Windows 10 Creators Update finally available to (almost) all
The Windows 10 Creators Update rollout has been glacially slow, and -- at times -- problematic. Shortly after it began, back at the start of April, Microsoft suggested people didn’t manually install it, and three months after its official release only half of Windows 10 users were running it.
Finally, though, with the horrendously named Fall Creators Update due soon, Microsoft has made the decision to finally offer the current feature update to all -- well nearly all.
Ransomware victims paid over $25 million to recover files
Ransomware victims have paid more than $25 million in the past two years to get their data back, a new study by Google has shown.
The report, made by researchers at Google, Chainalysis, UC San Diego, and the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, followed the trail of cryptomoney through the blockchain, allowing researchers to get a birds-eye view of the ransomware world.
Cortana gets bikini ready with Fitbit skill
While the wearable market hasn't exploded as many manufacturers had hoped, it is definitely popular for fitness. Although accuracy is sometimes in question, these devices can help people count steps, monitor heart rate, and more. It is not magic, however -- you must put in the effort to get in shape. In other words, the wearable can't do the exercise for you; trust me, I know...
One of the most popular fitness wearable brands is Fitbit, and today, its devices are getting even better. You see, Microsoft's virtual assistant, Cortana, can now work bidirectionally with a Fitbit account. You can ask the assistant for data from the account and she (her gender is a woman) will tell it to you. Conversely, you can tell Cortana to update your account with accomplishments. Very cool.
Toshiba unveils TR200 64-layer 3D TLC SATA SSD
SATA solid state drives aren't particularly exciting nowadays, but they are essential for consumers looking to upgrade existing computers without breaking the bank. By purchasing a 2.5-inch SSD, a computer user can easily upgrade their laptop. Not only should the notebook get a speed boost, but it can improve battery life too. Heck, these drives are great for desktops too -- especially if they do not have M.2 NVMe slots.
Today, Toshiba announces a new SATA SSD that is aimed at upgraders. Called TR200, it is a 2.5-inch drive that features 64-Layer 3D 3-bit-per-cell TLC flash memory.
UK ransomware victims most likely to pay up
A new study from anti-malware specialist Malwarebytes reveals that UK users are most likely to pay up if hit by ransomware.
The study of over 1,000 companies across the US, France, UK, Germany, Australia, and Singapore reveals that 56.9 percent of UK businesses surveyed opted not to pay the ransom, and 46.2 percent lost files by not paying. In comparison, 84.1 percent of French businesses surveyed opted not to pay the ransom, and only 24.5 percent lost files.
Two-thirds of consumers suspect governments abuse their powers to access data
According to a new study 51 percent of people don’t believe their government can protect their personal data, and nearly two-thirds (65 percent) suspect their government already abuses its powers to access the data of citizens.
Identity protection company Venafi surveyed 3,000 consumers in the US, UK and Germany about initiatives that would grant governments more access to private, encrypted data.
WhatsApp has 1 billion daily users
WhatsApp is slowly but surely strengthening its position in the messaging space, now boasting one billion daily users. It joins a very select club that includes parent company Facebook.
WhatsApp has also seen a significant increase in the number of monthly users. It has 1.3 billion monthly users, 300 million more than early last year when it broke the one billion monthly users mark.
More than half of companies fail to measure the effectiveness of their cyber security
With businesses spending increasing amounts on cyber security, a new survey reveals that many of them are failing to measure the effectiveness of their investments.
The study from privileged account management specialist Thycotic found 58 percent of its 400 respondents scored a failing grade on a benchmark survey when evaluating their efforts to measure their cybersecurity investments and performance against best practices.
LinkedIn Website Demographics lets website owners track the type of visitors coming to their sites
The tracking capabilities of social media sites has long been a cause for concern, with Facebook being the most notable example. Now the Microsoft-owned professional social network LinkedIn has announced details of a new tracking feature that will be of interest to website owners.
LinkedIn Website Demographics does not (despite what some reports might suggest, #PrivacyKlaxon) allow for the tracking of individual users, but it does give website owners the chance to get a better idea of the demographics of their visitors. This is less about creating targeted content, and more about determining whether existing content is attracting the right audience -- although clearly one leads to the other.
Brexit negotiations could be hit by DDoS attacks
Hackers could use DDoS to disrupt the Brexit negotiations for the UK's leaving the European Union, or use attacks as a distraction technique while they seek to steal confidential documents or data, according to new research.
The study by Corero Network Security polled 100 security professionals at the Infosecurity Europe conference in London and found 57 percent believe Brexit negotiations will be disrupted by DDoS attacks.
Microsoft launches Windows Bounty Program to weed out Windows 10 bugs
Microsoft is one of many technology companies to run bounty programs giving people the opportunity to earn a bundle of cash for finding bugs and security issues with software. Now the software giant has launched the Windows Bounty Program, offering rewards of up to $250,000.
Of course, the starting point for rewards is much lower -- just $500, but still better than a kick in the teeth. This new bounty program has four key areas of focus in addition to the Windows Insider program: Microsoft Hyper-V, Mitigation bypass and Bounty for defense, Windows Defender Application Guard, and Microsoft Edge.
Ledger X is the first regulated cryptocurrency exchange in the US
In just a few months, digital currency investors and miners will be able hedge their investments under US regulatory oversight.
The cryptocurrency trading platform operator, Ledger X has been been granted registration by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission to become the first federally regulated digital currency options exchange and clearing house in the US.
Google Play Music and YouTube Red to merge into a new streaming service
YouTube's head of music, Lyor Cohen, has confirmed that Google Play Music and YouTube Red are going to merge. Speaking in New York at the New Music Seminar conference, Cohen said that a new streaming service would be created.
Rumors of the merger have been circulating for some time, and the move will see Google consolidating its services into something rather more manageable -- both for the company and for users.
Microsoft further pledges Linux loyalty by joining Cloud Native Computing Foundation
Linux is the future, and even closed-source champion Microsoft has gotten onboard. The Windows-maker is not only contributing to many open source projects, but developing software for the Linux desktop, with programs such as Skype. You can even install Linux distributions from the Windows Store nowadays. Hell, the company has even created a version of Microsoft Office that runs on Linux by way of Android! Yes, Google's mobile operating system is Linux. Android is also what effectively killed the much maligned Windows Phone, so Microsoft clearly has no problem with joining forces with prior "enemies."
Today, Microsoft further pledges its loyalty to Linux and open source by becoming a platinum member of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. If you aren't familiar, the CNCF is a part of the well-respected Linux Foundation (of which Microsoft is also a member). With the Windows-maker increasingly focusing its efforts on the cloud -- and profiting from it -- this seems like a match made in heaven. In fact, Dan Kohn, Executive Director of the foundation says, "We are honored to have Microsoft, widely recognized as one of the most important enterprise technology and cloud providers in the world, join CNCF as a platinum member."
Alphabet Q2 2017 by the numbers: $26 bn revenue, $3.5 bn profit
There are four key areas where digital businesses can make a significant profit, and Google's parent company Alphabet appears to be gaining in all four of them according to its latest earnings report.
In a recent call to reveal its results, Alphabet said revenue rose 21 percent to $26 billion, in the second quarter of 2017. Net income was $3.5 billion.
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