Supply network mapping more important than ever
Supply chains have been mapped for forever, but now technology is being increasingly involved in network mapping. Supply chains are evolving due to factors around them which might be political, economic, production-based, or, as seen this year, because of a pandemic. Covid-19 exposed the fragility of many modern supply chains with businesses relying on imports from different countries at a time when manufacturing was decreasing.
Within the wines and spirits industry companies across the world are scaling up their production, streamlining their supply chains, and expanding globally to become more efficient with their suppliers. It’s more important than ever to have an understanding of where everything comes from. You only have to look at the 2013 horse meat scandal to see why knowing your product’s origins is vital.
Zorin OS 16 is the Windows 11-like Linux distribution Microsoft doesn't want you to know about
Windows 11 is a very good operating system, and it hasn't even gone gold yet. In fact, despite only being Beta, I can confidently call it the best version of Windows ever. It is shockingly polished and beautiful -- the true successor to Windows 7. Windows 10 wasn't bad, but it never felt complete. Windows 11 feels purposeful and well-loved by developers. Microsoft has impressed me with the upcoming operating system. It is appearing to be more than a superficial update as I once thought.
With all of that said, understandably, not everyone wants or needs Windows 11. Due to some rather lofty hardware requirements, some consumers will find their computer simply can't run Windows 11 even if they want it to. While Microsoft and the overall computer industry would love to see these consumers buy new computers, that simply is not necessary. Instead, a Linux-based operating system can breathe new life into your aging PC.
Why a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to data classification won't deliver in an era of enhanced regulation
In 2018 the European GDPR irrevocably changed the whole data privacy landscape. Since it was implemented there have been a host of other privacy regulations such as CCPA, CMMC, and India PDP, coming into force around the world. In fact, just a couple of weeks ago the Colorado Governor signed the Colorado Privacy Act (CPA) into law, the latest in the recent wave of state privacy legislation in the US and unlikely to be the last. The CPA will take effect July 1, 2023, six months after Virginia’s Consumer Data Protection Act (CDPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) become effective.
Following the implementation of such data protection and privacy regulations, there have been plenty of high-profile cases and fines issued. This further underpins the need to ensure sensitive information is handled in the correct manner and reinforces that this is a government requirement that organizations can no longer ignore. For example, just this month British Airways settled a legal claim from some of the 420,000 people affected by a major 2018 data breach. The breach affected both customers and BA staff and included names, addresses, and payment-card details. The UK Information Commissioner's Office handed BA its largest fine to date -- £20m -- over the "unacceptable" failure to protect customers.
How long until others copy Apple's Mail Privacy Protection?
When iOS 15 is released this fall, users will have access to enhanced Siri capabilities, new ways to personalize their device, helpful improvements to the Find My iPhone/iPad, and several other new features and functionality to play with. But in the worlds of digital privacy and marketing technology, there's one update in particular that has been sending shockwaves up and down the industry.
Companies who care about email marketing have been in a sort of panic mode ever since the full slate of iOS 15 updates was revealed a couple months ago, due to a new feature called Mail Privacy Protection. In what Apple is calling an advancement of its "privacy leadership," the ability to block marketers from tracking the open behavior of their emails is the first step in what could be a cataclysmic shift for the entire spam (I mean, "email marketing") industry.
Small companies make good targets for cybercriminals
"Cybersecurity doesn’t apply to me because my business is too small to matter", and "Cybercriminals would never bother hacking us because we don’t have valuable data or many financial assets."
If these comments sound familiar, that’s because it is unfortunately the view held by a large majority of the SMB community. Small to medium sized businesses are slowly jumping on the cybersecurity bandwagon, but must first leave this 'it would never happen to me' mentality behind.
Why proactive cybersecurity means focusing on people
Today’s work environment is radically different from that of just 16 months ago. COVID-19 has created a permanent state of hybrid or fully remote work, which, yes, brings a number of benefits, but it also increases employee stress, reduces their attention span, and creates a chasm between them and their internal security team.
We’re living in the new world order, which compounds and amplifies the threats from what have historically been the three most common security incident reasons -- people getting hacked, people making mistakes, and people breaking rules. Not being proactive about potential insider threats almost guarantees an organization that hasn’t been hacked will be doomed to join the many big-name brands that have found themselves having to pay ransom for access to their systems.
This is Google Pixel 5a with 5G
If you are a hardcore Android user, you should buy a Pixel. Google’s smartphones may not have the best specifications, but they do offer the purest Android experience. They are the only way to truly experience Android as Google intends it -- including timely OS updates. They are free of bloat, unlocked, and often very affordable. Best of all, they offer a remarkable photography experience.
Today, Google officially announces the oft-rumored Pixel 5a with 5G. It isn’t a flagship device, but with a reasonable $449 asking price, the Android 11 smartphone looks to be a great value. The 6.34-inch OLED screen features a respectable 2400x1080 resolution, while the 12.2 MP dual-pixel and 16 MP ultrawide rear cameras should take exceptional photos. While it does get water resistance, the Pixel 5a with 5G lacks wireless charging -- you must use USB-C to charge the 4680 mAh battery.
Ubuntu Linux gets certified for secure and regulated workloads
Canonical is announcing today that Ubuntu is set to drive high security and regulated workloads thanks to gaining a new FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) certification.
Now the world's most popular operating system across private and public clouds, Ubuntu has received the FIPS 140-2, Level 1 certification for its cryptographic modules in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, including OpenSSL 1.1.1.
ExtraHop provides deep threat insights for hybrid cloud
The expansion of cloud use and remote working have made protecting business systems much more complicated, with simple perimeter controls no longer enough.
ExtraHop is launching updates to its Reveal(x) 360 cyber defense platform that provide deep forensic insight into hybrid cloud networks to allow for advanced threat response.
Trickle down of nation state attack tools may harm businesses
A new study from HP Wolf Security shows that 72 percent of IT decision makers worry that nation state tools and techniques could filter through to the dark net and be used to attack their businesses.
The survey, of 1,100 decision makers around the world, also finds 58 percent are worried their business could become a direct target of a nation state attack. A further 70 percent believe they could end up being 'collateral damage' in a cyber war.
Attack volume increases as hackers go phishing for cryptocurrency
There has been a 22 percent increase in phishing volume in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period last year. Though there was a dip in June following record highs in May.
A report from digital risk protection company PhishLabs shows that the cryptocurrency sector saw a 10 times increase in attacks in the last quarter compared to the previous one.
PNY unveils DDR5 4800MHz desktop memory
When you are a PC builder, there are peaks and valleys when it comes to excitement about components. What I mean by this is, sometimes you are building machines with cutting 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... boring!
On the horizon, thankfully, is the DDR5 revolution. After dealing with DDR4 for so many years now, we will soon see PCs with DDR5 memory inside. One of the companies leading this industry shift is PNY, and today, that company shares its plans to launch DDR5 RAM products later in the year.
Shock! Another faulty Windows update! This time it is Alt-tab that is broken by KB5005033
It's been a while since we last reported about a problematic update for Windows 10. Only joking! Of course it's not! We haven't stepped into a paralleled universe in which Microsoft releases patches that, you know... work properly. As such, it's time to share news of issues people are experiencing with KB5005033 which was released last week.
If you thought you'd already read about problems with this particular update, you'd be right -- gamers have been complaining about a reduction in performance after installing this patch that was meant to fix the PrintNightmare vulnerability. But now there are reports of further problems with KB5005033 that are not limited to gaming fans. The latest complaints are that this update is breaking everyone's favorite keyboard shortcut, Alt-Tab. This time, however, there is a workaround.
PineNote E-ink tablet runs Manjaro Linux
Reading devices with E-ink displays are an absolute must for hardcore readers. Can you read books using a traditional Android tablet or Apple iPad? Sure, but the screen can cause eyestrain. An E-ink reader, such as Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite, makes reading digital books much more enjoyable -- your eyes will thank you.
What if there was an open tablet, running Linux, that utilized an E-ink screen? That would be quite the interesting device, and it would be very exciting to imagine how such a thing could be used. Well, folks, such a product is on the way! Called "PineNote," the E-ink tablet has similar specs as the Quartz64 single board computer. The device should be available for purchase later this year. As of today, it is expected to launch with Manjaro Linux as the operating system.
Retro wiring an old house for internet and home theater
I've been asked how I wired my old house for home theater, so I've written down a quick guide of the steps to getting started. Yes, you could opt for a mesh router system to deliver Wi-Fi across all the floors of your home, but if, like me, you live somewhere where speeds are a little slower, then a wired connection will likely be preferable.
If you have new construction to work with then get this done along with electrics while the walls are open. Most likely if you're reading then then you’re dealing with existing construction and that complicates things, but it can be done.
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