News

• PCIe 6.0 coming to AMD platforms soon but not for consumers
• Most users won’t need PCIe 6.0 speed until much later
• Enterprise and AI will adopt PCIe 6.0 well before desktop and laptop PCs

AMD plans to support PCIe 6.0 starting in 2026, but SSDs based on the standard aren’t expected to appear in consumer PCs anytime soon.

Silicon Motion’s CEO, Wallace C. Kuo, told Tom’s Hardware that PC makers and chip vendors simply aren’t pushing for the technology yet.

"You will not see any PCIe Gen6 [solutions] until 2030," Kuo said. "PC OEMs have very little interest in PCIe 6.0 right now - they do not even want to talk about it. AMD and Intel do not want to talk about it."

That delay isn’t a surprise - as while PCIe 6.0 offers up to 32GB/s of bandwidth on a x4 connection, the complexity and cost of supporting that speed are much higher than for PCIe 5.0.

Enterprise systems and AI infrastructure, on the other hand, are where PCIe 6.0 will land first. These use cases can justify the need for faster interconnects, as they rely heavily on moving massive amounts of data quickly and reliably.

For everyone else, including gamers and content creators, PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 offer more than enough speed.

It’s worth pointing out there are very few laptops shipping with PCIe 5.0 SSDs. Most PCs today use PCIe 4.0, and that’s still fast enough for nearly all mainstream workloads. The real bottlenecks consumers face usually aren’t bandwidth-related.

Technical hurdles are also part of the problem. As PCIe speeds increase, the physical distance signals can travel shrinks dramatically.

A presentation by Astera Labs claims copper traces on a motherboard can reach up to 11 inches at PCIe 4.0 speeds, but that drops to just 3.4 inches with PCIe 6.0. That’s a real issue in desktops using riser cards or complex routing, especially for graphics cards.

Retimers can solve this in servers, but they’re too expensive for most consumer builds.

Making motherboards compatible with PCIe 6.0 also means more PCB layers and higher-quality materials, which pushes up costs. For now, the added expense and power draw just don’t make sense for most users.

PCIe 5.0 SSDs are likely to remain the top-end option for desktop PCs for the rest of the decade. The storage industry might be ready for the next step, but consumers probably won’t need or want it until well after 2030.

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• Samsung just set the date for its next Galaxy Unpacked
• The teaser says 'Ultra Unfolds' on July 9
• We're expecting the next Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip, as well as a new Galaxy Watch

After numerous hints from Samsung and many rumors about the next Galaxy Z Fold, Galaxy Z Flip, and Galaxy Watches, you can now officially mark your calendars for July 9, 2025.

Samsung has set the date for its next Galaxy Unpacked event, and judging from the official event invitation and videos shared, we’re expecting at least two devices. One that resembles a standard candybar smartphone – though I’d bet it’ll be the Galaxy Z Flip 7 – and one that unfolds into something larger, likely the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

The Galaxy Unpacked festivities will kick off at 10am ET / 7am PT / 3pm BST on July 9, 2025, and the event will be live-streamed. TechRadar will be on the scene in Brooklyn, New York, reporting live, so we’ll be breaking down err Unpacking everything that Samsung unveils.

This is a return to New York for Samsung’s foldable-focused Galaxy Unpacked. The devices were unveiled in Paris in 2024 and Seoul in 2023.

Samsung’s last few mid-year Galaxy Unpacked events have been all about foldables and wearables, and the shared invitation photos and videos really lean into this. The animated videos play a jazzy version of Samsung’s classic ringtone, and the main visual is a thin horizontal line that expands into two devices.

The device on top is a long rectangle, likely the Galaxy Z Flip 7 but possibly just the front of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but the bottom is a device that’s starting to unfold, revealing two sides. The bottom most resembles the Fold, which opens like a book into a larger-screen tablet.

Not to read too much into the event invite, but Samsung is using various shades of blue, as well as pops of bright white, which might mean we get a lovely shade of blue for the new Flip and Fold. After all, we saw a similar hint before Samsung’s Galaxy S25 lineup launched.

Further, in typical Samsung fashion, you can already pre-reserve ‘the latest Galaxy device’ and score a $50 credit. As with past promotions, you won’t need to commit to purchasing a device; you’re simply registering interest. That said, if you’re already interested in a new Flip or Fold, it’s worth signing up to score the $50 Samsung Credit.

Now that Samsung has confirmed its next Galaxy Unpacked for July 9, 2025, you can now pre-reserve the next Galaxy and score a $50 credit. As with previous Unpacked events, the entire offer is non-committal and doesn't cost anything – you'll fill out your name, email, and if you want a phone number to register your interest and unlock a $50 credit to Samsung. Additionally, Samsung says you'll unlock up to $1,150 additional savings, which is likely when trading in a device if you opt to preorder one of the new devices.View Deal

In several blog posts preceding these invites, Samsung has been teasing that its next devices will be “the next chapter of Ultra,” which leads us to believe that either the Galaxy Z Fold or Galaxy Z Flip (or both?!) will add “Ultra” to their names. Another theory is a new tri-folding device carrying the Ultra designation.

The animated version of the invite ends with 'Ultra Unfolds.' My money is on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 Ultra, but Samsung has already confirmed that an Ultra designation is coming to its foldable phones.

Both the Flip and Fold will now be in the seventh generation, and we’re expecting some pretty iterative but meaningful upgrades for both. Recent reports suggest a significant upgrade for what will likely be the star of the show, the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Much like the Galaxy S25 Edge, it’s expected to be even thinner when unfolded, and it will boast a larger internal screen, reportedly spanning 8 inches.

It’s also rumored to take a page from the Galaxy S25 Ultra and adopt an impressive 200-megapixel main sensor camera, which should significantly enhance the photography and videography capabilities of Samsung’s flagship foldable.

Of course, it should also get a speed upgrade thanks to new silicon inside and Samsung One UI 8, as well as more AI features. Expect the latter to arrive in the form of Galaxy AI, as well as through Samsung’s partnership with Google.

With the Galaxy Z Flip 7, rumors suggest no major changes to the cameras – a less-than-stellar development, to be sure – but Samsung could roll out new software to make better use of the 50-megapixel main and 12-megapixel ultrawide cameras that we tested on the Flip 6.

In terms of what’s changing, like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 will reportedly be a bit larger, with a 6.8-inch internal display, but the real story is on the front.

Potentially matching Motorola’s latest Razr flip phone, Samsung might stretch the cover display to a full 4 inches on the Flip 7 - up from 3.5 inches on the Flip 6. That, paired with the new One UI 8 user interface and more AI features, might make that cover display a lot more usable and attractive.

Samsung's next two foldables will likely be the stars of the July 9 Unpacked, but considering the tech giant loves teasing upcoming devices, we wouldn’t be shocked if we get a look at a rumored tri-fold device. That would be pretty stellar.

Samsung didn't just use its last July 2024 Unpacked event to unveil the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6. We also got the Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch 7, and Galaxy Watch Ultra, (oh, and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro), so it’s likely we’ll see some new wearables next month. However, if you’re expecting the Galaxy Ring 2 or Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, don’t hold your breath for a release this time around.

The Galaxy Watch 8 could be getting a screen upgrade and some new health features, but one surprise might be the return of the Galaxy Watch Classic with a movable bezel around the screen – a possible prototype of this device popped up on eBay not too long ago.

Either way, whether you’re excited about a new Flip or a Fold, an Ultra or a wearable, Samsung is set to unveil something that will make you curious on July 9.

TechRadar will be the place to be for our live reporting and analysis, but we’ll also make it easy for you to watch the event unfold. It’ll be the third Galaxy Unpacked of 2025, and hopefully an exciting one.

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The cybersecurity profession is always on high alert for new attack tactics as criminal groups adapt to overcome improved defenses against phishing and ransomware. But alongside the new innovations, some old-school tactics appear to be evolving making a comeback – or rather they never quite went away.

Document-borne malware is one such tactic. Once considered a relic of early cyber warfare, this method continues to pose a significant threat, particularly for organizations handling large volumes of sensitive information, such as those in critical infrastructure.

The appeal for attackers is clear. Everyday files - Word documents, PDFs, Excel spreadsheets - are inherently trusted and flow freely between businesses, often through cloud-based platforms. With modern security more focused on endpoints, networks, and email filtering, these seemingly mundane files can act as the ideal Trojan horse.

Understanding this evolving risk is key to stopping seemingly innocuous documents before they can wreak havoc.

On the surface, attacks using malicious documents feel like a bit of a throwback. It’s a tactic that’s been around for decades at this point, however, that doesn’t make it any less dangerous for organizations.

Still, while the concept is nothing new, threat groups are modernizing it to keep it fresh and bypass standard security controls. This means the seemingly old-school tactic is still a threat even for the most security-conscious sectors.

As with other email-based tactics, attackers typically seek to hide in plain sight. Most attacks use common file types such as PDFs, Word documents, and Excel spreadsheets as malware carriers. The malware is usually hidden in macros, embedded in scripts such as JavaScript within PDFs, or hidden with obfuscated file formats and layers of encryption and archiving.

These unassuming files are coupled with popular social engineering techniques, such as a supplier invoice or customer submission form. Email attack tactics, such as spoofed addresses or compromised accounts, further camouflage the malicious content.

The rise of cloud-based collaboration tools has increased the attack surface. We’re all used to receiving any number of emails throughout the day with links to SharePoint, Google Docs, and other common platforms. This makes it harder to detect malicious files before they enter networks.

Most attacks seek to breach networks unnoticed to maximize their impact and eventual rewards. The potential gains for exfiltrating sensitive data or shutting down a system means groups are willing to invest more time and resources in trying new tactics that can pass unnoticed.

Further, document-borne attacks are all about blending into the background. For example, in the financial sector, the ecosystem offers plenty of opportunities with the thousands of incoming documents from customers, suppliers, and partners daily. Most firms have a constant inflow of financial statements, loan applications, compliance paperwork, and myriad other files entering their system.

If opened, a single malicious document can spread malware across critical networks. Attackers leverage document-based threats to deploy ransomware, steal credentials, or exfiltrate sensitive data, so one wrong click can come with catastrophic consequences, especially for critical sectors that rely heavily on a reputation for trust and reliability.

Strict regulatory compliance demands can raise the stakes further and, depending on their region and function, firms could fall under the remit of the GDPR, DORA, NIS2, and more. Failing to meet these demands can result in severe financial penalties and a significant blow to the firm’s reputation.

From our experience, document security is often overlooked in favor of other areas like network perimeter and endpoint protection. Document-borne attacks are mundane enough to slip down the priorities list but advanced enough to defeat most standard security tools.

Security teams may lack the visibility or tools to inspect and sanitize every incoming file, particularly in fast-moving digital workflows.

There tends to be an over-reliance on signature-based antivirus solutions, which often fail to detect modern document-borne threats. While security teams are typically aware of malicious macros, formats like ActiveX controls, OLE objects, and embedded JavaScript may not be on the radar.

Attackers have also latched onto the fact there is a significant mental blind spot around documents seemingly delivered through familiar cloud-based channels. Even when employees have received phishing awareness training, there is a tendency to automatically trust a document coming in through an expected source like Google or Office 365.

As with most evolving cyberattack tactics, a multi-layered strategy is the key to fending off document-borne threats.

One key step is adopting a multi-engine approach to malware scanning. While threat actors may be able to fool one detection engine, having multiple different tools will improve the chances of catching hidden malware and reduce false negatives.

Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) tools are another important element. These sanitize and remove malicious macros, scripts, and active content while preserving document integrity. Suspect files can then be run through advanced standboxes to identify previously unknown threats by detecting their malicious behavior whilst in a contained environment.

The network should also be set with strict file policies, restricting high-risk file types and enforcing user authentication before document uploads. Setting file size limits can also help catch malicious documents where hidden code has made them larger than normal.

Efficiency and reliability are also key here. Organizations need to be able to identify malicious documents hiding in their typical incoming traffic, but without disrupting a workflow that customers expect to be fast and consistent.

Stronger email security measures will also help to detect and block malicious attachments before they reach users. Moving away from signature-based detection and towards behavioral analytics will improve the chances of catching out attackers posing as trusted contacts and services.

Including document-based threats in employee awareness efforts will also help staff spot signs like unexpected macros and spoofed invoices in case they make it through other measures. In particular, more scrutiny is needed for files shared through cloud platforms.

Companies should adopt a zero trust mindset, treating every incoming file as a potential threat until it has been scanned and sanitized.

We list the best document management software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• Device loss from UK governmental departments tops 2000 in just one year
• Experts fear stolen devices could provide entry points for hackers
• Phone and tablet thefts pose risk despite widespread encryption

Have you ever lost a phone or computer and worried about what someone might find on it?

Thousands of devices have gone missing from UK government departments in the past year, raising serious concerns about cybersecurity and data protection.

Analysis by The Guardian, based on freedom of information disclosures, found the government lost over 2,000 laptops, phones and tablets in the past 12 months, with a replacement cost estimated at around £1.3m.

The Department for Work and Pensions, Ministry of Defence, and the Cabinet Office each reported hundreds of missing tech items.

The Ministry of Defence alone recorded 103 missing laptops and 387 phones in just five months of 2025. Other departments affected included HM Treasury, the Bank of England, and the Home Office.

“We treat all breaches of security very seriously and we require all suspected breaches to be reported. All incidents are subjected to an initial security risk assessment, with further action taken on a proportionate basis," an MoD spokesperson said.

Playing down fears, the defence department added, “Encryption on devices ensures any data is safeguarded and prevents access to the defence network.”

This sentiment was echoed by the Bank of England, which said it “takes the security of devices and data very seriously and has suitable protection in place.”

The same official line was trotted out by a government spokesperson who said, “We take the security of government devices extremely seriously, which is why items such as laptops and mobile phones are always encrypted so any loss does not compromise security.”

Professor Alan Woodward, a cybersecurity expert at the University of Surrey, wasn’t quite so reassured, telling The Guardian, “These are surprisingly large numbers. When you are talking about so many [it creates] a large attack surface [for hackers]. If 1% were system administrators who had their phones stolen, that’s enough to get in.”

He added, “If devices were open when stolen, as frequently happens with phones snatched on the street, criminals could keep them open and drill down into the device and once the phone is open, by design it is readable and accessible.”

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