Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » janvier 2, 2016

BetaNews.Com (4 non lus)

Windows doesn't top the vulnerability list for 2015, but Microsoft as a whole does

Publié: janvier 2, 2016, 7:39pm CET par Alan Buckingham

Software vulnerabilities are a daily event it seems, but some systems just have more of them. When we think of this a couple of names usually spring to mind -- Flash and Java. However, according to the new list being published by CVE Details, they aren't quite at the top, nor is Microsoft's oft-maligned operating system.

Basing its numbers on "distinct" vulnerabilities, the security firm has released its top 50 naughty list of 2015. Leading the way was, in fact, Apple, which claimed the top two spots -- Mac OS X with a number of 384 vulnerabilities, closely followed by iPhone OS (or iOS as most people like to call it) with 375.

Take heart though, as Flash finished a (dis)respectful third with 314 vulnerabilities. Actually Adobe occupies places three through six, as Air didn't fare much better than Flash. Java landed much further down the list with JRE and JDK in 29th and 30th place respectively.

As for Microsoft, the company didn't do terribly. Internet Explorer was the most vulnerable browser, but Chrome and Firefox were on its heels. Windows 8.1 came in 12th with 151 vulnerabilities, while Windows 7 claimed the 14th spot with 147.

Other notable products on the list include Android, Acrobat, Safari, Windows Server, E-Business Suite, Debian Linux and more. Even Windows Vista and Server 2003 managed to crack the top 50 which is bad news for those poor souls still using them.

In many cases versions are not specified. OS X, for instance, doesn't specify a particular flavor while Windows is divided up into different versions. Overall Microsoft still holds the top spot with the most vulnerabilities in total, followed by Adobe in second. It's just a matter of division. Adobe Flash is not broken up into versions, nor are the browsers, so take all of this with a grain of salt. Remember these are only publicly reported flaws.

It's also important to understand that it's not purely the number of vulnerabilities that matter, but also the severity of them.

You can review the whole list at CVE Details, results may be surprising and scary.

Photo credit: wk1003mike / Shutterstock
Chuwi Hi12 is a promising budget Surface-like tablet running Windows 10 and Android

Publié: janvier 2, 2016, 5:36pm CET par Mark Wilson
Chuwi might not be a name that you're particularly familiar with (or have even heard of at all), but the Chinese company has some interesting hardware on the way in 2016. Can’t decide between a Windows 10 tablet, or one running Android? Chuwi Hi12 offers the ability to boot between Windows 10 and Android.

With more than a hint of iPad aesthetics, the Hi12 blends the worlds of Microsoft's and Google's operating system to create a budget version of the Surface with an Android bolt-on. As this is a tablet running both Android and Windows, it's no surprise that there's a Cherry Trail processor on hand to keep things ticking over.

With other Chuwi tablets, there has been the option of a Surface-style keyboard attachment, and it's hard to imagine that this won't also be the case with the Hi12. While the tablet is not exactly a powerhouse, it is a more than capable device that would serve perfectly as a low-cost tablet for a student, an extra device for travelling with or, you know, just a toy to tinker with.

Here are those all-important specs, which -- while not earth-shattering -- are far from shabby:
- Screen Size: 12.0 Inches
- OS: Windows 10 + Android 5.1
- Colors: Champagne Gold; Space Gray
- Screen Resolution: 2160 x 1440 (3:2)
- CPU: Intel X5 Cherry Trail Z8300 (Max up to 1.84GHz)
- GPU: 8th Generation Intel Graphics (up to 500MHz）
- RAM: 4GB
- ROM: 64GB
- Extended Storage: Up to 128GB
- Battery: 11000mAh
- Camera: Front - 2MP, Back - 5MP
An official release date is yet to be set for the CHUWI Hi12, but it is due to make an appearance this month. The tablet is set to launch in US, Europe and around the world, but there is no pricing information available. That said, the smaller Hi10 is currently available for $199.99 and a CHUWI spokeman told BetaNews "it might be cheaper than other competitors (may be under $300)".

Watch this space!
Toshiba and Bill Nye take you behind the scenes for New Year's Eve in Times Square

Publié: janvier 2, 2016, 4:46pm CET par Alan Buckingham

It's 2016 now -- time seems to fly. On New Year's Eve many revelers around the world gathered in various locations including Sydney, London, Rio de Janeiro and New York City. Times Square gets a prominent eye in the US and, to a certain extent, the world over.

This year the sponsor of the big show was Toshiba and during the process of bringing all of the festivities together for ringing in the new year it made a short video documentary.

The video features not only the set-up of everything, but also many of the live performances by prominent artists such as Adele.

You'll also get Bill Nye "The Science Guy", famous for his popular kids TV show that teaches about...well, science. Nye is a well known figure, not only among kids, but also with the science and skeptical community in general as he tends to say what's on his mind and what he feels is accurately backed up by evidence. In this case though, he's just having fun like everyone else.

The video also includes the famous countdown and ball drop, not to mention the very large and well lit digits for 2016.

You can catch the video below and reminisce about what you may or may not remember depending on how your evening went.

Image Credit: leolintang/Shutterstock
American hacking group killed the BBC's online presence to test anti-ISIS attack powers

Publié: janvier 2, 2016, 1:16pm CET par Mark Wilson

A huge DDoS attack took the BBC's websites offline on Thursday, as well as the broadcaster's iPlayer streaming service. The disruption lasted for several hours, and now a US-based group of 'cyber hackers' that usually targets ISIS has claimed responsibility.

The New World Hacking group is a self-proclaimed hacktivist group that supports Anonymous. It says that despite effectively knocking the BBC from the face of the web, it was only meant to be a test of server power rather than a targeted attack on the corporation.

While the BBC acknowledged that there had been a 'technical problem' with its online services on Thursday, it has not commented on whether this came as the result of a DDoS attack or not. On New Year's Eve, New World Hacking expressed surprise that their 'attack' had hit the headlines:

Didn't know our attack made the news [https:] | #Offline | 600 GBps | [https:] @BBC @AboutTheBBC @BBCBreaking

— New World News (@NewWorldHacking) December 31, 2015

In a series of tweets to BBC technology reporter Rory Cellan-Jones today, New World Hacking said:

We are based in the US, but we strive to take down Isis [IS] affiliated websites, also Isis members.

We realize sometimes what we do is not always the right choice, but without cyber hackers... who is there to fight off online terrorists?

The reason we really targeted [the] BBC is because we wanted to see our actual server power.

'Anti-IS group' claims BBC website attack - in Twitter messages to me [https:]

— Rory Cellan-Jones (@BBCRoryCJ) January 2, 2016

The group says that ISIS will continue to be its primary target, but it's not clear if further 'server tests' could result in other big sites being hit:

REMEMBER.. Only a DDoS attack test.. ISIS will be our main target. #BinarySec [https:]

— New World News (@NewWorldHacking) January 2, 2016