Financial sector ups investment in ID verification tech

Fintech

Banks, fintechs, and crypto platforms are ramping up investment in fraud prevention and identity verification (IDV), positioning it as the next layer of cyber defense, according to a new survey.

The study from Regula shows banks are leading this trend: the share of institutions intending to increase IDV budgets by more than 50 percent is nearly tripling -- from 4.4 percent to 15 percent in just two years.

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The AI Paradox: GitLab finds faster coding is slowing teams down

AI paradox

GitLab has published new findings highlighting what it calls the “AI Paradox,” whereby artificial intelligence is speeding up coding but introducing new productivity barriers as a result. The company’s 2025 Global DevSecOps Report, conducted with The Harris Poll, surveyed 3,266 professionals working in software development, IT operations, and security. The results suggest that while teams deploy faster than ever, they are losing time to inefficiencies that AI alone cannot fix.

According to the study, DevSecOps professionals lose about seven hours per week to inefficient processes. The main causes include fragmented toolchains and collaboration gaps between teams.

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MX Linux 25 'Infinity' arrives with a cleaner look and easier installation

MX Linux 25 'Infinity'

MX Linux 25 “Infinity” has been released and offers a major update for the Debian-based distribution known for stability and usability. The cooperative project between the antiX and former MEPIS communities offers editions based on Xfce, KDE Plasma, and Fluxbox desktops and is built on Debian 13 “Trixie” with MX’s repositories included.

All core releases now include systemd by default, a shift from the project’s long history with sysVinit. Any users who prefer the older initialization system can still download alternative sysVinit editions. The developers say this change improves compatibility with modern Debian packages and simplifies maintenance going forward.

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SomniPods 3 AI-powered earbuds aim to improve sleep quality through monitoring and sound control

AI-powered Fitnexa SomniPods 3 earbuds

Fitnexa has announced SomniPods 3 ultra-light earbuds developed for sleep use. They combine active noise canceling, sleep tracking, and app-based analysis to help users monitor and adjust their sleep patterns.

SomniPods 3 features a dual-microphone hybrid active noise canceling system designed to reduce external noise by up to 42dB in Fitnexa-tested conditions. The feedforward and feedback microphones detect and counter background sounds through reverse sound waves, cutting disturbances from snoring or low-frequency hums.

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AiPaper Reader is an AI E Ink device for focused reading

Viwoods AiPaper Reader

Viwoods has introduced the AiPaper Reader, a 138g Android 16-powered e-reader that adds on-page AI assistance. The compact device lets readers verify terms, translate passages, or summarize figures directly within text. Viwoods thinks this will be of particular use to professional and academic users who read for long stretches or while traveling.

AiPaper Reader keeps answers beside the text rather than diverting users to another app or browser. Its 6.13-inch 300ppi E Ink Carta 1300 display features a low-reflectance layer and adjustable front light for comfortable reading in different environments.

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Apple announces iPhone Pocket, a knitted pouch for carrying your mobile

iPhone Pocket

Apple has joined forces with ISSEY MIYAKE to create a new way for iPhone owners to carry and protect their smartphone. The iPhone Pocket is a sash-style 3D-knitted pocket which is available in a rainbow spectrum of colors.

This is not the first time the iPhone-maker has collaborated in this way, and the result this time around is a versatile phone sling that can be worn or carried in a variety of ways. There are two different styles to choose from, but potential buyers may baulk at the price.

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Meta is killing off Facebook social plugins including the external Like button

Like us on Facebook

There are few things more iconic online than the Facebook Like button. Found underneath every post on the social media platform, the button has become a handy way for sites to encourage engagement.

But now Meta has announced plans to discontinue two of its Facebook Social Plugins in the early part of next year. Specifically, it is the Facebook Like button that appears on external websites, as well as the Facebook Comment button. This is quite a change for the social media giant to come up with out of the blue, so what is the thinking behind it?

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Study debunks viral claim that AI filters out most job applicants

Professional resume on laptop screen.

Enhancv has released a new study challenging the long-standing myth that Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) or AI automatically reject most resumes before a human review. According to its interviews with 25 U.S. recruiters and HR professionals, 92 percent said their systems do not auto-reject resumes based on formatting or content.

Instead, recruiters point to overwhelming application volume and the timing of submissions as the real reasons many candidates never make it as far as the interview stage.

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Ookla brings its Speedtest expertise to a handheld diagnostic device

Speedtest Pulse

Ookla has unveiled Speedtest Pulse, a new diagnostic device aimed at solving the long-standing “Wi-Fi blame game.” The technology is designed to help ISPs and enterprise IT teams accurately identify whether connectivity issues stem from the network, the router, or the device itself.

Speedtest Pulse is described as a smartphone-based tool that puts two decades of Ookla’s connectivity expertise into the hands of field technicians.

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Microsoft is updating Windows 11’s Snipping Tool with option to add text to screenshots

Snipping Tool text

Over the last few years, Microsoft has gradually evolved the Snipping Tool from a simple screen-grabbing tool into something which is much more advanced and sophisticated than anyone could have first imagined.

Having added features such as the ability to create video, grab text from images using OCR, the company is now adding new text options to the app. While not officially available – or even announced – new capabilities have been spotted in the app that show how Microsoft is developing this increasingly essential tool.

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New hardened images set to improve container security

Container security Kubernetes

A typical container image carries over 600 known vulnerabilities, nearly half of them years old and for Java workloads, the risk is particularly acute.

To address this BellSoft is announcing Hardened Images, a tool for enhancing the security and compliance of containerized applications in Kubernetes.

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Apple bows to Chinese pressure to remove queer dating apps from its App Store

Apple Pride 2025 collection

The Chinese government applied pressure on Apple to remove the two biggest queer dating apps from its App Store in the country, and the iPhone-maker has rolled over and done just that.

The two apps – Blued and Finka – have previously been named as being the first and second most popular dating apps for members of the LGBTQIA+ community in China. Some sources suggest that their appeal spread globally.

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Companies forced to make financial changes after a cyberattack

Cybersecurity investment money

A new study from Cohesity finds 70 percent of publicly traded companies have reported adjusting earnings or financial guidance after a cyberattack.

Among the impacts 68 percent say they observed an impact on their stock price, while 73 percent of privately held firms redirected budgets from innovation and growth initiatives.

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Would you swap personal information for a bargain?

Personal data key PII

Ahead of Black Friday a new study shows that, while 95 percent of Americans are concerned their data could end up in a breach, 78 percent are still willing to share personal information for discounts, perks, or free shipping.

The report from Incogni, based on a study of over 1,000 US adults, finds that volunteering personal information for discounts or access to content and rewards has become so routine that few likely consider the implications before doing so.

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Why it's time to ditch the VPN and embrace RPAM for secure remote work [Q&A]

Remote access

As much of the workforce takes time out from the office for the holidays, employees, contractors and third-party vendors continue to log in remotely from holiday homes, airports or hotels, far from the traditional corporate environment.

This surge in remote work access inevitably heightens security risks. For IT and security teams already managing a sprawling attack surface, reduced visibility and control create a challenge that legacy tools like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) were never designed to address.

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