Cyber warriors on NATO’s eastern edge are warning that the growing number of people working from home globally due to the pandemic is increasing vulnerability to cyber attacks.

The Baltic state of Estonia hosts two cyber facilities for the Western military alliance — set up following a series of cyber attacks from neighbour Russia more than a decade ago.

“Large scale use of remote work has attracted spies, thieves and thugs,” Jaak Tarien, head of NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), told AFP in an interview.

The increased amount of information travelling between institutional servers and home networks is creating new challenges for employers.

‘Large scale use of remote work has attracted spies, thieves and thugs,’ says Jaak Tarien, head of NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence Photo: AFP / Raigo Pajula

“Tackling these new challenges is complicated and requires a lot of resources as well as

Renovation can increase the value of your property investments

By: Nesa Rahmat/

Image credit: Grant McLean/Flickr

Getting ahead in real estate investments is not just about buying properties – the most strategic move for you may be to improve the value of a property you already own, even your home. If you are happy where you are, renovation can be a sound financial strategy. When you renovate your own home, you win twice – once when you enjoy the benefits of a better home, and once again when you sell the home.

When it comes to resale value, however, not all renovations are created equal.

Let’s look at an example. Suppose you live in a landed property and fancy a hot tub on your back deck, and decide to invest $10,000 or so. Will that add $10,000 to the value of your home? Likely not. The truth is, not everybody

Q: “What remodeling projects or improvements add the most value to a home?“

A: There are two ways to look at this question. Is the remodeling for yourself and your enjoyment or for resale? Of course, the kitchen is the heart of the home, and a beautiful kitchen remodel will always stand out to buyers.

We recently saw a home in Walnut Creek that was almost eighty years old attract seventeen offers, because it had a beautiful, spacious and contemporary kitchen with all the bells and whistles. If you