IT departments and users are out of step on password security
A new survey reveals that 76 percent of employees say they experience regular password usage problems and more than a third need password-related help desk support at least once every month.
According to the study from password manager LastPass and business intelligence company Ovum nearly three-quarters say they would want to use a tool to help store and access passwords without needing to remember each one if their company offered such a solution.
Report: Russian hackers stole NSA files after identifying them using Kaspersky software
A report by the Wall Street Journal suggests that Russian hackers used Kaspersky software to identify sensitive NSA files -- which they then stole.
The security breach dates back to 2015, and it was made possible when a National Security Agency contractor copied sensitive files to his own computer. Hackers were then able to identify these files because of the contractor's use of Kaspersky software.
Apple unveils new emoji coming in iOS 11.1
Following a somewhat problematic initial release of iOS, Apple pushed out iOS 11.0.2 to fix a number of issues. But people are already looking forward to the next incremental, non-bug-fixing release. This is iOS 11.1, and Apple has revealed a little of what we can expect.
iPad and iPhone users are to be treated to a new batch of emoji -- hundreds of new ones in total -- encompassing "more emotive smiley faces, gender-neutral characters, clothing options, food types, animals, mythical creatures and more."
Apple makes macOS High Sierra 10.13 safe again with emergency 'Supplemental Update'
Since macOS is a Unix-based operating system, it is often seen as being stable and secure. For the most part, the OS is. With that said, it is not perfect, and certainly not infallible. Quite frankly, no operating system is impervious to security issues.
Unfortunately for Apple, its latest and greatest desktop operating system, macOS High Sierra 10.13, has some very serious flaws. First, it was discovered that the supposedly secure keychain password system could be easily infiltrated by malware. Arguably worse, it was then discovered that encrypted APFS disks had their passwords erroneously saved in plain text in the "hint" field. Yeah, that is not only bad, but embarrassing too. Both of these issues were patched today, however, with the emergency "Supplemental Update."
Many UK SMBs don't invest in security solutions
A third of UK small businesses are risking their online safety by operating at or below the "security poverty line," according to new research from Duo Security.
The cybersecurity company partnered with YouGov to survey 1,0009 senior decision makers across the UK to determine how much they are spending on cybersecurity and whether government initiatives such as Cyber Essentials and Cyber Risk Aware have been effective at protecting SMBs from cyber threats.
Belkin launches USB-C 3.1 Express Dock HD, but you probably don't want it
There are a lot of USB-C docks and accessories on the market today. While the port can be found on Windows and Linux machines, you can thank Apple for the overall popularity. When the company went all-in with USB-C ports on the MacBook Pro, accessory makers really took interest.
Today, Belkin releases a new dock that uses the newest USB connector. Called "USB-C 3.1 Express Dock HD," it features 8 ports. Best of all, it can charge your laptop while it is connected. While it does offer 4K video, it is unfortunately capped at 30Hz, making it a non-starter for many.
How to choose the best experimentation solution
To build and deliver products that customers love, development teams at leading companies like Uber, Netflix, Airbnb, Google, and Facebook focus on experimentation as a critical business process. Engineers and product managers are empowered to A/B test each new product feature in a controlled environment to determine the impact to key metrics like engagement, product usage and revenue before launching the feature to everyone.
These companies have all built complex internal software platforms to support their experimentation-driven approach to product development. If you’re looking to adopt the same practice of validating digital product decisions with data, you’ll likely be evaluating how to implement an experimentation platform for your product and engineering team.
Move out of the dark ages of lighting with LED bulbs
As Americans strive to be greener and more conscious consumers, ironically, the ordinary light bulb has found itself thrust into the spotlight. First, there was the "ban" on incandescents. Then, as CFLs slowly made their way into the mainstream, LEDs were also becoming more economical and practical for home use. Now, with so many factors to consider -- from lumens to watts to kelvins to CRI -- it’s tough for some consumers to confidently choose between CFLs and LEDs.
In the era of "smart" technology, things can get even more complicated -- so much so that many consumers would rather just avoid change altogether. Unfortunately, that means that they’d also be missing out on a number of outstanding benefits that come from simply changing a light bulb. Still unsure if it’s worth making the switch? Here are 7 ways LEDs outperform CFLs and why you should get on the brighter path with LEDs:
What the new Yahoo breach numbers mean for you
Earlier this week, Yahoo announced that the data breach reported earlier this year did not impact 200+ million users as originally thought. The reality is that up to three billion accounts may be compromised --which is essentially Yahoo's entire customer base. What does this news change? How does it impact you? What should you do now? Let's walk through the answers to those questions.
What changed: In July 2016, Yahoo officially released information about a data breach that it believed involved the personal information on 200-400 million users, or more. This week, it notified the world that its original estimate was incorrect. In reality, up to three billion users were in the data files that the attackers have stolen, which means that nearly everyone who's used Yahoo services is going to be impacted by this situation.
IT spend will reach $3.7 trillion in 2018
Global spending on IT is expected to grow 4.3 percent next year, according to new estimates from market analyst Gartner.
Gartner says spending is expected to hit $3.7 trillion next year, up from $3.5 trillion. The growth will be fueled mostly by communications services, followed by software spending which will see an increase of 9.4 percent next year, to a total of $387 billion.
Facebook test brings context to links that are shared in your newsfeed
One of the problems with Facebook -- and the internet in general -- is that it has been incredibly democratizing in terms of who is able to publish news and other messages online. Democratization of anything is usually perceived as a good thing, but as the genuine problem of "fake news" (i.e. not the notion peddled by Trump that anything presenting an opposing idea is fundamentally untrue) demonstrates, it can also be a bad thing.
To help with this, Facebook is testing a feature that helps to add context to stories and links that appear in your newsfeed.
Three-quarters of Brits worry about risks from connected homes
Despite their potential to reduce bills and make life easier, 76 percent of British consumers are worried about the impact of smart technology and connected homes.
A study by price comparison site MoneySuperMarket polled more than 2000 people and reveals many are fearful of the smart homes concept, with unapproved data collection cited as the greatest worry.
Microsoft Edge coming to Android and iOS
Microsoft today addresses one of the biggest shortcomings of its Edge browser, announcing its upcoming availability on the two biggest mobile platforms: Android and iOS.
Microsoft says that support for Android and iOS is "one of the most common requests" that it has received from Edge users on Windows 10. By making it available across multiple platforms, the software giant is making its browser a viable option in this space for folks who use a mix of devices.
More iPhone 8 Plus units splitting open while charging
Even though smartphone manufacturers rigorously test new devices before releasing them into the market, defects sometimes do make it into production. In the best-case scenario, you can live with them. Sometimes though, you get one so serious that the manufacturer has to recall the smartphone -- take the Galaxy Note7 for example, which had the bad habit of catching fire spontaneously.
Apple seems to have a potentially major problem of its own with the iPhone 8 Plus. A number of users are claiming that their new smartphone has split open while charging, effectively turning it into a very expensive brick.
Most organizations aren't sure where their data is stored
The modern IT landscape means that information can be stored across a number of platforms and locations. It's perhaps not surprising then that only 47 percent of organizations know where their data is stored at all times according to a new study.
The survey by McAfee of 800 business decision makers looks at how enterprises are looking after their data in the light of legislation including GDPR.
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