PinePhone Manjaro Community Edition Linux smartphone is on the way

Linux owns the smartphone market thanks to Android. While some think Apple's iOS is superior, and maybe it is, that is merely opinion. The fact is, Android has a much larger market share -- it is undeniably more popular. And yet, some Linux enthusiasts are not satisfied with that. Some of these people feel Android is not "true" Linux, but that is just stupidity. The truth is, Android uses the open source kernel, so it is Linux -- end of discussion. But OK, if you are a Linux fan but an Android detractor, there are some other options, such as… [Continue Reading]

New platform helps streamline DevOps processes

DevOps has boosted the speed of development, but this very advantage can lead to problems and errors making their way through to production without being spotted. California-based DeepFactor is launching a new Continuous Pre-Production Monitoring platform that combines security, performance and behavior monitoring into one solution that is completely integrated into the DevOps pipeline. "Today, software developers and QA engineers focus on building and testing application functionality, but they lack visibility into the application's runtime behavior, security and performance, in dev, test and staging environments," says Kiran Kamity, co-founder and CEO of DeepFactor. "This leads to the risk of high… [Continue Reading]

New OnMail service gives you greater control over your inbox

Email has become the preferred communication medium for both businesses and individuals. But useful though it is it can be incredibly frustrating as our inboxes are clogged with spam, advertising and other unwanted material. Step forward Edison Software, the company behind the Edison Mail app, which is launching its new OnMail service in public beta. Designed to help users control their mail, OnMail lets you choose what can enter your inbox, what mail address reflects your identity, and how your mailbox is structured. Anti-tracking technology is built in to stop invasive ad targeting efforts too. There are four plans available including a… [Continue Reading]

Microsoft pushes out KB4023057 yet again to force Windows 10 feature updates

Many of the updates and patches Microsoft releases for Windows 10 prove to be unpopular, usually because of the new problems they can introduce. But with the KB4023057 update, people have another reason to consider avoiding installing it. KB4023057 has been pushed out by Microsoft several times before, and the company has just started to push it again. The aim of the patch is to address issues that have preventing some people from upgrading to newer versions of Windows 10, and also override any blocks that users have put in place to stop feature updates from being installed. The problem… [Continue Reading]

Why log management is essential to successful implementation of DevSecOps [Q&A]

DevSecOps, the integration of security into DevOps processes, is in increasingly common use. Logging and log management play a critical role in helping to put DevSecOps principles into practice by ensuring that developers, IT operations staff, and security teams have the visibility and communication pipelines they need to prioritize security at all stages of the DevOps delivery cycle. We spoke to Ryan Staatz, systems architect and head of DevOps at LogDNA to discuss how log management fits in the toolchain of technology and practices that create a successful DevSecOps initiative. BN: What does DevSecOps mean to you? RS: I like… [Continue Reading]

Open source Mario Kart clone SuperTuxKart 1.2 is FREE on Windows, Mac, and Linux

Some people think you need expensive hardware to have fun playing video games, but the truth is, you don't. Believe it or not, there are plenty of free games that can run well on a fairly meager PC. No, I am not just talking about emulating classic video games (piracy is bad, mmkay). Actually, there are some really fun PC games that you can legally download at no charge. One such popular game is SuperTuxKart. This open source Mario Kart clone is totally FREE on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It can even be had on Android too. Rather than use… [Continue Reading]

The many privacy concerns surrounding contact tracing efforts for COVID-19

Contact tracing is being touted as the best way to keep the novel coronavirus under control and avoid yet another country-wide shutdown, at least until a vaccine can be developed. The process has many benefits and was seen as integral to the success in staunching the spread of COVID-19 in a few different cities in Asia. However, there are quite a few hurdles to overcome in the process of implementing successful contact tracing efforts in the United States. For starters, manual contact tracing requires a large workforce as well as time and money. Apps, on the other hand, can be… [Continue Reading]

How financial services companies are using technology to fight the fraudsters [Q&A]

Account takeover attacks and online fraud of all types have skyrocketed during the pandemic as consumers have shifted almost all of their most important transactions to digital channels. We spoke to David Vergara, director of security product marketing at finance platform security specialist OneSpan, to discover more about the emerging technologies that banks are beginning to use in the fight against fraud, including artificial intelligence, real-time risk analytics and behavioral biometrics. BN: What sort of factors feed in to being able to spot a potential fraud? DV: It's about context because if you look at today's world a wave of… [Continue Reading]

Best Windows 10 apps this week

Four-hundred-and-one in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 on the Microsoft Store in the past seven days. The next feature update for Windows 10, version 20H2, is already available for download. While it is usually better to wait, those interested in installing the update right away may check out Mark's guide on how to do that. Support for Windows 10 version 1803 has been extended until 2021 because of the global pandemic. As always, if I've missed an app or game that has been released this week that you… [Continue Reading]

Why is the UK government prone to IT disasters?

Back in March, at the height of the nationally imposed lockdown, Health Secretary Matt Hancock promised a solution in the form of a coronavirus tracing app that would see us all out of lockdown safely. Although the much-touted NHSX app was said to be at the heart of the strategy to contain the spread of Covid-19, months later, it was ditched due to security concerns, forcing the Government to change tack to work with tech giants Apple and Google on a new app, shifting its strategy to work with human tracers instead. With measures easing and life now the most… [Continue Reading]

TEAMGROUP releases affordable MP33 PRO NVMe PCIe Gen3x4 M.2 SSD

Solid state storage technology is constantly improving. The truth, however, is while PCIe Gen 4 SSDs are now available, they are total overkill for most consumers. Hell, most people would be more than fine with a meager SATA drive. With that said, the previous-generation PCIe Gen 3 SSDs are now very inexpensive (and quite fast) making them a smart buy whether you truly need the extra speed or not. In other words, a SATA SSD should probably be avoided nowadays unless your PC simply isn't compatible with anything else. Today, TEAMGROUP releases its latest NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD, and it is… [Continue Reading]

How a cloud-based infrastructure can accelerate IT Initiatives

There’s no doubt about it, we are living in a cloud enhanced world. No matter what is happening in life, whether it’s uploading pictures of the family, keeping track of friends on social media, or working remotely, the fact remains that the cloud is a part of our everyday lives in one way or another. So why are organizations so hesitant to adopt a cloud infrastructure? From speaking with customers, the reason extends across infrastructure, business as well as, let’s face it, an overall new way of thinking about what is the best way to mitigate risk. When we talk… [Continue Reading]

Disaster recovery vs. business continuity

IT professionals thinking about disaster recovery configurations for critical SQL Server deployments in Windows environments naturally think in terms of remote sites and recoverability. If the primary datacenter goes offline in a disaster, the organization needs to be able to fail over to a separate datacenter somewhere unaffected by the same disaster. But disaster recovery and business continuity -- your ability to rapidly resume critical business functions during emergency events -- are not the same. Planning for business continuity is a much more holistic endeavor, and while disaster recovery is an important part of that plan, it is just that:… [Continue Reading]

Get 'The Cybersecurity Playbook' ($16.99 value) FREE for a limited time

Many books discuss the technical underpinnings and complex configurations necessary for cybersecurity -- but they fail to address the everyday steps that boards, managers, and employees can take to prevent attacks. The Cybersecurity Playbook is the step-by-step guide to protecting your organization from unknown threats and integrating good security habits into everyday business situations. This book provides clear guidance on how to identify weaknesses, assess possible threats, and implement effective policies. Recognizing that an organization’s security is only as strong as its weakest link, this book offers specific strategies for employees at every level. Drawing from her experience as CMO of one… [Continue Reading]

2020 vulnerabilities expected to exceed last year's

With 11,121 vulnerabilities disclosed during the first half of 2020, as the year progresses the total is expected to exceed that of 2019. Although the number of vulnerabilities disclosed in the first half of 2020 decreased by 8.2 percent compared to the same period in 2019 due to the impact of COVID-19, but the Q2 vulnerability report from Risk Based Security does suggest some signs of a return to 'normal' levels. Out of the vulnerabilities aggregated during the mid year, 818 were the result of the 'Vulnerability Fujiwhara Effect', a term adopted by Risk Based Security to describe the events… [Continue Reading]

Microsoft releases Windows Terminal Preview 1.3 with advanced tab switcher, new commands and more

Microsoft has released two new updates to the Windows Terminal app, starting off with version 1.2 for the main release. But for those looking to try out the very latest features, the newly launched Windows Terminal Preview 1.3 is probably of more interest. A raft of new features and options have been added including a command palette and an advanced tab switcher for easier navigation. See also: Microsoft will support Windows 10 version 1803 until 2021 because of Coronavirus You can download the Windows 10 20H2 Update right now Microsoft releases KB4566116 patch for Windows 10 to fix unlock bugs,… [Continue Reading]

Microsoft will support Windows 10 version 1803 until 2021 because of Coronavirus

In light of the Coronavius pandemic, Microsoft has thrown a lifeline to people who are doggedly hanging on to older versions of Windows. Some people running Windows 10 version 1803 (also called Windows 10 April 2018 Update) have been granted an extra six months of support.  Version 1803 of the operating system will now reach end of service in 2021 rather than this year, but the extension does not apply to everyone. SEE ALSO: You can download the Windows 10 20H2 Update right now Microsoft releases KB4566116 patch for Windows 10 to fix unlock bugs, system crashes and more Microsoft… [Continue Reading]