Embracing the digital workplace: IT's new role in driving productivity
Britain is plagued by sluggish productivity, with the Office of National Statistics (ONS) reporting UK productivity growth as 'anaemic' for the past 15 years. And things are getting worse, not better.
In London -- the country's largest and richest regional economy -- output per hour worked has fallen by 2.7 percent between 2019 and 2022. But what is the root cause of this underwhelming growth?
The challenges of securing Active Directory [Q&A]
Microsoft Active Directory is used by a majority of the world’s organizations. But Cyberattacks and misconfigurations targeting AD have surged in recent years, leading to critical outages and data loss.
We spoke to Bob Bobel, CEO of Cayosoft, about how to address critical weaknesses in enterprise infrastructure associated with Microsoft Directory services.
Best Windows apps this week
Six-hundred-eight in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.
Microsoft is testing changes that add layout options to the 'All Apps' section of the Start menu of Windows 11. The first groups items, the second displays them in a grid.
DDoS attack activity soars in first half of 2024
In the first half of 2024, web DDoS attacks surged globally 265 percent compared to the second half of 2023, according to the latest threat analysis report from Radware.
Organizations in EMEA were the primary target of web DDoS attacks between January and June of 2024, being subject to more than 90 percent of the attacks.
Forget Microsoft Windows 11, the Chinese-made deepin Linux 23 is the operating system you really want
deepin, the renowned Linux distribution from China, has launched its latest version, V23, bringing a slew of enhancements that make it an appealing choice for both newcomers and seasoned Linux users. This update is especially valuable for those considering transitioning from Windows 11, as it provides a user-friendly interface and introduces features that enhance compatibility, stability, and modern computing demands.
The system repository in deepin V23 has undergone a comprehensive upgrade, stabilizing over 8,000 core packages to boost system security and provide extensive support for new hardware architectures such as ARM64, RISC-V, and LoongArch64. This ensures broad compatibility across various devices, making it an optimal choice for users looking to migrate from other operating systems.
Why automation isn't the answer to zero-day attacks [Q&A]
Last year saw almost 100 zero-day attacks, putting a strain on security teams and becoming known as the 'Hot Zero-Day Summer.'
In response to these attacks, the first instinct of many organizations has been to turn to automation. But Marc Rubbinaccio, manager, compliance at Secureframe, doesn't believe that this is the right approach. We spoke to him to find out more.
Key Bridge rebuild: leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning for AEC projects
The collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge sent shockwaves both nationally and internationally earlier this year. The city is now faced with the significant economic loss of a critical transport channel – and the challenging task of its reconstruction. Engineering and construction specialists anticipate that the rebuild effort could take up to 15 years. As a once-widely utilized structure, there is a deep sense of urgency to expedite the resurrection of the Key Bridge.
But current engineering and construction processes could wreak havoc on the possibility of an expeditious rebuild. The design and planning processes for large architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) projects, specifically critical infrastructure such as airports, bridges and ports, are historically rigid. Operating with a highly formalized approach derived from years of informed engineering practices, the volume of factors to contemplate around the build of a crucial transport structure is astronomical. Identifying and adhering to rigorous regulatory standards is only the first hurdle. Combine this with navigating other variables such as climate change, traffic implications and sourcing highly specialized materials, and suddenly a decade doesn’t seem like an unreasonable timeline for the construction of a major transport hub.
BSOD hits one in 200 devices daily
New analysis of system crashes shows that, without preventative IT in place, one in every 200 devices falls victim to the dreaded blue screen of death (BSOD) per day, even under 'good' operating conditions.
The research from Nexthink shows the recent CrowdStrike outage pushed the number as high as one in 10.
Google exposes Iranian cyber threats aimed at U.S. and Israel
Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG) has recently illuminated the ongoing cyber espionage activities of APT42, an Iranian government-backed group linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This cyber collective has intensified its phishing campaigns against high-profile targets in Israel and the United States, particularly focusing on individuals connected to the upcoming U.S. presidential elections.
In detailed findings released by TAG, it was revealed that APT42 has been targeting current and former officials, diplomatic circles, political campaigns, and influential figures within academic and non-governmental organizations in both nations. The U.S. and Israel combined represent about 60 percent of APT42’s cyber operations in the last six months.
Fastmail now supports passkeys
Fastmail has launched a new feature allowing users to create passkeys for their accounts, promising a faster and more secure authentication method compared to traditional passwords. Passkeys address the inherent weaknesses of passwords by using cryptographic keys that offer several advantages over conventional methods.
Passwords, the standard for online authentication, present challenges such as the difficulty in creating secure passwords and vulnerability to phishing attacks. In contrast, passkeys operate on public key cryptography, where a private key creates a signature and a public key that the website can verify. This method provides security benefits like replay resistance, where each login attempt involves a unique challenge from the website, making passkeys resistant to interception. They are also leak-resistant since only the public key can be compromised without being used to forge a login, and they are phishing-proof as passkeys are inherently tied to the website they were created for.
SparkyLinux 2024.08 electrifies the Linux scene as a charged alternative to Microsoft Windows 11
As more users look for alternatives to Microsoft Windows 11, SparkyLinux's latest update, Sparky 2024.08 is thankfully released. This Linux-based operating system has proven to be a compelling choice for those looking to ditch Windows.
This update enhances the Debian testing line-based semi-rolling distribution. It now features home partition encryption in its CLI Installer, the lightweight Midori browser as the default web browsing option, and regular package updates.
Enterprises make significant investments in AI
Almost one in 10 decision-makers in both the UK (eight percent) and US (seven percent) are planning to spend over $25 million on AI this year.
A survey from Searce, of 300 C-Suite and senior technology executives at organizations with more than $500 million, finds that for US decision-makers, data privacy and security are ranked as the number one hurdle to adopting AI (20 percent), whereas UK decision-makers rank lack of qualified talent as their number one challenge (19 percent).
Multi-cloud, multi-challenge -- what's the answer?
With more business applications and data existing outside of the traditional network perimeter and across multiple clouds, organizations have a harder job than ever before to maintain security and reliability of critical services. This challenge is shared by the majority of IT leaders -- as 81 percent recently surveyed believe the increasing number of cloud applications is adding additional pressure on network performance.
This issue is heightened by the 44 percent of UK workers that now work remotely. Every new remote worker and device added to the organization's network, also expands its attack surface. In fact, 85 percent of IT leaders say remote and hybrid working has contributed to an increase in network security threats. Over two-thirds (69 percent) of UK organizations have experienced an increase in network security threats in the past 18 months.
How are CISOs coping with developer gatekeeping? [Q&A]
CISOs are under the microscope to prove they can reduce vulnerabilities in the software development life cycle -- particularly, that they can do so from the start of code creation. As such, CISOs are searching for the most effective way to ensure the security awareness of their developers before they take on the responsibility of writing and introducing code.
Secure Code Warrior's co-founder and CTO, Matias Madou, believes that a 'gatekeeping' standard -- where developers are incrementally given access to more sensitive projects -- is the key to building a strong foundation for secure coding processes.
Google announces Pixel Watch 3 smartwatch
Google has introduced the Pixel Watch 3, an updated version of its smartwatch that features a new Loss of Pulse Detection capability. This safety feature is designed to automatically contact emergency services if it detects that the wearer’s heart has stopped.
The Pixel Watch 3 enhances its previous models with several improved features. It is available in two sizes, 41mm and a new 45mm option, with displays that achieve a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits. This improvement ensures visibility in bright light conditions and adjusts to lower brightness in darker settings.
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