Google releases Android Oreo 8.1 Developer Preview beta
It's not all that long since the launch of Android 8.0 Oreo -- not that many people have it on their phones -- but Google has already pushed out a developer preview of Oreo 8.1.
As this is an early beta, there are not a huge number of changes to see in Android Oreo 8.1 developer preview -- but under the hood, there's quite a lot going on. For now, compatibility is limited to the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Pixel C, Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, but for these handsets new features include a Neural Networks API to improve machine learning, improved autofill, and Android Go optimizations.
GDPR makes businesses concerned about cloud storage
More than nine in ten (93 percent) of companies worry about storing their data in the cloud, once GDPR kicks in, new research has claimed.
A report from cloud solutions provider Calligo polling 500 IT decision-makers in companies with more than 100 employees, found than 91 percent of respondents worry how the new rules will affect cloud services.
Buh-bye! Linux Mint finally kills its pointless KDE Edition
Linux Mint is a fine Ubuntu-based operating system, although I am not sure it needs to exist anymore. After all, its popularity is largely thanks to the historic disdain for Canonical's Unity desktop environment. With the Unity DE now dead, fewer people will seek out the alternative that is Mint.
While both the Cinnamon and Mate versions of Linux Mint are decent choices for computer users, there was one version that was always utterly bizarre -- the KDE Edition. Don't get me wrong, KDE is a fine environment, but Kubuntu already exists. Having a version of Mint using KDE was redundant and confusing. Thankfully, today, the Linux Mint team announces it is finally killing the KDE edition.
Mastercard opens blockchain API to developers
Mastercard has opened up its blockchain technology to developers who want to test their own solutions.
The company is looking to spur on development in the B2B space, saying that its technology is designed to increase speed, transparency and costs in cross-border payments.
Microsoft releases Windows 10 Redstone 4 Build 17025 to the Fast ring (and Skip Ahead)
The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update rollout only began last week, but Microsoft is already working on the next big feature update. We’ve had a few releases from the Redstone 4 branch already, and today we get another.
New builds this early on tend not to offer too much in the way of new features, but there’s a few differences this time around that Insiders might enjoy.
Encryption blocks the FBI from accessing 7,000 devices
The ongoing debate between law enforcement agencies and device manufacturers over customers' digital privacy was a major point of discussion during the San Bernardino terrorist attack in 2016 and now the FBI has revealed that it was unable to access almost 7,000 devices because of encryption in this year alone.
At the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Philadelphia, FBI Director Christopher Wray brought up the issue in a speech to highlight how law enforcement agencies are still at a loss as to how to access the data on mobile phones protected with encryption.
New cross-channel tool helps businesses understand customers
While it's easier than ever to collect information about customers, businesses often struggle to extract meaningful information from it in order to drive sales.
The latest tool from customer data platform Segment lets enterprises build a record of their entire relationship with a customer, and use it to create personalized experiences everywhere they interact with their users.
BlackBerry: Forget about smartphones, software is our future
BlackBerry CEO John Chen has once again emphasized that the company has left behind its smartphone days and is now firmly set in its way to become one of the world’s top software firms.
Speaking at the company’s BlackBerry Security Summit event in London today, Chen said that although he was proud of the past, it was now time for a new focus.
How to protect yourself against Bad Rabbit ransomware
News broke earlier about the spread of a new form of ransomware going by the name of Bad Rabbit. It name drops Game of Thrones and bears more than a passing resemblance to WannaCry and Petya.
While the main impact of Bad Rabbit has been felt in Eastern Europe, some instances of the ransomware have also been detected in the US. Thankfully, it's relatively easy -- and free -- to protect your computer. By simply tweaking a couple of files, you can stop the ransomware in its tracks.
O&O DiskImage Professional 12 promises to speed up file backups by up to 100 percent
O&O Software GMBH has launched O&O DiskImage Professional 12, the latest version of its Windows disk-imaging and file backup tool.
Version 12 focuses on improving its file-backup component, promising to complete backups in half the time of the previous release. It’s also updated for full compatibility with the newly released Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.
Virtual reality could attract new talent to security careers
The cyber security industry continues to face a skills crisis, but a new study from security vendor ProtectWise and analyst ESG suggests that the adoption of new technologies could be instrumental in attracting new talent.
The survey of over 500 16 to 24 year-olds finds that 74 percent say that the use of gaming and VR technology in the fight against cyber crime would increase the likelihood of them pursuing a cyber security career.
Amazon announces in-home deliveries for Prime customers
Amazon has come up with a novel approach to make it painless for Prime customers to receive their packages. It is a new service, called Amazon Key, that leverages smart locks to let couriers open your front door to make in-home deliveries. And, to help folks keep an eye on things, the online retailer also announced a new security camera, called Cloud Cam.
The idea behind it is not just to enable deliveries when the customer is not home to receive the package, but also to enable folks to open the door remotely to friends or workers. Using the security camera, they can monitor who entered their home and when.
New IObit Advanced SystemCare 11 includes a rebuilt performance monitor
There are a wide number of system optimization tools on the market, many with varying degrees of success. There are few we’d care to recommend.
With this in mind, we were pleased to hear IObit has released IObit Advanced SystemCare 11, its hugely comprehensive all-in-one PC optimization suite.
Cyber criminals turn to messaging apps following dark web crackdown
The recent crackdown on popular dark web markets AlphaBay and Hansa is driving cyber criminals to migrate to messaging apps like Discord, ICQ, Skype, Telegram and Whatsapp, according to a new report.
The study from threat management company IntSights analyzed thousands of black markets, text storage/paste sites, hacking forums, IRC channels, apps and social media pages, and uncovers a steady increase in threat actors inviting cyber crime forum users to join their chat groups.
Bad Rabbit ransomware spreads across Eastern Europe with echoes of WannaCry and Petya
A new strain of ransomware -- dubbed Bad Rabbit -- has struck in Russia, Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe. It is thought to be a variation on Petya due to a number of similarities, and it is wreaking havoc with media outlets and transport systems, including an airport in Ukraine, and the underground in Kiev.
Like many other forms of malware, Bad Rabbit was initially spread through a fake Flash installer, but it was then able to spread via networks to hit a larger number of machines. The spread of the ransomware is further facilitated by using the open source Mimikatz for extracting credentials, and DiskCryptor for encrypting data.
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