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• New cybersecurity requirements may soon be introduced for US healthcare firms
• The new rules will aim to protect systems which hold sensitive information
• These will cost an estimated $9 billion in the first year

A new set of requirements have been proposed by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for healthcare firms in the country to ensure the personally identifiable information of patients and company data is adequately protected. The proposal includes routine vulnerability and breach scans, data encryption, and multi-factor authentication.

The new requirements would also make it mandatory to use anti-malware protection for systems which handle sensitive information, as well as network segmentation, implementing separate controls for data backup and recovery, and yearly audits to check for compliance.

Healthcare organizations have been increasingly targeted by threat actors due to the amount of sensitive data they hold and the crucial service they provide - meaning the organizations are often forced to pay large ransoms for their systems and information in order to continue operating.

The cost of updated standards

Implementing these requirements will cost an estimated $9 billion in the first year, and $6 billion in the following two years, according to Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, Anne Neuberger.

Despite the cost, Neuberger points out that these requirements add necessary protections given that the number of large scale security breaches and ransomware affecting healthcare organizations has skyrocketed by 102% since 2019.

Healthcare data is being repeatedly sold across the dark web, with an attack on UnitedHealth Group leading to over 100 million US customers exposed - which was disruptive to both patients and staff.

"In this job, one of the most concerning and really troubling things we deal with is hacking of hospitals, hacking of healthcare data," said Neuberger.

“Hospitals have been forced to operate manually and Americans' sensitive healthcare data, mental health information and other information are "being leaked on the dark web with the opportunity to blackmail individuals."

Via Reuters

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• President Jimmy Carter passed away on Saturday, December 29, 2024.
• He was the 39th President of the United States and known as a 'President for Peace.'
• Apple CEO Tim Cook shared his remembrance on X on the 29th, and Apple has now updated its homepage with a takeover honoring the former President.

Yesterday, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter passed away at the age of 100, and now Apple has updated its homepage for a rare takeover, paying tribute to the 39th President of the United States.

It comes a day after Apple CEO Tim Cook shared his respects on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Today, we honor President Carter’s lifetime of service and his commitment to leaving the world better than he found it. May he rest in peace.”

The homepage takeover is a bit more subtle and in line with previous home takeovers, though there have only been a few in recent history.

Apple’s homepage shows a photo of Jimmy Carter, the same one shared by Tim Cook on social, in front of a construction site. Likely speaking to the President’s impact during his time in the White House and the following years. Carter, who become president in 1977, soon after Apple was founded in 1976, would leave office in 1981 after serving a single term.

Today, we honor President Carter’s lifetime of service and his commitment to leaving the world better than he found it. May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/cXl99kT7lrDecember 29, 2024

President Jimmy Carter's time in office is perhaps best remembered for the Camp David Accords, which brokered peace between Israel and Egypt. After his time as President, Carter remained in the public eye, serving as a humanitarian for many causes, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He was known as a “President for Peace” and was friends with musicians including Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, hence the ‘Rock N’Roll’ President moniker.

Apple’s homepage takeovers have been few and far between, normally happening for product launches. Still, the most notable other remembrance post would be for former Apple CEO and founder Steve Jobs after his passing in 2011.

You can view the homepage takeover on Apple.com here and learn more about Jimmy Carter and his legacy here.

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• Ransomware group Space Bears claims ransomware attack on Atos
• No evidence has been found and no ransom demands received
• Space Bears, a new group, has already targeted many companies

French tech giant Atos has confirmed it has been hit by a cyberattack, but has noted the threat might just be a false alarm.

The company shared details of a threat by ransomware group Space Bears, which claimed to have compromised an internal Atos database.

However, Atos said that initial investigations revealed no evidence of any compromise or ransomware affecting any of its systems in any country, or those of its subsidiary Eviden.

Atos ransomware attack?

Apart from the lack of evidence, Atos says it has not received any ransom demand, however it still takes the threat “very seriously.”

The company, which has an annual revenue of €10 billion ($10.4 billion), says it has put together a dedicated cybersecurity team to investigate the allegat

ion. No further updates have been issued by the company.

For context, Space Bears is a ransomware group believed to have emerged in early 2024.

The attackers has already targeted several victims globally, targeting Canadian software development company Haylem and two related companies, Un Museau Vaut Mille Mots and Lexibar.

The group claimed to have obtained database information, including employee and client information.

Other December 2024 attacks by the group include Canada’s JRT Automatisation and India’s Aptus.

No further updates have been shared since Atos’ first announcement on December 29. TechRadar Pro has asked the company for further details, but we did not receive an immediate response.

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The telecom companies say they're no longer detecting activity from foreign entities that were hacking their networks.

The gym is a scary place, at least at first. Everyone there is so focused that it can be awkward to walk through the doors, let alone pick up the weights.

When I started working out in 2012, I did so with a cursory induction session and was left to my own devices. I got more familiar as time went on, but without any real instruction (and no money for a personal trainer), I always felt like I had a ceiling for my progress.

I discovered Fitbod a couple of years ago, and in the time since I’ve racked up over 1000 workouts, meaning it was easy to include in our best fitness app roundup. Here’s why I like it, and why I think you should give it a spin in 2025.

A task-based workout

(Image credit: Fitbod)

I’m a very task-oriented person, and if I wasn’t writing about workout apps right now there’s a good chance I’d be extolling the virtues of a task manager instead.

There’s something about ticking items off of a list that fills me with satisfaction, and Fitbod works so well for me because it essentially offers a sort of 'to-do list' when I’m working out.

Once a workout is generated (more on that in a moment), I know that I can get to the gym, open the app, and hit “Start Workout” to get going.

Fitbod is constantly learning and adjusting its algorithms, so I can look at a series of five or six exercises and tackle them as I see fit. Naturally there’s a feeling of dread when I see squats coming up (anyone who says they enjoy them is factually incorrect), but ticking each item off the list almost gamifies working out.

And, just as in a video game, you 'level up' in a way with Fitbod’s workout reports. These get more detailed year after year, and show you a handy line graph over a week, month, six months, or a year to show how you’ve improved.

That’s a fantastic motivator, as are the little “trophies” for hitting new personal bests. There’s even a Spotify Wrapped-style roundup at the end of the year, too.

Less guesswork, more leg work

(Image credit: Fitbod)

One of the hardest parts about walking into a gym for the first time is not knowing where to start. Sure, you can narrow it down to cardio or strength training, but which exercises are best? Which equipment should you use?

Fitbod takes a lot of the guesswork out of working out. It has six categories ranging from general fitness to olympic weightlifting, and will recommend workouts based on time intervals of 15 - 90 minutes. It also targets your recovered muscles by default, so you can rest those you’ve most recently used.

Better yet, you can filter by equipment, including a setup with no equipment at all if you have 15 minutes and no weights, and if you do need guidance, it offers GIF walkthroughs on your phone or Apple Watch to show you how to do each exercise safely.

Any workout works

(Image credit: Fitbod)

One of my favorite Fitbod features is how it pulls in data from other workout apps (if you let it). While it can track your runs, indoors our outdoors, it doesn’t have the metric tracking of something like Strava.

Thankfully, I have it set up to import Strava workouts into my activity feed, showing when I’ve run and factoring it into my muscle tiredness. It also lets you tie in with Apple’s own Fitness app, meaning my walk to and from the gym can be tracked, too – of the more than 1,000 workouts I’ve done, it’s fair to say a lot of them are long strolls.

You can also ask Fitbod to export data to Strava or Fitbit, as well as Apple Health.

Thanks to Fitbod, I’ve hit heights with strength training I didn’t think were possible even a few years ago – and I’m working out muscles I’d otherwise have neglected (looking at you, legs).

My overall fitness has really leveled up, and that’s why Fitbod’s iOS widget has a permanent spot on one of my home screens at all times.

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Beyerdynamic Aventho 300: Two-minute review

The Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are a fantastic pair of wireless headphones. Using the same drivers as the company’s studio-oriented DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X, the sound quality will make you feel like you’ve taken a blanket off your music, especially if you’re upgrading from a cheaper, lesser model. And they’re as feature-filled as any other model at this price point.

I believe that, since their release this year, they belong in the conversation for the best wireless headphones. They do fall slightly short of the active noise cancellation (ANC) you find with the likes of Bose and Sony flagships. But, they still fare very well. And again, they sound fantastic. On top of that, the battery life is very, very good.

There are a couple aspects that hold the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 from being perfect. For instance, the ear pads are tough to remove – an issue if you’re worried about potential wear and tear. And, the main way to control audio on the headphones is a touchpad on the right ear. It’s innovative, but slow to respond and comes with a bit of a learning curve. Since I generally use my phone or computer for adjusting things like volume and forwarding / rewinding, it’s not a dealbreaker. Still, it’s annoying.

At the end of the day, however, the pros vastly outweigh the cons.

(Image credit: Future) Beyerdynamic Aventho 300: Price and release date

• Announced September 9 2024, available from November 2024
• Costs $399.99 / £359.00 (about AU$640)

No doubt about it, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are among the more premium options out there when it comes to wireless headphones. They go for $399.99 / £359.00 (about AU$640), which is more than the Sony WH-1000XM5 and their price of £380 / $399 / AU$649. Both are fantastic sounding headphones. Of course, the Aventho 300 fold up and have faster Bluetooth connectivity, but the WH-1000XM5 have class-leading ANC.

There are even more expensive options out there such as the $899 / £599-priced Dali IO-8 or the $549 / £549 / AU$899-priced Apple AirPods Max where you’re paying for the name or premium materials as much as anything else. The Beyerdynamic Aventho 300, therefore, are well-priced for what they are and offer good value, but are not a steal.

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Specs Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Very useable EQ and presets
• Plenty of accessibility in the app
• Has multipoint connectivity and lossless codecs

As far as features go, the only thing missing from the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 is some kind of personalised, augmented sound profile. That said, there is more than enough flexibility available in the app to adjust the EQ. Not only are there six different presets to choose from, including “neutral” interestingly (more on why that’s necessary for some later), but there’s also a five-band graphic EQ with the ability to boost or cut up to six dB where you can save your preferred EQ curve.

Speaking of the app, there’s much more on tap, including playing around with different levels of ANC and ambient mode as well as turning Dolby Atmos and head tracking on. The ANC and ambient modes have five levels of sensitivity and work pretty well, either blocking out sound or letting you hear your surroundings. They’re not quite class-leading, but unless your neighbours or colleagues are especially raucous, you’ll probably be happy with them.

In the app, you can also turn on/off a voice assistant as well as adjust what the internal voice prompt announces. For example, I like hearing the battery level when I turn on the headphones, but I don’t want to hear which codec is being used during the first few seconds of the first song I listen to.

The app also allows toggling things like auto shutdown, sidetone, and LED brightness. There’s even a touch guide to show how to use the touchpad on the side of the headphones.

Though you won’t see it in the app, multipoint connectivity is available. It’s also worth noting that there’s AAC and aptX lossless (and adaptive) support.

(Image credit: Future)

• Features score: 4.5/5

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Design

• Aesthetically pleasing if a bit bulky
• Touchpad has a learning curve and has inconsistent sensitivity
• Has a very long battery life

The chunky design of the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 is aesthetically pleasing while still looking very similar to the majority of over-ear headphones out there. Available in Black and Nordic Grey (reviewed here), the whole thing from the earcups to the head band and all the plush materials are the same color with the exception of the metal (presumably aluminum) yoke and the model name emblazoned on the left earcup – silver on the Nordic Grey model and Nordic Grey on the Black model.

The ergonomics are solid as the ear cups are angled to sit more naturally on the side of the face, though the amount the headband can extend seems like it might not be enough for big heads. The ear pads and headband are covered in a faux leather that’s not the most breathable, but is comfortable enough. I can definitely wear these for a while without feeling fatigued, but they’re not the cream of the crop when it comes to comfort. On top of that, the clamping force is a bit strong, so if you’re sensitive to that, you might need to stretch them out just a bit.

(Image credit: Future)

The controls consist of a power button that also pairs via Bluetooth, a button to cycle through ANC, ANC off, and transparency mode, and the touch pad I’ve mentioned which covers the entire flat portion of the right ear cup. This capacitive area allows an assortment of controls from volume control, skipping through songs, answering calls, and the like via tapping and gesturing in the appropriate directions. It’s a good idea, but takes a bit to learn. More importantly, the sensitivity seems inconsistent, so sometimes I have to gesture more than once to get the headphones to react to what I want to do. This is probably the area where these headphones could use the most fine tuning for successive models.

At least the battery life is long, as you can get 50 hours with ANC on – and ANC has a tendency to drain the battery. After about 10 hours of listening, I had 80% battery life left without charging back up. Considering they charge via USB-C, 10 minutes of charging gets about five hours of play.

• Design score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Sound quality

• Seemingly neutral but has prominent bass and slightly hyped high-end
• Decently wide soundstage
• Dolby Atmos and head tracking work well

If you don’t feel like reading the next 200ish words, just know that the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 sound really good. Since these headphones share the same Stellar.45 drivers that the company introduced in its studio-focused DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X headphones, the frequency range leans towards a very clean, high-headroom experience that on first listen almost sounds neutral the way a pair of headphones meant for the studio sounds.

After spending a little time listening to all sorts of genres from Rock to Hip Hop and Folk, the nuances become a little more obvious. First of all, even though the sound comes across as clean and even, it’s actually quite bass heavy (note that the frequency range goes as low as 5Hz), especially nearing the sub-bass region. Any Rock or Alternative tracks I listen to become very bass prominent even though the genres are generally more mid-focused.

Of course, it’s a testament to the quality of the drivers that you get such prominent bass while still hearing everything else clearly.

(Image credit: Future)

The high-end is also a little hyped, which adds a bit to the clarity. But, it’s not so prominent to be in-your-face or painful. In the EQ modes I mentioned earlier, the neutral setting actually boosts the mid-range just a tad while bringing the low-end down quite a bit and the high-end a dB or two.

The soundstage is just as stellar. It feels wide enough to make me feel like I’m sitting on stage with the musicians. Far off elements are well-placed so that I get a really immersive sense of space. Now, they’re not the widest sounding headphones ever, but they sit at a sweet spot between intimate and concert hall.

Since there’s Dolby Atmos support, I should mention that it’s a nice touch. However, it is a virtual spatial audio so everything just sounds like there’s just a bit more reverb. While more dimensional, it doesn’t really add much to the experience unless watching a movie or show. I feel the same way about the headtracking that can be enabled. It works well if that matters to you.

• Sound quality: 5/5

(Image credit: Beyerdynamic) Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Value

• Pricing is about what one would expect for flagship wireless headphones
• Paying for consistency
• Comes with a hard shell and softshell case

As a value proposition, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are good but not great. As previously mentioned, they're not that much more than the Sony WH-1000XM5 and are comparable in a lot of ways, with some aspects being slightly better and others slightly worse. You can spend much more for models that aren’t really any better. But you can spend much less and still get very good-sounding headphones.

However, Beyerdynamic headphones are consistently great, so you’re paying for that to a degree the way you do with Apple when it comes to phones or laptops. At least, you get a nice hard shell case and drawstring bag out of the deal.

• Value: 4/5

Should I buy the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300? Buy them if…

You want excellent, polished sound quality
Not only do the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 sound great, but they sound polished like they’re meant for the studio. Somehow, they still have a large bass response.

You want something a little different but just as good
If you want to get something a little different than everyone else without sacrificing quality, these headphones have it all from sound quality to feature set.

Don’t buy them if…

You’re looking for a best-value buy
While they’re priced appropriately, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are not cheap. So, if you’re looking to get the bang for your buck, there are other options to consider.

You want easy controls
Though the capacitive touchpad on the right earcup is a good idea, it could be executed just a little bit better (it’s not bad, just inconsistent).

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Also consider

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100
The Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 don’t have the best ANC and lose the proprietary spatial audio. However, they’re great value and not just because they’re a bit cheaper. Since they come at a lower price point, they focus on what matters most – and that’s excellent sound quality. Also, the battery life is excellent
Read our full Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 review

Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are still considered one of the best, if not the best, over-ear wireless headphones. The sound quality is excellent, the app is easy to use, and, most importantly, the ANC and ambient features are still virtually unparalleled. Only thing is they’re minimally better than their lower-priced and still available predecessor.
Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300

• Tested over two weeks
• Tested with different music as well as video streaming
• Tested every feature meticulously

I spent a few weeks using the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 as my daily headphones. While using them, I listened to all sorts of genres from electronic and hip-hop to rock and acoustic music to compare the frequency range and soundstage. I also tested them with streaming video and used the various settings such as ANC, ambient mode, and EQ.

After testing, it seems that the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are best suited for those wanting a mostly neutral audiophile-like experience in a set of wireless headphones without sacrificing on features.

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing audio equipment and have spent even longer using my critical ear as a listener and musician to understand what does and doesn’t sound good.

• First reviewed in December 2024

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

You can upgrade your home entertainment setup with a soundbar, subwoofer and two rear speakers for just $998 right now.

• From January 4th to 5th, 2025, Apple TV Plus will be free.
• Apple TV Plus will let anyone stream its content.
• Take advantage and watch shows like Severance and Ted Lasso for no cost.

After a few teasers across its social channels, Apple TV Plus has confirmed via Instagram (see post below) that a free weekend of streaming is coming in fast. So whether you want to watch some Ted Lasso, Shrinking, or get caught up on Severance but don’t want to sign up – either as a new customer or a returning one – to Apple TV Plus, this is your chance to watch anything from its entire library for free.

From January 4–5, 2025 – likely a whole 48-hour event – you’ll be able to stream any of the Apple TV Plus original TV shows, movies, and documentaries for free. It’s not just occurring shortly after the holiday season and just four days into 2025, but it’s also right before the much-anticipated season 2 of Severance begins streaming on January 17, 2025.

Further, considering the teasers and free-weekend formal announcement all feature characters from the show, the timing of this free weekend likely isn’t a coincidence. It could serve to build up hype around the show’s return and even encourage folks who haven’t ventured into the halls of ‘Lumen’s’ halls to do so without needing to subscribe.

A post shared by Apple TV (@appletv)

A photo posted by on

While free weekends for streaming services aren’t unheard of, this is the first for Apple TV Plus. The streaming service routinely offers an Apple TV Plus free trial of about seven days, but that requires a sign-up. And the timing comes before a major series return and at a time when there is a boatload of great content to watch on Apple TV Plus.

There is plenty to watch on the service, including Mythic Quest, Schmigadoon!, The Morning Show, Ted Lasso, Slow Horses, and For All Mankind, among many others. You can see TechRadar’s full list of the best Apple TV Plus shows here, which will give you an idea of where to start this upcoming weekend. And when you're done there, make sure to check on our ranking of the best Apple TV Plus movies for more.

(Image credit: SOPA Images)

While you can find Apple TV Plus’ vast library of content within the Apple TV app on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV 4K streaming box, it’s available on other devices, too, and even on the web. Most major streaming OSs, including Roku, Google TV, and FireOS, offer the Apple TV app for easy streaming, and it’s also built into both Samsung and LG TVs.

Apple TV Plus’ free weekend of streaming will kick off on January 4, 2025, and wrap at the end of January 5, 2025. And while we don’t yet know if it’s available in the UK, Australia, and all countries where the service is available, we’ve reached out to Apple to ask and will update this story if we hear back.

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