The digital landscape is evolving rapidly, presenting security leaders with unprecedented challenges. As threats increase in volume and complexity, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and cyber warfare, a proactive and strategic approach to anticipate and mitigate potential attacks is crucial.At the same time, the regulatory environment is expanding in response to these growing threats. Initiatives like the Cyber Resilience Act, Network and Information Security 2 (NIS2) Directive and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) are pushing organisations to meet higher security standards. However, the complexity of these regulations makes compliance a significant challenge.The current threat landscape, coupled with new regulatory measures, underscores the need for robust data protection strategies. Emerging technologies such as quantum computing further heighten the urgency. Although still in its experimental stages, advancements like Googles Willow chip highlight quantums potential to render traditional encryption obsolete. This makes the adoption of quantum-resilient security measures essential for protecting sensitive data against future vulnerabilities.Data privacy and security should be approached with the same mindset as insurance policies. Both protect against potential risks before they occur. Just as insurance mitigates financial loss in unforeseen events, data privacy measures defend against breaches, misuse, and cyber risks. The objective is not just reacting to incidents after they occur but ensuring safeguards are in place to minimise impact and maintain control over how data is used.The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), which came into effect this month, was introduced to formalise and strengthen the EUs financial services sector and ensure a unified approach to managing ICT risks. Although cyber security technologies have advanced considerably over recent years, so too have the volume and sophistication of cyber attacks. The traditional security measures that financial institutions have deployed are no longer sufficient to protect and mitigate against these attacks.Traditionally, cyber security measures have focused on protecting data at rest or in transit. However, DORA emphasises the importance of securing data in use when sensitive information is actively processed, such as customer data in banking systems. Current solutions, no matter the budget that has been spent, are not entirely bullet proof and thats why the adoption of emerging privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) should always be under consideration. PETs are at varying levels of maturity, with some requiring significantly more technical expertise than others to integrate with existing operational systems.One such example is Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) a technology that enables secure computing with always-encrypted data that can be used alongside PETs like federated learning or differential privacy, to enhance the protection of data in use. FHE allows encrypted data to be processed without decryption which means that even if a breach of data were to occur, the value of the compromised data is severely limited in value to an attacker.If deployed in silos, PETs will not be silver bullet solutions to rising threats and ever-changing regulations. However, security leaders can deploy a combination of these emerging technologies.The Computer Weekly Security Think Tank on regulation and complianceMandy Andress, Elastic:Why CISOs should build stronger bonds with the legal function in 2025.Adam Stringer, PA Consulting: Why we need better cyber regulation to protect the UK from disruption.Security leaders can best navigate the multitude of new national and multinational regulations by adopting a proactive and adaptive approach to both compliance and protection. This involves integrating advanced privacy-enhancing technologies into their security frameworks to address evolving threats and meet regulatory requirements. Collaboration with regulators, peers, and technology providers is also crucial to align strategies with emerging standards and best practices.Adopting next-generation security technologies and compliance measures is still in its early stages, but the direction is clear. As organisations face an increasingly interconnected and volatile landscape, adopting methods to secure data and systems is becoming an operational necessity. Anticipating threats, embracing innovation, and fostering collaboration will empower organisations to remain compliant, resilient, and ahead of the curve in an unpredictable world.Dr Nick New is CEO at Optalysys, With a PhD in Optical Pattern Recognition from Cambridge, Nick has a strong foundation in optical technology. At Optalysys, he is pioneering advancements in silicon photonics and FHE.

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The Supreme Court ruled against TikTok on Friday morning, rejecting TikTok's challenge to ban.Cherie LuoThis morning, in a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld a federal law mandating that ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, divest its ownership of the app by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide TikTok ban.The ruling follows weeks of uncertainty, during which debates intensified over whether the ban would truly take effect. In an effort to delay the deadline, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17) introduced the Extend the TikTok Deadline Act. The bill seeks to grant ByteDance an additional 270 days to divest TikTok, and the associated petition has already garnered over 700,000 signatures: I believe we will get to one million, said Congressman Khanna. This comes down to protecting free speech, supporting small businesses, and listening to the voices of millions of Americans. However, as it stands, the ban is still on track to take effect on January 19.What Does A TikTok Ban Mean for Users?If the ban proceeds as scheduled, TikTok's availability in the U.S. could be impacted in several ways:Removal from App Stores: TikTok will likely be removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, preventing new users from downloading the app. Existing users would no longer be able to receive updates, leaving the app vulnerable to bugs, security risks, and compatibility issues with newer operating systems. Users could still watch and download videos, but over time, this lack of updates could cause significant degradation of the apps performance. For example, videos may take longer to load, or certain features could stop working altogether.Potential Network and Server Restrictions: Beyond app store removal, the U.S. government could choose to implement network-level restrictions. In this case, internet service providers (ISPs) could be directed to block access to TikToks servers, effectively rendering the app inaccessible. This approach would align with Indias 2020 ban on TikTok, where the government swiftly implemented network interventions, cutting off functionality for over 200 million users.Impact on Creators and Businesses: The ban would undoubtedly disrupt the digital ecosystem built around TikTok. Content creators and businesses that rely on the platform for engagement, income, or marketing would face abrupt challenges. While some creators pivot to platforms like Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, others are already exploring other alternatives like RedNote, a Chinese-owned, short-form video app rapidly gaining traction as a haven for TikTok refugees.Lessons from Indias TikTok BanIndias ban on TikTok in 2020 offers a glimpse into what might unfold in the U.S.:Rapid Implementation: The Indian government acted swiftly, cutting off TikTok access overnight, citing national security concerns.Disruption of Livelihoods: The ban impacted creators and small businesses reliant on TikTok. While some successfully transitioned to other platforms, rebuilding audiences was a slow and difficult process.Emergence of Alternatives: Domestic social media apps such as Moj and Josh, quickly gained popularity, attempting to fill the void left by TikTok.TikTok users in India see a pop-up screen due to the ban in 2020.Cherie LuoMORE FOR YOUA Fluid Situation with Broader ImplicationsAs the January 19 deadline looms, significant uncertainty remains. The U.S. government has yet to outline the precise mechanism for enforcing the ban, leaving open the possibility of app store removals, network restrictions, or a combination of both. Meanwhile, legislative efforts like the Extend the TikTok Deadline Act offer a glimmer of hope for ByteDance and TikToks millions of U.S. users: I plan to send the petition to President Biden this evening and am hopeful that he will take these concerns seriously and act to pause this ban and make sure the app does not go dark on Sunday, said Congressman Khanna (CA-17) on Friday, January 17, 2025.Looking ahead, the TikTok ban marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over national security, data privacy, and the regulation of technology companies with foreign ties. While the potential absence of TikTok leaves many creators and businesses in limbo, it also opens the door for new opportunities. The U.S. could see a wave of innovation from startups eager to capture the attention of TikToks massive user base. Alternatively, dominant platforms like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shortsowned by U.S. tech giants Meta and Googlecould absorb TikTok's market share, given their strong foothold in the United States.For creators, businesses, and users, the coming days will determine whether TikTok can surviveor whether it becomes the latest casualty in a growing wave of decoupling between the U.S. and China. Whatever the outcome, the evolving landscape of social media presents a unique opportunity for innovation, reinvention, and growth.The situation is further complicated by the impending transition to President-elect Donald Trump's administration, which begins on January 20, exactly one day after the ban takes effect. While the Biden administration passed this ban and SCOTUS upheld it this morning, it's possible that the incoming Trump administration could choose not to enforce it and possibly reverse the decision. President-elect Trump has previously expressed support for TikTok, stating he has a warm spot in his heart for TikTok. Additionally, TikTok CEO Shou Chew is set to attend Trump's inauguration as a guest of honor, sitting alongside tech moguls like Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, and Jeff Bezos. This indicates a potential policy shift that could influence TikTok's future in the U.S.Follow me on Instagram or LinkedIn. Check out my website.

In a nutshell: Paris-based startup Robeaut has secured nearly $28 million in venture capital funding to help bring its tiny surgery-assisting robot to operating rooms around the globe. The company, founded in 2017, has created a self-propelled microrobot that could assist neurosurgeons when operating on the human brain. Existing solutions often involve stiff, invasive tools that can cause major damage to sensitive brain tissue. Robeaut's bot, which is roughly the size of a grain of rice, is small and nimble enough to burrow its way deep into the brain without leaving a trail of destruction.The bot is designed to follow a set path laid out by a neurosurgeon, and can be tracked in real time. Robeaut initially plans to use its bots to collect tissue samples for biopsies. Later, the tech could be used to deliver targeted drugs to specific parts of the brain or implant electrodes to treat conditions like Parkinson's.Robeaut was founded by Bertrand Duplat and Joana Cartocci. Duplat, a veteran in the fields of robotics and computer science, had worked for decades on robots meant to operate in extreme environments like on the ocean floor and at radioactive sites. But when his mother was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, he shifted his focus.The idea really came out of the pain and frustration at the inability to reach any of these meaningful areas of the brain, Duplat said.The co-founder, who also serves as CEO, said it was no easy task to get to where they are today. Several advances in electronics, robotics, and microfrabrication were necessary to build the tiny bot. "It required multiple building blocks, and it took five years to get all these initial building blocks put together, working with different labs," he added. // Related StoriesThe team successfully trialed the technology in animal cadavers in late 2021 before moving to human cadavers and live animals. Robeaut hopes to start testing in humans as early as 2026, but must first gain approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.Cartocci told Fortune that neurosurgeons have been among their biggest supporters, adding that the medical community response was overwhelming. "They recognized the need for this solution and they recognized the intellectual challenge of trying to achieve it," Cartocci said.

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" For millions of Android users in Asia, glancing at their phones doesnt just reveal the usual clock against the background of a favorite vacation spot or the family pet. Instead, its a collection of news headlines, weather conditions, or sports scores, interspersed with ads.That experience, known as Glance, made its way to U.S. Android handsets in 2024 and was greeted by what could be diplomatically described as a lukewarm reception.Recommended VideosIt doesnt add anything of real value, and it also just looks bad, wrote our Motorola Moto G reviewer after spending time with Glance.Please enable Javascript to view this contentGlances creator (a Google-backed company that goes by the same name) either didnt read our review, or, more likely, wasnt bothered by it, because its president and COO Piyush Shah invited me to see a preview of the companys next big idea, while I was at CES 2025: Glance is coming to our TVs.An AI-generated image accompanies a GlanceTV headline from The Herald. GlanceDuring my 30-minute briefing (which turned into an hour), Shah and his team showed me their vision of TVs future and you may not be surprised to learn that it looks a lot like Glance on a phone lock screen.Its a new experience that transforms idle, ambient TV screens into dynamic, AI-powered smart surfaces that deliver live, personalized content when the TV is not in active use. Thats the official description for GlanceTV, a set of visuals that take over your screen when youd normally see a screensaver.And sure enough, during my demo, thats exactly what I saw: a carousel of enticing news headlines with accompanying images, supplemented with a widget that offered a persistent display of major league sports scores, and a clock.You might choose to leave your TV on all the time.Shah says Glances partnerships with hundreds of content providers will drive the content we see. There are no plans to scrape content from the web to supplement those deals. Most of the time, when a headline is accompanied by an image, the image will come from the same source. However, he did note that on occasions when a provider hasnt included an image, the GlanceTV platform will use generative AI to create one.The demo didnt include any ads, but it did have something far more compelling, and a little unsettling.Those arent my glasses and Im pretty sure my pecs arent that big, but otherwise, the AI kinda nailed it. Simon Cohen / Digital TrendsWith my permission, Shah uploaded a photo of my face into the GlanceTV platform. A cloud-based generative AI model then inserted my likeness, wearing casual outfits, into a variety of Instagram-worthy locations. The resemblance was uncanny except for my AI doppelgangers unerring sense of how to pose for the camera.Youve probably guessed the point: Each image is a shoppable outfit that can be ordered with a click of the remote. I dislike shopping for clothes. The time, the crowds, the salespeople (sorry) no thanks. But I am exactly vain enough that seeing an idealized version of myself looking good in a set of clothes might be all it takes to get me to buy.Simon Cohen / Digital TrendsI was also struck by how easy it was to get sucked into GlanceTVs swirl of content. It reminded me of the screens you sometimes see in elevators, or while waiting in a doctors office the ones you end up staring at simply because theyre there.This highlights the biggest difference between Glances mobile and TV experiences. Our phones are tools digital swiss army knives that run much of our lives. For most folks, lock screen notifications are like a peephole into the apps we rely on. And when we arent checking that screen, our phones are either actively in use or shoved in a pocket or purse.In other words, its valuable real estate that already serves a purpose. TVs are different. Except for gaming, theyre for passive content consumption. When a show ends or weve been distracted by our smaller screens while looking for something else to watch, we dont mind when they shift into screensaver mode.Shah hopes that GlanceTVs mix of personalized content will be so enticing so watchable you might choose to leave your TV on all the time.Whether you end up with GlanceTV on your TV, set-top box or any other TV-attached device will depend on the manufacturer. Like Glances mobile experience, GlanceTV cant be downloaded and installed from an app store. It needs to be embedded in a devices operating system. Some existing devices may receive Glance TV via a software update, but new devices are likely to be the main way GlanceTV enters our lives.If I were to place a bet, Id say the odds of Glance striking a deal with Apple are zero. If anyone is going to extract value from idle time on an Apple TV, it will be Apple itself.Still, few manufacturers have Apples combination of deep pockets and an obsessive control over user experience. Given the possibility of monetizing screentime that would otherwise be lost to a screensaver, I expect Glance wont have much trouble getting other companies to give it the access it needs. One only needs to look at Roku and Amazons business models for their streaming devices to see that GlanceTV is a good fit.In fact, just before CES, the company announced its first GlanceTV integration with Indias Airtel. The experience is now turned on by default for over one million Airtel Xstream set-top box devices, and the partnership expects this to grow to four million devices by June 2025.If the GlanceTV concept makes you uncomfortable, you can disable it on your device much as you can with Glance on Android phones. But I have a feeling GlanceTVs idle-time screen show will prove much more popular than its lock screen experience.Editors RecommendationsA Sonos TV without a remote? No thanks

The European Commission has ramped up its investigation into Elon Musks X social network after the tech mogul criticized European governments in recent weeks, and just days before President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to the White House.

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Ownership, now that's a tricky word Camera owner asks Canon, skies: Why is it $5/month for webcam software? Just because it's a good rig doesn't mean you can use it on Zoom. Kevin Purdy Jan 17, 2025 2:36 pm | 31 The Canon PowerShot G5 X II, which is either less valuable than a $50 USB webcam or far better, depending on your Canon subscription software. Credit: Canon The Canon PowerShot G5 X II, which is either less valuable than a $50 USB webcam or far better, depending on your Canon subscription software. Credit: Canon Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn morePhotography enthusiasts pay a lot for their very powerful cameras. How much more should they pay to put them to much, much easier work as a webcam? However many hundreds of dollars you paid, Canon thinks you should pay $5 per monthor, heck, just $50 per yearto do that.Roman Zipp detailed his journey from incredulousness to grim resignation in a blog post. He bought his Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II for something like $900 last year. The compact model gave him the right match of focal length and sensor size for concert pics. What it did not give him was the ability to change anything at all about his webcam feed using Canon's software. (The "$6,299 camera" referenced in Zipp's blog post title is his indication that all models of Canon's cameras face this conundrum, regardless of price point.)Ah, but that's because Zipp did not pay. If you head to Canon's site, provide a name and email, and manage to grab the EOS Webcam utility when Canon's servers are not failing, you can connect one camera, with one default scene, at 720p, 30 frames per second and adjust everything on the camera itself if you need to. Should you pay $5 per month, or $50 per year, you can unlock EOS Webcam Utility Pro (PDF link), which provides full 60 fps video and most of the features you'd expect out of a webcam that cost hundreds fewer dollars. Comparison of webcam software features available to Canon's "PRO" and "Free" users. Credit: Roman Zipp/Canon Comparison of webcam software features available to Canon's "PRO" and "Free" users. Credit: Roman Zipp/Canon "Software development isnt free, and Im happy to pay for software I use regularly," Zipp writes. "However, Canon is a hardware company, not a software company, and they shoulddue to the lack of standardsprovide software that allows you to use their cameras as intended. Aside from development costs, theres no justification for a subscription model, particularly from a company earning nearly $3 billion in profit."Zipp's pointed complaint made the front page of Hacker News, where commenters immediately got sidetracked into a discussion of UK tariff laws on video equipment, sneakers, cookies, and ethanol. But further in, recommendations appear for the open source Magic Lantern camera add-on software, or possibly CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit) firmware. Whether or not Zipp can better use his camera as a webcam is somewhat beside the point, or at least the point he's making.Many higher-end (or at least better-than-smartphone) cameras output video in formats that computers and web conferencing software cannot natively accept. HDMI output is an option, but using that typically requires a capture device and specialty software to mix and use it and that the camera provide "clean" HDMI out, with no overlays. The G5 X Mark II does seem to offer that and has a USB-C port. It also seems to work fine once the software is paid for. It's an open question whether Canon should provide this as part of the cost of the camera, one for which Zipp and many commenters have an answer.Ars has reached out to Canon for comment and will update this post if the company responds.Kevin PurdySenior Technology ReporterKevin PurdySenior Technology Reporter Kevin is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering open-source software, PC gaming, home automation, repairability, e-bikes, and tech history. He has previously worked at Lifehacker, Wirecutter, iFixit, and Carbon Switch. 31 Comments

Lisa Morgan, Freelance WriterJanuary 17, 20255 Min ReadAndriy Popov via Alamy Stock This may well be a sobering year when it comes to AI adoption, use and scaling. On the demand side, organizations will be pulling investments back prematurely because theyre not seeing the value they expected. On the supply side, supply shortages, unmet expectations and investor pressure have caused one big tech company to reduce AI infrastructure investments and others will follow, according to Forrester.To date, organizations have been investing heavily in AI and GenAI, not necessarily with a view toward ROI, though ROI can be difficult to quantify from a hard dollar perspective, which senior executives and boards now want. The anticipated shortage of infrastructure will also likely have an impact.Whats Happening on the Demand SideOrganizations will not continue to increase investments in AI if theyre not seeing the value they expect.[C]ompanies are scaling back on their AI investments or too impatient in terms of ROI. They will [likely] scale back on their AI investment prematurely, which is not a good strategy, says Jayesh Chaurasia, analyst at Forrester. The other factor that might be fueling this is the current economic climate. In the last three months, almost everyone is trying to cut back on any type of investment that is not generating a clear ROI, and not only the AI-related stuff.Related:Executives are asking for ROI numbers on analytics, data governance, and data quality programs, and they are demanding dollar values as opposed to improving customer experience or increasing operational efficiency.In 2023 and this year too, we are seeing more focus on ROI related to generative AI, says Chaurasia. Almost every executive was talking about how generative AI is going to just change the world, but it's not as easy as just deploying a model or a generated AI function and then say your job is done because there is a foundational data analytics requirement that will eventually enable it, and which means you need to have proper privacy and security protocols, [such as] access management and data governance. You also must supply better data quality [because] these models are trained on the entire data set from the internet.The fact that people know the models are trained on internet data has inspired internet postings that are intentionally inaccurate or misleading, so the models wont work right.The better answer is, of course, to use your own industry enterprise data, which gives the AI model more information about your company, says Chaurasia. You can very easily set up a connection with your data warehouse and get all the data into the model, but its not that easy because privacy, security, and governance are not in place. So, you're not 100% sure whether you're sharing your data with the model or the entire world.Related:Organizations have expected quick returns but not realized them because the initial expectations were unrealistic. Later comes the realization that the proper foundation has not been put in place.Folks are saying they expect ROI in at least three years and more than 30% or so are saying that it would take three to five years when weve got two years of generative AI. [H]ow can you expect it to perform so quickly when you think it will take at least three years to realize the ROI? Some companies, some leadership, might be freaking out at this moment, says Chaurasia. I think the majority of them have spent half a million on generative AI in the last two years and havent gotten anything in return. That's where the panic is setting in.Explaining ROI in terms of dollars is difficult, because its not as easy as multiplying time savings by individual salaries. Some companies are working to develop frameworks, however.Some managers are reaching out to every business unit to ask the benefits that they have received with proper understanding of ownership, where the data exists [and] lineage of particular data set. They are using some custom surveys to reach out to all the employees in the organization to for their suggestions as well as their metrics, says Chaurasia. Unfortunately, there is no single framework that I would suggest works for every company.Related:Jayesh Chaurasia, ForresterChaurasia is working on KPIs for the various domains, in terms of quality, governance, MDM, data management, data storage and everything that companies can track over the time to see the improvement, but theyre not connected to dollar value.What I'm recommending is find at the tactical, managerial, and executive levels what matters to them [and have] KPIs for each of those different layer levels to maintain and calculate that ROI regularly, so that they can use that KPI those metrics to show the benefit of whether they have improved over time or not.View From the Supply SideIf enterprises are reducing AI investments because the anticipated benefits arent being realized, vendors will pull back. Meanwhile, China has banned the export of critical materials required for semiconductors and other tech-related technologies in response to President-elect Donald Trumps planned tariffs, not to mention the downstream impacts of tariffs -- higher production costs and therefore higher tech prices IT departments will have to bear when budgets are already tight and may become tighter.Bottom LineInfrastructure shortages due to reduced AI investments on the demand side combined with higher prices and a potential US chip shortage due to lack of materials on the supply side would in turn impact the calculus of AI ROI. There are also broader impacts of the incoming administrations policies such as mass deportation, which could impact tech workers, including AI talent, and their employers.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

Flooding in Atlanta, Georgia, in September 2024S LESSER/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockIn 2024, Earth received about 2.9 millimetres of rain per day. That may not sound like much, but it could represent a new record amount of precipitation for the planet.Last years global average precipitation was about 3 per cent greater than the average since records began in 1983, and it just surpasses the previous record, set in 1998. The 2.9-millimetre number, based on preliminary data compiled by researchers at the Global Precipitation Climatology Project, may still change slightly as the data is finalised. But if it holds, it