Just as last week was ending, the US government forced Anthropic to pull its two newest models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, citing national security concerns after Amazon researchers allegedly found a way to bypass Fable 5’s guardrails. 

Cybersecurity researchers have since signed an open letter calling the move dangerous, and Anthropic itself noted the same jailbreaks exist in other models. So is this a genuine security concern, or just the latest chapter in a messy relationship between Anthropic and the Trump administration? 

On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Anthony Ha, Sean O’Kane, and Rebecca Bellan unpack what the ban means for developers building on Anthropic’s platform and for anyone watching the IPO, why it might accidentally be good for the company, and more of the week’s headlines. 

Subscribe to Equity on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod. 

Professional car thieves have leaned on a quiet radio trick for years to slip past keyless entry systems. Mark Rober, the former NASA engineer known for his glitter bomb videos and hands-on builds, wanted to see exactly how that trick works and whether regular people could defend against it. His latest experiment delivers a clear answer on both fronts.

Rober started by buying a customized relay attack device from a dark net seller accessed through Tor for $12,000 in Bitcoin. Rober believed the risk was worthwhile and put the expensive gadget through a series of preliminary tests after the source provided him with detailed instructions and a warning about self-destruct capabilities in case anyone became too inquisitive. This worked since it could unlock and even start a car, but it took some time and required periodic signal frequency modifications.

When you deconstruct the technology behind these devices, it becomes pretty straightforward. The majority of modern cars transmit a low-pitched radio signal every few seconds to determine whether the accompanying key fob is nearby. When the fob receives the signal and answers with the right code, the car recognizes that the owner is close enough to start the engine or unlock the doors. This is exploited by thieves who creep up on the vehicle and send a louder signal in the direction of the fob, which might be anywhere, such as inside a home or an office. The fob replies as if it is right next to the vehicle.

Rober was determined to make the same car-unlocking device faster and less expensive. He went to a local store, bought a cheap, basic baby monitor for only $12, and tore it up right away. The wireless components of the monitor are ideal for handling that kind of signal, so he tinkered with them to get them to pick up the car’s signal and then rebroadcast it at full blast just next to the fob. He spent less than $200 on his do-it-yourself version, which was a fraction of the price of a real one.

After that, Rober began testing his creation. He would move the antenna around and adjust the power levels in suburban areas until he could consistently unlock the car in ten seconds. After that, he advanced to real-world trials in a controlled setting. Additionally, he was able to obtain a CT scan of the original device without activating its self-destruct features, which greatly aided him in determining which components are truly essential and which may be replaced with less expensive baby monitor technology.

The clincher came when he took the device for a ride in a brand new 2026 Hyundai Sonata, courtesy of streamer JasonTheWeen. Rober got into the car and hotwired it during a Twitch live stream while Jason was busy gaming; since the entire process was being seen by a live audience, it was a slam dunk proof of concept. Later, as promised, Rober presented Jason with a spanking new Rivian.

Then Rober became a little more mischevious, stashing a Sonata with a dozen GPS trackers buried inside in a dangerous neighborhood with a reputation of snatch-and-grab auto thefts. He left it there for five days to see what would happen if someone decided to try their luck – and sure enough, they did. The tracker data revealed that after receiving a parking penalty, the automobile wound up in an impound yard, where a high-definition camera filmed a youngster driving it away.

Rober was first interested in seeing the hack in action, but he soon began to consider how to prevent it from happening again. He discovered that you can effectively stop a relay by simply placing the fob in a metal tin or wrapping it in aluminum foil; bam, the signal is blocked. Problem fixed. Although Rober discovered a few additional solutions to the problem, he also learned that some car manufacturers, such as Kia, are willing to send out free software updates to close the gap.

Microsoft has released a new Insider Preview update for the modern Windows 11 Media Player. However, the app is facing criticism after tests revealed it uses more memory and opens local video files more slowly than the classic 17-year-old Windows Media Player.

The update adds some useful fixes, including better captions, clearer codec errors, and improved file recognition. But the biggest complaints remain higher RAM usage and paid codec support for some common video formats. The update is not available to everyone yet. Media Player version 11.2605.14.0 has only arrived on Experimental Insider builds as part of Microsoft’s June 12 Insider Preview releases.

What’s new in Media Player?

The update brings several small but practical changes. Caption styling now follows Windows system caption settings, so users can adjust font size, color, and background from the operating system. Media Player also shows an indexing banner when it is scanning a fresh media library, which should make it clearer why some songs or videos are not showing up yet.

Microsoft has also improved file recognition to reduce playback errors, added clearer missing codec messages, blocked unnamed playlists, fixed a crash linked to play queue editing, and cleaned up some visual issues. These are useful fixes, especially for an app that ships as the default media player on Windows 11.

Why are users unhappy?

The problem is that these fixes do not address the biggest complaints. According to Windows Latest, the modern Media Player used around 377MB of RAM while idle, compared with about 103.4MB for the legacy Windows Media Player. The newer app also took longer to open a local video file in testing.

For a modern piece of software, this is a bad look. Opening and playing a local video should be one of the easiest things a media player does. If Microsoft’s newer app is slower at that than the version that shipped with Windows 7 nearly 17 years ago, something has clearly gone wrong.

The codec situation is another frustration. HEVC, also known as H.265, is now common on phones, including iPhones and many Android devices. But Windows users may need Microsoft’s paid HEVC Video Extensions app from the Store to play those files in Media Player. The extension costs $0.99.

There is some context here. HEVC is tied to patent licensing, and Microsoft has to account for royalties. Even so, the user experience is not great. Someone can shoot a video on a modern phone, move it to a Windows machine, and then be asked to pay extra just to play it in Microsoft’s own media app. Fortunately, Windows users are not stuck with that setup. Free alternatives like VLC Media Player and MPV can play HEVC videos without requiring Microsoft’s paid codec extension.

Windows 11 version 24H2 has also removed built-in AC-3 support, which can affect Dolby Digital audio playback. For now, the update shows Microsoft is improving Media Player, but the app needs to be faster, lighter, and less dependent on paid codec add-ons to win users over.

Like every piece of gear you wear on your body day in and day out, fitness trackers are incredibly personal. The right tracker for you should be comfortable, accurate, and tailored to your lifestyle, including your preferred workouts and health goals. Do you bike, row, or strength train? Do you run on trails for hours at a time, or do you just want a reminder to stand up every hour? Do you want to wear it on your wrist or your finger, or tuck it into your sports bra?

No matter what your needs are, there’s never been a better time to find a powerful, sophisticated tool to help optimize your workouts or jump-start your routine. We test dozens of fitness trackers every year while running, climbing, hiking, or just doing workout videos on our iPads at night, to bring you these picks.

Our top choice for most people is the Garmin Vivoactive 6 ($300), which works well with Android and iOS, but we also vouch for the latest Oura Ring 5 ($399) and the budget-friendly Google Fitbit Air ($100). For more wearables, check out our guides to the Best Smartwatches, Best Smart Rings, and Best Sleep Trackers.

Best Fitness Tracker Overall

Garmin makes some of the most accurate fitness trackers on the market, and the Vivoactive 6 is the best midrange option for most people. It strikes a solid balance between smartwatch features and fitness tracking, with support for both iPhone and Android users.

Why WIRED recommends: The Vivoactive 6 is accurate, comfortable, and packed with useful wellness features without feeling overwhelming. It uses Garmin’s proprietary algorithms to power features like Morning Report and Body Battery, which provide daily insights into your sleep, recovery, and readiness. It also has built-in satellite connectivity and GPS, so you can track outdoor workouts without bringing your phone along. There’s also incident detection, which alerts emergency contacts if it detects a serious fall.

Garmin’s biggest advantage remains its free Connect platform, which enables health and fitness tracking without requiring a subscription. The company also continues to add new software features through regular updates without putting them behind a paywall.

The trade-offs: Garmin launched Connect+, a $70-per-year subscription with extras like live tracking and access to Garmin’s AI-powered Active Intelligence. Former editor Adrienne So doesn’t think most people need it, but it’s worth noting if you’re looking for a completely subscription-free experience. The Vivoactive 6 may also feel like overkill for casual users who only want basic activity and sleep tracking.

B&H’s bonus coupon drives the price of Apple’s 1TB MacBook Pro with an M5 chip down to $1,529.

The $170 total discount at B&H is in the form of a $150 instant markdown stacked with a $20 in-cart coupon.

Buy 14″ MacBook Pro M5 for $1,529

With the combined savings, the standard 1TB M5 MacBook Pro 14-inch configuration in Space Black is reduced to $1,529, which is the lowest price available per our 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 Price Guide and beats Amazon’s price by $20. Along with 1TB of storage, this configuration has 16GB of unified memory and the 10-core M5 chip.

According to B&H, supply is limited at the discounted price, so now is the time to grab the deal. B&H’s online checkout closes for 24 hours on Friday night, further limiting the window to snap up the savings.

B&H is including free 2-day shipping on this configuration as well, putting the laptop in your hands quickly. Those with B&H’s Payboo card can also take advantage of special financing or a sales tax refund in qualifying states.

You can shop even more MacBook Pro deals in our Apple Price Guides, which are updated throughout the day.

The Swift Boost rescue mission will soon head to space.