Ten people have been found guilty of cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, by a Paris court.
The defendants were accused of spreading false claims about her gender and sexuality, as well as making “malicious remarks” about the 24-year age gap between the couple.
Most of the defendants were handed suspended prison sentences of up to eight months, but one was jailed immediately for failing to attend court. Some had their social media accounts suspended.
The judge said the eight men and two women had acted with a clear desire to do harm to Brigitte Macron, making remarks online that were degrading and insulting.
Two of the defendants – self-styled independent journalist Natacha Rey and internet fortune-teller Amandine Roy – were found guilty of slander in 2024 for claiming that France’s first lady had never existed.
They said her brother Jean-Michel Trogneux had changed gender and started using her name.
They were later cleared on appeal. The argument used by the appeals court in clearing them was that saying someone had changed gender was not necessarily an “attack on their honour”.
The Macrons are now taking that case to the high court of appeal.
“The most important things are the prevention courses and the suspension of some of the accounts” of the perpetrators, Jean Ennochi, Brigitte Macron’s lawyer, said after the verdict was handed down, the AFP news agency reported.
Tiphaine Auzière, Brigitte Macron’s daughter from a previous marriage, previously told the trial that the cyber-bullying had negatively affected her mother’s health and living conditions.
She said her mother “has had to be careful about her choices of outfits, of posture… she knows perfectly well that her image will be used to back these theories”.
While her mother had “learned to live with it”, Auzière said, she suffered from the repercussions on her grandchildren who were taunted at school.
Monday’s ruling in France is a forerunner of a much bigger trial due in the US, where the Macrons have filed a defamation lawsuit against right-wing influencer Candace Owens, who has also voiced conspiracy theories about the first lady’s gender.
They alleged that she “disregarded all credible evidence disproving her claim in favour of platforming known conspiracy theorists and proven defamers”.
Owens has regularly repeated the claims on her podcast and social media channels, and in March 2024 stated that she would stake her “entire professional reputation” on her belief that the first lady “is in fact a man”.
The presidential couple were initially advised that the best course was to ignore the online gossip, because to go to law would simply amplify it.
But last year there was a radical change of course.
The Macrons decided that the scale of the online attacks was now too large to ignore. So, at risk of exposing their private selves in a US court, they determined to push back against the conspiracy theorists.
A conspiracy theory claiming that Brigitte Macron is a transgender woman has circulated since her husband was first elected in 2017.
Brigitte Macron first met her now-husband when she was a teacher at his secondary school.
The couple married in 2007, when the future French president was 29 and she was in her mid-50s.
Cybersecurity is being reshaped by forces that extend beyond individual threats or tools. As organizations operate across cloud infrastructure, distributed endpoints, and complex supply chains, security has shifted from a collection of point solutions to a question of architecture, trust, and execution speed.
This report examines how core areas of cybersecurity are evolving in response to that shift. Across authentication, endpoint security, software supply chain protection, network visibility, and human risk, it explores how defenders are adapting to adversaries that move faster, blend technical and social techniques, and exploit gaps between systems rather than weaknesses in any single control.
Authentication is evolving from password-based verification to cryptographic proof of possession. As phishing and AI-driven impersonation scale, identity has become the primary control point for security. Hardware-backed authentication and passkeys are emerging as the most reliable defense against credential theft.
“Hackers aren’t breaking in — they’re logging in. In an AI-driven threat environment, authentication has to be hardware-bound and phishing-resistant.”
As organizations rely on dozens of SaaS platforms, sensitive data is increasingly fragmented and overexposed. Traditional governance models struggle to track unstructured, collaborative data — especially as AI tools ingest and interpret it automatically.
“Most companies don’t know where their sensitive data is, who has access to it, or what their AI tools are doing with it.”
Encrypted traffic and hybrid infrastructure have made network visibility harder — but also more essential. Network telemetry remains the most objective record of attacker behavior, enabling defenders to reconstruct incidents and validate what truly happened.
“As AI reshapes security, the organizations that win will be those that know, and can prove, exactly what happened on their network.”
Attack velocity now exceeds the capabilities of software-only defenses. This is driving security closer to the hardware layer, where AI can monitor and respond at the source of computation — before attackers establish control.
“Software-only security can’t keep up. The future of defense is hardware-anchored and AI-driven.”
Most breaches still involve human behavior, yet traditional awareness training has failed to reduce risk meaningfully. Human risk management is shifting toward continuous measurement, behavioral insight, and adaptive intervention.
“Human risk management is about understanding why risky behavior happens — and changing it over time.”
Even encrypted communications leak valuable metadata. Attackers increasingly rely on traffic analysis rather than decryption to map networks and plan attacks. Securing data in transit now requires concealing context, not just content.
“Adversaries don’t need to break encryption to map a network — they can track patterns, endpoints, and behaviors.”
Modern software supply chains increasingly deliver compiled binaries assembled from open-source, third-party, and AI-generated components — often without full visibility. Binary-level verification is emerging as the most reliable way to establish trust in what software actually does once it enters an environment.
“The problem is limited visibility into software supply chains — and that problem is only amplified with the rise of open-source and AI-generated code.”
OSINT has moved from manual research to targeted, real-time investigation. Ethical, selector-based collection is replacing bulk scraping, enabling defensible intelligence without data hoarding or predictive profiling.
“Most organizations still underestimate how much threat activity is detectable through publicly available data.”
Attackers now move laterally within minutes, making speed the defining factor in breach prevention. Endpoint security is consolidating around behavioral telemetry, automation, and adversary intelligence.
“We’re up against time when it comes to the more sophisticated threat actors.”
As environments decentralize, security teams are prioritizing autonomous platforms that reduce manual effort and accelerate response. AI-driven investigation and natural-language querying are becoming operational necessities.
“We’re trying to simplify our AI for our customers so they can better digest it.”
— Meriam El Ouazzani, Regional Sales Senior Director, SentinelOne
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New Bedford, Mass., has no shortage of moving companies, but which can you trust? To find out which companies will move your belongings safely, professionally, efficiently and at a great price, we did the research. We evaluated thousands of reviews, investigated company policies, looked up Better Business Bureau (BBB) scores (read more about BBB scores in our BBB accreditation guide) and called our top picks to make sure we had the freshest, most accurate information to share. The result? A guide with all the details you need to make the best choice for your New Bedford move.
Top New Bedford movers
The best moving company in New Bedford for YOU
When you’re trying to choose the best moving company for your needs, you need to consider your budget, your needs, and your time frame — the best movers for you will fit those unique-to-you factors. When we created the recommendations in this guide, we focused on businesses with outstanding reputations and researched their pricing, their licensing status, and their service offering.
We think Restoration Movers, formerly Mass Bay Movers, is the best overall moving company in New Bedford for its wide range of services, excellent reviews, and its on-site, climate-controlled storage. Our best alternative pick, Esquire Moving and Storage, offers transparent pricing and top-notch service. But whatever you’re looking for, we think we’ve got a moving company that has what you need.
Table of contents
Best moving companies in New Bedford, Mass.
Restoration Movers is the best overall New Bedford moving company
Movers from Restoration Movers help move a woman into her new home. (Restoration Movers)
Founded in 2015, Restoration Movers (formerly Mass Bay Movers) rebranded in late 2025 and now serves the greater Boston area and New England with a full range of moving services and, as the name suggests, water and fire damage relocations. (Since the change is so recent, many online reviews and BBB listings still appear under the Mass Bay Movers name.)
The company charges $220 an hour for three movers and a truck, with additional movers added at $60 an hour and additional trucks at $25 an hour. Phone or FaceTime estimates for moving or packing are available. Travel is assessed at a flat rate based on the average time to the destination and charged at the same hourly rate by the half hour.
There is an additional charge, based on the total weight of the move, for supplies like tape and shrink wrap — the representative we spoke to said that while the total amount can vary significantly per move, an average residential move is often between $150 and $300. Most small residential moves take a minimum of about three hours, so customers can generally expect to spend at least $660 plus supplies and travel.
If you’ll need storage, Restoration Movers has you covered, too: The company owns 50,000 square feet of climate-controlled, video-monitored warehouse space with more than 6,000 vaults that can be booked for short- or long-term storage. (Short-term storage of fewer than seven days on the loaded truck is also possible.)
Services offered
Local and long-distance moves
Water and fire damage restoration services
Residential and commercial moves
Boarding school and college moves for faculty facilities
Climate-controlled and video-monitored storage
The company representative recommended booking a date at least two and a half weeks out during the slower winter months, or as much as four to six weeks out during the summer rush. A $100 charge to your credit card holds the date; the final bill can be charged to the same card or split between cards without additional credit card fees. All movers are background checked, work directly for the company, and receive extensive training.
The company is not accredited by the BBB, but has an A+ rating, with one complaint in the past three years. On Google, Mass Bay Movers has a 4.9-star average from 582 reviews, with customers highlighting efficient, prompt service and excellent communication. The company has fewer reviews on Yelp (25) and Angi (44) but maintains strong scores on both platforms — a perfect five-star rating on Yelp and 4.9 on Angi — with similar praise for professionalism and fair pricing.
Mass Bay Movers’ Peabody office is located at 58 R Pulaski Street, Building 14, Unit 108, Peabody, Mass., 01960, and is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. To get more information or a quote, call 978-723-7075. You can also request a quote directly on the website.
Customer testimonial
I cannot recommend this company enough! From the initial phone call, follow up and the actual move, they were excellent. Guy and his crew moved us out of our home. I was so impressed with the care they gave all of our items! Guy said he treats everything like he would want his things to be treated. He and his crew truly do! They wrapped everything with such care. They made moving look easy! He and his crew were so professional, helpful and efficient. All while smiling the whole time! They made moving look easy! They have a very good system and are a great team. – Erin B., Google reviews (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Restoration Movers brings 10 years of experience to residential moves, commercial moves and restoration relocation projects, as well as senior moves and boarding school and college moves. Recently rebranded from Mass Bay Movers, the company also offers more than 50,000 square feet of monitored, climate-controlled warehousing for both short and long-term storage.
Esquire Moving & Storage Inc. is our top alternative New Bedford mover
Workers from Esquire Moving & Storage Inc. carry boxes to the moving truck. (Esquire Moving & Storage Inc.)
Boston-based Esquire Moving & Storage has been in the moving business since 2013, and the company completes moves in Massachusetts and across the country, supported by a full-service offering that includes packing, junk removal and cleaning services, white-glove service, and car shipping.
For a three-bedroom move, a company representative recommended a three-man crew and truck, which starts at $165 an hour for labor. The price includes all mileage, gas, tolls, and furniture assembly/disassembly, as well as move supplies. There is a three-hour move minimum, and subsequently, hours are charged in 15-minute increments. So, the least you’ll pay for a move with this company is $495 for labor, before adding travel time or any extra services. Heavyweight items (those exceeding 300 lbs) can be moved for a separate charge of $120 per item.
No deposit is required. While Esquire can often accommodate short-notice moves, booking at least 48 hours in advance is recommended. All movers are background checked. Packing services are charged at the same hourly rate as moving, and storage in the company’s climate-controlled facilities can be arranged separately.
Services offered
Long and long-distance residential moves
Packing, appliance moving, labor-only moves
Able to accommodate small moves and same-day moves
The company accepts payment in cash, by check and by credit card. Cash payments receive a 3% discount; credit card payments are assessed a 4% surcharge.
Esquire Moving has more than 297 reviews on Google, with an average star rating of 4.8. Customers praise the professional, speedy service, great prices, and timeliness of the move crews. While the company has a 4.5-star rating across a similar number of reviews on Yelp, there are more negative reviews, complaining of extra charges to the bill and missing items. Reviewers on Angi give the company a 4.4-star rating. The company is accredited by the BBB and has an A+ rating, with no complaints.
To get more information or start a quote, you can reach Esquire Moving at 617-952-1505, by email at info@esquiremoving.com, or by chat on their website. You can also submit an online request for a quote by providing some basic move information on the site. Esquire Moving & Storage is located at 9 Charles Park Road, Boston, Mass., 02132. The office is open by appointment only.
Customer testimonial
Fantastic service from booking to move-in day. Best rate I found after much research, and they called twice to confirm leading up to the move. The two guys helping us move from storage to our 3rd floor walk-up apt were amazing! Careful with our items and speedy fast moving everything. The quote range was accurate with the amount of time it took. Pretty seamless. Highly recommend. – Cristina M., Google reviews (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
With more than 12 years of experience in the greater Boston area, Esquire Movers handles residential moves in Massachusetts and beyond. All employees are background checked and trained, and the company offers a range of move-day services including packing, junk removal and cleaning, as well as special services like military moves, same-day moves and art and antique moving.
A BLVD Moving semi-truck in a parking lot (BLVD Moving)
At Yahoo Local, we focus on showcasing businesses in the community while also acknowledging that larger national moving companies can be the right choice for certain customers and types of relocations. If you are weighing the benefits of each, our guide comparing local movers vs. national carriers can help. In our review of leading national providers across the country, BLVD Moving received our top score.
BLVD Moving is managed by relocation specialists with long-standing experience in the field. The company operates four physical offices in California yet provides local and long-distance moving services nationwide. It is a family-run, independent business that owns its fleet of trucks and employs its own crews. Its terms and conditions also state that subcontractors or outside agents may be used for particular jobs. This approach is common in the moving industry as it helps companies handle higher volumes, though customers should still take note.
To gain insight into costs, we requested a quote from BLVD Moving for a 500-mile relocation with an estimated load of approximately 1,340 cubic feet. This is similar in size to a standard three-bedroom home without major appliances. The quote totaled roughly $6,700, which aligns with pricing from comparable long-distance movers. A 33% deposit is required at booking. Half of the remaining balance is due at pickup and the rest must be paid when the shipment arrives.
Services Offered
Local and long-distance relocations
Residential commercial and office moving
Customers who cancel at least two business days before the scheduled pickup are eligible for a full refund of their deposit. For deliveries, BLVD provides a window of two to 21 business days, depending on the destination. This timeline begins on the customer’s chosen delivery date so some moves may extend beyond a month.
BLVD recommends scheduling your move at least 30 days early. For high-demand periods such as summer or the beginning and end of each month, securing a spot even earlier is advisable. Requesting a quote is straightforward. You can complete a virtual walkthrough or submit an online inventory form for a faster estimate. Financing is offered with rates starting at 0% for qualified applicants.
The company is accredited by the BBB and holds a B rating. It has received 99 complaints, which is typical for a mover serving customers nationwide. On Google, the company has a 4.5-star average from 1,450 reviews. On Yelp, it holds a 2.4-star rating from 392 reviews. All movers are direct employees who have passed background screenings.
BLVD’s headquarters are located at 21622 Plummer Street, Chatsworth, Calif., 91311. The office operates daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST. To request a free estimate, call 844-274-0500 or visit the company’s website.
Customer testimonial
This company did a great job with our cross country move. They were very professional took care of all the paperwork and handled my items with care. Every single step of the process was explained to me and I felt very comfortable with the process when they were done. Excellent customer service.. – Lacie B., Google reviews (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
BLVD Moving stands out as the best national moving company for its experience, flexible service options, and strong Google reputation. Based in California, the company operates seven days a week and offers comprehensive moving services across the United States. Its movers undergo background checks, the quote process is fast and straightforward and its cancellation terms are more customer-friendly than many competitors.
Pros
Company-operated trucks and moving staff
Fully vetted, background-screened movers
Offers both local and interstate relocations
Quick and convenient virtual quoting process
Cons
May partner with third-party carriers for some moves
Requires a higher upfront deposit than some competitors
Since 2011, Brookline, Mass.-based Seven Moving has been serving the greater Boston area with full-service moves both residential and commercial. Rates start at $129 an hour for weekday moves with an 18-foot truck and two-man crew, and no deposit is required outside of the busy summer move season. (Over the summer you’ll need to pay a $90 nonrefundable deposit.) The company offers a 5% discount for paying cash. Seven Moving also offers packing and unpacking service, disassembly and reassembly, storage, piano and heavy item moves, and hoisting service (generally $30 per item, per flight) for getting items in and out of windows or balconies when they can’t fit through the stairs.
Pros
Can do hoisting and heavy items
Discounts for booking weekday moves and paying cash
For Safe Responsible Movers, it’s all in the name — the Boston-based company’s goal is reliable moves throughout the state of Massachusetts. Safe Responsible Movers does residential and commercial moves as well as no-job-too small moves for single items and Peleton exercise equipment, loading and unloading jobs, and overnight storage. And if you’re moving in Boston, Somerville, or other cities where moving trucks need a parking permit, the company can arrange for them for you. (The movers are experienced with the ins and outs of narrow, cobbled city streets, too.) Prices are charged hourly by the quarter hour with a two-hour minimum with no deposit required.
RARE Moving & Storage offers a wide breadth of services to movers within the Boston area as well as long-distance. The Boston-based company can handle residential and commercial moves, as well as packing; moving for delicate items like pianos, art, and antiques; and junk removal and cleaning. RARE also offers climate-controlled storage as well as furniture restoration, and sends ongoing reports so you always know how your move is progressing.
You can count on Yahoo Local moving advice, and this is why
Yahoo has been an information resource for decades, and our Yahoo Local guides follow in that tradition. It’s our mission to give you all the facts you need to know which local businesses you can trust, and which ones are worth your money. But don’t just take our word for it: Check our work. We’ve laid out the criteria we use to make our picks here, in our full methodology guide. We’re confident that the custom ranking system we built highlights the very best local companies, and we stand by the lists we make. We don’t accept sponsored picks on our lists, and we don’t accept payment for consideration, ever.
Below is everything that went into the rankings for our list of the best moving companies in New Bedford:
13,684 customer reviews and ratings from five sources
14 ranking criteria incorporated
Interviewed or connected with all three featured movers
Independent price quotes sourced from all three featured moving companies
Independently researched and fact-checked by Yahoo
Recommendations are maintained and updated regularly
Massachusetts moving FAQs
What info should you have when requesting an estimate?
You do not need every detail ready, but movers will need a general sense of where you are moving from and to, the size of your home, and whether you have any heavy or specialty items. It also helps to mention if you will need packing, supplies, or storage. Even broad information such as your neighborhood or the number of bedrooms is usually enough for movers to give you a preliminary quote.
What should you know about packing and storage in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, you (and your things in storage) get all four seasons, with hot summers, cold and snowy winters and damp falls and springs. The extremes in temperature, combined with the risk of flooding from snow and rain, mean it’s extra important that any place you store your goods be well-protected from water. Even a small amount of water in your storage unit can wreak havoc, causing mold to spread and papers and fragile items to disintegrate.
What’s different about condo and apartment moving in Massachusetts
If you’ll be moving into or out of a condo or apartment in Massachusetts, taking a few extra steps can help your move run smoothly.
If your building is a walk-up, let your moving company know ahead of time — especially if you’ll be moving heavy or oversized items. (Many companies will ask you to share details of the number and length of staircases in your initial estimate.) Be aware that some moving companies charge extra for stairs, either as a flat rate or per staircase, or will have limits on what they will and won’t carry on stairs.
If your move will be in an elevator building, speak to your building management company or super in advance to find out if the elevator is first-come, first-served for moves or if you’ll need to make arrangements in advance. Some buildings will have a service elevator that movers can use, which can speed up your move without inconveniencing your neighbors.
Some buildings require that movers provide the building with a certificate of insurance (COI) to ensure they have sufficient insurance to cover any damage to the building. If your building requests a COI, make sure your moving company can provide one by the date needed.
Do you need moving permits or licenses to move in Massachusetts?
There’s no statewide requirement for households to get permits or licenses to move into or within Massachusetts, although all moving companies that operate within the state are required to have a DPU household goods mover license, which is issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) and overseen by the Transportation Oversight Division. If you want to know more about the specific regulations moving companies are required to follow, check out our guide to moving company regulations in Massachusetts.
How much should you tip movers in Massachusetts?
While you never have to tip your movers, you may want to — especially if they did an especially good job to make your moving day a smooth one. If you do decide to tip your moving crew, you have a few options. (For a deep dive into the subject, check out our guide to tipping movers.)
