Community, Traditions, and Resilience Ring Through New Public Works for Tbilisi Mural FestDecember 31, 2024ArtKate MothesResidents and commuters alike can now enjoy more than 20 new, large-scale public artworks across five Georgian cities thanks to the 2024 Tbilisi Mural Fest (previously). The sixth edition facilitated new installations in Kutaisi, Batumi, Gori, and Gurjaaniin addition to its namesake communityby nearly a dozen artists from around the country and beyond.Many of the works reference local traditions, like Afzan Pirzades depiction of vintners holding a basket of grapes, representing a form of agriculture common in the eastern region of Kakheti. Tina Chertova incorporated a traditional lace-like pattern into a stunning, blue, multistory mural featuring birds, people, deer, and other decorative motifs. And in others, figures assume mythical personas, prepare food, and portray togetherness.This year, the monumental compositions adorn the sides of buildings that range from two stories tall to more than a dozen, the largest painting reaching 65 meters tall and 20 meters wide. Through vibrant splashes of color, the works celebrate resilience, community, and local customs in an array of styles. Explore more on the festivals website.Innefields, BatumiNext article

Tech Is your VPN enough without antivirus protection? Understanding the vital role of both tools in comprehensive cybersecurity Published December 31, 2024 8:00am EST close 'CyberGuy': Is your VPN enough without antivirus protection? VPNs ensure privacy; antivirus stops malware. Tech expert Kurt Knutsson says both are essential for online security. As cyber threats continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, many people like yourself are seeking effective ways to safeguard their online presence. That includes Keith from Lisbon, Iowa, who asked, "If I have a VPN, do I still need an antivirus app?"The answer is a resounding yes. While a VPN (virtual private network) provides crucial privacy and security benefits, it doesn't protect your device from malware, viruses or other cyber threats. Let's get into why you need both and how they complement each other to provide comprehensive digital security. A woman working on her laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Why you need both a VPN and antivirusTo achieve comprehensive online security, its crucial to understand the distinct yet complementary roles that VPNs and antivirus software play in protecting your digital life.Virtual private networkA VPN is your first line of defense for online privacy and security. It works by:1) Encrypting your internet connection: This makes it extremely difficult for hackers, ISPs or other third parties to intercept and read your data.2) Masking your IP address: By hiding your real IP address, a VPN allows you to browse the internet anonymously, making it harder for websites and advertisers to track your online activities.3) Bypassing geo-restrictions: VPNs can help you access content that might be blocked in your region, giving you more freedom online. A woman working on her laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Antivirus softwareWhile a VPN protects your online activities, antivirus software focuses on defending your device itself. Here's what antivirus does:1) Malware detection and removal: Antivirus software scans your device for viruses, trojans, spyware and other malicious software, then removes or quarantines these threats.2) Real-time protection: Modern antivirus programs continuously monitor your system, preventing malware from infecting your device in the first place.3) Phishing protection: Many antivirus solutions include features that block malicious websites and warn you about potential phishing attempts. A woman typing on her computer (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)How VPNs and antivirus complement each otherVPNs and antivirus software serve different but complementary purposes in your digital security arsenal.VPNs secure your internet connection: They focus on protecting your data as it travels across the internet, ensuring your online activities remain private. Using aVPN service can enhance your privacy by encrypting your internet traffic, making it harder for hackers and third parties to intercept your data, especially on public Wi-Fi. A VPN masks your IP address, helping to obscure your location and online activity. While VPNs dont directly prevent phishing emails, they reduce the exposure of your browsing habits to trackers that may use this data maliciously. With a VPN, you can securely access your email accounts from anywhere, even in areas with restrictive internet policies..Antivirus protects your device: It guards against threats that could compromise your device's security, regardless of how they reach your system. Therefore, it's important to have strong antivirus software actively running on your devices. Antivirus software helps protect your devices from malware, viruses and other security threats. Regularly update the software to ensure it can detect and remove the latest threats.The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.By using both a VPN and strong antivirus software, you create a robust defense system that protects both your online activities and your device itself. A woman typing on her laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Kurts key takeawaysRemember, Keith and the rest of you: Cybersecurity is not about choosing between a VPN and antivirus; it's about leveraging both to create a multi-layered defense against the ever-evolving landscape of online threats. Combining these two powerful tools allows you to enjoy a safer, more secure and more private online experience.What are your biggest cybersecurity concerns, and what specific help would you like from us to address them? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

If you want to get a security bump on your Mac, you should switch to secure DNS to encrypt your web traffic.

Whether you want to mount a new camera or relocate an existing one, keep these pointers in mind to enhance performance and avoid problems.

Wearables continued to rise in popularity this year, with Apple's devices proving to be lifesaving in these harrowing true stories.

AI is fast becoming a critical aspect of modern warfare, but the ROI on AI investments continues to ... [+] be questioned, even in the defense sector. (Photo by Cristina Young/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)Getty ImagesIn October of this year, outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden issued the first-ever National Security Memorandum on Artificial Intelligence, which ordered the U.S. military and intelligence agencies to more quickly adopt and deploy artificial intelligence. It was a move that further showed what many global leaders already recognize: AI is now a critical aspect of modern warfare.But as defense departments worldwide rush to integrate AI into their operations, questions continue to linger on how to get the best value from their AI investments and deployments. Its therefore not surprising that the executive order wasnt just for the United States to lead the way in seizing the promise of AI, but to also manage the risks of AI.The press release from the White House also noted that the memorandum was designed to galvanize federal government adoption of AI to advance the national security mission, including by ensuring that such adoption reflects democratic values and protects human rights, civil rights, civil liberties and privacy.For Meir Friedland, CEO of RF spectrum intelligence company Sensorz and an expert in AI for military tactics, AIs potential in defense is massive, but achieving it requires a calculated approach. AI stands at the forefront of modern warfare, bridging physical and digital domains. But without clear strategies and rigorous safeguards, its potential can easily go unrealized or worse, backfire, he said.Thats the realization thats dawning on defense departments across the world. What lies ahead for the defense industry, as the trends suggest, depends on how the entire industry maximizes the potential of AI executing the right strategies, tools and avoiding common AI investment mistakes. But first, how far has AI gone in modern military tactics?MORE FOR YOUAI in Modern Military TacticsFrom autonomous drones to predictive analytics and real-time intelligence processing, AI has enhanced efficiency and precision on the battlefield. The spectral battlefield which is defined in the Joint Doctrine Note 3-16 as the range of all electromagnetic radiation is a great example of how AI is quickly transforming the defense space. Put simply, the modern spectral battlefield is the military environment where the control of the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio or radar frequencies to wireless cyberspace applications to signal intelligence and more, are controlled or contested.AI-driven signal intelligence and management platforms, Friedland noted, have become indispensable for dominating the increasingly complex electromagnetic spectrum. AI is changing how defense organizations monitor and control the spectrum, providing persistent insights and enabling rapid responses to new signal forms, anomalies and threats that impact the operation of friendly systems and electronic countermeasures, even in contested environments.For example, Sensorzs SWORD platform leverages cutting-edge AI to analyze unprecedented quantities of spectrum data in real time and automatically classify wireless transmissions. On the battlefield, where every second counts, AI delivers a critical advantage to fighting forces, said Friedland.A great example of where this recently happened is Ukraine, where AI-powered tools have been used to intercept and analyze enemy communications, offering real-time insights that have proven invaluable in tactical decision-making.Crafting Effective Strategies for AI in DefenseBuilding a successful AI strategy begins with aligning technological goals with operational needs. For defense organizations, this means designing systems that address specific challenges, from real-time battlefield decision-making to supply chain optimization. Friedland said that developing internal expertise in areas like machine learning, data annotation and MLOps is critical. Without these capabilities, organizations will struggle to evaluate AI systems during acquisition or effectively implement them in operations.Equally important is embracing open architecture environments, which enable defense departments to rapidly integrate cutting-edge technologies and ensure compatibility across various AI solutions. Open systems allow for innovation, reduce dependency on single suppliers, and ensure adaptability in fast-changing conflict scenarios, Friedland told me in an interview.AI strategies must also focus on practical technologies like edge computing and multi-sensor fusion. Edge-optimized AI is vital for autonomous drones operating in remote areas, while multi-sensor fusion integrates data from diverse sources to enhance real-time decision-making. When combined, these approaches could ensure AI solutions are more effective even in resource-constrained or unpredictable environments.AI Investment Mistakes In DefenseAs powerful as AI is, implementing it the wrong way could be even more catastrophic than not having it in place. One major mistake that any defense agency can make, according to Friedland, is neglecting the quality and integrity of data used to train AI systems. This is a major issue, which Ive covered extensively in the past.Flawed or biased datasets can lead to disastrous outcomes, such as misidentifying threats or causing collateral damage. Robust data governance and validation are essential to ensure the reliability and fairness of AI models, Friedland noted.Cybersecurity vulnerabilities present another major challenge. AI systems are particularly susceptible to attacks like data poisoning and model manipulation, where adversaries intentionally compromise training data or exploit weaknesses in the system. Defense organizations must implement adversarial testing and robust cybersecurity protocols to counter these risks.A third pitfall is the overhype surrounding AIs capabilities. Defense departments sometimes overestimate AIs potential to solve complex challenges without human oversight. As Friedland warned, AI is a tool to augment human decision-making, not replace it. Critical operations must always involve human-in-the-loop systems to maintain accountability and operational integrity. Unrealistic expectations not only risk operational failures but also erode trust in the technology.A Future Defined by Adaptability and CollaborationAs defense departments accelerate AI adoption, the technologys influence on warfare and geopolitics will only grow. Smarter, decentralized systems like microgrids are emerging as a solution to ensure energy reliability in remote bases, while dual-use technologies applicable to both civilian and military sectors are driving innovation across industries. These developments, however, bring regulatory and ethical challenges, particularly as AI capabilities outpace existing frameworks.In Friedlands view, though, the future of AI in defense will be defined by adaptability and collaboration. The organizations that succeed will be those that invest in future-proof systems capable of evolving with technological advancements and operational demands, he said. This includes advancements in AI-driven predictive analytics, enhanced edge computing, and scalable solutions for integrating AI into multi-domain operations.Ultimately, addressing the challenges of AI adoption in defense will require more than technological breakthroughs. It will demand strategic vision, robust safeguards and ongoing collaboration among governments, industry leaders and innovators.It's also critical, Friedland noted, for defense organizations and their AI system developers to focus on the human factor, ensuring that the necessary expertise and resources are in place to effectively support AI throughout its entire lifecycle.By aligning innovation with collaboration and responsibility, we can unlock the full potential of AI to strengthen defense capabilities and safeguard global security, he concluded.

Path of Exile 2Grinding GearI did not imagine I would get this deep into Path of Exile 2 ahead of its Early Access release, but I have already tripled my total amount of playtime in Path of Exile 1 over the last decade in just a few weeks here with the unfinished sequel.I thought Id talk generally about my experience with PoE2, coming from a mainly Diablo background, with several thousand hours between Diablos 2, 3 and 4. The past two games have been viewed as more casual, mainstream versions of the harder core D2, and the idea of Path of Exile has always been to channel D2 rather than evolving for a wider audience. Though even in early access, this hasattracted a wide audience, putting up 350,000-500,000 concurrent players since launch a few weeks ago.It is really, really stunning just how much Path of Exile 2 emulates Diablo 2, even in the year of our lord 2024 here. The original game came out in 2013, 13 years after the launch of Diablo 2. Now we are a full 24 years later, and itvery much feels like Diablo 2, though with obvious upgrades and changes. Though the core is the same. I would view this as overwhelmingly a good thing, albeit I think some things have made the trip forward for no real reason other than the way its how things used to be (the ability to hold only 5-6 pieces of gear in your inventory at a time, for instance). But the look, the feel, even the UI, its nostalgia in all the right ways.Path of Exile 2GGGI really enjoyed the campaign, even though it was just half of the Acts that will be released when all is said and done. For the most part, I thought it was the right level of challenge with really engaging bosses that yes, could be frustrating at times, but through trial and error and learning and failing, none felt like a full-on wall for me. The story is...as good as any ARPG story, I suppose, so Im sort of throwing that out the window, but these locations, these enemies and how it felt to play through this was excellent.Cruel difficulty needs more work, and at this point, I dont think it even needs to exist. You mandatorily play through it in order to hit the endgame on a character, going through the whole campaign twice, but its a strange experience because both times I did this, Cruel was way easier than normal. Because at that point, you have enough gear and enough gems and enough skill points to get a true build up and running, and difficulty is tuned where you can pretty much blow through Cruel to the point where it feels like a waste of time. Not that making it a slog would be fun on your way to the endgame, but its in an odd spot right now.I know that the infamous skill tree of PoE 2 (and 1, for that matter) looks insane and intimidating. I was there too. But I love it (and its not actually as crazy as it looks). The way you snake through the nodes and try to pick an optimal path balancing damage, survivability and amplifying your specific build is a much more interesting system than what Diablo has become or yes, even Diablo 2, back in the day. The main issue right now is that creativity isnt exactly a thing with so many very similar powerful builds, but thats an Early Access thing (a bunch of skills and weapons arent even in the game yet, for one, and its barely had any balance patches).Path of Exile 2NeverSinkI enjoy the setup of the endgame of Path of Exile 2, the sprawling map filled with nodes you can upgrade with modifiers and bonus rewards through towers or waystones. Its a very creative idea that I think is more compelling that just stacking higher and higher rift levels in Diablo (though it has evolved from there recently). I like exploring that map, and winding my way through points all over the place attempting to hunt down infamous citadels with pinnacle bosses (that I wish werent campaign bosses).The problem with the endgame is that it is way too punishing. Not way too hard, way too punishing, theres a difference. A single death on any map 1) wipes progress and kicks you out, 2) eats your Waystone entirely, 3) erases modifiers from nearby towers, 4) erases special nodes like Delirium or Bosses, 5) makes you actually lose XP. So, it bricks the map entirely, plus eats both items and your actual XP. On one death. And those deaths can often come in cheap ways like one instance of getting stuck on the environment or one flying chaos orb that blows you up when hidden behind a tree. Punishment for dying is one thing, but the current endgame takes things too far.I really like Path of Exile 2, even unfinished and unbalanced. I would not have put in 40 hours a week here if I did not like it. I may be coming to the end of testing mode, though every time I say that, they do some new patch that makes me go back and play more. So see you in the new year, most likely.MORE FOR YOUFollow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.

A lot of projects, AI and otherwise, forget some basic design principles that can be used to craft an effort with higher likelihood of success. My five heuristics are:Prisms Separate Light Into Its Important Consituent PartsgettyPoliticsRhythmIdentityStaffMetricsSome of these are so obvious I am almost embarrassed to mention them, but I have sat through dozens if not hundreds of funding pitches that miss these simple, fundamental ideas.Politics: Make sure the cost and benefit of a new project sit under the same operational leader.At the CEO level all costs and benefits roll up under the same leader, but as one works their way down into the organization there are many departments and functions who are motivated to optimize their domain first and the rest of the organization later. As one senior partner at a consulting firm said to me, As soon as I hit my sales number, Im a team player. If that happens six months before the end of the year Im a team player for six months; if it happens a month before the end of the year, Im a team player for a month. In that spirit, I have sat through many project funding proposals in which the cost for a project sits in one department, say the IT department, and the benefit sits in another, say marketing. This is a big red flag for any project. Theres also a classic Academy of Management Journal by Steven Kerr on this topic entitled, On the Folly of Hoping for A While Rewarding B.Rhythm: Choose projects with a fast cycle-time for benefits realization.Customer service, digital marketing, trading operations, usually have fast cycle times and if your Generative AI projects helps make customer service representatives more productive or automates their tasks, it is easy to see benefit, quickly. This is one of the reason some scientists who research reproduction study May flies who are born, live and die in 24 hours. They do not investigate sea turtles who can live 100 years or more. I believe that the best projects deliver some initial value within the year, and even within six months.Identity: Tie the project to the identity of the organization.Simon Sinek has become famous by noting the Power of Why. Tying any project to the identity of the organization helps to answer why this project. For example, after Steve Sinfosky from Microsoft was snowed in for two days at his alma mater wrote the Computing at Cornell memo to Bill Gates, which started a process that transformed the firm. Gates subsequently penned his famous Internet Tidal Wave memo that tied this academic network to the core why of Microsoft. This type of linkage to identity makes the reason for doing any project more obvious. For instance, anyone working in an insurance firm today can avail themselves of the fact that insurance firms were the first AI firms in the sense that they always have been competing on the quality of their decision models and Generative AI is just the next extension of that identity. This connection is worth making.MORE FOR YOUStaff: Any investment in helping staff understand AI is not wasted.Ethan Mollick in his wonderful book C0-Intelligence makes the point that todays AI is the dumbest AI we will ever have. The machines are getting smarter every day and at a brisk pace. When making the case for a project, it is face valid that every organization and employee will want to have some facility with AI as a user, creator of chat bots, or maybe a deep expert in the coming years. This means that any investment in a project concerning AI will educate the staff on an inevitable content area. As long as the people stay with the firm, it will be a worthwhile expense to train your talent, independent of project outcome.Metrics: Dont invent new ones, tie to the existing ones!It is often tempting for individuals doing something new to create new measures for their efforts. The problem is that establishing new metrics can be as hard, or harder, than delivering the project itself. If you notice, it is very rare that organizations and functions change their metrics. Therefore if you are proposing a new AI project, it is vital that you make the linkage to existing measures explicit and simple. Moreover, if you are delivering a call center agent to the firm, dont focus on return on assets or NPV, focus on how the new technology can help drive calls per representative, length of calls, one call resolution and customer satisfaction the types of metrics that any call center executive manages to every day.Questions to Ask YourselfWhen considering AI projects remember to look at them through the PRISM (sorry about that, but I just had to say that corny idea). This simple framework can help you choose less risk projects or to modify your approach to existing ones. Ask these three questions:How does my project rate on the five PRISM dimensions?Can I make the linkage to each clear and credibly?Based on these heuristics are there projects I should modify, cancel, or accelerate?These questions are easy to ask early, and so difficult to ask once you are into the project. I hope you will ask them briskly and as you begin not as diagnostic when overseeing a post mortem!

A hot potato: The European Union decided to impose USB-C as the de-facto standard for data communication and battery charging on small devices two years ago. The new rule is now going into effect, despite Apple's objections, which include concerns about reduced technological innovation. The European market is making USB-C the sole interface for battery charging on mobile and portable gadgets. The EU Parliament approved the USB Type-C mandate in 2022, compelling even reluctant manufacturers to adopt the port for their chargers. By the end of 2024, all mobile phones, tablets, and cameras sold in the EU must feature a USB-C charging port and that's just the beginning.By 2026, the mandate will extend to laptops as well.European authorities explained that the new rule would allow consumers to use a single, universal charger for all their portable devices. USB-C chargers will remain compatible with new products, creating a standard for a wide range of small and medium-sized portable electronic devices with power delivery under 100 watts. By 2026, the mandate will extend to laptops as well.The EU also stated that devices supporting fast charging will have the same charging speed, ensuring that any compatible charger can power up devices at the same rate. According to the European Commission, the adoption of a common USB-C charger will improve interoperability across the market, reducing the impact on both consumers and the environment.The USB-C mandate is expected to increase consumer choice and force manufacturers to abandon their outdated "lock-in" business model, which requires customers to purchase products exclusively from a single brand. Apple, one of the most notable offenders in this practice, actively resisted the EU's push for a common USB-C charger.In 2022, Apple argued that the regulation would enforce "conformity" in the types of connectors used by devices, stifling innovation. Apple also claimed the regulation would harm both European consumers and the broader economy. However, the company was ultimately forced to comply. Apple's SVP of Marketing, Greg Joswiak, admitted that they had no choice but to adopt USB-C in their devices. // Related StoriesThe iPhone 15, introduced last year, marked the first generation to replace Apple's proprietary Lightning port with USB-C. According to EU estimates, the ability to reuse old chargers will save consumers up to 250 million annually. Europe also warned that disposed chargers currently account for 11,000 tonnes of additional e-waste every year.

In a nutshell: Do you ever feel that there may be too many games released these days? It could be because 2024 saw more new titles launched on Steam than any year before, a total of almost 19,000, up 32.5% compared to last year. The ever-helpful SteamDB stat tracker reveals that as we enter the final few hours of 2024, a massive 18,965 games (at the time of writing) have been released on Steam during these last 12 months.The figure is quite remarkable when you look at Steam's previous yearly totals. 2024 saw the highest number of new games ever released on Valve's platform, with 4,655 more games appearing this year compared to 2023 (14,310), marking the largest-ever yearly increase.Just four years ago, in 2020, there were 9,686 new games released on Steam, around half the number of new releases in 2024. Go all the way back to 2006, three years after Steam first arrived, and just 70 games were launched on the service.Courtesy of SteamDBWhile there were more games than ever before released this year, only 3,973, or just over 20%, were popular enough for Valve to enable community profile features, including trading cards, badges, emoticons, etc. It's these games that count toward a user's Game Collector and Achievement Collector totals, too. // Related StoriesLast year, 3,874 new games were enrolled in Steam community profile features, while the figure was 3,491 in 2021, indicating a steady yearly increase. Nevertheless, the fact that 14,992 new releases in 2024 weren't popular enough to receive these features illustrates how many games go unnoticed.Also read: Best PC Games (You Should Be Playing)SteamDB also includes a list of the top-rated games of 2024, based on user ratings. Unsurprisingly, the crack-like addictiveness of Balatro helped it secure second place with a score of 96.75%, beaten only by MiSide's rating of 96.78%.Other top-rated games include Black Myth: Wukong (95.91%) in seventh, Tactical Breach Wizards (95.12%) in sixteenth, and Silent Hill (93.72%) in the 66th spot. All these titles appear in our Best PC Games (You Should Be Playing) feature.Earlier this month, Valve released its Best of the Year lists, highlighting the top-selling and most-played games of 2024.