IT industry today faces same issues that aggravated 1990s manufacturing: How can we take a cue from history?
Until the late 1990s, manufacturing reigned as the lifeblood of the global economy -- leading in productivity, employment, growth, and investments across all points of the world. However, once we neared the close of the 20th century, manufacturing found its Achilles heel in the compounded complexity accrued from outdated processes, an over-reliance on human labor that simply couldn’t meet its extreme needs, supply chain disruptions, and rising costs.
I fear that today, the information technology industry finds itself at all-too-familiar cross-roads. Why is this?
Microsoft expands its Surface for Business Copilot+ PC lineup with new Intel Core Ultra-powered Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7
Microsoft has today announced two additions to its Surface for Business Copilot+ PC family, with new versions of the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop that, instead of using Qualcomm’s Arm-based Snapdragon X CPUs, will be powered by Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2), giving buyers a choice.
Microsoft says the Surface Pro 11 for Business is designed to deliver high performance, versatility, and security. The device offers up to 28 percent more overall performance, 98 percent better graphics performance, and double the battery life during Teams calls, compared to the Surface Pro 9. The 13-inch PixelSense display features optional OLED technology with better color accuracy, and anti-reflective properties for improved visibility, even in direct sunlight.
Inside Pluton -- Microsoft's security processor that's coming to a PC near you soon
Microsoft first announced its Pluton security processor as far back as 2020 and more recently has said it will be enabled by default on all Copilot+ PCs as part of the company's commitment to Secure by Design.
Today the company is releasing more details about Pluton and how it operates. Operating directly on dedicated hardware on the CPU system-on-chip (SoC), Pluton helps provide additional protection for sensitive assets like credentials and encryption keys, using a combination of hardware, firmware and software
Deepfakes, workforce fraud and phishing incidents on the rise across businesses
Half of businesses have reported a growth in deepfake and AI-generated fraud, alongside rising biometric spoofs and counterfeit ID fraud attempts, according to the 2025 State of Identity Fraud Report, released today by AuthenticID.
The report analyzes internal proprietary data anonymized from AuthenticID's identity verification and fraud detection technology. When paired with insights from annual fraud surveys of both fraud and technology professionals as well as consumers in North America, the report offers a comprehensive view of the fraud landscape.
Remote employees work longer hours
In findings that rather seem to contradict the wisdom of President Trump's return to office mandate for government employees, a new report from Cloudbrink shows that 'work from anywhere' employees actually put in longer hours than their nine to five counterparts.
Analysis of usage data from thousands of users of Cloudbrink's Personal SASE service shows heavy transfer of data on Fridays and heavy usage starting at 7:00 am and continuing to 7:00 pm. The report concludes that employees are working quite a bit outside the office, but could be even more productive if technical challenges could be reduced.
I asked ChatGPT and DeepSeek to generate some random lottery numbers -- what happened next defied all odds [updated]
For a bit of fun, I thought I would ask ChatGPT to generate a set of numbers for the EuroMillions draw on Friday. Then, seconds later, I asked Chinese upstart DeepSeek to do the same.
My plan was to play both sets of numbers and see which, if any, of the two AIs could win me money. The result was not at all what I expected.
Microsoft releases KB5050094 update to fix audio issues caused by earlier update
When Microsoft released the January security updates for Windows 10 and Windows 11 earlier this month, there were soon complaints from users about audio issues. Having only recently acknowledged a link between the update and the problems, Microsoft has now issued a fix.
The release of the KB5050094 update will give those who are willing to install preview versions of updates the chance to get their audio devices working again. The way in which this problem is being address is not ideal, and will raise questions from many people.
Microsoft releases PowerToys v0.88.0, killing off Video Conference Mute to make way for a new utility
With the v0.88 release cycle for PowerToys, Microsoft says that it will be focusing on “new features, stability, and improvements”. And the release of PowerToys v0.88.0 gets things off to a good start with the arrival of a new tool.
But this release also sees Microsoft giving with one hand and taking with the other. The arrival of the new ZoomIt module is balanced by the departure of Video Conference Mute which has been deprecated and removed from the suite of Windows utilities.
MLS Season Pass returns to Apple TV for 30th season but do Americans really care?
Major League Soccer is back on Apple TV, and if you’re one of the people who actually follows the league, you can once again stream every match with no blackouts through MLS Season Pass. Starting today, fans in over 100 countries can subscribe, unlocking access to all regular-season games, the MLS All-Star Game, and even the playoffs. Exciting, right?
The 2025 season kicks off on February 22, marking year three of Apple’s 10-year deal with MLS. This season also introduces the league’s latest expansion team, San Diego FC, because apparently, North America just can’t get enough soccer teams. Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior VP of Services, hyped up the service, saying, “MLS Season Pass delivers fans exactly what they want.” That may be true for soccer diehards, but let’s be honest -- MLS is nowhere near the NFL, NBA, or even MLB in terms of mainstream appeal.
New tools help prevent leaks of personal data
One of the risks AI teams face is sensitive data lurking where it shouldn't be -- risks that are increasing as the volume unstructured data grows across all industries, a situation made worse still by GenAI.
Unstructured data management specialist Komprise is launching new sensitive data detection and mitigation capabilities to help organizations prevent the leakage of PII and other sensitive data to AI and reduce the risk of potentially ruinous data breaches.
AI-powered Chrome extensions are watching you…
It's not exactly Big Brother, but a new analysis of Chrome extensions from Incogni reveals that 67 percent collect user data, and 41 percent collect personally identifiable information (PII), including sensitive details like credit card numbers, passwords, and location data.
Extensions like Grammarly, which make writing almost anything effortless, or Vetted, which act as online shopping assistants, are quickly becoming essentials of everyday life. But because many users trust Google's ecosystem, they also assume that third-party extensions vetted through the Chrome Web Store are equally safe.
First NRTL-certified rugged case for Microsoft Surface Pro 10 brings extreme protection for hazardous environments
The Joy Factory has introduced the aXtion Extreme MP, a rugged case designed specifically for the Surface Pro 10. What makes it stand out? It’s the first case for Microsoft’s tablet to receive certification from a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) for hazardous locations. That means it’s built to handle extreme conditions while keeping the device safe.
This case isn’t just about toughness -- it’s designed for frontline workers in industries like oil and gas, utilities, and manufacturing. With Class I and II hazardous location certifications, it meets North American safety standards for environments with flammable gases and combustible dust. On top of that, it’s been tested to meet MIL-STD-810H durability standards and boasts an IP68 waterproof rating.
AI use drives APIs to become the main attack surface
A new report reveals that APIs have emerged as the predominant attack surface over the past year, with AI being the biggest driver of API security risks.
The survey from Wallarm, of 200 US-based enterprise leaders on AI and API security, finds over 53 percent report engaging in multiple AI deployments. These deployments are primarily enabled by API technology, cementing APIs as the foundation of enterprise AI adoption. However, while AI integration drives rapid API adoption across industries, it also introduces unique risks.
Google is making it easier to find a safe and reliable VPN
Take a browse through an app store and you will find that there is no shortage of VPN tools to choose from. But which can you trust?
One of the reasons for using a VPN in the first place is to help keep data safe -- but some tools leak information in ways that run completely counter to this. So how do you know which one you should be using? Google has come up with a new way to help guide users towards the safest options,
The role of private clouds in enterprise data strategy [Q&A]
As AI reshapes business operations, companies are facing new challenges around cost uncertainty, security, and data integrity. The rise of hybrid cloud strategies -- combining private clouds with public infrastructure -- is becoming a key approach to addressing these concerns.
While enterprises focus on cost control, safeguarding sensitive corporate data, and preventing AI-driven data leakage, they are also trying to leverage LLMs to exploit data in the public cloud while retaining sensitive data in private clouds that they control.
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