Phishing attacks reach record highs

In the third quarter of this year, phishing attacks soared by 173 percent compared with the previous three months, and malware was up 110 percent over the same period.

Email security company Vade has released its quarterly Phishing and Malware Report which shows Q3 2023's malware volumes almost set a record for the highest total of any quarter, trailing only Q4 2016's mark of 126.8 million.

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Organized ID fraud increases 44 percent

Fraud

Identity management company AU10TIX has released its latest Global Identity Fraud Report, based on insights from millions of transactions processed in 249 countries from April to June 2023.

It finds there has been a 44 percent increase in organized ID fraud in North America compared to preceding quarters. This upsurge is believed to be driven by the ongoing economic recovery and inflationary pressures, particularly in the US market, which are emboldening professional ID fraud syndicates.

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New trend in ransomware: Anonymity

Anonymous woman

Imagine if you were attacked and you didn’t know the identity of the assailant. Not knowing who they were, what their motivations are, or their attack track record would leave you feeling helpless.

There is a disturbing new trend in ransomware attacks: anonymity. In the "halcyon" days of early attacks, the group attacking the victim would always say who they were. Now though, we are seeing a spike in attacks where the offending group is concealing their identity, and finding out who they are is a complicated process. If you’re lucky enough to have a wealth of dark web and other data to examine, threat actors are human, which means they usually make a mistake that reveals them.

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Cyberattacks -- where they come from and the tactics they use

hand on world map

A new report from Netskope looks at the activities of cybercriminals based on the techniques and motivators that were most commonly detected among its customers in the first three quarters of 2023.

In news that will come as a surprise to precisely nobody it shows that the highest percentage of cybercriminal activity comes from Russia, while China accounts for most politically-motivated attacks.

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WhatsApp adds passkey support to boost security

WhatsApp passkeys

The Meta-owned messaging app WhatsApp has joined the growing legions of apps and services to support passkeys.

Initially available to Android users, the passwordless authentication feature makes it possible to secure a WhatsApp account with face recognition, a fingerprint or a PIN. It is a security feature that is billed as not only offering greater protection than passwords, but also being faster to use.

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Microsoft is ready to launch new System Components hub in Windows 11 23H2

Windows 11 System Components

It is a number of weeks since we first learned about Windows 11's new System Components section in Windows 11. Initially discovered hidden in a Canary build of the operating system, Microsoft is now readying the new hub for a wider launch.

When it is made available to everyone, the new System Component hub will make various aspects of system management easier. It serves as a handy portal through which it is possible to change default apps, and take control of built-in apps and components without the need to hunt around in numerous places.

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14th Gen Intel Core processors usher in a new era of desktop performance

Earlier today, Intel unveiled its 14th Generation Core desktop processor family, highlighted by the extraordinary i9-14900K. The launch paraded six new unlocked desktop processors, showcasing up to 24 cores, 32 threads, and an unyielding 6GHz frequency straight from the packaging.

Not to be overshadowed, the Intel Core i7-14700K emerges with 20 cores and 28 threads, credited to four additional Efficient-cores (E-cores) over its predecessors. Furthermore, Intel’s Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU) now encapsulates the new AI Assist feature, simplifying overclocking to a one-click endeavor for select unlocked Intel Core 14th Gen desktop processors.

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Unlock superior machine learning performance on Ubuntu Linux with AMD ROCm 5.7 and RDNA 3

The landscape of Machine Learning (ML) is constantly evolving, and the tools that power this tech revolution are accelerating at an equal pace. AMD has recently unveiled its ROCm 5.7 platform on Ubuntu Linux, marking a significant stride towards empowering ML practitioners with robust resources.

This latest update is designed to harness the parallel computing prowess of the newly introduced Radeon RX 7900 XTX and Radeon PRO W7900 graphics cards, both of which are built on the advanced AMD RDNA 3 GPU architecture.

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Debian-based MX Linux 23.1 now available for download

Do you hate Mondays? Yeah, me too. Thankfully, we have some exciting Linux news on this particular Monday. You see, MX-23.1, the latest update to the MX-23 series, has been released today!

This update to the operating system brings a bunch of fixes, new features, and application updates, making the experience smoother for its users. If you already have MX-23, the good news is you don't need to reinstall anything. The new packages are available through the usual update channels, making the upgrade process a breeze.

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Most enterprises expect systems to be attacked but there's confusion around responsibilities

A new survey of over 500 security and IT operations leaders worldwide shows that 61 percent believe that data loss within the next 12 months due to increasingly sophisticated attacks is ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’.

The study from Commvault, with research carried out by IDC, reveals that in many cases, senior executives/line-of-business leaders are minimally engaged in their company's cyber preparedness initiatives -- just 33 percent of CEOs or managing directors and 21 percent of other senior leaders are heavily involved.

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Nine out of 10 British businesses want to invest in new technologies

A new study shows nine in 10 British businesses plan to invest in new technology including adaptive AI, sustainable tech, neurotech, applied observability and digital immune systems, in the next 12 months.

The report from software and services company Advanced shows that 70 percent of businesses are either already using or researching ways to bring adaptive AI into their working practices, even though almost 50 percent of business owners are concerned about the risks of doing so.

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Apple will soon be able to update iOS on new iPhones in sealed boxes

iPhone 15 handsets

It can be frustrating to buy a new phone only to discover that there is an OS update to install before you can start using it. For iPhone users this could soon be a thing of the past thanks to an innovative new system developed by Apple.

The recently released iPhone 15 suffered with an overheating issue that was later fixed with a software update, putting the onus on owners of new devices to download and install the patch. But a new "proprietary pad-like device" will allow Apple Stores to install the latest software on handsets without the need to open the box.

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Search traffic trends in the crypto sector: Unveiling the digital gold rush

Search traffic trends offer a fascinating glimpse into the evolving interests and behaviors of investors and enthusiasts. From its early days, the crypto sector has witnessed seismic shifts that continue to shape its landscape. For instance, some investors diversify their portfolios by adding L1 Blue Chip Assets from various sectors.

As cryptocurrencies emerged from obscurity, Bitcoin led the charge, captivating the imagination of investors. But what do the search traffic trends reveal about this digital darling and its competitors?

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How IT can cut its power bills and help save the planet [Q&A]

It's estimated that enterprise IT accounts for around 1.5 percent of the world's energy usage, making it a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

But a simple switch to using more efficient solutions rather than simply throwing everything into the cloud could make a significant difference. We spoke to Dr. Jim Webber, chief scientist at native graph database leader Neo4j and visiting professor at Newcastle University, to find out more.

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Logitech Zone Wireless 2 elevates business headsets with AI for crystal-clear audio

In a world where remote work and hybrid work environments have become the norm, the demand for high-quality audio and communication tools has never been greater. Logitech, a company known for its innovative technology solutions, has once again raised the bar with the introduction of the Zone Wireless 2 business headset. This top-of-the-line headset combines cutting-edge AI technology with advanced features to provide an unparalleled two-way noise-free calling experience for business professionals.

The transition to hybrid work environments has presented unique challenges, with individuals working from various locations, including home offices, cafes, and shared workspaces. The presence of background noise and poor sound quality can hinder collaboration and productivity in virtual meetings and calls. According to a recent study, a staggering 85 percent of work-from-home users face audio issues, such as background noise from other participants and subpar sound quality through computer speakers. Logitech recognized this challenge and has tried to address it head-on with the Zone Wireless 2.

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