Microsoft releases Windows 10 19H1 Build 18272 with improved sign-in options

Things might have gone badly wrong for Microsoft with the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, but the company is working hard on the next big feature release out next spring. Build 18272 (19H1) pushed out to Insiders on the Fast ring today (and also available in ISO form) includes some input improvements and new sign-in options for Windows Hello. SEE ALSO: Get ready for Windows 10 'Vanadium' Windows 10 -- 1990s edition is the retro operating system we want Microsoft releases Windows 10 19H1 Build 18267 with expanded search indexing SwiftKey’s AI technology supports more languages from this build, and… [Continue Reading]

Four steps to make your business intelligence teams more relevant

The world of analytics is changing. Self-Service Analytical tools like Tableau, Qlik, and Power BI are enabling business users to perform reporting and analytics on their own with little to no support from the IT organization. This trend has evolved due to several factors including: 1)  Organizations are flooded with data and IT organizations are not able to keep up 2)  Easier to use Business Intelligence tools make it more efficient for business users to directly create their reports rather than go through IT for a project 3)  IT organizations analytical projects can take several months when a business needs… [Continue Reading]

AOC launches C32V1Q 32-inch curved monitor

AOC monitors are a favorite of mine. While they may not be the top of the line, these reliable displays offer a lot of "bang for your buck." In other words, they are budget-friendly, allowing you to save money. If you are a system builder, you know that money saved on a display can be used towards PC components, such as RAM, storage, etc. If you want one of those fancy new curve monitors, today, AOC launches a new model. The C32V1Q, as it is called, features a 32-inch screen. While a big display is appreciated, please know, the resolution is… [Continue Reading]

Are APIs becoming the keys to customer experience?

In recent years, APIs have encouraged the emergence of new services by facilitating collaboration between applications and databases of one or more companies. Beyond catalyzing innovation, APIs have also revolutionized the customer-company relationship, allowing it to provide an accurate and detailed picture of the consumer at a time when a quality customer experience now counts as much as the price or capabilities of the product. Over the years, customer relationship channels have multiplied with consumers who can interact with their brands through stores, voice, email, mobile applications, the web or chatbots. The multiple points of interaction used by customers have… [Continue Reading]

Get ready for Windows 10 'Vanadium'

Microsoft’s first Windows 10 feature updates used the "Threshold" codename, but the software giant switched to using "Redstone" for the Anniversary, Creators, Fall Creators, April 2018, and October 2018 updates. The software giant went with "19H1" for the update due out next spring (the April 2019 Update possibly), but it plans to change its naming convention once again for the update that's scheduled to be released in October 2019. SEE ALSO: Windows 10 -- 1990s edition is the retro operating system we want Microsoft releases Windows 10 19H1 Build 18267 with expanded search indexing According to her sources, ZDNet’s Mary… [Continue Reading]

Sextortion is back and this time it looks personal

Over the last few weeks you may well have received an email that quotes an old password you once used. It tells you that your account has been hacked, that malware has been placed on your machine to capture data and that you’ve been recorded watching porn. It then demands that you cough up some Bitcoin -- amounts vary -- to prevent this webcam video from being made public on your social networks. It is, of course, a classic sextortion scam. There is no malware and no video, they just want to scare you into thinking there is in the… [Continue Reading]

Microsoft Office for macOS getting dark mode

One of the coolest new features of macOS Mojave is dark mode. As the name implies, it quite literally allows the user to make a system-wide switch to a darker interface. It works quite well, but unfortunately, app developers have to take advantage of it in their code -- their programs will not support dark mode by default. This means that even when you turn dark mode on, some apps will look out of place. Yeah, that inconsistency kind of stinks, but luckily, many developers -- not all -- have been updating their software to support the feature. One huge… [Continue Reading]

Comodo launches enhanced solution to secure internet access

Businesses need to protect themselves against harmful websites, but recognizing which are dangerous and which are not can be a tricky task. Cyber defense company Comodo is launching a new version of its cloud-delivered, DNS-based Security-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that allows enterprises, medium-sized and small businesses, MSPs and channel partners to protect users’ digital presence. Comodo Dome Shield Platinum implements a highly configurable web filter to check the content and reputation of sites against company IT policy based on both safety and appropriateness. It protects against threats like phishing, bots and botnets, command-and-control servers, spyware and spam. The latest Platinum version… [Continue Reading]

Misconfigurations put enterprise cloud data at risk

While organizations are increasingly using the public cloud to create new digital experiences for their customers, the average enterprise experiences more than 2,200 misconfiguration incidents per month in their infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) instances. This is among the findings of McAfee's latest Cloud Adoption and Risk Report which also finds that 21 percent of data in the cloud can now be classed as 'sensitive', putting the business at risk if it's stolen or leaked. Enterprise organizations have an average of 14 misconfigured IaaS/PaaS instances running at one time, and 5.5 percent of AWS S3 buckets have world read permissions,… [Continue Reading]

It’s not about cookies, but data, as girl scouts get hacked

It’s that time of year where we look for cookies outside of stores. The prices of those sold by Girl Scouts have gone up over the years, but we all continue to buy them. Regardless of whether you like thin mints, Samoas or any of the several other brands available, there’s something for you. Right now, however, the Girl Scouts have more problems to worry about beyond their fundraising campaign. The Orange County, California branch of the organization has warned 2,800 members that their personal data could have been compromised. You can view the letter here. A third party managed to gain… [Continue Reading]

Fedora 29 Linux distribution now available for download

Two days ago, it was announced that IBM will be buying Red Hat. While we don't know how the marriage between the two companies will work out, I am cautiously optimistic. I mean, look, Red Hat is a solid organization, and if IBM is true to its word about allowing the RHEL-maker to operate independently, it should largely be a non-issue. Personally, as a hardcore Fedora user, I can only pray that IBM doesn't mess with my favorite operating system. The acquisition won't be closing for a while, however, and today, after a short public beta period, Fedora 29 is… [Continue Reading]

Boards have wider cyber security awareness but still struggle to manage risks

Risk management specialist Focal Point Data Risk, has released its latest Cyber Balance Sheet Report showing that wider awareness of risks -- including third-party data breaches, ransomware and geopolitical conflicts -- spurs more security dialogue in the boardroom. However, C-Suite and security leaders still struggle to frame risk in productive decision-making terms and keep an eye on whether companies are operating within an acceptable level of risk. "This year's Cyber Balance Sheet Report dispels the 'cyber is not a boardroom issue' cliché by showing that not only have board members already received the cyber risk message loud and clear, they… [Continue Reading]

Apple's Mac mini gains a massive performance boost

At its special event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Apple today revealed a new MacBook Air with Retina Display, new iPad Pros with USB-C, and also updated its Mac mini. The new Mac mini comes with quad- and 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core processors, up to 64GB of faster memory and all-flash storage (up to 2TB). It also comes with four Thunderbolt 3 ports, an Apple T2 Security Chip and a 10Gb Ethernet option. Mac mini features an HDMI 2.0 port, two USB-A ports, an audio jack and Gigabit Ethernet as standard. "Mac mini is loved by customers for its… [Continue Reading]

Apple reveals new iPad Pro with USB-C

In addition to its new MacBook Air and Mac mini, Apple today launched the new iPad Pro. The most immediately-noticeable change is the death of the home button, but there's much more to this new model than just that. The screen of the smaller iPad Pro has jumped from 10.5 to 11 inches without changing the overall size of the body, while the 12.9-inch model is available in a dramatically smaller casing. Both are thinner than before (just 5.9 mm), Face ID has been added, and there's more going on under the hood. See also: Apple unveils new MacBook Air… [Continue Reading]

New platform helps enterprises manage third-party cyber risks

Moving to digital transformation means that companies frequently have a host of vendors, suppliers, providers, and subsidiaries, all connected to their network or data and each with the potential to publicly expose customer information, intellectual property, or heavily regulated data. Without continuous insight into these other networks third-party risks can be hard to assess, leaving businesses open to the possibility of data breaches. Intelligence-driven security company LookingGlass is launching a new subscription-based monitoring service. This uses threat data along with a team of expert security and intelligence analysts to mitigate risks and provide continuous visibility into potential exposure. "When it… [Continue Reading]

Linux Mint 19.1 'Tessa' coming this Christmas

December is coming, which means one of my favorite holidays, Christmas, is fairly imminent. While I enjoy spending time with family to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, I’d be lying if I said I don’t like getting presents. Heck, I really enjoy giving gifts too. Not all Christmas gifts need to be physical -- sometimes a Linux distribution can be equally rewarding! Case in point, today, we learn Linux Mint 19.1 -- which is named "Tessa" -- will be released around Christmastime. In addition, the Mint developers have launched an official Patreon account as a new way to get… [Continue Reading]

Non-Microsoft exploits on the rise as hackers turn to servers

A new report from AlienVault, based on findings from vendors' threat reports in its Open Threat Exchange (OTX) platform, reveals more non-Microsoft exploits are in the top 10 list this year. This is largely due to a rise of server attacks, particularly cryptocurrency-mining botnets that use remote exploits, such as Drupal. The report also sees an IoT exploit make the list for the first time. On a positive note, the OTX Trends Report shows an encouraging uptick in information sharing across the InfoSec industry, including a lot of independent research sharing on Twitter. OTX itself now has more than 100,000… [Continue Reading]