Latest Technology News

Plugable launches UD-6950PDH docking station: Redesigned for optimal Apple compatibility and enhanced productivity

Plugable has officially unveiled the newly redesigned UD-6950PDH docking station, tailored to enhance productivity for Apple users. Following extensive customer feedback and leveraging the latest technology, this latest version sports a sleek space gray aluminum chassis, ensuring seamless integration with Apple's product line.

The standout feature of the UD-6950PDH is its capability to support two additional displays on any Mac with a Max, Pro, or base M1, M2, M3, and the upcoming M4 processors. This is made possible with just a single installation of the DisplayLink driver, setting it apart from many other docking solutions on the market.

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Deepfakes: the next frontier in digital deception

Machine learning (ML) and AI tools raise concerns over mis- and disinformation. These technologies can 'hallucinate' or create text and images that seem convincing but may be completely detached from reality. This may cause people to unknowingly share misinformation about events that never occurred, fundamentally altering the landscape of online trust. Worse -- these systems can be weaponized by cyber criminals and other bad actors to share disinformation, using deepfakes to deceive.

Deepfakes -- the ability to mimic someone using voice or audio and to make them appear to say what you want -- are a growing threat in cybersecurity. Today the widespread availability of advanced technology and accessible AI allows virtually anyone to produce highly realistic fake content.

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Microsoft is testing a change to the Windows 11 Start menu that you might actually like

Start menu categories

With the Start menu being at the heart of Windows, it is vital that it functions in a way that makes sense to people. Sadly, this has not always been the case.

Over years of development, Microsoft has taken a series of questionable design decision with this iconic part of the operating system, but a change that could prove popular is about to land in Windows 11.

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Google pledges $10 million to enhance youth mental health through education

Google has stepped up its commitment to youth mental health by announcing an additional $10 million in funding for leading nonprofits, including The Rare Impact Fund, DonorsChoose, The JED Foundation, Child Mind Institute, and The Steve Fund. This new initiative boosts Google's total investment in youth digital wellbeing and online safety to $25 million.

The funding aims to introduce mental health training and resources to one million high school students across the U.S. Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, has already funded all existing mental health projects from high school teachers on DonorsChoose. Furthermore, it will provide up to $500 for new projects and a $200 credit for teachers who participate in one of the nine new mental health training courses created by Google in collaboration with youth mental health experts.

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Ubuntu Linux 24.04.1 delayed

The anticipated first point-release of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, crucial for enabling release upgrades from earlier versions, has been officially delayed. Initially scheduled for August 19, the update has been pushed back to August 29 due to the discovery of several high-impact issues during the final stages of preparation. This delay will affect users planning to upgrade from the previous LTS version, who are advised to wait until these issues are resolved to ensure a smooth transition.

Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has not specified the exact nature of the issues but emphasized that the delay is a precaution to maintain stability and security. The development team is actively working on fixes, and further updates are expected as the new release date approaches.

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Microsoft kills Paint 3D

Microsoft's ongoing updates to its supported Windows operating systems, which includes both Windows 11 and Windows 10, are taking a sad turn with the deprecation of Paint 3D. You see, this app is set to be removed from the Microsoft Store by November 4, 2024.

Initially introduced as a part of the creators update, Paint 3D allowed users to craft three-dimensional images easily but did not become as essential to user workflows as anticipated. And so, Microsoft is killing this app.

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VPN demand surges in the face of government social media restrictions

Touching VPN logo

Governments, particularly those with a more authoritarian bent, really aren't keen on social media as it threatens their ability to control the narrative.

They especially don't like X since Elon Musk's takeover and stated commitment to free speech. In Venezuela the government recently banned the platform for 10 days. Even in the UK fingers have been pointed at the influence of social media following recent riots.

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Get 'Generative AI: Navigating the Course to the Artificial General Intelligence Future' FREE for a limited time

In Generative AI: Navigating the Course to the Artificial General Intelligence Future, celebrated author Martin Musiol -- founder and CEO of generativeAI.net and GenAI Lead for Europe at Infosys -- delivers an incisive and one-of-a-kind discussion of the current capabilities, future potential, and inner workings of generative artificial intelligence.

In the book, you'll explore the short but eventful history of generative artificial intelligence, what it's achieved so far, and how it's likely to evolve in the future. You'll also get a peek at how emerging technologies are converging to create exciting new possibilities in the GenAI space.

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Why a 'Swiss cheese' approach is needed to combat deepfakes [Q&A]

Deepfakes are becoming more and more sophisticated, earlier this year a finance worker in Hong Kong was tricked out of millions following a deepfake call.

With the deepfake fast becoming a weapon of choice for cybercriminals, we spoke to Bridget Pruzin, senior manager -- compliance and risk investigations and analysis at Convera, to learn why she believes a 'Swiss cheese' approach, layering controls like unique on-call verification steps and involving in-person verification, is crucial to effectively defend against these scams.

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Forget Windows 11, the stunning Windows 10 2024 Edition is the operating system you want

Microsoft is set to pull the plug on Windows 10 in the near future, leaving people with the choice of upgrading to the AI-heavy Windows 11, or continuing to use an unsupported operating system -- and all of the dangers that entails.

Microsoft will offer paid support for anyone who wishes to keep using Windows 10, and 0patch will keep Windows 10 secure for at least five more years after Microsoft abandons it, but what we really need is a more modern version of that OS.

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Get 'Machine Learning with Python: Unlocking AI Potential with Python and Machine Learning' FREE for a limited time

The course starts by setting the foundation with an introduction to machine learning, Python, and essential libraries, ensuring you grasp the basics before diving deeper.

It then progresses through exploratory data analysis, data scrubbing, and pre-model algorithms, equipping you with the skills to understand and prepare your data for modeling.

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Mastering tenant-to-tenant cloud migrations: Strategies for success

Tenant-to-tenant cloud migrations have become pivotal for organizations striving to boost operational efficiencies and seamlessly adapt to dynamic changes such as mergers, acquisitions, and organizational restructuring.

These migrations are about more than transferring data and applications between cloud environments. They also represent a strategic move towards greater scalability and improved resource management, enabling businesses to respond more agilely to market demands and growth opportunities.

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Pool your cybersecurity resources to build the perfect security ecosystem

Cybersecurity-blocks

Cybersecurity has never been something to set once and leave running in the background -- it is a constantly evolving landscape. While the migration of data and applications to the cloud provides numerous business benefits, many organisations struggle to secure their networks against rapidly changing cyber threats. Ransomware attackers have understood the value of targeting smaller organisations and tailoring attacks to take advantage of businesses they believe will pay up immediately (and often with the backing of cyber insurance) rather than invest in defences. 

Tight security for data and resources is now the difference between operations running smoothly or being disrupted to the point that businesses are forced to close entirely. But how can SMBs achieve comprehensive security management and threat intelligence on a budget? Partnerships and alliances provide the solution.

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Get 'Cybersecurity For Dummies, 2nd Edition' FREE for a limited time

Every day it seems we read another story about one company or another being targeted by cybercriminals. It makes some of us wonder: am I safe online? The good news is that we can all be cybersecure -- and it doesn’t take a degree in computer science to make it happen!

Cybersecurity For Dummies is the down-to-earth guide you need to secure your own data (and your company’s, too).

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Microsoft reveals Office security flaw that has not yet been patched

Microsoft 365 Office 365

Various versions of Microsoft Office have a serious security vulnerability which could expose sensitive data to an attacker. Worryingly, while disclosing the flaw, Microsoft has also conceded that there is no patch available.

The issue is being tracked as CVE-2024-38200 and it affects a variety of edition of the office suite -- namely the 32- and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Office 2016, Microsoft Office 2019, Microsoft Office LTSC 2021, and Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise. While there is no fix available right now, one is expected in the coming days.

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