VLC 3.0.7 includes more security fixes than ever thanks to the European Commission

VLC

Version 3.0.7 of VLC has been released, and while it may seem like a minor x.x.x update, it includes more security fixes than any other previous release -- including two high security issues.

Jean-Baptiste Kemp, the president of VLC-maker VideoLAN, says the number of fixes included in this version is due to the EU-FOSSA bug bounty program, funded by the European Commission.

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US Customs and Border Protection says photos of thousands of travelers were stolen in a data breach

US Customs and Border Protection

Hackers have stolen the photographs of travellers entering and leaving the US, as well as photos of their license plates, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has said.

The cyberattack was carried out on the network of a federal subcontractor, and the images were taken as part of a "malicious cyberattack". Although the hack attack has only just been revealed publicly, CBP first learned of it on May 31.

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Samsung CRG5 is a curved 27-inch FHD gaming monitor with NVIDIA G-SYNC and 240Hz refresh rate

If you are a gamer, you know a monitor with a high refresh rate is very desirable. These days, however, it is also important to have anti-tear technology, such as NVIDIA's G-SYNC or AMD's FreeSync. Believe it or not, gamers do not necessarily want a display with a high resolution. Sure, 4K looks great for video and images, but for gaming, it can lead to lower frames. This is why many hardcore game players still use FHD (1080p).

Today, Samsung announces a new monitor called "CRG5" that ticks all the right boxes for gamers. It is a 27-inch 1080p display with NVIDIA G-SYNC and an impressive 240Hz refresh rate. In other words, this monitor should be silky smooth. There is one more cool aspect, however -- it is curved. While I am not a huge fans of televisions with a curve, I do see value in a curved monitor as you sit closer to it.

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Wi-Fi past, present and future

Wi-Fi

Wireless networking is something we've come to take for granted in recent years. ISPs often give away a wireless router when you sign up for an internet connection with the consequence that Wi-Fi is now in most homes.

Networking specialist Netgear has produced an infographic looking at the origins of Wi-Fi, how it's developed and where it’s going in future.

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The future of television

How is a television like a fax machine? They are both obsolete.

Remember a time when nobody had a fax machine? Then suddenly everybody had a fax machine. And now nobody again has a fax machine. What would have previously come by fax today is a PDF attachment to an e-mail or text or to one of a number of messaging services. Well the same transformation is happening to traditional television and for generally similar reasons. And just as fax machines seemed to disappear in just a few years, I’ll be surprised if broadcast TV in the U.S. survives another decade.

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Microsoft reveals Project Scarlett, its powerful next-gen Xbox console with 8K graphics coming in 2020

Project Scarlett

At E3, Microsoft has revealed details of its next-generation Xbox, dubbed Project Scarlett, which is scheduled for release in late 2020.

It's not yet known what the follow-up to the Xbox One will be called, but among the launch titles is Halo Infinite. As for the console hardware, Project Scarlett will feature an AMD Zen 2 chip, Radeon RDNA graphics architecture, GDDR6 memory, SSD, and support for 120 fps, 8K graphics along with real-time ray tracing.

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The ABCs of Microsoft Office 365's Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

When it comes to data breaches, it's not a matter of if a breach will occur, it’s a matter of when. And regardless of how substantial -- or how advanced -- you think your cybersecurity is, you’re still vulnerable.

The most recognizable data breaches for 2019 (so far) include:

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Fresh, fast and on the fly: 6 benefits of mobile scan apps

When was the last time you sat down at a desktop computer to do something that you instead could do on your phone? When your mobile device gives you the ability to post a photo of your lunch to social media; connect with a colleague anywhere in the world; apply for a job; read the news; order pizza delivery; print a document to review and more, stopping to find a tethered computer can seem like an act that belongs in the last century.

As users increasingly favor mobility and digital workflows for both work and personal business, they need the ability to complete all the same tasks on their phone or tablet that they could do at a desktop computer, using tools that work together seamlessly and boost convenience and productivity. This user preference for on-the-go accessibility and efficiency has led to the rise of one of the latest digital trends: mobile scan apps.

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TripAdvisor responds to Change.org petition on sexual assault 'cover-ups'

TripAdvisor is one of the top services utilized by travelers. It’s a source for everything you should know about your destination, regardless of how obscure or isolated it may be. Need to know lesser-known gems to see, or the less touristy places to visit? Check there.

One of the more important services offered by TripAdvisor covers wayfarer safety, which can mean any number of things from violence to pickpockets to scams.

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How to rollback and uninstall the Windows 10 May 2019 Update

The Windows 10 May 2019 Update is currently rolling out to users. If you install it and encounter major problems, as some users doubtless will, you might want to go back to your previous version, and wait until the update is a bit less buggy.

The process is straightforward enough, although there are some downsides to be aware of.

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More than 80 million Huawei device users are on Android Pie (EMUI 9)

Donald Trump may have a bug up his ass over Huawei, but anti-Chinese propaganda aside, consumers around the world love the company's devices. Huawei's laptops, smartphones, and tablets are well-received by both professional reviewers and consumers. There should be no mystery how Huawei achieves such praise -- its products are elegant, well built, and not overly priced. The P30 Pro might be the best Android smartphone on the market.

With Android in particular, Huawei is not only providing an excellent customer experience through hardware, but with OS updates too. In fact, the company is celebrating an impressive milestone -- more than 80 million Huawei device users are now on Android 9.0 Pie. Technically, it is EMUI 9, which is Android plus Huawei's improvements. This puts many other device makers, such as Samsung and LG to shame.

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Microsoft takes down huge MS-Celeb-1M facial recognition database

Facial recognition

Microsoft has deleted a database containing around 10 million photographs that was being used to train facial recognition systems.

Known as MS-Celeb-1M, the database was created in 2016, and originally contained photos of celebrities. Over time, however, images of writers, journalists and others crept in, and ultimately 100,000 individuals were to be found in it. Microsoft has not made much noise about the deleted content, but has said that the database was wiped as the person maintaining it was no longer a company employee.

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Want someone's personal data? Give them a free donut

Donut

While you might expect Homer Simpson to hand over personal details in exchange for a donut, you wouldn't expect cybersecurity professionals to do the same.

However, technology services provider Probrand has carried out a study at a cyber expo attended by UK security professionals, where attendees voluntarily shared sensitive data including their name, date of birth and favourite football team -- all to get their hands on a free donut.

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How to check the battery status of Bluetooth devices on Windows 10

Thanks to Bluetooth technology, people are able to connect several devices to their Windows 10 computer wirelessly. You can use it to transfer your files or to operate electronic devices, including wireless headsets, gaming consoles, and other computer peripherals. While Bluetooth has certain limitations, like lower bandwidth than Wi-Fi and a shorter range, it can still provide a reliable connection between your devices.

Now, if you are using Bluetooth devices like a keyboard, stylus, mouse, or headset, you'll likely need to know if their battery levels are still sufficient. If you’ve installed Windows 10 version 1809 -- also referred to as the October 2018 Update -- you will be able to check your Bluetooth peripherals' battery levels, using the Settings app. Keep in mind that you can only do this if your device supports the feature.

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The annual iHeartRadio Music Festival will be here before you know it, guess who's on...

When, meteorologically speaking, the calendar hasn’t yet flipped to summer, it may be tough to switch your mind and consider an event that takes place in some distant future known as autumn.  But, hey, music has no season, right?

For the past several years internet music darling iHeartRadio has held a huge multi-day music festival in Las Vegas. 2019 will be no exception, and now the online giant is announcing some of the performers that are lined up for this go-around..

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