Microsoft gains support from Mozilla, EFF, Google and Apple in fight against US gagging orders
Microsoft is fighting the US Justice Department in an attempt to quash a law that prevents companies informing customers that the government is requesting their data. The technology giant has the backing of other tech companies as well as media outlets.
Amazon, Apple, Google, Fox News, Electronic Frontier Foundation and Mozilla are among those offering their support to Microsoft. The lawsuit says that blocking companies from keeping their customers informed is unconstitutional, and it comes at a time when tech companies in particular are keen to be as open and transparent as possible about government requests for data.
Save $39.95! Paragon Backup and Recovery 16 free until November
Paragon Backup and Recovery 16 is a reliable PC backup tool which comes packed with enterprise-level features and functionality, so it’s a little surprising to find Paragon Software are giving it away for free until November 1st.
It’s true, though. Download, install, create a free MyParagon account (which means giving your email address, no phone number or physical address beyond a country) and you’ll be emailed a free license within seconds.
Libratone unveils noise-canceling Q Adapt in-ear Lightning connector earbuds for iPhone 7
Next week is Apple's big product event, where many expect the iPhone 7 to make its debut. The most controversial aspect of that new smartphone is the rumored removal of the 3.5mm audio jack. In other words, if the rumors are true, traditional wired earbuds will no longer work without a dongle. Bluetooth headphones will still work, of course.
In anticipation of the 3.5mm port removal, Apple's Lightning connector is being viewed as the new default way to connect wired headphones/earbuds. With that said, we will likely see an influx of Lightning connector headphones this holiday season. Libratone is getting the jump on this, however, with its newly announced Q Adapt In-Ear Lightning earbuds. The product doesn't just utilize the Lightning connector for audio, but to power the noise-canceling technology too. Of course, the earbuds should work with any iPhone with a Lightning connector -- not just the upcoming model.
Cyber-attacks costing the UK economy £147 billion a year
Apparently, 1.8 million of UK’s businesses have been victims of a cyber-attack, and that costs the country’s economy more than £147 billion, in the last year alone. This is according to a new report by Gareth Bacon, GLA Conservative London Assembly, entitled Safe & Secure: Protecting London’s data.
Pretty much all businesses affected by these security breaches -- 99 percent of them -- are small businesses, counting 249 employees, or less. With that in mind, the report proposes a Mayoral Standard for data security, helping London consumers and businesses protect themselves from cyber-attacks.
Dell - EMC merger will close September 7
Dell and EMC will finalize their merge on September 7, following China's regulatory approval, the two companies announced earlier this week. The new company, named Dell Technologies, will start working as soon as the merge is complete. China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) approved the merger, after EMC shareholders did the same on July 19.
"This is an historic moment for both Dell and EMC. Combined, we will be exceptionally well-positioned for growth in the most strategic areas of next generation IT including digital transformation, software-defined data centre, converged infrastructure, hybrid cloud, mobile and security", says Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies.
UK businesses report 88 percent more breaches
It's not that there are less data breaches lately -- it's that they're not being disclosed. That's basically what Huntsman Security is saying, after it requested data about error and breaches in security through the Freedom of Information Act. Between April 2015, and March 2016, a total of 2,048 incidents were reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
This represents a jump of 88 percent, as the year before, there were a total of 1,089 reported incidents.
Microsoft enables video game pre-orders in Windows Store
The Windows Store can sometimes be a satisfying place to download and manage video games, apps, movies, and music. Regarding apps and games, however, the store is littered with a lot of low-quality items. In other words, Microsoft still has a lot of work to do, but it is slowly getting there.
Today, the Windows-maker announces that Windows 10 users can now pre-order video games through the Windows Store. It is one of those things that probably should have been possible from the start, but better late than never, right? The real question is, should Valve, owner of Steam, be worried?
Kaspersky launches cloud security for smaller businesses
Although there are many different security solutions on the market, smaller businesses often struggle to find a solution that's affordable and easy to implement.
Kaspersky Lab is targeting this SMB market with its new Endpoint Security Cloud. It's a software-as-a-service solution offers advanced functionality and proven protection but can be managed easily via simple cloud-based console with an intuitive and user-friendly interface.
ARCHOS 133 Oxygen is an affordable 13.3-inch FHD Android tablet
Interesting Android tablets are becoming increasingly rare nowadays. Consumers seem fatigued by the overwhelming number of low-quality tablets on the market. Understandably, large-screen smartphones have likely stolen some of the thunder too.
Today, ARCHOS announces a tablet that is fairly generic and underwhelming in most of its specifications. For instance, there is no USB-C here. Dubbed the "133 Oxygen", there are two aspects that make the otherwise lackluster device intriguing, however. What are they? A large 13.3-inch 1080p display and an affordable price. The 10,000mAh battery doesn't hurt either.
Drift Ghost 4K action camera features modular design
Drift Innovation today takes the wraps off a new action camera called Drift Ghost 4K. It is the first in the company's lineup to come with a modular design and 4K video recording, and, just like its predecessors, is likely to appeal to bicyclists and motorcyclists looking for an action camera optimized for helmet mounting.
The modular design offers a great deal of versatility, as it allows users to extend the battery life, attach an LCD viewfinder or add 4G cellular connectivity to the Drift Ghost 4K using dedicated modules that can be attached to the side of the body.
Ahead of iPhone 7 event, Apple's Twitter account shows signs of life
Believe it or not, Twitter launched over 10 years ago. The social network, which is now publicly traded, is no longer a young tech rebel. Instead, it is a mature platform that is leveraged by celebrities, companies, and regular folks like yours truly.
Since non-tech companies like Arby's and Fruit of the Loom have Twitter accounts, surely tech giants like Microsoft and Apple have accounts too, right? Actually, while the former is on Twitter, the latter has long been absent from the platform. True, the @Apple account has existed since 2011, but it has long been inactive. With that said, Tim Cook is active on the network, as are accounts for some of its services like Apple Music and News. Today, ahead of the upcoming September 7 iPhone event, the @Apple profile shows signs of life. Better late than never, eh?
Best Windows apps this week
One-hundred and ninety-six in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 8.x and Windows 10 in the past seven days.
As always, if I missed an app or game that has been released this week that you believe is particularly good, let me know in the comments below or notify me via email instead.
End users struggle to identify security threats and put enterprises at risk
There's a reason why cyber attacks use social engineering techniques, it's because the person sitting in front of the screen is usually the weakest link in the security chain.
This is confirmed by the findings of a new report from Wombat Security Technologies which shows that in the last year, the number of organizations that reported being a victim of phishing has increased 13 percent, and 60 percent of enterprises say the rate of phishing attacks has increased overall.
Dropbox 2012 hack exposes 68 million accounts
Remember how Dropbox asked all those that haven't changed their passwords since 2012 to do so now? Remember how they said they did it for no particular reason, just as a precaution? Turns out, it was much more than that.
As a matter of fact, back in 2012, more than 68 million accounts were hacked.
Logitech G unveils 'Prodigy' line of PC gaming gear for the casual 'everyman'
There is a stereotype that all PC gamers are the hardcore variant -- drinking Mountain Dew in their mom's basement while spending their entire paycheck on video games and associated accessories. While those people surely do exist, there are plenty of people -- myself included -- that are casual gamers with limited budgets. When I say casual, I don't mean Candy Crush and Words with Friends -- we enjoy the same games as the hardcore folks. Sadly, we just don't have as much time and resources to dedicate to playing.
Unfortunately, companies don't seem interested in catering to the PC gaming everyman (or woman). Today this changes as Logitech G announces a new line of accessories for the casual segment. Called 'Prodigy', it offers capable gear without nonsense.
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