New ‘Share screen with Live’ option appears in Google Gemini so the AI assistant can view your screen and see through your camera
AI-powered digital assistants are now (almost) ten a penny, and the rate at which they are gaining new capabilities is nausea-inducing. Google Gemini has long been able to make use of screen grabs as a prompt or part of a prompt, but now things are moving up a notch.
Some Gemini users are starting to notice a new “Share screen with Live” option on their devices. This goes far beyond the ability to analyze and use static screenshots, enabling Gemini to track what is on-screen in real time -- including user activity and what is picked up by the camera.
Huge Microsoft Photos update adds amazing new web search with OCR-extracted text feature and makes AI options easier to access
Microsoft Photos is something of an unsung hero of the Windows app family. It is an astonishingly useful and powerful tool that Microsoft keeps quietly updating on an irregular basis. The latest update has just landed, and it’s a biggie.
We’ve already seen the addition of OCR capabilities to Microsoft Photos so in-image text can be easily copied; this has now been extended to include the option to search the web with text that has been extracted. But this is far from being the only change in the latest update.
23andMe bankruptcy leaves your DNA at risk -- here’s how to delete your data before it’s too late
Well, here we are, folks -- 23andMe just filed for bankruptcy, and if you’re one of the millions who spat in a tube and trusted the company with your genetic secrets, you might want to take action immediately. With the business in financial freefall, people are wondering what’s going to happen to all that ultra-sensitive data -- DNA, family history, medical info, and more.
Let’s be real: when a tech company goes belly-up, everything it owns is potentially up for grabs. That includes customer data. And with 23andMe circling the drain, this is no time to sit on your hands. Now’s the moment to clean house and make sure your DNA isn’t part of some bankruptcy spreadsheet.
Everything an IT pro needs to know about penetration testing
The vast majority of IT professionals will agree that in cybersecurity, waiting for an attack to happen in order to expose weaknesses is a losing strategy.
As such, many will be well-clued up on the benefits of penetration testing; from demonstrating a commitment to protecting sensitive data and ensuring ongoing compliance with industry regulations, to gaining a clearer understanding of security gaps, and strengthening incident response readiness.
Seamless migration: Moving on-prem mailboxes to the cloud
Since 2020, most businesses have shifted their Microsoft Exchange mailboxes to the cloud. As of 2023, just 16 percent of Microsoft Exchange mailboxes operated on-premises -- a clear indication that organizations are seeking the improved scalability, reliability, and cost efficiency of cloud-based solutions.
However, migrations from on-prem mailboxes can be challenging. They can disrupt business operations, present security risks, and create compliance challenges. Without proper migration planning, businesses face significant vulnerabilities and risks. On top of this, support continues to diminish for various platforms. Just recently, Microsoft announced its sunsetting support for Exchange 2016 and 2019 later this year.
Rethinking risk -- are you taking the right path around security?
In the film Sliding Doors, a split second choice leads to two branching stories -- yet while the two stories are very different, they both lead to hospital trips and potential tragedy. The world of cyber security is similar. Whatever decisions we make, we are still under pressure and we will -- eventually, whatever we do -- end up facing significant risk.
Yet how do we show that we are doing a good job? If everything is working, there is nothing to see. Or have we collectively just been lucky to that point? Unless you have an active attack taking place, you can argue that your efforts are enough. But when you only look at a single point in time, it is a challenge to show that you are making a difference and reducing risk.
Transform Windows 10/11 into the OS you've always wanted with Seelen UI
Windows 10 and Windows 11 are functional but a bit unexciting, with limited customization options. If you’ve ever wished you could make Windows look and work better, the good news is that Seelen UI has you covered.
This free tool reimagines what a Windows desktop can be, giving users the power to break free from Microsoft’s frustrating limitations -- and it’s just been updated to offer even more features and improvements.
deepin 25 Alpha is a sleek Linux distro from China with Linyaps packaging -- but can it be trusted?
deepin 25 Alpha has arrived (download here), promising an overhauled desktop experience, advanced personalization options, and improved system-level features. On the surface that sounds great, but there is a legitimate question that remains -- should users really trust an operating system developed in Communist China?
This is software coming from a Chinese developer, and while deepin is open source, not every part of its ecosystem is fully transparent. It has faced questions before about telemetry and potential data collection. For users who care about digital privacy, that’s not something to brush off. Especially when you’re dealing with an OS that touches everything on your computer.
Microsoft is resurrecting a handy keyboard shortcut in Windows
There are several keyboard shortcuts that are seared into the minds of computer users, and they are turned to unthinkingly to speed up common tasks. But there are also keyboard shortcuts whose function has changed over time, with Win + C being a prime example.
Over the years, this particular shortcut has served as a way of accessing Cortana (remember that one?), launching Teams, and -- most recently -- for triggering Copilot. Win + C was killed off with Microsoft’s push of Copilot, and the arrival of the dedicated Copilot key on some new keyboards. Now there is some good news for people who either don’t use Microsoft’s AI-powered digital assistant, or would like to put the shortcut to better use.
Google admits accidentally deleting Timeline data of Google Maps users due to a ‘technical issue’
Users of Google Maps have been complaining in growing numbers that their Timeline data has mysteriously vanished. Now Google has confirmed that this was down to a “technical issue” rather than user error, and warned that there will be no way to recover this data for some people.
The Timeline feature of Google Maps stores location history, and is used by many people as a way of keeping track of places they have visited. Now, for those who were unaware of a recent change to the way Timeline data is stored, the technical SNAFU means that these memories are lost forever.
Why we need to focus on mobile device security [Q&A]
When getting a new smartphone most people focus on features and pricing, while security tends to be overlooked. But as we access the internet more using mobile devices, protecting users' personal information, transactions, and digital identities is vital.
We talked to Tom Tovar, CEO of Appdome, to discuss why mobile security should be at the forefront of consumer and media conversations and why it's currently being neglected.
Forget Windows 11 -- ReactOS, the Microsoft-free Windows operating system, just got a massive update! Download it now
Just as you can get versions of Android that are free from Google, including LineageOS and /e/OS, so there are also alternative Windows operating systems not developed by Microsoft.
One of the most best examples of this is ReactOS, an open-source project that aims to provide a free and compatible replacement for Windows, removing all the things you don’t want in Microsoft’s OS, such as spying/telemetry, adverts, and so on.
EndeavourOS Linux Mercury Neo refresh arrives with updated ISO and proves Windows 11 isn’t worth the hassle
There’s a new ISO out for EndeavourOS called “Mercury Neo,” and it’s the kind of Linux release that makes you seriously question why you’re still putting up with the annoying Windows 11. Let’s be honest, folks, Microsoft’s flagship product feels more like a roadblock than an operating system at this point. Mercury Neo, on the other hand, just quietly works.
This isn’t some big flashy overhaul, and that’s totally fine; it’s more of a quiet tune-up. Mercury Neo is a refreshed take on the Mercury release from February, and it brings some important fixes, updates, and improvements -- especially for folks doing new installs. If you’ve already got Mercury installed and you update regularly, you’re good. There's no need to reinstall anything.
Windows 25 solves Windows 11's biggest problem -- download it now
For most people, the first thing that jumps out about Windows 11 is the centered taskbar and Start menu. It’s one of the most obvious changes Microsoft made to the new OS to differentiate it from Windows 10.
A change like that can be difficult to adjust to at first -- if you’ve been using Windows for years you’ll be used to everything being on the left. Windows 25 puts everything back where it belongs, and you can install it now.
Enterprise AI usage surges but security worries remain
A new report from Zscaler reveals a 3,000 percent year-on-year growth in enterprise use of AI/ML tools, highlighting the rapid adoption of AI technologies across industries to unlock new levels of productivity, efficiency, and innovation.
This surge in adoption also brings heightened security concerns though. According to the study enterprises blocked 59.9 percent of all AI/ML transactions, indicating awareness around the potential risks associated with AI/ML tools, including data leakage, unauthorized access, and compliance violations.
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