• Article

There are many barriers to running Windows 11, and even if you are using the operating system, you may find that you’re not able to run the very latest version. A variety of problems means that Microsoft has put update blocks in place for systems that meet certain criteria, but is gradually easing up on some of them.

Gamers are among those who have found themselves unable to update to Windows 11 24H2, especially fans of Ubisoft titles. With some of the issues having been resolved, Microsoft has now partially lifted the block on updating.

Continue reading →

A surge in artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI (GenAI), and machine learning (ML) technologies is creating a massive online appetite for data. These tools are hungry for training data, this has boosted AI web scraping, which sits in a legal gray zone. Sometimes it's legal, sometimes it's not, but what's clear is that it's having ripple effects across online businesses.

We talked to Nick Rieniets, field CTO of Kasada, to learn more about the impact of web scraping and what companies can do to protect their content.

Continue reading →

Finding the right platform through which to make meaningful and valuable connections can be difficult, and this is certainly true for LGBTQIA+ professionals and business owners. LinkedIn may be the go-to platform for establishing business connections, but it is very broad and almost too big.

Stepping in to fill a significant gap in the market is Famm Connect, which is billed as “the first mobile app for LGBTQ+ professionals” and the “queer LinkedIn”. The aim is to create a safe environment to establish connections and relationships.

Continue reading →

If you’ve been looking for a reason to ditch Windows 11, the latest version of Manjaro Linux, 24.2 Yonada, might just be it. This new release brings updates across its GNOME, Plasma, and XFCE editions, offering a polished experience for both newcomers and seasoned Linux users.

The GNOME edition of Manjaro 24.2 has been updated to the GNOME 47 series, bringing features that put Windows 11’s customization options to shame. For example, users can now choose from a range of accent colors instead of being locked into a single default. Scaling improvements ensure icons and interface elements look sharp and usable, even on older or lower-resolution displays. If you’ve ever been frustrated with screen recording on Windows, Manjaro’s GNOME edition now supports hardware encoding for Intel and AMD GPUs, reducing system strain and providing a smooth recording experience.

Continue reading →

The battery indicator in the Taskbar of Windows 11 is – as it has been for many years in previous versions of Windows – entirely functional. But there has always been potential for it to be more.

Now Microsoft is taking action to help the humble battery indicator to reach its potential and ascend beyond merely being good enough. New features means that it will tell you more than just how much charge you have left.

Continue reading →

Artificial intelligence is swiftly moving from a sci-fi future to a modern reality. This edition of Artificial Intelligence For Dummies keeps pace with the lighting-fast expansion of AI tools that are overhauling every corner of reality.

This book demystifies how artificial intelligence systems operate, giving you a look at the inner workings of AI and explaining the important role of data in creating intelligence. You'll get a primer on using AI in everyday life, and you'll also get a glimpse into possible AI-driven futures.

Continue reading →

The world of Windows application compatibility on Linux has just reached a new milestone. The Wine team has unveiled Wine 10.0-rc1, the very first release candidate for the highly anticipated Wine 10.0. This isn’t just another update -- it’s the beginning of the yearly code freeze, a crucial period where the team hones the software to perfection. Enthusiasts and developers are encouraged to put this release to the test and report any bugs, ensuring the final 10.0 version shines.

Wine 10.0-rc1 isn’t playing it safe. It brings several key upgrades and features that signal serious progress. Among the highlights, the bundled vkd3d has been updated to version 1.14, promising improved Direct3D 12 support. Meanwhile, the Mono engine has been upgraded to version 9.4.0, delivering better .NET compatibility. There’s also an initial version of a Bluetooth driver, a major leap toward better hardware interaction.

Continue reading →

Lexar has launched two new portable SSDs, the SL300 and ES3, targeting everyday users and professionals who value speed and reliability in data storage. Both drives offer read speeds of up to 1050MB/s and write speeds of 1000MB/s, claiming to be up to 9.5 times faster than traditional HDDs.

The SL300 and ES3 share nearly identical specifications, with no notable differences apart from their color -- the SL300 comes in black, while the ES3 is silver. Both drives are equipped with double-layer graphite sheets to manage heat during use and feature drop resistance up to 2 meters, making them durable options for those on the move.

Continue reading →

In an era when successful hacks are now an inevitability, too many organizations have a false sense of security when it comes to their data. Unfortunately, cyber criminals are ready and willing to take advantage of this complacency.

Gone are the days when CISOs could simply focus on building up frontline cyber defenses alone. Today’s cyber adversaries are using AI technologies like ChatGPT to augment and elevate the sophistication and effectiveness of their attacks on an industrial scale. Whether that’s automating how they scan for vulnerabilities or initiating highly adaptive attacks that can evade traditional perimeter security measures.

Continue reading →

A new report shows that 96 percent of attacks conducted by a leading pro-Russian hacktivist group targeted Europe this year, with attackers focusing on influencing public perception and trust over direct technical disruptions.

Based on research and data from more than 135,000 security events in 160 countries, the Security Navigator report from Orange Cyberdefense also reveals that hacktivists were responsible for 23 percent of cyberattacks that directly targeted OT and 46 percent of these attacks resulted in a 'manipulation of control.'

Continue reading →

For many computer users, the thought of moving away from Windows 10 or 11 can feel like stepping into uncharted territory. While frustrations with Microsoft's operating system -- whether it's updates at inconvenient times, performance slowdowns, or privacy concerns -- may drive them to consider alternatives, the leap to a Linux-based system often feels daunting.

It’s understandable. Linux has a reputation for being complex, requiring command-line knowledge, and catering to tech-savvy users. For those accustomed to the familiar Windows interface, the steep learning curve and potential compatibility issues with software and peripherals can be enough to deter them from making the switch. However, the gorgeous Oreon 10 could be about to change all that.

Continue reading →

One of the main challenges is the low quality of data products, often caused by inaccurate, incomplete, or inconsistent data. Another significant challenge is the lack of skills among data professionals to analyze unstructured data, leading to valuable insights being missed that are difficult or impossible to obtain from structured data alone.

To help you tackle these challenges, Python Data Cleaning and Preparation Best Practices will take you on a journey through the upstream data pipeline, which includes the ingestion of data from various sources, the validation and profiling of data for high-quality end tables, and writing data to different sinks.

Continue reading →

0patch has revealed a 0day vulnerability that affects all desktop versions of Windows as well as Windows Server. In all, a staggering 21 different editions of Windows have the security issue which is described as a URL File NTLM Hash Disclosure vulnerability.

The security patching firm has reported the issue to Microsoft but -- as has been the case in the past -- the Windows-maker has yet to produce a fix. Stepping up to fill the void, 0patch has released free micropatches for all affected versions of Windows.

Continue reading →

If you’ve been waiting for Windows 11 24H2 (also known as the Windows 11 2024 Update) to roll out to your computer, you might be in luck.

For anyone who doesn’t want to go to the hassle of forcing the update, there is the option of sitting back until Microsoft takes care of things for you. And there is good news on this front. The company has announced that Windows 11 24H2 has “entered a new stage of availability” and is now more widely available.

Continue reading →

Historically, security metrics have focused on measuring how many attacks are successful and how long it takes for a successful attack to be detected. This is perhaps unsurprising since the bulk of the industry has focused on building tools to detect adversaries.

We spoke to Nicko van Someren, chief technology officer at Absolute Security, to learn why companies focusing purely on defense can create more risk for their organizations, and why instead of focusing on 'time to detection,' it's time to reset security metrics to focus on 'time to recovery.'

Continue reading →