Tech Digest

AI boom triggers slump in smartphone sales as component costs soar

Chris Price — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:01:57 +0000

Global smartphone sales have suffered their sharpest decline in over a decade, as a result of surging hardware costs driven by the unprecedented artificial intelligence boom.

Data from International Data Corporation (IDC) reveals that worldwide smartphone shipments plummeted by 22% in the third quarter, dropping to 255 million phones – the worst performance recorded since 2013.

The severe contraction is driven by skyrocketing component costs, particularly memory chips. Massive demand from AI data centres training and running complex models has caused memory prices to surge by as much as 350% this year.

Because memory accounts for up to half of a smartphone’s manufacturing cost, major chip suppliers have heavily prioritised profitable AI infrastructure components over consumer electronics.

The downturn is reflected across the globe. In China, smartphone shipments dropped by 15.4% year-on-year to 57.9 million units in the third quarter, marking a sixth consecutive quarter of contraction.

Amid weak consumer spending and rising retail price tags, Huawei stood out as the only major vendor to post double-digit growth in China, capturing a 21% market share with 12.2 million units shipped. Meanwhile, rival brands including Apple, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo experienced shipment declines.

As higher costs reach shop shelves globally, analysts note that consumers are increasingly holding onto their existing devices longer, lengthening replacement cycles. With memory prices continuing to climb, IDC warns that the widespread sales slump is likely to persist well into next year.

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McAfee uncovers massive fake app campaign on Google Play store

Chris Price — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 15:41:17 +0000

Researchers at McAfee Labs have uncovered a large-scale fraudulent app campaign operating through the official Google Play Store, identifying more than 1,900 fake versions of popular applications across 500,000 devices in over 190 countries prior to their removal by Google.

The UK emerged as one of the most heavily targeted markets globally, recording 11,862 detections across 10,582 protected devices and making it the eighth most affected country worldwide. British detections accounted for nearly 2% of total global activity, with security experts identifying 970 fake applications specifically aimed at consumers in the UK.

Scammers strategically tailored their offerings to align with what UK users search for most frequently. Streaming, TV and sports apps accounted for 17% of local detections, followed by video and photo editors at 13% and gaming applications at 11%.

The fraudulent software impersonated well-known services and brands, including Netflix, PayPal, Clash of Clans, Roblox, Xbox Game Pass, CapCut, and Apple tools – utilising familiar logos to trick unsuspecting users.

Rather than delivering the promised functionalities, the malicious apps redirected users into aggressive advertising funnels and fraudulent subscription schemes charging up to $49.99 per month.

The findings illustrate a growing trend in cybercrime where threat actors exploit consumer trust in established brands and official app marketplaces instead of relying on complex technical exploits.

How to protect yourself

Install financial apps only from your bank’s own website or a verified link. If you are searching for an app store for a payment brand, you are in the exact position this campaign targets.
Be suspicious of “guide,” “tutorial,” “helper” and “tips” apps for products you already use.
Legitimate services do not need a third party to explain them.
Check the developer’s name, not just the app name and icon. A real brand’s app is published by that brand.
If a product doesn’t exist on your platform, no app can provide it. There is no Apple Pay, Siri, or iMessage for Android.
Ignore install counts as a trust signal. Several of these apps had tens of thousands of downloads.
Run mobile security software.

McAfee

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Bumble swipes right on $1.3 billion deal, Anthropic drums up support for stock market listing

Chris Price — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:22:06 +0000

The dating app Bumble recently launched Private Detector, an AI-powered feature that automatically detects and blurs nudity in images sent within chat

Bumble is set to go private in a $1.3 billion deal with Ithaca Holdings after struggling for years to revive growth, as a prolonged decline in users and shifting Gen Z dating habits batter the online dating industry. Shares ‌of the company soared 56% to $5.95 in early trading on Tuesday, after surging 50% on Monday following media reports on the Ithaca deal. Bumble and larger rival Match, which owns Tinder and Hinge, have been battling declining user engagement, as younger users increasingly grow tired of swiping endlessly on apps and seek more organic ways to build connections. Reuters

Smartphone sales have fallen to their lowest level for more than a decade as the AI boom sends prices to record highs and pushes the industry into crisis. Analysts at International Data Corporation (IDC) said sales had dropped by 22pc in the three months to September, the biggest ever decline. Manufacturers sold 255 million phones – the worst quarter since 2013. Samsung and Apple, the two biggest manufacturers, suffered sales declines of 5.8pc and 4pc respectively, while producers whose cheaper devices are popular in developing countries suffered much steeper sales drops. Telegraph

Artificial intelligence (AI) giant Anthropic has been drumming up support for its expected stock market listing as it seeks to reassure investors of its profit-making potential. Anthropic revenue surged by 45% to $16.8bn (£12.7bn) in the three months to the end of September, the BBC understands. In common with other AI firms, it is seeking to position itself as being able to generate huge profits despite spending billions on tech. It also emphasised safety at its event after warnings by current and former researchers of serious and even existential risks to humanity posed by AI. Anthropic’s revenue has risen in successive quarters this year, from $4.7bn in the first three months to $11.6bn the following period. BBC

An Israeli advertising agency has been serving millions of online adverts that allow “zero-click” spyware to be used against targets, researchers at a Canadian university have said. Citizen Lab, a digital investigations research unit at the University of Toronto, said it believed dozens of devices at the Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera had been compromised by spyware delivered through ads run by Discover-Tech, which describes itself as a specialised digital advertising agency. The Guardian

A YouTuber who’s gained a following for trolling AI interview bots brought his own computing companion to an interview with him. As chaos ensued, viewers learned that having an AI as your interview agent isn’t a good idea. Graham Dot Zip is a comedian whose YouTube channel has blown up recently thanks to videos of him demonstrating the absurdity of AI bots used to conduct early-stage interviews with job candidates. AI interviewers have become quite the phenomenon in recent months, and not one that job seekers are fond of, with plenty of videos and social media posts documenting hate for them. The Register

U.K. culture minister Lisa Nandy has signalled she is “minded to intervene” in Sky’s proposed $2 billion takeover of ITV, citing concerns about maintaining media plurality, particularly with regard to news. Nandy confirmed in a statement she may intervene if she has “reasonable grounds to suspect” that public interest considerations are at play. These include the “need for free expression of opinion in news media,” “a sufficient plurality of views in news media” and “a sufficient plurality of persons with control of the media enterprises” serving a variety of areas around the U.K. (in effect, local news). Variety

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Stat Sniper expands coverage to 16 competitions

Tech Digest Correspondent — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:46:25 +0000

Stat Sniper announced a major expansion on September 1, 2026, bringing its sports betting analytics service to 16 leagues and competitions. The update adds more American football coverage, Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1, along with golf’s PGA Tour and Formula 1. It also strengthens existing coverage of the NFL and Premier League through additional prop and price comparisons. The announcement follows July’s public launch, widening the autumn schedule for its mobile audience.

The expansion gives bettors more material to research, not a new place to wager. Stat Sniper compares statistics and prices, while a separate sportsbook app, obtained through the 1xbet apk download page on Android, handles bets. The distinction matters as the range of covered competitions grows.

Europe’s football leagues get equal treatment

La Liga, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 have joined the Premier League, Serie A and Major League Soccer in Stat Sniper’s football coverage. The company says all six competitions use the same match-data structure, avoiding a basic overview for one league and detailed reports for another.

According to the announcement, each covered football match can include 56 player statistics and 38 team statistics. Expected goals, expected assists, key passes, tackles and goalkeeper figures sit alongside injuries, starting lineups, formations and referee assignments. This allows a bettor to investigate a shots-on-target market using player involvement and expected minutes rather than relying on recent goals alone.

The distinction matters particularly across leagues. Comparing two strikers by raw shots can mislead if their minutes, roles or opponents differ substantially. Consistent data fields help, although identical presentation does not make different competitions equally predictable.

More American football fixtures enter the picture

The expansion also brings American football competitions beyond the NFL into the app’s schedule. Stat Sniper lists 137 participating teams, standings and weekly fixtures, with automated game predictions across the schedule. The company introduced eleven player-prop markets for those games, including passing yards, rushing touchdowns, receptions and combined tackles and assists.

Here is how the September additions fit together:

Coverage	What changed
Additional US football	Predictions and eleven prop markets
La Liga	Detailed player and team statistics
Bundesliga	Detailed player and team statistics
Ligue 1	Detailed player and team statistics
PGA Tour	Added golf coverage
Formula 1	Added motorsport coverage

These additions do not mean every market will be available for every event. Football schedules, starting lineups and individual player lines vary, while golf and motorsport require very different statistical inputs.

More prices appear beside the predictions

Existing NFL and Premier League pages also received changes. Stat Sniper now compares prices from up to nine sportsbooks for individual games instead of presenting only a single consensus line. Alternate player-prop lines give users more than the main threshold, while NFL touchdown-scorer coverage includes anytime and first-touchdown markets.

For example, a rushing-yards prop at 65.5 is a different proposition from one at 75.5, even if both concern the same player. Comparing thresholds alongside decimal odds is more informative than comparing price alone. The company also offers automated forecasts and daily selections, but it has not supplied independent evidence that these consistently outperform market prices.

What the mobile update changes day to day

Stat Sniper remains accessible on iOS, Android and the web. Its conversational analyst, Chad, answers questions about matchups and player form, while the revised home screen gathers fixtures, short analysis and community discussions. The basic app requires no sportsbook account, although app-store listings show in-app purchases.

Before relying on any displayed projection, users should check three details:

whether injury and lineup information is current;
whether the quoted odds match the selected market and threshold;
whether a prediction is supported by enough comparable games.

A wider menu of betting data can improve research without improving the accuracy of every forecast. Keeping a fixed amount for a session also makes it easier to evaluate new markets without increasing spending simply because more selections appear.

Expansion is measurable; performance still needs proof

The September release establishes the new league count and describes specific statistics and market tools. What it cannot establish is a lasting advantage for users who follow the app’s predictions. That requires independently checked results across different sports and a meaningful sample of bets.

Stat Sniper’s latest move is therefore clearest as a coverage story: more competitions, deeper player-prop research and broader odds comparisons in one mobile service. Whether that produces better decisions will depend on the quality and timing of the underlying data, not the headline number of leagues.

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Recruitment scams hit Top 10 in latest Virgin Media O2 poll

Chris Price — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 22:59:58 +0000

Virgin Media O2 has issued a warning after its quarterly Scam Index revealed that job and employment scams have climbed into the UK’s top 10 most commonly reported fraud types, rising from 11th to 9th place.

The increase coincides with recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures showing that nearly one million young people aged 16–24 are not in education, employment, or training.

According to the data, nearly one in three (29%) young adults aged 18–24 have fallen victim to recruitment scams, representing the highest proportion of any age group.

Fraudsters are increasingly exploiting jobseekers with messages promising flexible hours and easy earnings, such as claiming recipients have been recommended for remote roles or offering hundreds of pounds for minimal work.

The consequences extend beyond false promises: 29% of victims were tricked into paying application, training, or equipment fees, while 32% were manipulated into downloading malicious apps or clicking dangerous links.

Says Murray Mackenzie, Director of Fraud Prevention at Virgin Media O2:

“Looking for work can be challenging, and an unexpected recruitment message can look like the break someone has been waiting for. Scammers exploit that hope, posing as familiar companies and recruiters to persuade people to respond.

“With recruitment scams entering our Scam Index top 10, we’re revealing some of the messages fraudsters use so people know what to look out for. They don’t always promise extraordinary salaries – some look like an ordinary introduction from a recruiter.

“Before responding to an unexpected job message, check the opportunity directly with the company using contact details you’ve found yourself.”

Beyond recruitment scams, the Scam Index shows suspicious calls overtaking emails as the most frequently reported approach, with calls rising from 55% to 61% and emails falling from 57% to 52%. Delivery scams remain the most commonly seen, rising from 63% to 68%. Fake account suspension messages moved into second place (58%), ahead of online shopping scams (55%).

Virgin Media O2’s quarterly Scam Index brings together consumer research and the operator’s internal data to track the threats facing the public, the impact on victims and the tactics criminals use.

To help the public identify malicious approaches, Virgin Media O2 recommends checking official company websites independently, questioning too-good-to-be-true promises, protecting personal information and forwarding suspicious text messages to the free 7726 reporting service.

UK’s Top 10 Most Commonly Seen Scams

Delivery scams (68%)
Account suspension scams (58%)
Online shopping scams (55%)
Government / HMRC scams (48%)
Tech support scams (47%)
Telecoms scams (47%)
Prize / lottery scams (44%)
Banking / financial scams (44%)
Job / employment scams (37%)
Investment / crypto scams (37%)

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OpenAI Engineer arrested after secret recording device found in San Francisco HQ

Chris Price — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 10:26:23 +0000

Prosecutors released CCTV images of the suspect allegedly checking on the secret recorder. Image: DOJ

US prosecutors have arrested and charged a 35-year-old Saudi national and OpenAI engineer for allegedly planting a covert recording device inside an executive conference room at the company’s San Francisco headquarters.

The suspect, Abdulrahman Alfozan, who had worked as an engineer at the artificial intelligence firm since July 2025, was federally charged with using or endeavouring to use an electronic, mechanical, or other device to intercept oral communications.

According to the Department of Justice and FBI complaints, Alfozan concealed a thumb-sized, encrypted recording device wrapped in toilet paper and plugged it into a USB port on the back of a television in an executive conference room on September 28. The meeting room regularly hosted discussions covering confidential information regarding the company’s advanced superintelligence technology. A security sweep discovered the device two days later.

Investigators allege that Alfozan stood to gain sensitive, proprietary insights into cutting-edge AI developments as companies compete fiercely for technological and strategic advantages.

Prior to planting the gadget, Alfozan and his spouse allegedly used internal AI chatbots and productivity tools to research building layouts, executive meeting room calendars, meeting capacities and technical instructions on how to “build a continuous audio recorder.”

OpenAI stated that it discovered the sophisticated device and successfully used its own internal AI models to trace its origin and identify that a specific employee had planted it. CCTV footage subsequently linked Alfozan to the room.

When security teams later searched an unattended bag belonging to Alfozan elsewhere in the building, they recovered a second, identical recording device, alongside his wallet and ID.

OpenAI confirmed that the employee was immediately terminated and that the matter was referred to the FBI. The company added that, at this time, there is no indication that source code, model weights, or customer data were inappropriately accessed or exfiltrated.

Alfozan appeared in federal court following his arrest. If found guilty of the charges, he faces up to five years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

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All you need to know about the new Apple TV 4K and Home Pod Mini 2

Chris Price — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 10:09:13 +0000

Apple has officially expanded its smart home ecosystem with the launch of the new fourth-generation Apple TV 4K and companion HomePod Mini 2 at its ‘Welcome Home’ event yesterday.

These new devices bring advanced processing, artificial intelligence integrations and upgraded audio capabilities to the living room, though they arrive alongside a notable jump in price. Here are five essential things you need to know about Apple’s latest smart home hardware releases.

Hands-free Siri AI and built-in microphones

The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K marks a significant hardware shift by integrating three onboard far-field microphones directly into the set-top box itself. This addition allows users to talk to the Siri AI voice assistant completely hands-free without needing to hold down a remote button. Alongside these built-in microphones, the device still ships with a familiar physical remote that features a traditional microphone button and expanded tracking capabilities.

Advanced processing power and connectivity

Powering the new streaming box is the new A19 chip – the same processor first debuted in the iPhone 17 lineup – delivering a 50% performance boost over the previous generation and double the graphics capability. Apple has maintained 128GB of internal storage and an Ethernet port while upgrading wireless capabilities to include Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The streaming box also continues to support smart home and media standards, including Thread, Matter, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision and HDR10 Plus.

Expanded multi-speaker surround sound

Audio enthusiasts gain a powerful new home theatre capability with the ability to pair the fourth-gen Apple TV 4K with up to four second-generation HomePods or the new HomePod Mini 2 units. This hardware allows users to easily configure an immersive multi-speaker surround-sound setup directly through their television and media hub, bridging the gap between Apple’s smart speakers and home entertainment systems.

The Siri Remote adds Find My support with Precision Finding and an option to play a sound, making it far easier to locate.

Find My Remote capabilities

Misplacing the television remote between couch cushions is a universal frustration that Apple has sought to solve directly. The bundled Siri Remote features built-in Find My functionality equipped with Precision Finding. This allows users to track down a lost remote using their iPhone with exact directional guidance, ensuring households spend less time searching and more time watching their favourite content.

Pricing and regional availability

The new hardware comes with a steep price tag, placing it well above traditional streaming alternatives. The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K is priced at $299 in the US and £299 in the UK. Meanwhile, the companion HomePod Mini 2 is available at $149 in the US and £149 in the UK. Preorders are open now, and both devices are scheduled to land in retail stores on November 13.

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Frugal living tips and where PennyGuard fits

Tech Digest Correspondent — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:00:53 +0000

Frugal living tips tend to be simple and familiar: plan meals, use what you have, mend before you replace. Most of them cost nothing to start, and many people have kept them for years without giving them a special name.

This guide goes through a short set of everyday habits, then looks at the quieter side of a frugal life: memberships, subscriptions and the benefits that may already come with a card. Toward the end, it turns to PennyGuard, an app that gathers recurring charges into a single list, as one option for anyone who wants help with that part.

Frugal living tips for the kitchen and home

The kitchen is often where small savings start. A few habits people come back to:

Plan meals around the pantry. A quick look at what is already on the shelf can shape the shopping list and cut down on food that goes unused.
Cook once, eat twice. A larger pot of soup or stew can turn into lunch the next day or a meal for the freezer.
Shop from a list. Writing it at home, before the trip, can make it easier to pass by things that were not planned.
Keep leftovers in sight. Clear containers and a “use first” shelf in the fridge make it easier to remember what is waiting.

Around the house, repair is the other steady habit. A loose hinge, a missing button or a sticky drawer is often a small job. Some communities hold repair events, and a handy friend or neighbor may be glad to show how a fix is done.

Borrowing, buying used and waiting a little

The library is one of the oldest frugal tools. Beyond books, many libraries lend magazines, movies and audiobooks, and some lend other items as well. It can be worth asking at the front desk what your branch offers.

Buying used suits things that are built to last. Furniture, garden tools, kitchenware and books often turn up at thrift shops, yard sales and community swaps in good shape.

A simple waiting habit can help too. Some people write down a purchase they want and look at the note again later. If the wish is still there, the item goes back on the list. If it has faded, the note goes in the recycling.

Small habits with heat, light and water

Household energy use is another place where small routines can add up over a year. None of these require new equipment:

Switch off lights and unplug chargers in rooms no one is using.
Run the dishwasher and washing machine with full loads.
Put a lid on the pot when boiling water or simmering a meal.
Close curtains on cold evenings and open them on sunny winter days.
Adjust the thermostat a little when the house is empty or everyone is asleep, as long as it stays comfortable and safe for you.

Comfort and health come first, especially in very hot or very cold weather. The aim is to trim waste, and a warm room on a cold night is not waste. Your utility company may also be able to explain any programs it offers to its customers.

For fun and company, many towns have free or low cost options: community concerts, walking groups, garden clubs and library talks. A potluck with friends can take the place of a restaurant meal.

Money saving tips for seniors in everyday life

Retirement can change the shape of a month. Some costs, such as commuting, may fade, while more time at home may bring new ones. A few habits that fit that shift:

Ask whether a senior rate is available for transit, museums, events or local classes. Some places offer one only when asked.
Group errands into a single outing to save fuel and time.
Share bulk purchases with a friend or neighbor so less goes to waste.
Grow a few herbs or vegetables if space and energy allow.
Read each bank and card statement once a month, even when the total looks familiar.

Larger questions, such as how to save money in retirement through savings plans, withdrawals or investments, depend on each person’s situation. A licensed professional can help with those.

Memberships, subscriptions and card benefits

Frugal habits at home can sit alongside charges that repeat in the background. Streaming services, apps, clubs and magazines often renew on their own, and a charge that once felt useful may stay on the statement after it has stopped being used.

A light review now and then can help. Some people list each recurring charge, note when they last used it, and then decide whether to keep it, keep an eye on it or stop it.

Card benefits are worth a look as well. Many cards come with perks, such as cash back on some purchases, and each perk has its own conditions. The card’s benefit guide or the issuer’s customer service line can explain what a card offers and how it works.

Habit	A simple way to start
Meal planning	Check the pantry before writing a list
Repairs	Try a small fix before replacing
Library	Ask what your branch lends
Buying used	Look secondhand for things that last
Recurring charges	List them and mark what you still use
Card benefits	Read the benefit guide for your card

Where PennyGuard fits

For the recurring side of a frugal routine, PennyGuard is one app some people may consider. It collects subscriptions, recurring bills and duplicate charges in a single list, drawing on your card or bank and, if you wish, your email.

On a given purchase, it can also show cashback or perks your card already offers, with the conditions attached. Any such perk is paid by your bank or card network on its own terms.

If you decide to stop a service and it is one PennyGuard supports, the app can prepare a cancellation request. Certain companies take a cancellation only from the customer directly; for those, the app lays out the steps for you. No request leaves until you confirm it, and its status stays visible in the app. Results are not guaranteed.

PennyGuard is not a bank and is not a source of financial advice. Your money stays put in your own account. The app does not keep it, transfer it or pay bills on your behalf, and every decision remains yours. The company’s own description is on the page about PennyGuard.

June looks over her recurring charges

June, 67, grows most of her own vegetables and mends her own clothes. Her habits at home are settled, and she wants a clearer view of what repeats on her card.

She connects the card she uses most and looks at the recurring list. Most entries are what she expected. One is a magazine she stopped reading over the winter, and she decides to stop it.

PennyGuard prepares a cancellation request for it, since it is a supported service. June reads the request, confirms it, and later checks its status in the app. Had the company accepted cancellations only from the customer, the app would have shown her the steps to follow herself.

Later, a purchase at the garden center shows a perk her card already offers, with its conditions. She reads them and makes a note to look at her next statement. The rest of the list stays as it is for now.

FAQ

Is there one most frugal way to live?

Probably not. Most frugal households combine a few steady habits, such as planning meals, repairing things, borrowing from the library and buying used. The right mix is usually the one a person can keep up without strain.

How do frugal people save money from day to day?

They tend to trim waste in small, repeated ways: cooking from a plan, mending, waiting before a purchase and reusing what they already own. Many also look over their statements on a regular basis so recurring charges stay in view.

What are some easy ways for older adults to spend less?

Asking about senior rates, grouping errands, sharing bulk buys and borrowing from the library are common places to begin. A monthly look at statements can also show memberships or services that are no longer used. Small, steady habits tend to last longer than big changes made all at once.

How can retirees cut monthly expenses?

A common starting point is whatever repeats each month: subscriptions, memberships and bills. Listing them and marking what is still in use can make the next step clearer, and each company can explain how to stop its service. PennyGuard is one app that can gather those charges into a single list, and a cancellation request from it goes out only after you confirm it.

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Hobbs and Whistles owner TFG London hit by cyber attack amid growing wave of retail breaches

Chris Price — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 15:43:03 +0000

The parent company of several high-end fashion brands, including Hobbs and Whistles has become the latest retail target of a cybersecurity incident affecting its UK operations.

TFG London, the UK arm of retail conglomerate The Foschini Group encompassing Phase Eight, Hobbs, and Whistles, stated that it identified an incident on Sunday affecting some of its IT systems.

The company promptly activated its business continuity plan, engaged external cybersecurity specialists, and notified relevant authorities. While physical stores across all brands remain open and operating normally, online order capabilities may experience disruption and orders placed on or after Sunday could face delays.

TFG emphasised that payment processing is carried out by an independent third-party provider, and preliminary investigations indicate no reason to believe customer payment information is at risk.

The company added that if any sensitive customer personal information is found to be impacted, affected individuals will be directly informed. Customers have also been told that changing account login details is not currently deemed necessary.

The breach follows a relentless wave of security incidents impacting major fashion and retail brands. Just last week, ASOS customers were targeted by hackers who hijacked the retailer’s app push notification system to issue extortion notes, later exposing detailed personal profiles including recent search histories.

Meanwhile, Swedish fashion giant H&M announced it was investigating separate claims of an intrusion by the notorious cyber-criminal group ShinyHunters.

Industry experts warn that these frequent attacks underscore growing vulnerabilities across the retail sector. Beverley Griffiths, senior lecturer in security and resilience at Bucks New University, noted that major brands are firmly in the crosshairs of cyber attackers, emphasising that “no organisation is immune, so the real test of resilience is how quickly a business can detect an incident, respond and recover while keeping its customers informed”.

Charlotte Wilson, head of enterprise at Check Point, added that retail attacks are “starting to look rather like buses… you wait for one, and suddenly three come along at once,” pointing out that the wider industry has serious questions to answer regarding system exposure.

In response to the mounting security breaches, consumer organisations have urged shoppers to exercise extreme caution. Lisa Barber, Which? Tech Editor, said:

“Shoppers will be deeply concerned to learn of these latest security breaches, particularly coming so soon after the ASOS hack. Affected brands, including Phase Eight, Whistles and Hobbs, must ensure they keep customers updated and support them in taking any necessary steps to protect themselves if it emerges that their details have been compromised.

“In this climate of more frequent and high-profile hacks, consumers should remain vigilant about security and ensure they use strong, unique passwords for each of their accounts and enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.

“Be wary of any unexpected phone calls, messages or emails you receive, as scammers are likely to exploit this latest attack and may attempt to impersonate retailers, or even your bank. If you’re ever unsure who you’re speaking with, end the conversation immediately and contact the company directly. You can dial 159 to speak to your bank’s fraud team or use the number on the back of your card.”

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Cyber-attack on French refrigeration systems exposes insurance blind spots and retail risks

Chris Price — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 15:25:44 +0000

The recent cyber-attack targeting commercial refrigeration systems across hundreds of supermarkets in France has exposed a critical vulnerability in modern operational technology.

Rather than stealing data or executing ransomware, malicious actors simply compromised connected refrigeration controllers remotely – exploiting legacy equipment running outdated software and forcing them into continuous defrost modes.

This manipulation caused temperatures inside display units and cold rooms to spike dramatically, reaching up to 50°C in some locations and resulting in widespread food spoilage, operational disruption and even fires at some sites.

The incident highlights the severe physical consequences that can emerge when digital infrastructure is compromised. Reacting to the event, Paul Gooch, Deputy Departmental Head, Cyber & Enterprise Risk at Tokio Marine Kiln, told Tech Digest that the recent cyber-attacks impacting refrigeration systems across France should act as a wake-up call to those who underestimate the potential physical consequences of cyber incidents.

While the financial and operational threat of data breaches, ransomware attacks and network outages are now broadly understood and accepted, this event demonstrates how a compromised control system can lead directly to damaged stock, operational disruption as well as significant disposal costs.

Gooch also highlighted the severe insurance gaps exposed by such events, noting that for businesses that must maintain strict temperature and environmental controls for their inventory, the incident raises the question of whether their insurance would actually cover the loss of perishable stock. In most cases, traditional cyber and property policies contain exclusionary language for such scenarios, potentially leaving gaps in coverage.

Risk to UK retailers

Industry experts warn that these risks are not confined to France. Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN, told Tech Digest that retailers in the UK and beyond could face similar threats if they rely on internet-connected refrigeration systems with matching vulnerabilities.

Briedis warned that the cyberattack on supermarket fridges in France should ring alarm bells in Britain, noting that if UK retailers use internet-connected refrigeration systems with similar security weaknesses, hackers could cause the same disruption here. There is no evidence British supermarkets have been affected by this incident, but distance offers little protection when criminals can reach vulnerable equipment remotely.

Briedis stressed that hackers don’t need to get into the tills to cause havoc in a supermarket, because interfering with the equipment keeping food cold means you can force stores to throw away valuable stock, shut entire aisles and leave shoppers facing empty fridges and freezers. A cyberattack can quickly become a food safety problem, as well as a very expensive one for retailers.

To mitigate these risks, he advised that British supermarkets should check their connected refrigeration systems now, especially older equipment that may no longer receive security updates, ensuring remote access is tightly controlled, critical systems are separated from the wider network and independent temperature alerts and manual checks are in place.

As threat actors increasingly target operational technology and vulnerable control systems, underwriters and corporations anticipate a structural shift toward specialist insurance solutions that specifically address cyber-triggered physical damage, business interruption and perishable goods loss.

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Tech Digest

AI boom triggers slump in smartphone sales as component costs soar

Related posts:

McAfee uncovers massive fake app campaign on Google Play store

How to protect yourself

Related posts:

Bumble swipes right on $1.3 billion deal, Anthropic drums up support for stock market listing

Related posts:

Stat Sniper expands coverage to 16 competitions

Europe’s football leagues get equal treatment

More American football fixtures enter the picture

More prices appear beside the predictions

What the mobile update changes day to day

Expansion is measurable; performance still needs proof

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All you need to know about the new Apple TV 4K and Home Pod Mini 2

Hands-free Siri AI and built-in microphones

Advanced processing power and connectivity

Expanded multi-speaker surround sound

Find My Remote capabilities

Pricing and regional availability

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Frugal living tips and where PennyGuard fits

Frugal living tips for the kitchen and home

Borrowing, buying used and waiting a little

Small habits with heat, light and water

Money saving tips for seniors in everyday life

Memberships, subscriptions and card benefits

Where PennyGuard fits

June looks over her recurring charges

FAQ

Is there one most frugal way to live?

How do frugal people save money from day to day?

What are some easy ways for older adults to spend less?

How can retirees cut monthly expenses?

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