The business case for zero trust network access [Q&A]
As the business network landscape has become more complex, many organizations are turning to zero trust network access (ZTNA) in order to boost their security. It's also replacing or supplementing older technologies like VPN.
We spoke to Kurt Glazemakers, CTO at secure access specialist Appgate who believes that there is a solid business case for ZTNA as well as a security one.
APIs can help to solve Brexit data issues
New research from MuleSoft shows 54 percent of UK businesses say Brexit has presented them with data access and management challenges.
The problem isn't just a British one though. 40 percent of German and 39 percent of French businesses also report that Brexit has made it more difficult for them to access and manage data.
Microsoft releases KB5005565 and KB5005566 Windows 10 updates to fix PowerShell bug and more
With another Patch Tuesday rolling around, Microsoft has released a pair of new updates for Windows 10 -- KB5005565 and KB5005566.
Serving the same purpose, KB5005566 is available for Windows 10 version 1909, and KB5005565 is available for Windows 10 versions 2004, 20H2 and 21H1. These cumulative updates include security fixes, so they are important to install, but they also address non-security bugs including one affecting PowerShell.
Microsoft releases new PowerToys build complete with Video Conference Mute tool
We've just written about Microsoft giving its PowerToys utilities a Windows 11 makeover. While a new coat of paint is all well and good, what people really want is new tools to play with -- and with the newly released PowerToys Experimental v0.46.0, this is precisely what Microsoft has delivered.
This latest release sees the addition of the much-touted Video Conference Mute tool which provides global audio and video controls for video calling apps that make use of cameras and microphones. The release also fixes a variety of issues with the collection of utilities.
Nintendo Switch finally gets Bluetooth audio
The Nintendo Switch was released in 2017, and since then, the video game console has been a runaway success. Its ability to serve as both a portable and home game machine has contributed to its popularity, but also, the COVID-19 pandemic likely increased sales too. You see, as people were stuck in quarantine, many of them turned to the Nintendo Switch and popular games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
As great as the Nintendo Switch is, the system is definitely not perfect. For instance, it is underpowered compared to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Not to mention, many consumers consider the controllers to be defective, as the thumb-sticks often develop "drift" and lose accuracy. One of the oddest deficiencies, however, is the lack of Bluetooth audio. This was a very curious thing, as the Switch supported the wireless standard, just not for sound.
Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset is both affordable and sustainable
When you are a hardcore gamer, having quality gear can really matter. Players need to carefully select high-end mice, keyboards, headsets, and more if they are going to compete -- especially on a professional level. Many elite gamers choose Logitech G for their hardware needs, and it is not hard to see why; Logitech's gaming brand has consistently released high-quality gear for several years.
Today, Logitech announces the G435 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset. As the name suggests, this wireless headset utilizes Logitech's excellent LIGHTSPEED technology -- the company's proprietary low-latency wireless solution that minimizes many of the issues gamers have with Bluetooth. If you do need Bluetooth connectivity, however, don't worry -- G435 offers that too. What's notable about G435 is Logitech's focus on sustainability -- the headset and its packaging are partially comprised of recycled materials. This is a big win for the environment.
Microsoft's Windows marketing campaigns through history are unintentionally hilarious
Every generation of Windows -- well, from Windows 95 onwards at least -- has had a catchy slogan, designed, in some way, to encapsulate what the software giant hoped the OS would bring to users.
With Windows 95, for example, it was "Start me up", because that was the first time Microsoft’s operating system came with a Start button and menu.
iPhone 13 Pro is 'Apple’s most "Pro" iPhone yet' -- which means it's not for most people
Apple today unveiled a number of new products and -- with the exception of the redesigned iPad mini 5G -- there wasn’t much to get excited about.
Sure, the new iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini look good, and sport a number of improvements, especially in the camera department, but they lack the wow factor of previous new models. Of course, the new iPhone 13 Pro -- and super-sized iPhone 13 Pro Max -- is where the smart buyers are going to look right? Probably not.
Apple unveils iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini -- better, but little to get excited about
Every year, Apple takes the wraps off its next generation of iPhone. Some years the new model is revolutionary, and other years, merely evolutionary. iPhone 13, revealed today, definitely falls into the latter class.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty to recommend the new phone, but if you already own the iPhone 12, or iPhone 12 mini, or even a generation or two further back, there’s no need to rush to upgrade.
Apple Watch Series 7 has a larger screen and greater durability
I own an Apple Watch Series 6, and I love it. I owned the original Apple Watch too -- which was a bit meh, if I'm honest -- and it’s been interesting to watch -- pun intended -- how the device has evolved and improved over the years.
Today, Apple unveils the Apple Watch Series 7, and the big changes here are a larger, more durable screen with thinner borders, faster charging, new aluminum case colors, and not a lot else.
Apple unveils 9th-gen iPad, but redesigned iPad mini 5G makes it look obsolete
Apple iPad is the world's best tablet, regardless of model. Whether you opt for the "regular" iPad or Pro models, they are all superior to anything running Android. And yet, the non-Pro iPad is starting to feel a bit stale. It still has a lightning port, huge bezels, and it is not compatible with the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil.
Today, Apple unveiled the 9th generation non-Pro iPad (10.2-inch Retina display) and the company did not address any of those things. It has big bezels and a clunky physical home button, a lightning port instead of USB-C, and it's still only compatible with the first-gen Pencil. Apple merely gave it more storage (64GB minimum), a better processor (A13 Bionic), and a slightly improved front camera (12MP Ultra-Wide). It is a boring evolutionary upgrade that will make owners of existing iPad tablets yawn.
2FA use grows as consumers look for better protection
A new report from Cisco's Duo Security arm shows that 79 percent of respondents report having used 2FA in 2021, compared to 53 percent in 2019 and just 28 percent in 2017.
Only 32 percent report using 2FA on all applications where available though, so there's still room for improvement.
Data center capacity grows amid new challenges
Data centers are enjoying widespread growth while adapting to increasing complexity and challenges such as evolving efficiency and sustainability requirements, rising outage costs, an ongoing skills shortage, supply chain interruptions and more.
A report released today by the Uptime Institute shows nearly half of owners and operators surveyed report difficulty finding skilled candidates, up from 38 percent in 2018.
Mozilla deconstructs Microsoft protections to make it easier to change the default browser in Windows 10 and Windows 11
One of the complaints people have about Windows 11 is just how difficult Microsoft has made it to change the default web browser. The process is slightly easier in Windows 10, but it is still far from intuitive for the average user.
This is, of course, because Microsoft really does not want people to move away from Edge -- but, having free will and personal preferences -- changing the default web browser is precisely what many people want to do. Eager to offer people an alternative (specifically its own browser), Mozilla has successfully reverse engineered the system Microsoft had put in place, making it possible to switch to Firefox in just one click.
Software vendors should be held to account for insecure build environments
A new survey from Venafi reveals that 94 percent of executives believe there should be clear consequences -- such as fines and greater legal liability for companies proven to be negligent -- for software vendors that fail to protect the integrity of their software build pipelines.
However, most have done little to change the way they evaluate the security of the software they purchase and the assurances they demand from software providers.