Microsoft launches new driver blocking feature to boost security in Windows
Microsoft is giving Windows users an easy way to avoid drivers that are known to contain vulnerabilities, helping to improve security.
The company is adding a vulnerable driver blocklist option to Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) which will help to ensure that only trusted drivers can be installed. The new security measure is available to users of Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server 2016 on systems with hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI) enabled, and Windows 10 in S Mode.
Microsoft relents and makes it easier to change the default web browser in Windows 11
Microsoft has made numerous missteps with Windows 11, but one that drew a lot of attention was the convoluted method involved in changing the default web browser. But following complaints and criticism, the company has backtracked and dramatically simplified the process.
The change was quietly introduced with the release of the KB5011563 update for Windows 11. This is currently an optional update, but the fact that Microsoft has now made it so much easier to set the default browser to something other than Edge is one very good reason to get it installed right now.
TEAMGROUP unveils ELITE SO-DIMM DDR5 laptop RAM with 4,800MHz clock speed
When you are a computer enthusiast, there are peaks and valleys when it comes to excitement about PC components. What do I mean by this? Well, sometimes you are using desktops and/or laptops with bleeding-edge parts as an early adopter, while other times you are using ho-hum components that have been around a while. For instance, we have been using DDR4 memory for about seven years now.
Thankfully, the age of DDR5 is finally upon us. After dealing with DDR4 for so many years now, we will soon see many PCs with DDR5 memory inside -- including laptops and mini desktop PCs that use SO-DIMM sticks. Today, TEAMGROUP unveils some impressive DDR5 notebook memory. Carrying the "ELITE " moniker, this RAM runs at an impressive 4,800MHz and comes in capacities ranging from 8GB (single stick) to 64GB (2x 32GB).
Fedora Linux 36 Beta now available for download with GNOME 42
Today is the day many Linux users have been eagerly awaiting -- Fedora 36 has officially reached Beta status. Yes, folks, you can download the pre-release operating system immediately! For many Linux users, Fedora is considered the most important distribution based on that open source kernel. Why? Because the distro focuses on truly free and open source software -- a pure Linux experience. Hell, the father of Linux, Linus Torvalds, famously uses Fedora.
What makes Fedora 36 Beta so exciting? Well, this pre-release version of the upcoming operating system uses the brand-new GNOME 42 as its default desktop environment. If you instead choose the LXQt spin of Fedora, you will be delighted to know it now uses version 1.0 which was released late last year. Plus, users with an NVIDIA GPU are in for a treat when using the proprietary graphics driver -- GDM will use Wayland by default.
The surge in digital demand necessitates building the enterprise network of the future
If businesses want to win in the 21st century, then harnessing the power of the network across the entire organization is essential because digital is the new front door for every enterprise. Customer and workforce demands on the network are evolving faster than the pace of traditional businesses and the Covid-19 pandemic has only accelerated this change. The digital winners of tomorrow don’t think in terms of building solutions that merely solve today’s challenges. Their eyes are set on being ready for challenges that are yet to materialize. They build for change.
To thrive, companies need a different level of adaptability and creativity to handle competition, manage new threats and embrace new technologies. Yet the network is often overlooked. Like the forgotten but essential plumbing in a vast mansion which is being renovated for the future, the renovation will include modern new features and facilities to enhance the experience of living there for years to come. However, unless the owners also upgrade the plumbing to create more capacity and resilience, most of these new features won’t function effectively.
All-new PlayStation Plus arriving in June with a choice of three membership levels
Sony launched PlayStation Plus back in 2010, and the popular console subscription service is about to get a major makeover.
PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now will be merged into an all-new PlayStation Plus with three membership tiers designed to suit all budgets -- PlayStation Plus Essential, PlayStation Plus Extra, and PlayStation Plus Premium.
Authentication failures lead to lost customers
A new study carried out by the Ponemon Institute and sponsored by passwordless authentication platform company Nok Nok Labs, shows the significant costs to businesses that result from authentication failures and weaknesses.
According to the study, which surveyed 1,007 IT staff, IT security leaders, and line of business leaders, the average business losses across all types of authentication weaknesses range from $39 million to $42 million.
Businesses not ready to give up third-party cookies
Third-party cookies are already blocked by Firefox and Safari and will also be blocked by Google Chrome by the end of 2023. But new research from Twilio shows 81 percent of companies still rely on them, while 85 percent of consumers want brands to use only first-party data.
The change is likely to bring more issues for brands that rely on such cookies to identify and track visitors to their websites. More than half (55 percent) of companies say they are not fully prepared for a cookieless world, and 42 percent predict that the impending changes will lead to lower returns on their marketing spend.
Organizations will struggle to meet cyber incident disclosure deadlines
In the light of President Biden's new legislation requiring critical infrastructure organizations to disclose cyber incidents to the government within 72 hours, new research from BitSight shows how unprepared many are to meet the strict disclosure requirements.
Based on analysis of more than 12,000 publicly disclosed cyber incidents between 2019 and 2022, the research finds it takes the average organization 105 days to discover and disclose an incident from the date it occurred.
Get AOMEI Backupper Professional and other tools free to celebrate World Backup Day
With this year's World Backup Day on March 31st approaching fast, AOMEI is giving BetaNews readers the chance to get their hands on $109.89 worth of software free of charge.
AOMEI Backupper Professional allows Windows PC users to backup and clone their drives. It's a handy tool if you’ve been putting off upgrading to Windows 11 because it allows you to roll back to an earlier OS if the update fails.
Flaws found in over 80 percent of public sector applications
The public sector has the highest proportion of security flaws in its applications along with some of the lowest and slowest fix rates compared to other industry sectors.
A new report from application security testing company Veracode finds 82 percent of public sector applications have security flaws and that 60 percent of flaws in third-party libraries in the public sector remain unfixed after two years.
Using basic data to improve public services
The digitization of public services is at the very top of government agendas across Europe, but the lack of accessible and reliable data, such as core information about individuals and businesses, creates challenges for digital administration.
This information, called basic data or register, is re-used throughout the public sector and is an important basis for public authorities to perform their tasks properly and efficiently. Not least because an ever-greater number of tasks must be performed digitally and across units, departments and sectors. Without accurate and accessible basic data, true joined up services will always remain an illusion.
One in four employees lose job after making cybersecurity mistakes
We all make mistakes from time to time, but a cybersecurity error could cost you your job according to a new report.
The study from email security company Tessian finds almost one in four respondents (21 percent) lost their job as a result of a security mistake that compromised their company’s security -- up from 12 percent in 2020.
Microsoft releases KB5011563 update for Windows 11 to fix Settings and upgrade notifications
Microsoft has released a new optional update for Windows 11 in the form of the KB5011563 preview. The update takes Windows 11 up to build 22000.593, and as well as fixing numerous problems with the operating system, it also introduces an important change to the way notifications work.
The KB5011563 update has previously been released to Windows Insiders, but now the preview version is available for anyone who wants it to install ahead of its full release this coming Patch Tuesday. Among the fixes included in this update are a patch for an issue that causes OneDrive to lose focus, and a speed boost for slow start times.
Silicon Power MEC3H0S is a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for extreme conditions
Most consumers can simply buy any compatible solid state drive, since their computer will be in a home or office -- they will likely have heat and/or air conditioning. In other words, the computer will be operating in normal conditions. Some businesses, however, may be using computers in extreme conditions -- either very hot or very cold. For them, a typical SSD may get damaged due to extraordinary temperatures.
Today, Silicon Power launches a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD that is designed for extreme conditions. Called "MEC3H0S," it isn't just rugged and durable, but it is very fast too. It should prove quite brilliant for industrial applications.
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