Ransomware

Ransomware detections up 200 percent with businesses the main target

The latest quarterly threat research from Malwarebytes for Q1 2019 reveals a 200 percent jump in ransomware and continued increase in business targets for cyberthreats.

This shift back to ransomware comes in the wake of a continued decline in cryptomining, as well as an increased focus on mobile attacks and large-scale business invasions.

By Ian Barker -
OnePlus logo

Leak shows that the OnePlus 7 Pro is not going to be cheap

While Samsung's problematic Galaxy Fold was vying for attention by not only being a foldable smartphone, but also an extraordinarily expensive one, handsets from OnePlus have been notable for their low price tags.

The launch of the OnePlus 7 series is just around the corner, and the specs we've seen have hinted that this is not going to be a cheap phone. Now leaked pricing appears to confirm this.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Change password

Microsoft drops password expiration policies from Windows 10 1903 security baseline

In new draft security baseline documentation, Microsoft has scrapped the policy that requires users to change their passwords on a regular basis.

The new security settings apply to Windows 10 version 1903 and Windows Server version 1903, and the change sees Microsoft conceding that its policy of forcing periodic password changes is "an ancient and obsolete mitigation of very low value". The company has a series of suggestions for how to better improve password security.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Fit_iOS

Google Fit comes to Apple iPhone

Obesity is a huge problem in the USA and other parts of the world. Not only does being obese lead to sickness and death, but it causes healthcare costs to skyrocket, which harms everyone's bank account. Not to mention, being fat simply doesn't feel good -- carrying extras weight is uncomfortable and can lead to joint pain.

So yeah, since obesity is bad, many people try very hard to lose weight, but sadly, many fail. Why? Putting on the pounds is much easier than taking them off, and since progress can be slow, it is easy to lose motivation. Thankfully, technology is helping folks to stay motivated. No, wearable devices and fitness apps won't cause weight loss on their own, but they can assist when added to a healthy diet and exercise plan.

By Brian Fagioli -
comodo-200x175

COMODO Internet Security 2019 adds Secure Shopping, manual unblocking features

Comodo has unveiled its 2019 security line-up with the release of Comodo Internet Security 2019 Free, Pro and Premium. Also released are Comodo Antivirus Free 2019 and Comodo Firewall Free 2019.

All editions are compatible with PCs running Windows 7 or later, but the new release debuts a brand new component exclusive to the full Internet Security Suite: Secure Shopping, a sandboxed environment inside which applications can be run invisible to -- and beyond the reach of -- malware.

By Nick Peers -
sleeping with phone

Breaking smartphone attachment before it's too late

Who is responsible for breaking our attachment to smartphones and overuse of social media? Is it the government that may pass legislation that has no teeth? Or, is it technology companies that are responsible to shareholders and have a financial incentive to keep us attached? The answer is neither. We -- you and I -- must take the reins on establishing a tech/life balance.

This is especially true for members of my generation, who believe that their use of smartphones and social media is deleterious and will continue to be so in the future. In a recent survey of over 1,000 Millennials from BOLDFISH, 81.1 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their generation has a problem with smartphone overuse. On a scale of 0-100, respondents rated their concern of social media's impact on future generations at 71.

By Jason Kingdon -
ANgry_Sad_scientist

Scientific Linux is dead, and that's a good thing

There are too many Linux distributions these days. While it can be argued that having too much choice is never a bad thing, the truth is, having so many distros causes resources to be spread too thinly. There is a lot of redundancy and waste, and eventually, the chickens will come home to roost -- we will see Linux-based operating systems begin to drop like flies.

Linux Mint is alive for now, but infighting and feelings of defeat have many users worried about its future. Sadly, another Linux distribution, Scientific Linux, really has died. This operating system was based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), and maintained by some significant members of the scientific community, such as The Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and CERN. While current versions (6 and 7) will continue to be supported, future development has permanently ended, with the organizations instead turning to CentOS -- another distro based on RHEL.

By Brian Fagioli -
facebook-social-media-tiles

Why every enterprise needs data loss prevention for all social media channels

Security leaders face tough decisions when it comes to using social media in the workplace. Social and other digital channels are fundamentally changing the way modern businesses communicate. They’re tied to critical operations ranging from customer support to marketing to internal collaboration. Avoiding them isn’t an option. At the same time, relying on the security and privacy settings of these platforms can leave your company open to a serious incident.

It doesn’t help that social media comes with an enormous attack surface. The sheer scale of message creation on these platforms makes it especially hard to prevent the leakage of private data, like personally identifiable information (PII) and other privileged information. Security teams need to stop relegating social media as a communications channel. It is essentially a public cloud environment, and needs to be protected as such.

By Otavio Freire -
call center

Virtual support agent streamlines service desk management

One of the biggest challenges for service desk teams is striking the right balance between business-critical projects and keeping up with everyday problems and requests.

To help relieve this problem, ManageEngine, the IT management division of Zoho, is incorporating Zia, Zoho's AI assistant, as a virtual IT support agent in its cloud-based service desk software, ServiceDesk Plus.

By Ian Barker -
101 Excel templates

Download 101 ready-made Excel templates for free

Excel is a very powerful and versatile tool, but while it’s easy enough to master the basics, building up complicated or stylish spreadsheets can be tricky.

Ready-made templates can provide the building blocks you need, and are great way to get organized, get inspired and learn Excel. We’ve got 101 professional-quality templates you can download right now, and best of all they won't cost you anything.

By Wayne Williams -
Healthcare data

IoT devices put healthcare networks at risk

The proliferation of healthcare Internet-of-things devices, along with unpartitioned networks, insufficient access controls and the reliance on legacy systems, has exposed a vulnerable attack surface that can be exploited by cybercriminals, according to a new report.

The study by network threat detection specialist Vectra also shows gaps in policies and procedures can result in errors by healthcare staff members.

By Ian Barker -
Artificial intelligence

AI-powered predictive engagement helps businesses keep customers

New research from customer engagement company Freshworks reveals that 56 percent of consumers are willing to drop a brand after a single bad experience.

The survey of 3,000 individual consumers across the US, UK, Germany, France, India, and Australia, demonstrates that 69 percent have a clear preference for brands that offer proactive notifications and service.

By Ian Barker -
Blocked!

Microsoft will block the Windows 10 May 2019 Update if you have a USB drive or SD card connected

If you have external storage attached to your computer, you may well find that you're unable to install the Windows 10 May 2019 Update when it is released next month.

Out of an apparent abundance of precaution, Microsoft is opting to block the installation of the update if a computer has an external USB drive or SD card plugged in. The block is being introduced because of fears that drive letters might be inappropriately reassigned during the installation.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Samsung Galaxy View2

Here is the colossal 17.3-inch Samsung Galaxy View2 tablet

As the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Fold is proving to be something of a disaster, the company will be only too happy at anything which can serve as a distraction. Well, here's the Samsung Galaxy View2, an Android tablet that features an extraordinarily large 17.3-inch screen.

Following on from 2015's Galaxy View (which was even larger at 18.4 inches), this yet-to-be-released tablet is due to make its way to AT&T at some point in the future. And, thanks to the telecoms firm, we know pretty much everything we need to about specs in advance.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Google logo on white wood

Google is killing off the Data Saver extension for Chrome

If you're a Chrome user with the Data Saver extension installed, there's some bad news. Google has announced that with the desktop version of Chrome 74, the extension is being deprecated.

Data Saver is not going away completely, however. It will remain, exclusively, in the Android version of the web browser where it will be known as Lite mode. While this is great for mobile users looking to reduce their data usage, it's a little strange that desktop users won't also be afforded the ability to enjoy a data-light, faster internet experience.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
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