Latest Technology News

TP-link officially launches its Tapo smart home brand, but what about Kasa?

TP-Link has become one of my favorite manufacturers of networking hardware. When someone asks my advice on a router, I often steer them towards TP-Link. Why? Because the company's products are both dependable and affordable. For instance, you can score a quality Wi-Fi 6 router for under $70.

I am also a fan of TP-Link's Kasa line of smart home products -- light bulbs, cameras, power outlet adapters, and more. So I was a bit confused earlier today when the company officially launched its new "Tapo" smart home brand in the USA. Why do Kasa and Tapo both need to exist? Would the latter replace the former? Well, I reached out to TP-Link for an explanation and the company replied with one.

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Debian-derived Kali Linux now available for download with GNOME 42

Kali Linux is a fantastic distro that is used primarily for digital forensics and penetration testing. Even if you’ve never used it before, you may well have seen it in movies and TV shows like Mr Robot. It comes with wide range of tools to help in investigations and incident responses.

Today the distro’s developer, Offensive Security, announces Kali Linux 2022.2, with new features and tools, as well as a number of impressive updates.

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Silicon Power USB combo card reader works with both SD and microSD cards

It's 2022 and the world's transition to USB-C should, in theory, be complete by now. The thing is, however, it simply isn't. Despite USB-C being superior to USB-A in every way, consumers haven't been keen on moving to the new connector. As more and more consumers and businesses hold onto older computers (that don't have USB-C) for longer periods of time, USB-A remains the dominant connector.

And so, a new card reader from Silicon Power that uses USB-A rather than USB-C totally makes sense. This new combo card reader from the company is compatible with both SD and microSD cards (not simultaneously), making it incredibly useful. The retractable USB-A connector allows it to be protected when not in use, meaning it should prove a good option for portability. And yes, it has a lanyard loop option.

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Kodi 20 'Nexus' hits a major development milestone and is available to download now [Updated]

Kodi 20 -- codename 'Nexus' -- is the next version of the popular home theater software. In development for around a year, builds for the successor to Kodi 19 'Matrix' have been available to download for a while now, but these have all been 'nightly' releases, and not suitable for most users.

Today though, Kodi 20 hits a big milestone and finally becomes a more viable choice for those who want to try out the next major iteration.

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Smartphone use linked to decline in mental wellbeing for young adults

Smartphones have made a significant change to the way we live our lives, giving us access to information on the go and keeping us in touch wherever we are.

But the benefits they offer are only part of the story. An alarming new study from non-profit research organization Sapien Labs suggests that a decline in the mental health of younger generations has occurred alongside smartphone use and an increase in social isolation.

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AvdanOS Pro really is the Windows 11/macOS alternative we need!

If you want to run a modern version of Windows, you can choose between Windows 10 and Windows 11. If you have an Apple computer, then it will run macOS, and if you don’t fancy any of those options, then you can opt for various flavors of Linux distro.

But what if you’re not blown away by any of those? AvdanOS Pro gives us a glimpse of what the future could look like.

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Ensuring compliance in the modern enterprise [Q&A]

Compliance gauge

An increasing volume of regulations surrounding the security and privacy of data have been implemented in recent years. This represents a challenge for businesses that need to ensure they remain compliant.

The challenge has become even greater due to the pandemic and the consequent shift in working patterns. So how can enterprises ensure that they remain compliant and don't fall foul of the rules?

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How to protect your business from loyalty fraud

Fraud stop

Today, businesses are realizing that a top-notch customer experience is the key to staying one step ahead in a highly competitive market. Enterprises are investing in loyalty schemes to elevate the online shopping experience for their most valued customers.

Unfortunately, fraud rings have shifted towards account-based vulnerabilities and target loyalty schemes through sophisticated fraudulent techniques. Not only that, but individual customers and internal staff can also exploit loyalty schemes and commit fraud, according to Signifyd’s ecommerce data report. We explore how to protect your business from loyalty fraud to reduce both brand reputation and customer relationship damage.

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How can AI transform the way we collaborate and connect?

Artificial intelligence

The global artificial intelligence (AI) market is predicted to reach $267 billion by 2027. But concerns have been raised about whether these advancements could replace humans in jobs as technology is being used to simulate human intelligence processes. In fact, approximately 68.5 percent of college graduates think that the development of AI could either take their job away or make them irrelevant in the next few years.

But AI can offer many benefits for human connections and collaborations. Here, we delve into the outcomes of AI and how it can benefit businesses.

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Why moving to the cloud is right for government agencies

Over the last few years in enterprise IT, the fight between on-premise software and cloud services has been dominating tech conversations. Today, many businesses realize we will never return to the in-office routine we experienced before the pandemic. As remote and hybrid work becomes the norm, constituents now expect to be communicated through various channels, including mobile.

The introduction of mobile-focused operations showcases the need for technology system improvements within the public sector.

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Will quantum computing ever be available off-the-shelf?

It goes without saying that quantum computing is complex. But people buy extraordinarily complex things through simple processes every day. After all, few smartphone buyers know how their devices work. Even a humble bar of soap arrives on the shelf only after the raw materials are extracted, refined, manufactured, packaged, shipped, and stocked.

The question is: will quantum computing’s complexity ever be contained to the point where end users can buy it "off-the-shelf"? The answer is: that depends on what you mean by off-the-shelf.

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Europe is getting tough on big tech -- when will the US do the same?

In March, the European Union (EU) took a significant step toward reining in Big Tech offenders with the Digital Markets Act. Targeting the gatekeepers of today’s digital economy, the law is a historic piece of legislation and is a critical next step in the broader fight to level the playing field.

However, this watershed moment has failed to reach the US, which continues to fall short in protecting consumers and innovative small businesses from predatory tech companies. Congress must stop playing catch up with Europe and take a leadership role to protect its constituents. Courage and cooperation across the aisle are needed to strengthen the laws that protect the majority. Big tech, their lobbyists, and those seeking to fund their next election are far too cozy as mega-companies continue to exploit their dominance and suppress innovation. The lack of US action is embarrassing, as our friends across the pond take decisive steps. 

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Ubuntu Preview for Windows Subsystem for Linux is now available in the Microsoft Store

Ubuntu WSL Preview

The arrival of Windows Subsystem for Linux in Windows 10 and Windows 11 opened up a world of new opportunities for users of Linux-based distros. Until now, Ubuntu fans have been limited to installing Long Term Supported (LTS) releases, but this is changing.

Recognizing that there are plenty of people who like to be on the cutting edge, Canonical has announced that preview builds of Ubuntu will now also be made available to download and install from the Microsoft Store.

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The Silicon Power Blaze B07 USB-A flash drive can kill germs and keep you healthy

With cloud storage continuing to grow in popularity, USB flash drives have largely fallen out of favor with consumers. Maybe that's not such a bad thing, as USB flash drives are both easy to lose and are susceptible to failure -- the cloud is arguably more safe and secure. With that said, there should always be a need for local storage; sometimes you just can't trust certain documents, such as company secrets, to the cloud.

Understandably, it is hard to get excited about a new USB flash drive these days. However, a new USB-A offering from Silicon Power is actually quite interesting. Called "Blaze B07," it looks like a standard flash drive, but it has a really cool stand-out feature -- it is coated in an antibacterial substance in an effort to fight germs and sickness! This would be very beneficial in an office setting where a flash drive is passed around from person to person.

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How the Okta breach exposed organizations' cybersecurity immaturity

In early March 2022, authentication security company Okta reported that there had been an attempt to compromise the account of a third-party customer support engineer from Sitel in January. The organization released a statement claiming that the matter had been investigated and contained.

Okta CSO David Bradbury later admitted that up to 366 customers may have been breached, apologizing for not notifying customers earlier. In the weeks since the attack, Okta has released a conflicting statement arguing that the attack affected just two customers, although this is perhaps naïve and hard to prove. Okta has said it recognizes the broad toll this kind of compromise can have on customers, but there is little to suggest that the attackers aren’t already lying dormant inside the networks of further customers.

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