Why the password is still here to stay

weak password

With everything from your local takeaway to fashion retailers and airlines now requiring an account, it is expected that within five years we will have, on average, over 200 accounts requiring passwords.

Managing passwords has become a nightmare for almost all internet users. In the face of this, people respond differently. Some of us use the same passwords for all our accounts. This is naïve -- each password acts as a gateway to our valuable personal data and using a single password means that one breach results in vulnerability on all fronts.

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Hackers are after our automobiles -- you can help Intel fight them, and win a new car too!

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Computers in cars have created wonderful advances in safety, navigation and performance. Of course, this makes automobiles far more complicated. By making vehicles internet-connected, however, we have opened them up to remote hackers. This is not just a theoretical vulnerability either; there have been actual proof-of-concept attacks on some Jeep models.

Unfortunately, this trend will likely continue. As long as cars are internet-connected, they will always be vulnerable to remote hackers. Today, however, Intel announces a plan to protect us from those evil-doers. You see, it has created the Automotive Security Review Board (ASRB).

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The best methods for transferring data between computers to ensure an efficient migration

Data migration

There are currently more than 600 million personal computers in use that are at least four years old and ready to be replaced, according to research from Intel. That is a huge number of people who are going to buy new computers in the near future, and they will all need to migrate their applications and data to their new PC. However, moving into a new PC can be a challenge. Most users have spent years shaping a comfortable PC environment -- its "personality". Getting a new PC similarly configured and setup, with all the applications and data, can be a daunting task -- one that is time-consuming and often difficult for non-technical consumers.

The good news is that migrating data and applications between computers doesn’t have to be an arduous, dreaded, fear-ridden process. A new computer typically means faster computing speed, more memory and enhanced new features. It also represents an opportunity to start fresh by organizing your computer’s content (i.e. archiving old files and cleaning up folder structures) before the transition. Transferring files and data between systems or via the same platform doesn’t have to be a complicated undertaking if you know the proper steps to take. Here are the three stages of an efficient and convenient migration.

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Leaked Windows 10 build 10537 release notes show Microsoft's slow progress

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Wzor has come up with the goods once again. After leaked screenshots of Windows 10 build 10537 earlier today, we've been treated to a follow-up of release notes and ISOs. This build has not been officially released by Microsoft so you won’t be able to download it through Windows Update, but we're sure that you'll be able to track down a copy if you're particularly keen to try it out.

We've already mentioned some of the changes that are to be found in this latest build (MICROSOFT.WINDOWS.10.CLIENTPRO-CORE.TH2.10537.X64.OEMRET.ENGLISH.DVD) but the official release notes go into more detail. Dating back to 2 September, the release notes detail not only the new features and changes, but also the bug fixes. But, perhaps more importantly, it shows that progress has slowed over at Microsoft.

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Microsoft throws the Windows 10 touch UI baby out with the bathwater

Baby

With major changes in the Windows touch interface in version 10, it’s worth looking at how Microsoft’s approach to on-screen input has evolved since the release of Windows 8. For example, whereas previous versions essentially forced a touch-first UI onto users, Windows 10 features a more adaptable UI that changes based on the user’s input method. Whether or not this constitutes an improvement for most users will depend on which platform they are migrating from.

If a user is switching to Windows 10 from a mouse-and-keyboard centric UI, like Windows 7, chances are they’ll find Windows 10 to be more familiar and welcoming than Windows 8 or 8.1. This is mostly because of the former’s inclusion of a (heavily modified and "evolved") Start Menu, for which many Windows 7 users have shown a particular affinity. However, if a user is approaching Windows 10 from a touch-centric environment -- for example, Windows 8.x running on first generation tablet PC, like an ASUS VivoTab or Dell Venue 8 Pro -- they’ll no doubt find the new UI model a bit jarring and, in many cases, counterproductive.

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Microsoft Excel: 7 top tricks that you should know [Infographic]

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Microsoft Excel has been around for 30 years, it’s one of the most popular programs in the world and it’s likely that most of us at some point or other have used spreadsheets at work.

Recent reports show that, 78 percent of middle-skill jobs require digital literacy and 67 percent of office roles require expertise in Microsoft Excel. So sharpening up your Excel skills really can help improve pay and job prospects.

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8 early warning signs of problems in your data governance plan

Warning Sign Sky Cloud Cloudy

Unfortunately, at any given time, almost every company has data issues, ranging from the minor to the severe. In almost all cases these issues tend to go neglected until problems arise. The fallout can range from unforced errors, such as inaccurate sales forecasts resulting from data redundancies, to public relations disasters caused by data breaches.

The key is having an effective data governance plan in place so that data issues are addressed before such crises arise. Here are eight common signs that there may be trouble on your data horizon.

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How to find out if GCHQ and the NSA spied on you, and how to complain

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Privacy International has created a platform through which individuals and organizations can file complaints with GCHQ about surveillance of phone calls and internet usage. The charity has long concerned itself with government surveillance, particularly the sharing of data between the NSA and GCHQ.

The legality of mass surveillance has been questioned by many, and it has already been determined that human rights organization Amnesty International was illegally spied on. Edward Snowden's NSA revelations have led to a huge increase in awareness of privacy issues, and now Privacy International is making it easier to find out if you were spied on, and to lodge an official complaint.

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iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are already a hit, Apple expects to sell more than 10 million on launch weekend

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The iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus have received an overwhelming response from buyers. The Cupertino-based company on Monday said that it is on pace to beat last year's iPhone first-weekend record of selling more than 10 million iPhone models.

"Customer response to iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus has been extremely positive and preorders this weekend were very strong around the world", the company told CNBC in a statement. "We are on pace to beat last year's 10 million unit first-weekend record when the new iPhones go on sale September 25".

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Google to provide free Wi-Fi hotspots at Indian train stations

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Google has teamed up with RailTel Corporation of India to bring free Wi-Fi hotspots to more than 400 train stations. The state-run company already has a fiber network in place across the country, and the new venture -- which goes under the name of Project Nilgiri -- is set to roll out over the next four months.

TelecomTalk reports that hotspots will enable travellers to get online with a high-speed connection free of charge for half an hour, and then speeds will be reduced. SMS verification will be used to provide web users with the necessary passwords, and screenshots of the portal that will be used to get online have also leaked.

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Will you buy an Apple iPhone 6s? [Poll]

Apple iPhone 6s and 6s Plus

Over the weekend my colleague Brian Fagioli revealed he'd pre-ordered his first iPhone, and detailed the reasons for making the switch from Android. He opted for the 128 GB super-sized 6s Plus model.

I also pre-ordered the new Apple phone over the weekend. My reasons for doing so aren’t exactly worthy of a special post -- I have an iPhone 5s and it’s time to upgrade. As much as I like my wife’s HTC One M9, and most of Samsung’s flagship phones, I love the iPhone, and its apps, and the 6s offers enough new functionality -- 3D Touch in particular -- to make upgrading a no brainer. I also opted for the 128 GB size, but I went with the pocket-friendly iPhone 6s. No plus size for me, thanks.

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Maximizing IT budgets to achieve better business outcomes

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According to global analyst firm Gartner, global spending on IT products and services is forecast to hit $3.5 trillion in 2015. Spending on IT is an initiative undertaken not just by CIOs, but by CMOs and other line of business managers that need solutions to drive growth. More and more, technology has become linked to business outcomes, and this has inadvertently led to the uptick in IT purchasing.

It has never been more important for IT professionals to gain control of budgets and think of new ways to help their organizations make more informed decisions, especially when it comes to allocating budget resources. Here are four tips on how IT professionals can maximize their budgets to achieve business ends:

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Moto X Play review

Moto-X-Play-front

Motorola’s Moto range for 2015 includes two variants on the standard Moto X. The Moto X Style is focussed on how it looks, and this phone the Moto X Play is aimed at providing a good entertainment experience.

To that end it has a large 5.5-inch 1080p screen, a standard version of Android and a 3,630 mAh battery that promises plenty of use between charges. There’s a 1.7 GHz octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of onboard storage (a 32GB version is available too), plus 21 MP rear and 5 MP front cameras. Naturally it’s 4G and has dual-band Wi-Fi.

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Get reading with these three free ePub viewers

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EPub is a popular format for eBooks, but PC viewing support is still a little patchy, and the files can be hard to open.

Fortunately there are plenty of free ePub readers around which make it easier to build and browse your own eBook library.

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Apple gives you the middle finger

girl-middle-finger

Apple in its operating system update to iOS 9.1 in autumn, is set to give users not only a better user interface. It is also set to add new emojis, which will include the "hotly-anticipated" middle-finger image.

The Unicode Consortium, the industry body which sets the standard cross-platform options, has approved a new batch of emojis in June 2015. Some of these designs, as well as previous approved lists, can be used in the iOS 9.1 update, which has just been made available in beta.

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