Technology
Is it a 3-wheeler or a 2-wheel E-scooter? How about both
Imagine a vehicle that would allow you the convenience of carrying passengers or cargo but also the agility of a scooter for zipping through traffic and parking in tight spaces.
Sounds like a dream, right?
Well, it might soon become a reality with the Surge S32, a new electric vehicle from India that can transform from a three-wheel rickshaw to a two-wheel scooter in minutes.
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Surge S32. (Surge Automobiles)
How does the electric vehicle work?
The Surge S32 is based on an innovative platform called the Advanced Modular Scaleable Electric Platform (AMSEP), which houses the batteries, motor, electronics and rear wheels of the rickshaw.
Surge S32. (Surge Automobiles)
The front part of the platform has a docking area where a two-seater scooter can be attached or detached. When the scooter is connected, its rear wheel lifts off the ground, and the rickshaw’s motor and batteries power the whole vehicle.
Surge S32 (Surge Automobiles)
When the scooter is separated, it activates its own motor and batteries and becomes a standalone vehicle. This process is called the Smart Switching Multi Powertrain (SSMP), and it only takes three minutes and a push of a button.
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Surge S32. (Surge Automobiles)
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What are the benefits of the electric vehicle?
The Surge S32 is designed to be a versatile and adaptable vehicle that can suit different needs and preferences. Depending on the situation, users can choose to drive it as a rickshaw or a scooter, or even switch between the two modes on the go.
The rickshaw mode offers more space and capacity for transporting people or goods, while the scooter mode offers more speed and maneuverability for solo or duo rides. The vehicle is also eco-friendly, as it runs on pure electricity from a battery pack and reduces emissions and noise pollution.
Surge S32 (Surge Automobiles)
MORE: DON’T JUDGE THIS SOLAR CAR JUST BY ITS SIZE
What are the options available for this vehicle?
The Surge S32 comes in four different rickshaw body types, each compatible with a specific AMSEP. The PV body has room for two passengers behind the driver; the LD body has a pickup truck-like cargo bed; the HD body has an enclosed cargo box; and the FB body has a flatbed. All of the rickshaw configurations have a top speed of 28 mph, while the scooter can reach up to 37 mph. The vehicle also has features like LED headlights, a digital dashboard, GPS navigation and a reverse camera.
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What type of driving license is required to drive this type of vehicle?
According to the company website, whether in 2-wheel or in 3-wheel mode, the Surge S32 can be driven by holders of driver’s licenses of the respective vehicle categories.
Surge S32. (Surge Automobiles)
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When will the S32 be available for purchase?
The Surge S32 is currently in the prototype stage, and there is no information on its price or availability yet. However, the company behind it, Surge Automobiles, claims that it is the world’s first segment-adapting vehicle and that it has the potential to revolutionize the transportation industry.
Kurt’s key takeaways
No doubt, the Surge S32 is a unique and innovative electric vehicle that combines the functionality of a rickshaw and a scooter in one modular platform. Its goal is to provide a flexible and convenient solution for urban mobility, catering to different needs and scenarios. The vehicle is also environmentally friendly, as it uses renewable energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
What do you think of the Surge S32? Would you like to try it out or own one? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Technology
Silksong is getting a free expansion next year
It’s still hard to believe that Hollow Knight: Silksong actually came out this year, but now, we all have a new thing to wait for: the game is getting a free expansion in 2026, titled Sea of Sorrow. Team Cherry calls it the game’s “first big expansion.”
“New areas, bosses, tools, and more!” Team Cherry says in a blog post. “Hornet’s adventures continue in our nautically themed expansion, coming free for all players next year. We’ll keep further details a secret for now, but expect additional info shortly before Hollow Knight: Silksong – Sea of Sorrow releases.”
More than 7 million people bought Silksong, according to Team Cherry, and “millions more” played on Xbox Game Pass.
The original Hollow Knight is getting updated, too. Team Cherry is working on a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of the game that “incorporates all the updates and enhancements that Silksong received on the platform: High frame-rate modes, higher resolutions, and many additional graphical effects.” Players who own the Switch version of the game will get the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition as a free update when it’s available in 2026.
Ahead of that launch, Team Cherry says it will be “updating all versions of the original game for current platforms, adding features and fixing bugs.” Those changes include “full 16:10 and 21:9 aspect ratio support for those of you with Steam Decks or ultrawide monitors,” and PC players can try the new updates in public beta.
Technology
Petco confirms major data breach involving customer data
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Petco revealed a data breach that exposed sensitive customer information. The company disclosed the details in state filings after identifying a configuration in one of its software applications that made certain files accessible online. This issue has now been corrected, but the impact is significant.
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THIRD-PARTY BREACH EXPOSES CHATGPT ACCOUNT DETAILS
Petco disclosed a breach that exposed customer data after a software setting left files accessible online. (Photographer: Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
What Petco says the breach exposed
According to reports filed with the Texas attorney general’s office, the exposed data included names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account details, credit or debit card numbers and dates of birth. Filings in California, Massachusetts and Montana confirm additional affected residents.
In California, companies must report breaches involving at least 500 state residents. Petco did not disclose the exact number, which suggests the real total is higher. For context, Petco said in 2022 that it served more than 24 million customers.
Petco says the company sent notifications to individuals whose information was involved. The sample notice released by the California attorney general explains that a software setting allowed certain files to be accessible online. Petco says it removed those files, corrected the setting and added new security measures.
The company is offering free credit and identity theft monitoring to victims in California, Massachusetts and Montana. It is not clear if similar support is being offered to affected Texas residents.
We reached out to Petco for comment, and a representative provided CyberGuy with the following statement,
“We recently identified a setting in one of our applications which inadvertently made certain Petco files accessible online. Upon identifying the issue, we took immediate steps to correct the error and began an investigation. We notified individuals whose information was involved and continue to monitor for further issues. We take this incident seriously. To help prevent something like this from happening again, we have taken and will continue to take steps to enhance the security of our network.”
What this breach means for you
A breach that exposes government IDs, financial numbers and birth dates creates long-term risks. Criminals use this mix of information to open accounts, take over existing ones or try to pass identity checks. Even if no fraud happens right away, exposed data can sit in criminal markets for years.
Ways to stay safe after a breach like this
You can take several steps today that help lower your risk and protect your identity going forward.
1) Place a credit freeze
A freeze blocks new credit accounts in your name. It also stops criminals from opening loans or credit cards with your stolen information. You can freeze your credit for free at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
2) Add two more freezes
Two additional freezes cover accounts that do not run through the major credit bureaus. Freeze ChexSystems to stop criminals from opening checking or savings accounts. Freeze NCTUE to block fake phone, cable or utility accounts.
3) Turn on account alerts
Set up alerts for banking, credit cards and online shopping accounts. Alerts help you spot suspicious activity fast.
4) Use a password manager
Strong passwords protect you from credential stuffing attacks. This happens when criminals take stolen passwords from one breach and try them on other sites. A password manager creates unique passwords for every account and helps you stop those attacks before they start.
Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our #1 password manager (see Cyberguy.com) pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.
Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com
5) Monitor your identity
If Petco offered you free identity theft monitoring, enroll as soon as possible. It helps you catch fraud that can happen months or years later.
Identity Theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security Number (SSN), phone number, and email address, and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.
See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com
WHY YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING DATA NEEDS A CLEANUP NOW
State filings show Petco customers had Social Security and financial information exposed in the breach. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
6) Remove exposed personal data
Data broker sites collect and share personal details that fuel scams. Removing your information reduces your exposure and makes you a harder target.
While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com
WHY SCAMMERS OPEN BANK ACCOUNTS IN YOUR NAME
Petco says it corrected the software issue and notified individuals whose information was compromised. (Photo by Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
7) Watch for phishing and use strong antivirus software
Scammers often follow a breach with emails or texts that look real. Slow down and check every message before you click. A strong antivirus helps block malicious links and alerts you when something looks risky.
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
Kurt’s key takeaways
Data breaches happen often, but this one involves information that can cause lasting harm. You can protect yourself with a few quick steps that reduce the chance of fraud and limit how far criminals can get with your data.
How much trust do you place in companies to protect your personal information? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Kindle app now answers questions about the book you’re reading
Amazon has launched a new AI feature in the Kindle app that gives spoiler-free answers to questions about the book you’re reading and confirmed that authors can’t opt out from the feature.
The company calls Ask this Book an “expert reading assistant” in its announcement and says that it’s capable of answering questions about “plot details, character relationships, and thematic elements,” all while avoiding spoilers by limiting its answers to content from the pages you’ve read so far. It’s essentially an in-book chatbot, accessible from the book menu or by highlighting a passage of text you want to ask about.
Amazon spokesperson Ale Iraheta told Publishers Lunch that the answers are “non-shareable and non-copyable” and only available to readers who’ve purchased or rented books. Iraheta also said that the feature is always on, noting that “there is no option for authors or publishers to opt titles out.”
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