incremental updates throughout the years rather than regular updates to fine-tune the tools already out in the wild.

In the case of Apple Intelligence and AI in general, it’s almost as if we, as consumers, need to come to terms with the fact that smarter software means more mistakes, and more mistakes means more consistent updates.

Apple has a track record of revealing software as part of hardware launches and releasing the features later. Think back to Deep Fusion, which was revealed as part of the iPhone 11’s major camera upgrades only to launch as part of iOS 13.2 months later. This time, however, it feels different; Apple wants users to know that Apple Intelligence and all it offers is still in beta, even if it’s available as part of a general software release. This almost protects the company from criticism, after all it’s hard to call a feature half-baked when it’s essentially still in development.

In the case of Notification summaries, we’ve got our first glimpse into how Apple will react to criticism of its new venture into generative AI, and the company’s response is somewhat reassuring. After an outpour of criticism towards the AI tool falsely summarizing notifications from news apps, Apple has chosen to switch the functionality off for the time being while it works on Apple Intelligence to ensure this accidental fake news doesn’t continue in the future.

This adjustment shows that AI in the iPhone will constantly evolve over time, depending on user feedback and technological evolutions.

iOS 18.3 is more important than we realized

On paper, iOS 18.3 might not be the most glamorous Apple Intelligence update we’ve seen to date, but it could be the most eye-opening. After all, there was always going to be some backlash as Apple moved into an AI-fuelled world, and if, in order to get there, we, as consumers, need to go through some turbulence, then I think we’re just going to have to accept it.

In this new AI world, where every product, from robot vacuums to fridges, has the buzzword littered in marketing, consumers will have to accept that products and their software are likely to evolve, and that demands more trust in the companies we’re buying from.

I’m still bullish on Apple Intelligence and Apple creating smartphone AI tools that are more than just a gimmick, though. iOS 18.3 is the first sign that the company is willing to listen, and that fills me with hope for the future.

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The high court ruled in favor of the government. What's next for TikTok? Will it really "go dark" on Sunday?

Online advertisements can be an annoying interruption to our normal browsing habits. However, they are often necessary because they serve as the primary funding source for the otherwise free websites we use daily. Ever wonder how those ads end up on your screen? Well, there’s a fascinating supply chain behind the ads, and it’s interesting to pick apart.

Typically, a website that serves ads does not hand-pick the specific advertisements displayed on its platform. Instead, it chooses ad categories to block, allocates ad space, and then displays whichever ads its advertising vendor provides. Advertisement vendors are responsible for sourcing advertisers and websites to display their advertisements. But what if those advertisers aren't legitimate? What if they're threat actors or scammers looking to lure potential victims with seemingly legitimate software or help fixing your computer? This malicious use of ads is referred to as malvertizing.

Malvertizing uses many of the same tactics as social engineering, relying heavily on persuasive language and attention-grabbing images to drive a sense of urgency or fear. This encourages victims to act quickly without inspecting the legitimacy of the website linked in the ad. Malvertizing attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with cybercriminals leveraging trusted platforms like Facebook and other social media networks to distribute malicious content. By exploiting the trust and reach of these platforms, attackers can reach a wider audience and potentially compromise more victims. This also makes it more challenging for users to distinguish between legitimate and malicious ads.

Adding to the complexity, threat actors employ techniques to mask their identities and evade detection. This can include social engineering tactics such as phishing, token theft, or infostealers to gain access to legitimate ad accounts. By hijacking trusted accounts, attackers can bypass security measures designed to prevent malicious organizations from buying ad space.

Three common types of malvertizing attacks that users should be aware of are:

Scam Malvertizing: Attackers will display ads with language similar to “Your computer is infected, call us immediately to remediate!”. Once a victim calls, the scammers will typically convince their victim to install software to initiate a remote control session of the victim’s computer. They’ll then overwhelm the victim with misinformation, hoping to confuse them into believing that the situation is too complex to understand, and then ask them to pay money to remediate the non-existent security concern.

Fake Installer Malvertizsing: A common technique that delivers malware directly to the victim, posing a more significant threat. Attackers disguise themselves as legitimate software vendors to deliver a modified version of the software that typically includes an infostealer or initial access mechanism. These attacks aim to catch the victim while they are in a hurry to install the software. Often, we see QuickBooks used as a lure, with attackers sponsoring malicious ads designed to be displayed next to legitimate QuickBooks links. The malicious ads then lead to a cloned QuickBooks website that serves users as a compromised installer. Similarly, fake browser extensions imitate legitimate ones, tricking users into installing them. Once installed, they can capture sensitive data, including browsing history, passwords, and credit card information, putting both individuals and businesses at significant risk.

Drive-by-download Malvertizing: These malicious ads require no engagement from the viewer; simply loading them in your browser is enough to install a new web extension or download malware. This tactic heavily relies on the victim not keeping their browser up to date and utilizes previously known and patched vulnerabilities. There is a reason your browser is constantly asking you to update it; these updates keep the browser secure against newly discovered weaknesses. Keep your browser updated, and don’t make attackers’ jobs easier.

Avoiding attacks

To avoid falling prey to malvertizing attacks such as scam malvertizing, it's essential to think critically before engaging with any suspicious ads. If you receive an ad claiming you are a victim and need to call for support, stop and ask if the claim even makes sense at face value. How would this vendor be aware you had a virus on your computer? Does Microsoft really have a division of staff proactively buying ad space to inform its customers there may be a virus on their computer? While answering these questions generally requires at least some level of technical acumen, there are other tale-tale signs that an ad may be a scam. Many of these scams claim to be Microsoft technician support or their security team. Check to see where the ad is going to take you. If the domain is not www.microsoft.com, then you can almost guarantee it is going to be a scam, especially when coupled with a message claiming it is time-sensitive or extremely critical.

Preventing yourself from falling victim to malvertizing requires a careful eye, taking a moment to stop and think about the claims of an ad, ensuring you are being redirected to a legitimate site, and clicking that ‘update’ button every time it shows up in your browser. To defend against malvertizing, advertisers should implement more rigorous checks on the advertisers and their content to ensure legitimacy. Additionally, employees should be trained to identify suspicious emails, websites, and online ads, empowering them to avoid falling victim to these attacks. Threat actors are using more and more legitimate tools maliciously, advertisements included. A healthy dose of skepticism never hurt anyone, so the next time you see a suspicious ad, be cautious and ensure it’s legitimate before clicking on it.

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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

• Rumor of an open collaboration between Samsung and OpenAI on an AI TV
• Google is already integrating Gemini into the Google TV system
• An AI TV could form part of a brand new TV entertainment system

A Korean website is reporting that Samsung and OpenAI are collaborating together on an AI TV. The website describes it as an “open partnership” between the two companies. There's no mention of new hardware, but a software integration with ChatGPT has precedent since ChatGPT has already been integrated into Apple's operating systems as part of Apple Intelligence.

Samsung TVs currently run on the Tizen OS, and the Korean company has already introduced several AI features to them like AI Upscaling and AI Sounds, not to mention its new Vision AI, which was introduced at CES 2025. Vision AI can do things like ‘see’ what dish is on screen and find you the recipes for cooking it, then link to the Samsung food app. It can also do live translation.

Samsung vs Google TV

Samsung integrating ChatGPT into its TV range might sound as if it comes out of the blue, but it makes strategic sense. The move comes as Google is about to add Gemini AI to its Google TV operating system, so that you can talk to your TV without a remote.

Announced at CES 2025, Google TV is a successor to Android TV, but has as cleaner interface, better recommendations for TV programs and also Gemini baked in, so you can activate it with the “Hey Google” voice control, and simply speak your requests, instead of having to use a TV remote.

Next generation Google TV devices aren’t expected to enter the market until towards the end of 2025, so we’d imagine a similar time frame for any OpenAI and Samsung collaboration.

Google TV points the way to the future of entertainment. (Image credit: Future) N

Personally I’d love the ability to talk to my TV, especially if it has something like ChatGPT or Gemini inside. I’d like to be able to ask it questions beyond the usual functional TV operation like asking it to record a program or find something on a streaming service. Recently it was revealed that Gemini could be available as you watch YouTube videos, so you can ask it questions about what you’re watching. Just imagine the ability to be able to ask your TV, “Who is this actor, and what else have I seen him in?” It could settle so many of the debates we have in our household about where we’ve seen so and so before. Not to mention eliminating the time it takes to currently pause the TV program, find our phones, and then look them up. Yes, software like Prime Video's X-ray exists, but it's not nearly as cool.

And that’s not even counting my biggest bug bear with my current AI-less TV experience – losing the remote. Every TV remote seems to be designed to be lost - they’re usually black, for a start, so impossibly hard to locate when the lights are low and you’re watching TV in the evening. Yes, I know there are tracking devices you can stick to your remote to help you locate them with your phone, but then you have to find your phone first!

While having ChatGPT or Gemini in your TV might sound a bit excessive to some people, I can genuinely say that I’d find it useful, and I’m looking forward to finally being able to lose my TV remote control for good.

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“Without doubt, the remedy Congress and the President chose here is dramatic,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in a concurring opinion. “Whether this law will succeed in achieving its ends, I do not know.”

The digital age has changed how financial services operate, pushing the industry to stay tech-savvy just to keep up. Yet, this tech-driven shift isn’t without its issues. Old legacy systems, tight regulations, and the demand for real-time data handling have put pressure on conventional solutions, making them feel outdated. But all-photonic networks, which connect endpoints directly with optical paths, could be the answer, helping the financial world stay fast, flexible, and sustainable.

The challenges financial services face today

Technology is woven deeply into financial services, but that also adds complexity. One major obstacle is performance and latency issues. High-frequency trading, cross-border payments, and fraud detection all require real-time data processing, yet existing electronic networks, built on copper wires and fiber optics, struggle with delays, making it challenging to meet the accuracy needed for time-sensitive transactions. Another challenge is meeting regulatory demands. Compliance with regulations like Europe’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is both tricky and costly. The laws in financial services demand strong data protection and operational stability, but current networks can sometimes fall short. Finally, sustainability pressures are becoming increasingly prominent. As sustainability becomes a core business goal, energy consumption from data centers and network infrastructures has emerged as a major concern, often clashing with firms’ eco-friendly ambitions.

So, what are photonic networks?

Simply put, photonics is about using light - specifically photons - to transmit data. Unlike electrical signals in copper cables or even regular fiber optics, photonic networks use light to send data directly, skipping the usual electronic conversions. The result? Faster speeds, more data capacity, and far less energy consumption.

All-photonic networks send data as light without converting it back and forth between electrical signals. This setup reduces delays and improves energy efficiency, making photonics perfect for industries where fast, reliable data transfer is critical - like financial services.

How photonic networks could transform finance

Photonic networks enable more predictable network pathways, ensuring consistently low latency. That’s a huge plus for financial firms that need every edge to stay competitive in their markets.

Staying compliant with rules like DORA isn’t easy; it requires institutions to be highly resilient and flexible. Photonic networks can help meet these demands by enabling real-time data oversight and faster data replication. This means better disaster recovery capabilities and more robust backup strategies.

These networks also support interconnected data centers with low-latency failover options, ensuring that operations can shift seamlessly during maintenance or outages. This flexibility makes it easier for financial institutions to meet recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO) set by regulators.

Photonics and the path to sustainability

Data centers and networks consume vast amounts of power, which is a roadblock for companies aiming to reduce their environmental impact. Photonic networks offer a solution, using light for data transmission and avoiding the energy-hungry electronic conversion steps.

Adopting photonic systems helps firms cut down on energy costs by requiring less power for data transfer, ultimately lowering operational expenses. Additionally, by enabling more reliable data transfer, photonic networks would allow financial service institutions (FSIs) to relocate their data centers to rural areas, where sources of renewable energy are more accessible. This would help these organizations to align more closely with their ESG goals without having any negative impact on the speed of operations.

In an industry where meeting sustainability targets is linked to investor trust and public approval, this is no small thing.

Looking ahead

While photonic technology is still finding its footing, its potential to reshape finance is clear. Embracing photonic networks can help financial firms address today’s issues while unlocking opportunities for innovation down the road. With better support for distributed computing, real-time analytics, and stronger data protection, FSIs can become more resilient, meet tough compliance standards, and hit sustainability goals - all while keeping costs under control.

The financial firms that choose to invest in photonic networks now will likely lead the pack in a rapidly changing market. With unmatched speed, reliability, and energy efficiency, photonics isn’t just a solution to today’s problems; it’s a way to future-proof operations for whatever comes next.

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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

• President Biden introduces new governmental cybersecurity requirements
• Third-party software providers must demonstrate adherence to new requirements
• The federal government must use end-to-end encryption by default

In one of his last acts as President of the United States, Joe Biden has signed an executive order aimed at strengthening US national cybersecurity.

The order lays out a series of checks and reviews on third-party software providers for both government systems and critical infrastructure in order to ensure they are adhering to established cybersecurity standards and making active efforts to eradicate existing vulnerabilities.

The executive order posits the People’s Republic of China is the main threat to vulnerable networks, likely referencing numerous attacks against US critical infrastructure in early 2024 by the Chinese state-sponsored Volt Typhoon group, and subsequent attacks against US telecommunications networks by the group.

New security standards

“I am ordering additional actions to improve our Nation’s cybersecurity, focusing on defending our digital infrastructure, securing the services and capabilities most vital to the digital domain, and building our capability to address key threats,” President Biden's order said.

It also builds upon previous requirements laid out in the Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity from 2021, and implements greater security checks on third-party providers to ensure “software providers that support critical Government services are following the practices to which they attest.”

Third-party providers will therefore have to provide frequent demonstrations that their software and supply chains are secure, with the contracting agency being notified of those failing to meet security requirements.

The federal government is also mandated to adopt identity management software, phishing-resistant authentication, and end-to-end encrypted communications by default across DNS protocols, email, voice and video conferencing, and instant messaging.

Biden also looks to address the future threat of cryptanalytically relevant quantum computers (CRQC) which, when viable, will be able to break many of the encryption algorithms in use today. US agencies will be required to adopt quantum-safe encryption methods authorised by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

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The decision resolves a long-running legal dispute between the Department of Justice and TikTok. But experts say President-elect Donald Trump will now have considerable sway over the platform's future in the U.S.

(Image credit: Jacquelyn Martin)

• New Leaseweb products appeal to tinkerers who want total control at an affordable price
• VPS 1 gets 4 vCPU, 6GB vRAM and 100GB NVMe SSD storage with 30TB bandwidth and 10Gbps uplink
• Leaseweb says the VPS are also equipped with 'latest' generation CPUs

Leaseweb has announced the launch of a new virtual private server (VPS) hosting service aimed at improving flexibility and scalability for customers.

The infrastructure as a service (IaaS) specialist said the new VPS solution is specifically designed for businesses that require a “combination of exceptional price-performance, fast local storage, and easy deployment”.

The service will be delivered via a self-service portal, making it a click and go solution requiring “limited technical expertise” for setup and management, which the company says makes the solution ideal for firms seeking an entry-level service to the firm’s public cloud offerings.

What to expect from Leaseweb’s new VPS service

“Our new VPS solution has been designed from the ground up to offer the ideal balance of performance, usability and cost,” said Mathijs Heikamp, Director Product Management at Leaseweb Global.

“By combining the latest hardware, advanced automation and an intuitive self-service portal, we're delivering a cloud infrastructure solution that can effortlessly adapt to customer requirements.”

The VPS service also provides users with built-in security and reliability features, according to Leaseweb. This includes firewalls, DDoS protection, and hosting via ISO-certified data centers.

A backup solution is also available, but as an add-on service.

The new Leaseweb VPS service includes six distinct packages for customers ranging in size and technical expertise.

The entry-level package, dubbed VPS 1, starts at $3.74 (£3.06) per month. This provides users with 4 vCPUs, 6GB of vRAM, and 100Gb of NVMe SSD storage, complete with 30TB of bandwidth and 10Gbps uplink.

Meanwhile, VPS 3 gives users double the vCPU capacity alongside 24GB of vRAM and 300GB of NVMe storage.

At the higher end of the spectrum, the VPS 6 package certainly kicks things up a notch, offering users 24 vCPUs, 120GB of vRAM, and 600GB of NVMe SSD storage capacity.

There’s quite a price jump between the mid-range and upper-tier packages, with VPS 6 setting users back $55.34 (£45.24).

All packages across the range guarantee 30TB of bandwidth and 10Gbps uplink, according to Leaseweb.

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