5V0-41.21 helper - VMware NSX-T Data Center 3.1 Security Updated: 2024

‘There must be a new approach to cybersecurity – one that is built-in, unified and context-centric,” says VMware’s Chief Operating Officer Sanjay Poonen.

VMware’s popular VMware Cloud Foundation is receiving a major shot in the arm with new security capabilities from Carbon Black and NSX as the virtualization star continues its march to make security intrinsic in all its products.

At RSA 2020 conference on Tuesday, VMware unveiled that VMware Advanced Security for Cloud Foundation – which is the basis for offers such as VMware Cloud on AWS and VMware Cloud on Dell EMC – will inject Carbon Black’s workload protection Real-time Workload Audit/Remediation technology as well as its Next-Generation Antivirus (NGAV) and Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) solutions.

Additionally, VMware’s NSX Advanced Load Balancer with Web Application Firewall capabilities and NSX Distributed IDS/IPS can be added to VMware Cloud Foundation deployments. The NSX and Carbon Black technology will integrate with VMware vSphere.

[Related: VMware Licensing VP: CPU Pricing Change Has ‘Zero Impact’]

For more than a year, VMware has had its sights set on disrupting the security industry by tightly integrating security into every product, a strategy it dubs as intrinsic security.

Sanjay Poonen, chief operating officer, customer operations for VMware, said there has never been a more challenging time in security.

“Attacker sophistication, security threats, breaches, and exploits are becoming more prevalent with no end in sight. And with cloud, new applications, pervasive mobility, IoT, and data at the edge, the problem is only getting harder to solve. There must be a new approach to cybersecurity – one that is built-in, unified and context-centric,” Poonen said in a statement. “We believe the best strategy and approach is to make security intrinsic enabling organizations to leverage their infrastructure and its unique capabilities across any app, any cloud and any device to better secure the world’s digital infrastructure – from networks, to endpoints, to workloads, to identities, to clouds.”

VMware Carbon Black will be tightly integrated with VMware vSphere to create an agentless solution which eliminates the need to insert antivirus and other agents. VMware says endpoint telemetry will be managed and gathered via built-in sensors protected by the hypervisor.

Adding the scale-out software architecture of NSX Web Application Firewall to VMware Cloud Foundation will help confirm that web servers have enough compute capacity for maximum security filtering even under peak loads. VMware’s web application firewalls leverages its understanding of application, automated learning and app-specific rules to provide strong security with lower false positives.

Adding NSX Distributed IDS/IPS to Cloud Foundation environments will provide intrusion detection on many difference services to offer deeper visibility as well as enable advanced filtering to be applied to every hop of the application to reduce any blind spots.

In an interview with CRN last year, VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger said VMware has the ability to take the security market by storm.

“We have two assets that nobody else on the planet has. We have the VM. We’re building this intrinsically into the VM. A lot of problem with a lot of security today is they end up being agents that you add into the guest environment. If you’re an attacker, the first thing you do is turn off the agents. Right? Those techniques of turning off the agents or spoofing the agents, there’s probably 100 free kits you can download to do that. The VM can’t be turned off. This sits as a capability inside of the VM,” said Genslinger.

“[Then] with our NSX, I now have an enforcer point, where you can see the network traffic and see all of it from an application-centric [point of view]. So the VM is handing traffic into NSX and then to the microsegments -- there’s nothing else sitting in-between that. You don’t have to hairpin to some remote firewall or some other service. You have that explicit point right at connectivity into the networking layer that either gives you visibility of all traffic coming in or enforcement of traffic going out,” said Gelsinger. “Those are two very powerful points that we don’t think anybody else is anywhere close to us in being able to do those two things for very fundamental, technical and market-based reasons.”

VMware made a huge splash in the security market in October with the acquisition of endpoint security leader Carbon Black for a value of $2.1 billion.

In addition to the new security features on VMware Cloud Foundation announced at the RSA 2020 conference, the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company launched new capabilities for the VMware Carbon Black Cloud.

VMware introduced automated correlation with MITRE ATT&CK framework Technique IDs -- a which is a list of common tactics, techniques, and procedures -- built into the VMware Carbon Black Cloud, allowing customers to discover potential threats and identify areas of improvements. Additionally, VMware Carbon Black will be adding malware prevention capabilities for Linux machines to enable customers to migrate away from other endpoint prevention solutions specific to Linux.

The RSA 2020 conference in San Francisco runs Feb. 24-28.

‘We believe this is a big leap forward for VMware’s security offerings and the industry at large ... We are excited about the deep container and security expertise that the Octarine team will bring,’ says VMware security leader Patrick Morley.

VMware plans to buy early-stage Kubernetes security vendor Octarine to simplify DevSecOps and enable cloud native environments to be intrinsically secure from development through runtime.

The Palo Alto, Calif.-based enterprise software vendor said its proposed purchase of Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Octarine will provide full visibility into cloud-native environments so customers can better identify and reduce the risks posed by vulnerabilities and attacks. Octarine will be embedded into the VMware Carbon Black Cloud to better secure containerized applications running in Kubernetes, VMware said.

“Acquiring Octarine will enable us to further expand VMware’s intrinsic security strategy to containers and Kubernetes environments,” Patrick Morley, general manager and senior vice president of VMware’s security business unit, said in a statement. “This … will create what we believe is a unique and compelling solution for intrinsically securing workloads.”

[Related: HPE Plunges Into Red Hot Kubernetes Market]

Terms of the acquisitions were not disclosed. Octarine was founded in 2017, employs 30 people, and has raised one round of outside funding, according to LinkedIn and Crunchbase.

“VMware’s commitment to cloud native computing and intrinsic security, which have been demonstrated by its product announcements and by latest acquisitions, makes it an ideal home for Octarine,” Octarine CEO Shemer Schwarz wrote in a blog post. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to be a part of VMware’s ‘best in class’ technology portfolio.”

The unique speed, agility and scale of the cloud has prompted developers to increasingly use Kubernetes and containers to modernize applications, which VMware said has in turn changed the nature of workloads that need to be secured. Attackers are looking to take advantage of new risk areas, and are not far behind, according to VMware.

Octarine allows customers to create and enforce content-based policies to protect the privacy and integrity of sensitive and regulated information, allowing organizations to move beyond static analysis and maintain compliance, VMware said. The Octarine technology integrates into the developer lifecycle to analyze and control application risks before they are deployed into production, according to VMware.

The technology can be run alongside frameworks such as Tanzu Service Mesh to provide native anomaly detection and threat monitoring for cloud and container-based workloads, according to VMware. Octarine also provides runtime monitoring and control of Kubernetes workloads across hybrid environments for threat detection and response, VMware said.

By enabling security capabilities as part of the existing IT and DevOps ecosystems, VMware said Octarine should further reduce the need for additional sensors in the stack. And Morley said merging VMware’s AppDefense capabilities into the platform will fundamentally transform how workloads are secured.

“We believe this is a big leap forward for VMware’s security offerings and the industry at large,” Morley wrote in a blog post. “Our focus has always been on shifting the balance of power from attackers to defenders, and we are excited about the deep container and security expertise that the Octarine team will bring to VMware.”

The Octarine acquisition comes just two months after Hewlett Packard Enterprise released Container Platform 5.0, a Kubernetes service that HPE said solves noisy neighbor and security concerns that typically force enterprises to pay for virtualization overhead. Octarine competes with the likes of StackRox, whose Kubernetes Security Platform can identify and visualize all of a firm's container assets.

Container security startups have been a popular acquisition target in latest years, with Palo Alto Networks buying Twistlock for $410 million in May 2019 to help secure modern applications throughout their entire lifecycle. Seven months before that, Qualys bought Layered Insight to better lock-down workloads running inside containerized and serverless environments.

If VMware is causing a Blue Screen error on Windows 11/10, the following tips could be handy for you. There are different reasons why your host computer fails to load the VMware virtual machine. This article explains some of the most common causes and solutions to mitigate this issue within moments.

If VMware causes a Blue Screen on Windows 11/10, follow these steps:

1. Update VMware
2. Low computer resource
3. Turn off Hyper-V
4. Disable other virtual machines
5. Corrupt ISO file

To know more about these steps, continue reading.

1] Update VMware

It is probably the very first thing you need to check. There could be times when VMware might fail to make your virtual machine up and running due to a glitch or bug. If you have recently updated your VMware app, it might come with a bug that could cause the aforementioned issue.

In most cases, companies recognize the bug and roll out an update almost immediately. If the same thing happens with your VMware installation, chances are they have already released an update. That is why it is recommended to check the official statement and install the update if anything has been released.

2] Low computer resource

Although the official statement says something about the 1.3GHz processor and 2GB of RAM, you might not be able to run a virtual machine smoothly or at all, having such resources. It is always recommended to configure much better hardware than the mentioned one.

If you have an old x64 architecture, you might not be able to run VMware virtual machines. In other words, there is a high chance of getting the blue screen error on the host computer while running the virtual OS. That is why it is recommended to have a better hardware configuration to bypass the BSOD

Pro tip: You can open Task Manager alongside VMware to check which app is consuming more RAM and other resources. Then, you can close such unnecessary apps to assign more CPU resources to VMware.

3] Turn off Hyper-V

Hyper-V is a Level 1 hypervisor that makes the host computer into a virtual PC. On the other hand, VMware is a Level 2 hypervisor that uses the host computer to build the virtual machine. That is why if you enabled Hyper-V earlier, you might not be able to use VMware or VirtualBox-like virtual machine apps simultaneously. You must disable either of them. In other words, if you want to use VMware, you need to disable Hyper-V.

To disable Hyper-V in Windows 11/10, do the following:

• Click on the Taskbar search box.
• Search for windows features.
• Click on the individual search result.
• Remove the tick from the Hyper-V checkbox.
• Click the OK button.
• Let it finish all the processes.
• Restart your computer.

Once done, you will be able to use VMware without any BSOD.

4] Disable other virtual machines

Many people often use multiple virtual machine apps, such as VirtualBox, VMware, etc., simultaneously. In most situations, such workflow might cause a blue screen error on your computer. That is why it is recommended to disable other virtual machine software. For that purpose, you can take the help of the Task Manager to terminate all the dependencies.

5] download ISO file again

If VMware causes a blue screen while installing the virtual machine OS, it is suggested to download the ISO file again. If the ISO comes with some corrupt files, there is a chance of getting BSOD while using that ISO in the virtual machine. You can follow this guide to download Windows 11/10 ISO directly.

Read: How to fix VMware Internal Error while powering on

Can VMware cause BSOD?

Yes, VMware can cause BSOD on Windows 11/10 PC. As said earlier, there could be countless reasons why you might get a blue screen error due to having VMware on your computer. For your information, some common reasons are mentioned in this article, and it is recommended to follow them to get rid of this issue.

Is VMware compatible with Windows 11?

Yes, VMware is compatible with Windows 11. If you have successfully installed Windows 11 without compromising the official system requirements, you can easily install VMware on your computer. As per the official statement, VMware requires a minimum of 2GB RAM along with 1.3GHz clock speed. On the other hand, it runs on almost all the x64 architecture without any problem.

Read: VMware does not support the user level monitor of this host.

Broadcom, under the leadership of CEO Hock E. Tan, recently closed its $69B acquisition of VMware. Post-acquisition, Broadcom is moving quickly in undertaking several critical initiatives with VMware that, while likely beneficial to Broadcom shareholders over the long term, are causing uncertainty among many VMware customers.

Transition to Subscription Model

One of Broadcom’s primary strategies to drive revenue growth is shifting VMware's business model from a perpetual license to a subscription-based one. This change aims to provide more predictable and stable revenue streams and aligns with the broader industry trend towards subscription services.

The move, as described by Tom Krause, president of the Broadcom Software Group, during the company’s most latest earnings call, is central to Broadcom’s plan to boost VMware’s contribution to its pro forma EBITDA to approximately $8.5 billion within three years, a considerable increase from VMware’s current production of about $4.7 billion. The emphasis on subscriptions is a key component of this ambitious growth target.

Broadcom's move to subscription models could lead to slower short-term growth for VMware and necessitate restructuring contracts from perpetual to subscription. VMware's strategy includes a trajectory of accelerated growth. The move to higher-value software stacks and subscription sales is expected to drive revenue growth over the next three years.

This transition could also affect VMware's customer relationships, as customers may push back against the shift to subscriptions, which are generally perceived as more expensive than perpetual licenses. VMware's expansion beyond infrastructure management with products like Tanzu could face hurdles if customers pause or reconsider their investments amid these changes.

Selling off Desktop & Carbon Black

During its earnings call, the company revealed plans to divest VMware's end-user computing portfolio and its Carbon Black security software unit. This strategic move aligns with Broadcom's stated intent to concentrate VMware's resources and efforts on creating global private and hybrid cloud environments tailored for large enterprises.

The end-user computing portfolio, encompassing desktop virtualization, application publishing, and mobile device management, alongside Carbon Black, a security software unit, are identified as non-core assets and are set to be separated from VMware's main business.

Broadcom expressed a commitment to finding suitable buyers for these units, ensuring they find "good homes," considering that many of their customers overlap with those of VMware's core products. This decision reflects Broadcom's broader strategy to refine VMware's product offerings and focus on areas that align with its vision of developing high-value cloud infrastructure solutions for global enterprises.

The company said that the moves are essential to redirect VMware's efforts towards its primary business of creating private and hybrid cloud environments, which is crucial for large enterprise customers worldwide.

Layoffs

Just days after it closed its acquisition, news emerged that Broadcom is set to lay off at least 2,837 VMware employees. This includes a substantial number at its Palo Alto campus in California, accounting for 1,267 employees, and 577 at its Austin facility.

It's important to note that the real number of layoffs could exceed these figures since not all layoffs must be reported through WARN notices. The total workforce of VMware globally is around 38,300 employees.

The layoffs are officially attributed to "economic" reasons, although Broadcom has not provided further specifics or justifications. Despite these layoffs, VMware remains a central piece in Broadcom's strategy for its enterprise software segment.

Analyst’s Take

You can look at a company from the perspective of the customer or the stockholder. I’m not a financial analyst, so I’m going to interpret Broadcom’s actions with a view of how those actions might impact an IT organization; after all, the IT practitioner is most directly impacted.

Broadcom's acquisition of VMware represents a strategic pivot that underscores the semiconductor giant's intensified focus on enterprise software. Transitioning VMware towards subscription models is a savvy move that aligns with broader market trends. But this shift may test customer loyalty, as subscription models often imply higher costs over time than perpetual licenses.

The decision to divest VMware's end-user computing and Carbon Black units clearly indicates that Broadcom seeks to sharpen VMware's focus on its core competencies in cloud environments. Such divestitures could streamline operations while also raising questions about future innovation and support for VMware's broader product suite.

Layoffs following the acquisition, while delivering operational cost savings, may have a broader impact on VMware’s innovation trajectory and customer service capabilities. This reduction in force, ostensibly for economic reasons, could introduce risks related to execution and market perception.

Predicting how Broadcom's moves will impact VMware products and services over the long term is impossible. The swiftness with which Broadcom instituted layoffs and product divestitures raises questions about how it will guide VMware forward.

As in any period of uncertainty involving technologies fundamental to critical IT infrastructure, IT organizations are well-advised to comprehensively analyze the risks involved before committing to any significant VMware deployment or renewing long-term license agreements. IT buyers should look to mitigate risks with a dual-vendor approach where feasible.

Many VMware customers are already adopting alternative solutions. Nutanix, VMware’s closest competitor, revealed record growth in its most latest earnings. While much of Nutanix’s growth was driven by its own strategic initiatives, CEO Rajiv Ramaswami acknowledged that the company did “close some additional deals” explicitly because of uncertainty about how the acquisition will unfold.

With the industry watching, Broadcom's stewardship of VMware in the coming fiscal year will be a critical test of its strategic vision for enterprise software dominance. While Broadcom is clearly focused on getting the financial aspects of the acquisition quickly under control, how the company will deliver long-term value to its VMware customers will become clearer.

Until there's clarity, however, IT organizations should continue to act with caution. Mitigating risk, after all, is the number one job for enterprise IT.

Disclosure: Steve McDowell is an industry analyst, and NAND Research an industry analyst firm, that engages in, or has engaged in, research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, which may include those mentioned in this article. Mr. McDowell does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.

VMware announced that it completed the acquisition of Pivotal Software, a cloud-native platform provider.

“We believe that modern application development solutions and practices need to be easily accessible to everyday enterprises across the globe. With Pivotal’s developer capabilities as the foundation, we’ll focus on delivering consumable, enterprise-ready cloud native offerings to customers to help them achieve better business outcomes,” said Ray O’Farrell, the executive vice president and general manager of the Modern Applications Platform Business Unit at VMware.

According to VMware, Pivotal’s offerings will be core to the VMware Tanzu portfolio of products and services designed to help customers transform the way they build, run and manage their most important applications, with Kubernetes as the common infrastructure substrate.

Details on Magellan 2.0 released
Magellan 2.0 is a group of vulnerabilities that exist in SQLite and were Tested to be able to exploit remote code execution in the Chromium render process.

Users of SQLite as a component who haven’t updated the latest patch, or users of Chrome that are using versions prior to 79.0.3945.79 with WebSQL enabled may be affected. However, the team noted that it didn’t find the vulnerability to have a public full exploit code.

More information is available here.

GitHub Enterprise now on AWS Marketplace
GitHub Enterprise is now available from the AWS Marketplace, enabling customers to choose from the self-serve for standard purchases of GitHub Enterprise Cloud or custom orders.

The custom orders include GitHub Enterprise Cloud (SaaS), GitHub Enterprise Server (on-prem, including in your AWS VPC), premium support levels, or services.

“With over 42 million developers on GitHub, we have many users that also rely on Amazon Web Services (AWS). We’ve also received feedback that you may want to purchase GitHub Enterprise through the AWS Marketplace for compliance or budgetary reasons—and now you can,” GitHub wrote in a blog post.

Security patches for Git vulnerabilities
The Git project released a series of security patches to address multiple security vulnerabilities in versions 2.24 and older. Git especially recommends the updates for Git on Windows users.

The new releases contain partial support for rejecting pushes that exploit the vulnerabilities and the fixes will be included in the next patch release for users of GitHub Enterprise Server.

The full details on the patches are available here.

Google’s tips on website user experience
Google is releasing tips on how developers can Improve their website user experiences. The company said the first step in improving the user experience of a website is to measure the site’s performance to understand what developments are needed and to track metrics on how the site performs in Google Search results using Search Console.

The next step is to design for optimal user experience by using one of three development frameworks: AMP, Responsive web design or Progressive web apps.

The last step is to keep mobile front of mind since the majority of users now access Google Search with a mobile device.

The detailed list of tips are available here.

With persistent inflation and elevated interest rates, Americans are feeling the squeeze. In this environment, it's critical to stretch every dollar and get the most value out of any product or service you buy.

It's particularly important to maximize value when purchasing a home security system since it directly affects the safety and security of your home and family. Comparing the best home security systems available and emphasizing the features that matter most to you—such as price, installation and available options—is an excellent place to start.

Below, we'll explore your options with a breakdown of the best home security systems in various categories. Start by getting a free price quote here now so you know what to expect.

Best home security systems

Here are some of the best home security systems currently available for purchase, broken down into six categories.

Best for cost: Ring

Ring offers a wide array of security system systems for every budget, depending on your needs. Bundles range from a just-the-basics five-piece package to an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink 14-piece package for $499.99 (as of December 27, 2023).

The company offers three affordable plans for 24-hour monitoring: Basic ($3.99 per month), Plus ($10 per month) and Pro ($20 per month). All plans deliver you access to rich features such as six months of video history, video saving and sharing, notifications and camera home and away modes. The Pro plan comes with 24/7 professional alarm monitoring, backup internet and other features. You can take advantage of a free 30-day test spin of the professional monitoring service to help you determine if you want to purchase the added layer of security.

Best for set-up: Frontpoint

While costs for home security systems are relatively inexpensive when compared to the value they provide, installation drives up the upfront cost, preventing many from purchasing a system. Frontpoint alleviates this issue by providing home security systems without setup or installation fees.

Because Frontpoints systems are wireless, drilling holes and running wires through your walls is unnecessary. The company claims you can easily install the system yourself in roughly 30 minutes without having to pay for a technician.

Frontpoint offers three security systems ranging from $79 to $419 (as of December 27, 2023). You can also build your own system or customize existing packages with additional equipment as needed, such as doorbell cameras, flood sensors, keychain remotes and indoor and outdoor cameras.

Learn more here now.

Best for no contracts: SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe offers seven home security packages, as well as a build-it-yourself option. All packages come with no contracts and include around-the-clock alarm monitoring. The company offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, so if you aren't completely satisfied, you can return your system and receive a full refund from SimpliSafe.

SimpliSafe monitors your home for break-ins, fires, floods and other emergencies and can contact police, fire and medical dispatch when needed. The company offers three coverage options for $0.33, $0.66 and $0.99 per day, respectively. The system is easy to install yourself, but if you prefer, you can opt for professional installation for an extra price.

Best for reviews: ADT

ADT sports an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and commonly receives top ratings from various home security media outlets. ADT earns 4.2 out of 5 possible stars on Consumer Affairs. The company has been in business since 1874 and maintains the largest professional monitoring network in the United States.

ADT partners with Google, allowing you to seamlessly integrate Google Nest products such as its doorbell, indoor and outdoor cameras and floodlight cameras. ADT offers three packages you can install yourself or opt for professional installation. Get a custom quote from ADT to determine what your costs might be.

Best for perks: Vivint

Vivint stands out by offering a wall-mounted hub, a unique feature in the home security space. Consequently, you can control all of your smart devices from a single app.

Another way Vivent sets itself apart is its full service. To get a quote, you must speak with a customer service agent, who will work with you to learn about your home and property and help you devise the best home security system for your needs. Additionally, Vivent is a good option if you prefer having a professional install your system—there is no DIY option—and you want support selecting the best equipment for your home.

Vivint's technology is second to none, with doorbell cameras to capture porch pirates and burglars with a 180°x 180° field of view and a 65dB speaker. Vivint's outdoor cameras have a 140° field of view and a night vision range of 55 feet.

Learn more about Vivint here now.

Best for smart homes: Abode

If you already use smart home technology, you can control Abode's security system with your existing devices, including the following:

• Google Home
• Alexa
• HomeKit
• Sonos
• Z-Wave
• Zigbee

Since Abode is compatible with all of these platforms, you have more options if you decide to upgrade your smart home in the future. Abode offers three security bundles ($139.99 to $259.99 each as of December 2023) with security hubs and other equipment (depending on the bundle you choose), as well as a free month of pro monitoring and other hardware. You also have the option to choose from two upgraded bundles for additional hardware. 

Alternatively, you can build your own system to configure the best protection for your needs.

How to find the best security system

Finding the best home security system can help you protect your home and family. Here's how to do it:

• Define your needs. Do you need indoor, outdoor or full-house coverage? Consider whether the company offers professional installation or if you'd rather save money with a do-it-yourself option. Compare some of the best home security companies and the sensors, cameras and other security equipment they offer.
• Consider 24-hour monitoring and emergency features. A home security system could reduce your home insurance premiums, especially if it includes 24/7 professional monitoring. The best security systems have built-in features like fire, flood and carbon monoxide detection, too.
• Check the upfront and ongoing costs. As you're shopping and comparing offers from various home security companies, consider the initial cost of equipment and installation and the monthly or annual monitoring fees.

If you're shopping for the best outdoor security cameras of 2024, you'll want to find something that's weatherproof, captures high-quality footage, and works well at night. It's also important to consider your budget and ongoing subscriptions that may be required to access premium features such as cloud saving and person detection.

Regardless of your budget, there's an outdoor security camera that'll fit your needs. From premium products crafted by Ring to budget-friendly options like those from Wyze, there are dozens of well-reviewed models that are perfect for protecting your home.

In fact, some of the best outdoor security cameras also double as floodlights, allowing you to light up your yard. Others are wireless for easy installation, while a handful require wired connections (though this allows for continuous monitoring).

Below, you'll find a list of the best outdoor security cameras of 2024. You can't go wrong with any of them, but each one caters to a specific audience and budget, so take a closer look at each to figure out which is best for your home.

Arlo Pro 4

Best outdoor security camera

The Arlo Pro 3 was our pick for the best outdoor security camera for some time, but after testing the Arlo Pro 4, it brings a couple of new additions that help it earn our top pick. Just like its predecessor, it packs 2K video resolution and a wide 160-degree viewing angle. Also included are a weatherproof camera with color night vision, a built-in LED spotlight, and a built-in siren that can alert you to danger.

What makes this model superior is the fact that it no longer is tethered to a hub in order to talk with your home's Wi-Fi network. You won't need it this time, which certainly streamlines the setup process. And best of all, not only does it perform as exquisitely as the Arlo Pro 3 when it comes to safeguarding your home, but it now boasts a lower starting cost of $200 for a single camera, whereas the Arlo Pro 3 started at $500 for a 2K camera system.

The Arlo Pro 4 includes a three-month free trial of Arlo Smart, which gives you access to advanced features like 30 days of recording history, activity zones, enhanced 911 calling, and advanced detection features.

Arlo Pro 5S 2K

Best premium outdoor security camera

The Arlo Pro 5S 2K doesn't cut any corners. Featuring a camera that captures 2K video, a wide field of view, sleek design, and color night vision, few products can match its performance. Unfortunately, all those features come at a price, as the Arlo Pro 5S 2K clocks in at $250.

That makes it one of the most expensive security cameras on this list, but if money is no object, it deserves a closer look. Not only does it offer every feature found on our beloved Arlo Pro 4, but it also features Dual-Band Wi-Fi for simplified installation, SecureLink Connectivity that allows it to stay protected during power outages, and a Low Power Mode that offers a 30% boost to battery life.

But beyond those features, it's eerily similar to its cheaper sibling. Still, if you need an outdoor security camera that's as cutting-edge as possible, you can't do better than the Arlo Pro 5S.

Wyze Cam v3

Best budget outdoor security camera

Night vision is a vital feature for every outdoor security cam — you don't want the darkness to hide any detail, especially if something like a break-in happens. While our top cam picks include various kinds of night vision, Wyze's indoor/outdoor cam is particularly notable thanks to its Starlight Sensor, which can record night-time video in full color for users.

This wired cam includes all the other smart features that make Wyze's cams a great pick, including a motion and sound sensor for alerts, detection zones, sensitivity settings that you can tweak for best results, and two-way audio for communication. It's also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant and is friendly with IFTTT if you'd like to set up complex routines based on the alerts the cam gives you.

The Wyze Cam v3 also has one of the best free video storage options around, with a 14-day cloud storage option for video clips at zero cost. There's also an SD card slot for local storage if you prefer that method. While it's an indoor/outdoor cam, you don't need to worry: All the outdoor IP65 resistances are included for all types of weather.

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro

Best wireless outdoor security cam

Amazon’s update to the Ring Spotlight Cam is an excellent option for those who don’t want a full floodlight camera, but would still like lots of illumination for their porch, patio, or driveway. The surprisingly bright LED lights on either side of the cam can be set to light up along with the motion detection features.

There’s a little bit of everything packed into the Spotlight Cam Pro’s design, including basics like 1080p video, night vision, and two-way audio. But Ring also has some extras, like a siren you can sound, advanced 3D motion detection, and a “Bird’s Eye” view option that gives you a model for where a subject may have gone. We also like that it's battery-powered with an option to plug into an outlet.

As with all Ring cams, you will really want a Ring Protect plan to enable video storage and video sharing, but otherwise, this is the most comprehensive wireless security cam we’ve seen to date.

Blink Wired Floodlight Camera

Best floodlight camera

Blink makes plenty of great outdoor cameras, but few are as great as the Blink Wired Floodlight Camera. As one of the latest members of the Blink family, the Wired Floodlight Camera offers heaps of functionality despite its budget-friendly price of $99.

In case the name didn’t deliver it away, the Blink Wired Floodlight Camera isn’t just an outdoor camera – it’s also a floodlight. And a bright one at that, capable of producing 2,600 lumens of LED light. You’ll also benefit from motion detection, a wired connection that offers a constant power supply, and color night vision. Its design is a bit bulkier than others on this list, but that’s largely due to the massive floodlights that loom over the camera.

Anyone in the market for an outdoor camera that’s both affordable and powerful (and comes with shockingly bright floodlights) should deliver strong consideration to Blink’s new product. But if you’re looking for something with a more streamlined design, consider looking back at the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro mentioned above.

Ring Stick Up Cam Pro

Best indoor and outdoor security camera

It's a bit expensive, but you're getting a lot of value out of this investment. The Ring Stick Up Cam Pro is designed to work both indoors and outside – giving it plenty of versatility. Along with its weatherproofing, the camera offers HDR video and films in 1080p, supports two-way audio, and is easy to install thanks to its wire-free setup.

One minor sticking point is its lack of a built-in privacy shutter. That might be an issue if you're using it indoors, though you can quickly toggle alerts off and disarm the camera from the Ring smartphone app. But if you have it installed outside, you likely won't miss the feature. You'll also want to spring for a monthly Ring subscription to unlock additional features such as cloud saves and smart alerts.

Beyond those minor quirks, there's not much to dislike about this powerful outdoor camera. Homes with other Ring products already installed will love how easy it is to sync the device with the rest of their smart home, and Ring newcomers will enjoy its high-quality images, simple setup, and generous 155-degree viewing angle.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Social Security recipients could face some big changes in 2024, thanks to inflation and tax-related adjustments that will impact everything from monthly benefits to how much recipients owe in taxes. For one, the top benefit in 2024 will approach $5,000 per month. 

The old-age and disability program provides monthly payments to more than 70 million people, ranging from children to retirees. Those benefits are credited with keeping millions of Americans from slipping into poverty, with monthly checks adjusted each year to keep up with inflation. In 2024, benefits will increase by 3.2%.

Many of the changes in 2024 are related to cost-of-living adjustments which will not only boost recipients' monthly income, but potentially subject more of their earnings to taxes, experts say. That can be a surprise to some Social Security beneficiaries who mistakenly believe their checks are tax-free. 

"There is a wide misperception, and it's not helped by social media at all, that Social Security recipients don't pay taxes, and that's not at all the case," said Mary Johnson, Social Security and Medicare policy analyst at the Senior Citizens League.

Understanding your tax liability for Social Security payments is important because otherwise a senior citizen might not have saved enough for their golden years, Johnson added. "You might have to save 20% more than you thought you might need, or 25% more," she said. 

Here are some of the changes to expect in 2024. 

Top Social Security benefit will hit almost $5,000 per month

The Social Security Administration announced its annual COLA in October, pegging the 2024 change on the most latest inflation data. Seniors and other recipients will get an increase of 3.2%, a much smaller boost than the 2023 and 2022 increases of 8.7% and 5.9%, respectively. 

The average benefit will rise to $1,907 per month in 2024 from $1,848 this year.

But retirees who receive the maximum Social Security payout will see much higher earnings, with their monthly checks jumping to $4,873 in 2024, according to the agency. That's about an additional $170 per month in each paycheck compared with the current year. 

So who gets the top payout? Not many people, noted Johnson. 

"The only way to get it is if you're [Apple CEO] Tim Cook and you have been paying the maximum" into your payroll taxes, she joked. "It's like the 1% to 2%."

The Social Security Administration says that the top benefit is received by people who have earned the maximum taxable earnings since age 22, and then waited to claim their benefits at age 70. Workers pay Social Security tax up to a maximum income level, which was $160,200 in 2023. Earnings above that threshold aren't taxed for Social Security.

And while people can claim their Social Security benefits as early as 62 years old, they can increase their monthly checks if they delay claiming, with the maximum payout going to those who wait until they turn 70 years old to claim. For instance, top earners who claim at 62 years old would get $2,710 per month in 2024.

Higher benefits? You may owe more in taxes

More Social Security beneficiaries could see a higher tax bill in 2024 because of a quirk in the Social Security system.

Beneficiaries must pay federal income taxes on their benefits if they earn above a relatively modest threshold. This threshold hasn't changed since 1984, even though inflation and benefits have risen considerably since then. 

More seniors are subject to income tax on their retirement income each year because their benefits generally rise each year with the COLA. And many have incomes from sources other than Social Security, such as IRAs or 401(k)s, which can cause more of their Social Security benefit to face taxes.

Here are the thresholds:

• Individual taxpayer: Between $25,000 to $34,000, you may have income tax on up to 50% of your benefits. Over $34,000, and up to 85% of your benefits may be taxable.
• Joint filers: Between $32,000 to $44,000, you may pay taxes of up to 50% of your benefits. Above $44,000, and up to 85% of your benefits may be taxable.

Fewer than 10% of Social Security recipients paid taxes on their benefits in 1984, but that's risen to about 40% currently, according to the Social Security Administration.

"We are dealing with the tax side of inflation here, and inflation can drive up your taxes" because the threshold hasn't changed in almost 40 years, Johnson noted.

Workers may pay more in taxes too

Some workers may also face higher taxes for Social Security in 2024. That's because the IRS adjusts the maximum earnings threshold for Social Security each year to keep up with inflation. 

In 2023, workers paid Social Security taxes on income up to $160,200. For an individual, the tax rate is 6.2% of earnings, with their employer paying another 6.2% into the program. 

But that threshold will rise to $168,600 in 2024, which means higher earners are likely to face higher Social Security taxes next year. 

Correction: An earlier version of this story on December 27, 2023, misstated that the additional monthly increase was $318.