Blog - Page 30 of 180 - Techbest - Top Tech Reviews In Australia

Turn Your Feline Fascination into a Pokémon Quest with Razer’s Gengar Headphones

Matthew Miller on August 28, 2025

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission which is paid directly to our Australia-based writers, editors, and support staff. Thank you for your support!

Quick Overview

Razer debuts the Gengar Edition of its acclaimed Kraken Kitty V2 headset.
Showcases a distinctive Gengar design complete with purple highlights and spikes.
Equipped with Chroma RGB earcups, a HyperClear cardioid microphone, and 7.1 surround sound.
Available for preorder in Australia priced at $239.95 AUD.
Global appeal predicts a swift sellout, so make your move quickly.

Gengar Enters the Collection

Razer has enriched its Pokémon Collection with the launch of the Gengar Edition, building on the success of former collaborations that included Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. This latest addition infuses the fun and mischievous essence of the Ghost-type Pokémon Gengar into your gaming environment. With its signature purple hue, spikes, and ghostly outline, the Gengar Edition is essential for any Pokémon devotee.

Consistent Power, Fresh Appearance

Although the Razer Kraken Kitty V2: Gengar Edition impresses with its distinctive aesthetic, it maintains the robust functionalities of the original model. The headset comprises:

Gengar spikes & purple highlights for a unique visual appeal.
Customisable Chroma RGB earcups showcasing Gengar’s outline.
A concealed Gengar grin for added charm.
Razer HyperClear cardioid mic ensuring clear communication for gaming and streaming.
TriForce 40mm drivers delivering crisp highs, rich mids, and deep lows.
7.1 surround sound providing exceptional spatial awareness.

The Gengar Edition offers the same performance advantages as the original Razer Kitty Kraken V2, enhanced with character and style.

Cost & Availability

The Razer Kraken Kitty V2: Gengar Edition can be preordered on the Razer site for $239.95 AUD. Given its significant demand, interested customers are advised to secure their orders promptly to prevent missing out.

Razer's Gengar Headphones - Turn Your Cat Passion into a Pokémon Journey

Overview

The Razer Kraken Kitty V2: Gengar Edition is a vibrant fusion of functionality and fandom, presenting Pokémon fans with a distinctive method to elevate their gaming immersion. With its memorable design and premier performance features, this headset is a fantastic addition to any gamer’s arsenal.

Q&A

Q: How does the Gengar Edition differ from the standard Kraken Kitty V2?

A: The Gengar Edition boasts a unique design influenced by Pokémon Gengar, featuring purple highlights, spikes, and adjustable lighting, while preserving the performance functionalities of the original version.

Q: Is the Gengar Edition accessible worldwide?

A: Indeed, the headset is available internationally, including in the US, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Q: What are the primary audio features of the Gengar Edition?

A: This headset is equipped with TriForce 40mm drivers for outstanding audio quality and 7.1 surround sound for improved spatial perception.

Q: What is the price of the Gengar Edition in Australia?

A: The headset retails for $239.95 AUD.

Q: Where can I place a preorder for the Gengar Edition?

A: You can place a preorder for the headset on the Razer website.

Q: Are there any distinctive design elements in the Gengar Edition?

A: Yes, it features Gengar spikes, purple highlights, a concealed smirk, and adjustable Chroma RGB earcups.

Woolworths Detaches Big W from Common Technology Framework

Nicholas Kinports on August 28, 2025

Woolworths Revamps Big W’s Technological Framework

Quick Read

Woolworths Group is isolating Big W from its collective tech framework.
This decision responds to Big W’s $35 million loss in 2025.
Big W will shift to an independent, purpose-built platform.
Growth in online visits despite financial downturn signifies potential expansion areas.
Woolworths intends to develop a new automated fulfilment center in Melbourne.

Big W’s Digital Shift

Woolworths Group has revealed intentions to detach Big W from its collective technology framework, moving the department store to a “standalone, purpose-built” platform. This strategic initiative aims to boost Big W’s operational effectiveness following a considerable financial decline.

Economic Hurdles and Possibilities

The move comes after Big W’s reported $35 million loss for the 2025 financial year. In spite of the loss, online engagement saw a significant rise, with traffic to Big W’s website and app increasing by over 20%. This upswing was fueled by the expansion of its product selection via MyDeal and new seller collaborations.

Executive Perspectives

Amanda Bardwell, CEO and Managing Director of Woolworths Group, recognized the obstacles while also emphasizing growth potential in areas like pet care and health and beauty. “Our aim is to provide Big W with the proper foundations for success,” Bardwell remarked during the group’s earnings announcement.

Technological Advancements

Previously, Big W was integrated into Woolworths Group’s transition of its SAP applications to Microsoft Azure in 2022. The group is also progressing in its shift from the 20-year-old SAP ECC5 system to S4/HANA, anticipated to complete by 2026.

Growth Initiatives

To further enhance its operational capabilities, Woolworths Group announced plans for a new automated customer fulfilment center in northern Melbourne. This facility aims to increase order capacity and improve delivery times utilizing Knapp automation technology.

Woolworths’ Overall Financial Status

Overall, Woolworths Group concluded the year with a strong financial performance, recording a net profit after tax of $1.4 billion, supported by $69 billion in revenue.

Woolworths detaches Big W from shared technology infrastructure

Summary

Woolworths Group’s tactical decision to separate Big W from its shared technology framework is designed to tackle financial challenges and enhance the performance of the department store. By shifting to an independent platform, Big W is ready to seize growth opportunities across various sectors, backed by cutting-edge technology and improved operational capacity.

Q&A

Q: Why is Woolworths detaching Big W from its shared tech framework?

A: Woolworths is taking this step to improve Big W’s operational efficiency and tackle its financial obstacles by transitioning to a standalone, purpose-built platform.

Q: What led to Big W’s $35 million loss in 2025?

A: Even with increased online traffic, Big W encountered financial difficulties due to various operational issues, leading Woolworths to revamp its systems.

Q: How is Woolworths planning to enhance Big W’s performance?

A: Woolworths is set to implement an independent technology platform for Big W, concentrating on growth sectors such as pet care and health and beauty, as well as constructing a new automated fulfilment center.

Q: What technological improvements is Big W undergoing?

A: Big W is in the process of transitioning its SAP applications to Microsoft Azure and is projected to complete the migration to S4/HANA by 2026.

Q: How did Woolworths perform financially overall?

A: Woolworths Group reported a net profit after tax of $1.4 billion, with total revenue reaching $69 billion.

Motorola Moto Buds 125 True Wireless Earbuds Review

Matthew Miller on August 27, 2025

Motorola Moto Buds 125 True Wireless Earbuds

ESET Discovers “PromptLock”: Ransomware Hazard Powered by AI

David Leane on August 27, 2025

Quick Read

ESET uncovers AI-powered ransomware known as “PromptLock”.
PromptLock creates harmful scripts in real-time on compromised systems.
The ransomware serves as a proof-of-concept and isn’t entirely operational yet.
Utilizes the GPT-OSS:20b AI model through the Ollama API for script generation.
Employs SPECK 128-bit encryption to scramble files.
Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.
The Bitcoin address in use is connected to Satoshi Nakamoto.

Introduction to PromptLock: A Novel AI-Driven Hazard

In an unprecedented finding, the Slovakian cyber security company ESET has unveiled “PromptLock”, the first artificial intelligence-enhanced ransomware known. This groundbreaking malware dynamically creates harmful scripts on compromised devices, posing a new challenge in the field of cybersecurity.

ESET reveals AI-powered ransomware threat

Functionality of PromptLock

Presently, PromptLock seems to be a proof-of-concept and has not been fully operational or broadly deployed. Developed in Go, this ransomware connects to OpenAI’s GPT-OSS:20b AI model using the Ollama API to produce Lua scripts. These scripts can scan the local filesystem, analyze targeted files, exfiltrate information, and encrypt data.

Encryption Method

PromptLock utilizes the SPECK 128-bit encryption algorithm, crafted by the US National Security Agency, for rapid file encryption. This mechanism ensures that any exfiltrated data remains obscured from unauthorized users.

Compatibility Across Platforms

The malware is architected to function across various platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This extensive compatibility amplifies the potential consequences of its implementation.

Possible Threats and Signs

While PromptLock demonstrates notable potential as a ransomware solution, several attributes, including its damaging capabilities, are still unimplemented. Importantly, the Bitcoin address associated with the AI prompt is tied to Satoshi Nakamoto, adding an intriguing facet to its story.

Conclusion

PromptLock signifies a considerable progression in ransomware, harnessing AI technology to create threats dynamically. Although still in development, its cross-platform compatibility and sophisticated encryption strategies underscore the potential for a new category of advanced cyber threats.

Q: What is PromptLock?

A:

PromptLock is the initial AI-driven ransomware discovered by ESET, created to dynamically produce malicious scripts on infected systems.

Q: How does PromptLock produce scripts?

A:

It connects to the GPT-OSS:20b AI model through the Ollama API for generating Lua scripts that can execute various harmful actions.

Q: Is PromptLock truly a threat?

A:

Currently, PromptLock is regarded as a proof-of-concept and is not entirely operational or extensively deployed.

Q: What platforms are impacted by PromptLock?

A:

PromptLock operates across multiple platforms, effective on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.

Q: What encryption technique is employed by PromptLock?

A:

It applies the SPECK 128-bit encryption algorithm to encrypt files.

Q: What is the relevance of the Bitcoin address utilized by PromptLock?

A:

The associated Bitcoin address is linked to Satoshi Nakamoto, the elusive inventor of Bitcoin, adding intrigue to its origins.

Belkin SoundForm Motion True Wireless in-Ear Headphones Review

Matthew Miller on August 27, 2025

Belkin SoundForm™ Motion True Wireless in-Ear Headphones, Noise Cancelling, Wireless Charging Case, 2 Microphones, IPX5 Splash Protection, Bluetooth Earbuds for iPhone, Samsung – Black

AI Summarizers Prone to ‘ClickFix’ Social Engineering Attacks

David Leane on August 27, 2025

AI Summarization Tools and ‘ClickFix’ Vulnerabilities

Quick Overview

AI summarizers are susceptible to ‘ClickFix’ social engineering assaults.
Malicious actors integrate hidden harmful commands in HTML content.
AI systems might produce dangerous commands, prompting users to run ransomware.
Experts advise content pre-processing to eliminate harmful properties.
Security personnel should concentrate on identifying and filtering dubious patterns.

Grasping the ‘ClickFix’ Vulnerability

AI summarization tools at risk from social engineering attacks

Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a novel threat avenue targeting AI summarization tools, which can be exploited to generate harmful commands. This weakness, termed ‘ClickFix’, takes advantage of the gap between what is displayed to humans on the web and what AI algorithms interpret.

Exploiting AI Summarization Systems

The assault utilizes HTML and CSS features to insert covert harmful commands that AI tools may transform into seemingly valid directives. Methods include employing zero opacity, white text on matching backgrounds, and positioning elements out of view.

Possible Outcomes

When users apply AI summarizers to such tainted content, they might receive commands that lead to ransomware execution. This situation underscores the considerable danger presented by prompt injection assaults that leverage AI’s summarization functionalities.

Studies and Discoveries

Research from CloudSEK illustrated how AI tools could be influenced with concealed Base64-encoded commands. These commands frequently surfaced in summaries, overshadowing legitimate material, though the outcomes were not always reliable.

Defense Tactics

Content Pre-processing and Sanitization

To minimize these threats, organizations should apply content sanitization protocols that eliminate CSS features utilized to hide malicious commands prior to AI analysis.

Prompt Filtering and Pattern Detection

Security teams ought to implement prompt filtering and payload pattern detection systems to recognize and neutralize embedded harmful commands and ransomware delivery strings.

Token-Level Regulation

Establishing token-level regulation in AI systems can help lessen the effects of prompt overload attacks, ensuring that repetitive content carries reduced influence.

Conclusion

The study emphasizes a critical flaw in AI summarization tools, where ‘ClickFix’ exploitations can transform these tools into means of delivering harmful directives. Organizations must embrace strong defensive strategies to protect against such intricate assaults.

Common Questions

Q: What constitutes a ‘ClickFix’ attack?

A: ‘ClickFix’ is a social engineering exploit that manipulates AI summarization tools to generate harmful commands by embedding invisible malicious instructions in online content.

Q: In what manner do attackers obscure harmful commands?

A: Attackers utilize HTML and CSS features such as zero opacity, white text on white backgrounds, and off-screen positioning to hide harmful commands from human perception while enabling AI processing.

Q: What are the potential dangers of these assaults?

A: The main danger lies in AI summarization tools potentially generating instructions that users may follow, resulting in the activation of ransomware or other malicious software.

Q: How can organizations defend themselves against these threats?

A: Organizations should employ content sanitization, prompt filtering, pattern recognition, and token-level regulation to diminish the efficacy of such attacks.

Q: Are AI summarization tools perpetually at risk from this attack?

A: Although the vulnerability is evident, its effectiveness varies. Some AI tools may blend legitimate and harmful content, thus reducing but not completely eliminating the risk.

Yinyoo KZ Carol Pro Wireless Earbuds Review

Matthew Miller on August 26, 2025

Yinyoo KZ Carol Pro Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth 5.4 35H Playtime Headphones AI Noise Reduction Wireless Headphones with ANC 6 Microphone Hi-Fi Stereo Harman Curve in-Ear Headphones

Qantas Revamps Architecture of API Management Platform

David Leane on August 26, 2025

Qantas Revitalizes API Management Platform

Quick Overview

Qantas updates its API management platform to version 4.1, boosting reliability.
The airline adopts an event-hub architecture to enhance scalability.
Containerization aligns the platform with Qantas’ strategy for immutable infrastructure.
Improved observability and logging aid in better error detection and troubleshooting.
A consolidated API lifecycle management interface provides governance and security.

Qantas Upgrades API Management Platform

Qantas implements architectural improvements to its API management platform

API Platform Development

While addressing WSO2Con Asia 2025 in Sri Lanka, Waleed Ahmed, principal engineer at Qantas IT, emphasized the development of their API management platform. Since 2018, Qantas has utilized the open-source WSO2 API Management platform, undergoing several updates to keep pace with new features.

Shift to Event-Hub Architecture

The update to version 4.1 acted as a trigger for Qantas to shift to an event-hub architecture, removing reliance on disk storage and centralized databases. This transition has empowered Qantas to roll out nimble, stateless platforms and seamlessly expand their data planes.

Containerization and Immutable Infrastructure

Qantas adopted containerization to synchronize with its strategy of immutable infrastructure. This modification led to notable enhancements in security and maintainability, mitigating risks and boosting operational efficiency.

Improved Observability and Security

The platform now boasts advanced observability and logging, delivering richer insights into API traffic and behavior. This improvement assists developers and engineers in troubleshooting and detecting trends or errors proactively.

Integrated API Lifecycle Management

An integrated API lifecycle management interface has been implemented to guarantee that all onboarded APIs comply with governance and security standards. This strategy prevents new APIs from being exposed to the internet until they undergo security evaluations, protecting against potential vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

The thorough modernization of Qantas’ API management platform has produced a highly durable and dependable system, capable of enduring component failures and database challenges. With no outages and minimal critical incidents in the past two years, the platform significantly supports robust community-building endeavors.

Q&A

Q: Why did Qantas decide to revamp its API management platform?

A: The necessity to enhance reliability, scalability, and security drove the revamp, as well as the chance to incorporate new features in WSO2 API Management version 4.1.

Q: How has the event-hub architecture benefited Qantas?

A: It removed the reliance on disk storage and centralized databases, allowing for a more agile, scalable, and resilient platform.

Q: What benefits does containerization provide to the platform?

A: Containerization aligns with Qantas’ immutable infrastructure strategy, improving security, maintainability, and lowering operational risks.

Q: How does enhanced observability optimize platform operations?

A: It offers greater visibility into API traffic, facilitating proactive error detection and trend analysis that help with effective troubleshooting.

Q: What security precautions are implemented for new APIs?

A: New APIs are restricted from internet exposure until they complete security evaluations, ensuring compliance and protection against vulnerabilities.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Review

Matthew Miller on August 26, 2025

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Porcelain GA05760-JP Small

Telstra Assumes Control of My Health Record’s Data Framework Overhaul

Matthew Miller on August 26, 2025

Telstra Health secures a contract worth $33.2 million to redesign the data architecture of My Health Record.
This initiative will improve data interoperability by utilizing the global FHIR standard.
Telstra is partnering with Leidos Australia and Smile Digital Health for this endeavor.
The project intends to address shortcomings in the exchange of healthcare data.
This transformation is part of ADHA’s overall digital infrastructure plan.

Redesigning My Health Record’s Data Architecture

Telstra’s digital health branch has been granted a $33.2 million contract to redesign the data architecture of the My Health Record system managed by the Australian government. This important project will follow a model for global interoperability aimed at changing the way health data is accessed and shared.

Telstra to spearhead My Health Record data architecture redesign

The Function of FHIR in Healthcare Interoperability

The revamped data architecture will employ Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), an international standard aimed at making healthcare data modular, accessible, and shareable. This will enable FHIR-based data exchanges within My Health Record, complementing existing Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) formats. The goal of this integration is to support both traditional and modern healthcare systems, ensuring fluid information exchange.

Partnership and Expertise

In this comprehensive project, Telstra Health will join forces with Leidos Australia and Smile Digital Health from Canada. The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) states that this project is designed to tackle existing inefficiencies in deriving actionable data from CDA documents, which have hampered seamless data exchange between various systems.

“This announcement underscores Telstra Health’s proficiency and innovative approach to building a health data infrastructure that is ready for the future for Australians,” said ADHA CEO Amanda Cattermole. The collaboration is anticipated to establish a foundation for a more efficient healthcare system within the country.

Transforming Digital Infrastructure

The announcement aligns with ADHA’s tender to unify My Health Record and its API Gateway into a single support and maintenance contract. This action is part of a larger plan to revamp its digital infrastructure and reassess its enduring National Infrastructure Operator (NIO) arrangement, which has been in place with Accenture since 2012. This major tender marks the first competitive bidding process for the $788 million digital infrastructure contract in more than ten years.

Conclusion

Telstra Health’s effort to redesign My Health Record’s data architecture is a crucial move towards modernizing Australia’s healthcare data systems. By harnessing FHIR standards and working with industry specialists, the project aims to improve data interoperability and address existing inefficiencies, ultimately leading to a more effective healthcare ecosystem.

Q: What is the monetary value of the contract given to Telstra Health?

A: Telstra Health has received a contract valued at $33.2 million.

Q: What technology will serve as the foundation for the new data architecture?

A: The new architecture will utilize Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) to enhance data sharing.

Q: Who are the partners of Telstra Health in this initiative?

A: Telstra Health is partnering with Leidos Australia and Canada’s Smile Digital Health.

Q: What are the primary objectives of the data architecture redesign?

A: The redesign aims to address data extraction inefficiencies and enhance the seamless flow of healthcare information.

Q: What larger strategy is the ADHA implementing in conjunction with this project?

A: The ADHA is reforming its digital infrastructure, which includes a tender to merge My Health Record and its API Gateway into a singular support contract.