Update Firefox right now to squash file stealing bug
Firefox users are being encouraged to upgrade to the latest version of the browser as soon as possible after the discovery of a serious security flaw in the software. Mozilla was quick to patch the security hole which could result in users' personal files being uploaded to a remote server.
Affecting the Windows and Linux versions of Firefox, the security vulnerability stems from the browser's PDF viewer. It allows for the injection of JavaScript that could be used to locate sensitive files and transfer them to a remote server.
Stay in control of your privacy in Windows 10
Over the past week and a half many thousands of people worldwide will have taken the plunge into Windows 10. But, as we've previously pointed out the free upgrade comes at a price in terms of privacy.
So what can you do to enjoy the advantages of Windows 10 without giving away too much of your information? Here are some tips to help you protect your details.
Best Windows apps this week
One-hundred and fortieth in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps and games released for Windows in the past seven days.
Our coverage of the Windows 10 launch and its aftermath continues here on BetaNews.
Will Stagefright force all mobile makers to release monthly security updates?
Stagefright took the Android world rather by surprise. As well as catching the industry with its pants down, it highlights a problem of mobile security: it's just not taken seriously enough. In response to the Stagefright vulnerability, both Samsung and Google announced new monthly security update cycles.
Not to be outdone, LG has now followed suit, and it would be surprising if we didn’t see more manufacturers of Android handsets doing exactly the same in the coming weeks. But in announcing its own monthly security update schedule, LG has highlighted another stumbling block for mobile security. Carriers.
ASUS' new ZenFone Max packs a 5,000mAh battery
Smartphones have evolved a great deal over the years. We now get insanely-fast processors, lots of RAM, high-quality cameras, and amazing displays, not to mention high Internet speeds. But one thing has mostly remained the same, and that is battery life.
With its new ZenFone Max, however, ASUS might have removed this concern for prospective owners by designing the smartphone with a huge, 5,000 mAh battery. Coupled with energy-efficient hardware, it should deliver amazing battery life.
Windows 10 forces app updates on Home users but a September update could change this
Some Windows 10 users have been upset by the fact that updates to the operating system are no longer optional -- without using extra software, at least. Microsoft has now made it clear that the same applies to app updates. Updates to apps will be delivered automatically with no option to skip them.
This is not the first time updates in Windows 10 have caused unrest. As well as the mandatory updates debacle, the fact that updates are shared with other people to speed up delivery also concerned some users. But what has riled Windows 10 Home users about apps updates is the lack of choice and transparency.
Over half of UK smaller businesses spend less than 2 percent of their IT budget on security
Smaller businesses often have a limited budget for securing their IT systems which can leave them uniquely vulnerable. Antivirus company Avast launched its free Avast for Business cloud offering aimed at SMBs earlier this year and has been surveying users to find out how they handle their security.
Among the findings are that almost three-quarters of respondents say that all of their employees use the internet. Yet despite the high number of data breaches 57 percent of SMBs in the UK invest only between zero and two percent of their IT budget on security.
Microsoft doubles budget for bug bounty program
You might think you have the best programmers in the world, but chances are there’s a kid in his parents’ basement somewhere who’s smarter than all your engineers combined.
That’s why bounty hunting for bugs has become hugely popular among software makers, employing pretty much every hacker worldwide in their search for overlooked bugs. Microsoft is one of such companies, and it’s using the Black Hat conference to promote its new bug bounty program, which sees the bounty doubled.
Lookout launches Stagefright detector
Stagefright detectors seem to be flavor of the month at the moment, not surprising when the vulnerability could affect around 95 percent of Android devices. We reported yesterday on Zimperium's version and now mobile security specialist Lookout has launched its own detector.
The app will tell users whether or not their Android device is vulnerable to Stagefright. If it is affected, it provide a run-down on how to reduce the risk of being attacked. Uses will also be able to check back in after receiving a security patch to confirm it contained the fix for Stagefright.
Hackers can steal fingerprints from Android phones
Hackers can steal fingerprint data on a large scale through insecure Android phones, researchers claim, saying that vendors that ship with fingerprint sensors don’t lock them down well enough.
FireEye researchers Tao Wei and Yulong Zhang are singling out Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One Max as the most vulnerable examples, and are set to announce new research during the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Microsoft open sources Windows Bridge to bring iOS apps to Windows
Microsoft is taking steps to try to ensure that the apps that people want to see on Windows are actually available. We've already seen the company woo developers with tools such as Project Westminster to make it easier to create Universal Windows Apps, and Astoria to help convert Android apps for Windows.
Project Islandwood was the same idea, but for iOS apps -- the idea is that by making it easy to convert apps for Apple's platform into Windows apps, Microsoft can use developers to plug the 'app gap'. To spread the project's net further, it has now been released under the name Windows Bridge for iOS and -- more importantly -- it has been released to GitHub as an open source tool under the MIT license.
Outlook for Apple Watch is the future of Microsoft
Satya Nadella is a man with a formidable challenge. Microsoft CEO's predecessor, Steve Ballmer, squandered the company's mobile fortunes. From smartphone platform leader a decade ago, the software-and-services giant is a category also-ran in 2015. Microsoft has no independent mobile platform future. The war is over. There remains this: Making alliances with old enemies to preserve existing territory, while using the foothold to reach into new frontiers.
Made available August 5th, Outlook for Apple Watch is a very smart move and metaphor for what went wrong on Microsoft mobile platforms and what has to go right to preserve and extend the legacy applications stack. While Windows 10 makes its way to Lumia devices, the future is Android and iOS and how the company supports them with contextually meaningful cloud-connected apps and services.
Pornhub Premium is like an all-you-can-eat buffet, but for porn
When you are hungry, and your wallet is a bit light, there is one place you should visit -- the all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. For a small entrance fee, you can gain access to passable food, and eat until you are ready to explode. Typically, the food is neither healthy nor high quality, but it does fill you up.
This same business model is behind streaming services like Spotify and Netflix. You get to consume as much media as you'd like for a monthly fee. Have you ever dreamed of having something like this for x-rated adult videos? Well, you are in luck. Pornhub announces a new Premium service that will allow you to watch all the porn you want for a paltry $9.99 per month. This is not just video clips, but full-length high definition films too.
Chromecast gets new features, including HBO, Food Network, and more
Google's Chromecast continues to grab new features as well as remaining a popular item on places like Amazon. But customers continue to ask for the ability to do new things, and now Google is responding to customer feedback.
The latest update brings HBO NOW, Food Network, Travel Channel and even Pokemon TV. There's also gaming like FitFlap and CatchPhrase. These require use of a phone or tablet.
Bing can protect you from buying counterfeit or unsafe drugs online
Healthcare and prescription costs have been going through the roof in recent years, while people still struggle with a bad economy. To make matters worse, older people are living longer (a good thing), while many younger people are in worse health than ever before (a terrible thing). Obesity, diabetes, heart disease -- huge problems.
With all of these struggles, people turn to the internet for medical advice and discount drugs -- scary. True, not all online pharmacies are bad; quite the contrary, but some of them sell expired, dangerous, and counterfeit drugs, which can have tragic results. Luckily, Bing is now protecting its users from this scourge. Whether you are buying Viagra, insulin or heart pills, Microsoft's search engine will have your back.
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