Track website availability and content with Site Monitoring
Site Monitoring is a Java-based tool which provides various ways to monitor websites and their content.
Launch the program and it opens a page in your default browser. The interface is a little basic, but conveniently it comes with a couple of example site checks to help you figure out how everything works.
Windows 7 mainstream support ends today -- should you panic?
Windows 7 is by far and away the most popular operating system, and likely to remain so for many years to come. Windows 8.1 did nothing to dent the older OS’s popularity -- in fact, it helped propel it to even greater heights -- and Windows 10 will have its work cut out to unseat Windows 7 from the top of the pile.
Every Microsoft operating system comes with five years of mainstream support in which the software giant provides security and non-security updates and complimentary online and telephone support, and today, Windows 7 Service Pack 1’s mainstream support comes to an end. So what does that mean for the legions of Windows 7 users?
Chrome Remote Desktop now available for iOS
Google has released an iOS version of its Chrome Remote Desktop extension.
The new release means you can now remotely access and control your computers from PCs, Macs, Linux, iOS and Android devices, even Chromebooks.
What security threats will enterprises face in 2015? [Q&A]
Last year saw a number of high profile security incidents hit businesses. From attacks on individual companies to bugs like Heartbleed that had the potential to affect large numbers of organizations.
Can we expect more of the same in 2015 or will the threat landscape continue to evolve? We spoke to Mark Bermingham, director of global B2B marketing at Kaspersky Lab, to find out.
Should we fear the Internet of Things?
The Internet of Things, while still largely unknown amongst the general public, is expected to make a big impact in 2015. Research by Gartner indicates that the number of connected devices will reach 4.9 billion this year, but not everyone is getting excited about this developing technology.
Last week in fact, the chair of the Federal Trade Commission Edith Ramirez issued a pretty strong warning regarding IoT devices and the threat that they pose to privacy. Countering those who put forward potential IoT benefits, Ms Ramirez argued that the "deeply personal" information gathered by connected devices has the potential to be seriously invasive. "I question the notion that we must put sensitive consumer data at risk on the off-chance a company might someday discover a valuable use for the information", she said. However, is Ms Ramirez merely scaremongering, or should consumers really be worried about the predicted explosion in IoT products?
2015 will be the year when nothing happens
This was supposed to be time for my technology predictions for 2015, which I’ll get to yet, I promise, but first I want to explain the major trend I see, that 2015 will become known as The Year When Nothing Happened. Of course things will happen in 2015, but I think the year of truly revolutionary change will be 2016, not 2015. It takes time for trends to develop and revolutionary products to hit the market. I’d say the trends are clear, it’s the products and their manufacturers who aren’t yet identifiable.
So here are three areas where I’ll disagree with most of my peers and say I don’t expect to see much visible progress in 2015.
Microsoft announces Ford GT as 'cover car' for Xbox One exclusive Forza Motorsport 6
I'm a Ford man through and through -- I only buy cars from that manufacturer. Why? I like the quality of its vehicles and the history behind the brand. Most importantly, however, I love American-made cars. Don't get me wrong, I buy other products made in foreign countries, but automobiles are woven into the fabric of United States culture. It makes me feel good to know that my car is manufactured here, by a company headquartered here. Heck, if I won the lottery tomorrow, I will buy a nice F-150; not some fancy-pants Mercedes or Audi.
Speaking of fancy cars though, today, Ford debuted a beauty at the North American International Auto Show -- the Ford GT. It's about the sexiest car I've ever seen, and the blue Ford oval on the front makes me very proud. With that said, the car is making a jump to the virtual world, as Microsoft and Turn 10 Studios announce that the GT is coming to Forza Motorsport 6 -- an Xbox One exclusive. In fact, the car will be featured prominently on the game box cover art.
Microsoft will send you to the 2015 Game Developer Conference -- if your game is best
Whenever I see contests and sweepstakes, I am usually dubious. Why? I just don't see the fun in a random drawing. Sure, winning a prize is fun, but if you win it for doing nothing other than signing up, where is the sport? I prefer a contest where the winner earns a prize.
Today, Microsoft announces a rather sweet contest aimed at developers (developers, developers...). Well, not just any developers, but game developers in particular. If you can create a really great Windows game, the company may fly you to the 2015 Game Developer Conference.
Firefox 35 FINAL released, adds room-based chat to Firefox Hello
Mozilla has released Firefox 35.0 FINAL for desktop, with Firefox for Android 35.0 due to follow in the coming days.
Firefox 35 extends the Firefox Hello real-time communication client tool with a new rooms-based conversations model, plus adds more features to the new search user interface along with improved preferences. Android users gain improved geolocation tools.
'Islamic State' hacks US Centcom Twitter feed, YouTube channel
US Central Command's Twitter account appears to have been hacked by CyberCaliphate, a hacker group claiming association with ISIS.
The Twitter feed has since been taken down, but posted messages included "AMERICAN SOLDIERS, WE ARE COMING, WATCH YOUR BACK. ISIS. #CyberCaliphate", "Pentagon Networks Hacked! China Scenarios", and "Pentagon Networks Hacked. Korean Scenarios". These last two posts came with military maps and information relating to the countries in question.
And so it begins -- Anonymous launches attacks on Jihadist websites
The other day I wrote about hacker collective Anonymous, covering its war on Lizard Squad and its vow to now go after terrorists. This isn't the slippery slope that some may think it is. The group isn't attacking Islam, it is targeting the extremists responsible for the murders of people. That clarification makes it hard to not be behind them. After all, entire governments have been doing this in a less technological way.
Those promised threats are now no longer just promises. Anonymous has taken down its first target -- ansar-alhaqq.net (we aren't linking to them), rendering the site, which was deemed a terrorist hive back in 2013, completely inaccessible. Reaching the site is now impossible as the DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) targeting of it is well underway.
Is Microsoft about to unleash a Windows Phone 10 preview on an unsuspecting world?
There's something of an air of excitement surrounding the release of the next version of Windows. The various builds of Windows 10 Technical Preview have delighted, frustrated, aroused, and annoyed in just about equal measure. Whichever side of the fence you fall on, one thing is certain about Windows 10 -- even months before its launch it has got people talking.
There's not long to wait until we get our hands on the next build, but now attention is shifting away from the desktop to mobile devices. There has long been talk of Windows 10 merging mobile and desktop platforms, and the launch of a new Windows Phone app shows that the time could be coming when Windows Insiders see their first glimpse of Windows 10 for phones.
Tick tock, tick tock -- Obama says customers need to be told faster about security breaches
President Obama is calling for more honesty from tech companies when it comes to telling customers about security breaches. Specifically, he wants people to be informed in a more timely fashion whenever a security issue puts their data at risk.
The proposed Personal Data Notification and Protection Act would require companies to contact customers within 30 days of a security breach if personal data has been stolen. The call comes in the wake of several high profile cases in which customers' data was exposed for some time before those affected were informed.
Microsoft helps Hardee's sell burgers with Windows 8.1-powered Dell kiosks
One of my favorite things in the world is playing with computers. Whether building them or using them, I am as happy as can be. We computer nerds get hungry, however, and we need to fuel our bodies. Sure, some of us nerds eat healthy (Mark Wilson is a vegetarian), but fast food and caffeinated beverages are still staples in many of our nerdy diets.
Hamburgers and cheeseburgers are still wildly popular and there are many places to choose from. While I usually eat Burger King's Whopper, Hardee's is actually my favorite. Sadly, we do not have that restaurant on Long Island, so I can only get its delicious burgers when traveling south. Today, Microsoft announces that it has partnered with the burger-chain to offer Windows-powered kiosks. What does this mean? Computer nerds have a new nerdy way of ordering fast food!
Samsung's new A7 smartphone is big, fast and thin
Samsung has long been criticized for making smartphones that look and feel cheap. This has not only been the case with its low-cost offerings, but also with its mid-rangers and flagships -- you don't need to look further than the Galaxy S line -- which is supposed to be Samsung's cream of the crop in regards to design -- to understand the problem.
Fortunately, Samsung has paid attention lately, proof being the introduction of the A lineup as well as the design changes made for the Galaxy Note 4 flagship, which will trickle down to future premium offerings. And, today, Samsung is expanding the A lineup by adding the A7 phablet into the mix. It is the biggest, most powerful and thinnest of the bunch.
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