Ransomware declined in January -- but don't celebrate just yet
The latest ransomware report from GuidePoint Security shows a decline in activity in January compared to the final quarter of last year, with a drop in the total number of posted victims by 33 percent and 60 percent relative to December and November 2023.
However, this is consistent with the trends of January of 2022 and 2023, both of which also followed heightened Q4 activity from the previous year.
Forest outages risk axing enterprise AD systems
A 'forest' -- in case you didn't know -- is the top-level logical container in an Active Directory configuration that holds domains, users, computers, and group policies.
This level presents a security challenge and a new survey of 1,000 IT professionals from Cayosoft reveals a 172 percent increase in forest-wide Active Directory outages since 2021.
Oladance unveils OWS Sports Open Wearable Stereo Bluetooth earphones
Oladance has rocked the open ear audio technology market with its development of Open Wearable Stereo (OWS). Unlike bone conduction technology, Oladance OWS utilizes air conduction to deliver a three-dimensional sound effect, which is designed to be more comfortable over extended periods.
Oladance's approach with OWS technology is to provide users with a connection to their surroundings that is both open and safe. Their products are designed to rest on the ear, avoiding the ear canal, which addresses potential discomfort, irritation, or hearing damage from long-term earphone use. Additionally, the Oladance app enhances the user experience by offering personalization options, including four sound modes, sound balance, and gesture and function controls.
Cyber 'ad-versaries' adopt professional marketing techniques
A new report from HP Wolf Security shows cybercrime groups are using professional advertising tools to optimize their malware campaigns and convince users to take the bait.
The report identifies the DarkGate campaign which uses ad tools to sharpen attacks. Malicious PDF attachments, posing as OneDrive error messages, direct users to sponsored content hosted on a popular ad network. This leads to DarkGate malware which hands backdoor access to cybercriminals into networks, exposing victims to risks like data theft and ransomware..
Google thinks ChromeOS Flex could replace Windows 10 or Windows 11 on your PC, or even macOS on your Mac
With the end of support for Windows 10 approaching, and the launch of Windows 11 24H2 not being an option for many people because of hardware compatibility changes, Google is seizing the opportunity to push its own ChromeOS Flex.
ChromeOS Flex is Google's tweaked version of the ChromeOS operating system that can be installed on x86 hardware. The company is pitching its software at businesses and organizations promising that it has "been built with security as a first principle, not an afterthought". The self-promotion is to be found on the Chrome Enterprise blog, but there is nothing to stop home users from replacing Windows or macOS with ChromeOS Flex.
Microsoft Build 2024 confirmed for May, with 'AI, Copilots, and more' for developers
Microsoft has confirmed the dates and location of this year's Build conference for developers. The event will be held from May 21 to 23 in the Seattle Convention Center's Summit building, and it may be a chance for everyone to learn more about not only the future of Windows 11, but also the upcoming Windows 12.
Like last year, Microsoft Build 2024 is an in-person event, although online attendance is also possible. So far, Microsoft is promising "AI, Copilots, and more for Developers" and while there are no firm details of precisely what to expect, it is possible to sign up to be notified when registration opens.
Damn Small Linux 2024 returns to breathe new life into old computers -- a feat Microsoft's bloated Windows 11 can't achieve
Damn Small Linux (DSL), a name that should resonate with many veteran tech enthusiasts, has made a triumphant return after a 12-year absence (albeit as a pre-release Alpha) in 2024 with a fresh iteration designed for low-spec 32-bit x86 computers. DSL 2024 is a compact Linux-based operating system that packs a punch with a bunch of useful applications, all while maintaining a small footprint.
The new DSL 2024 is not just about nostalgia; it's a practical solution for older computers, keeping them functional and out of landfills. The distribution is tailored to fit on a single CD, with a hard limit of 700MB, a significant jump from its 50MB predecessor but still a marvel in today's gigabyte-centric world. This constraint has led to a meticulous selection of applications that are functional, lightweight, and have low dependencies.
Getting up close and personal: How hyper-personalization is driving the next generation of digital applications
As technology continues to converge with our everyday lives, demand for more intuitive digital services is rising. Consumers now expect brands to provide them with more convenience and relevance than ever before.
Personalization within their digital offerings is a key way for businesses to do this, as McKinsey reports that almost three quarters of buyers now expect personalized interactions. However, personalization is just the beginning. To truly meet customer expectations, organizations must go one step further and aim for hyper-personalization.
The importance of security training in the zero trust era
Momentum for zero trust migration is accelerating across the cybersecurity community. It was a fundamental component of the Biden Administration’s 2023 National Security Strategy. Nearly 90% of global organizations have already started implementing basic aspects of a zero trust security model. And in Forrester’s 2024 predictions report, analysts forecast that dedicated roles with “zero trust” in the title are expected to double over the next year.
This is because the need for zero trust authentication has never been clearer. Conventional network security approaches are increasingly vulnerable in today's cloud enterprise environment, where post-pandemic digital transformations, software supply chains, remote work models and bring-your-own-device policies have widened the attack surface. Cloud-based cyberattacks increased by nearly 50 percent in 2022. Meanwhile, more than 10 million people were impacted by supply chain attacks over the same year.
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Lexar launches Professional SL600 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 portable SSD
Today, Lexar launches the Professional SL600. This portable solid state drive is designed to meet the needs of photographers, videographers, content creators, and business professionals. The new USB-C SSD boasts USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 technology, delivering impressive read and write speeds of up to 2000MB/s.
The Lexar Professional SL600 portable SSD is not only fast but also built to withstand the rigors of travel and on-location work. Its durable aluminum enclosure provides protection against bumps and drops, while its shock- and vibration-resistance ensures the safety of saved files. Additionally, the drive comes equipped with Lexar DataShield, a 256-bit AES encryption software, offering an extra layer of security for sensitive files.
Over half of gen AI inputs contain PII and sensitive data
In a new report on the impact of generative AI on security posture, Menlo Security looks at employee usage of gen AI and the subsequent security risks these behaviors pose to organizations.
It finds that 55 percent of data loss prevention events detected by Menlo Security in the last thirty days included attempts to input personally identifiable information. The next most common type of data that triggered DLP detections included confidential documents, which represented 40 percent of input attempts.
42 percent of applications suffer from 'security debt'
A new report from Veracode shows that software security debt -- flaws that have gone unfixed for over a year -- is found in 42 percent of applications.
Although the number of high-severity flaws has reduced 70.8 percent of organizations still suffer from security debt. 45.9 percent have critical security debt, that is high-severity flaws that have been unfixed for 12 months or more.
CMS challenges prevent organizations unlocking their data
New research finds that 84 percent of organizations believe their existing content management system (CMS) is preventing them from unlocking full value from their data and content.
The study, from headless CMS company Hygraph, surveyed 400 professionals in product and engineering roles across the US, UK, and Germany, and finds 92 percent of organizations say their content and data sources are currently siloed, with 38 percent describing it as 'very siloed'. This means the work required to integrate all these sources is both time-consuming and expensive.
Microsoft releases KB5034765 update for Windows 11, moving the Copilot button and fixing the Start menu
If you've been irritated by the positioning of the Copilot button in Windows 11, the newly released KB5034765 update is for you.
This month’s patch for Windows 11 not only boosts security and fixes numerous bugs, it also sees the button for accessing Microsoft's AI-powered assistant moving. It effectively replaces the "show desktop" button in the taskbar.
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