• Article

The Windows Registry is obviously a critical component of the Windows operating system, serving as a hierarchical database that stores low-level settings for the OS and applications. It contains configurations for system hardware, installed software, user preferences, and the OS itself.

You can add new functionality to Windows and change how existing features work by creating new registry keys or altering existing ones, typically changing their binary values from 0 to 1 or vice versa. But have you ever wondered what would happen to Windows if -- in a moment of madness -- you set every registry key to 0? Basically setting them to ‘disabled’ or ‘off'?

Continue reading →

Four months ago, we reported that Microsoft was testing adding long overdue features like spell checking and autocorrect to its Notepad app. You may have been wondering when, or indeed if, this functionality was ever going to come non-Insiders, but the updated Notepad is now quietly rolling out to all users and you likely already have it installed.

Notepad has been a popular tool since its arrival in 1983, acting as a simple, free alternative to the likes of Word, and these new capabilities will be a welcome addition for its fans, especially after Microsoft took the controversial decision to kill off the more capable WordPad recently.

Continue reading →

Only 61 percent of manufacturing businesses have adopted DMARC, with 19 percent of the total manufacturers analyzed having adopted the most stringent 'p=reject' DMARC policy.

New research from email security provider EasyDMARC, which surveyed almost 5,000 global manufacturing companies, finds 43 percent of those with DMARC use a low-security DMARC policy that allows suspicious emails to reach inboxes but enables reporting on such activity.

Continue reading →

Artificial intelligence is having an impact on more and more areas of our lives. In the customer service field it's increasingly being used to improve customer experience and create more effective interactions.

But how good is AI at dealing with customers? And are businesses using it effectively? We spoke to Josh Kim, co-founder and CEO of AI-based chat and customer experience platform Channel Talk, to learn more.

Continue reading →

According to a new blog post, Linux Mint 22 is set to release this month, although the exact date remains uncertain. The BETA phase has been extended due to the need to address numerous critical bugs. So far, 109 bug reports have been submitted, with 53 still unresolved.

The development team has been working on issues such as AppArmor security changes causing application crashes, hardware acceleration playback libraries leading to Xorg crashes, and problems with Flatpak and Mintinstall.

Continue reading →

LIAN LI has introduced the EDGE series, a new line of power supplies specifically designed for vertical installation in dual-chamber PC cases. This series introduces a “T-shaped” form factor that optimizes space and improves cable management in modern PC builds.

The EDGE series features an outward-facing modular strip that simplifies wiring and keeps setups clean and organized. It also includes a built-in 4-port USB expansion hub, which reduces the need for additional cables by allowing RGB devices, fans, and controllers to connect directly without extra motherboard connections.

Continue reading →

There's no doubt that artificial intelligence is flavor of the month at the moment. But for many people using AI and understanding what it can do for them remains something of a challenge.

Build-A-Brain is a new platform that aims to make AI accessible to anyone by acting as a sort of virtual executive assistant.

Continue reading →

Artificial intelligence is making its way into many areas of business and IT. Software development is just one area where it's starting to have a major impact on productivity and working patterns.

To learn more we spoke to Varun Mohan, CEO of AI coding assistant Codeium, which uses proprietary large language models (LLMs) to aid with software development and has recently announced a $65 million funding round.

Continue reading →

Identity is paramount for every architecture design, making it crucial for enterprise and solutions architects to understand the benefits and pitfalls of implementing identity patterns.

However, information on cloud identity patterns is generally scattered across different sources and rarely approached from an architect’s perspective, and this is what Cloud Identity Patterns and Strategies aims to solve, empowering solutions architects to take an active part in implementing identity solutions.

Continue reading →

Since the arrival of generative AI, its potential to increase challenges associated with privacy and cyber security has become a major concern. As a result, government bodies and industry experts are hotly debating how to regulate the AI industry.

So, where are we heading and how is the crossover between AI and cyber security likely to play out? Looking at the lessons learnt from previous efforts to regulate the cyber security market over the past few decades, achieving anything similar for AI is a daunting prospect. However, change is essential if we are to create a regulatory framework that guards against AI's negative potential without also blocking the positive uses that AI is already delivering.

Continue reading →

Supply-chain vulnerabilities loom large on the cybersecurity landscape, with threats and attacks such as SolarWinds, 3CX, Log4Shell and now XZ Utils underscoring the potentially devastating impact of these security breaches. The latter examples of Open Source Software (OSS) attacks are a growing attack vector. In fact, nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of UK software supply chains have faced cyber attacks within the last twelve months.

Expect attacks on the open source software supply chain to accelerate, with attackers automating attacks in common open source software projects and package managers. Many CISOs and DevSecOps teams are unprepared to implement controls in their existing build systems to mitigate these threats. In 2024, DevSecOps teams will migrate away from shift-left security models in favor of “shifting down” by using AI to automate security out of the developers’ workflows.

Continue reading →

Details are continuing to emerge daily on the hacking of Snowflake customers who have had their data stolen in what is shaping up to be one of the most significant attacks in years. So far, at least 165 of Snowflake’s customers, including household names like Ticketmaster, Santander Bank, and Advanced Auto Parts, have been identified as having their data impacted in this incident. 

While initial reports indicated that Snowflake itself had been hacked, with some evidence pointing to a former employee’s demo account having been compromised, this attack was actually far more interesting because of what it tells us about the current state of security in the cloud.

Continue reading →

Hatch Baby has issued a recall for approximately 919,400 power adapters sold with its Rest 1st Generation smart sound machines in the United States and an additional 44,352 units in Canada due to a shock hazard. The problem stems from the plastic housing of the AC power adapters which can detach when removed from the outlet, exposing the power prongs and creating a risk of electric shock.

The recalled adapters have the model number CYAP05 050100U and were sold exclusively with the Rest 1st Generation Sound Machine. These were not available for separate purchase. The affected adapters have a white rectangular plastic housing and feature labels such as "Jiangsu Chenyang Electron Co. LTD" and "Made in China." They were sold from January 2019 through September 2022 at various retailers including Hatch.co, Amazon, BuyBuyBaby, Target, Walmart, Nordstrom, Pottery Barn Kids, and BestBuy, with prices ranging from $60 to $200.

Continue reading →

Peppermint OS has announced updates to its lineup, introducing a new version called “Fully Loaded,” alongside its traditional lightweight Xfce desktop. The original Peppermint OS offers a minimalist interface and is available in 32-bit and 64-bit options, emphasizing efficiency and customization with only essential applications installed.

“Peppermint Fully Loaded” is designed for users who prefer a ready-to-use desktop. This version is pre-equipped with a full suite of applications including Firefox, GIMP, LibreOffice, and Thunderbird, aimed at providing a comprehensive user experience from the start. Additional tools like Btop++ for process monitoring, xDaily for system maintenance, and pfetch for system information are also included.

Continue reading →

OpenMandriva has released a new candidate version for its rolling release model, ROME 24.07. This update brings Plasma 6 as the default desktop environment, incorporating various new features and improvements.

This version ensures compatibility between Plasma 5 and Plasma 6 packages, allowing users to choose their preferred environment. It's important to note that ROME 24.07 and the upcoming OMLx Rock 5.1 will be the final versions to include the Plasma 5 desktop, indicating a future shift towards exclusive updates for Plasma 6.

Continue reading →