The continued surge in hybrid work, bring your own device (BYOD) and contractor reliance has undeniably made businesses more agile and flexible, but it has also introduced a wave of unmanaged devices into enterprise environments that frequently lack security controls, creating exposure to data loss and regulatory risk. To mitigate these issues, Cato Networks has launched Browser Extension, what it calls “a lightweight onramp” to the company’s core secure access service edge (SASE) platform.

Cato cited Verizon’s Data breach incident report, which this year found that 46% of compromised systems containing corporate credentials were unmanaged devices. At the same time, compliance pressures under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) were continuing to mount. Until now, said Cato, protecting these endpoints meant deploying software IT couldn’t control or forcing users onto enterprise browsers, and that unmanaged devices create risk and compliance pressure for IT leaders.

“Unmanaged and BYOD devices aren’t going away,” said Ofir Agasi, chief product officer at Cato Networks. “They remain the weakest links in enterprise security. Without the safeguards of managed devices, they expose organisations to additional risk.”

Cato also noted that legacy zero trust network access (ZTNA) approaches often require separate tools for different device types. Extending access to unmanaged devices has meant installing new software, such as specialised browsers. The result, said the company, was disruption of the user experience and additional strain on IT operations. 

To address these challenges, Cato has made zero trust for unmanaged devices easy to deploy and simple to maintain. The extension expands Cato’s Universal ZTNA to unmanaged devices – including personal, contractor and BYOD endpoints – without the operational overhead, deployment complexity or user disruption that can come with legacy VPNs or enterprise browsers. It’s designed to simplify secure contractor and BYOD access, unifying zero trust policy management enterprise-wide.

The Cato Browser Extension is a native Google Chrome extension claimed to be able to provide secure access in minutes without requiring client installations or new software. It enforces the same ZTNA policies already applied across the enterprise, so IT doesn’t need to create or manage new rules. And unlike enterprise browsers that force users to adopt a new interface, the extension works natively with standard browsers under one consistent, enterprise-wide ZTNA model. 

With Cato ZTNA, enterprises can unify access across every environment: managed devices connect via the Cato Client, unmanaged devices through the Cato Browser Extension, and sites and branches with a Cato Socket. Every connection is said to be protected by Cato SSE 360 – including Firewall as a Service, Secure Web Gateway, Cloud Access Security Broker, Next Generation Firewall, Data Loss Prevention and Advanced Threat Prevention – ensuring continuous inspection, unified logging and centralised policy enforcement. All platform onramps are said to be unified under one policy model.

With these features, Cato assured that enterprises gain clear strategic advantages in terms of consistent security posture, operational simplicity and audit readiness. That is, businesses can have unified, identity-aware policies across all devices to close security gaps and remove VPNs, enterprise browsers, and point solutions, reducing onboarding time and IT overhead. It also said that firms can simplify audits and meet GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS requirements with consistent enforcement.

In short, Cato believes Browser Extension restores IT control, giving users secure network access while enabling ZTNA for everyone on any device. “The Cato Browser Extension provides customers with the best of both worlds: simple access for users, and complete policy control for IT without adding another tool to manage,” added Agasi.

Covering half of North America, the U.S. electric grid functions somewhat like a vast, complex organism. Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a new simulation platform for understanding and predicting the behavior of this modern grid. Using a combination of mathematical tools, automation and analysis, the approach provides highly accurate results with less computing time at a lower cost, increasing the reliability of electricity.

Simulation uses mathematical approaches to reproduce the dynamics of a real-world system. This allows utilities and planners to analyze grid management methods without any risk to safety, equipment or electrical service. ORNL researchers refined a cutting-edge grid modeling approach called Electromagnetic Transient simulation (EMT), which is especially effective for analyzing the split-second reactions of modern power electronics. This capability helps operators prevent cascading blackouts and unsafe operating conditions in modern electric grids brimming with power electronics.

“We are trying to understand electronics and systems in a way that mimics their real behavior with higher fidelity,” said ORNL researcher Phani Marthi. “The challenge today is that high-fidelity EMT simulation is extremely time-consuming to simulate large-scale modern power grid systems.”

The ORNL simulation approach is tackling those challenges, as Marthi and his co-authors explained in a paper that was presented in the best paper session at the July general meeting of the IEEE Power and Energy Society.

Representing the next phase of ORNL’s national leadership in EMT simulation, the ORNL tool is called RE-INTEGRATE for its enhanced speed and accuracy at simulating large-scale power systems that integrate many power electronics.

In the past, the grid relied on the natural momentum of huge rotating mechanical machines and power flowing in a single direction along established paths, like a locomotive on a track. But today, power electronics make the grid respond more like a sports car, with rapid electronic adjustments instead of built-in momentum. Unfortunately, today’s grid is not fully ready for that speed. RE-INTEGRATE helps utilities map the best route for the grid of the future.

Power electronics accommodate generating and moving electricity in different ways. They can also enable both alternating and direct current in long-distance power transmission. This could expand the capacity of the U.S. grid to support a growing population and economy, including new industries such as data centers for AI and cryptocurrency.

Unlike existing EMT models, RE-INTEGRATE is intended as an open-source platform that incorporates features such as numerical simulation techniques, automation and intelligence based on neural networks that function more like the brain for faster computation. These features offer unique advantages over existing tools in analyzing modern grids.

Eventually, the tool will be able to replicate faults—disruptions in the power grid caused by equipment failure, short circuits, or other technical issues—like the one that wiped out power to much of Spain and Portugal in April. “Analysis with the RE-INTEGRATE tool can give us new insights into how to consistently prevent or stop cascading blackouts and brownouts,” Marthi said.

One of the fundamental building blocks of RE-INTEGRATE is differential algebraic equation solvers. These algorithms reduce the degree of manual processing required for an immense volume of data. As a proof of concept, ORNL researchers validated the effectiveness of these solvers on simple power electronics circuits.

The long-term goal is honing the software to simulate all possible circumstances that could arise from fast-acting power electronics systems interacting with grid components in a large-scale power grid, equivalent to the grid of the eastern United States.

This will broaden the accuracy benefits of EMT while enabling greater understanding of how the parts of the broader grid affect each other across service areas and regions.

“Beyond accelerating the EMT simulation, the next major challenge lies in managing and sifting through the huge volumes of data generated by EMT simulations,” Marthi said. ORNL researchers are already developing advanced analysis techniques, including the use of specialized neural networks, so that the RE-INTEGRATE tool can enhance power system operations and support informed decision-making. “We want to create an entire EMT ecosystem with RE-INTEGRATE as the backbone, including all these capabilities so utilities use it more often and with more confidence.”

Researchers who contributed to the development of automation and solvers for RE-INTEGRATE include ORNL researchers Jongchan Choi and Suman Debnath with support from student Soumyajit Gangopadhyay and intern Kuan-Chieh Hsu.

RE-INTEGRATE advances will be presented during an EMT simulation workshop at ORNL, co-hosted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation Oct. 7-9 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

It’s that time of year again, and Prime Day deals are back. The Amazon Prime Big Deal Days event—also known as Amazon Prime Day 2—is officially arriving on October 7 and 8, but early deals have already started. The WIRED Reviews team has hundreds of years of collective experience covering shopping holidays such as this. What sets us apart is that we only write about actual deals on the gear and gadgets that we’ve hand-tested. We’re getting ready to cover the whole sale with a variety of stories and even a liveblog (and, hopefully, lots of caffeine.) Below, you’ll find the best deals we’ve managed to find so far. Come back for additional coverage when the event begins.

Get prepared with our guide on How to Shop Prime Day Like A Pro. We also have advice on avoiding scams on Amazon and making sure you’re getting all of your Amazon Prime perks.

Updated September 30, 2025: We’ve added 10 new deals on a few Amazon devices, the best cheap laptop, a great fitness tracker, our favorite smart bird feeder, and a few other gadgets. We’ve also checked for accuracy throughout.

Apple iPad (2025, A16) for $299 ($149 off)

This deal comes within $20 of the lowest price we’ve tracked for the best iPad on the market. The 2025 Apple iPad (A16) is cute and comes in a few different colors in your choice of 128-, 256-, or 512-gigabyte storage. It has a modern design, USB-C charging, Touch ID, and two 12-MP cameras. It’s powerful enough for most people, and it doesn’t have support for Apple Intelligence (which may be a blessing or a curse). If you primarily use your tablet to watch videos, play mobile games, or do light work, it’ll be just fine (and you won’t overpay for features you aren’t using). One thing to note is that it only supports the first-generation or USB-C Apple Pencil. Check our guide to the Best iPad Accessories for additional picks.

Nothing Ear (a) for $89 ($20 off)

Photograph: Parker Hall

The Nothing Ear (a) top our list of the best wireless earbuds. They look super cool, with a stylish semi-clear design, on-board touch controls, and a sleek charging case. They pack excellent sound and good noise cancellation, and they’re downright easy to use. The battery lasts about five and a half hours if you’ve got active noise cancellation on. They also pair easily with both Android and iOS devices. This deal comes within $10 of the best discount we’ve tracked.

Nimble Champ (Large) for $90 ($10 off)

Photograph: Simon Hill

The Nimble Champ (Series 2) is the best power bank lineup you can buy, and right now a few different capacities are on sale. They don’t drop in price very often. Every iteration is small and lightweight, with fast charging speeds (that vary from 15 watts to 65, depending on the size) and a durable finish. Nimble’s power banks are made with bioplastics and have minimal packaging, which helps lessen the environmental impact. They’re also nice to look at.

Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) for $70 ($20 off)

Photograph: Simon Hill

Anker

MagGo Power Bank (10K) (Qi2)

This is the best Qi2 power bank out of the many we’ve tried so far, and we’ve not yet seen it sell for less. It has a built-in kickstand, a two-way USB-C port, and a built-in LED display. You can attach MagSafe iPhones or Qi2 phones in landscape or portrait orientation. It’s not the beefiest power bank in the world, offering about one and a half charges for newer phones, but it’ll definitely come in handy if you just need a quick top-off while on the go—especially since you won’t need to bring your own cable.

Apple MacBook Air (M4, 2025) for $799 ($200 off)

Photograph: Brenda Stolyar

Apple

MacBook Air (M4, 2025)

It’s hard to do much better than the MacBook Air (M4, 2025). The best laptop has beefy performance, terrific battery life, and is super quiet thanks to its fanless design. It also has support for two 4K external monitors, and the built-in M4 chip allows for on-device AI processing and support for Apple Intelligence. The webcam boasts 12 megapixels, which is an upgrade compared to previous models, too. It comes in your choice of four different colors and three storage configurations. Check our MacBook buying guide for additional recommendations.

Arlo Pro 5S Security Camera for $100 ($80 off)

This is a great deal on our favorite outdoor security camera, and you can get in on it right before porch pirate season. The Arlo Pro 5 has clear footage, fast live-feed load times, and smart notifications. Recording at up to 2K resolution with HDR, it won’t struggle in low light thanks to night vision, and there’s also a color mode. Two-way audio is clear, and there’s a built-in siren too. You do need an Arlo Secure subscription to make the most of this camera, but the deal is solid. The multipacks are discounted, too.

Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) for $300 ($100 off)

Full disclosure: A new Kindle Scribe is coming, but we still think this is worth buying. The Kindle Scribe is our favorite e-reader for taking notes. It works well as a digital notebook and as a way to read your favorite books. With a generous 10-inch display and a Premium Pen (with a soft-tipped eraser on the end) included, you can use it to plan, journal, or annotate. There are some AI software features like note summarization, too. We do wish it was waterproof, or that it had some color features like the new model will, but if you’re in the market for something like it, it’s worth considering. There’s a chance it will get slightly cheaper when Prime Day actually arrives, but it likely won’t be by much—especially considering this is a match of the lowest price we’ve tracked.

Ultrahuman Ring Air for $300 ($50 off)

This smart ring is our favorite without a subscription. Importantly, due to a ruling by the FTC, these rings will no longer be available for purchase in the US after October 21 (though Ultrahuman says existing rings will still be supported). If you have been eyeing one, this deal is a match of the best we have tracked so far. The Ring Air can track your heart rate, blood oxygen, physical activity, and sleep, and it’ll offer insights about changes in your heart rate variability or skin temperature. There are some additional convenient features like a smart alarm that’ll wake you up during a lighter part of your sleep cycle, too.

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