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The latest annual report from the GuidePoint Research and Intelligence Team (GRIT) observed 63 distinct ransomware groups using encryption, data exfiltration, data extortion, and other novel tactics to compromise and publicly post 4,519 victims across all 30 of GRIT's tracked industries, and in 120 countries, across 2023.

Most impacts affected a limited subset of industries. 62 percent of all observed victims belong to one of the top ten most-impacted industries, with manufacturing and technology remaining the two most-impacted.

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Microsoft has acknowledged an issue affecting some Windows 10 users who have installed the KB5034912 update released in November. The problem means that 0x80073cf2 errors may occur when using the System Preparation Tool (Sysprep.exe).

For now, the company has published details of a somewhat fiddly workaround, but it says that it is working on a proper fix which will be made available "in an upcoming release".

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Microsoft has released the KB5034204 update preview for Windows 11 which addresses a series of problems in the operating system. Among the issues that are treated is one that causes some 7-Zip archives to appear empty.

There is also the promise that the update makes video calls more reliable and that some Bluetooth issues have been fixed. Anyone who has been plagued with an unclosable tool tip in the File Explorer Gallery will be pleased to learn that this has been addressed.

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It's the time of the month when Microsoft releases its latest preview updates for Windows 10 and 11 and, sure enough, we have the preview version of the KB5034203 update for Windows 10.

This cumulative update addresses a number of issues including problems with printers, and it also lays the groundwork for the arrival of a "richer weather experience" on the lock screen. It is not long since the last problematic update for Windows 10,  and while the KB5034203 update does not (yet) appear to introduce any new issues, some familiar problems persist.

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SteelSeries has launched an extremely rare (and expensive) keyboard -- the Apex Pro Mini: Limited-Edition White x Gold. Limited to a quantity of just 250, it features beautiful white and gold colors. Adding to its exclusivity, the keyboards are all uniquely numbered, adding to its collectibility.

This keyboard stands out with its stunning design, marrying beauty with technological innovation. It provides a unique typing experience that is both energizing and satisfying. The keyboard features a brass weight plate and a precision-milled CNC aluminum bottom case, adding significant weight and enhancing its luxurious feel.

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In a groundbreaking announcement, New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan, has issued a Health Commissioner’s Advisory, paralleling past actions taken against tobacco and firearms. This advisory identifies the unchecked use of social media as a public health hazard, spotlighting the alarming rise in mental health crises among the city's youth.

The situation in NYC is dire, with a staggering increase in feelings of hopelessness among high school students, up by over 42% between 2011 and 2021. Moreover, suicidal thoughts have surged by more than 34%. The data is even more troubling for marginalized groups such as Black, Latino, female, and LGBTQ+ youth, who face disproportionately high rates of despair.

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MSI has annnounced its newest networking product -- the AXE5400 Wi-Fi 6E USB adapter. This device is designed to provide an easy solution for upgrading existing Windows 11 desktops and laptops to connect with the latest 6GHz network through a simple USB interface.

The AXE5400 WiFi USB adapter is notable for its compatibility with three frequency bands, offering speeds of 2402Mbps on both 6GHz and 5GHz bands, and 574Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. This range of frequencies is intended to accommodate various networking needs and enhance user experience in terms of internet speed.

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Looking to build and deploy microservices but not sure where to start? Check out Microservices with Spring Boot 3 and Spring Cloud, Third Edition.

With a practical approach, you'll begin with simple microservices and progress to complex distributed applications. Learn essential functionality and deploy microservices using Kubernetes and Istio. This book covers Java 17, Spring Boot 3, and Spring Cloud 2022. Java EE packages are replaced with the latest Jakarta EE packages.

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An overwhelming majority of global organizations admit they are ill-prepared to handle the steady increase in insider threat activity, according to new research conducted by Cybersecurity Insiders and announced today by Securonix.

While 76 percent of organizations have detected increased insider threat activity over the past five years, less than 30 percent believe they are equipped with the right tools to handle them.

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Crowdsourced security platform Bugcrowd’s latest Vulnerability Trends Report finds that the hacker community recorded a 30 percent increase in web vulnerability submissions on the platform compared to 2022.

In addition it has recorded an 18 percent increase in API submissions, a 21 percent increase in Android submissions, and a 17 percent increase in iOS submissions.

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After a seven-year gap between major releases, Directory Opus 13.1 makes its bow on Windows PCs. The File Explorer replacement launches with a new licensing model and retires the old Light build to accompany the dozens of changes, improvements and tweaks.

The new release comes with no fewer than six pages of highlights, proving the developers haven’t been resting on their laurels for the past seven years. Directory Opus 13 opens with a facelift that comes with Dark and Light Modes, plus an 'Any Colors You Like' mode, where users can customize any aspect of the program via 'Settings > Preferences > Colors and Fonts'.

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Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) technology has become increasingly popular as it combines the delivery of wide area networks and security controls in a single platform.

As enterprises look to support new digital requirements including accelerated cloud adoption, edge computing, increased use of collaboration tools, and a hybrid workforce SASE is likely to become still more popular. Versa Networks is launching a new line of Unified SASE gateways delivering 100+ Gbps throughput to meet the growing demand for increased convergence of networking and security.

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In one way or another, we invariably find ourselves sharing personal details online. Whether it's signing up for a newsletter, registering to access a website, or simply making an online purchase, our presence online is a constant. So how do we keep our info safe when we're buzzing around online?

And how much trust can we place in the websites where we share our personal details? Let's delve into strategies to safeguard our information and ensure our safety when sharing personal details online.

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A new report from Barracuda Networks and the Ponemon Institute looks at 'cybernomics' -- the financial forces that are driving cyberattacks.

Based on a survey of over 1,900 IT security practitioners it finds the average annual cost to respond to compromises is a startling $5.34 million.

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Much of the online world relies on things being random. Gamers trust that their players re-spawn at completely random locations, similarly, gamblers trust that online slot machines are giving them random outcomes.

Ensuring things are properly random is also important for things like decentralized finance and blockchain transactions. But how can you be sure that something is properly random?

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