Operational tech devices exposed to known vulnerabilities
Analysis of close to one million operational technology (OT) devices by Claroty's Team82 research group finds that 12 percent contain known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs), and 40 percent of the organizations analyzed have a subset of these assets insecurely connected to the internet.
The report uncovered over 111,000 KEVs in OT devices across manufacturing, logistics and transportation, and natural resources organizations, with 68 percent of these being linked to ransomware groups. The manufacturing industry was found to have the highest number of devices with confirmed KEVs (over 96,000).
AR OS 2 is everything we want Windows 12 to be -- and more
Microsoft continues to work hard at improving Windows 11, fixing problems and cramming in loads of new AI features. Despite that (or perhaps because of it), its newest operating system still lags behind Windows 10 in terms of market share, even though end of life is fast approaching for that beloved but aging OS.
Microsoft hasn't officially announced Windows 12 yet, and it likely won't until after Windows 10 is no more. But if you want inspiration for what the next generation of Windows could look like, feast your eyes on the stunning AR OS 2.
Over 60 percent of enterprise cybersecurity incidents relate to known risks
A new Cloud Risk Exposure Impact Report from ZEST Security shows that 62 percent of incidents are directly related to risks the security team had previously identified, researched fixes for, and had open tickets for remediation in the backlog.
The survey of over 150 security decision makers working in large US enterprises reveals that it takes 10 times longer to remediate vulnerabilities than it takes for attackers to exploit them, highlighting a significant advantage for attackers.
Compliance with new European legislation increases info security workloads
A new report shows 90 percent of professionals surveyed report that complying with DORA, the NIS2 Directive, and/or the EU AI Act will impact their workload.
The study, from cloud-based risk and compliance platform AuditBoard, shows information security professionals feel the weight of compliance efforts most, with 38 percent expecting to be impacted to a great extent, compared to 29 percent of risk management professionals and 28 percent of IT professionals. Increased workloads could potentially lead to a greater risk of non-compliance as teams struggle to keep up with daily tasks.
Financial sector faces increased cybersecurity threats
A new survey reveals that the financial industry has faced a surge in attacks, with 64 percent of respondents reporting cybersecurity incidents in the past 12 months.
The study from Contrast Security finds 71 percent of respondents reported zero-day attacks as the key concern to safeguarding applications and APIs, followed by dwell time (43 percent) and lack of visibility into the application layer (38 percent).
Microsoft is getting serious about discouraging people from installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware
The system requirements for Windows 11 have been a bone of contention ever since the operating system was first released, but it is something that has been brought back into sharp focus once again as Windows 10 nears the end of its life.
Microsoft is keen for everyone to move from Windows 10 to Windows 11, even if this means having to buy a new PC. And in recent days the company has taken steps to encourage just this, using strong-arm tactics to discourage bypassing TPM and CPU requirements.
Microsoft is bringing a powerful media transcoding feature to Advanced Paste in PowerToys v0.89
Fast-paced and innovative development is at the heart of PowerToys, and it’s something we see time and time again when new modules are added -- such as the new ZoomIt tool in the recently released PowerToys v0.88.0.
But it is not just the new PowerToys modules that are noteworthy, there are major updates frequently made to existing utilities. On the cards for PowerToys v0.89 is a significant addition to the Advanced Paste tool which will enable the transcoding of media files.
From basic to brilliant: Seelen UI transforms Windows 10/11 into the OS you've always wanted -- download it now!
For many users, myself included, Windows 10 and 11 are functional but unremarkable. The design, while supposedly modern, tends to be a bit, well, boring. The current design comes across as bland, offering little of the warmth or personality that once defined Windows. Remember Windows XP? Whatever happened to the Microsoft that gave us that leap forward in design a couple of decades ago?
Thankfully, there is a solution at hand. Seelen UI is a free tool that reimagines what a Windows desktop can be, giving users the tools to break free from Microsoft monotony. It offers a number of customization features that will let you craft a unique, stylish and practical workspace.
Crossing the divide: How IT and OT can work together to secure the future
In cybersecurity, the divide between IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology) remains a problem that practitioners, vendors, and consultants must navigate daily. The differences between these two mindsets -- one rooted in the world of delivering data and maintaining software, the other firmly planted in the realm of continuous uptime of industrial systems -- can lead to conflicting priorities and misunderstandings. Even as the industry strives to align these domains, this divergence is still evident, as I was reminded just this week.
During my usual morning LinkedIn browsing, I stumbled upon a post featuring the “Top 50 People in ICS/OT Cyber Security You Need to Follow”. At first glance, I panicked. My immediate assumption was that the list featured individuals responsible for securing operational environments -- the unsung heroes safeguarding critical infrastructure around the globe.
Forget upgrading to Microsoft Windows 11: Nitrux Linux 3.9.0 is the operating system you need!
With Windows 10 set to reach its end of life later this year, Microsoft has been taking every opportunity to heavily push Windows 11 as the only upgrade path for users. The latest operating system share figures from StatCounter show the message is getting through -- slowly -- with Windows 11 achieving 36.65 percent of the market, an increase of 2.53 percentage points since last month.
What that means, of course, is that Windows 10 still has 60.33 percent, suggesting users aren’t in a huge rush to move away from their OS of choice to the AI-riddled sequel. Let’s be honest, Windows 11 isn’t the only game in town for Windows 10 users looking to make the move. One of the more popular alternatives is Nitrux Linux, which has just hit a new milestone.
Why adopting AI needs a holistic approach [Q&A]
It's an increasingly rare system these days that doesn't claim to have incorporated artificial intelligence in some form or another.
But when implementing AI it's important to look beyond the hype and ensure that it can deliver real value for the business. We spoke to Ajay Kumar, CEO of SLK Software, about the need for a holistic approach to allow enterprises to leverage AI for solving complex business challenges.
Microsoft proclaims “Deprecation isn't the end -- it’s an opportunity”
Microsoft is no stranger to announcing the deprecation of components of Windows, or even entire apps. But what does it mean exactly? The company has tried to make things a little clearer, but it’s up for debate whether it achieved this or not.
In a post on the Windows IT Pro Blog, Microsoft starts off by defining deprecation by describing what it is not -- “deprecation is not the end point of the lifecycle”. It is also not to be considered “the end” according to Microsoft. Eh?
Microsoft is dropping the privacy protection VPN feature from Microsoft Defender really soon -- unless you pay up
Microsoft has very quietly announced that the VPN feature of its Microsoft Defender security tool is going away for anyone unwilling to part with money.
In a support document entitled “End of support-Privacy protection (VPN) in Microsoft Defender for individuals”, the company gives very short notice for the dropping of the free tool. When the end of February rolls around, the VPN feature will only be available to users paying for a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription. What does all of this mean?
addlink P21 USB SSD delivers fast speeds in a compact design
addlink has launched the P21 USB SSD, a high-speed portable storage drive built for users who demand fast transfers. Featuring USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 support, it delivers sequential read speeds of up to 2050MB/s and write speeds of up to 2000MB/s, making it a strong choice for handling large files like 4K videos, high-resolution images, and game libraries.
The P21 is available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities, with performance varying slightly by model:
ChatGPT’s Deep Research AI could take jobs from human researchers
OpenAI has unleashed Deep Research in ChatGPT, a new AI-powered tool that can handle complex online research tasks faster than a human ever could. Available today for Pro users, with Plus and Team access coming soon, this feature is designed to synthesize information from hundreds of online sources, analyze data, and generate detailed reports. OpenAI says it can complete hours of research in just minutes -- but should we really be celebrating this?
This latest AI capability is powered by an optimized version of OpenAI’s upcoming o3 model, fine-tuned for web browsing and deep data analysis. Unlike a simple search engine, it doesn’t just find information -- it thinks about it, pivots when necessary, and compiles its findings into structured reports. That means it isn’t just doing research -- it’s acting like a research analyst. And if AI can do that, what happens to the actual researchers?
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