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Cybersecurity risks in water infrastructure have consequences that reach far beyond systems and networks.

Across the sector, the systems responsible for treatment and distribution are becoming more connected. Pumps, sensors and control environments that once operated in isolation are now linked to wider networks, often in the name of efficiency or modernization.

The problem is that these systems were never built with continuous exposure to cyber threats in mind and connecting them has introduced new attack surfaces that are difficult to maintain visibility of and control.

At the same time, many facilities have crept towards an increasingly blurred line between IT and operational technology (OT). Driven by incremental needs and very practical limits on systemic refresh, these systems have been added to and grown more complex over time rather than being designed securely from the ground up.

As a result, they become more tightly interconnected, with access stretching further across networks and systems than it should. Once an attacker breaches a system, it becomes far easier to move laterally across the network and get closer to critical infrastructure.

Meanwhile, cyber threats continue to encroach on the water sector, with attacks becoming increasingly frequent and their potential impact is hard to ignore. Disruptions to drinking water treatment or control systems can quickly escalate, interrupting supply or affecting water quality and, in turn, the communities that depend on them.

Structural challenges in securing water systems

Securing water infrastructure is made more difficult by the operational realities many providers face. Technology environments have expanded over time, often without dedicated cybersecurity resources growing at the same pace, making it harder to maintain consistent oversight across increasingly ageing and disparate systems.

Many organizations are also balancing modern hyper-connected digital management expectations with the ongoing operation of originally isolated, long-established systems. This places additional pressure on teams responsible for maintaining both resilience and day-to-day continuity.

Another persistent challenge is the divide between IT and operational technology (OT) teams. Because these environments have traditionally evolved separately, with different design approaches, responsibilities, priorities and expertise, they are not always closely aligned, which can slow decision-making and create gaps in visibility during an incident.

In smaller providers, cybersecurity responsibilities may sit with operational staff whose primary expertise lies in running facilities rather than managing cyber risk. Larger organizations may have more specialized cyber teams, but greater separation between functions still introduces coordination challenges and the risk of operational blind spots.

Connectivity without constraint

The growing use of cloud computing platforms and remote access tools has brought clear operational advantages to critical infrastructure like water systems. However, it has also reinforced a default position of keeping systems online at all times, often without a genuine operational imperative for continuous connectivity.

This “always-connected” approach can unnecessarily increase exposure, particularly as more assets become reachable across wider networks. Without clear control over the time windows when systems need to be accessible, organizations may be creating more risk than expected, certainly more than is required.

A stronger, resilient approach starts with recognizing that security grows by making connectivity intentional. Not every system needs to remain online continuously, and limiting unnecessary access significantly improves security outcomes.

This can be achieved by creating stronger separation between critical systems and the wider network, using controls that allow connections to be enabled only when required while maintaining essential operations. In this model, connectivity is actively managed to define resilience on demand.

Containment as a first line of defense

In the event of a vulnerability or compromise, response speed is critical, notably in environments where interconnected systems enable threats to spread rapidly across the network. Without effective connection controls in place, attackers can exploit this unconstrained accessibility to extend their reach before a full response is underway.

The ability to isolate systems in real time helps change this state. Segmenting critical parts of the network helps limit lateral movement, and deeply segmenting down to high criticality digital elements enables organizations to contain threats far more substantially and focus their efforts on speeding up the incident response.

Having this level of control helps limit the spread of disruption and supports a more structured response. It also creates clear, demonstrable evidence of how risk is being managed - something that’s becoming increasingly important as regulatory scrutiny and cyber insurance requirements become more demanding.

Moving to controlled access

The most resilient model possible with physical connection control treats access to critical systems as fully conditional. Rather than keeping them permanently online, connections can be limited to where, when and why they are required for business reasons. As risk levels change, this can be refined or tightened at will.

This lowers both risk and potential impact, minimizing loss, while preserving the flexibility required for day-to-day operations.

For water providers, deliberately managing connectivity and segmenting networks at an infrastructure level should be a priority for resilience. Clearer boundaries and reduced unnecessary access make it easier to protect infrastructure that plays a vital role in public safety.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives , our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

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2026 has been a huge year for Alan Ritchson , and he hasn’t even starred in what may be his biggest project of the year. Ritchson will reprise his role as Jack Reacher in the fourth season of the Prime Video original series, Reacher , which is based on the series of novels by Lee Child . Ritchson will also return as Jack Reacher in the first Reacher spin-off, Neagley , and he’ll return in Season 5 of the flagship show — suffice to say, Reacher isn’t going anywhere anytime soon . Ritchson also starred in one of the biggest sci-fi movies of the year, War Machine , which was released straight to streaming on Netflix back in March. After passing The Gray Man (starring Ryan Gosling ) and cracking the all-time Netflix top 10, the rumored War Machine sequel was officially greenlit.

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The biggest thing to happen in Arc Raiders recently (if you don't count the Expedition near miss ) was Embark's decision to rework the matchmaking to be more attuned to players' actions in solo, duo, and trio queues. The only problem with having better matchmaking is having to wait a bit longer in queue for the game to actually fulfil this promise.

"Starting today, we'll be testing adjustments to our matchmaking algorithm aimed at improving the quality of your matches," a dev explains in an official blog post . "One thing to note: the algorithm may take a little longer to find a match, since it's now working harder to find you a better one."

(Image credit: Embark) Hopefully, after waiting a bit longer than usual, you'll run into raiders with a similar mindset to yours when you head Topside, those that match your playstyle and squad size "making for more fair and enjoyable raids". This is thanks to the matchmaking taking into account an individual's behaviour while in different squad sizes, meaning you can be a bloodthirsty murderer in solos and a happy-go-lucky team player in squads.

So far it seems as if the biggest issue players have isn't with the matchmaking, but what it takes to get there. As always "there is room for improvement—especially during low-population hours, in certain regions, or in specific map conditions."

Ever since matchmaking was first discussed for Arc Raiders, there were those that asked why all of this was necessary when Embark could just manually split PvE and PvP via different gamemodes. If only it were that easy. But it's clear that all this effort is going into matchmaking because Embark wants players to be comfortable in their games up to a point.

Even in predominantly PvE lobbies there is still a chance of you coming across a PvPer in disguise, or just someone having a bad day—that's what keeps the suspense high and players on edge.

Regardless of intent, though, Embark clearly has its work cut out when it comes to perfecting matchmaking, and with the promises that "we're working to improve those cases" let's just hope the next stage will be speeding up the queuing process.

Arc Raiders guide : What's hot this week

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TL;DR

Philips Hue could be planning to launch an outdoor table called the Philips Hue Go XXL.

The table was originally teased as an April Fool’s joke last year.

It could be a large outdoor table, and the company could launch it in September.

Philips Hue is gearing up to launch a bunch of new lighting products, most likely at IFA Berlin in September. We’ve already reported on a possible camera to sync Hue lights to media playing on a TV, and now it seems the company could be launching some other new products as well.

According to a report from Hueblog , the company accidentally leaked the Hue Go XXL in a video recording that has since been edited. The Hue Go XXL is an outdoor table with a built-in light and was originally teased as an April Fool’s prank last year. Since then, however, an icon for the table has been spotted in the Hue app , and today’s leak hints that the company could launch it sooner rather than later.

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Subaru will end orders for mild hybrid models in Japan by fall 2026.

Emission regulations and market dynamics drive the shift to S:HEV.

The Crosstrek goes full hybrid, while the Impreza sticks to ICE.

Subaru will phase out its mild-hybrid e-BOXER powertrain this September, splitting the lineup into three camps. From that point on, the range divides between straight combustion engines, strong hybrids, and fully electric vehicles, with nothing left in between.

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The mild-hybrid 2.0-liter e-Boxer first showed up in 2018 in Japan and spread from there into Europe, Oceania, and Asia, though it never crossed into North America. Over its run it powered the Impreza, Crosstrek, and Forester, but never made it to the Levorg , Legacy, Outback, WRX and BRZ.

More: Subaru’s Cheapest New Car Is A $7,200 Kei Van With Three Pedals

Japanese outlet Nikkei reported the decision, along with a statement from Subaru: “In light of the progress in electrification and the strengthening of environmental regulations, we have reviewed our product portfolio and have decided to discontinue the mild hybrid vehicle program.”

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With the mild-hybrid unit gone, the Impreza hatchback becomes a purely gasoline-powered proposition, and the closely related Crosstrek moves to the S:HEV strong hybrid setup as its only option. Each car ends up on one side of the divide, with no overlap between them.

More: Subaru’s New Levorg Layback Hybrid Looks Like An Impreza Wagon

The Levorg Layback and the Forester offer the option between the turbo 1.8-liter engine and the S:HEV system. Finally, the regular Levorg wagon and the WRX S4 sedan stick to the turbo 2.4-liter boxer and the BRZ to its naturally-aspirated mill. As for the battery electric lineup, it includes the Solterra, Uncharted, Trailseeker, and Getaway crossovers.

The Levorg Layback and the Forester let buyers pick between the turbo 1.8-liter engine and the S:HEV system. The regular Levorg wagon and the WRX S4 sedan stick with the turbo 2.4-liter boxer, and the BRZ keeps its naturally aspirated mill. On the battery electric side, the roster covers the Solterra, Uncharted, Trailseeker, and Getaway crossovers.

Subaru Forester Touring EX (Japan)

Subaru’s S:HEV self-charging hybrid system combines a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder Boxer with a single electric motor and a battery borrowed from Toyota . However, power is transmitted to all four wheels through the mechanical Subaru Symmetrical AWD architecture rather than Toyota’s electric E-Four AWD system.

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More: Subaru Finally Admits The Getaway EV Is Delayed, And The Reason Sounds Familiar

Despite pushing deeper into electrification, Subaru isn’t abandoning enthusiast-focused combustion engines just yet. The company has confirmed three upcoming manual-transmission, gasoline-powered performance models for the near future, including a WRX hatchback, a WRX sedan, and an updated BRZ.

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The patient: A 6-year-old boy in the Netherlands

The symptoms: The child was receiving a blood transfusion as a treatment for lymphoblastic leukemia , a type of blood cancer that originates in bone marrow, when he experienced a severe allergic reaction. His blood pressure dropped, and he developed a rash. Swelling appeared around his lips, tongue and eyelids, and he had difficulty breathing. This type of allergic response, known as anaphylaxis , can be life-threatening.

What happened next: Doctors treated the patient with the hormone epinephrine (also called adrenaline), which quickly reduces tissue swelling caused by anaphylaxis while also raising blood pressure and easing restricted breathing. The child recovered after about 30 minutes.

His doctors collected blood samples immediately after the reaction, and these contained unusually high levels of a type of protein called mast-cell tryptase , which is released by certain immune cells during anaphylaxis. However, the physicians were puzzled as to what had caused the extreme reaction, they wrote in a report of the case .

The diagnosis: The patient's mother told the doctors that her child had a similar allergic response to peanuts when he was about 1 year old, and since then, they'd omitted peanuts from his diet. The doctors then contacted the five blood donors who had provided the boy's most recent transfusion, and they learned that three of the five donors had eaten handfuls of peanuts the evening before they donated blood.

A protein in peanuts called Ara h2 is one of the main allergens that set off allergic reactions in people's immune systems. One of the building blocks of the allergen, called DRP-Ara h2, takes more than 24 hours to digest and remains capable of binding to receptors and triggering an allergic response throughout that time.

To see if this allergen could have played a role in the patient's reaction, the doctors performed another blood test that detects antibodies and is used for identifying allergic sensitivities. The test confirmed that the patient was allergic to peanuts and that antibodies against Ara h2 and DRP-Ara h2m were present in his blood post-infusion. These antibodies would have been produced in response to Ara h2 entering the bloodstream.

"These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the consumption of peanuts by the donors before blood donation provided the trigger for this patient's transfusion reaction," the doctors reported.

The treatment: The patient didn't require any further treatment after the epinephrine that was administered immediately to reverse anaphylaxis.

What makes the case unique: Allergic reactions during blood transfusions are rare, although estimates of their exact frequency vary. Some estimates suggest that they occur in about 0.001% to 0.006% of transfusions, while others find they occur in 0.1% of transfusions .

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The triggers that set off these allergic responses are seldom identified. Prior to this case, other researchers suggested that blood transfusions could passively transfer food allergens from the donor to the recipient. Indeed, a growing body of evidence suggests that this may be more common than expected .

The child's response highlights the importance of identifying food allergies in people receiving blood transfusions, the child's doctors concluded, as well as the necessity of reviewing blood donors' recent diet histories to screen for potential allergens that could affect sensitive recipients.

"It is possible that allergens transferred in blood products to other patients have led to reactions that have gone unexplained and unreported," the doctors wrote in the case report.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.

Can you guess the diagnosis in these strange medical cases? Find out with our diagnostic dilemma quiz!