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Swap-unwanted-stuff-for-free site Freecycle has acknowledged a security breach that took place at the end of last month. Hackers were able to access a wealth of data including usernames, User IDs, email addresses and passwords.

The organization says that it has notified the "appropriate US authorities" of the incident, as well as the Information Commissioner's Offier (ICO) in the UK. Few details of what happened have been revealed, but Freecycle is advising all members to change their account passwords as a security measure.  

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Of the 90 percent of UK enterprises that have been forced to turn to their backup system, only 27 percent were able to recover all of their information and documents -- down from 45 percent in 2022.

A survey from encrypted drive maker Apricorn finds 32 percent of the security decision makers in large enterprises surveyed attributed the unsuccessful recovery to a lack of robust backup processes, up from two percent in 2022.

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If you've ever found yourself desperately searching for that perfect speaker that brings both sonic supremacy and an electrifying light show to your events, look no further. Tronsmart, a brand that has consistently delivered top-notch audio gadgets, is back in the limelight with their newest flagship—the Bang Max Bluetooth speaker.

With an unbelievable 130W sound output, the Bang Max doesn't just play music; it commands your auditory senses. And the party doesn't stop at the eardrums. This technological marvel boasts dynamic, pulsating lights that sync with the beat of your favorite tunes, creating an immersive atmosphere that is as much a visual feast as it is an auditory one.

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Ah, memory cards! These tiny repositories are where our most cherished memories reside -- be it those perfect beachside vacation photos or crucial files for an impending work deadline. But let’s be honest, dealing with different types of memory cards across various devices can be cumbersome. Enter the Sabrent USB-C Multi-Card Reader (CR-C4PM), a slick and versatile solution that is as portable as it is powerful.

This card reader has a lot going for it. It’s portable, rugged, stylish, and plug-and-play. You can feel the quality just holding it; the aluminum main body is adorned with an ABS casing for that added durability and aesthetic appeal. Oh, and let's not forget, it helps in improved heat dissipation. So, you don't have to worry about the reader or your precious cards getting fried during sustained operations.

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Over the past few years, there has been an acceleration in the enterprise-level understanding of Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs), a category best known for its ability to enable and preserve the security and privacy of data when it is being used or processed. While some technologies within the category, including homomorphic encryption, trusted execution environments, and secure multiparty computation, had previously been academically pursued but not computationally practical, the tide has  changed.

Technological development, surging awareness, and increasing adoption of PETs in recent years have alerted regulators, analysts, and broader industry to their potential impact and opened up a wealth of exciting and transformative opportunities for businesses.

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You know, it's often hard to get people to leave their comfort zones. But, sometimes, staying where you're comfortable is the biggest impediment to progress. This is especially true when it comes to operating systems. While Windows 11 has been generating buzz with its new features and revamped UI, let's not forget the other contenders that are pushing boundaries. Linux Lite 6.6 is one such alternative, and dare I say, it's one of the most inviting Linux distributions out there for those looking to make a switch.

The Linux Lite team has really outdone themselves this time around. The 6.6 release is one of their largest since they launched back in 2012. They've added thousands of lines of new code, predominantly to support a vast range of languages. From Afrikaans to Ukrainian, Linux Lite 6.6 now supports a whopping 22 languages, covering areas such as Main Menu, Right Click Menu, Folder Names, and even Desktop Icons. This is an incredible leap toward making Linux Lite a truly global OS.

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Transcend has unveiled its latest portable solid state drive. Called “ESD300,” it might be the size of a typical USB drive, but make no mistake—this is a full-fledged SSD with specs that’ll leave you smiling. We’re talking read/write speeds of up to 1,050/950 MB/s. And the robust aluminum casing isn’t just for show; it serves the vital function of dissipating heat, ensuring your data remains safe and sound.

The ESD300 comes equipped with a versatile USB Type-C connector, offering a bridge to an array of devices and operating systems—be it Windows, macOS, iPadOS, or Android. Forget the cable spaghetti or dongles; one connector to rule them all makes data transfer between devices a cinch.

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Hot on the heels of a reminder about the end of support for Windows 11 21H2, Microsoft has reminded everyone that Windows will soon have TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1 disabled.

Transport Layer Security (TLS) has been around for a number of years, with TLS 1.0 not only dating back to 1999, but having been superseded by far more secure versions. TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.2 are now very much the norm, so Microsoft is following others in the industry by dropping 1.0 and 1.1.

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Generative AI tools like ChatGPT have been in the news a lot recently. While it offers many benefits it also brings risks which have led to some organizations banning its use by their staff.

However, the pace of development means that this is unlikely to be a viable approach in the long term. We talked to Randy Lariar, practice director of big data, AI and analytics at Optiv, to discover why he believes organizations need to embrace the new technology and shift their focus from preventing its use in the workplace to adopting it safely and securely.

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In the tech industry, the phrase 'one size fits all' never applies. The hype surrounding developments such as generative AI may be attractive to companies looking to be innovative. However, integrating the trendiest tech advancements does not always yield benefits for your business.

The allure of a technological silver bullet can sway companies to make decisions without truly understanding the broader business picture. Whether it’s AI or a productivity tool, leaders may adopt the first available solution, assuming it will address all their challenges and boost employee productivity. When that fails, they move onto the next option. In fact, nearly half of the respondents in our recent workplace alignment survey admitted to using five or more productivity applications at work. However, this isn’t always the best solution for employees, with 40 percent saying they find it frustrating to have so many tools at their disposal.

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Today is an exciting day in the world of Linux; Nitrux 3.0.0 has just been launched, and you can download an ISO here. This groundbreaking release screams innovation and forward-thinking, something that seems to have escaped Microsoft’s latest Windows 11.

Nitrux 3.0.0 comes with a robust set of improvements, from its use of Linux Kernel 6.4.12-2 (Liquorix) to an updated Firefox version 117.0. But let’s talk about the ‘Nitrux Update Tool System’ that even offers a rescue operation for backup redundancy. Imagine your update process gets interrupted; this feature allows you to restore the root partition from a Live session. This isn’t just an update; it’s a lifeline, something Windows 11’s update mechanism sorely lacks.

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Bigger, better, bolder—those are not just buzzwords, they’re a lifestyle. When it comes to hosting house parties, gone are the days of weak sound systems and lame lighting effects. Get ready to transform your living room or backyard into an absolute fiesta. The new JBL PartyBox Ultimate promises to elevate your social gatherings from casual get-togethers to full-blown concert experiences.

JBL's PartyBox Ultimate comes with Original Pro Sound technology and boasts two high-sensitivity mid-range drivers along with dual tweeters. Translation: it's the loudest and best-sounding PartyBox yet. The PartyBox Ultimate is so robust that it can cover the area of two basketball courts without losing an ounce of its audio quality. Add Dolby Atmos immersive audio to the mix, and you've got a soundscape that not only surrounds you but also thrills you with its clarity and depth.

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Cybersecurity can, at times, feel like a thankless and invisible task. The punishment for a mistake is immediate and ruthless, the reward for success next to non-existent, because how do you recognize the absence of a breach? But this isn’t a new scenario; the IT industry has dealt with this outlook for decades. The job of an IT department is to be invisible, but when something does go wrong all eyes are inevitably on them to fix it.

In a threat landscape where there exists a constant push to innovate, adapt and breach, there are only three possible outcomes for the IT industry: defeat, indefinite struggle, or complete structural collapse.

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As one of the world’s most valuable commodities, data has increasingly been the focus of cybercrime over the past decade. As a core segment of a modernized organization, data-first approaches to business intelligence are extremely common. Its centrality in modern business has led to an average data breach costing over $4.4 million dollars for the attacked company. With this astounding penalty for poor security defenses, the need to backup and protect data has risen to an all-time high.

Typically, companies that wanted to protect their data through backups would do so by creating on-premise storage. However, due to the expanding amount of information that businesses commonly access and utilize, the scope of what organizations needed to save continued to increase. Instead of adding a few external servers and hard drives, or NAS (Network-attached Storage), they now needed to create entire systems, which were costly to install and maintain.

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Having just delivered an impressive update to the much-loved text editor Notepad, Microsoft has revealed that its (slightly) more advanced sibling, WordPad, is to be discontinued.

Serving as a halfway house between the barebones Notepad and a fully-fledged word processor, WordPad has been a feature of Windows for decades -- having been preceded by Write . But now Microsoft feels that the time has come to pull the plug, saying that the app is now longer being developed and will be killed ff.

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