diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 488cf20c1..358cd1c1d 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #! /bin/sh
 # Guess values for system-dependent variables and create Makefiles.
-# Generated by GNU Autoconf 2.72 for unrealircd 6.2.5-git.
+# Generated by GNU Autoconf 2.72 for unrealircd 6.2.5.
 #
 # Report bugs to <https://bugs.unrealircd.org/>.
 #
@@ -604,8 +604,8 @@ MAKEFLAGS=
 # Identity of this package.
 PACKAGE_NAME='unrealircd'
 PACKAGE_TARNAME='unrealircd'
-PACKAGE_VERSION='6.2.5-git'
-PACKAGE_STRING='unrealircd 6.2.5-git'
+PACKAGE_VERSION='6.2.5'
+PACKAGE_STRING='unrealircd 6.2.5'
 PACKAGE_BUGREPORT='https://bugs.unrealircd.org/'
 PACKAGE_URL='https://unrealircd.org/'
 
@@ -1359,7 +1359,7 @@ if test "$ac_init_help" = "long"; then
   # Omit some internal or obsolete options to make the list less imposing.
   # This message is too long to be a string in the A/UX 3.1 sh.
   cat <<_ACEOF
-'configure' configures unrealircd 6.2.5-git to adapt to many kinds of systems.
+'configure' configures unrealircd 6.2.5 to adapt to many kinds of systems.
 
 Usage: $0 [OPTION]... [VAR=VALUE]...
 
@@ -1425,7 +1425,7 @@ fi
 
 if test -n "$ac_init_help"; then
   case $ac_init_help in
-     short | recursive ) echo "Configuration of unrealircd 6.2.5-git:";;
+     short | recursive ) echo "Configuration of unrealircd 6.2.5:";;
    esac
   cat <<\_ACEOF
 
@@ -1598,7 +1598,7 @@ fi
 test -n "$ac_init_help" && exit $ac_status
 if $ac_init_version; then
   cat <<\_ACEOF
-unrealircd configure 6.2.5-git
+unrealircd configure 6.2.5
 generated by GNU Autoconf 2.72
 
 Copyright (C) 2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@@ -1905,7 +1905,7 @@ cat >config.log <<_ACEOF
 This file contains any messages produced by compilers while
 running configure, to aid debugging if configure makes a mistake.
 
-It was created by unrealircd $as_me 6.2.5-git, which was
+It was created by unrealircd $as_me 6.2.5, which was
 generated by GNU Autoconf 2.72.  Invocation command line was
 
   $ $0$ac_configure_args_raw
@@ -2713,7 +2713,7 @@ printf "%s\n" "#define UNREAL_VERSION_MINOR $UNREAL_VERSION_MINOR" >>confdefs.h
 # The version suffix such as a beta marker or release candidate
 # marker. (e.g.: -rcX for unrealircd-3.2.9-rcX). This macro is a
 # string instead of an integer because it contains arbitrary data.
-UNREAL_VERSION_SUFFIX="-git"
+UNREAL_VERSION_SUFFIX=""
 
 printf "%s\n" "#define UNREAL_VERSION_SUFFIX \"$UNREAL_VERSION_SUFFIX\"" >>confdefs.h
 
@@ -10713,7 +10713,7 @@ cat >>$CONFIG_STATUS <<\_ACEOF || ac_write_fail=1
 # report actual input values of CONFIG_FILES etc. instead of their
 # values after options handling.
 ac_log="
-This file was extended by unrealircd $as_me 6.2.5-git, which was
+This file was extended by unrealircd $as_me 6.2.5, which was
 generated by GNU Autoconf 2.72.  Invocation command line was
 
   CONFIG_FILES    = $CONFIG_FILES
@@ -10778,7 +10778,7 @@ ac_cs_config_escaped=`printf "%s\n" "$ac_cs_config" | sed "s/^ //; s/'/'\\\\\\\\
 cat >>$CONFIG_STATUS <<_ACEOF || ac_write_fail=1
 ac_cs_config='$ac_cs_config_escaped'
 ac_cs_version="\\
-unrealircd config.status 6.2.5-git
+unrealircd config.status 6.2.5
 configured by $0, generated by GNU Autoconf 2.72,
   with options \\"\$ac_cs_config\\"
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 5194252ae..43e3ab008 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ dnl src/windows/unrealinst.iss
 dnl doc/Config.header
 dnl src/version.c.SH
 
-AC_INIT([unrealircd], [6.2.5-git], [https://bugs.unrealircd.org/], [], [https://unrealircd.org/])
+AC_INIT([unrealircd], [6.2.5], [https://bugs.unrealircd.org/], [], [https://unrealircd.org/])
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([src/ircd.c])
 AC_CONFIG_HEADER([include/setup.h])
 AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR([autoconf])
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([UNREAL_VERSION_MINOR], [$UNREAL_VERSION_MINOR], [Minor versi
 # The version suffix such as a beta marker or release candidate
 # marker. (e.g.: -rcX for unrealircd-3.2.9-rcX). This macro is a
 # string instead of an integer because it contains arbitrary data.
-UNREAL_VERSION_SUFFIX=["-git"]
+UNREAL_VERSION_SUFFIX=[""]
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([UNREAL_VERSION_SUFFIX], ["$UNREAL_VERSION_SUFFIX"], [Version suffix such as a beta marker or release candidate marker. (e.g.: -rcX for unrealircd-3.2.9-rcX)])
 
 AC_PATH_PROG(RM,rm)
diff --git a/doc/Config.header b/doc/Config.header
index 0a01dfcb3..8b9c098cc 100644
--- a/doc/Config.header
+++ b/doc/Config.header
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  \___/|_| |_|_|  \___|\__,_|_|\___/\_| \_| \____/\__,_|
 
                                Configuration Program
-                                for UnrealIRCd 6.2.5-git
+                                for UnrealIRCd 6.2.5
                                     
 This program will help you to compile your IRC server, and ask you
 questions regarding the compile-time settings of it during the process. 
diff --git a/doc/RELEASE-NOTES.md b/doc/RELEASE-NOTES.md
index bb4abc94c..5c4c8ca5f 100644
--- a/doc/RELEASE-NOTES.md
+++ b/doc/RELEASE-NOTES.md
@@ -1,12 +1,27 @@
-UnrealIRCd 6.2.5-git
-=====================
+UnrealIRCd 6.2.5
+=================
 
-This is the git version (development version) for future UnrealIRCd 6.2.5.
-This is work in progress and may not always be a stable version.
+This UnrealIRCd 6.2.5 release is mostly about improving IPv6 clone
+detection. If your IRC network has IPv6 connectivity then hot-patching
+without restart (see below), or upgrading, is highly recommended.
+If you don't have IPv6 then this release is less important.
 
-This version changes the way we deal with IPv6 clone detection. If you
-run an IRC network with IPv6 connectivity, be sure to read the first 3
-points of the **Enhancements** section below carefully.
+Without this, a user with IPv6 connectivity (e.g. a typical
+residential connection) can connect thousands of clones using
+their /64 prefix, bypassing per-host limits like `allow::maxperip`
+and `connect-flood`.
+
+If you run UnrealIRCd 6.2.x then you also have the option of using our
+**hot-patch**, which allows updating the server **without a restart**.  
+To do so, run: `./unrealircd hot-patch ipv6-clones`  
+For UnrealIRCd 6.2.3 and 6.2.4 this gives you nearly the same IPv6 clones
+protection as this 6.2.5 release. For UnrealIRCd 6.2.0/6.2.1/6.2.2 it will
+hot-patch only the maxperip /64 issue and not add the new connthrottle
+functionality.
+
+This release has been tested on a couple of networks with hundreds of users,
+without an impact on regular users, but it is still good to know these new
+limits.
 
 ### Enhancements:
 * [allow::maxperip](https://www.unrealircd.org/docs/Allow_block#maxperip)
@@ -20,23 +35,24 @@ points of the **Enhancements** section below carefully.
   now raise an error.
 * [ConnThrottle](https://www.unrealircd.org/docs/Connthrottle) now has a
   set::connthrottle::ipv6-unknown-users-limit (enabled by default).
-  This limits the number of *unknown IPv6 users* per /56, /48 and /32.
   This reduces the effect of an attacker launching many IPv6 clones at
   a server. Users in the "known-users" security-group are exempt (by
   default: identified to services, or
   [reputation](https://www.unrealircd.org/docs/Reputation_score) of 25 or more).
   Also exempt are users matching set::connthrottle::except or an
   except ban with type maxperip.
-* New set::known-cloud-services (enabled by default) automatically
-  exempts large IRC platforms with stable published IP ranges from
-  [allow::maxperip](https://www.unrealircd.org/docs/Allow_block#maxperip)
+  * Difference from maxperip: maxperip counts everyone per /64. This counts
+    only unknown users and works on wider IPv6 prefixes (/56, /48 and /32).
+    So known users can connect while cloners are limited.
+* New [set::known-cloud-services](https://www.unrealircd.org/docs/Set_block#set::known-cloud-services)
+  (enabled by default) exempts large IRC platforms with stable
+  published IP ranges from [allow::maxperip](https://www.unrealircd.org/docs/Allow_block#maxperip)
   and [connect-flood](https://www.unrealircd.org/docs/Anti-flood_settings#connect-flood).
-  Currently only IRCCloud qualifies. This is more reliable than the DNS-based
+  Currently only IRCCloud qualifies. This is more reliable than the
   `except ban { mask *.irccloud.com; ... }` block that `example.conf`
-  has shipped since 2023, which can fail during outages or restarts
-  when DNS isn't fully resolving. The new maxperip and connthrottle limits
-  make this even more important. To disable, use:
-  `set { known-cloud-services no; }`.
+  has shipped since 2023, as DNS can fail during outages or restarts.
+  The new maxperip and connthrottle limits make this even more important.
+  To disable, use: `set { known-cloud-services no; }`.
 * New [snomask](https://www.unrealircd.org/docs/Snomasks) `+x` for rejections
   from [allow::maxperip](https://www.unrealircd.org/docs/Allow_block#maxperip)
   and [ConnThrottle](https://www.unrealircd.org/docs/Connthrottle).
@@ -56,13 +72,32 @@ points of the **Enhancements** section below carefully.
 * Update shipped libs: Sodium (1.0.22)
 * The event names `CONNTHROTLE_*` were renamed to `CONNTHROTTLE_*` as the
   former was a typo.
+* `link::verify-certificate` is now deprecated and a config warning is
+  shown when set. It verified the peer certificate against CA trust.
+  However, newly issued certs from CAs (such as Let's Encrypt) tend to
+  no longer have the Client Authentication EKU, so linking with
+  `verify-certificate` often fails nowadays. Admins should switch to
+  `spkifp` for server linking, like everyone else.
 
 ### Fixes:
 * [set::connthrottle::disabled-when::reputation-gathering](https://www.unrealircd.org/docs/Connthrottle)
   has been set to 1 week in example.conf since 2019, but if you did
   not have that item it defaulted to 0 (no delay). Now 1 week.
+* OOB write if a URL callback returns a response that is more than
+  2GB. This only affects memory-backed callbacks: centralblocklist,
+  spamreport and log with destination webhook. In practice these
+  are likely all trusted servers.
+* [WEBIRC](https://www.unrealircd.org/docs/WebIRC_block):
+  if you had an `except ban` block with type `connect-flood` for the
+  gateway then we were accidentally also exempting the end-users
+  behind it, rendering connect-flood useless.
 
 ### Developers and protocol:
+* `OutgoingWebRequest` has a new `max_size` field (in bytes) that caps
+  the response size for memory-backed downloads. It defaults to
+  `DOWNLOAD_MAX_SIZE` (1MB). Ignored for file-backed downloads. This
+  protects against rogue or misbehaving webservers sending huge
+  responses that could otherwise fill server memory.
 
 UnrealIRCd 6.2.4
 =================
diff --git a/doc/conf/modules.default.conf b/doc/conf/modules.default.conf
index c1dcb47f1..53ce4acb2 100644
--- a/doc/conf/modules.default.conf
+++ b/doc/conf/modules.default.conf
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* [6.2.5-git]
+/* [6.2.5]
  * This file will load (nearly) all modules available on UnrealIRCd.
  * So all commands, channel modes, user modes, etc..
  *
diff --git a/extras/doxygen/Doxyfile b/extras/doxygen/Doxyfile
index 97f73d104..89d6a1fec 100644
--- a/extras/doxygen/Doxyfile
+++ b/extras/doxygen/Doxyfile
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ PROJECT_NAME           = "UnrealIRCd"
 # could be handy for archiving the generated documentation or if some version
 # control system is used.
 
-PROJECT_NUMBER         = 6.2.5-git
+PROJECT_NUMBER         = 6.2.5
 
 # Using the PROJECT_BRIEF tag one can provide an optional one line description
 # for a project that appears at the top of each page and should give viewer a
diff --git a/include/windows/setup.h b/include/windows/setup.h
index ab35c24f4..20b75cd93 100644
--- a/include/windows/setup.h
+++ b/include/windows/setup.h
@@ -76,6 +76,6 @@
 
 /* Version suffix such as a beta marker or release candidate marker. (e.g.:
    -rcX for unrealircd-3.2.9-rcX) */
-#define UNREAL_VERSION_SUFFIX "-git"
+#define UNREAL_VERSION_SUFFIX ""
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/version.c.SH b/src/version.c.SH
index 63b655413..dc7d0c1a7 100644
--- a/src/version.c.SH
+++ b/src/version.c.SH
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ echo "Extracting src/version.c..."
 if [ -d ../.git ]; then
 	SUFFIX="-$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)"
 fi
-id="6.2.5-git$SUFFIX"
+id="6.2.5$SUFFIX"
 echo "$id"
 
 if test -r version.c
diff --git a/src/windows/unrealinst.iss b/src/windows/unrealinst.iss
index dcbbe7213..b105d6330 100755
--- a/src/windows/unrealinst.iss
+++ b/src/windows/unrealinst.iss
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 [Setup]
 AppName=UnrealIRCd 6
-AppVerName=UnrealIRCd 6.2.5-git
+AppVerName=UnrealIRCd 6.2.5
 AppPublisher=UnrealIRCd Team
 AppPublisherURL=https://www.unrealircd.org
 AppSupportURL=https://www.unrealircd.org