How to secure Windows 10 -- Microsoft reveals SECCON framework to protect systems
Based on the DEFCON levels, Microsoft has unveiled the SECCON framework -- a series of guides for securing a range of Windows 10 configurations in different environments.
Starting with an "Administrator workstation" at level 1 and building up to "Enterprise security" at level 5, the framework is Microsoft's attempt to simplify and standardize security. While it is not a one-size-fits-all solution, the company says it is "defining discrete prescriptive Windows 10 security configurations to meet many of the common device scenarios we see today in the enterprise".
Dread Pirate Roberts 2, the 'guiding mind' of Silk Road 2.0, jailed for over 5 years
Thomas White, the founder of notorious website Silk Road 2.0, has been jailed for five years and four months by a UK court.
White, also known as Dread Pirate Roberts 2, was charged with not only running Silk Road 2.0 -- the site through which he earned hundreds of thousands of dollars per day on the dark web -- but also the possession of hundreds of indecent images of children.
Gmail now supports the MTA-STS and TLS Reporting security standards
In a first for a major email service, Google has announced that Gmail now supports the MTA-STS and TLS Reporting security standards.
The two standards help to avoid man-in-the-middle attacks, using encryption and authentication to add new layers of security. Google says that Gmail's MTA-STS adherence is now in beta, and the company hopes that by supporting the standard other providers with follow suit.
European financial services industry struggling with lack of data skills
Nearly 40 percent of financial services businesses are failing to implement data initiatives due to a lack of skills, with almost a third saying that their GDPR initiatives are failing, according to a new study.
The report produced by Vanson Bourne for analytics database company Exasol is based on responses from 500 IT and business decision makers, from enterprises in Germany and the UK.
Best Windows 10 apps this week
Three-hundred-and-thirty in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 on the Windows Store in the past seven days.
The next feature update for Windows 10 has been postponed. Microsoft plans to release the May 2019 Update to the public at the end of May 2019 in order to give it another round of testing in the Release Preview ring.
April's Patch Tuesday updates are causing Windows to freeze or slow down
If you installed the latest batch of patches from Microsoft this week and found that your computer started to freeze up or fail to boot, you are not alone.
The problem is affecting Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2, and stems from a compatibility issue with antivirus software. Users with antivirus tools from Avast, Avira and Sophos have experienced problems -- including slowing down Windows 10 -- and Microsoft has blocked the rollout of updates to some systems to try to limit the damage.
Skype beta adds screen sharing feature
Since acquiring Skype, Microsoft has been slowly but surely developing the messaging tool, most recently increasing the number of chat participants to 50. Now the company has released a new version of the software -- in beta for the time being -- in which it is possible to share your screen with whoever you're chatting with.
The beta feature is available to people on the Skype Insider program, and it allows for mobile screen sharing on both iOS and Android.
How to change your name on PSN -- if you don't mind a couple of catches
It's something people have been asking, practically begging, for for years; now it is finally possible. You can change your PlayStation Network ID.
Sony announced back in October that the change was coming, and now it has gone live. But before you rush in and change your name to get away from the embarrassing moniker you adopted, there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind -- not least that it may cause problems with some games.
Creative announces extremely affordable USB-powered Pebble Plus 2.1 speakers
Creative's Pebble speakers are very popular with budget-focused shoppers. Over on Amazon, it has 4.5 stars with over 500 reviews. It's not hard to see why that is -- for a mere $25, you get a respectable 2.0 audio experience from a well-known brand. No, they aren't audiophile quality, but at this price, you should know that. They should be better than your laptop's built in speakers, however. One of the coolest aspects of the Pebble speakers is they are USB-powered -- you don't need an AC adapter when connecting them to your computer. You do need to simultaneously connect a 3.5mm audio cable, however, as audio is not transmitted over USB -- only power.
One of the big drawbacks to Pebble is a lack of bass. This really shouldn't be surprising, as they are small 2-inch speakers, and they don't have a subwoofer. Well, Creative heard the user feedback loud and clear and decided to bring a little boom to its budget offering. Called "Pebble Plus," it is the same stereo speakers, but now with a small subwoofer added. Amazingly, the price is barely higher than the non-plus variant. Seriously, folks, the price will shock you.
Acer announces a pair of Chromebooks that are elegant, rugged, and affordable
Acer announced a bunch of new products today, including many Windows machines. While I am sure those computers running Microsoft's desktop operating system are fine, they don't really excite me. Instead, it is Acer's Linux-based Chromebooks that get my engine running. The company has been cranking out great Chrome OS laptops for many years, and they have proven to be a great value for consumers.
Today, Acer unveils a pair of new elegant Chromebooks. Called "714" and "715," the former has a 14-inch display while the latter is 15.6-inch. Both machines have fingerprint readers, aluminum bodies, 12-hour battery life, and can be configured with 8th generation Intel Core processors (Pentium and Celeron models will be available too). The larger 715 has something the 714 doesn't -- a number pad, which apparently is a first for any Chromebook. The 714 has slimmer bezels, however. Best of all, they are both designed to be rugged and withstand abuse.
Security professionals think cybersecurity is a bigger threat to the US than border security
A new survey of security professionals taken at this year's RSA reveals that 92 percent of respondents feel that cybersecurity is a bigger threat to the US than border security. Yet government, and media, attention seems far more focused on the latter.
The study from AI-powered security company Lastline also asked respondents which of the tech giants they trust the least with their data, not surprisingly 76 percent name Facebook. Others, Amazon (25 percent), Apple (24 percent), Google (20 percent) and Microsoft (27 percent) all scored relatively evenly when asked who they trust most.
Tax identities up for sale on the dark web
While banking and identity information has been traded on the dark web for a long time, a new report from Carbon Black shows a new focus on tax identities.
The company's research shows previous year's W-2 forms and 1040 forms available on the dark web at relatively low cost, ranging from $1.04 to $52. Names, social security numbers and birthdates can be obtained for a price ranging from $0.19 to $62.
Google now lets you use your Android phone as a 2SV security key
If you have a phone running Android 7.0 Nougat or higher, you can now use it as a FIDO security key. This new option was announced at Google Cloud Next 2019, and it makes using 2-Step Verification much more accessible thanks to the fact that people are likely to have their phones with them most of the time.
The system -- currently in beta -- can be used to access ChromeOS, macOS or Windows 10 computers running Chrome, and can replace or supplement other FIDO-based security keys like Google's own Titan Security Key.
YouTube TV adds several new channels while increasing monthly price
Many people are "cutting the cord" these days, opting for streaming television services rather than traditional cable or satellite. And no, it is not only about saving money. Sure, many folks were tired of the added fees that cable companies charge, such as to rent the cable box and remote -- it can feel like you are being robbed. But also, cable boxes often have poor user interfaces, lacking the modern and fluid experiences consumers expect nowadays thanks to operating systems like Android and iOS. Speaking of mobile, streaming TV services work while on the go, while many cable providers lag behind in that regard.
When I cut the cord, I went with YouTube TV. Why? Well, its channel offering was pretty good, and its price was only $34.99. It later went up to $39.99, however, but I kept the original price through grandfathering. Most importantly, its unlimited DVR put it ahead of the competitors. If you are a YouTube TV customer like me, I have good news and bad news. The good news is actually great news -- the service is adding several channels from Discovery, such as HGTV, Food Network, and Investigation Discovery to name a few. The bad news is sad, but not catastrophic -- YouTube TV is getting a big monthly price hike. And yes, this includes all customers -- no one gets a grandfathered price.
PC-as-a-Service or managed device services? The difference matters
If you are among the many who are confused about PC-as-a-Service (PCaaS) or Device-as-a-Service (DaaS), you are not alone. A frequently asked question on the subject is, "Isn’t this just a lease?" The simple answer is, "No, it is not."
Financially, this model has more in common with a rental agreement with services attached, because you never actually hold the title to the hardware. Rather, at the end of the agreement, you discontinue the service or renew, generating an automatic refresh. Simply put, PCaaS is one more financial "vehicle" at your disposal, in addition to leasing and buying.
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