Ubuntu Linux on WSL gets massive upgrade with new tar-based install that makes Microsoft Store optional
If you are a Linux fan that is forced to use Microsoft Windows for some reason, you know how valuable Windows Subsystem for Linux is. If you aren’t familiar, WSL allows you to run a Linux environment from within Windows -- no virtual machine needed. It’s pretty wonderful.
Well, folks, today, Ubuntu on WSL gets a very useful upgrade that both developers and enterprises should really love. You see, thanks to Microsoft’s new tar-based distribution format, Ubuntu can now be installed and managed without relying on the Microsoft Store. That’s right, y’all -- no more struggling with Store-related headaches.
Rate of DMARC adoption doubles thanks to bulk sender requirements
A year on from Google and Yahoo implementing stricter requirements for bulk email senders, the rate of DMARC adoption has more than doubled.
A new study from Red Sift, based on the tracking of 72.85 million apex domains, shows the number of organizations adopting DMARC is up 2.32 million as of 18 December 2024.
This isn't just a web browser -- it's your new secret weapon for well-being, focus and relaxation
Just how many web browsers does the world need? Norwegian browser specialist Opera thinks the more the merrier. It’s just launched Opera Air Stable 116.0 for macOS and Windows, designed to improve user focus and well-being.
The new release sits alongside the browser’s other offerings, its main Opera browser, and the infinitely customizable Opera GX, aimed at the gamer community.
60 percent of organizations fail to keep pace with AI-driven data changes
According to a new report, 60 percent of respondents claim that their organization is failing to keep pace with data changes resulting from AI demands.
In addition, the study from Immuta shows that traditional data architecture challenges persist, with nearly half of organizations identifying compliance and privacy as primary data concerns, and 64 percent citing significant challenges in providing timely and secure access to data for authorized users.
Phishing-as-a-Service kits see a surge as threat actors target weaknesses
A new report from LevelBlue reveals an increase in the use of Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) kits, with business email compromise (BEC) remaining the most common form of
attack.
Because PhaaS kits are increasingly accessible, it's easier for threat actors to carry out advanced phishing attacks with minimal technical knowledge. According to the LevelBlue Threat Trends Report, there's a new PhaaS, known as RaccoonO365, on the block too. This kit uses methods that can intercept user credentials and multi-factor authentication (MFA) session cookies to bypass these common defensive measures.
Data breaches in UK legal sector up over a third
Analysis by NetDocuments of information collected by the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) reveals a sharp increase in data breaches across the UK legal sector.
The report shows that in the period between Q3 2023 and Q2 2024, the number of identified data breaches in the UK legal sector rose by 39 percent (2,284 cases were reported to the ICO, compared to 1,633 the previous year).
PNY launches PRO Elite V3, Elite-X Fit, and Elite USB-C flash drives
Believe it or not, in the flash drive world, USB-A models are still the most common. Yes, folks, despite USB-C being far superior, consumers have been slow to adopt flash drives with the better connector.
Thankfully, companies are still producing USB-C flash drives despite the slow adoption. For example, today, PNY has launched a trio of new USB Type-C flash drives. The lineup includes the PRO Elite V3, Elite-X Fit, and Elite models.
MIXX Revival 55 record player blends retro design with modern Bluetooth
While I am a huge fan of steaming music for convenience, vinyl will always have a special place in my heart. You see, I have spent countless hours in record stores shopping for hip-hop on vinyl. Believe it or not, many of the records in my vast collection are not even on steaming services.
Do I listen to my vinyl ever? Unfortunately, no. Why? Because these days, I don’t even have a record player set up in my house. Sadly, I don’t have the space to dedicate to a player and stereo. This may change, however, thanks to a cool new portable record player from MIXX.
Operational tech devices exposed to known vulnerabilities
Analysis of close to one million operational technology (OT) devices by Claroty's Team82 research group finds that 12 percent contain known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs), and 40 percent of the organizations analyzed have a subset of these assets insecurely connected to the internet.
The report uncovered over 111,000 KEVs in OT devices across manufacturing, logistics and transportation, and natural resources organizations, with 68 percent of these being linked to ransomware groups. The manufacturing industry was found to have the highest number of devices with confirmed KEVs (over 96,000).
AR OS 2 is everything we want Windows 12 to be -- and more
Microsoft continues to work hard at improving Windows 11, fixing problems and cramming in loads of new AI features. Despite that (or perhaps because of it), its newest operating system still lags behind Windows 10 in terms of market share, even though end of life is fast approaching for that beloved but aging OS.
Microsoft hasn't officially announced Windows 12 yet, and it likely won't until after Windows 10 is no more. But if you want inspiration for what the next generation of Windows could look like, feast your eyes on the stunning AR OS 2.
Over 60 percent of enterprise cybersecurity incidents relate to known risks
A new Cloud Risk Exposure Impact Report from ZEST Security shows that 62 percent of incidents are directly related to risks the security team had previously identified, researched fixes for, and had open tickets for remediation in the backlog.
The survey of over 150 security decision makers working in large US enterprises reveals that it takes 10 times longer to remediate vulnerabilities than it takes for attackers to exploit them, highlighting a significant advantage for attackers.
Compliance with new European legislation increases info security workloads
A new report shows 90 percent of professionals surveyed report that complying with DORA, the NIS2 Directive, and/or the EU AI Act will impact their workload.
The study, from cloud-based risk and compliance platform AuditBoard, shows information security professionals feel the weight of compliance efforts most, with 38 percent expecting to be impacted to a great extent, compared to 29 percent of risk management professionals and 28 percent of IT professionals. Increased workloads could potentially lead to a greater risk of non-compliance as teams struggle to keep up with daily tasks.
Financial sector faces increased cybersecurity threats
A new survey reveals that the financial industry has faced a surge in attacks, with 64 percent of respondents reporting cybersecurity incidents in the past 12 months.
The study from Contrast Security finds 71 percent of respondents reported zero-day attacks as the key concern to safeguarding applications and APIs, followed by dwell time (43 percent) and lack of visibility into the application layer (38 percent).
Microsoft is getting serious about discouraging people from installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware
The system requirements for Windows 11 have been a bone of contention ever since the operating system was first released, but it is something that has been brought back into sharp focus once again as Windows 10 nears the end of its life.
Microsoft is keen for everyone to move from Windows 10 to Windows 11, even if this means having to buy a new PC. And in recent days the company has taken steps to encourage just this, using strong-arm tactics to discourage bypassing TPM and CPU requirements.
Microsoft is bringing a powerful media transcoding feature to Advanced Paste in PowerToys v0.89
Fast-paced and innovative development is at the heart of PowerToys, and it’s something we see time and time again when new modules are added -- such as the new ZoomIt tool in the recently released PowerToys v0.88.0.
But it is not just the new PowerToys modules that are noteworthy, there are major updates frequently made to existing utilities. On the cards for PowerToys v0.89 is a significant addition to the Advanced Paste tool which will enable the transcoding of media files.
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