Hideo Kojima has revealed the ongoing video game actors strike has affected production on his Xbox game as well as his upcoming action espionage title for Sony.In a tweet, Kojima said that Kojima Productions was forced to suspend actor scanning and filming for the Xbox-published OD during the second half of 2024 after the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) video game actors' strike began in July.Similarly, casting for Physint, Kojimas hotly anticipated return to the action espionage genre, was suspended due to the strike. Kojima added that he hopes to resume production in 2025.SAG-AFTRA video game voice actors accuse gaming companies of refusing to meet their demands on artificial intelligence. Negotiations over a new contract began in October 2022 and SAG-AFTRA members approved the strike in September 2023. Check out IGNs feature, What the SAG-AFTRA Video Game Actors Strike Means for Gamers, for more.What this means for both OD and Physint remains to be seen, with both games without an official release window. Both are video game / movie hybrids, with Nope and Get Out Director Jordan Peele collaborating with Kojima on OD. Physint was announced during a Sony State of Play broadcast, suggesting it may release on PlayStation 6.Meanwhile, Kojima is working on Death Stranding 2, which is out at some point in 2025, and the live-action Death Stranding film with A24. In his tweet, Kojima teased other adaptations are underway, without saying any more.OD and Physint arent the only video games affected by the SAG-AFTRA strike. Last month, Activision confirmed it had recast some members of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 cast after fans noticed much-loved Zombies characters with new voices in-game. Activision said at the time: "We respect the personal choice of these performers. Out of respect for all parties, we wont add new commentary about the ongoing negotiations with SAG-AFTRA. We look forward to a mutually beneficial outcome as soon as possible."Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is not subject to the strike because it was in development before July 25, 2024, when the strike began. However, as suggested by Activision's statement, the voice actors may have decided against signing new contracts in solidarity with striking union members. IGN has asked SAG-AFTRA for comment.Photo by Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu via Getty Images.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Welcome to Streaming Rewind, a weekly breakdown of the new and noteworthy as we work to help readers wade through the absolute deluge of television series and movies in the streaming space.New releases in the streaming space slow a bit during the holidays. Because of that, it can be hard to point you in the direction of the new and noteworthy each week while were in the limbo between Christmas and the New Year. But, this week, Apple TV+ decided to be particularly kind and make my job pretty easy due to the fact that theyre making everything on their platform free to watch for the first weekend of 2025 (which is this weekend somehow, time has no meaning).From January 3-5, you can watch whatever you want on the platform. And, given the fact that its the favorite streaming service of several of us here at IGN, I can promise you that the riches are endless in that department. With that in mind, heres what you should prioritize if youre going to spend the weekend binging. SeverancePlayYall know that I worship the ground that Shrinking walks on but, given the fact that Season 2 is coming to an end and Severance Season 2 is right around the corner, Ive got to put the latter at the top of this list. I wrote an indepth ending explained immediately after watching the first season several years ago, but theres so much that even I dont remember! So, if youre hyped for Season 2 and were looking for a reason to power watch Season 1 before hopping back in nows your shot.ShrinkingPlayOf course this was going to be the second entry. It was all I could do not to make it half of the first. Shrinking has been consistently one of the very best shows of the last couple of years, and you deserve the belly laughs that come with it. I dont know that you deserve the ugly sobs that come along with it too, but listen its worth it. Harrison Ford is giving the performance of his career, ok? I know that sounds like hyperbole, but I assure you that it is not. Monarch: Legacy of MonstersPlayIf you found Anna Sawai to be utterly remarkable in Shogun (you are right) might I suggest the surprisingly solid Monarch: Legacy of Monsters? One of my biggest complaints of the Legendary Monsterverse is that it often fails to make its human characters matter at all (not you, Kong: Skull Island, youre lovely). Monarch largely solves that problem, telling a story across two generations as the world learns to leave with or around Godzilla. Ted LassoPlayIt is I, one of the 3 defenders of Season 3. One day, I will write a dissertation on the fact that Ted Lasso didnt change, our needs as an audience did. In the meantime, it is worth prioritizing this absolute joy of a series as one of your first watches as 2025. You can even stop after Season 2. I think youre wrong, but I still wont tattle on you. Four showsll probably do you, right? Youve got to sleep somewhere in there, right? If none of these are tickling your fancy, we also have a whole list of shows that we love on Apple TV+. May your binges be merry, your New Year safe, and your biscuits be plentiful.

Apple has a lot of successful products, but its biggest by far is the iPhone. This year, Apple has five new iPhone models coming, heres what to expect from each one.iPhone SE 4This spring, Apples budget-friendly iPhone is scoring some major upgrades in its first update since 2022. For starters, the iPhone SE is losing the Home Button and adopting an edge-to-edge OLED display with a notch.The new SE will also boast several features of the flagship iPhone 16, such as:A18 chip8GB of RAMApple Intelligence support48MP main cameraUSB-C portWere also expecting Apples first in-house 5G modem to debut in the iPhone SE 4, rounding out an especially compelling budget option.iPhone 17 AirThis fall, Apple will launch four new iPhone 17 models. The arrival of four new iPhones each fall has become standard practice, but this year one of those models will carry big changes.The iPhone Plus is going away, replaced by the iPhone 17 Air.iPhone 17 Air will prioritize form over function. It will have specs similar to the base iPhone 17, such as the A19 chip (not A19 Pro) and 8GB of RAM (not the 12GB coming to the Pro line). But it will demand a higher price point for its ultra-thin, futuristic design.The 17 Air will be Apples thinnest iPhone ever, with a unique new display size that could be a perfect compromise between the two Pro models.Two more expected Air features: Apples in-house 5G modem, and a high-refresh display.Following years of very minor iPhone design changes, iPhone 17 Air will offer an exciting new look that could make this years iPhone decision especially difficult.iPhone 17 ProWhile iPhone 17 Air will be the shiny, exciting new thing, Apples not slouching with its Pro line.The iPhone 17 Pro will offer the same 6.3-inch display as the 16 Pro, but come with some design changes of its own. For example, its getting a redesigned frame with aluminum replacing titanium, and a larger, rectangular camera bump.Internally, iPhone 17 Pro will feature:A19 Pro chip12GB of RAM, the most ever in an iPhoneQualcomms 5G modemThere will almost certainly be some nice rear camera upgrades to accompany the redesigned camera bump. But for the first time in a while, the selfie cameras getting some love too.Across the entire iPhone 17 lineup, Apples upgrading the front camera from 12MP to 24MP for improved performance.iPhone 17 Pro MaxAs always, iPhone 17 Pro Max will get all the best features of the smaller iPhone 17 Pro, but with some small perks such as better battery life thanks to the larger size.New for this year, the 17 Pro Max will be getting a smaller Dynamic Island than every other model. Its unclear how much smaller, but were especially interested to see if this change corresponds with Face ID finally being embedded in the displaythus enabling the smaller cutout.Its possible the Pro Max model will also have some camera advantages not found in the smaller 17 Pro, but so far there have been no rumors on that front.iPhone 17Rounding out the 2025 lineup is Apples base iPhone 17.Last years iPhone 16 was one of the strongest base models in years. Well have to wait and see if that happens again this year, but heres a general rundown of what to expect:24MP front cameraA19 chip8GB of RAMthe same 6.1-inch display as iPhone 16There will surely be some other details on the base model that emerge in the months ahead, but for now, it looks like the device will have some stiff competition not only from the Air and Pro line, but from the cheaper iPhone SE 4.New iPhones in 2025: wrap-upWhether youre interested in the high end iPhone 17 Pro Max, the budget-friendly iPhone SE, or something altogether new like the iPhone 17 Air, 2025 looks set to be a strong year for the iPhone.Which new iPhone do you expect to buy this year? Or will you hold off upgrading? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 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

Hello 2025and goodbye 2024! Its been an exciting first year hosting the Security Bite column on 9to5Mac. I had the privilege of talking with many leaders in the security industry and traveling to places I never thought Id find myself. In October, I took to the column on the roadsky and tracks, tootraveling to Kyiv to meet with world-class security engineers and to attend Objective-Sees Objective for the We v2.0 event. It was an experience Ive yet been able to put into wordsmaybe a story for another day.I digress. In this final edition of Security Bite for fiscal 2024, I updated a story that I started working on in May of last year. Because Apple is continuously updating its XProtect suite to combat the latest malware trends, this piece will continue evolving. Ever wonder what malware macOS can detect and remove without help from third-party software? Apple continuously adds new malware detection rules to Macs built-in XProtect suite. While most rule names (signatures) are obfuscated, with a bit of reversing engineering, security researchers can map them to their common industry names. See below what malware your Mac can remove!9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle,the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is all we do. Our unique integrated approach to management and security combines state-of-the-art Apple-specific security solutions for fully automated Hardening & Compliance, Next Generation EDR, AI-powered Zero Trust, and exclusive Privilege Management with the most powerful and modern Apple MDM on the market. The result is a totally automated Apple Unified Platform currently trusted by over 45,000 organizations to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.About Security Bite: Security Bite is a weekly security-focused column on 9to5Mac. Every week, Arin Waichulis delivers insights on data privacy, uncovers vulnerabilities, and sheds light on emerging threats within Apples vast ecosystem of over 2 billion active devices. Stay secure, stay safe.XProtect, Yara rules, huh?XProtect was introduced in 2009 as part of macOS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Initially, it was released to detect and alert users if malware was discovered in an installing file. However, XProtect has recently evolved significantly. The retirement of the long-standing Malware Removal Tool (MRT) in April 2022 prompted the emergence of XProtectRemediator (XPR), a more capable native anti-malware component responsible for detecting and remedying threats on Mac.The XProtect suite utilizes Yara signature-based detection to identify malware. Yara itself is a widely adopted open-source tool that identifies files (including malware) based on specific characteristics and patterns in the code or metadata. Whats so great about Yara rules is any organization or individual can create and utilize their own, including Apple.As of macOS 15 Sequoia, the XProtect suite consists of three main components:The XProtect app can detect malware using Yara rules whenever an app first launches, changes, or updates its signatures.XProtectRemediator (XPR) is more proactive and can detect and remove malware by regular scanning with Yara rules, among other things. These occur in the background during periods of low activity and have minimal impact on the CPU.The latest version of macOS includes XProtectBehaviorService (XBS), which monitors system behavior in relation to critical resources.Unfortunately, Apple mostly uses generic internal naming schemes in XProtect that obfuscate the common malware names. While this is done for good reason, it makes it challenging for those curious to know exactly what malware XProtect can identify.For example, some Yara rules are given more obvious names, such as XProtect_MACOS_PIRRIT_GEN, a signature for detecting the Pirrit adware. However, in XProtect, youll largely find more generic rules like XProtect_MACOS_2fc5997 and internal signatures that only Apple engineers would know, like XProtect_snowdrift. This is where security researchers like Phil Stokes and Alden come in.Phil Stokes with Sentinel One Labs manages a handy repository on GitHub that maps these obfuscated signatures used by Apple to more common names used by vendors and found in public malware scanners like VirusTotal. Moreover, Alden has recently made significant advancements in understanding how XPR works by extracting Yara rules from its scanning module binaries.How do I find XProtect on my Mac?XProtect is enabled by default in every version of macOS. It also runs at the system level, completely in the background, so no intervention is needed. Updates to XProtect also happen automatically. Heres where its located:In Macintosh HD, Library > Apple > System > Library > CoreServicesFrom here, you can find remediators by right-clicking on XProtectThen click Show Package ContentsExpand ContentsOpen MacOSNote: Users shouldnt rely entirely on Apples XProtect suite, as its made to detect known threats. More advanced or sophisticated attacks could easily circumvent detection. I highly advise the use of third-party malware detection and removal tools.24 scanning modules in XProtectRemdiator v147What malware can it remove?While the XProtect app itself can only detect and block threats, it comes down to XPRs scanning modules for removal. Currently, we can identify 14 of the 24 remediators in the current version of XPR (v147) to keep malware off your machine.Adload: Adware and bundleware loader targeting macOS users since 2017. Adload was capable of avoiding detection before last months major update to XProtect that added 74 new Yara detection rules all aimed at the malware. BadGacha: Not identified yet.BlueTop: BlueTop appears to be the Trojan-Proxy campaign that was covered by Kaspersky in late 2023, says Alden.CardboardCutout: Not identified yet.ColdSnap: ColdSnap is likely looking for the macOS version of the SimpleTea malware. This was also associated with the 3CX breach and shares traits with both the Linux and Windows variants. SimpleTea (SimplexTea on Linux) is a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) believed to have originated from the DPRK.Crapyrator: Crapyrator has been identified as macOS.Bkdr.Activator. This is a malware campaign uncovered in February 2024 that infects macOS users on a massive scale, potentially for the purpose of creating a macOS botnet or delivering other malware at scale, states Phil Stokes for Sentinel One.DubRobber: A troubling and versatile Trojan dropper also known as XCSSET.Eicar: A harmless file that is intentionally designed to trigger antivirus scanners without being harmful.FloppyFlipper: Not identified yet.Genieo: A very commonly documented potentially unwanted program (PUP). So much so that it even has its own Wikipedia page.GreenAcre: Not identified yet.KeySteal: KeyStealis amacOS infostealer initially observed in 2021 and added to XProtect inFebruary 2023.MRTv3: This is a collection of malware detection and removal components grandfathered into XProtect from its predecessor, the Malware Removal Tool (MRT).Pirrit: Pirrit is a macOS Adware that first surfaced in2016. Its known to inject pop-up ads into web pages, collect private user browser data, and even manipulate search ranking to redirect users to malicious pages.RankStank: This rule is one of the more obvious, as it includes the paths to the malicious executables found in the 3CX incident, says Alden. 3CX was a supply chain attack attributed to the Lazarus Group.RedPine: With lower confidence, Alden states RedPine is likely in response to TriangleDB from Operation Triangulation.RoachFlight: Not identified yet.SheepSwap: Not identified yet.ShowBeagle: Not identified yet.SnowDrift: Identified as CloudMensis macOS spyware.ToyDrop: Not identified yet.Trovi: Similar to Pirrit, Trovi is another cross-platform browser hijacker. Its known to redirect search results, track browsing history, and inject its own ads into search.WaterNet: Not identified yet.Thank you all for reading! Im excited to continue security-specific my coverage here on 9to5Mac through 2025! Cheers.More in Apple securityHow MacPaw is making cybersecurity accessible to everyone; my exclusive interview from Kyiv When MacPaw offered to fly me out to Kyiv, Ukraine, to meet and interview the folks leading Moonlock, its cybersecurity division, I jumped at the opportunity. Heres our discussion. A newly-released app lets you regularly scan your iPhone for Pegasus spyware which can access almost all the data on a phone for a one-off cost of just one dollar.Moonlock Lab released its 2024 Threat Report, detailing how AI tools like ChatGPT are helping to write malware scripts, the shift to Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS), and other interesting statistics its seeing through internal data.Mosyle exclusively reveals to 9to5Mac details on a new family of Mac malware loaders. Mosyles Security Research team discovered these new threats are written in unconventional programming languages and use several other sneaky techniques to evade detection.Follow Arin: Twitter/X, LinkedIn, ThreadsAdd 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

Telegram verification is already available for public figures and bodies, but its now rolling out a new system where accounts can be verified by third-party organizations Existing Telegram verificationThe existing system for verifying your Telegram account is to be a notable public figure or organization. Notability is established by linking to at least two pieces of press coverage about you by a credible, English-language publication, while your identity is proven by including a Telegram link in your bio on at least two other platforms:TikTokInstagramFacebookYouTubeTwitterVKSnapchatThird-party Telegram verificationSince organizations frequently have multiple Telegram accounts, the messaging app is now allowing already-verified organizations to do their own verification for additional accounts they use.Accounts that are verified by a third party will have a new logo next to their names instead of a blue checkmark.This decentralized platform for additional verification will help prevent scams and reduce misinformation with a unique proactive solution that sets a new safety standard for social platforms, Telegram said in a blog post.People or organizations that want to be authenticated will need to be first undergo verification and complete an application to become eligible to recieve the verified mark. Telegram said that entities can use its Bot API to assign or remove verification.For example, a verified 9to5Mac account would have the ability to verify each of its writers, so we got a 9to5Mac logo next to our names. The name of the verifying organization will also be shown.Image: TelegramAdd 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 Tesla Cybertruck exploded just outside the Trump Towers hotel in Las Vegas early Wednesday morning, killing the person occupying the vehicle and injuring seven others.You'd be forgiven for initially suspecting the vehicle had burst into flames on its own, since others have previously. But investigators are now suggesting that the incident may have been an act of terrorism.Now, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has chimed in and instead of denouncing the mindless act of violence, he's arguing that the brutalist and highly divisive pickup truck was a poor choice for a would-be terrorist.In a tone-deaf response on his social media echo chamber X, Musk claimed that the "Cybertruck is the worst possible choice for a car bomb, as its stainless steel armor will contain the blast better than any other commercial vehicle."His defensiveness is understandable:the optics are exceptionally bad, with the Cybertruck which has become a stand-in for Musk's increasingly extremist views burning in front of a hotel part-owned by his number one ally, president-elect Donald Trump.Musk was responding to an equally tone-deaf and largely unsubstantiated tweet by Trump minion Ian Miles Cheong, who claimed that "Elon's decision to build the Cybertruck like a tank may have saved many lives in Las Vegas today.""Imagine how much worse the explosion wouldve been for all those in the vicinity if it was any other vehicle," he added.Despite a horde of Musk defenders quickly chiming in, arguing that the Cybertruck was therefore the "toughest and most badass truck ever made," experts quickly dismissed the claims."The Cybertruck survived largely intact because the guy who died built the worst 'VBIED' [vehicle-borne improvised explosive device] Ive ever seen, not because the vehicle is 'built like a tank' (its not)," tweeted explosives expert Hugo Kaaman."If I throw tiny pebbles at a window and it doesnt break, does that mean my windows are indestructible?" he added. "Come on."The Cybertruck's purported durability has long been a point of contention. While Tesla chose to clad the exterior in a layer of stainless steel a surprisingly poor choice for a vehicle meant for the outdoors the Cybertruck has already experienced plenty of structural issues, from easily severed wheels to body panels that can be ripped off by hand. And that's just from being driven around like a normal truck.It's unclear, of course, how a similarly sized pickup truck would've fared. The vehicle was rented from the carsharing app Turo, drawing an unusual connection to a separate and far more deadly New Orleans attack, which involved a man intentionally plowing a different truck into a New Year's Eve crowd mere hours earlier."We are actively partnering with law enforcement authorities as they investigate both incidents," a Turo spokesperson told CBS News.Shortly after the Cybertruck incident in Las Vegas, Musk tweeted that the "whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now. Will post more information as soon as we learn anything.""We've never seen anything like this," he added.Musk also attempted to do some damage control, claiming in a separate tweet that the explosion "was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself."While we await more clarity on the situation we still haven't heard anything regarding a possible motive or whether it's connected in any way to the New Orleans attack Musk's latest comments about the truck being a poor choice for a "car bomb" should certainly raise plenty of eyebrows.Should such a quality really be a point of pride for a carmaker? Besides, we've already seen the Cybertruck succumb to far less extreme conditions like being put through a car wash, exposed to "direct sunlight," or even being driven through snow.Share This Article

Jan 02, 2025Ravie LakshmananVulnerability / Data ProtectionDetails have emerged about three now-patched security vulnerabilities in Dynamics 365 and Power Apps Web API that could result in data exposure.The flaws, discovered by Melbourne-based cybersecurity company Stratus Security, have been addressed as of May 2024. Two of the three shortcomings reside in Power Platform's OData Web API Filter, while the third vulnerability is rooted in the FetchXML API.The root cause of the first vulnerability is the lack of access control on the OData Web API Filter, thereby allowing access to the contacts table that holds sensitive information such as full names, phone numbers, addresses, financial data, and password hashes.A threat actor could then weaponize the flaw to perform a boolean-based search to extract the complete hash by guessing each character of the hash sequentially until the correct value is identified."For example, we start by sending startswith(adx_identity_passwordhash, 'a') then startswith(adx_identity_passwordhash , 'aa') then startswith(adx_identity_passwordhash , 'ab') and so on until it returns results that start with ab," Stratus Security said."We continue this process until the query returns results that start with 'ab'. Eventually, when no further characters return a valid result, we know we have obtained the complete value."The second vulnerability, on the other hand, lies in using the orderby clause in the same API to obtain the data from the necessary database table column (e.g., EMailAddress1, which refers to the primary email address for the contact).Lastly, Stratus Security also found that the FetchXML API could be exploited in conjunction with the contacts table to access restricted columns using an orderby query."When utilizing the FetchXML API, an attacker can craft an orderby query on any column, completely bypassing the existing access controls," it said. "Unlike the previous vulnerabilities, this method does not necessitate the orderby to be in descending order, adding a layer of flexibility to the attack."An attacker weaponizing these flaws could, therefore, compile a list of password hashes and emails, then crack the passwords or sell the data."The discovery of vulnerabilities in the Dynamics 365 and Power Apps API underscores a critical reminder: cybersecurity requires constant vigilance, especially for large companies that hold so much data like Microsoft," Stratus Security said.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

In November 2022, retailer Balenciaga launched an ad showing children holding teddy bears that appeared to be wearing what looked like bondage gear. This enraged social media users. As a result, Balenciaga lost 100,000 Instagram followers and saw a decline in sales.Initially, Balenciaga denied responsibility and even levied a lawsuit against its production company, but that didnt quell the backlash. So, the company changed course by issuing an apology and announcing that it would use new content validation techniques to prevent an incident like this from occurring again.Balenciagais one of many companies that have faced a brand crisis in social media. Companies including Kelloggs, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Dove, and KFC have all faced such crises.When brand-damaging incidents on social media occur, those who deal with them include executive management, marketing, and even the board. But since social media is an online technology, does that mean IT has a role to play as well?The answer is unclear in many companies. Often, IT isnt part of the frontline response group, but that doesnt mean that your IT team shouldnt be involved.How IT Should Get InvolvedMitigating a social media brand attack falls under the category of disaster recovery, which means that there should be a step-by-step sequence of responsive actions that are documented in a DR plan. In addition, there is the question of risk management and avoidance. If a risk policy is defined and documented, preemptive steps can be taken that reduce the chances of a brand attack being levied.Related:IT has a role in both scenarios.Risk ManagementVetting Software and vendor.When marketing launches e-commerce and informational websites, it also enlists outside firms to monitor Internet activity concerning the company's online assets, and to report on any unusual or potentially damaging online activities. The goal is to preempt incidents like brand damage, and the monitoring software does this by listening for potentially damaging posts and then reporting them.HR departments also use third-party software for internet monitoring. They use it to check the social media activities and posts of potential job hires and employees.In both cases, IT can help in vetting the vendors of these services before marketing or HR enters into contractual agreements. This can be a value-add because technology vendor vetting is not a well-developed practice in either marketing or HR, and it is possible that they may contract with vendors that cannot meet their goals, or that fall short of corporate security, privacy and governance requirements.Related:Validate Content. As a best practice, IT can encourage marketing to secure content validation software that can vet internally developed messaging before the company publishes it online.Employee message monitoring. The monitoring and surveillance of employee messaging and internet activities while employees are at work is a common and accepted corporate practice today. This right to monitor employee communication and internet activity extends to remote employees who are not in a corporate office.Should there be IT involvement in this seemingly personnel-focused matter? Yes, because in many cases, it is IT that is called upon to select and administer the communications monitoring software and to issue monthly activity reports to user departments and management. Even if IT doesnt do this, its still in ITs best interest to stay involved. Thatsbecause of ITs significant role in corporate governance, and the necessity of weighing policy against employees personal privacy rights.In more than one case, it was IT that first asked the question of whether employees had been informed upfront that their communications and internet activities would be monitored by the company, and if there was a written policy to that effect that employees were required to acknowledge and sign as a condition of employment.Related:Attack Response and MitigationSecurity breaches. Its possible for a bad actor to pass malware into an e-commerce website through a message to the site. Or they could post a fake website of the company that fraudulently resembles the real one.In both cases, IT should be involved with the security and monitoring of corporate online assets to ensure that the assets are free from cyberattacks and fakes. If unusual activities are detected from IT monitoring and management software, they should be promptly reported to management, marketing and other important stakeholders.If a security breach occurs, the DR response should be swift. Threat mitigation and elimination procedures should be written into the corporate DR plan.Failover. When corporate e-commerce sites are taken over, or they are being pummeled by cyberattacks that are disabling the sites functions, a failover plan to an alternate e-commerce site should be executed. It should work in the same way that a physical retail store fails over to a generator when local power service fails.In this way, a smooth failover allows the e-commerce site to keep working, and it reduces the number of social media posts that complain about the company, the site or the brand. Failover is an IT operation, and IT should take the lead by crafting the technical processes of the failover, testing them, and making sure that they work.SummarySocial media crisis management is everybodys business, but all too often, IT gets overlooked. Yet, because social media is an online activity that involves technology, it is almost guaranteed that IT will be called upon to get involved when a brand attack occurs. Consequently, its in CIOs best interests to stay ahead of the issue by assuming an active role in brand protection and defense.Brand protection is more than protection and acts as a source of sustainable competitive advantage, according to De La Rue, a banknote printing firm.It is a multifaceted approach that requires ongoing diligence and adaptability in the face of evolving threats.

By law, all films, music, and bookscreated in the United States are protectedundercopyright. But copyrights eventually expire, and when they do, those works enter the public domain which means anyone is free to share those works or to create derivative works based on the original works without the original authors (or, more realistically, the authors estates) permission.So every year New Years Day is also Public Domain Day, when films, books, songs, and other various works of art enter the public domain. This year, that is largelythings that were first released or published in 1929. These works are now freely available to anyone who wants them. Legally, you can copy them, you can share them, or you can make your own versions of them.This years new additions to the public domain include Oscar winners, early works by some of the greatest directors in history, several morecartoons featuring Disneys Mickey Mouse (whose first appearance, Steamboat Willie, finally entered the public domain last year), and two of the most beloved and well-known comic-book and comic-strip characters in the history of the medium.Here are ten of the most notable additions to the public domain in 2025.Famous Works Entering the Public Domain in 2025These movies, books, and characters, are all now part of the public domain as of January 1, 2025.READ MORE:2024s List of Notable Entries to the Public DomainYou can see more of what entered the public domain inthe video below from Duke University although they note that thousands of copyrighted works from 1929 entered the public domain this year. These are just asmall handfulof the mostimportant items on the list.Get our free mobile app20 Comic Book Movies You Forgot ExistedThere have been so many movies based on comics in recent years, you might not even remember all of them (or most of them).Filed Under: Groucho Marx, Mickey Mouse, Popeye, TintinCategories: Movie News

Jurassic Park writer David Koepp has teased Jurassic World Rebirth will evoke the spirit of the first movie.The 61-year-old screenwriter, who penned 1993s Jurassic Park and its 1997 sequel The Lost World: Jurassic Park with director Steven Spielberg, is returning to the franchise for its next installment, and has hinted Rebirth will honor the original while also bringing a new tone to the series.In an interview with TheWrap, Koepp said: [We are trying to capture] the spirit of the first movie, which is the tone that we would like to get closest to.Keopp added it was the idea of starting afresh which persuaded him to pick up his pen once more for Rebirth.He said: You don't often get that chance, where they give you very few guidelines, except there must be dinosaurs in it.JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTHUniversalloading...READ MORE: Whats the WorstJurassic ParkSequel?However, before he agreed to return to the Jurassic franchise, Koepp had a list of demands he gave to Universal Pictures that the studio had to meet.He explained: Number one was the events of the previous six movies cannot be denied or contradicted, because I hate a retcon. [Number two was] all science must be real. [Third was] humor is oxygen.Reflecting on coming back to the franchise, Koepp said it was weird and trippy for him to step back in time 30 years for Rebirth.He added: It even smelled the same.It felt low pressure, even though Universal might be horrified to hear that.Looking back at Jurassic Park and The Lost World, Koepp said writing those first two movies were some of [his] favorite experiences in [his] career so far.He added: The combination of grand adventure and real science is right up my alley. And it was fun to be able to decide on a new tone, because every three movies seems like a good time to change tone and characters in a franchise.It was great to be able to work solely with Steven and make up a story and think of all new characters and all in a different tone.Jurassic World Rebirth, which stars Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali, is set five years after 2022s Dominion, and will follow a team of scientists who race to extract DNA samples from three dinosaurs in an effort to find a groundbreaking medical breakthrough.Previously, Rebirth director Gareth Edwards said he hoped his 2025 film would kick off a new trilogy.Get our free mobile appThe Worst Movies of 2024ScreenCrushs editor and critic picks the 12 worst films he saw in 2024.