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The world is about to write a new chapter in the story of AI. If the first was about unlocking the technology’s predictive abilities, and the second tapped into its generative (GenAI) potential, the third will be dominated by agentic AI driving autonomous decisions. These technologies offer seemingly unlimited potential, but to unlock it, organizations need to seamlessly connect their AI agents to a multitude of systems and data.Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) have therefore become essential to the success of AI strategies, providing the layer of connective tissue that agents need to communicate with enterprise systems. In fact, they’re already helping to unlock the value of GenAI. IDC claims that those with GenAI-enhanced applications and services in production have roughly five times more APIs than those who haven’t yet invested in the technology.However, if unmanaged, the soaring number of connections between internal and external systems will compound the existing problems around API sprawl. This in turn creates major cybersecurity and compliance risks. As organizations embrace the agentic AI era, their motivation to create new APIs will outpace their ability and desire to follow best practices for governance, security, and lifecycle management, due to the delays they introduce.To mitigate this risk and safely harness the power of agentic AI, IT leaders need a fully integrated API management (APIM) strategy.

Zombies, shadows, and risk

It’s impossible to accurately estimate just how bad API sprawl has become, in part because of undocumented “shadow APIs”. An oft-cited report claimed the number of APIs worldwide exceeded 200 million in 2021.However, with larger enterprises potentially running thousands or even tens of thousands—and an estimated 29 shadow APIs in every enterprise account—all bets are off as to the true number that are active today. In any case, the number is set to explode as agentic AI takes hold. A “build-now-think-governance-later” culture will only add to the number of shadow APIs in existence across organizations.The problem is exacerbated further by the prevalence of zombie APIs—that is, connectors that are no longer actively used but still accessible. For example, a developer might create an API to meet a temporary need to pull data from one system into another, but then fail to decommission it after the transfer is complete. Both shadow and zombie APIs pose a major security risk.This is worsened by the fact that nearly one in three (30%) APIs are unmanaged, and only half of enterprises have software to detect them, according to IDC. On the other hand, threat actors are past masters at seeking out unmanaged and exposed APIs. They know these endpoints may have outdated, weak or missing authentication, and other flaws they can exploit.The result could be anything from data theft and ransomware infections to credential stuffing and fake account creation. This can ultimately lead to compliance risk, financial loss, and reputational damage. Last year’s Trello breach served as a stark reminder of that risk, when an adversary exploited a misconfigured API endpoint to access the data of 15 million users.

Building a robust API Management strategy

Identifying API sprawl as an issue is one thing, but doing something about it can be more challenging. The problem is that the point API Management (APIM) solutions that most organizations rely on are not fit for purpose in today’s agentic AI era. They create IT bottlenecks that stifle innovation and slow development workflows, encouraging developers to take shortcuts when it comes to governance and documentation.To overcome these challenges, organizations should centralize visibility and control of their APIs in one platform and apply federated governance throughout the end-to-end lifecycle. In this way, they can set granular policies, manage security and observability requirements, and automate as much work as possible to alleviate the burden on developers.It’s also important to establish API usage monitoring and control capabilities so partners can be onboarded quickly, and rapidly offboarded if their software becomes incompatible, or when their contract expires. Compliance and ongoing SLA management are other important elements of a central APIM strategy—to minimize regulatory risk and ensure consistent quality of experience.

Towards a more connected future

As enterprises continue to adopt agents at scale, the need for robust API management is critical. If overlooked, organizations will be at risk of increased security vulnerabilities and left unable to unlock the full potential of agentic AI. But with a robust, fully integrated APIM strategy, organizations will have a much firmer foundation for building a truly autonomous future.Taking a unified approach to connecting systems and data will enable IT and business teams to harness the power of agentic AI without increased risk. That will set them on a path to supercharge business operations and free employees to work on higher value tasks, creating a stronger and more lasting competitive advantage.

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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

It’s been nearly six years since Apple Arcade launched, and while the service hasn’t fully delivered on Apple’s promise back in 2019, it can still be worth paying for. Of course, that’s provided you’re willing to hunt through the 200-ish games currently available on the service. I’ve been playing Apple Arcade games since it launched and these are just a few of my favorites that have stood the test of time.

Best Apple Arcade games of 2025

What is Apple Arcade?

Apple originally released Apple Arcade with the promise of high-quality, exclusive games that are playable across basically every device the company makes. That includes the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV (though you need a controller for the latter). Over time, Apple started allowing games originally launched in the App Store as well, provided that they met certain criteria. All Apple Arcade games are ad-free and have no in-app purchases, something that really helps differentiate its offerings over the flood of low-quality games in the App Store.

While Apple Arcade launched with a pretty excellent lineup, additional games have unfortunately been fewer and farther between in recent years. Apple has also pulled a number of games from the service, including some of the best ones you could get like Sayonara Wild Hearts, Cozy Grove, Assemble with Care, Shinsekai: Into the Depths and numerous others. It’s a reminder that with a subscription service, things can go away at any time.

While we’re not seeing the same cadence of high-quality original games on Apple Arcade as we did a few years ago, I still think the service is worth the $7 per month or $50 per year subscription if you do a lot of gaming on your phone. Some of the best games in the history of the App Store are here (anything with a “plus” symbol denotes a game that was originally sold in the App Store and then brought to Apple Arcade), and there are still a number of excellent originals worth playing. It is worth noting that the “plus” games were not designed with Mac or Apple TV playback in mind and thus only work on an iPhone or iPad. These 16 games are some of the best you can play, and there are a bunch more I want to try for future inclusion on this list. In the meantime, this should be more than enough to get you started.

Check out our entire Best Games series including the best Nintendo Switch games, the best PS5 games, the best Xbox games, the best PC games and the best free games you can play today.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-apple-arcade-games-140053796.html?src=rss

Full spoilers follow for The Wheel of Time season 3 episode 8.

The Wheel of Time season 3 has weaved its final episode – and there are plenty of talking points to, well, discuss following its release.As the dust settles on this season's closing chapter, titled 'He Who Comes With The Dawn', then, let's break down what happened in the high fantasy show's latest entry.If the above warning wasn't enough, this is your final one: full spoilers immediately follow for the Prime Video Original's latest episode.

Who dies in The Wheel of Time season 3 finale?

The season 3 finale is the first time we've glimpsed balefire in Amazon's TV apdatation (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video)

More than enough people, really, but there's one particularly heart-wrenching death that doesn't even happen in Robert Jordan's fantasy book series of the same name.Before I get into that, though, let's look at those supporting characters who took their last breath in The Wheel of Time's latest installment.Jeanie, one of the last two remaining remembers Liandrin's Black Ajah crew, is killed by Elayne. Indeed, she uses Balefire – an incredibly powerful weapon when wielded by those in tune with the One Power – to save Thom Merrilin's life when Jeanie confronts him in Tanchico.Balefire is so potent that it destroys a living being's thread in the Pattern, effectively wiping them out of existence. In fact, such are the dangers posed by it to the Pattern, it was banned among One Power wielders following the conclusion of the War of Power.Anyway, Chesmal, Jeanie and Liandrin's fellow Black Ajah, is seemingly killed by Min; the latter bludgeoning Chesmal on the back of the head to rescue Mat (more on him later).

Melindhra is one of five characters who perishes in season 3's final episode (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video)

That pair aren't the only villains to bite the dust in 'He Who Comes With The Dawn'. Sammael, one of the Forsaken, is murdered by another of his kin Moghedien. The latter uses her spider-like abilities to string him from the ceiling via his own muscles, skin, and blood; Sammael's body being hung from his cave-based prison via a web of flesh. It's a disgustingly creative way to kill someone and too gory to post a screenshot of.Melindhra, a Malkier-born Maiden of the Spear, also perishes. A member of the shaido clan and someone revealed to be a Darkfriend in season 3's final episode, Melindhra dies when she breaks her oath to The Shadow. Indeed, she warns Lan that Lanfear has not only infiltrated the Aiel camp, but plans on trying to kill Rand after he finally rejected her earlier in episode 8. However, by telling Lan about Lanfear, Melindhra betrays The Shadow, which subsequently claims her life.

Siuan Sanche is surprisingly killed by Elaida's right-hand woman in 'He Who Comes With The Dawn' (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video)

The episode's most noteworthy death, though, belongs to the Amyrlin Seat herself – that being, Siuan Sanche.At the start of episode 8, we're transported 10 years into the past and shown how Siuan defeated Elaida to become the Aes Sedai's leader. Fast-forward to the present and a still seething Elaida manages to overthrow the White Tower's commander via a vote-based coup.After stripping Siuan of her ability to channel the One Power – a process known as Stilling for female wielders or Gentling for male channelers –Siuan is tried before Elaida, who's the new Amyrlin Seat, and her supporters. Her crimes? Working in secret with Moiraine to find the Dragon Reborn, force all Aes Sedai to bend the knee to him, and help him defeat The Dark One during the Last Battle.However, Siuan does not go gently into that good night. Defiant to the end, she defends herself and her actions before warning that, unless the White Tower follows Rand, the Aes Sedai will stand no chance of defeating The Dark One and his forces. Cue Elaida instructing her right-hand woman Alviarin to behead Siuan for her insubordination.Siuan's death is the latest story-based diversion from the plot that unfolds in Jordan's novels. In 'The Shadow Rising', the fourth book in the series, which season 3 of Amazon's adaptation is based on, Siuan escapes the White Tower after she's Stilled. Like so many changes before it in the TV retelling – alterations that showrunner Rafe Judkins says need to be made – then, this moment will surely vex large sections of the fanbase.

Are Moiraine and Lanfear dead in The Wheel of Time?

Lanfear and Moiraine made it out of this season alive (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video)

No. They survive their duel, but both characters come out of it bearing new scars.For Moiraine, it's the loss of her lover in Siuan that hurts the most. Sure, she was almost strangled to death by Lanfear and later stabbed with Lan's sword of Malkier (Lanfear wrestled it from him during her fight with him and Moiraine) by the second-most powerful member of the Forsaken, but that's nothing compared to the pain she'll soon feel.Indeed, as Moiraine prepares to die at Lanfear's hand, she suddenly feels Siuan's demise through the One Power. Moiraine's anguish is so great that it enables her to further tap into the One Power, use it to unimpale herself from Lan's blade, and turn the tide of her showdown with Lanfear. Summoning all of her might, Moiraine fights off her adversary and even slashes Lanfear's neck with the sword of Malkier. Before she land the telling blow, though, Lanfear escapes through one of her portals.So, yes, while the duo live to fight another day, Moiraine is left emotionally devastated by Siuan's death and Lanfear physically damaged by the wounds inflicted on her by Moiraine. We'll see them again, then, in one of the best Prime Video shows' next season (if it's renewed, anyway, but more on this later).

How does Rand al'Thor convince the Aiel that he's the true Car'a'carn?

Rand cooks up a storm in the season 3 finale (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video)

By making it rain. No, I'm not talking about throwing paper money into the air to shower someone with, I mean he literally makes it rain.Indeed, during the latest meeting of the Aiel clan chiefs, the shaido warrior known as Colaudin tries to convince his people that he's the Dragon Reborn. Despite being give temporary dragon tattoos by Lanfear to make his case, though, Colaudin's plan is foiled when Rand uses the One Power to summon a massive storm and make it rain on the Aiel Waste for the first time in centuries. No bad for someone who's mocked for being a Wetlander, eh?By proving himself as the actual Dragon Reborn – the Aiel call him the Car'a'carn, if you'd forgotten – Rand is now in possession of an army that'll help him fight The Dark One. The next step of his plan, then, should be to locate the legendary sword Callandor. Well, once he manages to convince any still non-believing Aiel tribes that he is the Car'a'carn.

What is the creature that Mat Cauthon meets? The Eelfinn explained

This season's eighth chapter finally introduces us to the Eelfinn (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video)

I suspect this is one of the biggest questions you'll have after the season 3 finale.First mentioned in passing during a conversation between Elaida and Alviarin during this episode's flashback sequence, the Eelfinn are one of two inter-dimensional humanoid beings collectively known as the Finn. The other group is known as the Aelfinn but, seeing as they don't appear in 'He Who Comes With The Dawn', we'll discuss them in more detail once they make their live-action debut.Anyway, the Eelfinn are fox-like humanoids whose realm can only be reached via a specific Ter'angreal – objects of extraordinary power – known as a twisted redstone doorframe. This is the gate that Elaida exits in this finale's opening scene and one that Mat stumbles through in Tanchico.

Mat should've stopped to think before he made his three wishes... (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video)

The Eelfinn, who are also known as the "foxy folk" in Jordan's novels due to their resemblance to the sly mammalian race, have the ability to grant three wishes to anyone who visits their dimension.However, before these are granted, the Eelfinn set a price that usually pains the person they're granting the wishes of. They also ask if their visitor is in possession of any light-bearing objects, iron, or instruments that can play music. Anyone who has these items will be banished from their realm or, even worse, killed right there on the spot.

Mat's foxhead medallion will serve him well in the battles to come (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video)

Unfortunately for Mat (in some ways, anyway), he not only makes three wishes that negatively impact him, such as the loss of key memories, but he almost pays the *ahem* price by suffocating to death. Indeed, because Mat makes his wishes before bargaining with the Eelfinn, the latter sets a near-fatal price that results in Mat being hung when he's transported back to the real world. This is a call back to the vision that Min had of Mat being hung earlier in season 3.Despite taking some of Mat's memories, not to mention almost taking his life, too the Eelfinn does gift him something. As Min consoles Mat following his near-death experience, the camera zooms in on a foxhead medallion, which Mat wasn't in possession of before. No spoilers for Mat's story from this point on, but this pendant will be an incredibly important item in events yet to come.

Where's Perrin in The Wheel of Time's season 3 finale?

Perrin is conspicuous by his absence in season 3's final installment (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video)

Perrin – or, to call him by his new title, Lord Goldeneyes – is nowhere to be seen in the season 3 finale. That's because he had an entire episode devoted to him last week (April 10), which wrapped up his season 3 character arc.Heading into a potential fourth season, Perrin will be in a bit of a tight-spot. After leading The Two Rivers folk and successfully defending the town from an army of Trollocs and Darkfriends, he handed himself over to the Children of the Light for murdering their leader's father in the season 2 finale.As we see in one of this season's finale's final clips, Faile, Bain, and Chiad locate the Children of the Light's camp before heading back to The Two Rivers. Will they try to spring Perrin out of jail? Or will he eventually be freed by the military organization? Hopefully, we'll get an answer in season 4.

Are there any end credits scenes in The Wheel of Time season 3 episode 8?

Nynaeve finally controlled the One Power in 'He Who Comes With The Dawn' (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video)

No. If you were sticking it out through seasons 3's final end credits to see if there's a mid- and/or post-credits scene, you'll be sorely disappointed.

Has The Wheel of Time been renewed for a fourth season?

Don't look so serious, Rand – I'm sure Amazon will renew the show for a fourth season (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video)

Amazon hasn't officially announced if The Wheel of Time will return for a fourth season. Prior to this season's release in mid-March, rumors had circulated online that the e-commerce giant's entertainment division wouldn't greenlight another eight-episode installment until it's pored over season 3's official viewing figures.Nevertheless, The Wheel of Time's cast told me that they're "confident" that the series will be renewed for season 4. With each season being received better (on Rotten Tomatoes, anyway) than the one before, the Prime Video TV show deserves another outing. Much will depend on that all-important viewership, though, and whether Amazon can continue to spend millions of dollars on a program that isn't being watched by the bulk of Prime Video's global audience.

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Zoom went down for users for several hoursThe outage was caused by a GoDaddy domain “communication error”Spotify and X also had hiccups, but this was thought to be unrelated

The recent Zoom outage has been blamed on a GoDaddy domain issue, with the GoDaddy Registry mistakenly blocking the zoom.us domain due to a communication error between Zoom’s own domain registrar, Markmonitor, and GoDaddy Registry.The result was reduced service between 2:55 PM ET and 4:12 PM ET, with Zoom Meetings, Zoom Phone, Zoom Contact Center and the Zoom Website all affected.The video conferencing company was quick to add, “There was no product, security, network failure or Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack.”

Zoom outage caused by GoDaddy error

Although Zoom confirmed a “communication error” between Markmonitor and GoDaddy Registry caused the outage, we don’t know any details about the events leading up to the miscommunication.The two domain companies and Zoom worked together to identify and remove the block “quickly,” Zoom added.Separate Downdetector monitoring noted that most complaints related to server connections, with one in five also experiencing login issues and a handful conference calls.The outage came just a few hours after a widespread outage affecting Spotify’s app, website and music streaming services, and a couple of hours before a minor X outage affecting the website and app, however these issues are likely unrelated.Even though services had been restored within less than two hours, some users were being advised to flush their DNS caches and to reconnect if they were still experiencing problems:

For Windows open a command prompt and type "ipconfig /flushdns"For Mac open a terminal window and type "sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder"

Cisco’s ThousandEyes has also carried out a details analysis of the outage, noting the functionality of DNS and the incident’s impact.“Identifying a specific fault domain when a service encounters issues requires visibility into performance across the entire service delivery chain,” Cisco said.

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The financial industry is built on trust—but in today’s digital economy, that trust is eroding. A staggering 69% of financial institutions have experienced data breaches in the past five years, with 40% of CFOs questioning the accuracy of their own financial records. These statistics point to a systemic issue: financial data is increasingly vulnerable to manipulation, human error, and security lapses.If trust in financial systems continues to wane, the consequences will extend far beyond corporate balance sheets. Market confidence, economic stability, and global commerce all depend on secure, verifiable financial data. Financial breaches do not just expose confidential records; they create ripple effects that destabilize businesses, erode consumer trust, and increase regulatory scrutiny.Traditional cybersecurity measures, such as perimeter-based firewalls and periodic audits, are no longer sufficient. Cybercriminals exploit weaknesses in centralized databases, manual reconciliation processes, and outdated identity verification methods, making financial data a prime target for attacks. The reality is that financial institutions continue to operate on trust-based systems that can be manipulated, rather than on infrastructure designed for inherent security and integrity.

The Shift to Tamper Proof Financial Data

Emerging blockchain technologies are revolutionizing financial security by providing an immutable, real-time ledger of transactions and data. Unlike conventional systems that rely on fragmented databases and manual reconciliation, BSV Blockchain ensures that every transaction is permanently recorded and independently verifiable. This level of transparency isn’t just a regulatory advantage, it’s a fundamental shift in how financial institutions manage risk, enhance compliance, and drive operational efficiency.For years, financial leaders have grappled with unreliable data and delayed audits. Blockchain-based audits can be conducted in real time, allowing institutions to detect discrepancies immediately rather than months later. Therefore, fraud becomes exponentially harder to execute when every financial action leaves a traceable, time-stamped record. The implications for banking, payments, and cross-border transactions are profound. Organizations can now move beyond costly third-party verification processes and instead rely on a single, secure source of truth.

Eliminating Human Error and Strengthening Security

Despite technological advancements, human error remains one of the greatest risks to financial security. Whether it’s misreported figures, duplicated transactions, or unauthorized data alterations, errors can have far reaching consequences. Traditional systems depend on manual oversight and reconciliation, which introduce unnecessary inefficiencies and vulnerabilities.Blockchain provides a safeguard against human error by ensuring that every transaction is cryptographically secured and automatically recorded. This removes the need for constant verification, enabling financial institutions to operate with greater accuracy, efficiency, and trustworthiness.

Digital Identity: The Next Evolution in Financial Security

Fraud, identity theft, and account takeovers remain persistent challenges in financial services and traditional identity verification systems, reliant on passwords and centralized databases, are prone to frequent breaches. The consequences are severe—financial losses, reputational damage, and increased regulatory scrutiny.Blockchain-based digital identity solutions offer a more secure and efficient alternative, benefiting both individuals and institutions.By decentralizing identity management, blockchain enables:

Fraud-resistant authentication, preventing stolen credentials and reducing the risk of unauthorised access.Instant, verifiable identity checks, allowing businesses to quickly confirm identities and comply with financial regulations.A tamper-proof audit trail, ensuring transparency and making financial crimes like money laundering easier to detect.

This technology removes reliance on fragmented, insecure identity systems, giving individuals greater control over their credentials while allowing financial institutions to enhance security and reduce administrative overheads.

Preventing Data Breaches and Strengthening Cybersecurity

One of the most significant weaknesses in financial security today is the inability to prevent large scale data breaches. Hackers target centralized financial databases, authentication systems, and payment processing networks, exploiting vulnerabilities that traditional security measures miss. Even with the best firewalls and encryption tools, the weakest link often lies in how financial data is stored, accessed, and verified.Blockchain shifts financial security from a reactive model to a proactive, built-in defense system. By decentralizing data storage and securing transactions with verifiable proof rather than trust-based authorization, blockchain drastically reduces the risk of large-scale breaches.With regulatory requirements tightening around cybersecurity and financial data protection, institutions that fail to upgrade their security infrastructure will face increased scrutiny, fines, and reputational damage. Blockchain provides a long-term solution that ensures security is embedded into the financial ecosystem itself.

A Future of Verifiable Trust

As someone who has long championed breakthrough technologies, I see blockchain as more than just an evolution of financial security—it is a paradigm shift in how we manage trust in the digital age.The institutions that recognize and adopt this technology today will be the ones leading the financial sector into a new era of accountability, resilience, and growth. Financial systems must move beyond outdated methods of trust that rely on assumptions and intermediaries. Instead, they need technology that guarantees security and transparency at its core.

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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

Virtual private networks (VPNs) are notoriously difficult to work with. Maybe you’re a remote worker who has to sign in to one each day to access company services, or you tried it once because you heard you could use it to access international content, but were met with laggy service and frequent disruptions. Today’s VPNs don’t have to come with those headaches. We tested nine of the best VPN services available now to come up with our top picks, and lay out what you should know before paying for one.We tested nine of the most popular VPN services available now to come up with our top picks, and lay out what you should know before paying for one. Our top pick remains ProtonVPN thanks to its easy-to-use interface, no-logs policy and open-source framework, while other popular options like NordVPN didn't quite make the cut. While we think ProtonVPN is the best VPN for most people, we lay out other good options you can consider, too.

Table of contents

Best VPNs of 2025

What is a VPN?

Are VPNs worth it?

How we tested VPNs

Other VPN services our experts tested

VPN FAQs

Best VPNs for 2025

What is a VPN?

VPNs, or virtual private networks, mask your IP address and the identity of your computer or mobile device on the network and creating an encrypted "tunnel" that prevents your internet service provider (ISP) from accessing data about your browsing history. VPNs are not a one-size-fits-all security solution, though.

Instead, they’re just one part of keeping your data private and secure. Roya Ensafi, assistant professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Michigan, told Engadget that VPNs don’t protect against common threats like phishing attacks, nor do they protect your data from being stolen. Much of the data or information is stored with the VPN provider instead of your ISP, which means that using a poorly designed or unprotected network can still undermine your security. But they do come in handy for online privacy when you’re connecting to an untrusted network somewhere public because they tunnel and encrypt your traffic to the next hop.

That means sweeping claims that seem promising, like military-grade encryption or total digital invisibility, may not be totally accurate. Instead, Yael Grauer, program manager of Consumer Reports’ online security guide, recommends looking for security features like open-source software with reproducible builds, up-to-date support for industry-standard protocols like WireGuard (CR's preferred protocol) or IPsec, and the ability to defend against attack vectors like brute force.

Read more:

How to use a VPN on your iPhone

How to stream video to your TV using a VPN

How to stream using a VPN on your Google TV or Chromecast

How to stream via a VPN on Roku

Understanding VPNs and your needs

Before considering a VPN, make sure your online security is up to date in other ways. That means complex passwords, multi-factor authentication methods and locking down your data sharing preferences. Even then, you probably don’t need to be using a VPN all the time.

“If you're just worried about somebody sitting there passively and looking at your data then a VPN is great,” Jed Crandall, an associate professor at Arizona State University, told Engadget.

That brings us to some of the most common uses cases for VPNs. If you use public WiFi networks a lot, like while working at a coffee shop, then VPN usage can help give you private internet access. They’re also helpful for hiding information from other people on your ISP if you don’t want members of your household to know what you’re up to online.

Geoblocking has also become a popular use case as it helps you reach services in other parts of the world. For example, you can access shows that are only available on streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime, in other countries, or play online games with people located all over the globe.

There are also a few common VPN features that you should consider before deciding if you want to use one, and which is best for you:

What is split tunneling?

Split tunneling allows you to route some traffic through your VPN, while other traffic has direct access to the internet. This can come in handy when you want to protect certain activity online without losing access to local network devices, or services that work best with location sharing enabled.

What is a double VPN?

A double VPN, otherwise known as multi-hop VPN or a VPN chain, passes your online activity through two different VPN servers one right after the other. For VPN services that support this, users are typically able to choose which two servers they want their traffic to pass through. As you might expect, this provides an extra layer of security.

Are VPNs worth it?

Whether or not VPNs are worth it depends how often you could use it for the above use cases. If you travel a lot and rely on public WiFi or hotspots, are looking to browse outside of your home country or want to keep your traffic hidden from your ISP, then investing in a VPN will be useful. But, keep in mind that even the best VPN services often slow down your internet connection speed, so they may not be ideal all the time.

In today's world, we recommend not relying on a VPN connection as your main cybersecurity tool. VPN use can provide a false sense of security, leaving you vulnerable to attack. Plus, if you choose just any VPN, it may not be as secure as just relying on your ISP. That’s because the VPN could be based in a country with weaker data privacy regulation, obligated to hand information over to law enforcement or linked to weak user data protection policies.

For VPN users working in professions like activism or journalism that want to really strengthen their internet security, options like the Tor browser may be a worthwhile alternative, according to Crandall. Tor is free, and while it's less user-friendly, it’s built for anonymity and privacy.

How we tested VPNs

To test the security specs of different VPNs and name our top picks, we relied on pre-existing academic work through Consumer Reports, VPNalyzer and other sources. We referenced privacy policies, transparency reports and security audits made available to the public. We also considered past security incidents like data breaches.

We looked at price, usage limits, effects on internet speed, possible use cases, ease of use, general functionality and additional “extra” VPN features like multihop. The VPNs were tested across iOS, Android and Mac devices so we could see the state of the mobile apps across various platforms (Windows devices are also supported in most cases). We used the “quick connect” feature on the VPN apps to connect to the “fastest” provider available when testing internet speed, access to IP address data and DNS and WebRTC leaks or when a fault in the encrypted tunnel reveals requests to an ISP.

Otherwise, we conducted a test of geoblocking content by accessing Canada-exclusive Netflix releases, a streaming test by watching a news livestream on YouTube via a Hong Kong-based VPN and a gaming test by playing on servers in the United Kingdom. By performing these tests at the same time, it also allowed us to test claims about simultaneous device use. Here are the VPN services we tested:

ExpressVPN

NordVPN

Surfshark

Proton VPN

TunnelBear

Bitdefender VPN

CyberGhost

Windscribe

Atlas VPN

Read more: The best password managers for 2023

Other VPN services our experts tested

NordVPN

NordVPN didn’t quite make the cut because it’s overhyped, and underwhelming. As I've written in our full review of NordVPN, the pricing, up to $14.49 for a “complete” subscription, seemed high compared to other services, and its free or lower cost plans just didn’t have the same wide variety of features as its competitors.

TunnelBear

Despite the cute graphics and user friendliness, TunnelBear wasn’t a top choice. It failed numerous basic security tests from Consumer Reports, and had limited availability across platforms like Linux. It did, however, get a major security boost in July when it updated to support WireGuard protocol across more of its platforms.

Bitdefender VPN

Bitdefender doesn’t offer support for devices like routers, which limits its cross-platform accessibility. It also lacked a transparency report or third-party audit to confirm security specs.

Atlas VPN

Atlas ranked lower on our speed tests compared to the other VPNs tested, with a notably slower difference on web browsing and streaming tests. It was a good option otherwise, but could easily cause headaches for those chasing high speed connections. Security-wise, an Atlas VPN vulnerability leaked Linux users’ real IP addresses.

VPN FAQs

What are some things VPNs are used for?

VPNs are traditionally used to protect your internet traffic. If you’re connected to an untrusted network like public WiFi in a cafe, using a VPN hides what you do from the internet service provider. Then, the owner of the WiFi or hackers trying to get into the system can’t see the identity of your computer or your browsing history.

A common non-textbook use case for VPNs has been accessing geographically restricted content. VPNs can mask your location, so even if you’re based in the United States, they can make it appear as if you’re browsing abroad and unblock access. This is especially useful for streaming content that’s often limited to certain countries, like if you want to watch Canadian Netflix from the US.

What information does a VPN hide?

A VPN doesn’t hide all of your data. It only hides information like your IP address, location and browser history. A common misconception is that VPNs can make you totally invisible online. But keep in mind that the VPN provider often still has access to all of this information, so it doesn’t grant you total anonymity. You’re also still vulnerable to phishing attacks, hacking and other cyberthreats that you should be mindful of by implementing strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.

Are VPNs safe?

Generally, yes. VPNs are a safe and reliable way to encrypt and protect your internet data. But like most online services, the safety specifics vary from provider to provider. You can use resources like third-party audits, Consumer Reports reviews, transparency reports and privacy policies to understand the specifics of your chosen provider.

Can you get a VPN on your phone?

Yes, you can use a VPN on your phone. Most major VPN services have mobile apps you can install on iPhones and Android devices so you can connect on your phone to protect your mobile browsing.

What about Google’s One VPN?

Google One subscriptions include access to the company’s VPN, which works similarly to other VPNs on our list, hiding your online activity from network operators. However, Google announced recently that it plans to shut down the One VPN because "people simply weren’t using it." There's no specific date for the shutdown, with Google simply saying it will discontinue the service sometime in 2024. Pixel phone owners, however, will continue to have access to the free VPN available on their devices.

Recent updates

April 2025: Updated for timeliness and to ensure our top picks are still current.

October 2024: Added a "read more" section with links to additional VPN content.

June 2024: Updated to include table of contents.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/best-vpn-130004396.html?src=rss

TalkTalk Business customers had DNS-related email issues for several daysSome customers have waited 24 hours for a replyOther TalkTalk issues are also ongoing

TalkTalk Business customers are said to have faced nearly a week without email access due to a domain hosting technical fault.Reporting by The Register says the issue started on the evening of April 9, and customers have been struggling to get hold of the company to regain access to their inboxes.According to the report, TalkTalk admitted to one customer it had mistakenly changed domain settings, while another waited 24 hours for a response from the telecomms giant about email loss.

TalkTalk Business customers faced a days-long outage

TalkTalk is believed to have fixed the issue over the weekend, which seemed to be a DNS error.Name servers were changed to Cloudflare without configured DNS records, however users had no ability to update their own DNS records, worsening the problem.Despite the fix, some users continued to report problems heading into the start of this week.TalkTalk Business’s website boasts that it supports more than half a million UK businesses, and has been doing so for more than 25 years. At the top of its landing page, the company shows off its “24-hour, 365-day support” and ‘Excellent’ Trustpilot rating, but in the case of this most recent incident, customers might beg to differ.Previously, TalkTalk had been criticized over its disappointing customer service, but things changed for the better, and TalkTalk was supposed to have turned a corner.It’s not the only issue that TalkTalk faces, as figures from Downdetector claim it appears to be battling an ongoing, low-level issue with internet connections, and 4% of the complaints are still relating to email issues.A TalkTalk spokesperson told us that the company does not have a comment to share "at the moment," but we were promised an update "if that changes."

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OpenAI CEO says saying "Please" or "Thank You" to ChatGPT costs the company 'Tens of millions of dollars'A Future survey found that roughly 70% of people are polite to AIExperts believe being polite to AI is actually beneficial to the responses you receive, but at what cost?

Do you say "Please" or "Thank you" to ChatGPT? If you're polite to OpenAI's chatbot, you could be part of the user base costing the company "Tens of millions of dollars" on electricity bills.User @tomiinlove wrote on X, "I wonder how much money OpenAI has lost in electricity costs from people saying 'please' and 'thank you' to their models."OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, responded, "Tens of millions of dollars well spent - you never know." Thanks for lowering the world's anxiety around an AI uprising, Sam. We'll all be sure to waste even more energy by saying "Please" or "Thank You" from now on.In February, Future PLC, the company that owns TechRadar, compiled a survey of more than 1,000 people on their AI etiquette. The survey found that around 70% of people are polite to AI when interacting with it, with 12% being polite in case of a robot uprising.Obviously, there's an energy cost when using ChatGPT, which has massive AI-powered servers that run the whole operation. But as these tools thrive in popularity, are most of us even aware that one simple message, or one AI-generated meme, is impacting the planet?TechRadar reached out to OpenAI for comment, we'll update this story when we hear back.

tens of millions of dollars well spent--you never knowApril 16, 2025

Should we be polite to AI?

If being polite to AI can have such an impact on energy consumption, should we even bother being nice to ChatGPT?Presumably, these 'Tens of millions of dollars' Altman speaks of are due to users saying "Please" or "Thank You" in a contained message rather than at the end of a prompt. Hopefully, OpenAI will respond to our query to give us more of an understanding of how people frame these particular messages.TechRadar writer Becca Caddy stopped saying thanks to ChatGPT and found that being polite to an AI chatbot might actually help with responses.In her article, she wrote, "Polite, well-structured prompts often lead to better responses, and in some cases, they may even reduce bias. That’s not just a bonus – it’s a critical factor in AI reliability.As AI evolves, it will be fascinating to see whether politeness itself becomes a built-in feature. Could AI favor users who communicate respectfully? Will models be trained to respond differently based on etiquette?"So while it may not be energy-efficient, being polite to AI could in fact give you a better experience while interacting with ChatGPT. But is it worth the environmental cost?

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Strava has acquired RunnaThe company says nothing should change for users in the short termIt could impact the paid subscription of both platforms

Two of the best fitness apps for runners and the great outdoors are joining forces. Strava has announced that it has acquired AI-powered running platform Runna.Strava says it has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Runna, combining the biggest fitness community on the planet with Runna's impressive training chops.Strava CEO Michael Martin said that following unprecedented Strava growth in 2024, "it was the right time to look for complementary businesses that could create even greater value for our users," describing Runna's personalized training plans as "a perfect fit" for the company.Runna CEO and co-founder Dom Maskell said the group was "delighted" to be joining Strava and will continue to focus on bringing users the most customized and personalized training plans available. More specifically, Maskell says the investment from Strava "allows us to make even more improvements to everything we do at Runna, benefiting runners worldwide."

The future of Strava and Runna

On paper, the move is a huge boon for both parties, but users of Runna and Strava are likely to be more cautious in their optimism, as the world of subscription-based fitness apps continues to throw up surprises and changes.Recently, Garmin announced Connect+, a subscription platform that includes some pretty woeful AI insights and other features locked behind a paywall. If the merger of Strava and Runna is going to pay off for users, how the two brands manage the process will be crucial.With Garmin swinging and missing so hard on its Connect+ subscription, Strava and Runna getting this right could spell disaster for the former. Strava and Runna offer more enticing subscription packages on paper that could make a combined offering unstoppable.In comments made to The Verge following the acquisition, Martin said, "Effectively, nothing changes for the user out of the gate." He went on to say that the plan for the acquisition is "to invest further into growing the Runna app, invest in the Runna team, and then continue to operate them as independent but in an integrated fashion."He also confirmed that users could expect to see changes as early as the coming weeks, while Runna's Maskell said, "The ambition is to do things where it makes sense" and hinted that more seamless integration between the two apps would be smoother for users, according to the report.Garmin wouldn't be drawn on plans for subscription prices in the interview, but Martin pointed towards Strava's acquisition of Recover Athletics as a guide model, hinting Runna could be included in Strava's overall subscription offering. Whether that would impact the price remains anyone's guess.Strava's CEO actually dropped a hint about the acquisition a few days ago. In a r/Strava QnA, someone said, "Would love to see Strava provide race predictions and dynamic training plans, similar to Runna," to which Martin replied with a simple wink emoji. So it turns out that this news was staring us right in the face.

Comment from r/Strava

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A new iPhone 17 Pro render shows a single color for the whole back of the phoneThis is at odds with previous rendersHowever, it matches a design claim from a reputable source

So far, most renders of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max have shown them with a two-tone design, where the rumored large new camera block is one color, and the rest of the rear is another. But a new render shows these two elements in the same shade.The image you can see below was shared by @kdctweets (via Phone Arena), and we’d take it with a pinch of salt, since they don’t yet have much of a track record as a leaker – and also it’s unclear whether this image is based on new information they’ve obtained, or just their own vision of what the iPhone 17 Pro might look like.But it’s notable regardless, because recently Mark Gurman – an Apple watcher with a superb track record – claimed that the iPhone 17 Pro series wouldn’t have a two-tone design. So there’s a good chance this image provides a more accurate look at the iPhone 17 Pro’s design than previous renders do.

pic.twitter.com/4vWww2aP7KApril 16, 2025

No two-tone for your iPhone

Whether it all being one color is better or worse than two-tone is somewhat subjective – and may not matter much anyway if you’re just going to put the phone in a case. But while nothing is certain just yet, we’re inclined to believe Gurman on this – meaning the design in this render is probably something along the lines of what Apple will unveil.That said, even if the colors of the two sections are mostly a match, there may be some slight differences in the tone, as a previous iPhone 17 Pro leak suggested the camera housing would be metal, while the bottom half of the phone would be glass. So the colors might not be quite as uniform as they are here.We’ll probably find out for sure in September, as that’s when the iPhone 17 series is likely to be unveiled, but we’d expect plenty more unofficial renders will emerge in the meantime.

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Comper Joris de Man would return to write music for another Horizon Zero Dawn gameDe Man says Guerrilla Games is "very, very good at keeping their cards close to their chest"He couldn't confirm if he's working on a third game, but says, "I'm there for it, is all I can say"

Composer Joris de Man, best known for Killzone and the Horizon series, can't confirm if he's working on the third Horizon game, but would return if Guerrilla Games asked.Ahead of the PlayStation: The Concert Tour, a live music event scheduled to play music from PlayStation's most iconic games like The Last of Us and God of War, TechRadar Gaming sat down with Joris de Man to discuss his time composing music for video games and expressed interest in returning for another Killzone game.When asked if he will continue working on the Horizon series in the future or on the third installment, de Man said he's all in."I'm there for it, is all I can say," de Man said. "Yeah, in terms of what's happening, what I will say is that Guerrilla is very, very good at keeping their cards close to their chest, and even as someone who's known them the past 20 years, I'm always kind of almost a bit shocked and a bit perturbed that I don't know more about what they're cooking up there in Amsterdam."On the topic of different genres he would like to explore next in his career, de Man revealed the desire to write music for a role-playing game (RPG), similar to Diablo or even a Fallout game."I'd love to do an RPG, like a proper RPG, you know, whether it's something a bit like Diablo..." de Man said. "I mean, I'm a massive Diablo fan, so although I have not been much of a fan of the recent one [...] I've not managed to get into it as well as I did with the other three, which I played until the disc was literally gray."But yeah, no, I love those games, so I'd love to write something for that, and otherwise, a Fallout game would also be quite cool to write on, because I just love the original soundtracks, and I'd love to explore that kind of vibe a bit further for a future Fallout game."

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The first gameplay trailer for Cronos: The New Dawn has arrivedIt shows off the upcoming survival horror gameIt also offers a glimpse at its unique 'Merge' mechanics

Silent Hill 2 remake developer Bloober Team has released the first gameplay trailer for its next game, Cronos: The New Dawn.An all-new survival horror property, Cronos: The New Dawn looks a little bit like Silent Hill crossed with Dead Space and The Medium. Its set across two parallel time periods - the post-apocalyptic far future and 1980s Poland.In Poland, players will explore the fictionalized ruined district of New Dawn, which was inspired by the real-world Nowa Huta in Krakow.As a Traveller and agent of the mysterious Collective, it's your job to travel back in time to rescue key people from the incoming apocalypse.

Standing in your way are the Orphans, supernatural creatures that don't stay dead. If you're not able to burn their bodies, other enemies can absorb them in a unique process called 'Merging' - becoming stronger and gaining additional abilities. This is certainly an interesting idea and reminds me a little bit of the terrifying Crimson Head zombies from the Resident Evil remake.The trailer also offers some glimpses of the combat mechanics, with the player wielding a mix of powerful range weapons including a pistol, a meaty shotgun, and a few futuristic looking launchers.They game will feature a soundtrack from award winning composer Arkadiusz Reikowski, who has helmed music for a number of Bloober Team games, in collaboration with the Polish-Ukranian indie folk band Zazula.Cronos: The New Dawn is set to release in 2025 and is coming to Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

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Xbox's official support account may have spilled the beans on the Oblivion remaster's release dateSeveral X / Twitter users have been sharing direct message videos and screenshotsThe alleged release date is just a few days from now on April 21, 2025

Xbox's official support account may have just shared more than it was supposed to on the alleged remaster for The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion.After a round of screenshots leaked online this week, the internet was once again abuzz with speculation as to if (or indeed when) we'll get to play the long-rumored Oblivion Remastered anytime soon.It seems like we may have just gotten our answer. As reported by GamesRadar, several users on X / Twitter have been claiming that Xbox's official support account, via direct messaging, has been outright stating a release date of April 21, 2025 for Oblivion Remastered. At the time of writing, that's four days from now.

pic.twitter.com/U1SqhpKMbvApril 16, 2025

The above video shows a DM interaction between X / Twitter user Ser_Raven18 and what appears to be the official Xbox Support account."The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is set to release on April 21, 2025," writes the account.Furthermore, in a reply to gaming account 'Synth Potato, another user shared a screenshot with details on how Oblivion Remastered will be handling the original's bevy of downloadable content, including the legendary Shivering Isles expansion."The remastered version of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion on Xbox Game Pass will include the base game only. The Shivering Isles DLC, along with other expansions like Knights of the Nine, will be part of the Deluxe Edition."As a screenshot only, this message does carry less weight, and there's always the chance that correspondence here could be fabricated just to stew the pot. So naturally, take everything here with a healthy pinch of salt.That said, a lot of things do seem to be lining up. Hopefully the speculation can be put to bed with an official announcement or trailer soon, especially as the alleged release date is mere days away.

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