Latest Technology News

Gender divide opens up as mobile apps become the preferred way of booking travel

The latest annual Mobile App Engagement Index from app marketing platform Liftoff shows that travel reservation bookings on mobile have finally hit critical mass adoption.

Users are becoming accustomed to doing more on mobile and reservation apps are increasingly popular. This year's data shows that for businesses the cost-per-first-booking has dropped. In 2017, the peak cost to acquire a mobile user who made a reservation was $36.95, nearly half of last year's peak cost of $61.09. What's more, the average cost-per-reservation in 2017 ($27.98) was $16 less than the 2016 average ($43.88).

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CyberScout launches one-stop marketplace for identity management

unknown identity

Recent breaches like that at Equifax have highlighted the importance of supporting victims with identity management services in the aftermath of an attack.

Identity and data defense firm CyberScout is launching a comprehensive marketplace for identity management, privacy, and cyber security education products and services, aimed at providing individuals with a one-stop-shop solution for all services relating to cyber protection.

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Display problems could make the Google Pixel 2 XL a tough sell

Google Pixel 2 XL

When you pay big bucks for a smartphone you expect it to be flawless. That's why people make a big deal out the problems they find on a flagship device. Things are no different with Google's new Pixel 2 XL, which exhibits some serious issues.

The problems stem from its display which, put simply, is not of the highest quality. Users have reported color shifting when looking at the screen from an angle, poor color reproduction and, most-recently, burn-in. That last bit is especially worrying because the Pixel 2 XL has only been around for a couple of weeks.

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Facebook asked to investigate Russian influence on EU referendum

It is now widely accepted that Russia -- at least to some degree -- tried to influence the outcome of the US presidential election through the use of ads placed on Facebook.

Attention now turns to Europe, where the UK's digital, culture, media and sport committee is asking Mark Zuckerberg to investigate potential interference in the UK general election, as well as the EU referendum that led to Brexit.

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Industrial and infrastructure networks are prime targets for attackers

Cooling towers

Operational technology networks are used with specialized Industrial Control Systems (ICS) to monitor and control physical processes such as assembly lines, mixing tanks, and blast furnaces. These networks are ripe targets for adversaries according to a new study from industrial cyber security company CyberX.

Many of these networks are exposed to the public internet and easy to crack using simple vulnerabilities like plain-text passwords. Lack of even basic protections like antivirus can enable attackers to quietly perform reconnaissance before sabotaging physical processes.

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Amazon's new Kindle app makes it easier to turn your phone or tablet into a book

I’m a big fan of e-ink Kindles -- preferring them over real books. If you do a lot of reading, they’re great. However, some people prefer the versatility of an iPad, Android tablet or smartphone, and there's a clear benefit to those. You only need to carry around the one device.

Today, Amazon launches a rebuilt Kindle app for both iOS and Android that provides easy access to the most popular Kindle features, and adds new functionality, such as built-in access to the Goodreads community.

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Online betting site predicts Bitcoin price will be around $7,250 by end of year

bitcoin-businessman

You don’t really invest in Bitcoin, more gamble on it. The trick to making a profit is knowing when to buy, and when to sell. Essentially you just need to buy low, sell high. But predicating how the cryptocurrency will perform isn’t easy.

At the moment, Bitcoin is riding a high (although it’s dipped a fair bit from the peak it hit over the weekend), but whether it will go up from here, or down, is anyone’s guess.

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Apple says you'll be able to buy the iPhone X in stores on November 3... if you're early

You may have been under the impression that the only way to get your hands on an iPhone X in November is to place your order this week. But Apple has just announced that the new handset will be available to buy in stores by walk-in customers.

There have been rumors about supplies of the iPhone X being limited, so it comes as little surprise that Apple says walk-in customers should arrive early if they want to avoid disappointment.

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One in three businesses can't keep up with cloud security

cloud net

Maintaining security in the cloud and container environments is an increasing problem according to a new survey.

The study by intrusion detection platform Threat Stack finds that 31 percent of those interviewed say they are unable to maintain security as their cloud and container environments grow. As a result, 62 percent say that they’re seeking greater visibility into their public cloud workloads.

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Mention of bugs in reviews puts half of users off downloading apps

Half of app users are likely to be dissuaded from downloading an app based on customer reviews that mention bugs and glitches, according to a new survey.

The study conducted by independent software testing company QualiTest Group, shows users aged 45 to 54 are the least likely to download an app with negative customer reviews, and are the age group least convinced that companies do enough to ensure UX and update apps to have fewer bugs.

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Consumer group Which? calls for amendments to Data Protection Bill to allow for 'collective redress' after breaches

data breach

UK consumer group Which? is calling on the government to make an amendment to the Data Protection Bill that's currently being debated in Parliament. The group is looking for a change in the law that would make it easier for organizations to seek redress for groups of people in the event of a data breach.

Research by Which? suggests that there is confusion surrounding who is responsible for safeguarding data, and little knowledge among consumers about how to go about obtaining compensation.

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Google defaults to prompts for two-step authentication

Text messages are often used as a means of implementing two-factor authentication on websites and in apps, but now Google is actively pitching its own alternative, known as Google prompt, to customers.

Traditionally users would receive a one-time code on their mobile device contained within a text message which they would have to enter to gain access. With Google's solution though, they will receive a prompt asking if they are trying to sign in. Users trying to sign in will gain access while those not expecting the login prompt will be denied.

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Windows 10 Fall Creators Update offers ransomware protection with Controlled Folder Access

Ransomware is one of the most concerning, and the most prevalent, forms of malware around at the moment. While there are numerous security tools out there that you can install to keep yourself protected, if you have upgraded to Windows 10 Fall Creators Update you have a built-in tool at your disposal.

Called Controlled Folder Access, the feature locks down files and folders to protect them against unwanted changes -- including encryption by ransomware. It's not enabled by default, so here's what you need to do.

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Microsoft drops lawsuit against US government after DOJ reins in use of gagging orders

Microsoft has announced that it will drop its lawsuit against the US government after the Department of Justice said that it will use fewer secrecy orders when making requests for user information.

Microsoft's battle has been running since April last year, and it gained support from the likes of Mozilla, the EFF, Google and Apple. The company was not happy that gagging orders prevented it from telling customers when investigators requested access to their data. The move by the DOJ is described by Microsoft president and chief legal officer Brad Smith as an "important step for both privacy and free expression," and a step to "protect the constitutional rights of all Americans."

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Facebook offers (some) clarification about newsfeed changes amid panic from page owners

Changes to the Facebook newsfeed are generally somewhat controversial, not least because many people wish Facebook would just stop buggering around and leave things as they are for a while. But the latest change that's being tested has some people -- page owners and publishers in particular -- worried.

Facebook is testing splitting the newsfeed in two: one half for posts from friends, and the other half from pages. There is an exception, however: promoted posts from pages can appear in the personal newsfeed. This has caused concern because smaller publishers and business fear their posts will disappear and not be seen, while those with big budgets remain visible. But Facebook is trying to calm anxieties.

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