Over at House Beautiful, we've covered a lot of trends. From Grandmillenial to "rich ranch," there's always a new aesthetic, sofa shape, and wall color taking the design world (and the internet) by storm. Trends also influence the design of bathrooms, kitchens (of course), living rooms, and even dining rooms. But we wanted to get a sense of the highlights, the big moments, that we're going to see everywhere in 2025. We sent out feelers to top designers and tastemakers, and there nine big moments that every one of them agreed on. Whether you prefer bold kitchen cabinets or Art Deco-era antiques, we have a trend for you. Read on for the best and brightest. Related StoriesKitchens Packed With ColorJared KuziaIf there was a theme among the designers when asked about kitchen trends, it was color. Whether a bold hue, a fanciful drawer pull, or a customized appliance cover, kitchens are embracing personality and abandoning the please-everyone neutrality. Gone are the days when everyone has the same cookie-cutter kitchen. Individuality is where its at, says lifestyle expert Peter Som. Consider creative touches like placing art along your backsplash or mixing cherished heirlooms with modern elements to craft a kitchen that feels both timeless and fresh. To add a truly custom touch, personalize your appliances. With Wolf, you can add an assortment of knob, and bezel finisheswhether it be the iconic bold red knob or a more bespoke brass lookmaking them a standout feature that complements your distinctive kitchen aesthetic.Sculptural LightingAime MazzengaLighting has come a long way from can lights and the occasional Murano chandelier. "Statement fixtures and layered lighting are in for 2025, says designer Kara Childress. Architectural lighting in the form of sconces, chandeliers, and sculptural floor lamps will replace purely functional lighting. Using layerslike task, accent, and ambient lightingbrings dimension and warmth, letting rooms shift in mood throughout the day.Pattern DrenchingEric PiaseckiThe House Beautiful editors will often get an inkling of a trend when we begin to see it multiple times in the home tours we review. One such emerging star is the concept of pattern drenching. From Wendy Labrum's masterful Chicago project to Andrew Howard's kid-friendly Florida home, all-over prints and patterns (that match!) are the new way to deck a room out in color. Paint is no longer enough says Labrumthe patterns in her project added a bit of traditional whimsy in an impactful way.Dramatic DraperyLaurey GlennAccording to Everhem founder and interior designer Haley Weidenbaum, fabric drapes and shades are making a strong return for window treatments in 2025. Specifically, Weidenbaum is seeing an emergence of more detailed craftsmanship and additional finishings like trim and fringe to bring more attention to an often overlooked design element. In 2025, designers will focus on the elegance of folds, pleats, and unique textures to create focal points in a room, she says. Designers are increasingly asking for detailed edges on shades or overlays on drapery, which elevate the window treatment from a functional piece to a design feature. These thoughtful design elements allow window treatments to become a key focal point in the room, adding a sense of luxury and personalization to the space.Art Deco-Era AntiquesLesley UnruhAccording to the designer survey done by 1st Dibs, 1920s and 30s style antiques are increasing in popularity and searches on the platform. The Art Deco and Bauhaus aesthetics of the 1920s and 1930s continue to gain favor, increasing from 23 percent for 2023 to 28 percent for 2024, an upward trajectory that's likely to continue. Interior designer Brieanna Cunningham of C&C Partners agrees. This era is making a huge comeback. Warm, rich tones, like wall paneling or deep colored walls, complemented with geometric patterns, say in a rug or art, accented by more opulent metal accessories like chrome light fixtures or lacquered pieces of furniture to really bring a space together. Moody HuesBrie WilliamsColors like brown, maroon, navy, and olive green, have been plastering the walls of every project we've seen recently. People are letting go of the all-white interior and instead looking for shades that evoke a feeling of coziness and safety. Our favorite trend has been the use of warm browns as a dominant color in a home palette! We love the sophistication, warmth, and interest that brown adds to a space, says designer Carly Shafiroff of Carly Jane Design. Brown has an elegance and effortlessly chic feel, in particular when layered with tonal colors. We strive for our spaces to feel restorative and easy to be in and brown is such an inviting and friendly color that truly levels up any space. We have been loving bringing in more red/purple-based browns into our daring clients' spaces, in particular dining rooms. Cottagecore GardensShade DeggesThis year saw the rise of chaos gardens and rewilding as an attempt to heal our landscapes and offer us a low-maintenance lawn solution that doesn't require constant pruning or edging. Looks like we're going to add in some flowers next year. According to search data, cottage-core gardens are already up 150 percent. Think about a landscape overflowing with roses, shrubs, and wildflowers. Cottagecore gardens should look like they belong in the summer version of The Holiday's set piece or a quintessential English television show. Slightly disheveled, but cozy and vibrant all the same. Immersive BathroomsPhil MansfieldWhether it's whole-room wet zones or a sensory escape with aromatherapy, bathrooms are increasingly becoming places to spend time rather than just get in and out. Bathrooms are evolving into spa-like sanctuaries, says Childress. Expect the integration of sensory features such as tactile textures, aromatic elements, and adjustable lighting to promote relaxation. Materials like natural stone, textured tiles, and wooden accents can amplify the calming atmosphere. Related StorySmaller bathrooms are also getting in on the fun, according to Amber Guyton of Blessed Little Bungalow. Powder rooms and guest bathrooms are undergoing an exciting transformation, becoming standout spaces that leave a lasting impression. Designers are increasingly incorporating bold, eye-catching elements. These creative choices turn these often-overlooked spaces into immersive environments that have endless wow-factor and feel like a world of their own. Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

After several days of teasers, Apple TV+ today confirmed that the streaming service will be free for all this weekend. Between January 4 and January 5, customers can stream all Apple Originals with no subscription required.This free weekend promotion will help garner awareness for the service as we embark on the new year, with major launches like Severance season two starting later this month.To stream for free, simply open the Apple TV app on a supported platform between January 4 and January 5. You can discover everything available to watch with our comprehensive guide.Recent releases that you may not have seen include the second season of dark comedy Bad Sisters, horror thriller Before starring Billy Crystal and new movies Blitz and Fly Me to the Moon. The high-profile sci-fi series Silo is currently in the midst of its second season.Apple TV+ enters 2025 with a stronger catalog than ever (exceeding 250 original TV shows and movies in total), and an appetising slate of new titles already announced, but continues to struggle to garner meaningful viewership. Although Apple doesnt release numbers itself, Apple originals only appeared on the U.S. Nielsen streaming charts a handful of times in 2024.The metrics were not helped by the fact that Apples breakout hit comedy Ted Lasso ended in 2023, however we are expecting news of an official season four greenlight any day now 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

A full half of the jobs created by the first TSMC Arizona chip plant have been filled by workers from Taiwan, despite the company receiving up to $11.6B worth of grants intended in large part to generate US jobs.The original headline news of Apple chips being made in the US by American workers has seemed less and less impressive over time Backgrounder on TSMCs Arizona chip plantsTSMCs announcement that it was building a chip fabrication plant in Arizona was hailed as a major success for the US CHIPS Act intended to free the US from dependence on China for advanced chip supplies, and to generate jobs for US workers.Apple proudly announcedthat it would be buying American-made chips for some of its devices.The gloss soon began to wear off, however. The first plant will only be able to make larger process chips, only suitable for older Apple devices, and it wasnt long beforeTSMC demanded bigger subsidiesand fewer rules.The project fellbehind schedule, and over budget, with production alreadypushed into 2025, from 2024. There istalk of US-made chips costing morethan those made in Taiwan, which could mean Apple would buy fewer of them than originally expected.There were claims thatthe first plant would be a paperweight, as output would need to be sent back to Taiwan for whats known as the packaging process of encapsulating different circuit boards into a single chip. Apple later announced thatit would commission another US-based facilityto package the chips.Most recently, a further delay was announced for 2nm chip production, as a lawsuit accused the company of anti-American discrimination.Half the workers are from TaiwanTSMC originally said that the prevalence of Taiwanese hires was simply a temporary measure during the construction phase. However, this claim was questioned as the situation remained unchanged last year.US job creation was first thrown into doubt when TSMC decided tobring in around 500 Taiwanese workersto speed up construction work.The battle over thisquicklyturned ugly.But while this was described as a short-term measure, used only for the construction phase, a new report today paints a different picture. TheFinancial Timessays that with almost half the production workforce already recruited, around 50% of them are actually from Taiwan.A New York Times report says its still the case at the end of 2024, with the same claim still being made today, just a few months before production is scheduled to start.About half of the approximately 2,200 employees have been brought in from Taiwan. Some other Taiwanese workers have come to Arizona on temporary contracts for constructing the factories. The company expects the proportion of American workers to increase as it builds out its plants []TSMC said its first factory in Phoenix was expected to begin commercial production in the first half of 2025.Photo:Bravo PrinceonUnsplash.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

A developer has noted that Apples Photos app shares your iPhone photos with Apple by default, for an iOS 18 feature known as Enhanced Visual Search.This is an expansion of the older Visual Look Up feature, which can recognize objects within your photos, but a privacy note in the Settings app implies that it sends more data to Apple Visual Look UpVisual Look Up (VLU) is a older feature which aims to identify elements of your photos in order to provide relevant additional information. For example, if you take a photo of a dog, it will attempt to identify the breed. VLU can identify anything from flowers to landmarks, and can do some quite funky things. For example, making sense of laundry label hieroglyphics, and even telling you whats wrong with your car.VLU was first introduced in iOS 15, and Apple noted at the time that the feature sends limited data to its servers.When you use [] Visual Look Up [] limited information will be sent to Apple to provide up-to-date suggestions. Any information sent to Apple does not identify you, and is associated with a 15-minute random, rotating device-generated identifier. Apple notes that this includes location data.Enhanced Visual SearchEnhanced Visual Search (EVS) is, as the name suggests, an enhanced version of the feature. Developer Jeff Johnson highlighted in a blog post that this has its own privacy note, which implies that more data is sent.The EVS-specific privacy note is found in the Settings app:Settings > Apps > Photos > Scroll down to the bottomThe note says:Allow this device to privately match places in your photos with a global index maintained by Apple so you can search by almost any landmark or point of | interest.The tone of Johnsons post is rather aggressive, objecting to the fact that EVS is on by default.This user never requested that my on-device experiences be enriched by phoning home to Cupertino. This choice was made by Apple, silently, without my consent.From my own perspective, computing privacy is simple: if something happens entirely on my computer, then its private, whereas if my computer sends data to the manufacturer of the computer, then its not private, or at least not entirely private [] By enabling the feature without asking, Apple disrespects users and their preferences. I never wanted my iPhone to phone home to Apple. Remember this advertisement? What happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone. That was demonstrably a lie.9to5Macs TakeWhile its interesting that Apple sees the need to specifically highlight the data sent by EVS, the company does appear to take as much care to protect our privacy as it does with VLU.Enhanced Visual Search in Photos allows you to search for photos using landmarks or points of interest. Your device privately matches places in your photos to a global index Apple maintains on our servers. We apply homomorphic encryption and differential privacy, and use an OHTTP relay that hides IP address. This prevents Apple from learning about the information in your photos.Personally, Ill happily leave it on, but you can toggle it off if desired.One piece of data which isnt shared is location. This is clear as several of my London skyline photos were incorrectly identified as a variety of other cities, including San Francisco, Montreal, and Shanghai.Via: The Verge. Photos: Ben Lovejoy/9to5Mac. Background: Maxim BergonUnsplash.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

Dec 30, 2025Ravie LakshmananCybersecurity / ComplianceThe United States Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has proposed new cybersecurity requirements for healthcare organizations with an aim to safeguard patients' data against potential cyber attacks.The proposal, which seeks to modify the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, is part of a broader initiative to bolster the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure, the OCR said.The rule is designed to strengthen protections for electronic protected health information (ePHI) by updating the HIPAA Security Rule's standards to "better address ever-increasing cybersecurity threats to the healthcare sector."To that end, the proposal, among other things, requires organizations to conduct a review of the technology asset inventory and network map, identify potential vulnerabilities that could pose a threat to electronic information systems, and establish procedures to restore the loss of certain relevant electronic information systems and data within 72 hours.Other notable clauses include carrying out a compliance audit at least once every 12 months, mandating encryption of ePHI at rest and in transit, enforcing the use of multi-factor authentication, deploying anti-malware protection and removing extraneous software from relevant electronic information systems.The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) also necessitates that healthcare entities implement network segmentation, set up technical controls for backup and recovery, as well as perform vulnerability scanning at least every six months and penetration testing at least once every 12 months.The development comes as the healthcare sector continues to be a lucrative target with ransomware attacks, not only posing financial risk but also putting lives at stake by disrupting access to diagnostic equipment and critical systems that contain patient medical records."Healthcare organizations collect and store extremely sensitive data, which likely contributes to threat actors targeting them in ransomware attacks," Microsoft noted in October 2024. "However, a more significant reason these facilities are at risk is the potential for huge financial payouts.""Healthcare facilities located near hospitals that are impacted by ransomware are also affected because they experience a surge of patients needing care and are unable to support them in an urgent manner."According to data compiled by cybersecurity company Sophos, 67% of healthcare organizations were hit by ransomware in 2024, up from 34% in 2021. The root cause behind a majority of these incidents have been traced back to exploited vulnerabilities, compromised credentials, and malicious emails.Furthermore, 53% of healthcare organizations that had data encrypted paid the ransom to restore access. The median ransom payment was at $1.5 million.The increase in the rate of ransomware attacks against the healthcare entities has also been complemented by longer recovery times, with only 22% of victims fully recovering from an attack in a week or less, a significant drop from 54% in 2022. "The highly sensitive nature of healthcare information and need for accessibility will always place a bullseye on the healthcare industry from cybercriminals," Sophos CTO John Shier said. "Unfortunately, cybercriminals have learned that few healthcare organizations are prepared to respond to these attacks, demonstrated by increasingly longer recovery times."Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO), a United Nations agency focused on global public health, characterized the ransomware attacks on hospitals and healthcare systems as "issues of life and death" and called for international cooperation to combat the cyber threat.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Every week, the digital world faces new challenges and changes. Hackers are always finding new ways to breach systems, while defenders work hard to keep our data safe. Whether it's a hidden flaw in popular software or a clever new attack method, staying informed is key to protecting yourself and your organization.In this week's update, we'll cover the most important developments in cybersecurity. From the latest threats to effective defenses, we've got you covered with clear and straightforward insights. Let's dive in and keep your digital world secure. Threat of the WeekPalo Alto Networks PAN-OS Flaw Under Attack Palo Alto Networks has disclosed a high-severity flaw impacting PAN-OS software that could cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition on susceptible devices by sending a specially crafted DNS packet. The vulnerability (CVE-2024-3393, CVSS score: 8.7) only affects firewalls that have the DNS Security logging enabled. The company said it's aware of "customers experiencing this denial-of-service (DoS) when their firewall blocks malicious DNS packets that trigger this issue." Top NewsContagious Interview Drops OtterCookie Malware North Korean threat actors behind the ongoing Contagious Interview campaign have been observed dropping a new JavaScript malware called OtterCookie. The malware, likely introduced in September 2024, is designed to establish communications with a command-and-control (C2) server using the Socket.IO JavaScript library, and awaits further instructions. It's designed to run shell commands that facilitate data theft, including files, clipboard content, and cryptocurrency wallet keys.Cloud Atlas Continues its Assault on Russia Cloud Atlas, a hacking of unknown origin that has extensively targeted Russia and Belarus, has been observed using a previously undocumented malware called VBCloud as part of its cyber attack campaigns targeting "several dozen users" in 2024. The attacks employ phishing emails containing Microsoft Word documents, which, when opened, trigger an exploit for a seven-year-old security flaw to deliver the malware. VBCloud is capable of harvesting files matching several extensions and information about the system. More than 80% of the targets were located in Russia. A lesser number of victims have been recorded in Belarus, Canada, Moldova, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Vietnam.Malicious Python Packages Exfiltrate Sensitive Data Two malicious Python packages, named zebo and cometlogger, have been found to incorporate features to exfiltrate a wide range of sensitive information from compromised hosts. Both the packages were downloaded 118 and 164 times each, before they were taken down. A majority of these downloads came from the United States, China, Russia, and India.TraderTraitor Behind DMM Bitcoin Crypto Heist Japanese and U.S. authorities officially blamed a North Korean threat cluster codenamed TraderTraitor (aka Jade Sleet, UNC4899, and Slow Pisces) for the theft of cryptocurrency worth $308 million from cryptocurrency company DMM Bitcoin in May 2024. The attack is notable for the fact that the adversary first compromised the system of an employee of Japan-based cryptocurrency wallet software company named Ginco under the pretext of a pre-employment test. "In late-May 2024, the actors likely used this access to manipulate a legitimate transaction request by a DMM employee, resulting in the loss of 4,502.9 BTC, worth $308 million at the time of the attack," authorities said.WhatsApp Scores Legal Victory Against NSO Group NSO Group has been found liable in the United States after a federal judge in the state of California ruled in favor of WhatsApp, calling out the Israeli commercial spyware vendor for exploiting a security vulnerability in the messaging app to deliver Pegasus using WhatsApp's servers 43 times in May 2019. The targeted attacks deployed the spyware on 1,400 devices globally by making use of a then zero-day vulnerability in the app's voice calling feature (CVE-2019-3568, CVSS score: 9.8). Trending CVEsHeads up! Some popular software has serious security flaws, so make sure to update now to stay safe. The list includes CVE-2024-56337 (Apache Tomcat), CVE-2024-45387 (Apache Traffic Control), CVE-2024-43441 (Apache HugeGraph-Server), CVE-2024-52046 (Apache MINA), CVE-2024-12856 (Four-Faith routers), CVE-2024-47547, CVE-2024-48874, and CVE-2024-52324 (Ruijie Networks) Around the Cyber WorldScreenConnect Used to Deploy AsyncRAT Microsoft has revealed that cybercriminals are leveraging tech support scams to deploy AsyncRAT through the remote monitoring and management (RMM) software ScreenConnect, the first time that ScreenConnect is used to deploy malware, instead of as a persistence or lateral movement tool. The company also said threat actors are using SEO poisoning and typosquatting to deploy SectopRAT, an infostealer used to target browser information and crypto wallets. The disclosure comes as Malwarebytes disclosed that criminals are employing decoy landing pages, also called "white pages," that utilize AI-generated content and are propagated via bogus Google search ads. The scam involves attackers buying Google Search ads and using AI to create harmless pages with unique content. The goal is to use these decoy ads to then lure visitors to phishing sites for stealing credentials and other sensitive data. Malvertising lures have also been used to distribute SocGholish malware by disguising the page as an HR portal for a legitimate company named Kaiser Permanente.AT&T, Verizon Acknowledge Salt Typhoon Attacks U.S. telecom giants AT&T and Verizon acknowledged that they had been hit by the China-linked Salt Typhoon hacking group, a month after T-Mobile made a similar disclosure. Both the companies said they don't detect any malicious activity at this point, and that the attacks singled out a "small number of individuals of foreign intelligence interest." The breaches occurred in large part due to the affected companies failing to implement rudimentary cybersecurity measures, the White House said. The exact scope of the attack campaign still remains unclear, although the U.S. government revealed that a ninth telecom company in the country was also a target of what now appears to be a sprawling hacking operation aimed at U.S. critical infrastructure. Its name was not disclosed. China has denied any involvement in the attacks.Pro-Russian Hacker Group Targets Italian Websites Around ten official websites in Italy were targeted by a pro-Russian hacker group named Noname057(16). The group claimed responsibility for the distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on Telegram, stating Italy's "Russophobes get a well deserved cyber response." Back in July, three members of the group were arrested for alleged cyber attacks against Spain and other NATO countries. Noname057(16) is one of the many hacktivist groups that have emerged in response to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, with groups aligned on both sides engaging in disruptive attacks to achieve social or political goals. Some of these groups are also state-sponsored, posing a significant threat to cybersecurity and national security. According to a recent analysis by cybersecurity company Trellix, it's suspected that there's some kind of an operational relationship between Noname057(16) and CyberArmyofRussia_Reborn, another Russian-aligned hacktivist group active since 2022. "The group has created alliances with many other hacktivist groups to support their efforts with the DDoS attacks," Trellix said. "However, the fact that one of the previous CARR administrators, 'MotherOfBears,' has joined NoName057(16), the continuous forwarding of CARR posts, and previous statements, suggest that both groups seem to collaborate closely, which can also indicate a cooperation with Sandworm Team."UN Approves New Cybercrime Treaty to Tackle Digital Threats The United Nations General Assembly formally adopted a new cybercrime convention, called the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, that's aimed at bolstering international cooperation to combat such transnational threats. "The new Convention against Cybercrime will enable faster, better-coordinated, and more effective responses, making both digital and physical worlds safer," the UN said. "The Convention focuses on frameworks for accessing and exchanging electronic evidence, facilitating investigations and prosecutions." INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said the UN cybercrime convention "provides a basis for a new cross-sector level of international cooperation" necessary to combat the borderless nature of cybercrime.WDAC as a Way to Impair Security Defenses Cybersecurity researchers have devised a new attack technique that leverages a malicious Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) policy to block security solutions such as Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) sensors following a system reboot. "It makes use of a specially crafted WDAC policy to stop defensive solutions across endpoints and could allow adversaries to easily pivot to new hosts without the burden of security solutions such as EDR," researchers Jonathan Beierle and Logan Goins said. "At a larger scale, if an adversary is able to write Group Policy Objects (GPOs), then they would be able to distribute this policy throughout the domain and systematically stop most, if not all, security solutions on all endpoints in the domain, potentially allowing for the deployment of post-exploitation tooling and/or ransomware." Expert WebinarDon't Let Ransomware Win: Discover Proactive Defense Tactics Ransomware is getting smarter, faster, and more dangerous. As 2025 nears, attackers are using advanced tactics to evade detection and demand record-breaking payouts. Are you ready to defend against these threats? Join the Zscaler ThreatLabz webinar to learn proven strategies and stay ahead of cybercriminals. Don't waitprepare now to outsmart ransomware.Simplify Trust Management: Centralize, Automate, Secure Managing digital trust is complex in today's hybrid environments. Traditional methods can't meet modern IT, DevOps, or compliance demands. DigiCert ONE simplifies trust with a unified platform for users, devices, and software. Join the webinar to learn how to centralize management, automate operations, and secure your trust strategy. Cybersecurity ToolsLogonTracer is a powerful tool for analyzing and visualizing Windows Active Directory event logs, designed to simplify the investigation of malicious logons. By mapping host names, IP addresses, and account names from logon-related events, it creates intuitive graphs that reveal which accounts are being accessed and from which hosts. LogonTracer overcomes the challenges of manual analysis and massive log volumes, helping analysts quickly identify suspicious activity with ease.Game of Active Directory (GOAD) is a free, ready-to-use Active Directory lab designed specifically for pentesters. It offers a pre-built, intentionally vulnerable environment where you can practice and refine common attack techniques. Perfect for skill-building, GOAD eliminates the complexity of setting up your own lab, allowing you to focus on learning and testing various pentesting strategies in a realistic yet controlled setting. Tip of the WeekIsolate Risky Apps with Separate Spaces When you need to use a mobile app but aren't sure if it's safe, protect your personal data by running the app in a separate space on your phone. For Android users, go to Settings > Users & Accounts and create a Guest or new user profile. Install the uncertain app within this isolated profile and restrict its permissions, such as disabling access to contacts or locations. iPhone users can use Guided Access by navigating to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access to limit what the app can do. This isolation ensures that even if the app contains malware, it cannot access your main data or other apps.If the app behaves suspiciously, you can easily remove it from the separate space without affecting your primary profile. By isolating apps you're unsure about, you add an extra layer of security to your device, keeping your personal information safe while still allowing you to use the necessary tools.ConclusionThis week's cybersecurity updates highlight the importance of staying vigilant and prepared. Here are some simple steps to keep your digital world secure:Update Regularly: Always keep your software and devices up-to-date to patch security gaps.Educate Your Team: Teach everyone to recognize phishing emails and other common scams.Use Strong Passwords: Create unique, strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication where possible.Limit Access: Ensure only authorized people can access sensitive information.Backup Your Data: Regularly backup important files to recover quickly if something goes wrong.By taking these actions, you can protect yourself and your organization from emerging threats. Stay informed, stay proactive, and prioritize your cybersecurity. Thank you for joining us this weekstay safe online, and we look forward to bringing you more updates next week!Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.

Lisa Morgan, Freelance WriterDecember 30, 20249 Min ReadDmitriy Shironosov via Alamy Stock After surviving the pandemic with work-from-home policies, some organizations have decided that work should return to its pre-pandemic state in which most employees were expected to be in the office at least part of the week, if not the whole week.The problem with that is two-fold: First, organizations admitted that they were pleasantly surprised by remote work productivity, but now theyre saying, Yeah, but training is easier and water cooler conversations are golden. While those are compelling facts, organizations are forgetting that employees may vote with their feet.One reason is that employees discovered a new work-life balance during the pandemic that many do not want to give up. For some, that means flexible hours. For others, its the ability to be present at work and at home simultaneously.Especially the United States, [workers] have moved from big cities or simply to other areas far from their corporate offices, and their children have started attending schools near their new homes to work remotely. So, the requirement to start working in the office again means either a new move or a job change, says Diana Soprana Blaaitien, international HR and remote work expert for hospitality and IT sectors across Scandinavia and Germany. Employees who are told to return to the office are also unhappy about the increased costs of work: clothing, transportation, lunches, [and commute time].Related:Return to office (RTO) is the main reason why some people are changing jobs right now, particularly Gen Z.Gen Z, who prioritize work-life balance, will undoubtedly choose organizations without a strict RTO policy. This means that top talent and more candidates in general will be attracted by those that offer the opportunity to work remotely at least part of the time, says Blaaitien. Even some employees who come to me for selections identify the RTO policy as a deception by the employer because they were hired when they could work remotely, and now they are required to return to the office.The real reason RTO is happening is that some executives and managers feel more in control, or they believe remote work processes are not properly structured and managed. Theres also the real estate issue of leased and owned properties that are not being used to capacity.Diana Soprana BlaaitienI think that CEOs need to understand that the factory work structure -- work from 8 to 5 -- is already outdated and we are inevitably entering an era of a different perception and nature of work, says Blaaitien.Related:Dovil Gelinskait, senior talent manager at omnichannel marketing platform Omnisend, agrees.RTO mandates ignore the true purpose of on-site work: fostering creativity and teamwork. At Omnisend, we recognize that brainstorming, workshops and team building cant be replicated remotely. However, weve also found that rigid, outdated workplace models fail to reflect how much the nature of work has changed, says Gelinskait. Flexibility is now an expectation, especially among younger generations, so finding that balance between flexibility and in-person interactions is crucial. Companies that fail to do so will lose great talent to companies that do.RTO Adds to Stress and BurnoutOrganizations are facing pushback on their RTO policies, but employee exoduses will send a much more powerful message.In general, people do not like feeling that things are happening to them, and that they have no say, or choice in the matter. So, when you suddenly pivot to an RTO mandate, employees will take it personally, as it does impact their personal lives, and they will likely feel demoralized, says Ashley Alexander, chief people officer at observability platform Chronosphere. In most cases, employees are professional adults, so making knee-jerk decisions is going to cause unnecessary stress or burnout.Related:One reason RTO policies fail is because the employees who were forced back to the office spend their day on Zoom calls with colleagues who arent physically present.To avoid [this annoyance], there needs to be a thoughtful strategy ensuring pods or teams collaborating closely or benefiting from shared learning are in the office together, says Alexander. A sudden shift from remote work to RTO often highlights how dispersed teams have become. Without a clear location-based strategy tied to roles and responsibilities, the transition can feel chaotic and ineffective.A better way to approach it is to clearly explain how RTO benefits employees, or how the mandate positively impacts customers and the ability to get work done more efficiently. There should also be reasonable time given for employees to opt in or out of the RTO mandate, and executives should have to follow the same expectations as everyone else.According to Rachel Marcuse, COO at organizational consulting firm ReadySet, many employees see RTO as a regressive, antiquated move.Employees may be less engaged during a workday bookended by commutes and less than enthusiastic about the financial and climate costs of traveling to the office daily, says Marcuse. [B]usinesses could lose out on the best Gen Z talent, with recent studies showing that Gen Zers want the option to work remotely -- even as they also crave some level of in-person collaboration.Downstream EffectsAs companies enforce their RTO policies, there are downstream effects, the most obvious of which is getting employees to change their behavior, yet again.More rigid mandates shrink the available talent pool, especially for organizations, particularly those in smaller markets. Remote work has been a boon for these companies, granting access to talent they wouldnt typically be able to attract, says Darrin Murriner, CEO and co-founder at automated technology coaching platform Cloverleaf. For candidates, rigid RTO decreases the number of available job opportunities, creating a lose-lose situation for both sides.For example, such mandates increase operational costs, including housing in-office employees and managing relocations. These policies can also create disruption and uncertainty, driving valuable employees to reconsider their roles within the organization.For employees, rigid RTO policies can disrupt work-life balance and push them to seek employers offering more flexibility. For candidates, RTO mandates reduce job opportunities by limiting options to local markets rather than leveraging the global opportunities remote work provides, says Murriner. This creates a more constrained and less competitive job market, diminishing both employee and employer prospects for finding the best matches.Rather than simply issuing an RTO policy from the top-down, it is wiser to gather input from all levels, creating tailored solutions for specific roles, and providing flexibility for individual managers to adapt policies to their teams. Such strategies mitigate disruption and uncertainty, help retain top talent, and foster trust by focusing on clarity and predictability.How DOGE May Impact RTOThe United States new Department of Government Efficiency, (DOGE) a consultancy jointly spearheaded by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, has already made it clear that RTO five days a week will be non-optional for government employees. What impact might that have on the private sector? For one thing, it may embolden more private companies to issue RTO mandates of their own.Cloverleafs Murriner believes government RTO mandates like DOGE will likely shift costs rather than solve workforce challenges.These mandates increase the financial burden of housing in-office employees and managing relocations, and they exacerbate societal costs in cities with larger federal employee bases, like DC, where traffic congestion and infrastructure challenges could worsen, says Murriner. For private organizations, these mandates may have some influence, but the private sector is more likely to prioritize adaptable, talent-driven policies over rigid government models, avoiding the pitfalls of unnecessary cost and limited flexibility.What if RTO Mandates Really Do Fail?If RTO mandates fail, it will prove that strict office policies no longer fit the realities of modern work, according to Omnisends Gelinskait.Employers will have to invest in flexible work models and employee well-being instead of maintaining office space. In the long run, this could make such companies more competitive in todays job market, whereas those that cling to office-first policies will likely struggle to attract and retain top talent, says Gelinskait. A sound RTO strategy should make people want to be there. Employers should clearly communicate the benefits of office attendance, such as tasks or activities that thrive on in-person interaction. A strong strategy should also involve employees in shaping how office time is used.For example, at Omnisend, the team leads decide what kind of working model they apply. Some teams benefit from in-office work much more than others, so this dynamic approach allows each team to tailor their work model to what works best for them.Chris Rowe, co-founder of executive recruiting firm pltfm believes that any mandated policy in 2025, RTO or not, has potential to fail. If talent has a choice of being in the office two or three days a week versus five, theyll choose the lesser amount.Chris Rowe, pltfm My sense is that [4 days in the office and one at home or five days in the office] are far more common and the fully remote icecaps are somewhat melting under people's feet, says Rowe. Companies need to compete for talent, so I suspect there will be policy, and then there will be shades of grey around that policy. The strongest companies in [each] sector typically have the strongest and most defined cultures, says Rowe. Any of those companies will tell you that regardless of the multimillion-dollar budgets they deploy via digital learning initiatives, the best learning comes via an apprenticeship culture, fostered by listening, watching and doing. This latter argument supports RTO.While Rowe believes most career-orientated candidates will compromise if the opportunity is right, a mandated five-day RTO is a significant buzzkill for talent, even if the brand will significantly elevate someone's resum. He recommends that companies:Identify core competitors for talent. (Tip: they probably arent your core competitors.)Understand what they are doing RTO-wise.Be curious about what you can learn from them.Design an RTO strategy that satisfies the executive committee and still keeps the company looking more progressive than the full-week RTO competitor.Train hiring managers to deploy "shades of grey" around the rhetoric and policy.Bottom LineOrganizations are engaging in risky behavior by issuing top-down RTO mandates that are in direct conflict with what employees embraced as the new normal during the pandemic. While there are benefits of working in an office, a blanket five-day RTO mandate is likely to face considerable resistance.After all, a simple change in policy can have far-reaching implications for employees that employers need to consider. The price of the mismatch may be losing good employees to competitors and difficulty attracting top or critical talent.About the AuthorLisa MorganFreelance WriterLisa Morgan is a freelance writer who covers business and IT strategy and emergingtechnology for InformationWeek. She has contributed articles, reports, and other types of content to many technology, business, and mainstream publications and sites including tech pubs, The Washington Post and The Economist Intelligence Unit. Frequent areas of coverage include AI, analytics, cloud, cybersecurity, mobility, software development, and emerging cultural issues affecting the C-suite.See more from Lisa MorganNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

Submitted by WA ContentsCave-like farm house by Earthscape Studio provokes "a wild experience" with its earthen architecture India Architecture News - Dec 30, 2024 - 12:52 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"This farmhouse, which looks like a small hill from above, redefines the self-sufficient space with its smooth faade and sinuous form. The farmhouse, designed Indian architecture practice Earthscape Studio, is located in Mettupalayam, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India.Named Into The Wild, the 138-square-metre farmhouse was developed in response to its surrounding featuring a verdant panoramic view of the mountains and deep woods of coconut and palm trees. The site lies plain with no special characteristics of terrain or landscape. As the developer's site, the surrounding area spans approximately 12 acres, including the project lot, which is rather plain.This prompted the creation of an intriguing building that respects nature. Earthscape Studio began the design process with a focus of 25 percent on construction and 75 percent on nature.According to the studio, planting and growing trees is not only sustainable but also crucial for how the building interacts with the natural environment. Consequently, the studio concentrated on construction techniques that would minimize carbon emissions.This innovative, self-sustaining structure features a fluid design that the studio refers to as fold architecture. The 4-inch shell (114.3 millimetre) is crafted to bend and flow, incorporating a series of arches. It is covered with layers of thappi plaster on the outside and mud plaster on the inside, applied on both sides of the ferrocement."Being a self-sustaining structure, it has no columns or beams. Mud is not a material palette, the beautiful thing in earthen architecture is not only about using the materials, but also about the artisans," said Earthscape Studio."Traditional lime plasters from India flows along smoothly on the floor and the furnitures giving a luxuriant feel inside the spaces. This helps in reducing the temperature of about 3 degrees inside the space from the outside," the studio added.The 7-foot tall (2,286 meters) verdant landscape wraps around the structure with lush grass. Being in a highly humid area, this foliage helps reduce indoor temperatures and acts as a structural element of the building. This Farm House, identified by 2BHK, offers surprising experiences in each space.The circular transitions evoke curiosity about the interiors. The folds and curves create a cave-like atmosphere, providing a sense of adventure. From the lower level, the windows open to a sylvan view, allowing cool air to flow into the space.Ventilation openings extend from the structure in various locations, allowing hot air to escape and creating a natural stack effect. The light that filters through each vent adds a dramatic ambiance within the interiors. A linear opening at the bar provides a panoramic view of the tall coconut and palm trees.The central courtyard connects to various spaces through smaller and larger openings, facilitating natural light and ventilation. This design fosters a sense of openness and a seamless transition between open and semi-open areas."We believe that Interiors are not about purchasing and arranging inside a space. All the furnitures are in-built in accordance to the space. The bed, cushions and the fabrics are customized in accordance to its own shape and play creating an opulence feel," the studio explained."The bed, bar counter, pantry, seating are all done with arise finishes giving a lap of luxury at each space."The bathrooms are finished with arise finish, a water-proofing material that doesn't require any chemicals. The wood utilized for cabinets, benches, and doors is gathered from scrap wood.The stone seat and door knobs are carved on the location where the stones are obtained. The green foliage that covers the shell creates the illusion of a home on the inside and a garden on the outside.Roof planFloor planSection AASection BBElevationPreviously, Earthscape Studio designed a farmhouse wrapped by agabion wall to filter daylight and airflow to the interior the mountain ranges in Anaikatti, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India. In addition, the firm builta farmhouseentriely made of locally available and sustainable materials, by developing its own construction system.After continuing his architectural studies at Wallmakers, which Vinu Daniel started, Petchimuthu Kennedy founded Earthscape Studio in 2022. The architectural design philosophy and ideology of Earthscape Studio strives to produce and highlight structures that are emotionally charged and soulful.Project factsProject name: Into The WildArchitects: Earthscape StudioLocation: Mettupalayam, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, IndiaCompletion Year:2024Gross Built Area (m2/ ft2):1450 sq.ft / 138m2Lead Architects:Petchimuthu KennedyTeam:Petchimuthu Kennedy, Shivani Saran S K, Niha Ann Baby, Sowmiya ArulAll images Studio IKSHA.All drawings Earthscape Studio.> viaEarthscape Studio

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