IT General

The world's gone digital, and the best apps for sexting open up a whole new dimension for your sex life.

Sexting (aka dirty talk, swapping nudes, raunchy audio messages, etc.) is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Sexting is a fun way to explore your sexuality and connect with others on a deeper level, especially when you’re not physically together.

And it’s not just a feeling — recent studies are showing the tangible benefits of sexting. One March 2025 review that looked at 70 scientific papers found that the perks of consensual sexting generally fall into three categories: individual benefits from the act itself (like exploring your desires, safe experimentation, and both sexual pleasure), individual benefits from your partner’s reaction (think validation, feeling better about yourself, and owning your sexual agency), and relationship benefits (feeling more connected emotionally and sexually).

Of course, overthinking isn't a great approach to sexting. We're here to have fun, after all.

SEE ALSO: A beginner's guide to sexting What is sexting, exactly?

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, that’s OK! Sexting is just “sex” and “texting” mashed together. It could mean sending sexy snaps, video or audio clips, or writing out a steamy message.

A long time ago, sexting was something you’d only hear about when someone was having an affair or a celebrity’s nudes were leaked. But nowadays, it’s the norm for many couples and single people alike.

Whether you’re in a committed relationship, single and swiping, looking for a regular sexting buddy, or wanting to amp up your solo sesh with steamy instructions from an AI companion, sexting offers a healthy way to explore your sexuality.

Credit: Zain Bin Awais / Mashable SEE ALSO: The cherry emoji and 14 other emoji you can use to sext What are the best apps for sexting in 2025?

To find the best sexting apps, we tested dozens of platforms, evaluating them on what matters most: privacy controls, ease of use, inclusivity, and the effectiveness of their communication tools. Based on our real-world use (yep, we actually signed up and used 'em!), these are the top apps for safe, fun, and discrete sexting. You might even recognize some from our guides to the best dating apps and hookup apps.

Where can I find someone to sext? 

Good news: You definitely don't need to be partnered up to find someone to sext with. There are plenty of apps (and websites) out there designed to connect you with people looking for some digital heat, often pretty quickly.

Just be sure to keep an eye out for sketchy platforms, bots, and catfishing scams. Finding safe, reliable, and genuinely fun options is exactly why curated recommendations (like the ones in this guide!) are so helpful.

Sexting safety

To get the lowdown on sexting safely, we talked to Gary Orenstein, Chief Customer Officer at Bitwarden (an open-source password manager).

"If an app is being used to share intimate content, privacy features cannot be optional — they’re essential," he tells Mashable. What tops his list? "First and foremost, end-to-end encryption is critical," so only you and your partner see the messages, not even the app company itself.

Orenstein also recommends looking for apps with "built-in controls, such as disappearing messages and self-destructing media [which] help minimize long-term exposure of shared materials" and features like "screenshot detection or alerts [that] can discourage unauthorized saving," though these aren't always foolproof.

"The most overlooked risk is the assumption that encryption alone guarantees privacy," Orenstein adds. "Even with end-to-end encryption, apps cannot prevent screenshots, screen recordings, or physical access to an unlocked device." He stresses that basic device-level safeguards, such as strong passcodes, biometric locks, and up-to-date software, are essential. And ultimately, "Privacy depends not only on technical safeguards, but also on the trustworthiness of the recipient."

It might come as a surprise that "roomba" isn't the universal term for a robot vacuum. It is, in fact, a capital "R" that denotes Roomba as a proper noun rather than a generic trademark. Roombas are just robot vacuums made by iRobot, and looking for the best Roombas is a much more specific task than looking for the best robot vacuums in general. However, Roomba's Band-Aid or Kleenex level fame really does prove just how iconic iRobot has become in the world of automated floor cleaners.

There's a good reason for that: Not only was iRobot first to the robot vacuum party, but the company has consistently delivered some of the most reliable robot vacuum models for two decades. More than 20 Roombas have come out since the first one hit homes in 2002, but if you're looking for the best Roomba today, there are only a handful of models you need to know in 2025.

iRobot randomly released a ton of new Roombas this spring

iRobot released four new Roomba series in March 2025, deviating from its (unofficial) summer release schedule. I think iRobot had two reasons to hurry: the spring release of the top robot vacuums from CES and the company's rocky financial situation. As someone who tests robot vacuums for a living, I'll be the first to tell you that Roombas were flopping in a sea of smarter, more fairly-priced robot vacs from the likes of Roborock and Shark.

SEE ALSO: Shark vs. Roomba: Comparing top-rated robot vacuum lineups

The new Roomba 105, Roomba 205, Roomba Plus 405, and Roomba Plus 505 series are further broken down into eight total models, many with completely different physical designs that don't scream "classic Roomba."

iRobot is playing catch-up with its competition, and for the first time, you can buy Roombas that use LiDAR for smart mapping, Roombas with dual spinning mopping pads, and a Roomba that compacts its own dust rather than self-emptying. Despite such innovations, the new 2025 Roombas are surprisingly affordable, especially compared to debut prices of past Roombas.

With all of these new Roombas thickening the plot, the same old question remains: "Which Roomba is the best?" I've tested nearly every Roomba released since 2019, and I'm regularly updating this guide as I test the 2025 models at home. After comparing suction, pet hair pickup, mopping, smart mapping, small obstacle detection, and price, I chose the Roombas that offer the best value for different types of households.

How to tell the difference between the Roomba models

The iRobot Roomba 105. The Roomba Combo i5+. The Roomba Combo j7+ (not to be confused with the Roomba j7). The arbitrary numbers and letters of the Roomba family tree are confusing at face value, but we can teach you.

When shopping for a Roomba, you'll choose from what I call iRobot's core lineup: the group of three to five Roomba series sold on iRobot's website. Any Roomba whose title includes a letter and a number (like j9+ or i5) or the word Max is more advanced than a Roomba with just numbers in the title (like 105, 205, or 692) or just words (like Roomba Vac or Essential).

A plus sign (like j9+) denotes that the model comes with a self-emptying dock, and Roombas that mop will have "Combo" in the title. "Max" is a new Roomba term introduced with the Roomba Combo 10 Max — it refers to the ability of a hybrid Roomba to wash and dry its own mopping pad within the self-empty dock. On the other end of the spectrum, "Essential" means "most basic" in the Roomba family, meaning no smart mapping.

Other Roombas I've tested

I've tested several Roombas that are no longer main players in the Roomba guide for 2025. The Roomba Combo j9+ doesn't wash or dry its mopping pad, and is simply too expensive to be worth buying over its siblings like the Roomba Combo 10 Max, Roomba Plus 505. or Roomba Max 705. Plus, the j9's increasing obsoleteness has pretty much halted its ability to get a noteworthy discount nowadays.

I have also removed any 600 series Roombas from this guide for a similar reason: They just can't compete with the newer cheap Roombas that have stronger suction and smart mapping. When I tested the Roomba 694, it pissed me off more than it impressed. The Roomba 694 and Roomba 692 are hard to find in stock, anyway, and it's rarely for less than the Roomba 105 (my new top pick for the best cheap Roomba).

SAVE $220: As of June 19, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is on sale for $579 at Amazon. That's a 28% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 $579 at Amazon
$799 Save $220 Get Deal

You really can't go wrong with a portable power station. Whether you want to stay connected on camping trips or just want to be prepared for emergencies, having a power source stashed away is always smart.

And as of June 19, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is on sale for $579. With this discounted price, you'll be saving over $200 on list price.

SEE ALSO: Slash $550 off the DJI Power 1000 portable power station ahead of Amazon Prime Day

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 is a seriously strong power source. It provides a 1,500W AC output (with a 3,000W surge), so it can run things like fridges, electric pots, and even AC units. It weighs just 23.8 lbs and features a foldable handle, so it’s perfect for camping trips and road adventures.

Charging is also quick. You'll only need one hour to go from 0 to 100%, with emergency charging enabled in the Jackery App (or 1.7 hours on the standard mode). And for charging ports, it has all you need. This model benefits from USB-C, USB-A, AC outlets, a car port, and LED lights, and supports fast USB-C PD 100W charging.

Grab this bargain from Amazon before it all gets silly for Prime Day.

The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $99.00 (List Price $99.99)

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $74.99 (List Price $99.00)

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (Wi-Fi, 40mm, S/M Green) — $199.99 (List Price $299.99)

SpaceX's Starship has experienced another "rapid unscheduled disassembly," exploding in a spectacularly large fireball on Wednesday night. The vehicle didn't even get off the ground this time either.

SEE ALSO: SpaceX's ninth Starship test flight ends in another explosion

The enormous explosion occurred at SpaceX's Starbase launch site in Brownsville, Texas, where Starship 36 had been undergoing its second routine static fire test. Such tests are trial runs of a vehicle's launch system, fuelling it up and briefly firing its engines without disengaging the launch mount.

Unfortunately, this particular trial run did not go as planned at all, with the fortunately unmanned Starship 36 meeting a fiery end shortly after 11:00 p.m. local time (9:00 p.m. PDT / Friday, 12:00 a.m. EDT). No injuries have yet been reported, and local police have stated that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the explosion.

The explosion and aftermath were livestreamed by NASASpaceflight (occurring around one hour and 56 minutes in), with the Starship's catastrophic failure turning the entire screen white.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"So about those launch dates, I think that may delay [them] a bit," NASASpaceflight's livestream commentator Sawyer Rosenstein noted seconds after the explosion.

Starship 36 was expected to be used during SpaceX's tenth Starship test flight, though a date has not yet been set for the launch. Considering Wednesday's events, it wouldn't be surprising if SpaceX now opts to push back its plans.

The official SpaceX X account also acknowledged the incident, reiterating that nobody appears to have been harmed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"On Wednesday, June 18 at approximately 11 p.m. CT, the Starship preparing for the tenth flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase," SpaceX wrote. "A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for. 

"Our Starbase team is actively working to safe the test site and the immediate surrounding area in conjunction with local officials. There are no hazards to residents in surrounding communities, and we ask that individuals do not attempt to approach the area while safing operations continue."

The loss of Starship 36 is likely an unwanted setback for SpaceX. The company's ninth Starship test flight previously ended in an unplanned explosion last month, and was its third such flight to explode in a row. While every failure is always a chance to learn, these are no doubt extremely expensive lessons.

TL;DR: Online safety for the whole family is easy with this lifetime AdGuard Family Plan, now just £11.87 with code FAMPLAN.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription £11.87
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The internet isn’t just cluttered with ads; there are also trackers and other hidden threats. AdGuard keeps you safe online by blocking intrusive ads, stopping trackers, and safeguarding your privacy across all your devices.

Right now, you can grab lifetime protection for the whole crew with the AdGuard Family Plan. Cover up to nine devices for only £11.87 (reg. £126.31) with code FAMPLAN.

Enjoy a safer and smoother browsing experience

The internet should be fun, not frustrating. AdGuard tackles the most annoying parts of online life, like pop-ups, autoplay videos, and banner ads, so that you can enjoy your time browsing, streaming, and scrolling again.

Aside from blocking ads, AdGuard also protects your privacy. Your information will stay safe from trackers and activity analysers, and you'll be shielded from malware and phishing websites that you or your family members could fall victim to. 

Moms and dads will love AdGuard's parental control feature, which keeps your kids safe from inappropriate content online.

This Family Plan lets you protect up to nine devices with AdGuard, so you can make sure everyone's devices stay safe. And it works with Android and iOS operating systems alike, so it can be used on tablets, smartphones, and laptops. 

Secure your own AdGuard Family Plan for life for just £11.87 with code FAMPLAN.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly in the 2025 Club World Cup for free on DAZN. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The second round of 2025 Club World Cup fixtures kicks off with Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly. Every team in Group A is tied on one point after the first round of fixtures, so a spot in the knockout rounds is up for grabs for both of these teams.

If you want to watch Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly in the 2025 Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly?

Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly in the 2025 Club World Cup kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on June 19. This fixture takes place at the MetLife Stadium.

How to watch Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly for free

Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly in the 2025 Club World Cup is available to live stream for free on DAZN.

The Club World Cup is free to stream all around the world, but if you're having problems accessing this streaming platform on your network, you can consider using a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so that you can secure access to free live streams from anywhere in the world.

Unblock free live streams of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access to DAZN

4. Visit DAZN

5. Stream the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly in the 2025 Club World Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream the Club World Cup before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for DAZN?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on DAZN, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly in the 2025 Club World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A noble.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

BARON

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A bodily fluid.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 19, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

LYMPH

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Forbidden.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 19 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 19, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TABOO

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Scratchy.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 19 Hurdle Word 4 answer

ITCHY

Final Hurdle hint

The "How to Get Away With Murder" actress.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

VIOLA

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Finding a good table lamp is not something you think about a lot until you start getting older, but while there are many simpler options, why not allow yourself to get something a tad higher tech? Now, Govee has just launched a neat lil' table lamp, with a party trick that sounds really good (literally).

TL;DR: Live stream Suriname vs. Mexico in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free on YouTube. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Suriname may have lost their opening 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup game against Costa Rica, but they came away with a lot of credit. There is no shame in losing 4-3 to a strong side like Costa Rica.

It doesn't exactly get any easier for Suriname in a tough Group A. Next up they face Mexico, a team fancied by many to go all the way.

If you want to watch Suriname vs. Mexico in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Suriname vs. Mexico?

Suriname vs. Mexico in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup kicks off at 10 p.m. ET on June 18. This fixture takes place at the AT&T Stadium.

How to watch Suriname vs. Mexico for free

Suriname vs. Mexico in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup is available to live stream for free on YouTube.

These free live stream is not available all around the world, but fans in excluded territories can still watch this game for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Concacaf Gold Cup from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy

4. Visit YouTube

5. Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Suriname vs. Mexico (plus the rest of the tournament) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for YouTube?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on YouTube, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Italy

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Control your Steam Deck with your Mac, Windows, or Linux PC to avoid using on-screen keyboards and tiny trackpads. Share a clipboard and seamlessly move from one screen to another, wirelessly and over the local network. It’s free and easy set up, here’s how.

On Wednesday, June 18, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced it had seized $225 million in cryptocurrency connected to pig butchering scams. The seizure involves funds stolen from 400 victims worldwide, and as CNBC reports, it's the largest-ever seizure of its kind.

A pig butchering scam is a common type of online scam in which cybercriminals gain a victim's trust and then convince them to invest in a fake crypto investment opportunity. It's a cruel, crude, crypto con, but one that can be extraordinarily effective.

SEE ALSO: The top internet scams to be aware of in 2025 (so far)

Such swindles can involve elements of other scams we've written about at Mashable before, such as tech support scams or romance scams. In a typical pig butchering example, a cybercriminal spends time gaining the trust of a victim, in the same way that a farmer might fatten up a pig before slaughter. Once trust is established, the con artists trick their victims into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes or similar "investment" opportunities. And if the criminals gain access to your financial information, they can wipe out your bank account entirely.

This is a truly international problem. The Canadian Department of Financial Protection and Innovation warns consumers that a pig butchering scam "refers to the agricultural practice of fattening pigs before slaughter, symbolizing how scammers 'fatten' their victims with false attention before exploiting them financially."

Because pig butchering scams are now an international, billion-dollar industry, consumers should educate themselves on how these scams work and how to keep themselves safe online.

How do pig butchering scams work?

These confidence scams can involve a variety of different techniques, but they typically prey on older Americans or lonely people who spend a lot of time online. The criminals might pose as a handsome man or a beautiful woman. If you're going through a divorce, they'll eagerly tell you about their own bitter divorce. Many times, these criminals will pose as American servicemembers or offshore oil rig workers. They'll send fake photos and loving messages, and victims often believe they have a true friendship or deep romantic relationship with the scammers.

Over time, they convince the victim to invest money in a cryptocurrency asset or investment. They may show fake "proof" such as bank statements to make the opportunity seem legitimate. Often, they invite you to an app or platform showing impressive monetary gains, and the platform may even look very convincing. There's just one problem — while you can put money into the platform, you'll never be able to withdraw.

Once they've stolen everything they can from a victim, they move on to the next one.

Often, victims are 100 percent convinced they're dealing with a trusted friend, or even that their life may be in danger if they don't continue to send funds. That's what makes these scams so insidious.

Who is responsible for pig butchering scams? Credit: Punnawit Suwuttananun / Moment via Getty Images

Scams like this now occur at an industrial scale. There are entire scam compounds located in countries such as India, the Philippines, and Myanmar, often connected to international cartels, criminal organizations, and militias.

Mashable previously reported on sanctions against Myanmar warlord Saw Chit Thu, who U.S. officials connected to cyberfraud and human trafficking networks. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Saw Chit Thu and his militia, the Karen National Army, ran multibillion-dollar scam centers built on forced labor. At these scam centers, teams of cybercriminals target Americans by phone, text, email, social media, and dating apps.

That's why it's so important to be wary of calls, emails, texts, and direct messages from strangers.

As we've reported before, wrong number scam texts are often a test. If the victim responds, the scammers know they may be more likely to be victimized in the future.

Pig butchering scams evolve over time

Remember, scammers are adaptive, changing their techniques as people catch onto their tricks. We reported in 2023 on a woman who lost $450,000 in a pig butchering romance scam, and two years later, these crimes are still happening at an alarming rate.

In addition, the introduction of generative AI technologies increases the risk. It's now relatively easy to create lifelike videos and audio. That handsome stranger sending you selfies and video messages could actually be a criminal using artificial intelligence to gain your trust.

To protect yourself from pig butchering scams, watch out for warning signs, such as:

• Scammers may encourage you to move conversations from email or phone to messaging apps like WhatsApp or Signal.

• Beware time-sensitive investment opportunities; scammers will try to create a false sense of urgency.

• Be extra cautious of any requests to send money via Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.

• When talking to strangers online, don't assume they're telling the truth about their identity.

• Instead of "trust and verify," try "don't trust and also verify."

• Never purchase crypto assets for someone you've only met online.

• Never download files or click on links sent to you by strangers and unknown numbers.

• Be wary of strangers who send overly flattering messages or who share sympathetic stories about a sick child or a similar tragedy.

• People who refuse to join live video conferences or meet offline.

If you believe you have fallen victim to a pig butchering scam or a similar scheme, you can report the incident to the FBI. Save any specific details, screenshots, or transaction records to help identify the hackers.

Have a story to share about a scam or security breach that impacted you? Tell us about it. Email submissions@mashable.com with the subject line "Safety Net" or use this form. Someone from Mashable will get in touch.

"I need a shower and a lot of CBD."

Putting it lightly, this was my instant message reaction to my colleagues leaving the cinema after 28 Years Later. Fingernails bitten to hell, I was a film critic shooketh to the core after seeing director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland reunite almost 28 years following their horrifying, groundbreaking, genre-disrupting 2002 film 28 Days Later.

Since this series launched its grisly, running zombies, wildly popular series like The Walking Dead and The Last of Us, and celebrated films like Train to Busan, satisfyingly filled the undead landscape onscreen. But Garland and Boyle bring fresh scares and existential dread, reminding audiences of the legacy their 2002 hit wrought.

SEE ALSO: Should you watch '28 Days Later' and '28 Weeks Later' before '28 Years Later'?

One of the most unrelenting and scariest films of the year, 28 Years Later deserves the largest screen and sound system you can find — and serious guts. Almost three decades later, we're so back(bone). 

28 Years Later picks up in a charming safe haven Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Spike (Alfie Williams) find their mettle tested. Credit: Sony Pictures

Since the Rage Virus-infected doomed the United Kingdom in 28 Days Later, the country has been left to fester in its own pétri dish of irate contagion for about 30 years. Survivors are left to fend for themselves, with no international aid in sight. In fact, European quarantine boats patrol the surrounding seas making sure Britain knows where its own damned perimeter is (the word "Brexit" does not come up in this film, but come on…). In this doomscape, a small community has fortified an island off the coast of England, protected from the undead by the tides, sturdy walls, and a wealth of traditional grassroots design (thanks to production and costume designers Carson McColl and Gareth Pugh).

Key resources for "Holy Island" lie on the mainland, a place deemed a rite of passage for younger residents to visit, including 12-year-old Spike (a solemn, raw performance from newcomer Alfie Williams). There's just one rule: If you leave and don't return, no one is allowed to venture across the causeway and rescue you. While his mother, Isla (an exceptional Jodie Comer), lies undiagnosed with illness and enduring her own private hell, Spike and his father, Jamie (an intense and sweary Aaron Taylor-Johnson) venture to the mainland for some father-son bonding and find nothing awry at all. Everything's peachy! Yeah, this is a 28 Days film, you know it's not.

On the mainland, Spike and Jamie find their mettle tested in myriad dreadful ways. As expected, these rolling English hills are flush with infected, bloodthirsty humans, some of whom have unexpectedly evolved into new variations including the petrifying "Alphas". But there's smoke on the horizon, with the mystery of this ever-burning fire tempting Spike's curiosity further from the safety of his island home.

28 Years Later is brutal in every sense of the word You'll want to be back on that island pretty damn quick. Credit: Sony Pictures

As a zombie film following in the footsteps of one of the most celebrated, brutal, and barbarous horror films of the 2000s, 28 Years Later holds nothing back on the violence scale, tween protagonist be damned! Boyle and Garland pull more than one skull-attached spine out of the hat throughout the film, throwing explosive blood spatters across television sets playing the Teletubbies, and teasing a mountain of skulls looming ahead, each moment a visceral strike for the viewer.

This dizzying onscreen violence is bolstered by Boyle's signature brand of disruptive filmmaking. In one of the most striking sequences of the film, Boyle and editor Jon Harris take what might be a simple scene of Spike's first moments on the mainland and turn it into a frenetic, splintered montage. Intercut with father and son marching across an abandoned beach is a barrage of archival footage of child soldiers, clips from Laurence Olivier's 1944 Shakespeare adaptation Henry V (a movie "conceived as a wartime morale-booster" for British audiences during World War II), and the urgent, desperate voiceover of British writer Rudyard Kipling's 1903 war poem "Boots," which was also used in the film's riveting trailer. 

SEE ALSO: 20 of the best British horror films

It's a distressing, abrasive, political sequence promising horrifying violence, shattered innocence, and national collapse. Even if you can't place the references in the footage you can feel the dread. At the film's start, Boyle has you both unsure and knowing full well what's to come, and it ain't good for Spike and his family.

Masterful and inventive cinematography makes 28 Years Later horrifically immersive Uh, hey... Credit: Sony Pictures

Doyle reteams with cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle, who employed a famously rogue use of digital camcorders for both extreme close-ups and lonely wide shots in 28 Days Later. His new innovation is a mix of cameras that include a flotilla of 20 adapted iPhone 15s to create a bullet-time effect on some moments of pivotal violence, recalling the mind-blowing effect in The Matrix. Using these handheld devices all rigged up, Mantle deploys both distorted and awe-inspiring camera angles using Boyle's beloved sprawling 2.76:1 widescreen aspect ratio. 

Vile close-ups of the infected slurping away on various fleshy business deliver all the juicy disgust of Dennis Quaid eviscerating prawns in The Substance. However, Mantle also offers magnificent and terrifying wide shots of our protagonists roaming about the English countryside, akin to those incredible shots of Cillian Murphy wandering through an empty London in the first film. Such a wide frame urges us to recognize how exposed the survivor is in this feral terrain, the constant threat from a grisly death could be behind any tree or over the horizon — or, most terrifyingly, on the horizon. And supporting such fear is the superb sound design from Young Fathers. 

28 Years Later wields sound design like a terrible, euphoric weapon It's honestly hard to tell where the diegetic sound starts and ends. Credit: Sony Pictures

Besides the stalking Alphas, 28 Years Later has another villain in Young Fathers. The Scottish hip-hop trio does not appear in the film, but they bring their signature experimental style to a hypnotic and merciless score that functions as an omnipresent threat. Their soundtrack simultaneously hums like a revving vehicle, flickers like a crow pecking at remains, shrieks like a human pursued by some grotesquerie, and echoes like an unidentified beast caterwauling into the night. 

With such sinister sounds, the verdant peace of the English countryside is pulverised, and also by the guttural screams of the livid undead. It's honestly hard to tell where the diegetic sound starts and ends, a state that becomes perilous when it comes to the film's outrageous bombardment of effective jump scares. It's a deeply affecting experience, the score and foley functioning as symbiotic beings, with one often indistinguishable from the other and forming one living, breathing entity. Thudding footsteps run parallel to booming drums, screeches and squawks blend with plucked strings, amalgamating into one out-of-body wall of sound that's impossible to escape. It all feels doomed, like the end is extremely fucking nigh — and yet Boyle finds a path of hope in the most unexpected place. 

In a landscape heaving with zombie apocalypse media from The Walking Dead to The Last of Us, 28 Years Later manages to declare its footing as an original monster. Magnificently shot, ruthlessly edited, and outrageously scored, it's a rambunctious, grisly, human tale of survival. 

Boyle and Garland, with their impeccably talented team and a magnificent cast — led by the young and wondrous Williams — manage to both connect their original creation with the present and forge a terrifying new landscape, one that will stress you out and make a meal of your own fingernails.

28 Years Later his cinemas June 20.

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Summer is the best time to explore all the delicious streaming services and the feasts they have to offer. With new content constantly releasing this season, you might be left wondering which is the best streaming choice for the next few months. I'm here to help with that.

Not that long ago, major tech companies could be counted on as vocal allies of the LGBTQ community. Household names like Amazon, Google, and Meta made their stances particularly known during Pride Month, during which they'd publish celebratory blog updates or social media posts.

This year, however, some of these companies have muted their support, posting fewer times or not at all.

The shift comes amidst heightened political pressure by the Trump administration on private companies to fully reject diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) language and initiatives. Beyond the tech industry, companies like Anheuser-Busch and Deloitte have scaled back or eliminated their annual support of Pride festivities, according to the New York Times.

SEE ALSO: Tinder adds Pride profile stickers for LGBTQ users and allies

In order to gauge how the tech industry is, or isn't, acknowledging the occasion, Mashable reviewed newsroom and social media posts published by Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok, for June 2024 and the first half of June 2025. We focused on the companies' main accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.

Mashable also contacted each company to comment on our findings. We invited them to provide additional content that may have appeared on other platforms, including LinkedIn and Threads; share whether more posts may be forthcoming in June; and highlight internal Pride messaging for employees.

While some companies, like Apple, TikTok, and Microsoft, appear so far to have maintained their commitment to publicly recognizing Pride, advocates have noticed the silence from other corporations. (Scroll down to see our findings in detail.)

View this post on Instagram

Most notably, Amazon and Meta — the latter being the parent company of brands including Facebook and Instagram — have been quiet on Pride during June, so far.

Neither company has acknowledged Pride via their corporate newsrooms. Nor have they done so on their popular Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok social media accounts.

Google, which recognized Pride frequently in 2024 with multiple social media posts, appears to have acknowledged it once as of mid-June. YouTube, which is owned by Google, celebrated Pride last year with a newsroom post on the occasion, but hasn't published anything yet in June. Earlier this year, YouTube removed "gender identity and expression" from its hate speech policy, which protects certain groups of people from harassment.

Google declined to respond to Mashable's request for comment about its Pride content.

Standing for "freedom and inclusion"

A spokesperson for GLAAD, a nonprofit organization that monitors media and cultural representation of LGBTQ people and issues, indicated that the pullback on Pride messaging is alarming.

"Tech companies should stand up for inclusive values all year round, but especially during Pride month," a GLAAD spokesperson told Mashable. "They’re missing out on reaching millions of LGBTQ people and our allies when they fail to stand up for the commonly held values of freedom and inclusion."

The spokesperson noted that the lack of engagement around Pride follows discouraging policy decisions that advocates believe put LGBTQ people at greater risk for online harm.

Meta, for example, revised its Hateful Conduct policy earlier this year by dropping rules that protected LGBTQ people. As a result, Facebook, Threads, and and Instagram users are now permitted to call gay people "mentally ill." Meta also removed its LGBTQ Pride themes from Messenger in January.

The changes occurred in advance of President Trump's 2025 inauguration, and in tandem with statements from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg that the company would favor free speech over enforcing longstanding guidelines meant to create safe online spaces, including for LGBTQ people. A new report from GLAAD found those changes have increased harmful content and harassment.

Whereas Meta previously posted regularly during Pride Month via its corporate newsroom and social media platforms, the company hasn't mentioned the occasion yet. Last year, the company marked the start of Pride Month with a post on June 1 honoring its own employees. "Get ready for a month of love, acceptance, and celebration at Meta!" the post read.

View this post on Instagram

Meta did not respond to Mashable's requests to comment on its approach to Pride this year.

Amazon, which also once reliably posted about Pride Month, has been quiet. In 2024, the company shared a celebratory message on LinkedIn, featuring a carousel of employee images and a supportive message, complete with both Pride and trans flags: "Love who you want to love. Be who you want to be. Here's to equality. Here's to Pride. 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️"

No such messaging has appeared on its social media accounts this year, nor has the company dedicated a newsroom post about Pride since 2023.

When contacted for comment by Mashable, Amazon said that it recognizes cultural moments and celebrations throughout the year, both with employees and publicly, but did not mention Pride specifically. It also reiterated its commitment to building a "diverse and inclusive company," which Amazon cites in a list of "positions" on top issues, like climate change and immigration reform.

"The LGBTQ community will remember"

Importantly, most of these tech companies have scored high on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index, a multi-faceted measure of corporate policies and practices that relate to LGBTQ employees and outreach to the LGBTQ community. The index takes into account whether U.S.-based companies have inclusive benefits and adopt nondiscrimination policies, among other factors.

Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft all received perfect 100 scores in the 2025 index, which was based on data collected in 2024. TikTok, which is not a U.S.-based company, did not participate in last year's survey.

RaShawn Hawkins, senior director of HRC's Workplace Equality Program, told Mashable that the index can be a valuable way for consumers to gauge whether a company supports LGBTQ people year-round. But she was also troubled by the fact that some companies are distancing themselves from Pride, and DEI in general.

"Don't expect us to come running, open arms, back into your business when you decide to be with us again." - RaShawn Hawkins, senior director of the Workplace Equality Program at the Human Rights Campaign

She attributed their reticence partly to business pressures in light of the Trump administration's executive order forbidding federal contractors from engaging in DEI-related practices, and threatening legal action against companies that engage in "illegal DEI discrimination and preferences." Yet Hawkins also noted that amidst the political chaos and uncertainty, there's been a "lot of self-preservation inside the coalition, in the movement."

Hawkins said that it's important for the queer community to find ways of "knowing who's there for us, and who isn't," adding that corporations may very well face backlash for certain choices.

"Any short-sided or knee-jerk reaction that a business is making right now, the American people will remember, the LGBTQ community will remember," said Hawkins. "Don't expect us to come running, open arms, back into your business when you decide to be with us again."

Mashable will update the following list of Pride content shared by the companies we reviewed should new posts appear before the end of June 2025.

Amazon

In years past, Amazon routinely recognized Pride Month via its corporate newsroom. The last time it did so was in 2023, when it featured series and movies on Prime Video that celebrated "the LGBTQIA+ community."

When contacted for comment by Mashable, Amazon said that it values cultural moments, celebrations, and building a "diverse and inclusive company," but did not address specific questions about Pride content.

Check out Amazon's TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X accounts. Though Mashable did not review LinkedIn posts for each tech company, you can find Amazon's account here.

Apple 

On June 1, Apple promoted its regular #ShotoniPhone campaign with a carousel of Instagram images featuring queer creators. The company pinned that post, with a simple prompt of "Celebrate Pride," to the top of its grid. Last year, Apple marked Pride Month with a different installment of #ShotoniPhone that highlighted the work of nine queer photographers.

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Earlier in May of this year, Apple launched its 2025 Pride collection of various products designed with rainbow striping. The newsroom post also noted that the company is "proud to financially support organizations that serve LGBTQ+ communities."

Apple did not respond to Mashable's request for comment.

Check out Apple's TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X accounts.

Google

In 2024, Google recognized Pride several times on social media. The company's activity included a pointedly political Doodle of Jeanne Córdova, a Chicana lesbian activist, feminist, and author, as well as Facebook posts highlighting LGBTQ+ voices and storytelling about the Pride flag. A newsroom post published in early June catalogued eight ways to "find Pride" with Google. The Google platform YouTube also featured a series on LGBTQ+ creators.

"Beyond the 30 days of Pride Month, the LGBTQ+ Creators on YouTube inspire, inform and support users all year round," said a 2024 YouTube blog post about the initiative. "We are committed to fostering a space where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to be their authentic selves."

While Google has acknowledge Pride this year, its messaging has been noticeably muted compared to last year.

View this post on Instagram

There's no YouTube blog post or promoted series, or multiple social media posts, though a brief Google newsroom writeup offers users ways to "connect" with Pride celebrations. This year's Doodle, shared on Instagram and elsewhere, honors hyperpop and LGBTQ+ musical artists. As of this story's publication, Google has yet to share any other Pride content on social media or its newsroom. The company declined to provide a response to Mashable's request for comment.

Check out Google's TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X accounts.

Meta

As detailed above, Meta's recognition of Pride has shifted significantly. The company has previously noted the occasion in newsroom blog posts, as well as on its social media channels. So far, Meta has been silent.

San Francisco Pride also ended its relationship with the company in advance of its 2025 celebration, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The company didn't respond to Mashable's request for comment.

Check out Meta's TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X accounts.

Microsoft

Microsoft has appeared to stay consistent with its Pride messaging this year. In mid-June of 2024, Microsoft shared a celebratory Instagram post to mark the occasion, along with an in-depth newsroom blog post and dedicated Pride storytelling hub.

This year, it again posted to Instagram to honor Pride, and linked back to a splashy campaign called "The Code of Us," which elevates "the voices and experiences of LGBTQIA+ communities." It has since promoted the campaign twice more on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A Microsoft spokesperson said these and other social posts, including on Threads and LinkedIn, are part of the company's broader Pride 2025 strategy, and that more social content is planned for June.

Check out Microsoft's TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X accounts.

TikTok

In 2024, TikTok debuted a roundup of "Visionary Voices," which featured "LGBTQIA+ creators who continue to inspire, educate, and make an impact." It also shared Pride content on its Live US account, in addition to cross-posting some of that media on Instagram.

While TikTok did launch a "You Belong Here" campaign to mark Pride 2025, there are no more Visionary Voices. However, it did share Pride content from a number of creators via its TikTokCreators account that has millions of followers, and posted similarly on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A spokesperson for TikTok told Mashable that the company takes a year-round approach to supporting LGBTQIA+ creators and employees. Part of that work, the spokesperson said, includes #PrideTikTok community creator programming, and an internal Pride employee resource group that promotes inclusion, allyship, and professional development.

Check out TikTok's TikTok Creators, Instagram, Facebook, and X accounts.

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As tech consumers we've been, well, conditioned to believe just about anything could be snuck into the lengthy and complicated terms and conditions we blindly accept. That old, quite graphic South Park episode comes to mind.

It tracks, then, that folks on TikTok are concerned about CapCut changing its terms of service (TOS). For the unaware, CapCut is a popular video editing tool owned by ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. It's sort of the default editing tool for TikTok, especially among creators who do all their own work. There were lots of posts about the CapCut terms of service change, but perhaps the most popular and complete post came from @bymilaholmes, embedded below. It's racked up more than seven million views on TikTok.

The TikTokker makes an interesting case that CapCut's new terms of service are especially onerous. The key points from the post claim: 1) CapCut gets licensing rights to all content uploaded on its platform, and 2) because you still own the copyright to your CapCut content, you can get in trouble if the company uses it inappropriately (e.g. playing a pop star's song without approval).

A quick glance at the new terms of service does reveal scary-sounding legalese like "perpetual, worldwide license."

But the concerns about CapCut's TOS may be overblown. To be clear, the language referenced by @bymilaholmes and others does exist. Here is a block of text about licenses (emphasis added) from CapCut's latest TOS, updated on June 12.

"Except as expressly provided otherwise in these Terms, you or the owner of your User Content still own the copyright and any other intellectual property rights in User Content submitted to us, but by submitting User Content via the Services, you acknowledge and agree that you allow us to upload such content to our server and hereby grant us and our affiliates, agents, services providers, partners and other connected third parties an unconditional, irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully transferable (including sub-licensable), perpetual, worldwide license to use, modify, adapt, reproduce, make derivative works of, display, publish, transmit, distribute and/or store your User Content for providing the Services for you.

You further grant us and our affiliates, agents, services providers, partners and other connected third parties a royalty-free fully transferable (including sub-licensable), worldwide license to use your username, image and likeness to identify you as the source of any of your User Content, including for use in sponsored content."

That can read quite frightening. So...does CapCut really get access to your content in perpetuity? Well, kind of, but so do many platforms. And, importantly, this language isn't new: You can find it in archived versions of the TOS. And it's also not necessarily saying the company can take your content as its own — you still own that intellectual property. However, it would allow CapCut to use your content in an ad while crediting you, for example. You've probably seen ads like this, which feature users' posts as promotion. And that's because this sort of language doesn't seem to be exceptional.

Here's an interesting TikTok breaking down that fact via @seansvv, a creator mostly devoted to examining these sorts of fine-print questions.

Creator @seansvv's main claims are that: 1) not much changed in CapCut's TOS, 2) the licensing is for features like displaying and modifying content in the app, not stealing it, and 3) the licensing is not necessarily a new phenomenon.

Search around a bit, and you'll find that this type of licensing and intellectual property language isn't unique to CapCut. Here's a block of very similar legalese in TikTok's terms of service (emphasis added).

"You or the owner of your User Content still own the copyright in User Content sent to us, but by submitting User Content via the Services, you hereby grant us an unconditional irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully transferable, perpetual worldwide licence to use, modify, adapt, reproduce, make derivative works of, publish and/or transmit, and/or distribute and to authorise other users of the Services and other third-parties to view, access, use, download, modify, adapt, reproduce, make derivative works of, publish and/or transmit your User Content in any format and on any platform, either now known or hereinafter invented.

You further grant us a royalty-free license to use your user name, image, voice, and likeness to identify you as the source of any of your User Content; provided, however, that your ability to provide an image, voice, and likeness may be subject to limitations due to age restrictions."

And here is some similar text from Instagram's term of use (emphasis added):

"We do not claim ownership of your content that you post on or through the Service and you are free to share your content with anyone else, wherever you want. However, we need certain legal permissions from you (known as a “license”) to provide the Service. When you share, post, or upload content that is covered by intellectual property rights (like photos or videos) on or in connection with our Service, you hereby grant to us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide license to host, use, distribute, modify, run, copy, publicly perform or display, translate, and create derivative works of your content (consistent with your privacy and application settings)."

Nearly a decade ago, we here at Mashable wrote about a similar clause in Facebook's terms.

That doesn't mean users have to be thrilled about all the permissions they sign away when accepting terms from major platforms. And, to be clear, there is always the chance that CapCut or other platforms use these permissions in a way users find disagreeable. Copyright and terms of service agreements are complicated and often up to interpretation. But as @seanvv said in their TikTok: "It's kind of like the barrier of entry, or the trade-off, when it comes to being able to join the platform and actually make money off of it or grow a following."

Being active online does mean agreeing to terms we might not fully comprehend or giving away rather broad licensing rights. But that doesn't necessarily mean you have to immediately find a new, non-CapCut editing tool — though there may be alternative software that doesn't require those sorts of terms.

UPDATE: Jun. 18, 2025, 4:13 p.m. EDT This story was updated with information from archived versions of CapCut's terms of service.