The VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) was launched in December 2019 and is a group of like-minded companies that set out to create guidelines that all members would follow. The point being, not all VPN services are equal, and they wanted some way of strengthening trust and understanding among users. VPNs are still a relative unknown for many people, and with stories of certain VPN apps spying on users and stealing personal information, the VTI is a way to show anyone choosing a VPN that they can trust the services offered by one of its members....

Windows 10’s digital assistant is Cortana and, much like Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa , her usefulness depends on how much information you allow her to access. Much like a real personal assistant, Cortana can only be truly useful if you give her permission to access your contacts and tell her about your relationships. A PA can’t tell you your wife is calling if she doesn’t know who your wife is, and it’s a similar situation with Cortana....

TalkTalk suffered a serious attack on its website on 22 October and just a fortnight later, Vodafone experienced a similar hack. They are just two in a long list of companies which have had their websited hacked, including ebay, Sony and Mumsnet , and from which customer details have been stolen. Here are some tips on staying safe even if one or more of your online accounts are hacked. Update 4 December : It has just come to light that Wetherspoons – the pub chain – was hacked back in June 2015....

When it comes to messaging apps and sharing images on social media, you’re spoiled for choice these days. Alongside the software that comes on every phone (including iMessage on iPhones) there are alternatives that let you keep you in touch with friends no matter what type of phone they own. We compare the best of the current crop. It’s WhatsApp v Instagram v Facebook Messenger v Snapchat . What devices can I use them on and how much do they cost?...

Buying UK cinema tickets can sometimes be a bit of a daunting process, especially if you live close to a few different cinemas. Each major chain has its own pricing system, peak hours, and discounted tickets, not to mention membership schemes. Throw in the fact that you’re trying to find the best screening time, and worry about whether you should book for 3D, IMAX, or one of the other various premium offerings available for the biggest new movies , and it can be hard to know where to begin....

LG has announced its range of OLED TVs for 2023 and there are several reasons why the G3 is the model that should be on your wish list. Last year, the C2 was a surprise knock-out telly, bringing almost everything from the LG G2 but at a cheaper price. However, this year it’s the G3 that has leaped ahead in terms of upgrades. The headline feature is a new WOLED panel which makes it up to 70% brighter than a conventional OLED TV....

The two flagship phones, the iPhone 6s and the Samsung Galaxy S7 , are great phones and are often the benchmark to other manufacturers. In this article we look at how the S7 is better than the iPhone 6s. Why the S7 is better than iPhone: Price Price to us is always going to matter and for those on a tighter budget will opt for the Samsung Galaxy S7 over the iPhone 6s....

When Microsoft introduced Windows 11 last year, its new hardware requirements caused quite a stir. The need for TPM 2.0, Secure Boot support and at least 4GB of RAM means many older devices aren’t compatible with the new OS. A workaround allows unsupported Windows 10 PCs to upgrade , but Microsoft has unintentionally made that process significantly easier. The company released an early version of the 22H2 update to members of the Windows Insider Program last week, but accidentally made it available to all Windows 10 devices too....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict A steal at only £549 for the full system, the Wired2Fire VX-6 performs very well at the lowest overall price of the group. It also packs a speedy hybrid drive which increases overall system responsiveness, although it can’t match the gaming speeds of the fastest systems we have tested. Best Prices Today: Wired2Fire VX-6 At only £549 including PC, monitor, keyboard and mouse, the Wired2Fire VX-6 is the most affordable of all the budget gaming PCs we have tested of late, but it still delivers very good performance....

Xiaomi 17: In summary Xiaomi 16 series skipped in favour of Xiaomi 17 All models are now official in China Global launch expected in the coming weeks, but might be missing Pro Ultra model is now official, with two versions The Xiaomi 15 series arrived in Europe last year to rave reviews, but, as usual in the world of phones, thoughts and eyes quickly turned to what the next models will bring....

Watch the live stream at the bottom of this page at 1pm BST (8pm GMT+8) today for the global launch of Xiaomi’s Mi Note 10 Lite and Redmi Note 9 series . The Note in those names gives away the fact that all are large-screen smartphones, while the ‘Lite’ and ‘Redmi’ monikers suggest they will be affordable budget- to mid-range handsets. Here’s what we can expect. Redmi Note 9 Series Xiaomi’s product line can be confusing at the best of times, but it’s doubly so when you consider that phones can often launch in China before they come to the UK and Europe, and often with different names....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict Best Prices Today: Xiaomi Mi 8 Xiaomi announced the Mi 8 in May 2018, alongside the Mi 8 SE and Explorer. At first available only in China, when Xiaomi officially launched in the UK in November it also announced the cheaper Mi 8 Lite ( reviewed ) and Mi 8 Pro ( reviewed ). Mi 8 remains an incredible-value smartphone, especially where you can find it on offer , but we can’t overlook the enhancements made in Mi 9....

At a glance Expert’s Rating Pros Convenient, compact size Good battery life Reliable selfie camera Low price Cons Washed-out screen with poor viewing angles Disappointing sound Questionable main camera Slow storage Our Verdict If you think an iPad mini is too expensive an investment, this is a solid tablet in a similarly compact form factor. But the list of things we wish were better is long. Everything from a tired old chipset and slow storage to a low-res screen and poor audio....

To celebrate the launch of Pokémon Snap, Nintendo has partnered with Fujifilm to make the Instax Mini Link compatible with the Nintendo Switch. This means you’ll be able to print instant photos of snaps and screenshots that you take on your console. This is done through the new app, Instax Mini Link for Nintendo Switch, which can be downloaded for both iOS and Android from 30 April 2021. In addition, Fujifilm is releasing a new colour option for the printer which is inspired by Pokémon with red and blue accents, as well as a bundle which includes an adorable Pikachu case to keep your device in....

Signify is expanding Philips Hue’s smart home reach beyond its current scope of high-quality, convenience-focused mood lighting, with a suite of new home security products. Buy all the new bits of kit in the Philips Hue Secure range and you’ll have what is effectively a light-based home security system. The new line – which will work seamlessly with existing Philips Hue lights – includes a wired and wireless camera, a floodlight camera, a door/window contact sensor, plus camera mounts (including stake mounts for the garden) and cables....

In summary Apps are crashing on Pixel 10 phones Seems to follow October OS update Wiping Google Play Services seems to fix it Some Google Pixel 10 smartphone owners are reporting app crashes following the latest software update. As Android Police reports, a number of Google Pixel 10 users have been taking to internet forums over the weekend to report serious instability. This Reddit user reports that “After the October update, all apps have to started to [sic] crash randomly or just get stuck at the splash screen”....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict The Warbird i7S is a great option if you want an all-round PC with lashings of CPU power, but more versatility and graphical grunt can be found elsewhere if needed. The build is solid, and the rest of the specification is fine, if a little basic in areas beyond the powerful Core i7 and RTX 2070. Best Prices Today: Yoyotech Warbird i7S The Warbird i7S may have a Yoyotech logo, but this machine isn’t actually available to buy direct from the Basingstoke-based builders....

At a Glance Expert’s Rating Our Verdict The Zendure 5-Port Turbo Desktop Charger is a neat and intelligent device for charging multiple USB-powered gadgets from a single mains outlet. We’ve seen lower-cost examples with an extra port, but the Zendure wins on its more compact dimensions. Best Prices Today: Zendure 5-Port Turbo Desktop Charger review Desktop chargers such as this five-port Zendure Turbo Desktop Charger are becoming increasingly popular as consumers buy more and more mobile devices that require daily charging....

Open on: The lone countryside, early in the morning. It’s an unassuming still shot as a soft guitar melody starts to build. If it is your first time watching, you don’t know how quickly Gustavo Santaolalla’s simplistically moving score will be one of the things that quietly wrecks you as Brokeback Mountain progresses. Director Ang Lee gives the vast space room to breathe, making its wide-open skies and jagged mountain peaks characters in their own right....

No parenting book can prepare you for just how much a new baby will change your life. It’s a joyous thing, but along with it comes huge responsibility and – usually – plenty of stress. One way to reduce the stress is to invest in a smart baby monitor that doesn’t simply allow you to see and hear your child but actively alerts you when they cry, move or – when they’ve grown up a little – attempt to climb out of their cot....