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With the threat landscape becoming increasingly sophisticated, companies need agile approaches to improve their defenses and mitigate risks. After all, hackers are adapting their strategies and introducing new tools and technologies to improve their success rates. The resulting rise in cyber-attacks is evident in Xalient’s latest research report ‘Why SASE is the Blueprint for Future-proofing Your Network in 2025 and Beyond’, where  a staggering 99 percent of respondents say they have experienced an attack in the last 12 months.

It is no surprise that cyber security is gaining attention from across the C-suite, with 58 percent of CEOs considering cyber-attacks a very big threat to business operations, as PwC's 25th CEO Survey finds. With security moving further up the boardroom agenda, security teams are under greater scrutiny as they work to safeguard the company, its data and its employees. But what are the biggest security challenges and how can security teams improve the security posture of their organisations?

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It’s Christmas Day, and for Linux enthusiasts, there’s an extra gift under the tree. You see, the lightweight 4MLinux has officially hit its stable release with version 47.0 (download it here).

You can now get your work done with LibreOffice 24.8 or GNOME Office, which includes tools like AbiWord 3.0.5, GIMP 2.10.38, and Gnumeric 1.12.57. Need to surf the web? Firefox 133.0 and Chrome 131.0 are here to help. Email lovers can rely on Thunderbird 128.5, while media fans can enjoy Audacious 4.4.2 for music and VLC 3.0.21 or SMPlayer 24.5.0 for video. Gamers also get a boost with support from Mesa 24.1.5 and Wine 9.21, while those needing a lightweight server solution can take advantage of BusyBox 1.36.1.

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The start of a new year is always a chance to reassess priorities, try to break old habits, and make lifestyle changes that bring us closer to the life we want to live. New Year’s resolutions typically center around health, career, or relationships, but there’s another area worth considering -- the software and tools we rely on daily.

If you’ve been thinking about leaving Microsoft Windows 11 behind and diving into the world of Linux, this could be the perfect time to do so. (Like all resolutions there’s no guarantee you’ll stick to it of course, but like that well-meaning health kick, it’s worth giving it a go.)

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The team behind Serpent OS has announced its Linux distro has entered alpha. The operating system, built by industry veterans with decades of experience, is a heavily engineering-led project that seeks to redefine how Linux is distributed. In the team's own words, it "represents the next evolution in Linux distributions". It offers a stateless design and atomic updates, ensuring that system changes either complete fully or roll back seamlessly if issues arise, which should guarantee reliability and stability.

The new alpha release is tailored for UEFI systems only, with secure boot support planned for future updates. For now, x86_64-v2 builds are available with GNOME and COSMIC desktop environments.

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Until recently, many organizations’ ‘cloud-first’ strategies in reality meant ‘cloud-only’ (and more specifically, public cloud). Indeed, it wasn’t really a strategy, rather more an aspiration.

However, fast forward to today and many organizations are realizing that public cloud providers can’t fully meet all their needs and priorities. In fact, most organizations will never be fully on the public cloud for a number of reasons:

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Electronic communication, whether by email or text, is by its very nature pretty instant. So when you receive a new message the temptation is always to respond to it straight away.

The trouble with that is the people you're communicating with come to always expect a quick reply. We spoke to stress management expert Julia Arndt at Peak Performance Method to discover why not responding immediately could well be better for your stress levels.

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As we move into 2025, the information technology landscape surrounding consumer databases is evolving rapidly.

Organizations must build ecosystems that support seamless, real-time data integration while ensuring enhanced governance and agile decision-making. Success in this environment requires robust, interoperable platforms that can adapt to technological shifts and anticipate future challenges.

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Reaction emoji are a quick and easy way to respond to a message in WhatsApp with an absolute minimum of effort. Whether you simply can’t be bothered to type a message, or you’re already multi-tasking several things, the option to just send a thumbs up to a message is a handy option to have.

While there is nothing to stop you from sending any emoji you want as a response, there are several default options made available for easy access -- such as a heart or a sad face in addition to the thumbs up. For some time there have been six default emoji, but now WhatsApp is adding another to the family to make a septet.

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Apple looks ready to continue its foray into the smart home market with a new doorbell to rival Amazon’s Ring. Driven by Face ID, Apple’s upcoming device is set to be more than just a doorbell -- facial recognition will be used to unlock the door as well.

But if you are looking for a smart doorbell right now, Apple may not be the choice for you. The company’s work is said to be in the preliminary stages, with products unlikely to emerge until at least the tail end of 2025, but likely some time in 2026.

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Silicon Power has introduced its first M.2 PCIe 2230 E-Key SSD, the MEM3K0E, designed for the compact and demanding needs of edge computing, robotics, and other emerging technologies. The company describes the new SSD as a flexible solution for developers looking to optimize system configurations in space-constrained environments.

The MEM3K0E follows the PCIe 3.1 standard and NVMe 1.4 protocol, making it compatible with devices featuring E-Key slots. It’s meant to act as a supplemental cache or buffer drive alongside primary M-Key storage. To handle resource-intensive tasks, it includes features like thermal throttling and a built-in voltage detector. With storage capacities ranging from 64GB to 512GB, it’s versatile enough for everything from embedded systems to performance-heavy setups.

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Santa Claus may be magical, but even the most legendary figure could benefit from some modern technological enhancements. If he adopted the Linux kernel, which powers the world’s most flexible and open-source operating systems, the jolly old man in red could take his North Pole operations to the next level. Here are five ways Linux could transform Santa’s workshop for the better.

First, Santa could use Linux for inventory management. With millions of toys being produced, stored, and delivered annually, managing his inventory must be a logistical nightmare. Linux-based solutions like Odoo or Openbravo provide powerful tools for tracking inventory, ensuring Santa’s elves never run out of key materials like wood, plastic, or glitter.

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The number of issues standing in the way of people hoping to update their computers to Windows 11 24H2 just seems to keep on growing. The latest problems confirmed by Microsoft are an issue with Auto HDR, and another relating to Dirac Audio.

In both cases, Microsoft has implemented a compatibility safeguard hold that prevents automatic upgrades to Windows 11 24H2; the company also strongly recommends against forcing a manual upgrade because of the severity of the issues. So, what are the details?

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ASUS has introduced the NUC 14 Pro AI, a mini PC that incorporates Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2) and Microsoft’s Copilot+ AI assistant. Designed to meet the demands of business, industrial, and entertainment applications, this compact device delivers enhanced AI capabilities and high performance in a space-saving form factor.

The NUC 14 Pro AI is powered by Intel Core Ultra processors, with options up to the Ultra 9 series, offering a multi-architecture design that integrates CPU, GPU, and NPU technologies. With up to 120 platform TOPS and 48 NPU TOPS, it provides notable improvements in AI performance compared to previous models, making it suitable for edge computing and IoT applications.

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While I’m primarily a Linux user, when I use macOS on my Mac mini, Acorn is my go-to image editor. It’s a great value from an independent developer and has just gotten even better with the release of Acorn 8. This update is packed with major upgrades, and best of all, it’s on sale for a limited time for $19.99, maintaining its one-time purchase model. Yes, folks, you read that right -- Acorn still isn’t subscription-based. Very nice!

One of the most exciting additions is a set of tools that harness machine learning. The new “Select Subject” and “Mask Subject” commands automatically identify and isolate the primary focus in an image, while “Remove Background” eliminates backgrounds without adding a layer mask. These features make it easier than ever to clean up and enhance photos.

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Hisense has introduced the HT Saturn Wireless Home Theater System at CES 2025, designed for those who enjoy movies, gaming, and music. Designed to pair with big-screen TVs, particularly those 85 inches and larger, the HT Saturn promises an immersive audio experience with features like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

The system incorporates Hisense’s Hi-Concerto Technology, which works in tandem with the brand’s TVs. By syncing the TV’s built-in speakers with the HT Saturn, the setup creates a unified soundstage, providing a more expansive audio experience. Additionally, its Room Calibration feature automatically adjusts audio based on the acoustics of the user’s space for optimized sound performance.

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