Latest news with #Duo
Daily Maverick
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
The power of collaborations: Thriving through unlikely alliances
Imagine this: a digital playground where players explore endangered heritage sites — not through travel, but through the wildly popular blocky, pixelated universe of the 3D adventure sandbox game Minecraft. This imaginative experience was made possible when Minecraft joined forces with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), enabling players to virtually wander through historic sites while learning about cultural preservation. A partnership between a gaming platform and a global educational organisation may seem unlikely, yet it became a powerful tool for raising awareness. Now, consider a different pairing — one that marries language learning with fashion. The language app Duolingo teamed up with the footwear company Crocs to release a quirky, playful line of footwear adorned with themed charms featuring Duolingo's green owl mascot, Duo. What might have seemed like a whimsical marketing stunt was actually a clever way to merge education with everyday wear, reminding users that learning a new language can be as fun and casual as slipping on a pair of Crocs. On home ground Closer to home, another unexpected alliance emerged between fast-food giant Nando's and beauty brand Maybelline. At first glance, what could a fiery chicken chain and a cosmetics powerhouse possibly have in common? Yet, their collaboration became a talking point — a way to combine the sass and spice of Nando's with the bold, expressive flair of Maybelline. But why do such collaborations occur? Why are companies increasingly seeking out partners that seem to have little in common with their core business? It starts with the consumer According to Varsha Vala, Principal Officer at Medihelp Medical Aid, the reason is twofold: To thrive in uncertain times and to maximise impact. 'When industries that appear to have little in common team up, they can craft something far greater than the sum of their parts. However, for Medihelp, every potential partnership begins with one guiding principle: our members come first. The foremost question we ask is, 'Does this truly serve the best interests of consumers?'' she affirms. Shifting market dynamics Historically, partnerships were forged between companies within the same industry. Yet, the dynamics of the market have shifted. Says Vala, 'Unpredictable economic conditions, emerging consumer expectations, and the acceleration of digital transformation have compelled businesses to rethink their strategic alliances. The result is a rise in partnerships between companies that, at first glance, have little in common — such as healthcare providers teaming up with tech companies or retail chains joining forces with financial institutions. For example, at Medihelp we have partnered with a digital assistant app to make it easier for moms to manage life with a baby or young children. 'We know that for caregivers, time isn't just precious — it's love in action. Through this collaboration, we're giving them back moments that matter: to hold a hand, share a smile, and simply be there,' says Vala. Another compelling example is the recent partnership between Medihelp and Old Mutual Corporate, a strategic alliance that blends health care coverage with financial security to create a more comprehensive support system for consumers. Why collaborations work At Medihelp, the oldest medical scheme in South Africa, we believe collaborations work because: You can create unique offerings, which surprise and delight consumers. In a world where purpose and social consciousness are becoming more important, you can deepen emotional resonance with consumers if your values align. You can reinvent your brand and that of your collaborator or partner. You can reach a much wider audience to maximise your impact. Beyond survival — a path to growth In an era of economic uncertainty, the most resilient businesses are those that dare to look beyond conventional boundaries. 'Unlikely collaborations are not just strategic moves to survive economic challenges; they are transformative alliances that foster innovation, expand market reach, and drive sustainable growth and value for the consumer,' Vala concludes. DM Medihelp is South Africa's oldest medical aid, celebrating 120 years in business in 2025. It offers affordable healthcare cover to South Africans. With 11 plans to choose from, we have a medical aid plan for everybody, but specifically those bodies who value fitness, fun, health, kindness, bravery, creativity, family, wisdom, and ambition.
Web Release
01-07-2025
- Business
- Web Release
Cisco Duo Reimagines Identity Security to Combat AI Era Threats
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), the leader in security and networking, today unveiled Duo Identity and Access Management (IAM), a new security solution that transforms how organizations combat persistent identity-based attacks that are accelerating in the AI era. Identity is a prime target for bad actors, accounting for 60% of Cisco Talos Incident Response cases in 2024, because current solutions have critical weaknesses that attackers exploit. Duo IAM offers an innovative and security-first approach, with added protection built on its globally trusted multifactor authentication (MFA). Duo IAM is the latest advancement in Cisco's long-standing commitment to user-friendly Zero Trust security. 'The security industry is facing an 'identity crisis' as persistent identity-based attacks are among the most dangerous and costly challenges for security teams. Attackers don't need to hack in, when they can simply log in,' said Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer, Cisco. 'While identity is the foundation of strong security, traditional IAM solutions have failed to prioritize security despite increasingly sophisticated threats. With this massive innovation, Duo is moving beyond MFA and restoring trust in identity security with a fundamentally different approach that attackers hate and users love.' Security-First Identity and Access Management According to Cisco's 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index, nearly a third of companies worldwide rank identity as their top cybersecurity challenge, but traditional IAM solutions often treat security as optional rather than foundational. Purpose-built to protect against modern identity threats, Duo IAM enables organizations to securely manage their entire identity infrastructure. Duo includes a new User Directory to simplify storing user identities – including usernames, emails, and roles – and managing their access to resources. Paired with its existing capabilities including MFA and Single Sign On (SSO) to provide users with simple, easy and secure access to hundreds of applications from one login page, Duo now offers customers a comprehensive IAM solution. Open and flexible, Duo IAM also integrates effortlessly with existing third-party identity systems. The new Identity Routing Engine allows Duo to integrate with many identity providers either as an identity broker or as a secondary identity provider. Incorporating security by default, Duo IAM frustrates attackers, while improving user experience and management costs. The Cisco AI Assistant is embedded in Duo to help organizations easily deploy and manage the new solution out-of-the-box. End-to-End Phishing-Resistance AI has accelerated the scale and complexity of account takeover through automated agentic social engineering. In response to rising threats, globally trusted Duo MFA now delivers the strongest form of authentication, without sacrificing convenience or purchasing expensive hardware keys. Recent innovations strengthening end-to-end phishing resistance include: Complete Passwordless : New option ensures a secure authentication experience without users ever having to use or remember a password. : New option ensures a secure authentication experience without users ever having to use or remember a password. Proximity Verification : This capability uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to ensure a user's mobile and access devices are near each other when authenticating. : This capability uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to ensure a user's mobile and access devices are near each other when authenticating. Session Theft Protection: New enhancements to Duo Passport remove the reliance on browser cookies from authentication, protecting against session theft and hijacking. Unified Identity Intelligence Identity infrastructure is complex and often disconnected, creating blind spots where attacks and vulnerabilities go unnoticed. To help organizations continuously monitor and respond to changes in identity risk, Duo IAM integrates with Cisco Identity Intelligence, connecting identity and access data across the Cisco Security Cloud platform. With AI-driven behavioral analytics and Cisco's unmatched reach into the network, organizations gain comprehensive visibility, threat detection, and the ability to take graduated responses like quarantining an identity, killing active sessions or isolating the network. 'Cisco Duo has been a trusted security partner when it comes to MFA, and in today's environment we're eager to use these new capabilities to fight growing identity-based attacks,' said Todd Perrault, Senior Vice President of Client Advisory, Optiv. 'Duo's expanding suite of identity and access management solutions will deliver even stronger results for our customers with a security-first approach to identity while providing reduced friction for end users.' 'Identity breaches are no longer the exception—they're the rule. Seeing a trusted security brand like Duo broaden from access management to include identity management and provide a security-first approach in the market is both timely and refreshing,' said Todd Thiemann, Principal Analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group. 'Duo's commitment to maximizing security while minimizing user and admin friction is exactly what the industry needs. In particular, their approach to end-to-end phishing resistance marks a major leap forward, not just in security, but also in ease of deployment, to combat the latest identity threats.' For more information about Duo and its new IAM solution, visit
Zawya
01-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Cisco Duo unveils next-gen identity protection amid rising AI threats
Cisco Duo unveiled an innovative, security-first Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution. Duo IAM protects against modern AI-driven identity threats, while maintaining user productivity. Building on its globally trusted multifactor authentication (MFA), Duo IAM sets a new standard for end-to-end phishing resistance without expensive hardware keys. Dubai, UAE – Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), the leader in security and networking, today unveiled Duo Identity and Access Management (IAM), a new security solution that transforms how organizations combat persistent identity-based attacks that are accelerating in the AI era. Identity is a prime target for bad actors, accounting for 60% of Cisco Talos Incident Response cases in 2024, because current solutions have critical weaknesses that attackers exploit. Duo IAM offers an innovative and security-first approach, with added protection built on its globally trusted multifactor authentication (MFA). Duo IAM is the latest advancement in Cisco's long-standing commitment to user-friendly Zero Trust security. 'The security industry is facing an 'identity crisis' as persistent identity-based attacks are among the most dangerous and costly challenges for security teams. Attackers don't need to hack in, when they can simply log in,' said Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer, Cisco. 'While identity is the foundation of strong security, traditional IAM solutions have failed to prioritize security despite increasingly sophisticated threats. With this massive innovation, Duo is moving beyond MFA and restoring trust in identity security with a fundamentally different approach that attackers hate and users love.' Security-First Identity and Access Management According to Cisco's 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index, nearly a third of companies worldwide rank identity as their top cybersecurity challenge, but traditional IAM solutions often treat security as optional rather than foundational. Purpose-built to protect against modern identity threats, Duo IAM enables organizations to securely manage their entire identity infrastructure. Duo includes a new User Directory to simplify storing user identities – including usernames, emails, and roles – and managing their access to resources. Paired with its existing capabilities including MFA and Single Sign On (SSO) to provide users with simple, easy and secure access to hundreds of applications from one login page, Duo now offers customers a comprehensive IAM solution. Open and flexible, Duo IAM also integrates effortlessly with existing third-party identity systems. The new Identity Routing Engine allows Duo to integrate with many identity providers either as an identity broker or as a secondary identity provider. Incorporating security by default, Duo IAM frustrates attackers, while improving user experience and management costs. The Cisco AI Assistant is embedded in Duo to help organizations easily deploy and manage the new solution out-of-the-box. End-to-End Phishing-Resistance AI has accelerated the scale and complexity of account takeover through automated agentic social engineering. In response to rising threats, globally trusted Duo MFA now delivers the strongest form of authentication, without sacrificing convenience or purchasing expensive hardware keys. Recent innovations strengthening end-to-end phishing resistance include: Complete Passwordless: New option ensures a secure authentication experience without users ever having to use or remember a password. Proximity Verification: This capability uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to ensure a user's mobile and access devices are near each other when authenticating. Session Theft Protection: New enhancements to Duo Passport remove the reliance on browser cookies from authentication, protecting against session theft and hijacking. Unified Identity Intelligence Identity infrastructure is complex and often disconnected, creating blind spots where attacks and vulnerabilities go unnoticed. To help organizations continuously monitor and respond to changes in identity risk, Duo IAM integrates with Cisco Identity Intelligence, connecting identity and access data across the Cisco Security Cloud platform. With AI-driven behavioral analytics and Cisco's unmatched reach into the network, organizations gain comprehensive visibility, threat detection, and the ability to take graduated responses like quarantining an identity, killing active sessions or isolating the network. 'Cisco Duo has been a trusted security partner when it comes to MFA, and in today's environment we're eager to use these new capabilities to fight growing identity-based attacks,' said Todd Perrault, Senior Vice President of Client Advisory, Optiv. 'Duo's expanding suite of identity and access management solutions will deliver even stronger results for our customers with a security-first approach to identity while providing reduced friction for end users.' 'Identity breaches are no longer the exception—they're the rule. Seeing a trusted security brand like Duo broaden from access management to include identity management and provide a security-first approach in the market is both timely and refreshing,' said Todd Thiemann, Principal Analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group. 'Duo's commitment to maximizing security while minimizing user and admin friction is exactly what the industry needs. In particular, their approach to end-to-end phishing resistance marks a major leap forward, not just in security, but also in ease of deployment, to combat the latest identity threats.' For more information about Duo and its new IAM solution, visit About Cisco Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry leading AI-powered solutions and services, Cisco enables its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core, Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco. Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word 'partner' does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.
Newsweek
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Moment Monitor Lizard Cuddles Up to Favorite Uncle Goes Viral
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An unusual bond between a massive monitor lizard and his uncle has gone viral on social media, and internet users can't cope with the heartwarming footage. The viral TikTok video, shared on Friday under the username @lookatmylizard, shows a 3-year-old Asian water monitor lizard climbing on his uncle's shoulders and settling in for a cuddle, which isn't really a common occurrence with this species. "He loves his uncle," reads the caption, as the lizard, Duo Maxwell, continues to show affection to his uncle before going about his way exploring the house. The poster, 36-year-old passionate reptile enthusiast Walter Hansen, told Newsweek about his unusual pet and their life together. "I've been fascinated by reptiles since I was a child, specifically monitor lizards. As soon as I had the time, space, and resources (these water monitors require care that is lifestyle changing and not by any means inexpensive) I found a local breeder with multi-generation captive bred Asian water monitors and the rest is history," he said. Screenshots of the viral video show Duo Maxwell cuddling up to his uncle. Screenshots of the viral video show Duo Maxwell cuddling up to his uncle. @lookatmylizard Duo doesn't just roam around the poster's house aimlessly all day, he's got his own special room equipped with everything he needs to be comfortable. Maintaining him requires high temperatures, over 85F, and high humidity, and a diet consisting of whole adult quail, a variety of fish, chicken, and duck eggs. He also needs enough space to stroll around and explore. While typically housed in his room-sized enclosure with a 300-gallon water feature, Duo enjoys supervised free-roaming every day. Despite his fascination with new smells and with strangers, Duo is not naturally a cuddly pet. Instead, his owner describes him more like a curious toddler, constantly exploring, digging, and investigating his surroundings. "I've handled him daily since he was very small. He knows my scent, voice, and what I look like. He's tolerant and comfortable with me, but he's definitely not the cuddly type," he said. Pictures shared by the poster show Duo cuddling up to him and making cute faces on the floor. Pictures shared by the poster show Duo cuddling up to him and making cute faces on the floor. getty images "He's much more inclined to crawl on a stranger or family member when they come over as they're new and interesting and he wants to check em' out. He's become very accustomed to my smell and sound and what I look like so I'm kinda old news but he tolerates me very well," the poster continued. The video quickly went viral on TikTok and it has so far received over 11.6 million views and 1.1 million likes on the platform. Many users wondered whether the animal is venomous. "Their saliva has some anticoagulants and other stuff, but I wouldn't consider him venomous in a way that would hurt humans. A bite would be a medically significant event due to his sharp teeth and strong jaw, but he's never bitten anyone! He knows what's food and what isn't," the poster said. "They're definitely not a pet for most households, but I'm thankful I have the privilege to care for him daily." The LegaSea Aquarium & The Reptarium's website confirms that while Asian water monitor lizards do secrete venom, it is not lethally dangerous or fatal to humans, however, a bite may cause injury, which if not treated promptly could trigger infection from bacteria. Moreover, the website adds that these animals are usually quite docile in nature and are generally not known to attack humans. When they do turn against humans, it's usually to defend themselves from threat or harm. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
The Sun
16-06-2025
- The Sun
Language unlocked
MASTERING a new language is more accessible than ever, thanks to tech apps that place an entire language toolkit in your pocket. These apps offer effective and often gamified experiences to suit every learning style whether you are learning for travel, work, love or just self-improvement. Best of all, they are available on both iOS and Android. Here are eight standout apps to kickstart your multilingual journey: Duolingo Duolingo is a go-to app for beginners thanks to its colourful, gamified interface and bite-sized lessons. With over 40 languages to choose from including lesser-known ones such as Welsh or Hawaiian, users earn XP points and streaks by completing short exercises in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Its cartoon owl mascot Duo has become an internet icon in its own right. The app is free, though the premium version (Duolingo Plus) offers ad-free learning and offline access. Babbel Unlike apps that take a one-size-fits-all approach, Babbel focuses on real-life conversational skills. It is structured like a language course, designed by linguistic experts with cultural context in mind. While the app offers a free trial, users must subscribe for full access to its detailed grammar tips, interactive dialogues and speech recognition tools. Babbel supports 14 languages and is ideal for users seeking a deeper, more academic approach to fluency. Memrise Memrise blends language learning with native-speaker videos to give users a more realistic understanding of how a language is used in daily life. The app emphasises vocabulary and listening skills using spaced repetition and mnemonic techniques. Its clean interface and quirky humour make lessons engaging. A free version is available, but Memrise Pro unlocks additional features such as grammar bots, listening skills and advanced pronunciation tools. Busuu What sets Busuu apart is its built-in social feature, where users can interact with native speakers and receive feedback on their writing and speaking exercises. The app covers 12 major languages and structures content by Common European Framework of Reference for Languages levels. A standout for learners who want a personalised path and human interaction. The basic version is free, but the premium upgrade adds grammar reviews, certificates and offline mode. HelloTalk HelloTalk flips the typical learning model by connecting users with native speakers around the world for real-time conversations. It works like a social media app – text, voice or even doodle your way through a conversation and both users correct each other's messages. It supports over 150 languages and even includes built-in translation and pronunciation features. The core app is free and in-app purchases offer added functionality and learning tools. Tandem Tandem is a conversation-based app that pairs users with native speakers for a true language exchange experience. Users can find partners based on interest and availability. You help someone learn your language while they teach you theirs. The app also has certified tutors for formal lessons. The free version gives access to the core features, while a Pro subscription includes unlimited translations, priority search and profile verification. Drops Drops focuses on visual learning, making it a great tool for those who prefer image-based memorisation. Its vocabulary-based lessons use fast-paced swiping, matching and tapping games to keep learners engaged. It is good for building a foundation of common words and phrases across more than 40 languages. The free version limits users to five minutes per day, while the premium version unlocks unlimited learning time and additional topics. LingQ LingQ is ideal for intermediate to advanced learners who prefer immersion-style learning. It turns real-world content such as news, podcasts, books and videos into interactive lessons. Users can read and listen simultaneously, and the app helps build vocabulary through repeated exposure. LingQ supports over 40 languages and is particularly good for learners who thrive with authentic material. The free plan has limitations on saved words and content access, but the premium version removes these caps. These tools make learning a new language fun and practical. Many start with free features, allowing users to test the waters before committing financially. So go ahead, download, tap and start speaking your way to a whole new world and potentially countless new friends.
