Research finds vulnerabilities in 97 percent of applications

Data from 3,900 tests conducted on 2,600 software or systems targets reveals that 97 percent had some form of vulnerability, 30 percent of the targets had high-risk vulnerabilities, and six percent had critical-risk vulnerabilities. In the research from Synopsis 83 percent of the tested targets were web applications or systems, 12 percent mobile applications, and the remainder either source code or network systems/applications. Industries represented in the tests include software and internet, financial services, business services, manufacturing, media and entertainment, and healthcare. "Cloud-based deployments, modern technology frameworks, and the rapid pace of delivery is forcing security groups to react more… [Continue Reading]

Lag between detection and investigation of cloud attacks harms businesses

New research carried out by ESG for digital forensics platform Cado Security finds that 89 percent of companies have experienced a negative outcome in the time between detection and investigation of a cyber-attack on their cloud environments. When asked about the challenges involved in dealing with incidents, 74 percent of security professionals say their organizations need additional data and context to conduct forensics investigations in cloud environments. In addition 64 percent say it takes too much time to collect and process data to perform a timely investigation. While a worrying 35 percent of cloud security alerts are not investigated at… [Continue Reading]

Water quality app wins IBM Call for Code challenge

IBM's global Call for Code Challenge encourages developers to use their skills to drive positive and long-lasting change across the world and is now in its fourth year. 2021's winner is Saaf Water, an accessible water quality sensor and analytics platform created, in particular, for people living in rural localities. Saaf Water's team of India-based developers have been personally affected by unhealthy water conditions that led to community deaths and illness, inspiring them to create a solution to help save lives. The Saaf Water team will receive $200,000 and support to incubate, test, and deploy their solution from the IBM… [Continue Reading]

Audiobooks are coming to Spotify in 2022

For many people, Spotify is the go-to service for streaming music, but the platform is about more than just accessing a massive collection of tracks spanning endless genres. In addition to music, there are also podcasts, and next year there are plans to further extend the audio offerings. With the acquisition of audiobook platform Findaway, Spotify is continuing on its journey to become "the world’s leading audio platform". Just as with its music and podcast offerings, the company plans to provide opportunities for both creators and consumers alike. Speaking about the deal, Gustav Söderström, Spotify's chief R&D officer, says: "It's… [Continue Reading]

Hybrid working: What does it mean for IT?

It’s almost impossible to escape the phrase "hybrid working" at present. The pandemic has brought about changes to the office environment and the way we work that few would have predicted a few years ago. In fact, remote and hybrid working models now look to be a permanent fixture, given the success that many businesses have seen in recent months. Debate over the pros and cons of this change has dominated the media landscape, and there are undoubtedly challenges that come with this kind of transition. Offices that used to home hundreds of employees every day now lay either empty… [Continue Reading]

Regulatory compliance holds back digital transformation say financial businesses

Regulatory compliance requirements have slowed digital transformation for 48 percent of financial organizations, according to a new study. The research from banking security specialist OneSpan surveyed over 200 bank executives in the US, Mexico, UK, and France to assess how banks in different parts of the world are addressing compliance with changing regulations. It shows the top compliance challenges for banks include reducing or preventing cyber-attacks (53 percent), safeguarding sensitive data (47 percent), and keeping pace with changes in consumer privacy laws and industry regulations (41 percent). Almost half of banks are putting digital remote identity verification and biometrics in… [Continue Reading]

77 percent of the UK employees experience this work-related syndrome

You may read the phrase "imposter syndrome" and be surprised that there’s a term for something you feel without realizing it’s a common thing. Have you ever felt like you’re not good enough for the career you have? Do you doubt yourself and feel like an imposter in the workplace? Do you have a nagging feeling that you’re winging it? You’re not alone. A huge 77 percent of the UK experiences imposter syndrome. Signs of imposter syndrome include: Doubting yourself Being unable to accurately assess your competence and skills Attributing your success to external factors Criticizing your job performance Being… [Continue Reading]

Get 'Account-Based Marketing For Dummies' ($16 value) FREE for a limited time

Buyers have changed the B2B marketing game. Account-Based Marketing For Dummies is here to give you the tools to transform your current approach to find, reach, and engage with your potential customers on their terms to meet their ever-changing demands. Packed with expert tips and step-by-step instructions, this book shows you how to analyze current data to identify the accounts with the biggest ROI opportunities and execute effective, account-specific techniques that get results. This practical guide takes the intimidation out of account-based marketing in today's highly digitized world. You'll be armed with the knowledge you need to increase your reach… [Continue Reading]

Microsoft releases out-of-band updates to fix Windows Server authentication problems

Microsoft has released a slew of emergency updates for various editions of Windows Server following the discovery of an authentication issue caused by this month's Patch Tuesday updates. The updates (KB5008601, KB5008602, KB5008603, KB5008604, KB5008605 and KB5008606) are available for Windows Server 2008 SP2 up to Windows Server 2019. Although these are emergency, out-of-band updates, system administrators will still need to manually download and install them on affected domain controllers as Microsoft is not making them available via Windows Update. See also: Microsoft gives Windows Subsystem for Linux a new icon, fixes issues and updates kernel Microsoft releases KB5007215 update… [Continue Reading]

Microsoft gives Windows Subsystem for Linux a new icon, fixes issues and updates kernel

Microsoft has just released the latest preview version of Windows Subsystem for Linux, bringing with it a lengthy changelog. With the launch of Windows Subsystem for Linux Pre-release 0.50.2.0, Microsoft has introduced a new icon (featuring, of course, a penguin), but there's far more to this release than just this visual update. The latest version fixes various WSL issues, updates the Linux kernel, and includes numerous other changes and additions. See also: Microsoft launches .NET 6 and 64-bit Visual Studio 2022 complete with Hot Reload feature Microsoft releases KB5007215 update to fix Windows 11 problems and boost security Microsoft announces… [Continue Reading]

KIOXIA BG5 PCIe 4.0 SSD is compatible with Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Windows 11 PC

Solid state drives continue to get faster, with PCIe 4.0 variants leading the pack nowadays. Of course, most PCs don't have PCIe 4.0 support, so these ultra-fast drives are reserved for enthusiasts and those with brand new computers. If you have such a cutting-edge PC, you will probably want to get a PCIe 4.0 SSD to maximize your performance. True, it is largely for bragging rights and benchmarks, but you might as well go for the best if the difference in price isn't totally obscene. Today, KIOXIA unveils its latest solid state drive. Called "BG5," it uses PCIe 4.0 x4… [Continue Reading]

Demand for web developers jumps during pandemic

A new survey from open source web development platform Elementor reveals that 67 percent of web professionals say they have experienced growth in their businesses since the pandemic began. This trend is expected to continue, with 77 percent saying they expect the field of web design and development to continue to grow over the next five years. Among thise surveyed, 55 percent of millennials say they rely on website creation as their full-time job compared to a much lower rate among baby boomers (19 percent), who are more likely to design websites in their spare time. While 70 percent say… [Continue Reading]

How technology is looking to replace passwords [Q&A]

We've been told for a long time that passwords are on the way out. Indeed no less a figure than Bill Gates predicted the death of the password at 2004's RSA conference, yet we still rely on them for managing much of our day-to-day access. But things are starting to change. Patrick McBride, CMO at Beyond Identity, believes that the technology to eliminate passwords and replace them with something more secure is starting to take off. We talked to him to discover more. BN: Is it possible to replace passwords completely with something fundamentally secure? PM: The password issue is… [Continue Reading]

How old, incomplete, and inaccurate data can hurt businesses

Across the board, from operations to finances to customer satisfaction, the wrong data -- old, incomplete, and inaccurate information -- sets business back. According to MIT, "The cost of bad data is an astonishing 15 percent to 25 percent of revenue for most companies." The differences between these errant data are important. Also important is understanding that, strictly speaking, there is no "bad data." "Bad" makes data subject to the interpretation of a value judgment. A better, more descriptive term would be "technical debt." This is when engineers begin to indiscriminately start to modify code and introduce new features. Over time, features are layered one on top of another and, if unchecked, teams sacrifice long-term efficiency via a durable, hard-won solution for the… [Continue Reading]

Tripp Lite MTB4-HUB3-01 is an elegant Thunderbolt 4 hub with 8K video support

Tripp Lite is a company that I am very familiar with -- for high-quality power strips and surge protectors. When someone asks me what brand of surge protector they should buy to protect their picey desktop computer or other electronics, I usually recommend Tripp Lite. Are its power products a bit expensive? When compared to some other brands, I suppose so. With that said, that company's gear is typically well worth the premium. Apparently, Tripp Lite also akes other types of computer accessories these days, including an all-new Thunderbolt 4 hub. Called "MTB4-HUB3-01," it will turn one Thunderbolt 3/4 port… [Continue Reading]

How businesses can combat the challenges of cloud adoption

In recent years, cloud computing has become ubiquitous. So much so, that individuals rarely notice that they are using it to store documents and data instantly, despite the increasing importance that these technologies have in the remote arena. As many organizations continue to see their workforce scattered across different cities and countries, there is a clear urgency to access data safely, and without needing to do so in a physical workplace. Beyond pandemic-incentivized cloud usage, other businesses will be motivated by the ease and flexibility that these technologies allow -- indeed, many find the ability to scale their operations up… [Continue Reading]

Will Apple's AR headset win over consumers?

Remote work isn't going anywhere. The number of major companies announcing plans to allow their employees to work from home into the future continues to grow every week as Covid-19 prolongs the time away from the office and remote employees realize an improved work/life balance. A switch to permanent remote work will also mean changes to the technology we use to work. Existing solutions were utilized early in the pandemic when there weren’t any other options, but as the projected time at home continued to increase it was clear that purpose-built solutions were needed to make an entirely remote office… [Continue Reading]

Microsoft fixes loads of Windows 11 problems with Build 22000.346

On Wednesday this week Microsoft rolled out a new build to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel. That build added a new sharing option to the taskbar and also fixed a number of issues. Today, in time for the weekend, the software giant rolls out a build that offers a long list of improvements for those in the Beta and Release Preview channels. SEE ALSO: Don't want to use Edge in Windows 11? Tough! Microsoft is taking away the option to open links in other browsers This new build includes the following improvements: Fixed an issue that affects the Appx… [Continue Reading]

Microsoft releases new Windows 11 wallpaper for 'the holidays' but doesn't say which ones

Windows 11 is a great operating system, and if your computer is compatible, you should upgrade from Windows 10 immediately. It is an absolute joy to use, and I find it to be the prettiest version of Windows yet. If you want to make it even prettier, today, Microsoft shares a beautiful new Windows 11 wallpaper from artist Kervin Brisseaux. The company says the background image "merges the updated design of Windows 11 with the magical, vibrant nature of the holidays." Oddly, Microsoft fails to disclose which holidays those actually are. Look, we have many significant holidays on the horizon,… [Continue Reading]

Best Windows apps this week

Four-hundred-sixty-four in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days. Microsoft released an out-of-band patch for Windows 11 this week, which addresses application startup issues. In other news, Microsoft unveiled Windows 11 SE, a Chrome-OS rival edition of Windows 11. The new Microsoft Store is rolling out over time to all Windows 10 devices. As always, if I've missed an app or game that has been released this week that you believe is particularly good, let me… [Continue Reading]

Don't want to use Edge in Windows 11? Tough! Microsoft is taking away the option to open links in other browsers

It’s no secret that Microsoft wants people to use its Edge browser. It advertises it in Windows 10 and 11 and of course it’s the default in both of those operating systems too. The Chromium version of Edge is very good, but plenty of users prefer a different browser, like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. You can use any browser in Windows, but Edge will still spring into life if you click on a link from within the operating system. Run a web search in Windows 11, for example, and if you click on a result, it’s Edge that will… [Continue Reading]

How software descriptions can open the door to cyberattacks [Q&A]

The use of SaaS-based applications and systems has taken off in recent years, but that surge has highlighted a problem in the form of a lack of standardization for software descriptions across all types of systems. This makes it much harder for IT teams to assess vulnerability levels across all the packages in an enterprise. But what risks does this pose and how can businesses tackle the problem? We spoke with Peter Lund, VP at operational technology cybersecurity company Industrial Defender, to discover more. BN: Why is not having a defined standard for software descriptions such a problem? PL: One… [Continue Reading]

StarTech.com launches two USB to 4x HDMI video adapters for Microsoft Windows 11

A USB to HDMI dongle is pretty common nowadays and certainly nothing to get excited about. Amazon is littered with those adapters. Heck, even dongles that turn a single USB port into two video outputs can be found quite easily these days. But a USB adapter that offers four HDMI outputs? That's something worth noticing as it should be quite the useful tool. And that, folks, is exactly what both the USB32HD4 and USBC2HD4 are -- USB adapters from StarTech.com that feature an impressive four HDMI ports. They are essentially the same, except the former uses USB-A, while the latter… [Continue Reading]

Facebook outage 2021: A simple mistake with global consequences

In October, the internet was shaken by the Facebook outage that affected dozens of big-name companies, as well as millions of brands and businesses that advertise on Facebook’s platform. Because of something as simple as a misconfigured Domain Name System (DNS) record, every device with the Facebook app integration started DDoS-ing recursive DNS resolvers -- DDoS meaning "Distributed Denial of Service." This, in turn, caused overloading in countless cases across the board. You might be thinking to yourself, "So, what? A few sites were offline for a couple of hours." But the outage brought to light other issues. Communications for… [Continue Reading]

Get 'Deep Learning from the Basics' ($27.99 value) FREE for a limited time

Deep learning is rapidly becoming the most preferred way of solving data problems. This is thanks, in part, to its huge variety of mathematical algorithms and their ability to find patterns that are otherwise invisible to us. Deep Learning from the Basics begins with a fast-paced introduction to deep learning with Python, its definition, characteristics, and applications. You’ll learn how to use the Python interpreter and the script files in your applications, and utilize NumPy and Matplotlib in your deep learning models. As you progress through the book, you’ll discover backpropagation -- an efficient way to calculate the gradients of… [Continue Reading]