Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » octobre 9, 2014

BetaNews.Com (16 non lus)

Lenovo unveils Yoga 3 Pro, ThinkPad YOGA 14, Yoga Tablet 2 and Tablet 2 Pro

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 9:15pm CEST par Brian Fagioli

There are quite a few computer manufacturers nowadays, and many of them release products of varying quality. However, there is one that seems to consistently produce computers that are extremely well-built and functional -- Lenovo. Not only do the manufacturer's laptops and tablets have great build-quality, but the designs seem well thought-out and innovative.

One of my favorite product lines from Lenovo is Yoga -- multi-mode computers that can be transformed into different form factors. Today, the company unveils the Yoga 3 Pro, ThinkPad YOGA 14, Yoga Tablet 2 and Yoga Tablet 2 Pro.

"The new ThinkPad YOGA 14 is Lenovo's first business convertible in a 14-in screen size, giving users more screen real estate to work in any of its four modes. Thin and light, it features the convenient Lift n' Lock keyboard of the original ThinkPad YOGA, large storage of 1 TB HDD with 16GB SSD Cache, NVIDIA GeForce 840 graphics, an Intel Core i5 processor and long battery life. Business users will enjoy its one cable docking ability, full HDMI connection, high speed WiFi 4.0 and host of Lenovo service and support options including Accidental Damage Protection, Extended Warranty and Priority Technical Support. The ThinkPad YOGA 14 is available in black", says Lenovo.

Lenovo describes the Yoga 3 Pro by saying, "with a QHD+ 3200x1800 display, this bright and clear screen looks amazing whatever the task -- editing images in Laptop mode, video chatting in Stand mode, watching movies in Tent mode or online shopping in Tablet mode. Built with durable Gorilla Glass, this screen is designed to hold up to wherever users go. While videos look stunning, the YOGA 3 Pro makes them sound just as spectacular with premium JBL speakers with Waves Audio, which automatically adjusts the audio in each of the four modes so that when the speakers are not facing the user, the audio still sounds crisp and clear".

While the Yoga 14 is powered by a Core i5, the Yoga 3 has the all-new Core M mobile processor, which should deliver amazing battery life. A 256GB SSD is standard, so boot-up times and overall performance should be very snappy.

Besides these new multi-mode laptops, Lenovo is also rolling out new Windows (x86 and not RT) and Android tablets -- Yoga Tablet 2 and Tablet 2 Pro -- in various configurations. Since the tablets are powered by Intel Atom x86 processors, both operating systems are possible.

The most intriguing addition to the second-generation Yoga Tablet line is a fourth multi-mode use, called "Hang". You can still hold it in tablet mode, prop it up for movie watching or position it for typing, but now you can also hang it on a wall. It's a strange concept, but there may be some good situations where it may be beneficial.

"The YOGA Tablet 2 comes in three screen sizes and two operating systems so users can choose the model that’s right for them. For those who like the familiarity and productivity of Windows, Lenovo offers the YOGA Tablet 2 with Windows in Ebony-colored 8-in and 10-in models. They come with Microsoft Office 365 preloaded (1-year subscription) and with optional 4G on the 10-in model.For those who prefer Android, Lenovo created the YOGA Tablet 2 in 8 and 10-inches as well as the new YOGA Tablet 2 Pro in 13-in running Android 4.4 Kit Kat in Platinum", says Lenovo

The manufacturer further explains, "the YOGA Tablet 2 Pro has as its star feature a built-in Pico projector. The projector lets users turn inside walls into an instant TV or movie screen. Lenovo paired this premium technology for great video with unbelievable sound by giving the tablet a JBL sound system with a subwoofer. These exceptional features along with a host of other technologies make the YOGA Tablet 2 Pro like no other tablet".

Wow a 13 inch tablet that has an integrated subwoofer and Pico projector? Lenovo has created a seriously impressive tablet that is chock full of features. At $499, it seems very reasonably priced.

Which one of Lenovo's new products has you most excited? Tell me in the comments.
How to protect your business from Internet phone hackers

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 8:40pm CEST par Paul Cooper
Once considered an alternative telephony solution, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is now a mainstream technology used by an increasing number of businesses due to its superior features and competitive pricing.

However, with VoIP technology comes a far bigger price for your business to pay should your phone solution remain vulnerable to potential security risks from clever Internet hackers.

During the course of a telephone call, sensitive information is often divulged either in spoken voice or in the key tones, known as DTMF tones, used to signal key presses.

This can apply to large corporations through to small businesses including accountants, lawyers, GPs, hospitals, scientific and engineering firms.

Security problems are not only relevant to businesses that take payments over the phone as most businesses accumulate a raft of confidential information about their customers, employees, products, research and financial status.

If I were to ask any business owner whether they would be concerned about a phone discussion on any of these areas being tapped into, the obvious answer would be 'yes!'

The fact of the matter is, VoIP phone calls can be at high risk to interception making organizations vulnerable to attacks that are not even traceable, yet the whole network can be exposed.

Many business owners do not fully appreciate this risk, having been sold a telephone solution that at first seemed cheaper and superior, but often doesn't have the necessary encryption required to protect from cybercrime.

What's changed?

Until recently, security for VoIP wasn't high on the agenda due to the fact that most IP voice traffic remained on local and wide area enterprise networks, which were considered more or less secure and protected from public Internet.

Increasingly, VoIP technology is being used to make and receive telephone calls via external IP networks, which must be considered open or public.

The majority of VoIP traffic over the Internet is unencrypted making it easier for anyone with network access to listen-in on conversations. Eavesdropping on phone calls has become a very real business threat with a tool now widely available on the Internet to make it simple for anyone with a little bit of know-how to start capturing voice information.

To put this into context, it could be a member of staff eavesdropping on a call between the Managing Director and Financial Director discussing restructuring and redundancies through to an experienced cybercriminal listening to a credit card number being given over the phone.

Many tactics can be employed to intercept phone calls and there are too many to list here. Today, private lines should not automatically be assumed as secure as they are not typically protected by strong encryption.

Safeguard your business

Now more than ever, it's vital to ensure your preferred telephony supplier has the necessary systems in place to counteract cybercrime.

What to look out for:
- Question your telephony provider about their Secure Internet Protocol (SIP) trunking services. A good system should automatically disable non-secure components and protocols so calls are always encrypted.
- Businesses involved in the transmission or the recording of calls need to ensure their VoIP telephony system is protected as defined by ISO270021. Many regulators or corporate quality procedures now require phone calls to be recorded, which leaves the storage of sensitive information accessible.
- If cardholder payments are made via the phone, businesses need to ensure they adhere to the Payment Card industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). It is important the connection provided by your VoIP telephony company is encrypted to protect cardholder data.
- Check if your provider uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) to provide privacy and data integrity between two communicating applications. The protocol allows client/server applications to communicate in a way that is designed to prevent eavesdropping or tampering.
- Consider adopting direct access circuits that offer no public access and are for use only with your voice traffic. This will ensure your VoIP telephone system is immune from remote access attempts or a cyber criminal's bid to make your service unusable, often referred to as a DDOS or Distributed Denial of Service attack.
There is no question about the benefits of VoIP as a telephone system. It makes perfect business sense to make use of a technology that offers free or very low cost telephone calls, providing that technology is secure. Irrespective of business size or sector, business owners must be aware of the risks presented by today's tech savvy cyber world to guarantee the protection of their company, employees and customers.

At Cyber Security Expo stand A16, Adam Crisp, CTO of Voip.co.uk, will be available with his team to answer all of your telecommunications questions. Voip.co.uk is also launching SIP Encrypt to the security market and is offering significant discounts to Cyber Security Expo visitors. Register for IP EXPO now!

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Microsoft: Surface is here to stay

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 6:40pm CEST par Mark Wilson

In a post on the Surface blog, Microsoft has moved to assure businesses that the Surface line is here to stay. We've already heard that the Surface Pro 3 is a success -- although there are no figures to back up this claim -- but Microsoft's failure to launch a third generation RT-based version of the Surface, as well as the disappearance of the long-rumored Surface Mini, raised fears that the line of tablets may not be long for this world. Microsoft is keen to allay these concerns, pointing out not only that Surface is here to stay, but also that it is particularly suitable for businesses.

The post points out that the Surface Pro 3 is a device that's "great for getting things done". There's almost an air of desperation to the blog post in which Microsoft extols the virtue Surface and confirms its commitment to the brand. The selling point is still that the device is a laptop and tablet in one, and post author Brian Hall, General Manager for Surface, is quick to mention a number of big names who have adopted Surface Pro 3.

There is a lot of trumpet-blowing from Hall, but it's not long before the big guns are wheeled out n the form of a statement from CEO Satya Nadella:

We believe a strength of the Microsoft platform for enterprise is the rich ecosystem of hardware and applications developed by our partners, the community at large, and some of our own teams at Microsoft. In particular with Microsoft Surface Pro 3 we are now offering an enterprise-class device that can deliver great end user productivity. Microsoft is putting its full and sustained support behind the ongoing Surface program as one of a number of great hardware choices for businesses large and small.

Microsoft is turning its attention more and more to the enterprise side of its business, and this is just the latest example of this focus. The company is keen to sell the idea of the Windows ecosystem, much as Apple managed with iOS and OS X, and this is a theme that was underlined with the recent launch of Windows 10 Technical Preview. Windows 10, despite being around a year away, is referred to in the blog post, reassuring potential buyers that Surface Pro 3 will be upgradable to the latest version of Microsoft's operating system. It's not clear whether this, coupled with the money-saving Surface Laptop Replacement Bundle will be enough to boost sales of Surface Pro 3, but Microsoft will certainly be hoping so.

Photo credit: Muamu / Shutterstock
New public cloud backup cuts the cost of protecting data

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 5:00pm CEST par Ian Barker

Backups have traditionally involved removable media, whether tape or disk, to allow copies of essential information to be held off site for safety.

The cloud has changed all that but companies still have concerns about security and retention of data, as well as expense. A new product released today by Druva is aimed at delivering a long-term storage solution with less complexity and lower cost.

Druva Phoenix offers a practical alternative to the traditional server backup model requiring backup to secondary storage, tape and then long-term offsite archiving. Phoenix unifies hot, warm and cold backup and archiving processes and administration, offers unlimited retention, and can perform backups and restores up to 20 times faster than other solutions. The company also reckons it can achieve 70 percent cost savings over traditional backup solutions.

"The traditional backup-to-tape-to-archive process is expensive, resource-intensive and subject to error, with 75 percent of organizations experiencing tape failure in the last year. The cloud is clearly a better choice, but current cloud-based solutions have serious limitations ranging from slow speeds and limited data retention to failure to utilize the distributed nature of the cloud to perform large-scale backups," says Jaspreet Singh, CEO of Druva. "By leveraging the technology we developed for our inSync endpoint backup platform as well as our five years of experience with the AWS public cloud, Phoenix offers a truly disruptive alternative that eliminates tape and makes the cloud a viable choice for server backup for the first time".

Key features of the product include unified backup and archiving with ever-incremental backups that remove the need for companies to perform periodic full backups. All processes are centrally managed from a single console to reduce IT overhead.

Storage is optimized so that organizations can store limitless recovery points and archive and retain their data for as long as required -- decades if necessary -- to meet regulatory and compliance rules.

Phoenix delivers direct-to-cloud backup and restore speeds of 100Mbps -- 20 times faster than other solutions -- utilizing the latest in object storage coupled with parallel data transfers. Sites with large data sets, limited bandwidth or demanding recovery time objectives can utilize Phoenix CloudCache, an on-site soft appliance that provides hot LAN-speed backups and restores via local caching. Transfers to the cloud are then staggered to free up real-time bandwidth.

Phoenix uses Amazon Web Services to ensure customer data is maintained in a secure public cloud infrastructure and protected by a full range of system certifications.

For more information and to sign up for a free trial you can visit the Druva website.

Photo Credit: Andreas Weitzmann/Shutterstock
Mobile devices now outnumber people across the globe

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 4:49pm CEST par Darren Allan

There are now more mobile devices than people in the world, according to the latest statistic released by GSMA Intelligence.

According to the stats, there are now 7.229 billion mobile connections across the globe -- a growth of 6.1 percent year-on-year -- compared to a world population of 7.197 billion (going by the US Census Bureau's world population clock).

Note that the stats also include machine-to-machine (M2M) mobile connections, mind you -- and some folks have multiple phones. The actual number of unique mobile subscribers is 3.6 billion across the world.

In other words, half the world's population still don't have a mobile phone.

Kevin Kimberlin, chairman of Spencer Trask, commented: "In the evolution of our wireless world, we'll never again see such a crystal clear punctuation point for mobile progress!"

But he warned: "Don't be fooled by this 100 percent crossover point. Since many of us have two or more devices, this active user number obscures a harsh reality. Over half of the people in the world are not so fortunate. They still don't have a mobile phone. So we have more work to do".

Spencer Trask helped fund startup Millicom, which is teaming up with Facebook and Internet.org to help bring mobiles to the half of the world which isn't yet connected.

Kimberlin added: "So while we toast this mobile evolution milestone, let's redouble our efforts to connect the rest of the world".

Photo Credit: photobank.kiev.ua/Shutterstock

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
The Thing from the Internet -- and why we’re scared of it

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 4:12pm CEST par Ian Barker

According to a new survey UK consumers increasingly fear the pace of change they face and are particularly cynical about the need for connected, "Internet of Things" devices.

According to the survey of over 1,600 consumers by UK-based audit and accounting specialist KPMG, more than half of people (58 percent) resent the idea that computers seem to run their lives. Also 70 percent suggest that with the marketplace flooded by inter-connected devices, it's too easy for things to go wrong. The survey reveals a hankering for a return to 'simple' technology. Many, for example, mainly want their phone to make calls (54 percent) and the majority think that more advanced internet-based products such as smart fridges which self-order food or cookers reminding owners about recipes aren't needed.

Asked about the reasons for their worries respondents cited difficulties in keeping personal information private, with 56 percent of those polled concerned about a 'Big Brother' effect occurring as a result of internet enabled products and the pace at which they are being produced and implemented. In a work environment, more than a third (36 percent) fear that employers are monitoring their every action.

Wil Rockall, a director in KPMG's Cyber Security practice, says, "It is clear that consumers are struggling with a desire to use connected devices as a route towards an easier life, but they remain wary of the rise of the machine. They still support innovation, recognizing that in the right environment having the latest technology is key -- nearly 60 percent acknowledge that technology makes us more effective at our job".

Indeed, respondents are quick to recognize that inter-connected devices can bring some benefits, with 48 percent welcoming the idea that smart meters can save energy and money, for example. Four in 10 also suggest that health monitors which issue warnings about impending illness are a good idea and 46 percent want to use security systems to monitor their property whilst away from home.

"Security and privacy are high on the list of worries for the consumer with 62 percent believing that there is insufficient concern about it," adds Mark Thompson, a senior manager in KPMG's Cyber Security practice. "The fact remains that where once an Englishman's home was considered to be his castle the advent of the Internet of Things means that fortress walls can be breached more easily. There are also so many opportunities for the latest technologies to provide value and enhance our lives but we are failing to take advantage of them and we will continue in that vein until consumers can be convinced that always-connected devices are safe and worthwhile".

Image Credit: Julien Tromeur / Shutterstock
The internet is a massive waste of time

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 3:26pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Over the last couple of decades the internet has revolutionized how we work, how we shop, how we communicate, and how we consume media. In most regards it has made life quicker and easier, but it has also brought challenges and side-effects. Technology may have made many tasks simpler, but it has also increased distractions and shepherded in more ways to procrastinate. You've probably noticed that while you can get many things done faster than ever, you spend a great deal of time doing nothing of worth.

In fact, rather than saving money, the widespread adoption of technology could be costing business dearly. Research shows that nearly two-thirds of employees spend work hours browsing sites unrelated to work -- a surprising 3 percent of them spending more than 10 hours a week actively avoiding work online. All of these wasted man hours add up, resulting in an average cost of almost $3,000 for employee each year.

But it's not just websites that are a distraction. Research found that just 14 percent of emails are crucial to work, and 62 percent of people found that dealing with unnecessary messages was one of the down sides of using email as a means of communication. A surprising finding is that, on average, workers spend 4 hours -- or half the working day -- handling emails.

Check out the infographic below to see how technology is wasting time, as well as how it can help.

Photo credit: Filipe Frazao / Shutterstock
Imgur reinvents the GIF with Project GIFV

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 3:03pm CEST par Wayne Williams

The GIF was first introduced to the world by CompuServe in 1987 and despite all of the technological advancements that have occurred since then -- including the creation of the web itself -- the ancient graphics format remains as popular today as ever.

With Project GIFV, Imgur has taken what’s great about animated GIFs, but modernized the format. The platform-wide upgrade will automatically convert uploaded GIF files into MP4 video on-the-fly. The resulting .gifv will offer better quality in a smaller file size and load much faster. But that's not all.

As a result of this upgrade, users will be able to upload much larger animated files to the image site. Imgur currently limits GIFs to 5MB in size, but will shortly begin accepting ones up 50MB. You can see what the difference will be like by comparing this 5MB GIF with this 50MB GIFV.

Imgur says the new format will work everywhere and fully animate on sites like Facebook and Twitter. That image above is a JPG because WordPress doesn't currently accept the new format for security reasons, but that should change in time. Imgur plans to submit a specification to the relevant standards organizations before the close of the year.

"It’s a little known fact, but the GIF format was never intended for animation in the first place," says Tim Hwang, Head of Special Initiatives, Imgur. "With Project GIFV, Imgur is reimagining the looping GIF video with all the richness it deserves as a key piece of internet culture".
Apple remains the most valuable brand in the world

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 2:08pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Continuing its run at the top of the charts, Apple is revealed as the most valuable brand in the world. With a massive 21 percent increase over the last 12 months, Apple is now valued at just under $119 billion -- almost double that of Microsoft which finds itself in fifth place with a value of just over $61 billion.

The top 100 rankings have been published by Interbrand, and a number of familiar names from the world of tech are to be found in the top 20. Google's value jumped by 15 percent from last year to $107 billion, and the search giant remains in second position.

Apple's valuation is, as the Guardian points out, more than the GDP of countries such as Morocco. This will come as slightly better news to the company than the revelation that it is the top phishing target. The position of the ten most valuable brands remains largely unchanged; the same names jostle for attention at the top of the table. Facebook rocketed up the charts from 52 in 2013 to 29 this year, and managed to increase in value by 86 percent to $14.4 billion.

Despite dropping in value by 8 percent since 2013, IBM holds onto its fourth position slot, followed by Microsoft whose 5 percent boost sees it hanging onto its position from the previous year. Samsung's success with the likes of the Galaxy Note and S5 pushed its value up 15 percent to $45.4 billion. Intel will be disappointed to find that a drop in value of 8 percent (continuing the previous year's 5 percent drop) to $34 billion sees it slipping out of the top ten into twelfth place.

Looking further down the list, Amazon is to be found at 15, enjoying a 25 percent increase in value and jumping up four slots from 2013. eBay continues to increase in value, raising by 9 percent to $14.3 billion, but remain at position 28. The growing importance of Chinese brands -- particularly when it comes to smartphones -- is shown by Huawei's entry into the top 100, making its first appearance at slot 94 with a value of $4.3 billion. Fortunes are less favorable for Nokia which continues to plummet in value losing 44 percent of its value (following a 65 percent drop last year) and sliding from 57 to 98 in the chart.

Photo credit: Everything / Shutterstock
Rise of Macs: Apple is the fifth-largest PC maker

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 1:30pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

The PC market is not what it once used to be. Both shipments and sales are in the proverbial toilet. Old devices are still adequate years down the road, and more than capable of running newer versions of Windows, if users wish to upgrade -- many don't. Other types of devices, like tablets, can do the basic tasks just as well, if not better than the PC, and, for many in emerging markets, smartphones are what they buy these days to connect them to the Internet.

There are other changes afoot as well. Thanks to the increasing popularity of its Macs, Apple, once known as a niche vendor with a limited appeal, now ranks as the fifth-largest PC maker worldwide, according to a new report from research firm IDC. How did it get here? Well, blame the lower prices, among other things.

"[Apple's] steady growth, along with recent price cuts and improved demand in mature markets, has helped it to consistently outgrow the market", overtaking Windows PC maker ASUS to claim the fifth place. The company is still behind Lenovo, HP, Dell and Acer, which occupy the first four spots in that order. The ranking is based on the number of PCs shipped in Q3 2014, which, while we're at it, decreased by 1.7 percent compared to the same period from last year.

While shipments were declining, Apple moved more Macs (4.98 million) than a year prior (4.57 million), increasing its market share, to 6.3 percent from 5.7 percent, in the process. All other makers in the top five posted higher shipments and market shares. Leader Lenovo shipped 15.7 million PCs, for a market share of 20 percent. HP followed closely, with 14.7 million units and 18.8 percent market share, while Dell came in a distant third, with 10.4 million units and 13.3 percent market share. Acer ranked well below it, with 6.63 million units and 8.4 percent market share.

Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, October 8, 2014

Even though shipments declined year-over-year worldwide, in the US they rose, to 17.33 million units from 16.62 million units. That's a 4.3 percent growth, which is nothing to be sneezed at really. The increase was aided by what IDC calls "portables"; desktops did not follow the same ascending path, however, as they decreased in volume year-over-year.

"PC shipment growth in the United States remained slightly faster than most other regions in the third quarter and overall the U.S. PC market came in right on forecast with 4.3 percent year-on-year growth", says IDC Personal Computer senior research analyst Rajani Singh. "Solid back-to-school sales, a strong performance from key vendors, the continued acceptance of Chromebooks, some commercial uptick from Windows XP to Windows 7 migration, and the slowdown in tablet sales are among the factors that helped the PC market to continue on its positive growth rate trajectory. Moving forward, we expect a healthy holiday season, hence the U.S. PC market may maintain a positive growth rate. However, low demand for large commercial refreshes, combined with competition from 2-in-1 systems, may limit the growth potential".

In the US, HP leads the pack, followed by Dell, Apple, Lenovo and Acer. HP and Dell are competing closely, with the former moving 4.8 million units (27.7 percent market share) and the latter 4.16 million units (24 percent market share). Apple shipped 2.26 million Macs (13 percent market share), slightly more than Lenovo's 1.85 million units (10.7 percent market share). Acer came in fifth place thanks to 1 million units shipped (5.9 percent market share).

Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, October 8, 2014

The data includes only shipments of "Desktops, Portables, Ultraslim Notebooks, Chromebooks, and Workstations", according to IDC. Tablets were not taken into account; otherwise, we would see a totally different hierarchy.

Photo Credit: sukiyaki/Shutterstock
Inserting images into Gmail could be so much better

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 11:44am CEST par Dilraj Singh

When Google first launched the new compact compose window in Gmail, many of you might have noticed something annoying about inserting images.

One of the greatest Gmail features has been drag and drop. But if you drag an image into the compose window it is inserted inline. This is less than optimal for two reasons. One, if you want to write an email and insert many images, you probably don't want them inline as it ruins the reading experience. Two, inline images are very static and you can't manipulate them: you can't zoom in or see the pictures in a full window view, and you also can't easily save them to either Google Drive or your computer as you can with attachments.

Google recently fixed the second problem. Inline images now also have the Google Drive viewer. To trigger the view, just click on the image. Also, there are convenient buttons to download or save to Google Drive that pop-up once you place your mouse cursor on the image. But not everyone you send a message to has Gmail, so an inferior experience with inline images may still surface.

For the first problem there has always been a partial fix, which has never been widely publicized. If you drop an image on to the gray bar on the bottom of the compose window, it will attach it, rather than inserting it inline. The gray bar does say "Drop to Attach", but that is less obvious than the much larger "Drop Files Here" message that shows up in your compose window.

A dialog pop-up when you try to drop an image asking you if you would prefer it attached would be much appreciated; or Google could just design a more obvious workflow. The easiest fix would be to simply let users treat images as normal files and to default to attach.

Do you have to send a lot of pictures through email? Do you like the current workflow, or do you want to see change?

Image Credit: racorn / Shutterstock
Apple is the top target for phishing attacks

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 11:00am CEST par Barclay Ballard

Apple is now the most-phished brand according to the latest report from the Anti-Phishing Work Group (APWG).

Based on data from the first half of 2014, 17.7 percent of all phishing attacks were aimed at the Cupertino-based firm, with PayPal in second and Chinese shopping site Taobao claiming third place.

In an interview with TechNewsWorld, the APWG's Rod Rasmussen claimed that the ability to access various information streams with an Apple ID is the reason for the increased number of attacks.

"They can be used to lock a user out of their phone and ransom it back to them for money," Rasmussen said. "There are lots of different attack vectors, which adds up to why Apple is being phished as heavily as it is".

Rasmussen also speculated that the recent nude celebrity photo leaks were probably the result of hacking Apple IDs.

The report also indicates that a wider variety of companies are now being targeted by phishing attacks. APWG found that 756 institutions had been targeted by phishers in the first half of the year, with almost half of those not experiencing phishing in the previous six months.

It is likely that phishers are selecting new targets in the hope of finding vulnerable new user bases that are not ready to defend themselves.

It can require multiple defensive strategies in order to prevent phishing attacks, with the combination of behavioral analysis and big data proving particularly effective.

Idan Tendler, CEO of Fortscale said that intruders often reveal themselves through their malicious behavior. "The only way to identify these suspicious users is by profiling their behavior, by analyzing system logs that document their behavior," he said.

By creating normal behavior profiles, companies can more easily identify intruders within their network and ultimately reduce the number of successful phishing attacks.

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
How to manage the perfect BYOD rollout

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 9:08am CEST par Phil Keeley
BYOD was once a buzzword coined to describe the increase of end-user owned devices entering the workplace and accessing corporate networks and applications. However, there are now a lot more smart mobile devices on the network which are running more bandwidth-intensive applications, than ever before. This is only set to increase according to IDC who predict that 79 percent of mobile devices in the enterprise will be "employee liable" by 2017.

Having a BYOD strategy is too invaluable to be cast aside, yet it still presents a number of challenges to IT managers, who need to ensure the security and integrity of their corporate resources and data. But at the same time they need to allow multiple users, including guests and employees, the flexibility they demand for using different devices, whether corporate-issued or part of the BYOD trend.

The perfect BYOD rollout needs to simplify the process of enabling the visibility and control required to tackle mobility management. By taking the following steps into account, IT managers can best prepare for the influx of devices entering their workplace.
- Devices need to be enterprise ready -- Enterprise-class access needs to be delivered to both managed and unmanaged devices. The first step for a network administrator is to figure out how to securely connect and monitor all devices, including consumer-grade, to ensure they are working at full performance.
- Your network solution must be service-aware -- The next challenge is to manage usage on the network. Enabling BYOD and company issued consumer devices in the workplace will mean that employees will want to use their own device to connect to network resources and services, such as printing and projecting. It is important to have a truly service-aware network solution which can scale up and down at any time, depending on the number of devices interacting with resources.
- Prepare for expansion -- As many of the devices entering the network are designed for consumer use at home, high battery life is a priority ahead of the need for strong Wi-Fi transmission. This is unlikely to change in the near future and so enterprises need to take the high-density deployment and troubleshooting into account to ensure they have the adequate functionality to deal with the ever-expanding load on this struggling spectrum.
- Accommodate the next big trend -- The recent launch of the Apple iWatch is yet another example of wearable technology hitting the mainstream. Although this presents interesting opportunities for IT managers and employees alike, it also increases the types of devices that enterprises need to prepare for Wear Your Own Device will undoubtedly become commonplace in the next few years and so the Wi-Fi network needs to be prepared.
Employees will want to continue to bring their own devices into the workplace and so IT managers need to ensure they prepare for this, future-proofing their Wi-Fi and mobile device management strategy.

The lesson we've all learned in the last four years is that mobile will continue to evolve and adapt and while we are delivering better results, more productive user experiences and adding to the bottom line, when it comes to infrastructure there are still areas that need to be addressed.

Phil Keeley is principal SE at Aerohive Networks

At IP EXPO Europe's Theatre: Wireless & Mobile on Wednesday 8th at 11:00am, Phil Keeley, will be discussing what's next for BYOD. The seminar will also cover what the new 802.11ac standard (Gigabit Wi-Fi) really means for organizations and how they should approach adoption of next-generation mobile networking. Aerohive is also exhibiting at stand D10. Register for IP EXPO now!

Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.
Robust mobile monitoring is imperative for mobile app owners and developers

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 5:21am CEST par Jyoti Bansal

As enterprises move more and more of their mission-critical workloads to mobile applications, the need greatly increases for a solution that collects mobile application behavioral analytics and continuously manages the performance of mobile applications in real time.

Beyond the application’s performance, information about real-users’ behavior and interactions with an application can be tremendously valuable. Each user’s click deploys millions of lines of code, and with real-user monitoring capabilities, those clicks and code can be used to trace a plethora of information about that user.

Mobile Behavioral Analytics. With mobile analytics capabilities, mobile developers can measure and benchmark business information, such as the average dollar value of a mobile shopping cart or behavioral patterns such as the frequency of customers adding items to the shopping cart, all in real time.

Mobile Business Transaction Correlation. Mobile developers should get beyond the idea that backend services are a black box full of performance delays. Mobile monitoring solutions can now deliver deep metrics that allow mobile developers and IT operations to drill down into individual lines of code across every hop in a business-critical transaction; collaborate to resolve performance issues faster than ever before; and together win customer satisfaction.

Mobile Crash Analytics. Crash analytics allow mobile developers to quickly identify unique and recurring crashes for specific devices, operating systems, or carrier types, and fix them before they do serious damage to their ratings in the app stores, or to their operations in the case of enterprise apps. Retaining that crash data allows mobile developers to “flashback” to learn from historical trends and patterns.

If you don’t know what your mobile users are doing or know at what point and why your mobile app is crashing, you’re essentially flying blind in this brave new mobile world. Customers have no patience for poor mobile experiences. Not only does it hurt revenue, it also hurts brand perception. With such rich mobile app performance management capabilities available in the market today, there is no reason businesses should leave their brand experience to chance. And with mobile crash analytics, you can quickly pinpoint and fix the cause of a crash before it impacts users.

If you’re a mobile application owner or developer, real-user mobile monitoring makes it significantly easier for you to stay on top of mobile commerce, mobile app adoption, usage patterns, and performance. In short, it takes the guesswork out of delivering superior mobile experiences, whether it’s the latest game or a business enterprise app.

Jyoti is the Founder and CEO of AppDynamics. Jyoti is a Silicon Valley leader, product visionary and innovator, he founded AppDynamics in 2008 with the vision of 'Application Intelligence" and helping modern businesses embark on their journey of digital transformation with a disruptive approach to managing their software-define business. Under Jyoti’s leadership, AppDynamics has rapidly become one of the fastest growing enterprise software companies with 450 employees and 1300 enterprise customers.
HTC exposes the Desire Eye Android smartphone and RE camera -- sadly, no Nexus 9

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 3:33am CEST par Brian Fagioli

HTC knows how to make a great smartphone. The HTC One M7 and M8 are very popular for having solid build quality and best in class speakers. Unfortunately, while the phones are great, the camera has been lackluster. Don't get me wrong, the photo quality is passable but has lacked compared to other flagships, such as Apple's iPhone and the Galaxy S5.

Today, HTC takes the smartphone world by storm with the selfie-focused HTC Desire Eye and a dedicated action camera, called "Re". Believe it or not, the manufacturer is actually releasing a standalone camera that can interact with both Android and iOS devices. Unfortunately, the Nexus 9 that the Android community has been waiting for was a no-show.

The HTC Desire Eye is your run-of-the-mill rectangular Android smartphone except for one stand-out feature -- a 13MP front camera. Yes, the focus here is on selfies, and the front-shooter should, in theory, produce best-in-class selfies. Hell, besides a high-megapixel count, there is even a flash on the face. Clearly, this phone is meant for the Instagram generation.

The Desire Eye is not made of metal like the M8, and surprisingly, I think this is a good thing. The soft plastic felt wonderful in my hand and seemed quite durable. No, I don't mean it is necessarily rugged and can taken a beating, but you may be able to forgo a case and not get tons of scratches.

It will ship running Android 4.4.4 and will be powered by the Snapdragon 800 -- an aging, yet capable processor. The 5.2 inch screen looked gorgeous, despite being "only" 1080p. Unfortunately, it will only be available on AT&T -- for now.

As cool as that smartphone is, it was not the star of the show. Actually, the RE camera was most impressive, despite its asthma-inhaler appearance. At $199, it features a 16-megapixel Sony sensor. Many consumers will wonder why they need a standalone camera when their smartphone already has one. This is a valid argument, but I think there is a place for the RE in the homes and hearts of some consumers.

It connects by Bluetooth to your smartphone on first pairing, but the HTC representative tells me it uses Wi-Fi direct on subsequent connections. Because it can be controlled by a smartphone from a distance, you can easily position it in an optimal location while standing a distance, out of the way. HTC uses the example of a father at a daughter's dance recital; the father is stuck in the back row, but he has placed the RE camera in the front -- quite genius.

The other great thing is that it can take time-lapse photos without being linked to a smartphone. In other words, you can set up a camera looking at a busy city street or sunset and leave entirely, to return and view the creation. Of course, you will want to be sure you leave it in a safe or secure place to avoid thievery!

HTC even has a bunch of accessories ready for it:

You can mount it to a bicycle or baby stroller. A mother can track her baby's facial gestures or mood by pointing it at the baby, or she can position it facing outward to see what the baby sees. The bicycle mount should produce neat action shots.

Vacationers and beach-goers will appreciate that it also will work underwater with a rating of IPx7 -- an available accessory will boost this to IPx8. An HTC representative tells me that chlorinated water is not suggested, despite the fact that the demo video shows it being used in the pool. It is only to be used in fresh or salt water.

It will come bundled with an 8GB microSD card -- yes, a card and not onboard storage. So, if you were to add a 128GB card, you would have to remove the included 8GB. Quite frankly, I would prefer to see HTC not include any memory and reduce the overall price. An 8GB card will not last long and I foresee many consumers upgrading immediately -- the 8GB card will be wasted.

Are you excited by HTC's new products? Tell me about it in the comments.
UK crime chief wants even more powers to snoop NSA-style

Publié: octobre 9, 2014, 1:49am CEST par Mark Wilson

It has been said that we are living in a post-NSA world. What this really amounts to is that we are now slightly more aware of the level of snooping that has been going on in the background for many years. There has been widespread outrage at the revelations made by Edward Snowden, and there have been similar concerns raised outside of the US. In the UK, the FBI-like National Crime Agency, wants greater powers to monitor emails and phone calls -- and it wants the public to agree to this.

Director General of the NCA, Keith Bristow, spoke with the Guardian and said that the biggest threats to public safety are to be found online. He said that more powers to monitor online data is needed, and suggested that public resistance to this was down to the fact that he had thus far failed to properly explain why such powers are needed.

Bristow seems to be under the impression that if he takes the time to explain why he and his agency need greater powers of surveillance it will be possible to "win public consent" for such powers. On the face of it, this sounds rather more transparent than the beyond-the-scenes surveillance that has been carried out by the NSA, but can it really mean "open" monitoring? The NCS's "snoopers' charter" is unpopular -- there is possibly even less public support for it than there has been for the NSA's activities.

The agency head explains that the public must "consent to losing some freedoms in return for greater safety and security". Of course, it is extremely unlikely that there would be a public vote on whether or not additional monitoring powers should be enforced -- it's just not the sort of things on which there is public consultation. Of course, with the general election just around the corner in May, this is the sort of thing that is likely to feature on the manifestos that are trumpeted over the coming months.

Bristow says that "if we seek to operate outside of what the public consent to, that, for me, by definition, is not policing by consent. The consent is expressed through legislation". It goes without saying that the public has little if any sway in deciding what legislation is put in place, but individual political parties could use the weight of public opinion about privacy and online surveillance to win a few votes. Striking the balance between policing the internet in the interest of public safety, and maintaining the level of privacy that internet users reasonably expect is a tricky one.

But with surveillance now in the public consciousness more than ever before, Bristow and the NCA will have an uphill battle to convince people that indiscriminate mass monitoring is in their interest. Fighting terrorism, paedophiles, organized crime and the like may be valid arguments to some extent, but they certainly aren’t going to win over everyone. And if these problems are seen as sufficiently great to consider mass surveillance programs, it's difficult to see how public opinion will have much bearing on what happens. The idea of watching the many to catch the few -- which many have interpreted as implying everyone is assumed guilty until proven otherwise -- is only going to hold up for so long, no matter how well or how many times it is explained.

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