Once a specialist tool, then the darling of the video conferencing world, Zoom's fall from grace has been fairly spectacular. A series of privacy and security issues have put off numerous users, and led to some institutions instigating a ban on the software.

Google has now followed the lead of schools across the US, banning employees from using Zoom because of concerns about security. Senators in the US have also been warned against using the service.

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When you're at work, you may well rely on a caffeine fix to get you through the day, but now you may be working from home. Home working is a unique experience for many people, and it requires discipline -- and you need to take whatever steps you can to make it more bearable. If you've become used to picking up a coffee on the way to the office, or you're reliant on a state-of-the-art coffee machine, your meagre offerings at home may come as a disappointment.

But before you rush out and spend a fortune on an expensive espresso machine, we've found a solution that you can use right at your desk. BEANQUE is an on-the-go coffeemaker, offering a bean-to-cup experience in a portable, rechargeable unit.

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Bluetooth headphones and earbuds, such as Apple Airpods, are all the rage these days. It's not hard to see why this is -- many smartphone-makers have removed the 3.5mm port from their devices. Of course, the missing headphone jack is not the only reason -- Bluetooth models can also be better for those that exercise, as there aren't any wires to get tangled during activity.

Of course, with the Covid 19 Coronavirus on everyone's minds these days, I can understand why some wouldn't want to stick any earbuds -- wired or wireless -- into their ears. If a virus or bacteria is on an earbud, and you insert it into your ear, you could be unintentionally introducing disease into your body. Thankfully, Philips has new wireless earbuds that may solve this dilemma. Called "T702BK ActionFit Wireless Sports Earbuds," they come with a charging case that features ultraviolet (UV) cleaning. In other words, while you are charging them, and before you put them into your ears, they are being disinfected by UV light. Even AirPods can't do that!

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It’s been two weeks since Microsoft last rolled out a new Windows 10 Insider build to users on the Fast ring.

Today that drought ends though as Built 19603 arrives, bringing with it some new features, including a welcome addition for Linux lovers, and storage management improvements.

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The Windows mouse pointer hasn’t really changed since the days of Windows NT. That’s understandable really -- it works fine, and we’re used to how it looks and behaves. But that doesn’t mean you should stick with what you’ve been given.

Stardock today releases CursorFX 4, a rewrite of its classic cursor changing app. As well as a choice of cursor themes, effects, trails and sounds, it offers support for high DPI screens, multiple-DPI multi-monitors, and high refresh rates.

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With no fanfare whatsoever, Facebook has launched a new messaging app -- one with a difference. Coming from its New Product Experimentation team, Tuned is an iPhone-only messaging app designed with couples in mind.

Tuned finds itself vying for attention in an already-saturated messaging market, so just what's the point? Is there any reason for anyone to consider using Tuned?

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The privacy and security scandals that have blighted Zoom have already caused some users to look for alternatives, but the company seems serious about trying to address the issues that have sparked concern.

Having already issued an apology to users, Zoom CEO Eric S Yuan has now revealed that his company is collaborating with numerous big-name CISOs (chief information security officers) to ensure the implementation of security and privacy best practices. He also says that Facebook's former Chief Security Officer, Alex Stamos, is joining the company as a security advisor.

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The current coronavirus lockdown has brought about a massive shift in working patterns. In fact we're living through a large scale future-of-work experiment, but what effect is this having on productivity?

Digital experience specialist Aternity has released a new set of data to help answer that question.

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Avast has launched an Android version of its security- and privacy-focused web browser. Avast Secure Browser features various DNS options and a built-in VPN to calm the fears of those concerned about their privacy.

This is not all the browser has to offer. There's also anti-tracking technology and complete data encryption to take care of the security side of things as well.

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Loved, hated, trusted and feared in just about equal measure, Zoom has been all but unavoidable in recent weeks. Following on from a combination of privacy and security scandals, credentials for numerous Zoom account have been found on the dark web.

The credentials were hardly hidden -- aside from being on the dark web. Details were shared on a popular forum, including the email address, password, meeting ID, host key and host name associated with compromised accounts.

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Microsoft's embracing of Linux continues, and the company's latest project sees it trying to improve the security and integrity of systems. The Windows-maker has launched a Linux Security Module (LSM) called Integrity Policy Enforcement (IPE).

The kernel add-on gives administrators the option of configuring policies that can enforce integrity requirements across an entire system. It is possible to create a list of binaries that are permitted to run, and specify attributes that need to be checked before execution is allowed.

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The current coronavirus crisis has led to a massive surge in numbers of people working from home. But that raises a whole raft of problems in keeping people and data secure.

We spoke to Nitin Agale, SVP, product and strategy at security automation specialist Securonix, to find out more about the challenges and how organizations can address them.

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In times of crisis, billionaires are often criticized for failing to help out. But when it comes to fighting coronavirus, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey is digging deep and offering up more than a quarter of his personal wealth.

In all, Dorsey is donating $1 billion to help fund global COVID-19 relief. The philanthropic venture sees the Twitter chief executive moving $1 billion worth of shares in his payments company Square into a charitable fund, called Start Small LLC.

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Sony's PlayStation controllers -- for all generations of its gaming console -- are beloved by gamers. The design hasn't changed much from the original PlayStation controller, and that's not a bad thing. It eventually got thumb sticks, vibration, and with the current-generation "DualShock 4," it even received a touch pad! In other words, while Sony's controller has absolutely evolved, it was never form over function -- it was tweaked only when necessary. When Sony even suggest deviating from this design with the "boomerang" PS3 controller, the company received so much backlash that it was canceled before release -- thank goodness.

And today, Sony's controller evolves into its latest form -- "DualSense." Yup, that is what the company is calling the upcoming PlayStation 5 controller, and I rather like the name. But hey, who cares what it is called -- just look at that thing! It is probably the prettiest controller I have ever seen. The two-tone color, new location of the light bar, and beautiful curvature make it look like a work of art. More importantly, it looks like it will be very comfortable to hold. It even features a rechargeable battery and USB-C charging. In comparison, Microsoft's Xbox Series X will still use AA batteries. Oh, Microsoft, did you not realize it is 2020?!

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It is no secret that Microsoft is working on a redesigned Start Menu for the company's Windows 10 operating system. While it is not clear yet if features such as Live Tiles are here to stay, it is certain that one of the upcoming feature updates for Windows 10 will introduce a Start Menu redesign.

Microsoft showed off a clip on the official Microsoft Design Twitter account that highlights the evolution of the Windows 10 Start Menu from the very beginning. Most interesting from a user perspective is that the company provides a glimpse of the redesigned Start Menu that it plans to introduce in a coming feature update for Windows 10.

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