UK tax agency using AI to help target fraud and evasion
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the UK’s national tax authority, has confirmed it is using artificial intelligence to monitor the social media accounts of people suspected of tax fraud. The BBC reports that this is done only as part of criminal investigations and not for everyday taxpayers.
For readers outside the UK, HMRC is the government department responsible for collecting taxes, administering certain benefits, and enforcing compliance with tax laws. Its role is similar to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the United States or the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) in Canada.
Continua is an AI assistant that joins your group chats and keeps plans on track
Continua has launched an AI assistant designed to work directly inside group chats, helping participants keep track of ideas, decisions, and plans in real time. The tool can join conversations on SMS, iMessage, or Discord, offering live web search, scheduling tools, and the automatic organization of group discussions.
The company describes the product as a “social AI” agent that listens in, remembers details, and can turn ongoing conversations into shareable documents, checklists, or calendar invites. It can also suggest restaurants, find meeting times that suit all members, and provide quick answers without breaking the flow of conversation.
Google Pay adds new ways to make web payments easier
Google Pay has announced three new features which it says will make online payments simpler and more flexible for shoppers. The update focuses on providing more choice, convenience and value, and covers both everyday purchases and larger transactions, as well as international money transfers.
For US buyers, Chrome’s autofill feature will now display reward details for over 100 credit cards, expanding from the smaller set previously supported. This addition makes it easier to see which card offers the best benefits for a specific purchase before checkout.
Foxit streamlines PDF document workflows with new developer tools
Developers building browser-based PDF applications have traditionally faced challenges related to performance bottlenecks, limited form handling, cumbersome signing workflows, and inconsistent cross-browser experiences.
PDF software specialist Foxit is aiming to change that with the launch of a new SDK for Web v11, which with its WebAssembly-powered rendering engine, modular architecture, and deeply refactored core components, eliminates many of the long-standing problems.
Linux Mint 22.2 'Zara' beta now ready to download -- here's what's new
Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara” beta version has been released, giving testers and enthusiasts an early look at the next long term support release of the popular desktop Linux distribution. The final version will be supported until April 2029, but this preview is aimed at testing, so some issues are to be expected.
This update continues Mint’s focus on making small, but noteworthy changes. Sticky Notes now have rounded corners, Wayland support, and can sync with Android devices via the new StyncyNotes app. The login screen gains a blur effect, user avatars, and a cleaner layout.
How access to company networks is sold on the dark web for under $1,000
New analysis of illicit dark web marketplaces where cybercriminals buy and sell access to corporate networks uncovers new insights into how initial access to compromised businesses is being sold -- often for less than $1,000 -- and the steps defenders can take to disrupt the process in its earliest stages.
Rapid7’s threat intelligence researchers analyzed hundreds of posts by Initial Access Brokers (IABs) offering access to compromised networks across a range of industries and regions. Their findings show that ‘initial’ access doesn’t necessarily equate to minimal; in many cases, this access represents a deep compromise.
Spread of AI agents sparks fears of a cybersecurity crisis
A new report reveals an increasing trust gap between businesses deploying agentic AI for external communications and consumers wary of sharing personal information due to security concerns.
The research, carried out by Censuswide for Salt Security, also warns that without proper API discovery, governance and security, the very technology meant to drive smarter customer engagement could open the door to cybersecurity issues including attacks or data leakage.
Excel can now explain formulae with Copilot
Microsoft just found a new use for AI. Excel users can now turn to the new Explain Formula feature which uses Copilot to use artificial intelligence to understand how a formula works.
There are many advantages to this. It can serve as a way to learn about how to create new formulae of your own, but it is also a handy way to not only understand how a formula works as well as a means of debugging if the output is not what you were expecting it to be.
Microsoft OneNote finally gets unformatted text pasting
Microsoft OneNote is an incredibly useful tool, and a clever one – sometime too clever. After being absent for far too long, it now finally has an unformatted text pasting option.
It is hard to believe that it has taken over twenty years for this to arrive – and it is not clear why it has taken so long – but it is finally here. No longer will you have to strip out unwanted formatting, change color and so on. Unformatted text pasting is now just a keyboard shortcut away.
Epson launches ReadyPrint subscription for unlimited color printing at a fixed monthly cost
Epson has launched ReadyPrint, a subscription-based printing service that aims to make color printing simple, predictable, and cost-effective for homes and businesses.
The plan combines an EcoTank wireless all-in-one Supertank printer with unlimited color printing, premium support, and automatic ink replacement for a fixed monthly fee.
Microsoft launches Windows 365 Reserve preview to reduce downtime
Microsoft has launched a limited public preview of Windows 365 Reserve, a new cloud-based service to help reduce downtime and disruption for business when disaster strikes.
Whether there is a system failure, a cyberattack, or something else goes wrong, Windows 365 Reserve provides access to a Cloud PC to help reduce disruptions. Microsoft says that it offers businesses “secure and on-demand Cloud PC access from anywhere when you need it most”.
Sync files quickly and securely between devices for free with Syncthing 2.0
Syncthing 2.0 has arrived, promising faster syncing, a new database system, and a number of major fixes and improvements. This open source program lets you sync files directly between computers in real time, keeping them private, encrypted, and fully under your control without the need for a central server.
Syncthing offers a simple promise: your files stay yours. You decide where they are stored, how they are transmitted between devices, and who gets access.
How to stop Instagram sharing your location
Instagram recently added a number of new features, including sharing your location. While some additions – such as reposting – were welcome, location sharing sparked concerns.
The new Instagram map feature allows the people you are connected to on the social media platform to see your location – and you can see theirs. Instagram has pitched this as being useful to parents, but many users are worried about the privacy implications of location sharing.
Kubuntu Focus launches Zr GEN 1 Linux laptop with Nvidia RTX 5090 option
Kubuntu Focus has introduced the Zr GEN 1, a high-performance Linux laptop aimed at users who want maximum mobile power. The 18.0-inch workstation replaces the previous 17.3-inch M2 GEN 5 and brings faster components, more storage capacity, and a brighter display, with shipping now available in the US and Canada.
The Zr GEN 1 runs Kubuntu 24.04 LTS and is built for developers, machine learning researchers, content creators, and others looking for fast hardware with Linux-first support.
High Court rejects Wikipedia challenge to UK online safety rules
A High Court ruling has ended Wikipedia’s attempt to overturn part of the UK’s divisive new Online Safety Act, but the legal fight over its application may not be quite over. Judges dismissed the Wikimedia Foundation’s challenge to rules that could place the encyclopaedia under the law’s strictest category of regulation.
The organization behind Wikipedia says the framework risks forcing it to verify the identities of its volunteer editors, undermining both their privacy and the way the site operates. It argues that the model, in which anyone can contribute without registering personal details, is central to the platform’s reliability and breadth of coverage.
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