Majority of cyber insurance ransomware claims are due to BEC
A new report from cyber insurance specialist Coalition finds the majority of 2024 claims (60 percent) originated from business email compromise (BEC) and funds transfer fraud (FTF) incidents, with 29 percent of BEC events resulting in FTF.
Ransomware claims did stabilize in 2024 but they remain the most costly and disruptive type of cyberattack.
Google Maps can now use your screenshots to help you plan trips thanks to Gemini AI
Screenshotting stuff can seem like a great way to remember something for later, but captures soon get lost and forgotten. Google is looking to change this by bringing new Gemini-powered features to Google Maps.
The company thinks that it can help you to make sense of the “travel blogs, news articles or social media posts” you’ve screengrabbed while researching a trip. Turning to AI to make sense of a heap of images is Google’s solution. Here’s how it can help you.
Spotify reveals new tools to give you greater control over your music discovery journey -- and banish earworms
Spotify remains one of the most popular music streaming services currently available, but popularity does not mean perfection. There are many things that Spotify users complain about, such as the oddities of the discovery algorithms. The company is getting better at listening to feedback and is taking steps to improve things.
Spotify has just announced new tools and controls to help with music discovery, playlist curation and recommendations. There’s something for everyone to benefit from, so let’s take a look at what’s new.
Microsoft wants you to ditch Windows 10 for Windows 11, but End Of 10 thinks Linux is a better option
With Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 in just a few short months, the company is busy trying to get users to either upgrade directly to Windows 11, or purchase a new system -- ideally a Copilot+ PC.
It is obvious that Microsoft would prefer Windows 10 users to move to Windows 11, but this is far from being the only option available. A team of Linux enthusiasts has come together in the End Of 10 project, the aim of which is to promote Linux as a logical replacement for unsupported Windows 10.
System76 Serval WS Linux laptop gets NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti and 240Hz display
System76 just pulled the curtain back on its newest Linux laptop, and this one’s an absolute beast! The company’s Serval WS is getting a monstrous 2025 refresh, and it’s clear the company isn’t messing around this time.
The display features a 2560x1600 resolution packed into a 16:10 panel that refreshes at 240Hz. And the graphics are handled by NVIDIA’s new RTX 5070 Ti. It’s built to handle AAA games, AI workloads, and GPU-accelerated tasks without breaking a sweat.
Google brings Gemini to Apple iPad
After what feels like an eternity, Google has finally brought a native Gemini app to the iPad. No more stretched-out iPhone version or clunky compatibility mode. This release is the real deal, folks -- a proper iPad app that takes full advantage of the larger display and multitasking capabilities Apple’s tablet has to offer.
Thankfully, this new Gemini experience isn’t just about a fresh coat of paint. It really improves how you use AI on a tablet. Thanks to support for Split View, you can now run Gemini side by side with other apps. That means doing research while writing, or generating code while watching a tutorial -- all without switching screens.
Dynabook goes all-in on AI with new Portégé X40-M, Tecra A40-M, and Tecra A60-M Windows 11 laptops
Dynabook is back with a trio of new business laptops. These aren’t some wild experiments or overpriced ultrabooks pretending to be workhorses. Actually, the new Portégé X40-M Series 2, along with the Tecra A40-M and Tecra A60-M Series 2, bring practical hardware, solid build quality, and real Copilot integration to people who need to get stuff done.
All three models come powered by Intel’s Core Ultra Series 2 chips, including options like the 225U and 265H. That means you’re getting a wide range of choices depending on whether you value battery life or processing power. You can load them up with as much as 64GB of DDR5 RAM across two slots, and yes, you can upgrade it yourself later. Just make sure you get at least 16GB in dual-channel if you want to tap into the full potential of Intel Arc graphics.
Employee browser activity creates a security blindspot
Thanks to a growth in remote working and the use of SaaS applications enterprise reliance on browsers is growing, but this leaves them open to risks stemming from dangerous employee web behavior.
According to a cybersecurity expert at network security platform NordLayer, some employee activity that may go undetected by security teams can result in confidential data and industry secrets leaks or violations of GDPR.
Enterprises shift to software-based pentesting
The latest State of Pentesting report from Pentera reveals that over 50 percent of enterprise CISOs now report using software-based pentesting to support their in-house testing practices.
Based on research conducted by Global Surveyz, the report notes that 50 percent of CISOs now identify software-based testing as a primary method for uncovering exploitable security gaps within their organizations.
Google backs Elementl Power to build advanced nuclear sites across America
Google is continuing its support of nuclear energy. Following an agreement with Kairos Power last year, the search giant just signed a new deal with Elementl Power to fund the early development of three advanced nuclear energy sites in the United States.
Each location is expected to support at least 600MW of power -- enough to keep the lights on for hundreds of thousands of homes. This partnership isn’t just about cleaner energy, however. You see, it’s also about securing reliable, always-on power for Google’s growing network of data centers, especially as artificial intelligence keeps ramping up demand.
Overcoming the cloud of uncertainty
The cloud industry has evolved significantly over the years, with VMware standing out as a key player in cloud computing, its reputation in the market helped it gain significant market share and facilitated a successful acquisition by tech giant Broadcom in November 2023. It has been over a year since this happened and, as with all acquisitions, it prompted companies to consider how it might impact their requirements.
Broadcom implemented several changes to VMware’s cloud offering, including sunsetting the option to buy perpetual VMware in 2024, terminating OEM agreements and ending support contacts. Most recently it announced its licence changes whereby it is raising the minimum core licensing requirements to 72 cores.
The big value of AI? Stopping humans from becoming confused robots
By now we’ve all been beaten around the head with the message that AI is the new rock star. It writes poems, paints like Picasso, and can probably tell you what you had for breakfast three Tuesdays ago. But really, if all we’re doing with AI is making it admire itself in a digital mirror, we're doing it wrong. AI is capable of all sorts of technological wizardry, but the most important thing it should be doing is keeping us from having a full-blown existential crisis trying to keep up!
These days, change doesn't politely knock -- it barges in like a caffeinated squirrel. A recent Nexthink report found that 94 percent of companies think their survival depends on AI in the next three years. But here's the kicker: less than half (47 percent) of employees have the skills to actually get to grips with AI. For some, it’s going to be like trying to teach a goldfish quantum physics. The divide between where they are now and where they need to be? It's a gap, a chasm, a digital Grand Canyon! But for the brave few who are willing to build a bridge for them, it’s a massive opportunity.
Move over Windows 11, Windows 12 is the Microsoft operating system we need
Windows 10 is set to reach its end of life later this year, meaning Microsoft will stop providing free security updates and support for the popular operating system. While extended security updates will be available for a fee, most users will need to choose between upgrading to Windows 11 or waiting for the long-rumored Windows 12.
Despite its continuous widespread use, Windows 10’s retirement marks a significant shift, pushing users toward a newer, AI-enhanced Windows experience -- whether they’re ready for it or not.
Don't let your child become a victim of autocorrect
Some 22.6 million adults in the UK have experienced autocorrect changing their name, or their name being flagged as incorrect, that's 41 percent of the population.
A new campaign I Am Not A Typo (IANAT), is calling on the tech giants to correct autocorrect and spell-check spell-check to make the technology more inclusive and has released some results of a survey carried out by Censuswide to back up its cause.
Amazon unveils Vulcan, a package sorting, AI-powered robot with a sense of touch
The meeting of artificial intelligence and robotics almost unavoidably conjures up images akin to the Terminator -- but with Vulcan, Amazon has something different in mind.
Moving away from the traditional “numb and dumb” robot, Vulcan is described as a “fundamental leap forward in robotics”. Designed for used in its fulfillment centers, this is Amazon’s first robot with a sense of touch.
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