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Apple could go all-in on eSIMs with the iPhone 17 – and release a redesigned phone case - Monday, September 1, 2025 - 05:40

The iPhone 17 could go eSIM-only in more countries
Changes are tipped for the Apple Clear Case accessory
The launch is scheduled for Tuesday, September 9

Apple is almost certainly going to make the iPhone 17 official on Tuesday, September 9, but as we count down the days to the big launch event, the leaks are continuing – including fresh rumors around eSIMs and the official Apple Clear Case.

Current iPhone models are eSIM-only in the US, and according to a source speaking to MacRumors, retail employees at Apple Authorized Resellers in the EU are now being told to prepare to handle iPhones without physical SIM cards as well.

We've been hearing for months that the new, super-slim iPhone 17 Air model would only have support for eSIMs and not the physical cards, but it seems that's now going to be extended to other iPhones in more countries.

With eSIMs offering better security and more convenience, the move isn't really much of a surprise. Google has now gone eSIM-only for the first time with the new Google Pixel 10 series, though for now this only applies to phones sold in the US.

New iPhones, new cases

You’ve probably already seen the new iPhone 17 clear case, but here’s another look at it. Would you prefer an all-clear version? pic.twitter.com/jsCPankDkxSeptember 1, 2025

The other iPhone 17 leak doing the rounds today concerns the iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case with MagSafe – one of the official cases Apple is expected to launch for the new handset (and which it already offers for the iPhone 16 Pro).

As per images posted by tipsters @MajinBuOfficial and @SonnyDickson, there will be some tweaks to the design. Less of the case will be transparent, with a panel covering most of the back of the phone and hiding the MagSafe connectors.

We can also see there's a bigger cut-out for the cameras at the top, backing up the leaked renders we've seen of the redesign of this phone. The Apple logo also gets shifted down so it's in the center of the space below the cameras.

It also looks as though the case will support the new Crossbody Strap accessory that's been rumored, which lets you carry your iPhone with a magnetic lanyard. In a little over a week, we'll know for sure what Apple has been working on.

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Hackers are also going back to school - major campaign hijacks Google Classroom to hit targets - Monday, September 1, 2025 - 06:06

New phishing campaign found targeting Google Classroom users
CheckPoint has detected and blocked the sites
Hackers often use legitimate services to disguise their attacks

New research by Check Point has revealed a large-scale social engineering campaign which sees hackers using Google Classroom to victimize students and educators across the world.

A range of industries and companies were targeted in five coordinated waves of attack containing over 115,000 phishing emails aimed at 13,500 organizations, with fake invitations sent promoting ‘commercial offers’ such as SEO services or product pitches.

The attack often goes undetected by security software because it piggybacks on Google Classroom’s legitimate infrastructure, bypassing traditional defenses, the experts warned.

Phishing protections

To protect against attacks such as these, CheckPoint reaffirms the need for robust training for employees and members of your organization - and warns users to be very cautious of unexpected invitations or communications.

“This incident underscores the importance of multi-layered defenses,” CheckPoint’s statement confirms. “Attackers are increasingly weaponizing legitimate cloud services—making traditional email gateways insufficient to stop evolving phishing tactics."

The research also recommends using AI-powered detection to analyze content, to extend social engineering protections beyond just messaging and SaaS services, and to continuously monitor cloud applications.

Criminals often utilize legitimate platforms and services to distribute social engineering attacks or malware because it can help to evade detections. Earlier in 2025, hackers were observed bypassing security tools by mimicking legitimate login pages and stealing Microsoft credentials.

Microsoft’s Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) connects an organization’s internal systems to Microsoft services. In this campaign, malvertising was used to distribute the phishing attack - and since the attack didn’t rely on email, traditional email security filters weren’t effective.

Although social engineering attacks can be potent and convincing, they do primarily rely on human error to be effective - which means that being wary and ensuring all members of your organization are sufficiently trained and tested in spotting attacks is the most effective defense.

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The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 9 is about to prove my biggest theory right thanks to the final trailer - Monday, September 1, 2025 - 06:30

We've still got a few days until The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 9 is released (September 3), but luckily, Prime Video has given us an entirely new trailer (which you can catch below) for the final three episodes of the season. Belly (Lola Tung) is set to have her Emily in Paris moment, fleeing to the city after her wedding to Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) fell through at the last minute.

Not to be a hater, but this is exactly what I wanted to happen anyway. The only way Belly was going to turn her life around was to ditch the boys she's been yearning for – but that doesn't mean they won't be following her to Paris in some form. In fact, I think the new trailer tells us exactly how the love triangle is going to shake out.

At the end of season 3 episode 8, Belly spots Conrad (Christopher Briney) at the airport, after spending her entire bachelorette and pre-wedding prep pining for him (and then denying her feelings to anyone who asks). The closing moments set the scene for the start of a new romantic love affair, with the pair whisked away to Europe to start afresh.

I don't think this will happen in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 9, and two details in the final trailer prove me right... and I love being right.

The final trailer for The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 9 proves Belly is imagining Conrad at the airport

The first clue is that Conrad is obviously completely missing from the above trailer, much like Jeremiah. Instead, the emphasis is place on Belly rediscovering who she actually is away from the drama, introducing brand-new characters as she begins to make friends as part of a study abroad scheme.

This only proves my theory of Conrad being a fantasy at the airport right, conjured in Belly mind's of what she wants to see, not who is actually there. I'd put good money on episode 9 opening with Belly looking at Conrad, a figure walking in front of him before his face changes completely, revealed as a stranger who merely looks similar.

The second clue is what we see at the end of the trailer. As Belly arrives back home to her new French pad, she finds a letter from Conrad on the doorstep. That's right, people – his letters are likely to be even more emotional than the one we've already seen from his mom. It's a touch that indicates the kind of person he is, as if routinely going out of his way to make Belly's life better (like the peach stand scene) didn't already tell us.

Writing a letter instead of texting or emailing is the hit of old-school romance we sorely want from the hit Amazon show, completely buying into Belly's visions of a love affair for the ages. It also keeps him at the perfect distance while she continues to find her feet, as well as padding out the remaining three episodes as far as they'll stretch.

I think we're also going to see Belly forcing herself into imagining Jeremiah was there with her, prolonging the inevitable even further. I'm just grateful we're getting a proper break from her indecision in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 episode 9... I'm fed up screaming at the TV for her to put herself first.

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SMBs want to use tech more in order to grow - but costs are proving a big barrier - Monday, September 1, 2025 - 06:35

Study finds 96% of SMBs agree tech could help them reach new markets
AI, digital marketing and ecommerce offer the biggest opportunities
High costs and limited budgets highlight the need for removed barriers

Nearly all (96%) of the small and medium-sized businesses surveyed in a recent study by Shopify agree technology will help them to reach new markets in the next 12 months - but key hurdles are preventing them from full success.

Unsurprisingly, AI tools topped the list, with 43% seeing it as the most helpful for global expansion, but many raised cash concerns.

High costs and limited budgets (44%) and uncertainty around ROI (30%) are currently preventing SMBs from full rollout, while larger cash-backed enterprises are accelerating with a more trial-and-error approach.

SMBs are more cautious about tech rollouts

With larger companies proving that artificial intelligence investments can bring huge rewards, one in three (35%) UK SMBs are now taking more risks to gain an edge in a competitive landscape, with previous caution highlighting a gap between ambition and execution.

Shopify Head of Northern Europe Partnerships Matthias Kleven said: “SMBs are ready to innovate – but need clear pathways, affordable tools, and measurable outcomes to fully commit.”

Digital marketing tools (38%) and ecommerce platforms (36%) also emerged as key areas for investment among UK SMBs, with around three in five agreeing that their own website allows for more personalized marketing strategies (57%) and allows them to build an emotional connection with customers (63%).

What the study fails to note is the type of AI that’s helping SMBs the most – customer-facing AI like chatbots and personalized marketing have the potential to create more tailored experiences, but automation and predictive analytics can help businesses do more with their data.

Looking ahead, SMBs could pilot technologies they’re not already using in certain areas to gauge ROI before fully deploying, taking lessons from larger enterprises that have already made these types of investments.

Shopify is also calling for the removal of barriers, enabling business owners to more easily access tech that delivers value.

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The Indiana Jones and the Great Circle DLC will seamlessly adjust its difficulty depending on how far you are in the game – which sounds like the perfect excuse for a new playthrough - Monday, September 1, 2025 - 06:40

The developers of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle have discussed its upcoming DLC in a new interview
The Order of the Giants will feature a dynamic difficulty level that will scale based on your progress in the main game
The expansion will be integrated into the existing Vatican level

The Indiana Jones and the Great Circle developers have discussed the game's upcoming downloadable content (DLC) in a new interview.

In a conversation with IGN, creative director Axel Torvenius and lead game designer Zeke Virant revealed that the The Order of the Giants DLC will adapt its difficulty level depending on your progress in the main game.

Set in the Vatican location, it will be smartly integrated in the game's existing content.

"The conventional way of doing DLC is to add something that stands after, or a miniature game on the side, but we didn't really feel that that was the best," Torvenius said.

According to the developers, implementing the expansion in this way was a challenge but it should make for a smoother experience for all players, no matter where they are in the game.

"Players who are at the end of the game don't need to worry about the difficulty as actually we have a new system in place where players are dynamically scaled based on how far they progressed," Virant said.

"We know a lot of players are coming back from the endgame and would like to have a continuation of that difficulty, especially if they have health upgrades and a lot of abilities.

"If you've progressed to the Vatican but you haven't gotten to Giza yet, we keep it on a first tier of difficulty," he added. "If you've gotten to Giza, then we adjust it up to a second tier. And then once you've gotten to Sukhothai, we adjust to a third tier."

This will impact things like the amount of health each enemy has, in addition to how many will attack at one time.

As someone who first played the game back at launch, I've been raring for an excuse for a new playthrough and The Order of the Giants sounds perfect. Now that I know I won't be experiencing the DLC at a disadvantage on a fresh save, there's no reason not to pull the trigger.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is available now on PC, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PlayStation 5. A Nintendo Switch 2 port is also on the way.

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