MSN Messenger 2019 Edition is the messaging app you didn't know you needed
These days, if you want to chat with friends and family you probably do so through one of the many mobile messaging choices -- such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or Snapchat.
Before mobile communications really took off, Microsoft’s cross-platform MSN Messenger (later rebranded Windows Live Messenger) was the chat tool. At its peak, some 330 million users a month were logging into the instant messaging client. MSN Messenger was discontinued in 2014, with Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype from eBay largely to blame for its demise, but if you’ve ever wondered what the chat tool might look like if it was revived today, then MSN Messenger 2019 Edition is the answer.
The invisible programmer: A coder's domain is bigger than you might think
When you imagine the role of a coder there’s a good chance that what comes to mind are pop culture tropes; the eccentric loner, the rogue prodigy, or the cloistered IT guru who saves the company with a brilliant solution hatched from behind a stack of pizza boxes in some windowless basement office.
The reality is that coders represent a much more ubiquitous, everyday-problem-solving task force deployed throughout organizations and their skills are increasingly being utilized across many industries to address a variety of business challenges within their organizations.
Amazon Fire 7 (2019) Android tablet has improved specs and same low price
For the most part, Android tablets have proven to be a massive failure. What looked like a promising market has devolved into a collection of low-quality tablets from no-name manufacturers. Sure, companies like Huawei and Samsung are still producing solid Android tablets, but consumers largely don't care. If it isn't an iPad, the tablet won't get much attention.
There is one big exception to this, however -- Amazon Fire. Yes, the book-seller's affordable media consumption tablets -- which do run a variation of Android -- are extremely popular with consumers. Despite not having access to Google's Play Store, Fire tablets are very affordable while providing a quality media experience. Not to mention, you get access to the Alexa voice assistant. Today, Amazon refreshes the 7-inch Fire 7 tablet with improved specifications, such as providing double the storage capacity and a beefier processor. Believe it or not, despite better hardware, it still retains its sub-$50 starting price tag.
Application development industry faces major challenges
Demand for application development is soaring, but the industry faces some major challenges according to a new report.
The study from OutSystems shows the number of applications slated for delivery in 2019 has increased by 60 percent, and 38 percent of respondents plan to deliver 25 or more apps this year.
Half of companies missed GDPR compliance deadline
Only half of companies achieved compliance with GDPR before the May 25, 2018 deadline, and most companies took seven months or longer to achieve readiness.
This is among the findings of a new report from privacy management platform DataGrail which also reveals that two-thirds of companies assigned dozens, or even hundreds, of employees to manage GDPR compliance.
UK consumers want businesses to do more to protect their data
Protecting your digital footprint is growing more important and the results from a survey of 2,000 UK adults by Kaspersky Lab finds that people believe there is not enough business or state protection currently in place to defend it.
The study finds 41 percent of UK respondents think that businesses should do more to protect their personal data, including passwords, addresses and bank account details, from hacking.
Google recalls Bluetooth version of Titan Security Key after discovering hacking vulnerability
Google is recalling the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) version of its Titan Security Key, and is offering free replacements to owners.
The recall comes after the company became aware of a security issue which could allow a nearby hacker to hijack the security device. Google says that the security issue only affects the Bluetooth versions of the 2FA device sold in the US.
Trump invokes National Emergencies Act effectively banning Huawei from US
Donald Trump has declared a national emergency to fight "foreign adversaries" which he says are "increasingly creating and exploiting vulnerabilities in information and communications technology".
An executive order means that US companies are banned from buying and using foreign telecoms equipment which is deemed to be a threat to national security. Huawei and 70 affiliates have also been added to the US Commerce Department’s "Entity List" meaning that special approval would be needed to purchase such equipment, and also for companies deemed to pose a threat to buy US-made hardware.
Satechi launches Aluminum M1 Bluetooth Wireless Mouse with USB-C
Satechi is a company that makes really great products that are also affordable. While many of its offerings are Apple-focused, they usually work fine with all things. For instance, it manufactures USB-C dongles that use colors to match MacBook laptops, but color aside, they are totally Windows compatible too.
Today, Satechi launches a new elegantly designed Bluetooth 4.0 mouse that is clearly aimed at macOS users, but it will of course work with both Windows and Linux too. Called "M1," it features a premium aluminum body and scroll wheel. Sadly, there are no side thumb buttons -- likely a deal-breaker for some.
Microsoft releases Windows 10 20H1 Build 18898 with Task Manager improvements
The May 2019 Update is still undergoing testing in the Release Preview ring, but Microsoft is busy working on builds from the 20H1 branch, the feature update set to be released in the first half of next year.
We’re starting to see new features arriving on that branch, and today’s flight, Build 18898, adds a useful addition to the Task Manager.
Four out of five people expect Facebook to have another data privacy issue this year
People are becoming more aware of the need to protect their data online, not just because of the rate of cybercriminal activity, but also because large organizations are frequently being careless with the data they hold.
A new survey of 1,000 people from OpenVPN reveals that four out of five people are expecting Facebook to face at least one more data privacy issue in the next year. In addition 71 percent say recent scandals have somewhat or severely negatively affected their view on Facebook, while 37 percent trust tech giants less now because they don’t think the companies have properly addressed the data privacy problems.
New tool helps protect sensitive data on Oracle databases
With GDPR in effect and privacy regulations being planned in other parts of the world, many organizations are looking at their database management to ensure stored data is complaint and doesn’t threaten the business.
For Oracle users, Quest Software is launching its Toad for Oracle -- Sensitive Data Protection (SDP) Module. This allows database admins to to detect and receive notification of personally identifiable information (PII) data residing in databases, select encryption and redaction options immediately after detection, and perform ongoing monitoring
Perception vs reality in web security
A new study from Harris Poll, commissioned by Google shows that while more people than ever are using the internet -- with 1.4 billion expected to be online by 2022 -- there's a gap between perception and reality in regard to online safety.
In the study 55 percent of Americans aged 16 or over gave themselves an A or B in online safety and security, but the results don't back this up. 70 percent wrongly identified what a safe URL should look like and 97 percent got at least one question wrong on a basic six-question security test.
How to check if your Windows or Linux system is vulnerable to Microarchitectural Data Sampling (MDS) attacks
Intel yesterday disclosed a new group of Microarchitectural Data Sampling (MDS) hardware vulnerabilities that affect its CPUs.
Rogue In-Flight Data Load (RIDL), Fallout, and ZombieLoad speculative execution attacks are related to Spectre and Meltdown which were discovered last year, and allow attackers to leak in-flight data from CPU-internal buffers (Line Fill Buffers, Load Ports, Store Buffers), including data never stored in CPU caches.
TRENDnet unveils USB-C 3.1 to 2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T Ethernet adapters
For most consumers, Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbit/s) is more than enough. After all, they likely only use a hardwired network connection when accessing the internet, which typically won't even fully saturate the connection. Hell, many don't even do that -- some households strictly have Wi-Fi devices, with the only use of a cable being the connection from their router to the modem.
Some enthusiasts and business users don't only use Ethernet for getting on the internet -- they may have high-speed internal networks where they are moving files between various hardwired computers and network-attached storage devices. And sometimes Gigabit speeds wont cut it. These folks may opt for 2.5GBASE-T (2.5Gbit/s), 5GBASE-T (5Gbit/s), or even 10GBASE-T (10Gbit/s) networks.
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