Amazon announces its own 4K Fire TVs with Alexa voice control
It’s been rumored for a while that Amazon was planning to make its own smart TVs -- rather than just partnering with other television manufacturers to offer 'Fire TV Editions' (sets with Fire TV and Alexa built-in) -- and today the retail giant confirms this with the announcement of two new 'Amazon-built' smart TVs -- the Amazon Fire TV Omni Series and Fire TV 4-Series.
The Fire TV Omni Series is Amazon’s premium offering and it comes with far-field voice controls so you can talk to Alexa from across the room. Alexa voice controls are always available, even if the set if turned off. Don’t worry though, you can disable this feature if you’re not keen on the idea of a television set listening to your every word.
Over two million web servers still running on vulnerable legacy software
More than two million web servers worldwide are still running on outdated and vulnerable versions of Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) software according to research from CyberNews.
With 12.4 percent of the market worldwide IIS is the third-most-popular suite of web server software, used to power at least 51.6 million websites and web applications.
IT teams under pressure to compromise security
A new report from HP Wolf Security reveals that 76 percent of IT teams admit security has taken a backseat to business continuity during the pandemic, while 91 percent feel pressure to compromise security for business continuity.
It also shows that almost half (48 percent) of younger office workers (18-24 years old) surveyed view security tools as a hindrance, leading to nearly a third (31 percent) trying to bypass corporate security policies to get their work done.
5G -- coming soon to a bus shelter near you
The roll out of 5G with its download speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G looks set to revolutionize mobile communication. However, it does require considerable infrastructure investment from the operators.
A new initiative launched today by the UK's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will see a £4 million ($5.5 million) competition to make it simpler and quicker for mobile companies to use publicly-owned buildings and curbside infrastructure -- such as CCTV poles, traffic signals, lampposts and bus shelters -- to host 5G radio equipment.
Windows 11 will feel faster than Windows 10... Microsoft explains why
Windows 11 is just around the corner, and the question on everyone's lips (apart from, of course, "is my computer able to run it?") is "how fast is it compared to Windows 10?". There has been a lot of attention focused on the aesthetic side of Windows 11, but performance is what matters the most to a large proportion of users.
If you are a Windows Insider, you may have tried out the Dev or Beta builds to find out for yourself, but now Microsoft has shared a video that explains to everyone that Windows 11 is faster -- or at least feels it.
Manjaro Linux Cinnamon switches from Firefox to Vivaldi for default web browser
Vivaldi may not be the most popular web browser when compared to Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, for instance, but it is used by millions of people to surf the web every day -- that is still significant. Many of its users are privacy-focused and tech-savvy too. Best of all, the free Vivaldi web browser is available on all major desktop operating system platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Speaking of Linux, today, Vivaldi is making huge news in that community, and the folks over at Mozilla are not going to like it. You see, the developers of the Arch Linux-based Manjaro Cinnamon operating system have decided to ditch Firefox as the default web browser, instead opting for Vivaldi. Wow!
Logitech Logi Dock is a friendly docking station with integrated speakerphone
I'm a huge proponent of using laptops with docking stations. Most people want the portability of a notebook, meaning a traditional desktop just won't do. At the same time, people also like using a large monitor, keyboard, and mouse to maximize productivity at home or in the office. A dock or docking station transforms a laptop into a makeshift desktop, delivering some of the best of both worlds. This is a particularly great solution for remote users that are newly working from home.
Most docking stations are very cold and industrial in their designs. That isn't necessarily a bad thing -- these dock are just tools, after all. Of course, it doesn't have be that way. You see, today, Logitech launches a new such product that isn't just a useful tool, but a friendly piece of decor as well. Called "Logi Dock," it combines a docking station and a speakerphone into a warm and inviting package that will look nice in any setting.
Assessing the viability of first-party data
In the wake of expanding regulations surrounding the use of consumer data for unprecedented purposes, the digital advertising industry is in for a massive overhaul. Google has announced the removal of third-party cookies and, although they have pushed the date of obsolescence back to 2023, companies are now forced to reckon with a future devoid of third-party data collection. Big Tech is looking to lead the rest of the industry in the development of innovative alternatives.
Unsurprisingly, Google has been at the front of these efforts thus far. The technology giant controls the largest browser, adtech, and search engine products in the industry, a powerful trio that leaves them perfectly positioned to navigate the digital advertising industry through uncharted territory. In addition to removing third-party cookies from their Chrome browser, Google is also fostering the development of responsible adtech in their Privacy Sandbox.
White House Cyber Summit: Why top tech cyber pledges aren't enough
The Biden administration might have called on high profile figures to improve cybersecurity, but the reality is it's down to all businesses to tighten up their IT security measures.
The recent White House Cyber Summit with high profile leaders of some of the world’s biggest tech, energy, and financial services companies was a sign that the Biden administration is doubling down on its effort to prevent cyber attacks.
The threat of ransomware through Active Directory [Q&A]
Ransomware has hit the headlines in recent months with attacks on infrastructure and supply chains closing down operations. But ransomware has the potential to be even more devastating if it’s spread via Active Directory, as demonstrated by the SolarWinds attack.
We talked to Derek Melber, chief technology and security strategist of Tenable to find out more about AD attacks and how to combat them.
Cloud adoption remains a top enterprise priority for 2021
According to a new report, in mid-sized to large enterprises 50 percent of the software applications being developed are cloud based and another 30 percent are expected to migrate to the cloud within the next two years.
83 percent of respondents state that cloud-based development and deployment is a top IT priority in 2021 for applications their company develops and deploys.
Microsoft gives a first look at Windows 11's Photos app
People who have signed up for the Windows Insider program are among the first to be able to get hands on with Windows 11, but the preview builds that have been released so far are not complete. Microsoft is still working away on the operating system ahead of next month's rollout, and CPO Panos Panay has given us a glimpse of the new Photos app that is coming.
In typically dramatic style, a "pumped" Panay describes the updated app as being "beautifully redesigned" -- and this is something you can judge for yourself thanks to the video he has shared.
Curbing pandemic burnout: 3 steps you can take to support overwhelmed security teams
We’re a year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic, and burnout is hitting employees hard. Recently, Okta CEO Todd McKinnon used an all-hands meeting with employees to underline the importance of taking vacation. In April, LinkedIn announced it was giving the entire company a full week off to unplug, recharge and help curb burnout.
For security teams, burnout isn’t a new phenomenon. Given the need to always be on and ready, cybersecurity professionals already face high levels of stress, and the pandemic has added to increasing and alarming burnout rates. On the heels of the Exchange, Kaseya, and SolarWinds attacks, it’s no surprise that cybersecurity teams are overworked and exceptionally stressed -- we’re under a lot of pressure.
StartIsBack can replace the Windows 11 Start menu and taskbar with classic versions
Windows 11 is here, and it brings a whole new look. While the new aesthetic is largely loved, change is always divisive and there are plenty of users who are less then enamored with the new Start menu and yearn for the way things used to be.
And this is precisely where StartIsBack can help you out. In a few steps, it gives you a way to customize and personalize not only the Start menu but also the taskbar in Windows 11. You can bring the look of Windows 10 or Windows 7 to Windows 11, including changing the appearance of Explorer.
Employees are pretty good at spotting phishing emails
Although people are sometimes seen as a weak link in information security, a new report from F-Secure shows that a third of emails that employees report as suspicious are actually phishing.
The finding comes from an analysis of emails reported by employees from organizations around the world, using F-Secure's mail reporting plugin for Office 365, during the first half of 2021.
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