Facebook will let you know if you've been reading nonsense about coronavirus
As the world struggles to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, there is another battle taking place online -- the battle against misinformation. Well-aware that its platform is being used to spread false and misleading information about the disease, Facebook is taking action to try to stem the flow.
The social media giant, like other technology companies, has already taken steps to ensure people have access to reliable information, but now it is going further. Facebook will now retroactively alert people who have interacted with "harmful misinformation about COVID-19".
Looking ahead to the cybersecurity challenges of 2022
Just in case you didn't have enough to worry about at the moment, the Information Security Forum has published its Threat Horizon 2022 report, looking ahead to the cyber challenges of the next two years.
Balancing today's realities with forecasts that push the limits of thinking, the report highlights nine major threats, broken down into three themes, that organizations can expect to face as a result of developments in technology.
'Fraud guides' account for almost half of material for sale on dark web markets
Digital risk protection company Terbium Labs has released a trend report on the stolen and fraudulent data of three of the largest multi-good dark web marketplaces, which finds that fraud guides account for 49 percent of the data being sold.
Personal data lags some way behind at at 15.6 percent, followed by non-financial accounts and credentials (12.2 percent), financial accounts and credentials (8.2 percent), fraud tools and templates (eight percent) and payment cards (seven percent).
TikTok bans under-16s from sending and receiving direct messages and introduces new parental control options
TikTok has introduced a raft of new safety measures designed to protect younger users. As well as introducing new options that give parents even more control over their children's account, the company is also implementing a complete ban on direct messaging for those under the age of 16.
The changes are being tenuously linked to the coronavirus pandemic, with TikTok saying that the spread of COVID-19 has accelerated the flow of families moving to the platform for entertainment. The company says that it is adding new parental control features to help ensure a safer experience for users.
The Raspberry Pi-based server that could transform edge computing
Cloud servers, you might think, are big expensive pieces of kit. But you’d be wrong, at least where the Turing Pi project is concerned.
This mini ITX format board costing under $200 allows seven Raspberry Pi systems to be combined into a desktop Kubernetes cluster that's smaller than a sheet of A4 paper.
Apple thinks the new iPhone SE is worth much less than a quartet of Mac Pro wheels
Apple is not a company readily associated with low prices, and its hardware is always markedly more expensive than something comparable from other companies.
Over the years we've become used to Apple phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops (typically) being relatively expensive -- but where the company really stands out is with the pricing of its accessories. Take the newly announced iPhone SE, for instance. With a starting price of $399, Apple values the phone less than a set of wheels for a Mac Pro, and only marginally more than a set of feet for the same computer.
New tools help automate container security
Containerization is increasingly popular, but its adoption presents challenges when it comes to vulnerability management and protection.
DevOps security specialist NeuVector is launching new features for its platform aimed at enterprise teams.
Zoom releases software update to improve passwords, protect meeting IDs and secure cloud recordings
Zoom has been forced to take a long, hard look at its security and privacy in recent weeks. The company has not only put a pause on new features, it is focusing instead on making existing options more secure.
In an update to the software, Zoom has taken steps to improve the security of passwords, as well as introducing random IDs for meetings. The company has also enhanced password protection for meeting recordings stored in the cloud, and added other key security features.
Hackers are selling two serious Zoom zero-day vulnerabilities for $500,000
Both the Windows and macOS versions of Zoom have critical, unpatched security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers to target users and spy on calls and meetings.
Security experts say -- despite not having seen the actual code for the exploits -- that the Windows version of Zoom is affected by an RCE (Remote Code Execution) described as being "perfect for industrial espionage". The zero-days have been offered for sale for $500,000.
deepin Linux 20 Beta ready for download
Some unfortunate people are so obsessed with COVID-19 coming from China that they forget all the positive things that come from the country, such as almost everything we buy in the USA. Yes, folks, many of the great products we enjoy daily, such as clothing and electronics, come from China, and it is important to remember that. Look, we are all humans, and borders are man-made -- there is no room for xenophobia in the world.
Most importantly, our friends in China have brought us one of the best desktop Linux distributions on the planet -- the Debian-based deepin. The Chinese developers have been teasing the upcoming deepin 20, and the DDE (deepin desktop environment) looks absolutely amazing. Today, I am excited to say we can all begin testing the operating system, as deepin 20 Beta is finally here!
You can buy the revolutionary Apple Magic Keyboard with trackpad right now
Last month, Apple did something consumers have long wished for -- it made the iPad a proper laptop. You see, the company announced an all-new iPad Pro and associated Apple Magic Keyboard. With the iPadOS 13.4 operating system, Apple's tablet finally gets proper trackpad support, and wouldn't ya know it, the aforementioned keyboard has an integrated trackpad. So, yeah, the iPad now functions as an actual laptop.
There was one problem, sadly, that was very much not like Apple. For whatever reason, the company began selling the new iPad Pro before the Magic Keyboard with trackpad was ready. And so, consumers have not been able to properly trial this new laptop experience, instead relying on Bluetooth mice and trackpads to try it out. Well, I am happy to say, beginning today you can finally buy the Apple Magic Keyboard!
Microsoft releases Windows 10 Build 19608, improves default apps experience
It’s been a week since Microsoft rolled out a new Windows 10 build to Insiders on the Fast ring, and today sees the arrival of another new release.
Build 19608 sports one major new change and that concerns the default apps experience.
Economic uncertainty gives fintech apps a boost
The COVID-19 crisis has led to major economic as well as health concerns and new research from mobile app marketing company Liftoff in partnership with analytics platform App Annie shows more people are turning to mobile apps to manage their money.
The report analyzed 22 billion ad impressions across 382 million clicks, seven million app installs, and five million first-time events in 117 apps for the full calendar year 2019. It shows that the self-reliant nature of contemporary fintech apps has taken precedence over legacy banking apps, a trend that is likely to continue in the current economic climate.
Apple's new iPhone SE is as fast as the 11 Pro, but way more affordable
It’s been rumored for a while, but today Apple takes the wraps off its second-generation iPhone SE.
Reinvented from the inside out and packaged in a compact design, Apple’s most affordable iPhone comes with a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, paired with Touch ID security in the familiar Home button.
A post pandemic world: A technologist's thoughts on professional and social change
It’s sometimes hard to imagine life returning to normal. Nevertheless, this pandemic, like those of the past, will eventually recede, but it won’t leave us unchanged. COVID-19 has already had a dramatic impact on our lives and how we interact, conduct business and obtain the products and services we need.
As chief technology officer of a technology service provider, it’s my job to consider how such events will shape business so we can adjust the services we deliver accordingly. Naturally, I have specific thoughts on topics like backup and disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS), but I also have to consider societal changes and the ways in which businesses and consumers will utilize technology moving forward. So, what will a world after COVID-19 look like? Here are a few observations and thoughts.
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