When December rolls around, all anyone wants to do isyou guessed it!hibernate in the great indoors. This is all fun and games on the cozy blankets and hot cocoa front, yes, but it also has the unwanted consequence of making your abodes exterior spaces take a back seat to the seemingly more pressing priority of zhuzhing up your living room, kitchen, and bedroom for the holidays. In 2024, do it different by turning your attention outward. Outdoor Christmas decor is all about finding that Goldilocks sweet spot between no-holds-barred, exuberant touches and sophisticated subtlety. Easier said than done, right? When in doubt, start with what you have on hand (many indoor items can be taken outside, after all!) rather than trying to concoct a megawatt display with animatronic Santas and snowflake light projectors. You can always make the most of things and work with what you have, insists designer Young Huh, who draped her front entry in elegant evergreens and filled her planters with foliage she already owned.For some much-needed Yuletide inspiration, scroll through these 50 outdoor Christmas decor ideas that are guaranteed to leave Santa (and all your visitors!) speechless. Who knows, maybe youll be tempted to keep them up well beyond January 1. 1Achieve Wreath-Powered Curb AppealJosh Yung Design HouseYou cant deny it: Designer Josh Yungs D.C. townhouse, which we spotlighted back in 2020, has some serious curb appeal. Want your home to similarly turn heads? All you need is garland, natural wreaths, red ribbons that can double as hangers for said wreaths, and string lights. Voil! 2Repurpose Some BranchesCourtesy ArhausHave a bunch of loose branches left over after doing winter yard work? Take a page from home furnishings company Arhaus and use them to add some holiday drama to your doorway. Wrangling the branches into a perfect arch shape might be tough, but if this scene is any indication, the result will be so worth it.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Elevate an ArborCourtesy AnthropologieAs this shimmering arborcourtesy of Anthropologiemakes clear, commonplace structures in your backyard can easily be upgraded to Santa-approved status by simply adding lights (we recommend warm white ones!). Just picture enjoying this setup on a warmer night, mulled wine in hand. Convinced yet?4Invest in a Firewood BundleCourtesy AnthropologieWe're loving everything about these simple yet effective holiday adornments from Anthropologie but especially have our eyes on that bundle of firewood, topped by globe lights. Whether in your backyard or on your front porch, natural wood is bound to provide an instant touch of rustic charm.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Make Use of MagnoliaCourtesy Serena & LilyIn this life-affirming front door display, luxe home company Serena & Lily bypassed pine wreaths and garlands in favor of all things magnolia instead. The leaves' brown-orange underbellies contrast remarkably well with their glossy green frontscreating a scene that's elevated yet homey.6Create a Holiday Bar SituationCourtesy Serena & LilyIn this outdoor bar scene, courtesy of Serena & Lily, a pine cone wreath takes center stagewith the rattan elements underneath playing supporting roles. If you live in a warm climate (jealous), consider hosting a well-oiled holiday get-together outdoorswreath and bow included.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Win with Window SwagMaryna Terletska//Getty ImagesYour windows deserve a little Christmas-related attention, so what better way to grant them that than with some festive window swags? The one seen lining this particular window goes hand in hand with the wreaths, nearby conifer, and similarly hued front door. We appreciate a color-coordinated moment!8Test the 'Unexpected Red' Theoryninavartanava//Getty ImagesSurprising flashes of red in a space work to boost its overall appeal, or so the viral unexpected red theory states. Tune into this folk wisdom in a minimalist way, by adding tiny red bows to the greenery standing on your front porch. Better yet if your window frames are red too!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Mix Natural and Faux ElementsCyndy AldredWhen decorator Cyndy Aldred prepares for the holidays, she likes to surround her stoop with small evergreens in large natural baskets, bringing in texture and a forest feel. When I create Christmas garlands and wreaths, I always start with a strong base of faux greenery, and then I work in organic elements like magnolia branches, large sugar pine cones, pine branches, and bundles of juniper berries, she says. By mixing together the faux and the real, Christmas decor will last longer and look fresher. 10Dine Outside in StyleKara WillliamsYou dont have to ditch alfresco dining come wintertimejust make sure you have a fire going and plenty of warm blankets. Interior designer Kara Williams also suggests including lots of warm light and old-timey elements for ambience. I love to add vintage touches like old sleds, buckets with Christmas trees in them, and vintage signs, she says. Adding all of that to cart, ASAP!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Double Up on WreathsYoung HuhIf your home has double doors, this is the perfect opportunity to double up on wreaths: exactly what designer Young Huh did in this inspiring visual. She also created a festive atmosphere through draped garlands and evergreen-filled planters galore. 12Go Big or Go HomeSavannah Kay with Classy ClutterOversize decorations take Christmas to a new level. These bulbs beautifully fill up the space and give a dramatic pop of color. In the back, the nutcrackers are ready to welcome all your friends and family. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Embrace Trad ChristmasPottery BarnWreaths, garlands, trees, bulbs, lightsthis house, as featured in a Pottery Barn catalog, has it all! Follow suit and keep things classic, with a red-and-green color palette and garlands wrapped around your porch columns. 14Curate a Reindeer EntryBallard DesignsNothing screams Christmas like reindeers. Treat your entryway to an enchanted forest vibe by decorating the doorsteps with these beautiful critters from Ballard Designs. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Incorporate Pops of ColorKara WilliamsIf you think its time to pack up the patio furniture, think again. With the right touches (aided by a firepit or heat lamps, of course) your outdoor lounge can become your own aprs ski paradise. Seasonal decorator Kara Williams loves to add hints of red in the pillows, blankets, and decor to make it look even more festive. I chose a Christmas plaid theme here, which I love, she tells us. Williams also set up a hot cocoa bar to keep guests warm (bonus points if its spiked!).16Fashion a Forest Sara Ligorria-TrampCreate your very own winter wonderlandsnow optional!akin to this stunning tableau by Emily Henderson. The mix of lush garland, a pint-sized tree, and a bunch of leafy greens is idyllic without being ever going overboard.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Channel Chalet ChicSara Ligorria-TrampTurn your front door into a cool ski chalet, just like Emily Henderson did here. The abstract wreath, geometric lanterns, and sleek wooden ski set give this front porch a truly modern touch. The best part? Since this arrangement isnt over-the-top Christmas, you can leave it up all winter long.18Go with an Unexpected SurpriseAnnie SloanMaking Christmas look a little different is something I strive for," says paint and color expert Annie Sloan, who also founded Chalk Paint. "Mixing the traditional with the unusual makes you take a second look." We're surely taking second (and third!) looks at her bright yellow front door, decked out for the holidays. Move over, red and greenthere's a new cool kid on the block.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Keep It CozyMatt KisidayA table set with a sheepskin on every chair and a thick plaid wool throw on the back of every seat, plus plenty of garlands and candlelight, can make even the coldest December day feel warm and bright," designer Allison Babcock shares. Essentially, make sure your guests are well taken care of during your outdoor Christmas fete... to the point of not wanting to leave. Ever.20Step Up Your Layering GameJoy WilliamsThe holidays dont happen every day, so why not pile on the accessories (in a classy way)? Chicago-based designer Joy Williams packed on the festive fripperies with poinsettia plants and gilded trees. Rounding out the look are ribbons and ornaments on the topiaries. Stacia DatskovskaAssistant Digital EditorStacia Datskovska is the assistant digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers news, trends, and ideas in the world of design. She also writes product reviews (like roundups of the top firepits or sheet sets)infusing them with authority and wit. As an e-commerce intern at Mashable, Stacia wrote data-driven reviews of everything from e-readers to stationary bikes to robot vacuums. Stacias culture and lifestyle bylines have appeared in outlets like USA Today, Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Food & Wine, and Brooklyn Magazine.Kelsey MulveyKelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, and ELLE Decor, among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.

Ah, Christmas: the time of red-and-green everything, more flocked Tannenbaums than you know what to do with, and reindeer statues in every corner. Not so in 2024, howeverthe year you finally break out of the mold and do Yuletide on your terms. There's no better area of the home for some holiday experimentation than the front porch, given the fact that it's the first thing guests (or solicitors!) will see when they approach your dwelling. And first impressions, as we all know, count for a lot. A great place to start is with greenery. I like to add faux snow fabric from the craft store inside my plant pots, and then top them off with twinkle lights, sprigs of greenery, and shatterproof ornaments, interiors guru Courtney Fitzpatrick tells ELLE DECOR. Its an inexpensive way to add something festive to your porch, and it looks beautiful at night! From there, layering on additional decor can create a truly showstopping exterior.Houston-based designer Marie Flanigan believes lighting is key when it comes to decking out a porch for the holidays. It brings ambience and warmth and a festive glow, instantly elevating the overall atmosphere and creating a welcoming space for guests, Flanigan says. If you are only doing one thing, I say go with statement lighting. Still iffy on design directions for your homes entryway this December? Weve rounded up the very best Christmas front porch decorating ideas and tips from the experts. Onward!1Lead with LEDsCourtesy AnthropologieAs part of Anthropologie's holiday house, this prim-and-proper brownstone's porch and steps boast glowing LED spheres from the brand that turn it into absolute eye candy. Interspersed with live trees in pots, they're must-haves for your outdoor holiday setup this year.2Repurpose Fall DecorCourtesy Serena & LilyStill have pumpkins laying around from last month? Impressive, first of all, and also perfect for reusing in a front porch holiday display. Take a page from this Serena & Lily scenewhere the gourds' slightly distressed colors are in fluent conversation with a pine cone wreath and white chrysanthemums.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Don't Neglect the Railing Imagesbybarbara/Getty ImagesYour doors are clad in wreaths, garland frames your entryway, and you've even got mini trees surrounding your doormat. The only thing missing? A festive wreath specifically for your porch's railing. If you think this one's conventional, think again (and look closer at the faux artichokes and apples dotting it!).4Rock the RedSiri Stafford//Getty ImagesWe said it was time to stop making Christmas synonymous with a red-and-green color scheme, but this vignette proves that there's something inevitably heartwarming about the traditional hues. Have your front porch go red this year via two simple poinsettia plants flanking the door and a wreath to match.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Curate a NookAnastasiia Krivenok//Getty ImagesFight your hibernation urges by creating an outdoor space you'll actually want to spend time in this winter. Here, a seating area is made all the more inviting via blankets, cushions in many textures, and (of course) that lighted wreath! It's the ultimate spot in which to cuddle up with a good book and hot chocolate.6Incorporate a Seasonal SwagSven Olof JonnIn lieu of a wreath or garland, opt for a seasonal swag over the front door. We love how this one pops against the citrus entrance and the frame of ivy. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Go for Simplicity lillisphotographyHouston designer Marie Flanigan encourages incorporating natural greenery into your Christmas porch decor. Integrate natural elements such as evergreen wreaths, pine cones, and seasonal foliage, she adds. Done and done.8Think Beyond the DoorTammi MildHoliday decor doesnt have to be focused on the door. Think about surrounding structural elements for garlands and decoration. Here, evergreen garlands studded with pine cones and lights do just the trick. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Unify Your Color Palette Philippe GerberSick of green and red? Same, so we suggest going for an analogous color scheme. Simply pick a color you love and decorate your front porch in its variations. In this example, that means moody hues like black, deep red, and green. 10Slay with Merry Metallics Anastasiia KrivenokSam the Snowman sang about silver and gold decorations for a reason: Theyre a total classic on the tree... and your front porch. Add in visual interest without veering into excess through layering natural greenery, metallic accents, and subtle lighting, Flanigan suggests. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Play with SymmetryLiubomyr VoronaLooking for balance around the holiday season? Us too, which is why keeping things symmetrical on your front porch is a great way to go. We love how this lookwith evergreen garlands framing the door, deck railings, and banisterlends a sense of harmony, not chaos. 12Harmonize with Your Hedges The Enchanted HomeOK, we realize this isnt technically a porch, but we love how the existing hedgesalong with a promenade of potted plantscreate an ensconcing (not to mention grand) sense of entry in this look, courtesy of Enchanted Home. Here, a shaggy garland contrasts the buildings regal architecture, while sprigs of greenery make veritable holiday bouquets of the planters. Bonus: The vegetation choicesconifer boughs, pine cones, and a whole lot of magnoliasmake this a safe bet for warmer climates too. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Choose Crisp White-On-WhiteCourtesy of @lizzydesigns_Snowed in again? No problem. Work with the all-white backdrop rather than against it, pairing the natural environment with sky blues, muted grays, and (of course) some evergreen. I love to decorate my porch using neutral and natural elements, says Liz Meier of Lizzy Designs. The greenery and the color of the door get the spotlight!14Meld Old with NewCourtesy of @a.little.love.designs Its always worth stocking up on some new holiday bling, but sometimes, the things you already have can really give a front porch some character. I love to mix old decor with new decor, says Amy Allen of A Little Love Designs. For example, using your grandmothers dishes or decorating the tree with your moms favorite ornaments. Follow suit with a cute assortment of baskets, lanterns, and watering cans brimming with evergreens.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Cozy Up Courtesy of @shady_pines3interiorsA wraparound sofa can transform a porch into a gathering space for friends and family. Bring everyone together for the holidays by adding some plaid throw pillows and wreaths like in designer Beth Coxs setup. Dont be afraid to bring the indoors out, she says. I make my porches feel welcoming and cozy by adding lots of texture and warmth.16Think Small but MightyCourtesy of the Six Bells Some front porches would rather whisper happy holidays than shout it from the rooftops. If thats more your speed, then this subtle felt mistletoe wreath from The Six Bells will be right up your alley.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Embrace Flower PowerCourtesy of Venus et Fleur Just like any other time of year, you cant go wrong with florals. Poinsettias are often the holiday flower of choice, but roses, holly, and other selections can also make quite the statement. If youre not blessed with a green thumb, a few botanicals from Venus et Fleur will save you the hassle of maintaining flowers that are actually alive.18Deck the WallsCourtesy of Tempaper Sometimes, a cheery decal can make all the difference. Tempapers peel-and-stick Winter Village option makes for a great peek-a-boo moment behind a wreath; in general, its a beautiful addition to a door or window. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Keep It Classic Courtesy of Joanna BuchananAll we want for Christmas is a chic wreath, a bit of garland, and a stately entryway. Not only does it make a statement, but it never goes out of style. I like to create a strong, central display that signals a bold Happy Holidays! says designer Joanna Buchanan. We wholeheartedly agree.20Go All Out Courtesy of FrontgateIf youre the sort who looks forward to holiday decorating year-round, why not go all out? This front porch, featuring products from Frontgate, shows exactly what a blinged-out Christmas can look like without feeling one bit tacky. Those white, gold, and green accents are everything.Stacia DatskovskaAssistant Digital EditorStacia Datskovska is the assistant digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers news, trends, and ideas in the world of design. She also writes product reviews (like roundups of the top firepits or sheet sets)infusing them with authority and wit. As an e-commerce intern at Mashable, Stacia wrote data-driven reviews of everything from e-readers to stationary bikes to robot vacuums. Stacias culture and lifestyle bylines have appeared in outlets like USA Today, Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Food & Wine, and Brooklyn Magazine.Helena MaddenMarket EditorHelena Madden is ELLE DECORs market editor, and covers all things product and trend, from flatware and furnishings to kitchen and bath. She previously worked as a staff writer at Robb Report, where she covered luxury news with a focus on interior design.

Amsterdam-based startup Sympower has secured 21mn as it looks to scale its grid-balancing technology.Sympower partners with businesses that use a large amount of electricity. It gains access to some of their energy assets and can turn them on and off when the grid requires balancing a process called demand response.Sympowers software platform uses AI to analyse data and optimise when and how much power businesses can sell at any given time, making energy use adjustments more effective and profitable for all parties.Grid operators pay Sympower to stabilise the energy supply. The company passes most of that payment to participating businesses, keeping a small service fee.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!The system gives energy-intensive companies an incentive to stop using electricity during times of peak demand. The more energy they save, the more money they make. The idea is to help prevent blackouts and the strain on the grid.Electricity infrastructure around the world is struggling to adapt to the influx of renewable energies like wind and solar because unlike the gas and coal that came before they produce power intermittently.The EU has identified demand response as well as energy storage technologies as key to restoring the balance. As more renewables come online and our societies electrify, its no wonder that demand for grid flexibility is surging.Founded by Simon Bushnell and Georg Rute in 2015, who studied together at Imperial College London, Sympower is a first-mover in this relatively niche industry. It has 2GW worth of energy assets under management and employs 200 people in over 10 countries. Todays funding round brings its total capital raised to a healthy 60mn.Sympower has grown tremendously in recent years, which aligns with the unprecedented demand across Europe for diversified and mature energy flexibility solutions, said Bushell, the companys CEO and co-founder.A&G Energy Transition Tech Fund (A&G ETTF) led the funding round, with direct investment from the European Investment Fund (EIF) and participation from existing investors Activate Capital, Rubio Impact Ventures, PDENH, and Expon Capital.Armed with fresh funding, the company aims to continue expanding throughout Europe, with the intent to acquire competitors in the near future. It is also expanding into the battery storage business to complement its demand response software. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

In 1991, Sony brought the first rechargeable lithium-ion battery to market. The unique chemistry proved a game-changer in energy storage. Today everything from EVs to smartphones depends on it, with demand skyrocketing.But lithium is rare, most of it comes from unstable markets outside Europe,and its extraction can cause extensive pollution. We need more lithium to enable the green transition and yet, currently, its use is unsustainable both environmentally and economically.Were stuck in a paradox. Munich-based startup Tozero believes that battery recycling offers a way out. Recycling batteries is far from a new concept, but the German venture claims its technology gets the job done more efficiently than existing methods and without the use of harmful acids.Tozero was founded in 2022 by serial entrepreneur Sarah Fleischer and metallurgy expert Dr. Ksenija Milicevic Neumann. When the pair first met, they were working in the space industry. Three years later they teamed up to fix a pressing issue here on Earth.Register NowBefore founding Tozero, Neumann spent years at RWTH Aachen developing a breakthrough water-based carbonation process for extracting lithium and other elements like graphite from black mass. This powdery substance is produced after shredding and processing spent batteries.Neumanns research gave Tozero a significant head-start. In just two years, the company has managed to break out of the lab and deliver its first batches of recycled lithium to customers. And today, the company announced it has raised 11mn in Series A funding as it looks to scale up at pace.Despite our limited resources as a two-year-old startup weve already made human history by being the first to ever deliver recycled lithium for end products in Europe, said Fleischer, the companys CEO.NordicNinja, a Japan-backed European VC fund, led the funding round, bringing Tozeros total raised to a cosy 17mn. Other investors include automotive giant Honda, US venture firm In-Q-Tel, and engineering group JGC.Tozero will use the fresh capital to build its first industrial deployment plant. From 2026 onwards, the company plans to process 30,000 tonnes of battery waste annually.Tozero can technically just keep on growing as long as it receives a continuous supply of old batteries. And that shouldnt be too much of an issue.Lithium-ion production is set to almost quadruple by 2030. Meanwhile, regulations like the EUs Battery Directivewhich calls for at least 80% of lithium to be recovered from batteries by 2031add much-needed incentives. This is only good news for Tozero and other recycling upstarts,including Cylib, which is currently building Europes largest recycling plant for EV batteries.However, if Europe is to secure a sustainable supply of the lithium it so desperately needs, it must expand local mining and explore new battery technologies like sodium-ion, zinc-ion, and the holy grail solid-state batteries. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

Bluesky, one of the many microblogging platforms, has now officially reached the milestone of 15 million registered users. A month ago, Bluesky still had 13 million followers, which shows that the social network is growing rapidly as more people look for alternatives to X.Bluesky continues to grow, but is still far behind its competitorsThe figure was first shared by Stats for Bluesky, a website that uses the platforms API to obtain statistics about the social network (via The Verge). According to the website, there are now more than 15.2 million registered users on Bluesky. For comparison, Bluesky had just 2 million users in November 2023.Bluesky is still far behind the competition, especially X, which has more than 500 million active users worldwide. Metas Threads is also more popular, with 275 million monthly active users and growing at a rate of over a million sign-ups a day. Even so, Bluesky is attracting more and more attention from users who are unhappy with both X and Threads.A recent episode in Brazil that resulted in the temporary banning of X led hundreds of thousands of Brazilians to try Bluesky. More recently, Elon Musks political involvement with Donald Trump has also motivated more people to look for alternatives to X. Blueskys app is now the most downloaded in the US App Store, with Threads following close behind.Bluesky emerged in 2021 as a proof of concept for the decentralized AT Protocol. In 2019, Twitters then CEO Jack Dorsey announced that the company would fund the initiative that would result in Bluesky. The platform no longer has a relationship with X and they ended up becoming competitors after Elon Musk bought Twitter.A few weeks ago, Bluesky announced its plans to introduce a paid subscription with extra features, similar to X Premium (formerly Twitter Blue). The platform assures that it wont put the social network behind a paywall.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Following the release of updates for Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro, Apple has also updated its Final Cut Camera app for iPhone. With the new version of the app, users can finally capture Log videos using the HEVC codec, as well as preview Log videos with the Apple Log LUT and more. Read on as we detail whats new in Final Cut Camera.Whats new with Final Cut Camera for iPhoneOne of the biggest changes coming to Final Cut Camera is the ability to capture Log-encoded HEVC video. Previously, Log was only available for ProRes videos, which take up a lot more space. Now users can benefit from the increased flexibility and dynamic range of Log combined with smaller HEVC files.In addition, the update also adds the option to enable LUT preview while recording in Log, so that users can see the vibrancy of the original scene in SDR or HDR with Apple Log LUT. For iPhone 16 Pro users, the Final Cut Camera update also enables 4K video capture at 120fps for cinematic slow motion.Moreover, Apple is also bringing advanced tilt and and roll indicators to help users compose their shots.For those unfamiliar, Final Cut Camera is an app from Apple that lets creators wirelessly connect and remotely direct each video angle with powerful pro controls. Although the app was first presented as a companion tool for controlling the iPhone camera from the iPad, it also works on the iPhone as a standalone app.With the app, users can adjust things like white balance and manual focus while monitoring zebras and measuring audio. It also provides ISO and shutter speed controls, as well as making it easy to switch between resolutions and video formats. The interface is very straightforward and also highlights the iPhones battery level and remaining storage.With Final Cut Camera, you can also easily transfer media to a Final Cut project on the iPad or save footage directly to connected external storage. The app isavailable for free on the App Storeand requires an iPhone running iOS 17.6 or later (while some features require the latest iPhones).Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

It's a sad state of affairs when the CEO of multinational oil and gas corporation Exxon Mobil calls on president-elect Donald Trump not to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.As the New York Times reports, oil baron Darren Woods warned that doing so would greatly weaken our global efforts to curb carbon emissions a grim irony, given the fact that he represents one of the biggest contributors to global warming in the world.Trump has threatened to pull out of the Paris Agreement yet again and has vowed to "drill, baby, drill," while dismantling the Green New Deal, an environmental protection plan he's called the "green new scam.""We need a global system for managing global emissions," Woods told the NYTwhile attending the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) in Azerbaijan, a dubious summit that claims to be about climate change but primarily appears to facilitate business meetings among oil and gas executives."Trump and his administrations have talked about coming back into government and bringing common sense back into government," he added. "I think he could take the same approach in this space."Woods took aim at the government's failure to create enough incentives for oil and gas companies to transition to renewable sources of energy."The government role is extremely important and one that they havent been successfully fulfilling, quite frankly," he told the NYT.The CEO argued that Trump's infamously unpredictable way of governing could end up harming oil and gas companies not help them by allowing them to drill for oil in more places and loosen environmental rules."I dont think the stops and starts are the right thing for businesses," Woods told the Wall Street Journal. "It is extremely inefficient. It creates a lot of uncertainty."Trump's threats to dismantle environmental regulations could set the United States back significantly in the global fight against global warming, a reality even the oil industry has grasped.Despite its repeated efforts to promise an eventual transition to green energy, Exxon Mobil was found to be the biggest investor-owned contributor to emissions in a database of 122 polluters put together by the Carbon Majors Database earlier this year.Nonetheless, the company is expected to spend around $3 billion this year on developing alternatives to fossil fuels, according to the NYT.But with Trump in the Oval Office, major polluters like Exxon Mobil could find themselves on an even longer leash, a worrying possibility given the precariousness of the ongoing climate crisis.Scientists have found that the prognosis is grimmer than ever before: the Earth is racing towards a point of no return if climate change continues on its current trajectory a reality that Trump seemingly doesn't have the intellectual capacity to grasp.More on Trump and the environment: As Trump Prepares to Slash Environmental Protections, 48 of the 50 States Are Facing DroughtsShare This Article

Nobody on Earth asked for this. Get LowerWe regret to inform you that Meta CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg is now a musical artist and his first track, a cover of "Get Low" by Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz recorded in tandem with T-Pain, is a sonic assault.In an Instagram post, the 40-year-old tech tycoon dedicated the track by "Z-Pain" an embarrassing portmanteau of Zuckerberg and T-Pain, ne Faheem Rashad Najm to his wife, Priscilla Chan Zuckerberg."'Get Low' was playing when I first met Priscilla at a college party, so every year we listen to it on our dating anniversary," Zuckerberg wrote in the caption of the post, which featured several photos of the philanthropic couple over the years. "This year I worked with [T-Pain] on our own version of this lyrical masterpiece."For those who didn't have the song imprinted directly onto their developing brains way back in 2002, that "lyrical masterpiece" includes the incredible verses "to the window / to the wall / til the sweat drip down my balls / all these females crawl."Hearing the milquetoast Zuckerberg, of all people, sing those lines in his heavily pitch corrected voice is not for the faint of heart, and we do not advise you listen to this at home unless you are prepared to take ample psychic damage.Please, No MoreT-Pain coming in on the second verse is such a relief that you can almost forget what you were forced to listen to before until Zuck once again hops on the annoying acoustic beat, reminiscent of so many ukulele girls in the early 2010s except somehow much worse.There was, in fact, an infamous acoustic cover of "Get Low" released in 2011 that got more than 1.5 million views on YouTube which was 1.5 million too many, should not have been replicated under any circumstances, and is still better-sounding than the Z-Pain version.Anyway, this unrequested collab seems to be part of the millennial tech mogul's hypebeast rebranding though the fact that a similar travesty was deeply uncool more than a decade ago makes the strategy dubious in late 2024.More on the emperor's new clothes: Cringey Tech Execs Swoon Over Mark Zuckerbergs "Cool" New LookShare This Article

Nov 13, 2024Ravie LakshmananThreat Intelligence / Cyber EspionageA threat actor affiliated with Hamas has expanded its malicious cyber operations beyond espionage to carry out disruptive attacks that exclusively target Israeli entities.The activity, linked to a group called WIRTE, has also targeted the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, Check Point said in an analysis."The [Israel-Hamas] conflict has not disrupted the WIRTE's activity, and they continue to leverage recent events in the region in their espionage operations," the company said. "In addition to espionage, the threat actor recently engaged in at least two waves of disruptive attacks against Israel."WIRTE is the moniker assigned to a Middle Eastern advanced persistent threat (APT) that has been active since at least August 2018, targeting a broad spectrum of entities across the region. It was first documented by the Spanish cybersecurity company S2 Grupo.The hacking crew is assessed to be part of a politically motivated group called the Gaza Cyber Gang (aka Molerats and TA402), the latter of which is known for using tools like BarbWire, IronWind, and Pierogi in its attack campaigns."This cluster's activity has persisted throughout the war in Gaza," the Israeli company said. "On one hand, the group's ongoing activity strengthens its affiliation with Hamas; on the other hand, it complicates the geographical attribution of this activity specifically to Gaza."WIRTE's activities in 2024 have been found to capitalize on the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the war to craft deceptive RAR archive lures that lead to the deployment of the Havoc post-exploitation framework. Alternate chains observed prior to September 2024 have leveraged similar RAR archives to deliver the IronWind downloader.Both these infection sequences employ a legitimate executable to sideload the malware-laced DLL and display to the victim the decoy PDF document.Check Point said it also observed a phishing campaign in October 2024 targeting several Israeli organizations, such as hospitals and municipalities, in which emails were sent from a legitimate address belonging to cybersecurity company ESET's partner in Israel. "The email contained a newly created version of the SameCoin Wiper, which was deployed in attacks against Israel earlier this year," it said. "In addition to minor changes in the malware, the newer version introduces a unique encryption function that has only been [...] found in a newer IronWind loader variant."Besides overwriting files with random bytes, the most recent version of the SameCoin wiper modifies the victim system's background to display an image bearing the name of Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.SameCoin is a bespoke wiper that was uncovered in February 2024 as used by a Hamas-affiliated threat actor to sabotage Windows and Android devices. The malware was distributed under the guise of a security update.The Windows loader samples ("INCD-SecurityUpdate-FEB24.exe"), according to HarfangLab, had their timestamps altered to match October 7, 2023, the day when Hamas launched its surprise offensive on Israel. The initial access vector is believed to be an email impersonating the Israeli National Cyber Directorate (INCD)."Despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the group has persisted with multiple campaigns, showcasing a versatile toolkit that includes wipers, backdoors, and phishing pages used for both espionage and sabotage," Check Point concluded.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Nov 13, 2024Ravie LakshmananRansomware / Data ProtectionRomanian cybersecurity company Bitdefender has released a free decryptor to help victims recover data encrypted using the ShrinkLocker ransomware.The decryptor is the result of a comprehensive analysis of ShrinkLocker's inner workings, allowing the researchers to discover a "specific window of opportunity for data recovery immediately after the removal of protectors from BitLocker-encrypted disks."ShrinkLocker was first documented in May 2024 by Kaspersky, which found the malware's use of Microsoft's native BitLocker utility for encrypting files as part of extortion attacks targeting Mexico, Indonesia, and Jordan.Bitdefender, which investigated a ShrinkLocker incident targeting an unnamed healthcare company in the Middle East, said the attack likely originated from a machine belonging to a contractor, once again highlighting how threat actors are increasingly abusing trusted relationships to infiltrate the supply chain.In the next stage, the threat actor moved laterally to an Active Directory domain controller by making use of legitimate credentials for a compromised account, followed by creating two scheduled tasks for activating the ransomware process.While the first task executed a Visual Basic Script ("Check.vbs") that copied the ransomware program to every domain-joined machine, the second task scheduled for two days later executed the locally deployed ransomware ("Audit.vbs").The attack, Bitdefender said, successfully encrypted systems running Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019. That said, the ShrinkLocker variant used is said to be a modified version of the original version.Described as simple yet effective, the ransomware stands out for the fact that it's written in VBScript, a scripting language that Microsoft said is being deprecated starting the second half of 2024. Plus, instead of implementing its own encryption algorithm, the malware weaponizes BitLocker to achieve its goals.The script is designed to gather information about the system configuration and operating system, after which it attempts to check if BitLocker is already installed on a Windows Server machine, and if not, installs it using a PowerShell command and then performs a "forced reboot" using Win32Shutdown.But Bitdefender said it noted a bug that causes this request to fail with a "Privilege Not Held" error, causing the VBScript to be stuck in an infinite loop due to a failed reboot attempt."Even if the server is rebooted manually (e.g. by an unsuspecting administrator), the script does not have a mechanism to resume its execution after the reboot, meaning that the attack may be interrupted or prevented," Martin Zugec, technical solutions director at Bitdefender, said.The ransomware is designed to generate a random password that's derived from system-specific information, such as network traffic, system memory, and disk utilization, using it to encrypt the system's drives.The unique password is then uploaded to a server controlled by the attacker. Following the restart, the user is prompted to enter the password to unlock the encrypted drive. The BitLocker screen is also configured to display the threat actor's contact email address to initiate the payment in exchange for the password.That's not all. The script makes several Registry modifications to restrict access to the system by disabling remote RDP connections and turning off local password-based logins. As part of its cleanup efforts, it also disables Windows Firewall rules and deletes audit files.Bitdefender further pointed out that the name ShrinkLocker is misleading as the namesake functionality is limited to legacy Windows systems and that it doesn't actually shrink partitions on current operating systems."By using a combination of Group Policy Objects (GPOs) and scheduled tasks, it can encrypt multiple systems within a network in as little as 10 minutes per device," Zugec noted. "As a result, a complete compromise of a domain can be achieved with very little effort.""Proactive monitoring of specific Windows event logs can help organizations identify and respond to potential BitLocker attacks, even in their early stages, such as when attackers are testing their encryption capabilities.""By configuring BitLocker to store recovery information in Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) and enforcing the policy "Do not enable BitLocker until recovery information is stored to AD DS for operating system drives," organizations can significantly reduce the risk of BitLocker-based attacks."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE