Got a project that’s too contemporary for your client? Submit your conceptual works, images and ideas for global recognition and print publication in the 2025 Vision Awards! The clock is ticking — submit your work ahead of the Main Entry deadline on June 6th. Spiral staircases are famously beautiful but notoriously tricky to design, particularly in section. (Ask any architect who’s ever tried!) Still, the payoff is worth it. Beyond their visual appeal, spiral stairs can save space, guide circulation, and even become striking centerpieces within a building. The projects below prove there’s more than one way to embrace the twist, using unexpected materials and creative details to shape spaces in offices, schools, restaurants and parks. Even when things get complicated, these nine stairs make a strong case for taking the spiral route. OFFICE @ 63 By Sanjay Puri Architects, Navi Mumbai, India Popular Choice Winner, 12th Annual A+Awards, Commercial Interiors (<25,000 sq ft.) A curved steel staircase rises through the center of this workplace, connecting three levels in one continuous movement. Perforated and matte-finished, it feels both solid and light. Its underside, lined with warm tones, softens the otherwise industrial palette. Set within a tall, multipurpose space used for exhibitions and gatherings, the stair becomes a quiet focal point. Surrounded by concrete, cork, glass and exposed metal, it stands out not just as a route between floors, but as an element that gives the entire space rhythm and focus. La Maison de Beauté Carita, L’Oréal-Luxe By Le studio REV, Paris, France At the center of Carita’s Paris beauty house, part of the L’Oréal portfolio, a curved staircase rises through what was once a closed courtyard. The space is now topped with a tall glass roof that brings in soft, natural light. Pale marble, pink onyx and brushed metal set a quiet, polished tone. The staircase is kept light with floating steps and slim supports. It connects the levels clearly and efficiently, without blocking views through arched openings. In a building designed around care and detail, the stair adds just the right touch of structure and calm movement. Sjustjärnan, New Nordic Headquarters for E.On By Kanozi Arkitekter, Malmö, Sweden A wide, open staircase connects the floors of E.ON’s Malmö headquarters, rising through a central glass atrium that joins the two curved volumes of the building. Designed to encourage movement and connection between departments, the stair is placed at the heart of shared circulation. Materials are simple and natural: light wood treads, glass balustrades and metal accents, chosen to support the building’s focus on well-being and daylight. Generous landings allow for pauses and casual interaction, reinforcing the workplace’s flexible layout. With no assigned desks and no divided entrances, the building encourages a sense of togetherness and the staircase plays a clear role in making that daily flow visible and accessible. The Learning Center at Quest By KSM Architecture, Chennai, India Jury Winner, 12th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Learning A vivid red spiral staircase rises along the facade of this learning center in Chennai, connecting the top floor library to a rooftop cafeteria and terrace. Attached to the exterior, the stair adds a moment of surprise to the otherwise calm, ribbed concrete surface. Made from perforated metal, its bright finish contrasts with the muted palette of the building while echoing the colorful window frames scattered across the elevation. Inside, a separate metal stair winds through a central atrium, linking five stacked classrooms and open learning spaces. Together, the staircases reflect the school’s focus on movement, openness and curiosity — key principles in its interest-based approach to education. Varee Valley Restaurant : Jungle Junction By NPDA studio, Thailand Inside this forest-side restaurant in Northeast Thailand, a white spiral staircase rises slowly through the center of a light-filled dining area. Designed for pause and perspective, the stair leads visitors to a rooftop platform that opens up to the surrounding trees. Built with slender steel members and a delicate footprint, it reflects the lightness of the overall structure and mirrors the verticality of nearby tree trunks. The stair wraps around a central cylindrical column that also serves as a rainwater drain and light shaft, drawing daylight into the heart of the space. The Opera Park By Cobe, Copenhagen, Denmark Jury Winner, Public Parks & Green Spaces, 12th Annual A+Awards At the heart of this new harbor front park in Copenhagen, a spiral staircase descends through the center of a circular greenhouse, wrapping gently around a subtropical garden. The stair connects the café at park level with an underground parking facility, guiding visitors down through layers of greenery. Slim metal railings trace its curve, while the surrounding glass enclosure creates the feeling of walking through an open-air terrarium. The park itself spans six themed gardens across a former industrial island, offering paths, ponds and planting from around the world. In this setting, the staircase becomes part of a wider idea: architecture that supports slow movement, seasonal change and a close connection to nature. Balmy Palmy By CplusC Architects + Builders, Sydney, Australia In this compact holiday home raised above a rocky slope, a yellow spiral staircase links the natural ground to the open-air platform above. Built from powder-coated steel, it curves tightly between tree trunks and timber posts, bringing a sharp contrast to the greens and browns of the site. The stair leads into an outdoor area that connects the home’s simple rooms, with views of the treetops, the bay and the sky shifting between the leaves. Designed to limit excavation and preserve the forest setting, the staircase plays a clear role in the project’s minimal footprint — serving as a key access point and everyday reminder of the landscape it rises from. Dental Clinic By IFAgroup, Gdańsk, Poland Jury Winner, Hospitals and Healthcare Centers, 12th Annual A+Awards Jury Winner,  Architecture +Health, 12th Annual A+Awards Photos by Hanna Połczyńska This dental clinic, once a granary, is organized around a wide spiral staircase that rises through its three-story foyer. Clad in warm wood, the stair connects waiting areas, dental offices and training spaces while giving the interior a clear center. It’s surrounded by concrete, brick and steel surfaces that reflect the building’s industrial past. Live piano music and soft lighting help create a calm atmosphere, while sound-absorbing materials keep the space quiet and focused. Envisioned as more than a circulation route, the stair shapes how people move, wait and gather inside. Concept WRRF Yixing (Water Resource Recovery Facility) By SUP Atelier of THAD, China Inside this water treatment facility, a spiral staircase sits next to a café and community area. Built from metal with clean, simple details, it leads visitors through spaces designed to educate the public about recycling and sustainability. Large windows around the stair offer clear views of the nearby farmland and waterways, connecting visitors with the natural setting. As part of the facility’s open, welcoming design, the staircase makes it easy to see and understand how wastewater is turned into clean water and renewable energy. Got a project that’s too contemporary for your client? Submit your conceptual works, images and ideas for global recognition and print publication in the 2025 Vision Awards! The clock is ticking — submit your work ahead of the Main Entry deadline on June 6th. Top image: The Learning Center at Quest by KSM Architecture, Chennai, India The post 9 (Somewhat) Unconventional Takes on The Beloved Spiral Staircase appeared first on Journal.

Reading Time: 4 minutes The marketing landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation driven by artificial intelligence. AI has evolved beyond a mere marketing assistant that expedites tasks. With AI Agents, marketers can now delegate entire tasks, from initiation to completion. Despite the current hype surrounding AI, its impact on the future is undeniable and likely to be permanent. Amara’s Law perfectly understands the current situation. What is Amara’s Law? The law says that we often overestimate a technology’s short-run impact and underestimate its long-run impact. This is very similar to Gartner’s Hype Cycle. With so much hype around AI, it can be very overwhelming. So, it’s critical to look beyond all the hype and figure out real-world AI uses and how to fit those solutions into your business workflows. Rise of AI Agents “AI Agents” has to be the buzzword for 2025. You might have seen people talking about it on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and other platforms. There are a lot of opinions; some say it’s just hype, and a few say it’s the next big thing. So it comes down to: But is it worth all the hype? AI agents are intelligent, autonomous systems that understand natural language and leverage business context to reason through complex tasks and take action on your behalf, while operating within set guardrails. If we look at Customer Engagement specifically, there are tons of practical use cases. Its usage ranges from campaign creation to onboarding to analytics/optimization. 1. Campaign Creation  If we specifically look at campaign creation, the AI agents can do everything from – Choosing an audience segment Crafting campaign content Deciding the best channel and time to send The current way we’re segmenting users with filters works, but it’s not super easy to learn. It takes time to create segments using filters, and you need to know your events and attributes pretty well. This means marketers need to seek additional support. However, using AI agents, you can effortlessly create targeted customer segments in seconds using natural language. Creating a segment is as easy as typing a prompt like “Identify customers who abandoned the credit card application process”. That’s it. Basically, you can use AI agents to turn ideas for a customer segment into reality with just one instruction. It’s super quick to get things done this way, and you don’t need to learn anything complicated or leverage additional tools. 2. Customer Journey Orchestration  Building adequate multi-touch flows for customer experiences is often time-consuming and complex, involving intricate logic and a steep learning curve. AI Agents addresses this by using AI to translate customer journey ideas into optimized flows instantly. This AI-driven approach dramatically reduces build time, enabling marketers to brainstorm and ideate with AI, focusing on strategy and creativity. Customers can create and refine flows using natural language and receive tailored recommendations. 3. Analytics & Optimization  AI Agents can also assist in – Data Querying – Ask in natural language to create appropriate charts for the data. Data Monitoring – AI detects an anomaly and conducts RCA and regression models to uncover the “why” for the movement of your metrics. Data Interpretation – AI explains what’s happening in a chart/data. 4. Decisioning Agents  Marketers face the challenge of moving from “best fit for a segment” to “true 1:1 fit for an individual”. This requires optimizing interactions with the right message and incentive, for each customer, in the right channel, at the right time and frequency – something that’s not humanly possible at scale. Decision-making agents address this by leveraging Reinforcement Learning and Generative AI to enhance user context. They optimize delivery by determining the best message copy, send time, and channel. Incrementality testing can measure the impact of decision-making agents, providing transparency in decision-making. This enables marketers to achieve more effective and personalized customer experiences. Benefits of AI Agents Implementing AI agents for customer engagement has multiple benefits. The benefits of AI agents extend beyond simple automation, creating value through enhanced efficiency, cost optimization, real-time audience insights, and elevated customer experiences. Here are a few – Improved Productivity: AI agents handle routine inquiries and tasks simultaneously, freeing human agents to focus on complex issues. They operate in real-time to provide the latest customer insights. This seamless workflow integration allows businesses to accomplish more with existing resources. Reduced Costs: By automating repetitive tasks, brands can significantly lower operational expenses while maintaining a great customer experience. Improved Decision Making: AI agents analyze vast amounts of customer data to identify patterns and trends that might otherwise go unnoticed. They provide consistent, data-driven recommendations free from human biases or fatigue. Real-time insights allow brands to anticipate customer needs and proactively engage with them. Impact of Generative AI on Customer Engagement  Generative AI continues to improve, driving growth in Customer Engagement across various segments. The number of martech software products has grown by a whopping 27.8% in the last 12 months, the highest in the last few years. If we look back, adoption curves used to be measured in years. But with generative AI, adoption is growing in months or even weeks. One significant challenge is accurately gauging the real-time adoption of Generative AI. It’s like the Heisenberg uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics. This difficulty is akin to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics. We can all agree that Generative AI has many useful use cases. However, multiple reports suggest marketers leverage it mainly for brainstorming campaign copy ideas and for writing the copy itself. That’s why we launched Merlin AI Copywriter and Designer last year. With Merlin AI, we have successfully merged the advantages of Generative AI with the world of Customer Engagement. You can read more about it here.  Wrapping It Up  AI is transforming Customer Engagement beyond automation with intelligent AI agents handling complex marketing tasks autonomously. Despite the hype around AI agents and generative AI, they offer real benefits like improved productivity, cost savings, better decisions, and enhanced customer experience through streamlined processes and insightful analytics. Leveraging Generative AI and AI agents is now critical for the sustained success and growth of consumer brands. The post AI in Customer Engagement – AI Agents, Gen AI, Future and More appeared first on MoEngage.

The struggles never seem to end for Tesla.Elon Musk's embattled electric vehicle empire is floundering on its long-anticipated robotaxi launch as sales plummet to record lows and Tesla bulls dump their stocks.Tesla's Cybertruck — the garish luxury all-electric truck — is no exception to the carnage. With a reputation for breaking down constantly and drawing the ridicule of just about every other driver on the road, the stainless steel tanks aren't exactly a popular choice for car buyers.Earlier this month, news emerged that Tesla was sitting on over 10,000 unsold Cybertrucks, an estimated $800 million worth of inventory.Now, Tesla has decided to start taking Cybertruck trade-ins after over a year of deliveries, and disgruntled customers are already revealing what Tesla is willing to pay for a used rig.Though an AWD foundation series Cybertruck will set you back $100,000, Tesla's only willing to pay $65,400 to take it off your hands — and that's presumably if it has 6,000 miles or less on it, according to Electrek.A screenshot of the trade-in estimate was obtained from a disgruntled poster in the Cybertruck Owners Club, noting that it gives the Cybertruck a depreciation rate of about 34.6 percent in just one year.A typical pickup truck, claims Electrek, should take three to four years to lose that kind of value.It's not exactly shocking news. The cracks had started to show as early as spring of 2024 — just months after Cybertrucks hit the market — as news of the EV's shoddy production quality became well-known. Back then, Tesla didn't accept returns, while resellers were understandably reluctant to get involved, sending the aftermarket price of a new Cybertruck into the toilet.Of course, this is all in stark contrast to Musk's absurd claim that Tesla vehicles would only increase in value, a promise he made back in 2019."If you buy a Tesla today, I believe you are buying an appreciating asset, not a depreciating asset," he said in an interview.The Cybertruck isn't the only floundering Tesla product. By last year, a 2021 Tesla Model 3 — which retailed for about $40,000 — was reselling for just $23,700, a 29 percent markdown compared to its price in 2023. The used-car average over the same period was just 19.5 percent, according to Edmons.com, a used car site.Tesla is also facing fallout from a bizarre leasing program revealed by Reuters last week. Typically, customers will have an option to buy a car outright at the end of their lease. Instead, Tesla's internal policy made potential buyers send their cars back to Tesla, to be part of Musk's "robotaxi" network.Of course, that robotaxi network has yet to actually materialize. In reality, those cars were being outfitted with the latest software updates and flipped to new buyers for much more than they would have sold to those wrapping up a lease.Basically, the writing's on the wall: don't count on a new Tesla's value to go anywhere but down.Share This Article

Performance is non-negotiable on mobile. Whether you’re chasing smoother framerates or faster load times, the earlier you can spot and fix issues, the better. In Unity 6.1 we released tools that give you more visibility into how your project runs, and more control for improved rendering. Here’s a recap of what’s new to help you ship better games on mobile.Introducing Project AuditorUnity 6.1 includes the full release of Project Auditor, a package that analyzes your project and flags opportunities to improve performance and reduce build size.Find managed memory allocations in code Keeping your code free of unnecessary allocations is the key to a smooth framerate, and Project Auditor’s Code view will show you all the places you’re currently allocating managed memory. It highlights those that are on more frequent codepaths (like Update calls) so you can go through and improve these to make sure you’re reusing and pooling memory as appropriate, or making use of API calls that don’t allocate managed memory.Check asset import settings across platforms Making sure all your textures, models, sound effects and other assets are set up appropriately for your project on each platform can be a time consuming and tedious process. Project Auditor shows you lists of all your assets with their settings in a table so you can quickly find those which need their import settings changed, and will even suggest changes you might make to reduce your memory footprint or improve loading times.Understand your build size Knowing the size of your game build and what is contributing to that can make a world of difference when trying to optimize build size for release. Project Auditor can show you a list of your build contents and the size of the different assets or objects in your project so you can focus your efforts where it matters.➡️ Join the Discussions thread or dive into the package docs to start using Project Auditor in your workflow.Rendering Improvements for MobileAt GDC, our graphics team shared what’s new in rendering across Unity 6.0, 6.1, and what’s coming next (which you can watch here). Here's a quick look at what shipped in 6.1.URP Deferred+ This new rendering path is tuned for tile-based architectures and scales better across scenes with many lights or instances. In our benchmarks, Deferred+ outperformed traditional Deferred in most mobile scenarios. Deferred rendering is also now integrated with Render Graph, reducing memory transfers and energy use on Vulkan, Metal and DirectX12.Variable Rate Shading (Vulkan) This lets you optimize shading workloads for URP render features, and balance between fidelity and performance. Available on supported Vulkan Android devices, as well as PC (DX12) and compatible consoles. See the sample project in our Discussions thread.Vulkan Device and Graphics Jobs Filtering You can now filter Graphics API and Graphics Job usage by device, to benefit from Vulkan on modern Android platforms while falling back on OpenGLES on older devices. Graphics Jobs are now production-ready, offering CPU-side gains via Vulkan multithreading on capable premium Android devices. Read more about it in our docs.Graphics State Collection API This API tracks the graphics states used during rendering to prevent shader compilation stutters and achieve smoother gameplay. Unity 6.1 also adds an automatic fallback to legacy shader warmup, making the workflow more consistent across APIs. See the sample project and Discussions thread.Wrapping UpThe new performance tools in Unity 6.1 are designed with mobile realities in mind. Between memory pressure and varied hardware, mobile optimization isn’t just about polish, it’s about whether your game feels playable at all. These updates help you narrow in on what’s holding your game back early, so you’re not chasing them down at the last minute.For deep dives, explore the linked examples and Discussions threads. We welcome your take on what’s working in your mobile build.

Wrapping Objects with Rope in Cinema 4D⭐Members Only Tutorial + Project Files 👉 https://cgshortcuts.com/wrapping-objects-with-rope-in-cinema-4d Techniques to wrap objects in rope using dynamics and fields in Cinema 4D. #Cinema4D #C4D #Redshift #CGShortcuts

There’s a common misconception that influencer marketing works best for brand awareness campaigns - but according to Ryan Silberman, CEO at Webfluential, it’s increasingly being used to drive performance. At Appfest 2022, Ryan explained how you can leverage influencer marketing to increase installs. Read the summary or watch the video below.The original ad recipeAccording to Ryan, creating engaging ads has historically been built on using two basic ingredients: context and personalization.Advertisers first use what they learn in different environments (context clues) to offer relevant information to consumers (personalized content). For example, let’s say a woman comes into a store soaked from the rain. When the store keeper offers her an umbrella, he’s using context clues (the woman soaked from the rain) to give her an item.Leveraging trust: Nano influencersHowever, even when you implement context and personalization into your ads, there’s a key ingredient still missing in the mix: trust. By incorporating trust into your ads, you can generate higher consumer confidence in your product - that’s because when we trust someone, we’re more likely to believe what they say.Consumers are more likely to trust people who feel accessible and relatable. For example, someone touring a new city likely trusts a local’s recommendation over a celebrity that’s getting paid to give those recommendations. Even though a celebrity is more well known and has a higher reach, a local would seem more credible. Another word for a person with a smaller reach, but a higher engagement rate? Introducing nano influencers.Nano influencers are influencers that have fewer than 3,000 followers. The graph below illustrates how leveraging nano influencers shows huge promise: the smaller someone’s audience size, the higher their engagement rate is.Improving performance at scaleEngagement rate is one thing, but can it translate to actual transactions like sales and installs?Looking to garner more sales, Elysium Health, an American health company that sells vitamins, partnered with nano influencers who were passionate about cycling, to drive traffic that resulted in sales. They used that content at scale by running ads on Facebook and Tiktok and managed to improve the CPA by 2x.Beyond sales, nano influencers can also improve sentiment towards your app. That’s because you’re creating an authentic narrative with your audience, while also showing your product in a positive light. In fact, Chef, a restaurant tycoon game, teamed up with nano influencers to create sponsored content that showed a 10x uplift in sentiment.Referrals with resultsIn addition to traditional social channels like Instagram and TikTok, here’s another way nano influencers can share your ads - dark social.Dark social includes more intimate channels like WhatsApp or email, in which nano influencers can simply copy and paste a link and share it directly with friends - producing extremely high conversion and engagement rates. In fact, Ryan says 84% of sharing is in dark social. So while it’s not tracked or spoken about, it’s a huge opportunity to leverage with nano influencers.Tips for influencers becoming a performance channelRyan gives us the 4 key pillars that make a successful influencer program.1. Technology platformHaving the right platform saves time and money for recruiting and contracting the right influencers. An added benefit is that it also manages your workflow.2. InventorySome people may think you need a lot of influencers on stand-by but according to Ryan, that’s actually not the case. What’s important is that your influencers are opt-in, meaning that they’ve linked their social channels, have agreed on contractual terms, and are fully ready to work - getting you a faster campaign turnaround.3. Strategy (on demand)You’ve got your technology and the right influencers, and now it’s time to decide what the influencers should do. Ryan’s suggestion? Bring your influencers into your world and ask them what the strategy should be, because they know their audience best.4. Execution + paidEven if you hit the other 3 pillars perfectly, Ryan says this is the most important pillar to ensure success. If you can’t execute at scale then it means nothing and organic isn't big enough. You need to integrate into ad networks and social platforms to scale up.Wrapping upIf there’s one thing to remember with influencer marketing, Ryan encourages you to remember these key points.Apply trust, context, and personalization to engage users Use low cost nano influencers as opposed to high cost celebrities or branded contentFigure out how to leverage dark social and use your ad networks through Paid Retention is built into the community - use this to your advantageWatch the recording here: https://youtu.be/-lN_RX4gj8c

KOKO Market by CPI / Vari ArchitectsSave this picture!© IN-FIELD StudioMarket•Chengdu, China Architects: Vari Architects Area Area of this architecture project Area:  1740 m² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2025 Photographs Photographs: More SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. In the project of the CPI Island Redevelopment Phase-I, we were inspired by Washida Kiyokazu's philosophical concepts of "Average Temperature" and "Subtle Scenery", creating an urban space of serenity, nature, and poetic perception. In Phase-II, we continue these profound philosophical explorations, while moving further towards a closer and more humble relationship between architecture and nature.Save this picture!The Phase-II project is located southeast of Phase-I and consists of the renovation of two independent showhouses. These two once-forgotten buildings have now been revitalized through meticulous design, forming a cohesive market where nature intertwines with atmosphere.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Our design adopts an intervening rather than dominant posture, we continued the strategy of spatial expansion and "micro-topography" integration. A newly added small unit at the southeastern corner creates a staggered, inward-wrapping "market space" with the original buildings, resulting in a layout that satisfies functional needs while offering a rich spatial experience.Save this picture!1.Extended Nature - Centering on the concept of "continuity of nature", the design uses a large amount of wood and recycled materials. The contrast between steel structures and warm wooden textures creates an aesthetic where industry and nature intertwine.Starting from the "micro-environment" of ecology and nature, instead of simply mimicking nature, this humble design approach profoundly expresses the philosophy of "imitating nature".Save this picture!2.Flowing Space - Spatial fluidity is another core pursuit of the design. Through precise expansions and additions, we created a continuous, barrier-free spatial experience that grows and extends like a natural ecosystem. Upon entering the market hall, the sunken courtyard inside organically interacts with the external environment, encouraging people to linger and communicate within this blend of nature and the man-made. Flowing spaces are also better suited to carry "life narratives," meeting various commercial occupancy and operational needs.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!3.Sensible Materials - The sensitivity to materials and light is particularly highlighted in this project. The membrane material of the arched roofs diffuses soft light under the sun like tree leaves, transforming between day and night to create a poetic and spiritual spatial experience. Exposed concrete, steel structure beams and columns, semi-enclosed aged wood, and climbing greenery all naturally evolve over time and through the seasons, infusing the building with life and emotion.Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less Project locationAddress:Chengdu, ChinaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this office Published on May 20, 2025Cite: "KOKO Market by CPI / Vari Architects" 20 May 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1030186/koko-market-by-cpi-vari-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save想阅读文章的中文版本吗?KOKO Market 麓湖CPI 岛二期 / 几里建筑是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

May 20, 2025Ravie LakshmananCybersecurity / Malware Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered malicious packages uploaded to the Python Package Index (PyPI) repository that act as checker tools to validate stolen email addresses against TikTok and Instagram APIs. All three packages are no longer available on PyPI. The names of the Python packages are below - checker-SaGaF (2,605 downloads) steinlurks (1,049 downloads) sinnercore (3,300 downloads) "True to its name, checker-SaGaF checks if an email is associated with a TikTok account and an Instagram account," Socket researcher Olivia Brown said in an analysis published last week. Specifically, the package is designed to send HTTP POST requests to TikTok's password recovery API and Instagram's account login endpoints to determine if an email address passed as input is valid, meaning there exists an account holder corresponding to that email address. "Once threat actors have this information, just from an email address, they can threaten to dox or spam, conduct fake report attacks to get accounts suspended, or solely confirm target accounts before launching a credential stuffing or password spraying exploit," Brown said. "Validated user lists are also sold on the dark web for profit. It can seem harmless to construct dictionaries of active emails, but this information enables and accelerates entire attack chains and minimizes detection by only targeting known-valid accounts." The second package "steinlurks," in a similar manner, targets Instagram accounts by sending forged HTTP POST requests mimicking the Instagram Android app to evade detection. It achieves this by targeting different API endpoints - i.instagram[.]com/api/v1/users/lookup/ i.instagram[.]com/api/v1/bloks/apps/com.bloks.www.caa.ar.search.async/ i.instagram[.]com/api/v1/accounts/send_recovery_flow_email/ www.instagram[.]com/api/v1/web/accounts/check_email/ "Sinnercore," on the other hand, aims to trigger the forgot password flow for a given username, targeting the API endpoint "b.i.instagram[.]com/api/v1/accounts/send_password_reset/" with fake HTTP requests containing the target's username. "There is also functionality targeting Telegram, namely extracting name, user ID, bio, and premium status, as well as other attributes," Brown explained. "Some parts of sinnercore are focused on crypto utilities, like getting real-time Binance price or currency conversions. It even targets PyPI programmers by fetching detailed info on any PyPI package, likely used for fake developer profiles or pretending to be developers." The disclosure comes as ReversingLabs detailed another malicious package named "dbgpkg" that masquerades as a debugging utility but implants a backdoor on the developer's system to facilitate code execution and data exfiltration. While the package is not accessible anymore, it's estimated to have been downloaded about 350 times. Interestingly, the package in question has been found to contain the same payload as the one embedded in "discordpydebug," which was flagged by Socket earlier this month. ReversingLabs said it also identified a third package called "requestsdev" that's believed to be part of the same campaign. It attracted 76 downloads before being taken down. Further analysis has determined that the package's backdoor technique using GSocket resembles that of Phoenix Hyena (aka DumpForums or Silent Crow), a hacktivist group known for targeting Russian entities, including Doctor Web, in the aftermath of the Russo-Ukrainian war in early 2022. While the attribution is tentative at best, ReversingLabs pointed out that the activity could also be the work of a copycat threat actor. However, the use of identical payloads and the fact that "discordpydebug" was first uploaded in March 2022 strengthen the case for a possible connection to Phoenix Hyena. "The malicious techniques used in this campaign, including a specific type of backdoor implant and the use of Python function wrapping, show that the threat actor behind it is sophisticated and very careful to avoid detection," security researcher Karlo Zanki said. "The use of function wrapping and tools like the Global Socket Toolkit show that the threat actors behind it were also looking to establish long-term presence on compromised systems without being noticed." The findings also coincide with the discovery of a malicious npm package called "koishi‑plugin‑pinhaofa" that installs a data‑exfiltration backdoor in chatbots powered by the Koishi framework. The package is no longer available for download from npm. "Marketed as a spelling‑autocorrect helper, the plugin scans every message for an eight‑character hexadecimal string," security researcher Kirill Boychenko said. "When it finds one, it forwards the full message, potentially including any embedded secrets or credentials, to a hard-coded QQ account." "Eight character hex often represent short Git commit hashes, truncated JWT or API tokens, CRC‑32 checksums, GUID lead segments, or device serial numbers, each of which can unlock wider systems or map internal assets. By harvesting the whole message the threat actor also scoops up any surrounding secrets, passwords, URLs, credentials, tokens, or IDs." Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post. SHARE    

What makes for a quintessentially country farmhouse living room? When you think about the classic, homey style, you likely imagine a warm space filled with a sink-into-me sofa (perhaps positioned around an inviting fireplace), a comfy chair for reading or cross-stitching, and that one special quilt everyone calls first dibs on. There might be a wood-clad ceiling overhead, a perfectly imperfect worn rug underfoot, and charming shiplap or wainscoting wrapping the room. Whatever design elements make up the rustic farmhouse living room of your dreams, you’ll find loads of decorating inspiration here in these pictures of farmhouse living room ideas from our favorite country homes.For a collected-over-time style, a cozy farmhouse living room with color and pattern brings a lived-in, homespun feel (think cottagecore design vibes). In these rooms, you’ll find classic checks and florals, vintage items and antiques, and personal collections on display. For modern farmhouse living room ideas, look for more contemporary and calming ideas—neutral backdrops and architectural features like stone, wood beams, and windows. Bring traditional farmhouse living room designs to your home, wherever you live.Love farmhouse style? Here are more farmhouse decorating ideas for other rooms in your home: 1Divide an Open SpaceJane BeilesIn this 200-year-old Federal farmhouse, a barn (really!) was attached to the house to create a soaring entertaining area. “It was music to my ears—I’d always wanted to do it,” says homeowner Ali Mahon. To utilize the open space, it was divided into “rooms,” including a dining nook and two stories of living areas filled with character-rich antiques, including a wicker trunk-turned-coffee table and a graphic 19th-century banner weather vane. A large handcrafted iron chandelier looms above. 2Celebrate Organic FinishesKate S. JordanThis cozy farmhouse living room’s warmth comes from the reclaimed hemlock floorboards, newly exposed original wood beams and rafters, and gypsum plaster walls custom-tinted a soft putty color. The room’s curvy wood-framed chairs, recovered in mohair and boucle fabrics, complement the coffee table designed by Percy Bright of Jersey Ice Cream Co. A decorative screen from a Vermont antiques shop conceals the woodburning stove. Underfoot, a Scandinavian kilim rug subtly speaks to the other folk art motifs seen throughout the home.RELATED: See more of this Scandi farmhouse that will change the way you paint your walls.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Balance Heavy Wood Tones With White Sara Ligorria-TrampMany of the great room’s interior elements, from the arched ceiling beams to the unfinished floor planks, were milled from spruce and hemlock trees on this home’s Washington property. The abundance of wood never feels heavy, though, as it’s smartly balanced by the surrounding white wood-paneled and tinted plaster walls. Plentiful windows let sunlight pour into the open-concept rustic paradise. Get the Look:Wall Paint Color: Snow White Milk Paint by General Finishes (3⁄4 paint, 1⁄4 water)Trim Paint Color: Milk Mustache by Dunn-Edwards PaintRELATED: See more of the new-build barn house that really masters the modern rustic look.4Pick the Right Scale FurnitureRikki Snyder for Country LivingSometimes, massive modern furniture simply doesn’t sit right in an older home. In this cozy farmhouse den, designer Christina Salway opted for a more petite sofa and assorted chairs, including these two wingbacks covered in a bold leafy motif. Even the wooden coffee table is “perfectly undersized for the space,” says Christina. New thin brick flooring ups the coziness factor, as does a jute floral rug and aviary artwork.Get the Look: Door Paint Color:Inchyra Blue by Farrow & BallAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below5Cozy Up to the FireplaceAlpha Smoot for Country LivingWith saturated blue walls (“It’s sort of a gentleman’s navy,” says homeowner Justin Reis), weathered floorboards, and hand-hewn beams, the living room has a built-in warm and cozy feel. The warming cabinet above the fireplace, which likely had a door at one time, offers a spot to tuck in collected treasures. The fire and candlelight emit a magical glow.Get the Look:Wall Paint Color: Dark Navy by BehrRELATED: See more of this Connecticut Georgian Colonial that is an old house lover's dream.6Wrap the Room in Reclaimed WoodLincoln BarbourThe owners of this Mississippi barn used locally sourced materials to cover the walls and ceiling. Raw and distressed wood panels from a nearby military depot wrap the room in warmth and texture. Loads of windows bring in natural light during the day, while a chandelier and mounted sconces make for a romantic glow come nighttime.RELATED: These wood ceiling ideas bring country charm to any room.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Establish a Worry-Free VibeRoger Davies, styling by Liz StrongNo velvet ropes here! In this California living room that has English cottage sensibilities, being worry-free is key. Items like the weathered antique butcher-block coffee table, washable slipcovers on the deep sofa and swivel chairs, and a thick sisal rug establish the home’s kick-up-your-feet feeling.RELATED: Tour more of this cozy California cottage. 8Build with Reclaimed MaterialsBrie Williams for Country LivingBuilt with North Carolina stone, this living room’s fireplace gives a proud nod to the home’s location. Other rustic architectural details, like log skins that were salvaged from old barns in the Midwest and the reclaimed beams from an 1800s Massachusetts mill, add loads of been-there-forever charm to this new farmhouse build.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Celebrate (Unpainted) ShiplapVictoria Pearson, styling by Liz StrongDuring this home renovation, the couple uncovered original wood shiplap beneath the paneling. They removed the pieces one by one, cleaned them up, and then repurposed the boards as the wall in this sitting room, as well as in the entry, kitchen, and bunk room. A vintage bookcase from a medical office is home to books and various collectibles.RELATED: See more of how this run-down Texas farmhouse became this family's dream home.10Add Instant Patina with Salvaged BeamsStephen Karlisch for Country LivingWood beams salvaged from deconstructed barns and other old buildings add instant age to this beautifully calming living room. Rustic architectural accents, artwork, and the pretty patterned rug are the visual focus in this warm, neutral space. RELATED: 6 Best Places to Find or Buy Reclaimed Wood Near YouAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below11Roll Out a One-of-a-Kind RugDavid A. Land for Country LivingA rug really pulls a room together in a way no other accessory does. As a general rule, the front legs of all seating pieces should comfortably fit on the rug. If you have a smaller rug that doesn’t quite fit that requirement, layer it atop a larger sisal rug. We love this trick for a farmhouse living room decorating idea on a budget!RELATED: See more of this restored 1800s farmhouse that is proof that some things just get better with age.12Get Cozy with ColorNick JohnsonIn this cozy farmhouse living room, high-end fabrics (predominantly in stunning blues) on the sofa, velvet ottoman, chair, and pillows balance this country home’s rustic characteristics. The painted fireplace facade ties the whole room together. RELATED: See more of this 100-year-old Michigan farmhouse that oozes vintage charm.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Redefine RusticZIO AND SONSIn this modern farmhouse living room, architectural elements—wide-planked wood floors, ceiling beams, horizontal shiplap wainscoting—are softened with a comfy sectional piled with pillows and sleek, streamlined design choices, like the hanging chair, wood-and-iron coffee table, and handmade oak stump side table. A round iron chandelier crowns the family space.RELATED: 30 Charming Farmhouse Decor Items You Can Buy Now on Amazon14Play Around with PatternRoger Davies for Country LivingChecks and florals live in perfect harmony in this cozy living room. To keep the family space from leaning too traditional with the iconic buffalo check-covered sofa and wildflower chintz chair, designer Bailey McCarthy brought in a clean-lined steel-framed coffee table and a graphic longhorn painting for over the fireplace. RELATED: This darling white farmhouse in Texas proves that old-fashioned favorites are new again.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Incorporate Vintage TreasuresAnnie SchlechterAtop a fresh coat of crisp white paint on the walls, trim, and mantel, vintage scores take center stage. Found objects always tell a story. Here, in this small farmhouse living room, the banners hanging above the striped sofa came from a church, the trunk-turned-coffee table came from a Tennessee stable, and the black-and-white family photos lend personal history.RELATED: See more of this old Kentucky farmhouse gets the ultimate makeover.16Leave Windows BareMax Kim-BeeThanks to no window coverings, natural light pours in to this pretty Catskills living room. Bold painted window trim contrasts the creamy white walls and frames the view beyond.RELATED: Refresh your space with our favorite living room paint colors.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Create a Focal PointJames MerrellA stone fireplace provides a cozy focal point for a pair of comfy armchairs and ottoman, all upholstered in a pretty floral pattern. Hand-hewn log cabin walls and rustic ceiling beams wrap the room in natural warmth. RELATED: 50 Fireplace and Mantel Decor Ideas for a Cozy Upgrade18Pack In the CharmHelen NormanWe love this space for its small farmhouse living room ideas—packed-in charm, mismatched furniture (a handsome leather Chesterfield sofa, wood pieces)—and its architectural elements, like the painted pine-paneled walls, ceiling beams, four-pane windows, and a front-and-center fireplace. RELATED: Tour more of this charming cottage that is straight out of a storybook.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Start with a Neutral BaseLincoln BarbourWrapping the room in a clean white provides a blank canvas for this inviting living room’s layered, lived-in look. Starting with the weathered ceiling beams that were salvaged from an old warehouse, top-to-bottom texture brings character galore. A pair of tufted velvet armchairs, layered rugs (genius for filling a large living room space!), a plaid blanket, and rustic accessories like the tobacco basket above the fireplace, are the secret to this room’s success.RELATED: See more of this rustic Tennessee home that does white totally right.20Feature Favorite AntiquesAdam Albright, styling by Matthew GleasonThis lake house living room is big on the farmhouse style rule of living with antiques and vintage finds. A tufted navy sofa is piled with pillows made from old camp blankets and draped with a red-and-white antique quilt. A collection of paint-by-numbers surrounds an antique cuckoo clock on the painted shiplap wall above.RELATED: 50+ Gallery Wall Ideas to Display All Your Favorite ThingsAmy MitchellManaging EditorAmy Mitchell is the managing editor for VERANDA and Country Living, where she writes articles on a variety of topics—decorating and design, gardens, and holidays. Amy’s experience in the shelter magazine category spans more than 20 years, as she’s previously held positions at Coastal Living and Cottage Living. Her personal pursuits include cooking, gardening, and hunting her favorite tag sale spots for the next piece of Pyrex for her prized collection.