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Passion.io, a major no-code app-building app, operated a non-password-protected databaseThe archive contained millions of records, with a total size of around 12TBIt was since then locked down, but users should still take careMillions of records containing sensitive, personally identifiable information, were sitting online in yet another unencrypted, non-password-protected database, experts have warned.Found by security researcher Jeremiah Fowler, who discovered and reported his findings to vpnMentor, the database contained 3,637,107 records, and was 12.2TB in total size.It belongs to a company called Passion.io, a Delaware-based no-code app-building platform that allows creators, influencers, entrepreneurs, and coaches, to create websites without having any prior coding knowledge. They can also create, and sell, interactive courses.Save up to 68% for TechRadar readers TechRadar editors praise Aura's upfront pricing and simplicity. Aura also includes a password manager, VPN, and antivirus to make its security solution an even more compelling deal.View DealLocking the archive downFowler said that he analyzed a “limited sampling of the exposed documents” and saw internal files, images, and spreadsheet documents marked as “users” and “invoices”.These files contained people’s names, email addresses, postal addresses, and details about payments or payouts for users and app creators.This type of information is a treasure trove for cybercriminals. They can use it to create convincing phishing emails, tricking Passion’s users into making rash, dangerous decisions. Besides phishing, the data can be used in identity theft, wire fraud, and other types of scams.The researcher notified Passion.io about his findings, and got a response on the same day. The database was locked down, and the company confirmed it was working on putting guardrails in place so that mishaps like this one don’t repeat.“We’re treating this very seriously and moving fast,” the company told Fowler.So far, there is no evidence the information is circulating on the dark web - and it's also not known if Passion.io is the one managing the database, or if the job was outsourced to a third party.Without a thorough investigation, there is no way of knowing for how long the database remained open, or if any threat actors found it already.You might also likeEntire Brazilian population potentially put at risk by major data leakTake a look at our guide to the best authenticator appWe've rounded up the best password managers

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery – key information- Releasing on Netflix in December 2025- Unclear if it'll be released theatrically, too- First footage unveiled at Netflix Tudum 2025- Daniel Craig returning as Benoit Blanc- Ensemble cast of A-listers set to join Craig- Plot synopsis revealed- No word on whether Netflix will make a fourth Knives Out movieThe countdown is on to Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery's release. The forthcoming mystery-thriller is due out on Netflix on December 12, 2025, so it's high time that you learned everything we know about it so far.Below, I've rounded up the biggest and latest information on the third film in writer/director Rian Johnson's popular whodunit movie series. Indeed, you'll find out more about its cast, story, and the franchise's future from this point on.Bear in mind that potential spoilers follow for Knives Out 3, so proceed at your own risk.Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery release dateA post shared by Netflix US (@netflix)A photo posted by on Announced at Netflix Tudum 2025, Knives Out 3 will make its global debut on the world's best streaming service on December 12, 2025.Good though it was to get confirmation about the movie's launch date, Netflix detectives solved the mystery of Wake Up, Dead Man's release date in the days leading up to this official announcement via a couple of teasers that appeared on Knives Out's various social media channels.Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery trailer: is there one?Sort of. Netflix hasn't released an official trailer Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery yet, but a minute's worth of official footage was released as part of a date announcement teaser during Netflix Tudum 2025, which you can watch above.There's not too much we can glean about its plot really, but the teaser confirms who'll be joining Daniel Craig on Knives Out 3's stacked cast roster. Speaking of which...Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery castDaniel Craig will play Benoit Blanc for the third time in Wake Up, Dead Man (Image credit: https://x.com/rianjohnson)Here's the confirmed cast for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery so far:Daniel Craig as Benoit BlancJosh O'Connor as Reverend Jud DuplenticyGlenn Close as Martha DelacroixJosh Brolin as Monsignor Jefferson WicksMila Kunis as Geraldine ScottJeremy Renner as Doctor Nat SharpKerry Washington as Vera DravenAndrew Scott as Lee RossCailee Spaeny as Simone VivaneDaryl McCormack as Cy DravenThomas Haden Church as Samson HoltUnsurprisingly, Craig is back as the louche Blanc. Following his exploits as infamous British spy James Bond, Craig appears to be getting a kick out of being the Knives Out film series' recurring protagonists. He's had a little makeover for this new outing, too with everyone's favorite bumbling detective sporting longer hair and a little stubble, albeit with a typically dandy suit and hat.Just like the previous two Knives Out films, Blanc is joined by an eclectic group of characters portrayed by numerous talented actors.Posted by KnivesOutOfficial on The first of those cast additions came last May, with Spaeny and O'Connor confirmed to have signed up. Less than 24 hours later, Knives Out 3 was confirmed to be a mini Bond reunion after Scott was revealed as part of the cast. He starred opposite Craig in Spectre (find out where it sits in our how to watch best Daniel Craig Bond movies ranked article while you're here).Renner, Kunis, Close, and Washington were added to Wake Up Dead Man's roster a day after Scott was said to have signed on. The final three additions – Josh Brolin, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church – were revealed by the trades before May 2024 ended.As for the roles they'll occupy, so far we know that O'Connor and Brolin will play members of the clergy, while Kunis' Scott is a police constable and Renner is a medical professional. The identities of their characters aside, though, everyone else's roles remain a *ahem* mystery.Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery story synopsis and speculationA post shared by Netflix US (@netflix)A photo posted by on Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery's story brief hasn't been unveiled yet. Indeed, the only thing we really know is that, per Netflix, it'll be "Benoit Blanc's most dangerous case yet".That logline is all we've had to gone for a year, too. Sure, Knives Out 3's official title might have revealed in May 2024, but we've all been playing amateur detectives since then to try to work out what its story may entail. Okay, it'll involve Blanc investigating another mysterious murder, but all other story details are locked up in a sarcophagus somewhere.We don't expect the franchise's third installment to be wholly different to what's comes before, either. What ties the previous movies together – aside from the, you know, murders – are themes of class war, inequality, fame and skewering of the one percenters. So, it’s likely these issues will also continue to have a light shone on them in Johnson’s own, unique way.That said, we might be in for something completely different this time around – Johnson telling Variety in January 2023: "[That’s] what’s got me creatively jazzed. I don’t have to replicate the last movie at all. The goal is to strike out in a completely new direction tonally and thematically."A post shared by Wake Up Dead Man (@knivesout)A photo posted by on There are some fascinating fan theories circulating online that Johnson planted a little Easter egg in Glass Onion, aka the second Knives Out flick and one of the best Netflix movies, that teases what this story could be about, too.Early on when all the characters meet at the dock of Miles Bron’s Greek island, the assembled guests are surprised to see Blanc. Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn) soon asks: "Did you solve the murder of – oh, whatshername – the ballet dancer thing, that's you?", which some viewers suspect is a hint at the forthcoming movie's plot.Given Knives Out 3's actual title, it's highly unlikely that this Glass Onion reference has anything to do with Wake Up Dead Man. Still, it's something worth pondering.Will there be a fourth Knives Out movie?"Right now, talk of a fourth Knives Out movie makes no goddamn sense! Compels me, though..." (Image credit: Lionsgate)There's no official word on whether a fourth film will be made. If one is, it's unclear it'll launch on Netflix, too, with the streaming giant only signing a deal with Johnson to make two more Knives Out movies at a cot of $400 million in March 2021 (per Deadline).However, Johnson and Craig have said they want to continue making more as long as they can. Speaking with Variety in 2022, Craig said: "If he [Johnson] keeps writing them, I’ll keep doing them. That’s what makes it easy – he’s such a wonderful writer that it’s there on the page for me to do."However, the duo are conscious of the 'quality versus quantity' debate. Speaking with Deadline in November 2022 about a possible fourth movie in the Knives Out franchise, Craig said: "If there ever came a point where either Rian and I thought we were just churning them out, I think we would back away. I mean, I just don’t think that’s what either of us want to do in life. Unless people are getting genuine fun out of them, forget it."Meanwhile, in January 2023, Johnson spoke to Netflix Tudum about the possibilities of, as requested by fans, a Knives Out/The Muppets crossover."I think those two things have very different rules," he disappointingly replied. "You can either have a Benoit Blanc mystery that has Muppets in it, but they’ll feel out of place. Or, you can have a Muppet movie that Benoit Blanc is in, but it’ll feel like a Muppet movie. I wouldn’t want to compromise either of them and I feel like, in order to make it well and make it work, you’d have to make a choice and compromise one or the other. If I ever make a Muppet movie, I just want to make a great Muppet movie."For more Netflix coverage, read our guides on Stranger Things season 5, Bridgerton season 4, One Piece season 2, and Wednesday season 2.Benoit Blanc returns in his most dangerous case yet. pic.twitter.com/Y3IFryNNi4May 24, 2024

Silent Hill f officially launches on September 25 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PCKonami released a new PS5 gameplay trailer showcasing combat and a variety of monstersPre-orders are now openSilent Hill f, the next mainline game in Konami's horror series, officially launches on September 25 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.The announcement comes from PlayStation's June State of Play showcase, where Konami shared a chilling story trailer featuring PS5 gameplay and a first look at third-person combat.Silent Hill f follows Shimizu Hinako, a high school student struggling under society's pressure of expectations, as she navigates her hometown of Ebisugaoka, which has become shrouded in fog and is undergoing a disturbing transformation."Players will have to unravel mysteries, battle otherworldly threats, and come face-to-face with choices that will determine Hinako’s fate," Konami said.The trailer, which you can watch below, shows the beginning of the transformation as Shimizu runs through her town, encountering various disturbing monsters, while also using a series of melee weapons to fend them off.(Image credit: Konami)Konami has previously stated that Silent Hill f is a standalone title in the Silent Hill timeline, suggesting it won't have any connection to any previous games in the series, and that newcomers will need no prior knowledge of the franchise to experience the horror game.Silent Hill f will receive various editions at launch, including a physical Day One Edition, Digital Standard, and Digital Deluxe Editions.The Digital Standard and Deluxe Editions of Silent Hill f will feature digital bonuses including outfits, soundtrack samples, artbook, and 48 hours of early access.Both the Digital Standard Edition and physical Day One edition are now available to pre-order and include the early purchase bonus items, while the Digital Deluxe Edition comes as a digital download.Physical pre-orders for the Day One Edition for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S at select retailers will also offer a steelbook.You might also like...Best PS5 games 2025 - top PlayStation 5 titles to play right nowThe first trailer for 007 First Light reveals a young James Bond and it's coming to PC and console in 2026, including Nintendo Switch 2Nintendo Switch 2 launch day live: all the latest news and updates as the console starts arriving with fans and at retailers

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, June 5 (game #725).Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Connections today (game #726) - today's words(Image credit: New York Times)Today's NYT Connections words are…CONVENTIONREPORTERSHADOWBOXERCRIMINALSTANDARDNEWSHOUNDPHOTOGRAPHERROUTINEEDITORREGULARTRENDSETTERDRAWBACKSWINDLESNICKERDOODLECOLUMNISTCOMMONNYT Connections today (game #726) - hint #1 - group hintsWhat are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: New York Times employeesGREEN: Nothing unusualBLUE: There’s pros and there’s…?PURPLE: CaninesNeed more clues?We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…NYT Connections today (game #726) - hint #2 - group answersWhat are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: NEWSPAPER JOBS GREEN: EVERYDAY BLUE: WHAT "CON" MIGHT MEAN PURPLE: ENDING WITH KINDS OF DOGSRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Connections today (game #726) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Connections, game #726, are…YELLOW: NEWSPAPER JOBS COLUMNIST, EDITOR, PHOTOGRAPHER, REPORTERGREEN: EVERYDAY COMMON, REGULAR, ROUTINE, STANDARDBLUE: WHAT "CON" MIGHT MEAN CONVENTION, CRIMINAL, DRAWBACK, SWINDLEPURPLE: ENDING WITH KINDS OF DOGS NEWSHOUND, SHADOWBOXER, SNICKERDOODLE, TRENDSETTERMy rating: EasyMy score: 1 mistakeMy only mistake today was including NEWSHOUND rather than PHOTOGRAPHER among the list of NEWSPAPER JOBS. I can see now that it was a trap, but my thinking was that the other possibilities were all about words rather than images. Making this mistake did, however, throw open the ENDING WITH KINDS OF DOGS group as I spotted setter (TRENDSETTER) and boxer (SHADDOWBOXER) along with hound.From here the green EVERYDAY group was easy to pull together – you could almost say it was ROUTINE, which was fortunate as the blue group was today’s most tricky, although obvious in the aftermath of a completed game.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, June 5, game #725)YELLOW: PRECIPICE BRINK, CUSP, EVE, VERGEGREEN: PLUMBING EQUIPMENT PIPE, PLUNGER, SNAKE, WRENCHBLUE: WAYS TO MODIFY A CAR'S EXTERIOR BUMPER, GRILLE, RIM, SPOILERPURPLE: BEST FEMALE ROCK PERFORMANCE GRAMMY WINNERS APPLE, CROW, SUMMER, TURNERWhat is NYT Connections?NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, June 5 (game #1228).Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.Quordle today (game #1229) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1229) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.Quordle today (game #1229) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.Quordle today (game #1229) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:Quordle today (game #1229) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• E• K• V• SRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.Quordle today (game #1229) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1229, are…ELUDEKHAKIVISTASMOKYWhen I have four letters in a word and I’m searching for the fifth I try to put together common letter combinations with what I have. It doesn’t always pay off, but today i had I-S-T-A and L-U-D-E locked in, which made finding VISTA and ELUDE easier.Meanwhile, for KHAKI it was just trying to think of words that included a K and a H – a very small gang with the letters I had available.How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Daily Sequence today (game #1229) - the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1229, are…SCIONMISSYARISECUMINQuordle answers: The past 20Quordle #1228, Thursday, 5 June: CHIDE, RABBI, GUSTY, LANCEQuordle #1227, Wednesday, 4 June: BANAL, STOUT, SEDAN, HIPPOQuordle #1226, Tuesday, 3 June: FUGUE, SYRUP, FLACK, WORSTQuordle #1225, Monday, 2 June: THINK, BELLE, CRONE, BOULEQuordle #1224, Sunday, 1 June: POINT, MERIT, WHOOP, APHIDQuordle #1223, Saturday, 31 May: CRUMB, ELFIN, DRIER, QUITEQuordle #1222, Friday, 30 May: RAJAH, CAUSE, BLACK, ETUDEQuordle #1221, Thursday, 29 May: CRIER, DRAPE, STRUT, NEIGHQuordle #1220, Wednesday, 28 May: HELLO, BEADY, VIGIL, PURERQuordle #1219, Tuesday, 27 May: TWEET, RANGE, POPPY, RADARQuordle #1218, Monday, 26 May: BLEAT, HOWDY, ASIDE, SCOOPQuordle #1217, Sunday, 25 May: OCEAN, AMBER, PIPER, GLEANQuordle #1216, Saturday, 24 May: HUSKY, HEIST, FOGGY, POLARQuordle #1215, Friday, 23 May: SHIRE, GIANT, AWAIT, CAPERQuordle #1214, Thursday, 22 May: LOSE, GLOVE, STINT, EXCELQuordle #1213, Wednesday, 21 May: NOVEL, CHOSE, DIRTY, DONUTQuordle #1212, Tuesday, 20 May: DECOY, SHAKE, MAPLE, PURERQuordle #1211, Monday, 19 May: LINK, HANDY, DITCH, WAIVEQuordle #1210, Sunday, 18 May: QUACK, ROACH, PURGE, DOWNYQuordle #1209, Saturday, 17 May: STRIP, RANGE, UNITE, GEESE

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, June 5 (game #459).Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Strands today (game #460) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… String's attachedNYT Strands today (game #460) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.SOYATRAVELBACKWARTLOVETOYSNYT Strands today (game #460) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 9 lettersNYT Strands today (game #460) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?First side: bottom, 3rd columnLast side: top, 3rd columnRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Strands today (game #460) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #460, are…SEASICKSLEEPERPINWHEELELEVATORBREAKAWAYSPANGRAM: YOYO TRICKMy rating: HardMy score: 2 hintsI really struggled today and had no idea what we were searching for, even after using two hints – SEASICK and SLEEPER seemed to suggest travel.My third correct word, PINWHEEL, confused me even more; was it referring to the small wheels of a wheelie suitcase?ELEVATOR and BREAKAWAY didn’t help much either, both still hinting at some vaguely travel-related group of words.It wasn’t until the very end when I got the spangram that I finally understood what “strings attached meant”. Bravo Strands, bravo!How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, June 5, game #459)COCKLESHELLSPRETTYMAIDSSILVERBELLSCONTRARYSPANGRAM: GARDENWhat is NYT Strands?Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here, and that means a whole lot more people will eventually need a new microSD card. While the new console comes with 256GB of built-in storage — eight times more than the original Switch and four times more than the Switch OLED — its improved performance means that some games will chew up a ton of that space. Cyberpunk 2077 is a 59GB download, for example, while Split Fiction checks in at 69GB. Other titles aren’t nearly as big (particularly those made by Nintendo itself), but chances are you’ll want to add more room at some point down the road.

Whenever that is, you’ll need a microSD Express card. This is not the same as the old reliable microSD cards you may have bought for the first Switch or other gaming handhelds — they’re newer, faster and significantly more expensive. But if you want more space, they’re your only choice. If you’re looking to grab one today, we’ve laid out the best microSD cards for the Switch 2 and broken down what you should know before you buy.

The best microSD cards for the Switch 2 (and why you might want to wait to buy)

The SanDisk microSD Express Card and Lexar Play Pro.Jeff Dunn for Engadget

The Switch 2 is the first mainstream device to require microSD Express for storage expansion, so there aren’t many options available to buy just yet. To make things easy, here’s a list of every microSD Express card we’ve seen at retailers at the time of writing:

128GB

SanDisk microSD Express Card ($56 MSRP)

PNY microSD Express Card ($47 MSRP)

256GB

Samsung microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60 MSRP)

SanDisk microSD Express Card ($75 MSRP)

Lexar Play Pro ($50 MSRP)

PNY microSD Express Card ($59 MSRP)

GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60 MSRP)

Onn microSD Express Card ($36 MSRP)

512GB

Lexar Play Pro ($100 MSRP)

GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($100 MSRP)

Onn microSD Express Card ($66 MSRP)

1TB

Lexar Play Pro ($200 MSRP)

GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($190 MSRP)

Remember: You’re looking for microSD Express, not “Extreme,” like the branding SanDisk uses for some of its conventional microSD cards. A microSD Express card will have a big “EX” logo printed on it — if you see that, you should be good to go.

Nintendo says the Switch 2 technically supports cards with a capacity up to 2TB, but we haven’t seen any microSD Express model go beyond 1TB just yet. It’s also worth noting that GameStop and Onn (Walmart’s in-house electronics brand) aren’t manufacturers, so it’s unclear who exactly is making their cards.

Stock for these cards remains spotty in general, but a handful from Samsung, PNY, SanDisk and GameStop do appear to be available as of our latest update. (Just be warned that you may have to deal with extended ship times in some cases.) SanDisk’s microSD Express Card has also increased in price since it first went up for sale in February; originally, it cost $45 for 128GB and $60 for 256GB. Either way, all of these cards are far pricier than traditional microSD options. The Samsung Pro Plus, for example, costs $17 for 128GB, $25 for 256GB, $43 for 512GB and $90 for 1TB as of this writing.

All microSD Express cards will have this "EX" logo printed on them.Nintendo/Engadget

We’ve already tested SanDisk’s Express card and the Lexar Play Pro for our broader guide to the best microSD cards. Between the two, SanDisk’s card has much faster sequential read speeds — up to 899 MB/s vs. 712 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark, to name one benchmark — which theoretically makes it better equipped to reduce load times.

The Play Pro is quicker for sequential writes (up to 720 MB/s vs. 650 MB/s), available in more sizes and should be cheaper at 256GB whenever it’s in stock. (SanDisk says the 128GB version of its card has slower sequential writes than the 256GB model, too.) Random performance is about equal, so the two should be similarly adept at keeping large games like Mario Kart World running smoothly.

We mainly tested those cards on a Windows PC and Mac, though. How they perform on the actual Switch 2 remains to be seen. We’ll test as many options as we can once we have our hands on the console — Nintendo didn’t send out early review units to press, so we’ll need a few more days to finish testing on our own retail model.

For now, though, we can’t say if it’ll render all microSD Express cards to similar speeds. That was largely the case with the first Switch: Once a (regular) microSD card hit a certain threshold of performance, there wasn’t that much practical difference between it and other alternatives. The Switch 2 is working with a different standard, but if something similar were to happen again, the “best” microSD Express card would simply be the most affordable one from a reputable brand in the capacity you want.

That brings us to our main piece of advice: If you can hold off on buying one of these things early on, that’s probably a good idea. It’s not just about the lack of testing — truthfully, we’d be surprised if any of the cards above were truly “bad.” It comes down to value: Barring more tariff shenanigans, all of these cards are as expensive today as they’re ever likely to get. The Switch 2 is already popular and will continue to be, thus more microSD Express cards will need to be made and prices will (eventually) come down. Try to use all 256 of the gigabytes baked into the Switch 2 first, even if it means having to delete a game or two. But if you’re absolutely sure you want more space right away, the cards above should be good enough.

What are microSD Express cards?

A microSD Express card like the one on the right has a second row of pins on the back.Jeff Dunn for Engadget

Most microSD cards are based on a standard called Ultra High Speed (UHS), of which there are three versions: UHS-I, UHS-II and UHS-III. The vast majority of cards you may have bought in the past utilize UHS-I. These have one row of pins in the back and a theoretical maximum data transfer speed of 104 megabytes per second (MB/s). (Though many cards are able to surpass that limit with proprietary tech and card readers.) The original Switch has a UHS-I microSD slot, as do most other gaming handhelds like Valve’s Steam Deck.

UHS-II cards add a second row of pins and can reach up to 312 MB/s. These are pricier and much less common than cards based on UHS-I, but they’re supported by some cameras and higher-power handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally X. UHS-III, meanwhile, is twice as fast as UHS-II in theory (624 MB/s), but no microSD cards have actually used it.

UHS-I cards have held on over the years because they’re cheap, widely supported and fast enough for the things most people need them to do: record 4K video, stash photos and so on. But with the Switch 2, Nintendo needs more. The new console is dramatically more powerful, which allows it to run demanding games that may have originally been built for stronger hardware like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or gaming PCs. The device also uses UFS 3.1 storage internally, which is much speedier than the eMMC storage used by the original Switch. (A custom file decompression engine should help improve load times as well.) So if the Switch 2 is going to accept microSD cards, it needs ones that won’t bring a serious drop-off in performance and can hold up with modern games.

The Nintendo Switch 2.Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Hence, SD Express. This standard has technically been around since 2018 but mostly went nowhere until the Switch 2 came along. It also uses a second row of pins, but it lets microSD cards take advantage of the PCI Express (PCIe)/NVMe interface, which is the same underlying tech used by modern SSDs. As a result, it can produce considerably faster read and write speeds, with a current theoretical maximum of 985 MB/s.

As noted above, real-world performance won’t be quite that fast. Even if it was, the best microSD Express cards would still be much slower than the NVMe SSDs used by the PS5 and Xbox. (Sony recommends SSDs with sequential read speeds of at least 5,500 MB/s.) And they’ll fall well below their peak speeds under sustained loads: SanDisk, for instance, says sustained write speeds for its 128GB Express card can drop as low as 100 MB/s.

But they’re still a marked improvement over old UHS-I cards, and in theory, they should be quicker than some older SATA-based SSDs when it comes loading game levels, asset streaming, retrieving saves or copying games to external storage. Whereas SanDisk’s microSD Express card can produce sequential read speeds around 900 MB/s, Lexar’s Professional Silver Plus — the top UHS-I pick in our general microSD card guide — topped out just over 200 MB/s, and that’s with a proprietary reader. (On the first Switch, it’d be closer to 100 MB/s.) Sequential writes and random speeds were three to four times better as well, and sometimes even more depending on the benchmark we used.

It remains to be seen how well these Express cards will hold up with extended use, and there’s no way to know exactly when their sky-high prices will drop. Non-Switch 2 devices that support microSD Express are still exceedingly rare, and the standard itself isn’t backwards compatible with UHS-II, so you’ll be limited to UHS-I speeds if you want to use your card with another device (unless you buy a pricey external reader). Still, while the increased costs and limited selection are annoying, the tech itself seems worthy of a next-gen Switch.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/best-microsd-cards-for-nintendo-switch-2-160052947.html?src=rss

As the various deadlines for net-zero approach, sustainability initiatives are climbing the boardroom agenda. In fact, two-thirds of businesses are expected to boost sustainability spending in 2025.Cutting emissions will require a concerted effort from every department, and IT is an increasingly important voice in this conversation. Data storage, in particular, is emerging as a central element of an organization's efforts to decrease their carbon footprint. This is because a huge amount of data currently stored by UK businesses counts as “single-use data”. These are files, email conversations and other data that is generated but never used again – despite being stored where it continues to use energy and budget.Recent NetApp research found that the overwhelming majority of IT leaders (92%) are aware of the environmental and financial impact of single-use data. The challenge is that AI – famously data and energy hungry – is a competitive advantage that businesses are unwilling to leave on the table.As a result, organizations up and down the nation are facing a conundrum between the commercial and productivity benefits of AI, and staying on track with their sustainability progress to net-zero. So, how can businesses solve this challenge?The invisible problem of dataWhen it comes to pollution, the environmental impact is often tangible and plain to see. Think of overflowing landfills and dirty rivers. But when the “landfill” resides in cyberspace, it’s mostly invisible and therefore easy to miss.Single-use data might seem harmless, but the carbon footprint of unused data is a challenge that must be addressed; especially in our burgeoning AI age when 38% of data stored in the UK never gets accessed again after creation. This remains a substantial challenge for several reasons.Firstly, around a third of IT leaders struggle to identify which data is single-use and which may be useful for future projects or training AI. On top of this, many are also feeling overwhelmed by the amount of accumulated data already, as sifting through stored archives requires more resource and budget than IT departments have available.But challenging as this exercise may be, it is an important one. Not only because it will help cut emissions and save costs by reducing how much data businesses store, but an audit like this can also be massively beneficial in helping organizations get their house in order for AI.Managing AI’s data appetiteIt was, and still is, inevitable that AI will prompt an exponential rise in the data generated and stored. It is estimated that businesses will see their data estates grow by an average of 41% percent due to AI projects. For businesses that are already storing decades of data, this growth will be huge.It’s easy to imagine a scenario of businesses hoarding data and plugging it all into AI tools as part of their implementation projects. Single-use data could become rife, costing businesses thousands as well as resulting in needless carbon emissions. Data management will be instrumental in avoiding this scenario. After all, the quality of the data used for AI is perhaps the most important factor in determining the success of AI initiatives.Businesses must therefore ensure that their data is high quality, relevant, and useful before they begin their AI journey. Proper data infrastructure not only sets up AI projects for success, but it can help businesses stay on top of their emissions by enabling a strategic, deliberate and carefully considered approach to data growth.Making storage more sustainable for AIThere are several approaches businesses can take to make their data storage more sustainable, even as AI implementation accelerates. Data lifecycle management policies are a fantastic place to start, which can include automated tiering and archiving of less frequently accessed datasets to more energy-efficient storage solutions.This significantly reduces energy consumption. Elsewhere, data compression algorithms and deduplication efforts can help too. By reducing the physical storage footprint, businesses can reduce emissions by lowering the associated energy demands for both storage and retrieval.Companies can reduce emissions by reforming their physical infrastructure too. For example, they can opt for energy-efficient data centers, choosing those with the latest cooling technologies that minimize power consumption and use renewable energy sources. Optimizing data center locations to take advantage of cooler climates or readily available green energy can also significantly reduce the carbon footprint.Finally, businesses should not overlook the importance of responsible hardware lifecycle management. The reuse, refurbishment, and proper recycling of storage components is crucial to minimize electronic waste, further contributing to sustainability objectives.Finding balance in a complex landscapeUltimately, the convergence of net-zero targets and the promise of AI puts businesses at a critical juncture. The unchecked accumulation of data for AI’s sake risks undermining hard-won sustainability progress.To navigate this challenge successfully, UK businesses need to find their own balance between innovation and responsibility. This begins with a commitment to data hygiene – regularly reviewing what is stored and why it is being kept – all while exploring various infrastructure options that align with sustainable practices.Different organizations will require different approaches depending on their sector, size, and AI goals. What is clear is that the foundation upon which AI initiatives are built must incorporate energy efficiency and sustainability from the beginning. By taking a thoughtful, measured approach, businesses can harness the transformative power of AI while contributing towards a sustainable digital future.We've featured the best green web hosting.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. 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