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A new report from Delinea shows that, while still not back to 2021 levels, ransomware attacks are increasing.

What's more, mid-sized companies appeared to be in cybercriminals’ sights the most, with 65 percent saying they've been a ransomware victim over the past 12 months. Organizations are also paying ransoms more frequently, up to 76 percent from 68 percent the prior year.

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A new report shows a 50 percent global drop in venture capital invested into quantum startups from $2.2 billion in 2022 to around $1.2 billion in 2023. The US saw an even bigger decline at 80 percent, while Europe, the Middle East and Africa grew by three percent.

The report from IQM Quantum Computers, OpenOcean, a leading European venture capital firm, and Lakestar, the leading European technology investor, attributes the drop to an overall decline in technology investing rather than to falling interest in quantum technology.

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It may be the longest, slowest death of any deprecated piece of software, but Microsoft is inching closer to the complete killing off of the WMI command line utility.

It is now eight years since Microsoft deprecated the Windows Management Instrumentation Command line (WMIC), but the utility was converted into a Feature on Demand in Windows 11 22H2. However, starting now in Insider builds -- and later in the year for release builds -- WMIC will be disabled by default.

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Installing updates for Windows 11 has turned into something of a gamble in recent times, but this is never more the case than with the preview version of patches released by Microsoft each month. The latest example of a problematic update is KB5034204.

Released a week ago, the KB5034204 update preview was designed to fix a range of issues plaguing Windows 11 users, including troublesome searches, Bluetooth bugs and problems with zip files. But it has also been found to cause a number of new issues, including rendering Explorer unresponsive, 0x8007000d errors during installation, and more besides.

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KIOXIA has started offering samples of the Universal Flash Storage (UFS) Ver. 4.0 to manufacturers. This pioneering technology could redefine the performance parameters of various automotive systems, including telematics, infotainment, and Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS). KIOXIA's latest offering promises a substantial boost in data transfer speeds, with sequential read and write speeds reportedly surging by +100% and +40% respectively.

This enhanced performance is critical in harnessing the full potential of 5G connectivity, ensuring swifter system startups and a smoother user experience. KIOXIA, a trailblazer in UFS technology, continues to innovate with its UFS Ver. 4.0 devices. These devices, integrating the company’s proprietary BiCS FLASH 3D flash memory and a sophisticated controller, adhere to the JEDEC-standard package. The UFS 4.0 standard boasts impressive interface speeds, reaching up to 23.2 gigabits per second (Gbp/s) per lane, and is backward compatible with UFS 3.1.

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In the era of hybrid work, endpoints act as the nerve center of business operations -- distributed across multiple locations and networks. While this has bolstered employee productivity and flexibility, the shift has also increased IT challenges, and the exposure to cyber threats targeting remote employees. As the workplace evolves, security must too. To minimize cyber risk and navigate compliance, it’s up to IT teams to intensively monitor, safeguard, and manage employee devices.

As the world of work continues to transform, IT departments are facing increasing demands, compounded by a shortage of skilled staff. They must find ways to boost their operational efficiency. In response, organizations are turning to always-on endpoint management. This approach ensures continuous oversight and control, which is vital as organizations shift to global digital workforces.

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Cybersecurity company NordVPN is launching a new, free tool to allow users to check the safety of a website before visiting it.

Link Checker scans a site for different types of malware and delivers a notification about whether it's fake or infected with phishing scams.

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A new report from software engineering specialist LinearB looks at the effects of generative AI on code creation and delivery.

Gen AI is predicted to generate one in five lines of code by the end of this year and the study of over 150 tech leaders sets out to understand how organizations can measure the effects of Gen AI on their code.

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Most successful cyberattacks rely on compromised identity or social engineering. Yet this can be a major blindspot for enterprises with basic awareness of the problem lacking and a growing number of personal devices used for work.

We spoke to Jim Taylor, chief product officer of identity platform RSA, -- which recently published a report on the issue -- to learn more about the problem and how it can be addressed.

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Sticky notes, both virtual and physical, remain incredibly popular. Since Windows 10, Microsoft has had its own app called, funnily enough, Sticky Notes -- an app that had not been updated in years.

But this is about to change; Microsoft has issued a notice that users should "stay tuned for some of our biggest announcements yet". The company is yet to provide details of just when we can expect to see the updates, and has said outright what it NOT going to be -- but we can take a decent guess at what might be.

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In a significant update for Linux enthusiasts, Budgie Desktop has today unveiled its latest iteration, Budgie 10.9, marking a new series with notable enhancements and forward-looking architectural changes. This new release gets a redesigned Bluetooth applet, initial steps towards Wayland compatibility, and the adoption of budgie-session for refined session management.

The Bluetooth applet in Budgie 10.9 has undergone a comprehensive redesign, now offering direct connectivity options for paired Bluetooth devices, including the ability to send files seamlessly. Users can also monitor battery life indicators, a feature that adds a layer of convenience to the desktop experience. This redesign signifies a departure from the gnome-bluetooth library, with Budgie now directly interfacing with BlueZ and UPower over D-Bus. This strategic move not only enhances Bluetooth functionalities but also simplifies maintenance and potentially allows certain Linux distributions to eliminate the older gnome-bluetooth from their repositories.

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When installing Windows from scratch, the process has not really changed much over the years -- and neither has the way the setup experience looks. This means that the installer for Windows 11 looks virtually identical to that of Windows 10, which in turn looked virtually identical to that of Windows 8.

Until now. With the latest release of Windows 11, Microsoft has finally updated the look and feel of the installer. This means not only a cleaner and more consistent aesthetic, but also an improved experience for the "Repair my PC" option.

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In a significant development, Opera has warmly welcomed Apple's decision to open the iOS platform to alternative browser engines, a mandate stemming from the European Digital Markets Act (DMA). Seizing this opportunity, Opera is set to introduce Opera One, a browser that promises to redefine the browsing experience for iPhone and iPad users through its AI-powered capabilities and a robust engine.

The enforcement of the DMA in March 2024 is perceived by Opera as a pivotal moment that will enhance competition and offer iOS users a wider array of browser choices. Jørgen Arnesen, EVP Mobile at Opera, shared his thoughts on this development:

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The EndeavourOS Galileo Neo Linux distribution is now available (ISO found here). This update primarily focuses on system stabilization and core package updates. While not introducing new features, the distribution emphasizes updates to the offline KDE Plasma option and the overall installation process, aiming to provide a solid foundation for both new installations and existing systems.

Galileo Neo comes equipped with the latest Linux kernel 6.7.1.arch1-1 and includes updates to key components such as Calamares 23.11.2.4-1, Firefox 122.0-1, Mesa 1:23.3.3-1, Xorg-server 21.1.11-1, and Nvidia-dkms 545.29.1.06-1. These updates are part of EndeavourOS’s commitment to keeping the system up-to-date and ensuring compatibility and performance.

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Microsoft has announced the availability of Windows Server Preview Build 26040, the first preview of what has now been confirmed to be called Windows Server 2025.

The release marks the resumption of the Windows Server Insider builds after a break for the winter. In addition to the revelation of the Windows Server 2025 branding, Microsoft has also added flighting and downloadable in-place upgrades to the Windows Server Insider program which works in the same way as for Windows 11.

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