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• 

  More than half of UK businesses will embrace flexible and remote working in 2017

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 9:08pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Next year will be the tipping point for flexible and remote working in the UK, with more than 50 percent of businesses adopting it by the end of next year. That number will grow even more, to 70 percent, by the time we get to 2020.

  Those are the results of a new survey produced by Lancaster University’s Work Foundation, and commissioned by Citrix. The survey, entitled Working anywhere: A winning formula for good work?, asked 500 employees at a managerial level about the pros and cons of flexible working.

  So what are the pros? The study highlights four reasons why companies should implement flexible working: increased productivity, improved employee wellbeing, talent attraction and retention and reduction in accommodation costs.

  So why is flexible working, if it’s so good, not yet already at 90 percent, at least? The report says there are cultural barriers that need addressing: 37 percent of managers believe this means longer hours, while 22 percent say they feel disconnected from the team. An additional 28 percent felt it blocked them from overseeing other people’s work. A quarter (24 percent) also said all work is carried out in company premises.

  That’s not all, though -- 75 percent believe this will put more strain on the HR department, 84 percent say it will require changes to performance management, and 82 percent think this will require changes to employment terms and conditions.

  The study says implementing flexible working requires three key commitments: careful planning, leadership and a new approach.

  The full report can be found on this link.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: Shutterstock/Rawpixel

  
• 

  Apple takes its FBI fight to Congress -- read the company's powerful opening statement

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 8:52pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  As you know, the FBI wants Apple to help unlock an iPhone linked to one of the San Bernardino shooters. Apple is resisting the request, and tomorrow will testify at a Congressional encryption hearing.

  Apple’s General Counsel, Bruce Sewell, will make the company’s case before the house Judiciary Committee and his opening statement was sent to Apple employees earlier today. It’s an interesting read:

  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It's my pleasure to appear before you and the Committee today on behalf of Apple. We appreciate your invitation and the opportunity to be part of the discussion on this important issue which centers on the civil liberties at the foundation of our country.

  I want to repeat something we have said since the beginning -- that the victims and families of the San Bernardino attacks have our deepest sympathies and we strongly agree that justice should be served. Apple has no sympathy for terrorists.

  We have the utmost respect for law enforcement and share their goal of creating a safer world. We have a team of dedicated professionals that are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to assist law enforcement. When the FBI came to us in the immediate aftermath of the San Bernardino attacks, we gave all the information we had related to their investigation. And we went beyond that by making Apple engineers available to advise them on a number of additional investigative options.

  But we now find ourselves at the center of an extraordinary circumstance. The FBI has asked a Court to order us to give them something we don't have. To create an operating system that does not exist -- because it would be too dangerous. They are asking for a backdoor into the iPhone -- specifically to build a software tool that can break the encryption system which protects personal information on every iPhone.

  As we have told them -- and as we have told the American public -- building that software tool would not affect just one iPhone. It would weaken the security for all of them. In fact, just last week Director Comey agreed that the FBI would likely use this precedent in other cases involving other phones. District Attorney Vance has also said he would absolutely plan to use this on over 175 phones. We can all agree this is not about access to just one iPhone.

  The FBI is asking Apple to weaken the security of our products. Hackers and cyber criminals could use this to wreak havoc on our privacy and personal safety. It would set a dangerous precedent for government intrusion on the privacy and safety of its citizens.

  Hundreds of millions of law-abiding people trust Apple's products with the most intimate details of their daily lives – photos, private conversations, health data, financial accounts, and information about the user's location as well as the location of their friends and families. Some of you might have an iPhone in your pocket right now, and if you think about it, there's probably more information stored on that iPhone than a thief could steal by breaking into your house. The only way we know to protect that data is through strong encryption.

  Every day, over a trillion transactions occur safely over the Internet as a result of encrypted communications. These range from online banking and credit card transactions to the exchange of healthcare records, ideas that will change the world for the better, and communications between loved ones. The US government has spent tens of millions of dollars through the Open Technology Fund and other US government programs to fund strong encryption. The Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technology, convened by President Obama, urged the US government to fully support and not in any way subvert, undermine, weaken, or make vulnerable generally available commercial software.

  Encryption is a good thing, a necessary thing. We have been using it in our products for over a decade. As attacks on our customers' data become increasingly sophisticated, the tools we use to defend against them must get stronger too. Weakening encryption will only hurt consumers and other well-meaning users who rely on companies like Apple to protect their personal information.

  Today's hearing is titled Balancing Americans' Security and Privacy. We believe we can, and we must, have both. Protecting our data with encryption and other methods preserves our privacy and it keeps people safe.

  The American people deserve an honest conversation around the important questions stemming from the FBI's current demand:

  Do we want to put a limit on the technology that protects our data, and therefore our privacy and our safety, in the face of increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks? Should the FBI be allowed to stop Apple, or any company, from offering the American people the safest and most secure product it can make?

  Should the FBI have the right to compel a company to produce a product it doesn't already make, to the FBI's exact specifications and for the FBI's use?

  We believe that each of these questions deserves a healthy discussion, and any decision should be made after a thoughtful and honest consideration of the facts.

  Most importantly, the decisions should be made by you and your colleagues as representatives of the people, rather than through a warrant request based on a 220 year- old-statute.

  At Apple, we are ready to have this conversation. The feedback and support we're hearing indicate to us that the American people are ready, too.

  We feel strongly that our customers, their families, their friends and their neighbors will be better protected from thieves and terrorists if we can offer the very best protections for their data. And at the same time, the freedoms and liberties we all cherish will be more secure.

  Thank you for your time. I look forward to answering your questions.

  The tl;dr version: encryption is a necessary thing, the FBI is asking Apple to weaken the security of its products and that will set a dangerous precedent for government intrusion on the privacy and safety of its citizens.

  Photo credit: TK Kurikawa / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Ransomware is the biggest threat to Android users in UK

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 8:36pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Ransomware was the biggest threat to Android users in the UK last year, a new report by security company Bitdefender says.

  Even though it’s not as dangerous or prolific as its Windows counterpart, ransomware still played a major role in the overall mobile security landscape for last year.

  Here are the numbers: In Q3 2015, ransomware on Android accounted for 28 percent of all malware. For Q4, that number was at 19 percent. Compared to other types of malware, ransomware was 14 percent more frequent in Q3 and seven percent in Q4.

  Android.Trojan.Slocker accounted for 22 percent of Android malware threats in the UK in the latter half of the year, the report says, topping the charts in the UK, Germany and Australia.

  "Due to the popularity of Android devices, malware developers will continue to write code specifically targeting them. Android malware is not only a lucrative business for hackers but also a gateway for other malicious actions", states Catalin Cosoi, chief security strategist at Bitdefender.

  "Users must avoid installing applications from unofficial vendors, instead only using those found on trusted marketplaces. Non-reputable apps have a high chance of containing malware such as ransomware or data-stealing Trojans, resulting in significant financial or data loss".

  Looking at the global scale, ransomware is not that big of a threat on Android -- it’s much more dangerous on Windows. On Android, it accounts for four percent of all malware reported in the second half of the year.

  Bitdefender suggests that the UK is a big target as ransomware seems to have a high success rate on the Island -- 44 percent have apparently paid to get their devices unlocked.

  The report doesn’t say how much money victims have to pay, but previous reports on ransomware suggest it’s anywhere between $12 and $300, usually paid in Bitcoin.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: Ton Snoei / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Kill the password! Yahoo Account Key rolls out to more apps

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 7:54pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  There have been a lot of attempts to kill the password and replace it with something more secure and easier to use. Biometric measures such as fingerprint and iris readers are increasingly common, but Yahoo is on a mission of its own with Yahoo Account Key.

  Recognizing that "passwords suck", Yahoo launched the product back in October and since then there have been a few changes and additions. It's a simple system that uses your mobile as your access key and it's now available in more apps than ever.

  Yahoo Account Key came about in response to the fact that passwords are not only all too easily hacked, but also very easily forgotten. It builds on the idea of 2FA and reduces the sign-in process to a simple tap in an app. Yahoo says that Yahoo Account Key is now available on more than 50 million devices. There are a couple of key improvements to Yahoo Account Key that the company highlights today:

  Available Anywhere: You can use Account Key in a majority of Yahoo apps, including Yahoo Finance, Fantasy, Mail, Messenger, and Sports for iOS and Android.

  Do Not Disturb: We've launched a dashboard where you can control the devices or apps that receive Account Key push notifications. For example, if you have an iPad on the kitchen table, you can turn off sign-in notifications on that device so your kids aren’t disturbed while doing their homework.

  This is not the end of Yahoo's battle against the password. We're promised that there are more developments and changes on the horizon.

  Photo credit: April909 / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Amazon unveils Wi-Fi-enabled Brita Infinity Smart Water Pitcher with Dash Replenishment

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 6:00pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  For many people, walking around with a water bottle all day is a way of life. Not only is it reassuring that your thirst can always be quenched, but it is very healthy too. Once you get away from all of the sugar-filled drinks, and even worse, the artificially sweetened beverages, you may feel much healthier.

  Unfortunately, water bottles can be very bad for the environment. While some can be recycled, a good amount of them can end up in landfills. Not to mention, the process of making the plastic can have a large carbon footprint. A good solution is opting for an in-home water filter and carrying reusable bottles. Today, Amazon announces a very high-tech filtration pitcher -- the Wi-Fi-enabled Brita Infinity. Yes, it connects to the Internet. Why? To re-order filters through Amazon Dash, of course!

  "The new Wi-Fi-enabled Brita Infinity pitcher is equipped with a built-in counter that tracks the amount of water that passes through the pitcher’s filter. The pitcher itself will automatically order a new filter through Amazon Dash Replenishment when the old filter nears its capacity. This new connected pitcher with Amazon Dash Replenishment gives Brita owners exactly what they want -- a new Brita filter on their doorstep at the time they need it", says Amazon.

  The online retailer further says, "when people buy the new Brita Infinity pitcher, they simply need to register on Brita.com/infinity, connect the pitcher to their home network and sign up for Amazon Dash Replenishment using their Amazon account. Then, the pitcher connects with the service to ensure automatic replacement filter orders are made when the filter nears its capacity -- roughly 40 gallons of water. While the service is automatic, the person stays in control and can easily manage their orders and deliveries online at any time".

  

  While some people will decry the use of a "smart" water pitcher being yet another connected device to spy on consumers, this is actually quite cool and convenient. By empowering the consumer to enable automatic filter deliveries, they can be assured of always having clean drinking water. It is one less thing for consumers to worry about.

  

   

  This BPA-free pitcher is surprisingly affordable too, at a very competitive $45. You can purchase this neat product here. Even the cost of replacement filters -- rated for 40 gallons or 2 months -- is affordable, at $5.99 each.

  Will you buy this super-cool water filtration pitcher from Brita? Tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  Most consumers don't like to be tracked, but few are doing something about it

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 5:07pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Most users know their online activity is being tracked. They’re not OK with it, yet most of them do nothing about it. Those are the general conclusions of a new quiz entitled Are you cyber savvy?, made by Kaspersky Lab.

  The security firm says consumers don’t know how to protect their privacy online.

  The majority of users (79 percent) don’t like being tracked, but 41 percent do nothing about it. Nine percent didn’t even know they were being tracked.

  Twenty-seven percent use their browser’s privacy mode, and 11 percent use a special plug in, Kaspersky Lab says, before giving tips on how to stay safe online:

  • Disable auto add-on installation. Block suspicious websites and pop-ups, make SSL certificate checks compulsory and block third party cookies.
  • A lot of software (especially freeware) come bundled with other software. That other software is sometimes called bloatware and basically installs toolbars, plugins and extensions that often collect user data.
  • Use HTTPS sites whenever you can. Dedicate a specific browser for primary online services.
  • Use VPN traffic encryption
  • Use private features offered in various security programs and browsers.

  David Emm, principal security researcher at Kaspersky Lab says, "Consumers are uncomfortable with the fact that their online activities are being tracked. And who can blame them? With tracking data, it’s possible for advertisers, or even malicious third parties, to peer into the life of a person -- from where they go, to the sites they browse. However, the crux of the problem is that many users simply aren’t cyber-savvy enough when it comes to protecting themselves from online tracking. They may be concerned, but do nothing about it. Even worse, they may not understand that they are putting their privacy at risk at all".

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: Roobcio / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft announces HoloLens Development Edition, available for pre-order now

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 4:05pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  HoloLens is unquestionably one of the most exciting pieces of hardware being developed by Microsoft at the moment. The augmented reality system, or "untethered holographic computer" as the software giant refers to it, was first announced a year ago, but since then there’s been no word on when we can actually expect to see it.

  Today, however, Microsoft announces a Development Edition which is now open for pre-orders, with shipping starting on March 30. This is the first step towards a consumer version.

  The Windows 10 powered device is fully self-contained, and, Microsoft says, is "the only device that enables holographic computing natively with no markers, no external cameras, no wires, no phone required, and no connection to a PC needed".

  Developers who purchase HoloLens will have access to hundreds of UWP apps through the Windows Store and also to a showcase of holographic app experiences designed to demonstrate what the device can do.

  Alex Kipman, Technical Fellow -- Operating System Group at Microsoft, says

  HoloLens is an amazing Windows 10 device, and the APIs responsible for holographic computing are already available in Windows 10. Starting today, developers will have access to documentation, and to the developer community, that will help them create amazing experiences. Developers should go to dev.windows.com/holographic for guides and detailed tutorials. Additional development tools that include Visual Studio projects and a HoloLens emulator will be released when HoloLens devices start shipping to customers on March 30. The emulator will allow developers to test holographic apps on their PC without a physical HoloLens and comes with a HoloLens development toolset -- to help developers who haven’t yet received their devices get started right away.

  For now the HoloLens Development Edition will only be available to developers in the US and Canada. If you're interested in pre-ordering one, it will set you back $3000.

  

  
• 

  Developers earn more on Windows Phone than Android or iOS

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 3:48pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  Windows Phone is nowhere near as popular as Android or iOS, having a market share of just over one percent, but it appears to be far more lucrative for developers than either of the two major platforms. In fact, developers who publish apps in Windows Store can expect to earn twice as much compared to those who create Android titles.

  On average, a Windows Phone developer earns $11,400 per month, which equates to $136,800 per year. In contrast, an iOS developer has to make do with $8,100 per month, or $97,200 per year, while an Android developer makes $4,900 per month, or $58,800 per year.

  The figures certainly make Windows Phone look much more appealing than developers lead us to believe. The smartphone operating system does not always get the same treatment as Android and iOS when it comes to new app releases, or the same level of support for existing titles. In fact, there is quite a large gap between it and Android and iOS, and it seems like it will never truly go away until the platform gains more ground in the consumer market.

  Particularly interesting is that nearly half -- 49 percent, to be exact -- of Windows Phone developers take home at least $10,000 per month, or $120,000 per year. This means that there is no small group of developers that earn most of the revenue generated on the platform, which indicates that the average developer has a good chance at earning a decent living from Windows Phone app development.

  Europe is actually the region where Windows Phone development is most popular, with 34 percent of developers on the old continent writing apps for the platform, compared to half as many in US and APAC. And, 28 percent of developers are considering an increase in their Windows Phone development efforts as opposed to 16 percent who expect the opposite.

  The figures come from an InMobi survey, which polled over 1,000 developers. Over half of them are based in the APAC (Asia-Pacific) region, so the findings may not accurately reflect the state of affairs in US or Europe. Nearly half of developers -- 47 percent -- are working alone.

  Are These Figures too Good to be True?

  I have talked to a few Windows Phone developers over the years, including some high-profile ones that are responsible for very popular titles like Nextgen Reader. While revenue questions have not always received a straight answer, it is implied that earnings are generally not as high as on Android or iOS.

  Of course, the developers that I have talked to likely do not represent the entire Windows Phone developer scene, but I also have serious doubts over whether InMobi's findings are accurate. After all, if revenue is this high, there would be more developers interested in the platform. Also, InMobi is an ad network, so its findings may be skewed towards its own developer customers.

  Another problem is that, unlike with Android and iOS, there are few other surveys or reports that include Windows Phone into the mix, and none that is recent. Google and Apple also frequently share updates on developer revenue, while Microsoft prefers to keep such things private.

  Nonetheless, even if revenue from Windows Phone apps turns out to be less in reality, a more accurate figure would still make the platform look good in the eyes of developers. Not to mention that competition on the platform is nowhere near as heated as on Android and iOS.

  Image Credit: nopporn / Shutterstock

  
• 

  How to activate Windows Defender Offline in Windows 10

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 3:20pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Windows Defender, Windows 10’s built in antivirus tool, will keep your PC safe from numerous threats, but it’s not on a par with dedicated third-party anti-malware solutions.

  Microsoft is working to make it more useful however, including adding offline capabilities that will allow you to run a system scan at bootup, and without an internet connection. That will make the tool much better at detecting and removing malicious software. Windows Defender Offline is not available to all at the moment, but you can still try it out.

  Windows Defender Offline was originally introduced in 2011, and last updated in 2012, but Microsoft has added it to Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14271 for Fast ring insiders.

  If you’re running the latest build you can activate Windows Defender Offline by following these steps:

  • Save your work and close any open applications.
  • Click Start and launch Settings.
  • Go to Update and security and click Windows Defender.
  • Scroll down until you see Windows Defender Offline.
  • Click the Scan Offline button.

  After a countdown (which you can’t stop), your system will restart and Windows Defender will run a scan upon reboot. Microsoft says the process will take around 15 minutes to complete.

  

  While I still wouldn't entirely trust my PC security to Windows Defender, an offline scanning mode is definitely a very welcome addition.

  You can also download a version of Windows Defender Offline from here.

  Photo Credit: Vladru/Shutterstock

  
• 

  IT security executives tell boards what they want to hear

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 3:20pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  A new report reveals that just four out of 10 IT and security executives feel the information they provide to the board of directors is actionable and that they often tell them what they want to hear.

  The report from threat intelligence company Bay Dynamics also shows that only 39 percent believe they are getting the help they need from the board to address cyber security threats.

  Based on a study conducted by Osterman Research among IT and security executives in 136 US companies, the report shows manual reporting methods still dominate. Manually compiled spreadsheets are used to report data to the board by 81 percent, a process which can lead to incorrect reporting and oversight of important data, whether due to intentional manipulation or to human error.

  Boards have a strong preference for qualitative information, according to 53 percent of respondents, with 38 percent saying their boards prefer quantitative information.

  "The report reveals that both the board and security professionals are not doing their jobs when it comes to security reporting," says Feris Rifai, co-founder and CEO at Bay Dynamics. "The board isn't holding IT and security executives accountable for providing accurate, traceable and actionable information and security executives are failing to report information that is accurate, traceable and actionable. Both parties must do better if they want to make the right decisions that minimize their cyber risk".

  Among other findings are that the most common type of information reported about cyber security issues is known vulnerabilities within the organizational systems, followed by recommendations on cyber security program improvements and specific details on data loss incidents. Information about the cost of cyber security programs and details about expenditures on specific projects or controls are not as commonly reported.

  The most common criteria used to determine which type of intrusion to report is the type of data affected -- cited by 84 percent of respondents. This includes whether the data breached or attacked was sensitive or confidential, such as customers’ financial data or personal information, or corporate financial data.

  "Security is now everyone's problem -- from the IT team to the C-suite and the boardroom. As a result, reporting the right type of information with the right context, in addition to making it actionable, has never been more critical," says Michael Osterman, Principal Analyst at Osterman Research. "It is imperative that security executives reconsider how they’re getting their information, the type of information they're reporting, and how they’re reporting it, so that the board can effectively take action to make smart security decisions".

  The full report is available to download from the Bay Dynamics website.

  Photo Credit: EmiliaUngur/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Documents reveal details of EU-US Privacy Shield data sharing deal

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 3:16pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Details of the data sharing arrangements agreed between the US and EU earlier in the month have been revealed in newly published documents. The EU-US Privacy Shield transatlantic data transfer agreement is set to replace the Safe Harbor that had previously been in place.

  The European Commission has released the full legal texts that will form the backbone of the data transfer framework. One of the aims is to "restore trust in transatlantic data flows since the 2013 surveillance revelations", and while privacy groups still take issue with the mechanism that will be in place, the agreement is widely expecting to be ratified by members of the EU.

  The publication of the full text of the EU-US Privacy Shield agreement will give privacy advocates as well as regular internet users the chance to scrutinize the legislation that will control data sharing between Europe and the US. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker accompanied the publication with a statement:

  The EU-U.S. Privacy Shield is a tremendous victory for privacy, individuals, and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. We have spent more than two years constructing a modernized and comprehensive framework that addresses the concerns of the European Court of Justice and protects privacy.

  Our U.S. and EU negotiators worked around the clock to develop a new framework that underpins $260 billion in digital services trade across the Atlantic. The new EU-U.S. Privacy Shield provides certainty that will help grow the digital economy by ensuring that thousands of European and American businesses and millions of individuals can continue to access services online.

  The new rules will apply to all companies that provide services within the EU and would regulate the flow of data to the US. Written commitments by the US government will ensure that the rules are enforced in a transparent way and will place limits on how data can be used by intelligence agencies.

  EC vice president Andrus Asnip said:

  Now we start turning the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield into reality. Both sides of the Atlantic work to ensure that the personal data of citizens will be fully protected and that we are fit for the opportunities of the digital age. Businesses are the ones that will implement the framework; we are now in contact on a daily basis to ensure the preparation is done in the best possible way. We will continue our efforts, within the EU and on the global stage, to strengthen confidence in the online world. Trust is a must, it is what will drive our digital future.

  Next on the agenda is further fine-tuning of the wording of the agreement from the EU side, while in the US steps will be taken to put the new framework in place and appoint an ombudsman to oversee the proper implementation of the agreed mechanisms.

  Photo credit: JMiks / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Malware spreading through cloud apps

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 3:00pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  There’s a good chance the cloud apps you use at work are laced with malware. Those are the findings of the latest report by cloud access security broker Netskope. In its February 2016 Netskope Cloud Report, the company says the usage of cloud apps in enterprises has never been this high -- ever.

  In Q4 of 2015, employees used on average 769 different cloud apps, representing a 26.5 percent increase from the previous report. But (there’s always a but) -- 4.1 percent of enterprises have sanctioned malware-infected cloud apps.

  "Considering that unsanctioned apps represent the majority of an enterprise’s total cloud app footprint (at 95 percent), report findings indicate IT may have an even larger scope of cloud app-based malware in enterprises than initially realized", it says in the report.

  Employees can spread malware through sync and share mechanisms, without actually knowing. As many people use different cloud apps to collaborate and work, malware can rapidly spread throughout an organization.

  "Employees are adopting cloud apps at an unprecedented rate, and organizations must prepare for the increasing security risks and challenges associated with the changing workplace", said Sanjay Beri, co-founder and CEO, Netskope. "Now more than ever, it’s imperative that organizations have complete visibility into and real-time actionable control over their cloud app usage to better monitor and understand trends and vulnerabilities. It’s only with this knowledge that IT can begin to protect against threats lurking in cloud apps, such as malware".

  The report also suggests that Microsoft’s cloud apps are eclipsing those of Google, as well as that enterprise cloud apps aren’t prepared for the EU GDPR (general data protection regulation), something we’ve covered before.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: Blue Island/Shutterstock

  
• 

  82 percent of company boards are concerned about cyber security

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 2:01pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  According to a new study, data security is now on the agenda in most boardrooms. Yet only 14 percent of information security chiefs report to the CEO.

  The report by the Information Systems audit and Control Association (ISACA)  and the RSA Conference also reveals that 74 percent of security professionals expect a cyberattack in 2016 and 30 percent experience phishing attacks every day.

  "While there are signs that C-level executives increasingly understand the importance of cybersecurity, there are still opportunities for improvement," says Jennifer Lawinski, Editor-in-Chief, RSA Conference. "The majority of CISOs still report to CIOs, which shows cybersecurity is viewed as a technical rather than business issue. This survey highlights the discrepancy to provide an opportunity for growth for the infosec community in the future".

  The study also identifies a 12-point decline in the percentage of security professionals who are confident in their team's ability to detect and respond to incidents, dropping from 87 percent in 2014 to 75 percent in 2015. Among that 75 percent, six out of 10 don't believe their staff can handle anything beyond simple security incidents. In addition, the number who say that fewer than half of job candidates were considered 'qualified upon hire' has risen from 50 percent to 59 percent in a year. Also 27 percent say they need six months to fill a cybersecurity position, up three points from 2014.

  "The lack of confidence in current cybersecurity skill levels shows that conventional approaches to training are lacking," says Ron Hale, Chief Knowledge Officer of ISACA. "Hands-on, skills-based training is critical to closing the cybersecurity skills gap and effectively developing a strong cyber workforce".

  The study also examined emerging trends towards artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. Rather than the accepted view of AI as an aid to detecting threats, it found that respondents believe that AI will increase risk in both the short (42 percent) and long (62 percent) term. Less surprising is that more than half (53 percent) of respondents are concerned or very concerned that the Internet of Things will expand attack surfaces further and exacerbate cyber risk.

  The full State of Cybersecurity study is available to download from the ISACA website.

  Image Credit: Manczurov / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft is wrong to pester insiders for Windows 10 feedback

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 1:02pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Windows 10 has enjoyed the largest beta testing program of any version of Windows. In opening up the Windows Insider program to anyone who wants to sign up for it, Microsoft has been able to gather valuable feedback from more people than ever. But not enough people it seems.

  Users of Windows 10 preview builds have been asked to provide feedback using either the feedback app, or by responding to occasional popup notifications that appear. Up until now these notifications have been optional but in the latest Redstone build there is no way to disable them. Of course the first argument to be put forward is that gaining feedback is the very point of running the insider program. But is it that simple? Could mandated feedback actually be counterproductive?

  There is no requirement for anyone to actually provide feedback when prompted to do so -- the notification can just be dismissed or ignored -- but the change sees Microsoft trying to second guess its customers. Placed in Microsoft's control, alerts to provide feedback appear 'automatically', meaning that they could well pop up at inopportune moments.

  The change was introduced as part of Windows 10 Build 14271 which was released last week. At the time, Gabe Aul said:

  Getting feedback is an integral part of the Windows Insider Program. After each build upgrade or after certain activities, Windows will often ask for feedback. The answers to these questions is used by our engineering teams to understand how Windows Insiders feel about a particular experience or a particular build. Starting with Build 14271 and newer, the frequency in which Windows will ask for your feedback will be locked to "Automatically (Recommended)" in the Settings app and managed by the Windows Insider Program. If having the ability to change this setting is important to you – you can roll back to the Windows 10 November Update (the latest build or future builds in our Current Branch) and disable Windows 10 Insider Preview builds on that device. You will then be able to change this setting. While we don’t require Windows Insiders to answer these questions, we do hope they take the time to answer them so that we can better improve Windows for our customers.

  Boiled down, the advice from Gabe is to suck it up or don’t upgrade to this build.

  Of course, Microsoft is completely within its rights to make whatever demands of Windows Insiders it wants, but it's not necessarily a good idea. Naturally, the company is looking for feedback, but it's not clear that the change actually makes sense.

  I would argue that the most valuable feedback is that which is provided voluntarily at a time that suits the user. You may notice a quirk or stumble across an issue that you feel Microsoft should know about, and it makes sense to feed this back in a timely fashion while it's on your mind. This is user-driven feedback.

  The approach that Microsoft is now using is rather more like a customer satisfaction survey. At the end of a week-long visit to a hotel you need to think back over the course of last seven days and provide an opinion about what you thought was good, and which areas need improvement. The problem is, our memories fail us. When something goes wrong the immediate, natural response is to try to address the issue, not (necessarily) provide feedback. At the end of the week, a problem with the hotel that irks you on Monday may well have been forgotten by Friday.

  It's the same with Windows 10's feedback notifications. Feedback that is proactively provided by users when they encounter an issue or think of something is far more useful than Microsoft squeezing users every now and then. If an alert pops up asking you what you think of, for example, how File Explorer works, you're more likely to want to continue with what you were doing rather than breaking off and taking the time to think back to the good and bad things you have experienced.

  On the flip side, users who encounter a problem will (probably) want to do two things -- firstly, address the problem by way of workaround if necessary, and secondly let Microsoft know about the issue so it can be addressed. There's no need to think back far to remember the specifics of what you have encountered, you can feedback while it's still fresh in your mind.

  Sure, Microsoft may end up getting less feedback if it was left as being entirely optional, but it would certainly get more valuable feedback.

  Photo credit: Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock

  
• 

  New service helps organizations visualize and prioritize security threats

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 12:57pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Active vulnerabilities can present a serious threat to organizations, which is why many are turning to intelligence solutions to spot and manage security issues.

  Cloud-based security and compliance specialist Qualys is announcing a new service as part of its Cloud Platform. Called Qualys ThreatPROTECT, it provides customers with an interactive dashboard to help them understand security threats at-a-glance.

  ThreatPROTECT's dashboard uses vulnerability scan data gathered via Qualys scanners or Cloud Agents in real-time and correlates this with Real-time Threat Indicators (RTI) from multiple industry sources. It then provides customers with an easy-to-understand display offering clear insights into what vulnerabilities to fix first based on the level of threat seen in the wild.

  "In today’s rapidly changing threat landscape, the most effective way for companies to protect themselves is to accurately identify assets, identify vulnerabilities, and ensure that systems are properly configured," says Philippe Courtot, chairman and CEO for Qualys. "Our goal is to continuously expand and improve our cloud-based offerings so customers can raise the bar when securing their assets. Qualys ThreatPROTECT is another example the demonstrates the power and agility of our cloud platform to introduce new services that can help customers improve their overall security without the cost and complexity associated with deploying enterprise software".

  Qualys is also announcing the extension of its Cloud Agent platform, with the availability of agents for Linux and Mac OS, adding to the platform's existing support for Windows. The Cloud Agent platform gives organizations the ability to conduct real-time asset inventory searches on a global scale, to effectively address the security and compliance of their IT assets.

  Cloud Agent augments the company's Cloud Platform. It automatically collects vulnerability and configuration data and securely transfers it to the Qualys Cloud Platform, where it is analyzed and correlated to identify risks and eliminate vulnerabilities.

  Courtot adds, "IT and security professionals have the daunting task of ensuring that all assets are up-to-date, compliant and secure. With the availability of the Cloud Agent on all major computing environments, companies can now inventory all their IT assets, get the visibility needed to secure them against cyber attacks on a continuous basis and take action with Qualys' new patching capabilities".

  More information on these developments can be found on the Qualys website and they'll be on display at the company's RSA stand.

  
• 

  From battling Scientology to taking down Islamic State, hacker group Anonymous celebrates its top ten accomplishments

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 12:46pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Recently Anonymous has mostly been in the news for targeting Islamic State on the web, playing its part in helping to shut down thousands of ISIS-supporting accounts on Facebook and Twitter.

  But the hacktivist collective, which has been active since 2003, has initiated a lot of campaigns over the years, targeting a variety of people and organizations, some more successfully than others. The group’s list of achievements is quite impressive -- ranging from getting an internet predator arrested, to taking on the Church of Scientology.

  As part of a new weekly top ten series, Anonymous has released a video celebrating some of its many accomplishments, and it’s definitely worth a watch.

  SEE ALSO: Anonymous aims to delete the Islamic State 'virus' from the web, and wants your help

  Other targets to feel Anonymous’ wrath have included "American white nationalist and holocaust rejector" Hal Turner, the Iranian and Russian governments, and hidden child pornography website Lolita City.

  Whatever your views on Anonymous, the collective does do some good work and will no doubt do plenty more in the future.

  
• 

  Snapchat gets compromised, but user data should be safe

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 12:36pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  There's no small amount of controversy that swirls around Snapchat, as people swear it's used for all sorts of bad things. In truth, it probably isn't, people just send messages and images, most of which aren't the least controversial. But now the company has another problem, though this one doesn't involve anything lurid.

  Instead it's actually the company's employees who were compromised and the service is attempting to apologize for this breach.

  Blame has been laid, though not by name, as Snapchat only claims it to be the responsibility of "one employee" who succumbed to a phishing scam.

  Snapchat explains "Here’s what happened: Last Friday, Snapchat's payroll department was targeted by an isolated email phishing scam in which a scammer impersonated our Chief Executive Officer and asked for employee payroll information".

  Red flags should have gone up at this point, but the employee in question complied. That resulted in the payroll information on both current and former employees being disclosed to an external location.

  Snapchat claims it responded quickly when it found out about the breach -- four hours the company says. It also states that none of its customer data was compromised. It says it notified the FBI of the potential problem.

  To its credit, Snapchat says "We began sorting through which employees -- current and past -- may have been affected. And we have since contacted the affected employees and have offered them two years of free identity-theft insurance and monitoring".

  The service also says it will double-down on its employee training to try and make sure these things don't happen again in the future. Finally, it states that "Our hope is that we never have to write a blog post like this again".

  Photo credit: 360b / Shutterstock.com

  
• 

  How reliable is your firewall? Atelier Web Firewall Tester finds out

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 11:35am CET par Mike Williams

  

  Just about every firewall claims to protect your personal data by checking for illicit web connections -- but do they really work?

  Atelier Web Firewall Tester (32-bit and 64-bit) is a once commercial, now free Windows product which tries to find out.

  The program interface is basic in the extreme. It’s mostly a toolbar with six buttons, one for each test, and a text box below to display the results.

  Hovering your mouse cursor over each button displays a tooltip explaining what it’s going to do.

  Test #1 "Attempts to load a copy of the default browser and patch it in memory before it executes", for instance, while Test #5 "Performs an heuristic search for proxies and other running software authorized to access the Internet, loads a copy and patches it in memory before execution from within a thread on Windows Explorer".

  Clicking any of these buttons runs the appropriate test. Some tests ask for further input -- a process to hijack, maybe -- but after that you’ll either see a success or failure message.

  A running score keeps you up-to-date with "Firewall Points" (tests your system has passed) and "AWFT Points" (tests your PC has failed).

  A "Reset Points" button sets both scores to zero, giving you time to tweak your security settings and try again.

  Interpreting your results requires some care. Our system failed 4/ 6 tests, but this doesn’t necessarily mean we should replace the firewall (detecting these techniques is more a task for a HIPS).

  It doesn’t mean we’re particularly insecure, either. Our system allowed AWTF to run because it didn’t think it was dangerous. If it did the same with an unknown binary then we’d be more worried, but if malicious code is allowed to run on your system then you’ve got much bigger problems than whether it can access a web page.

  For all that, Atelier Web Firewall Tester can be interesting for experienced users, and the program can now be installed and used by anyone, without restriction.

  Atelier Web Firewall Tester (32-bit and 64-bit) is a free application for Windows XP -- 8. We ran it successfully on Windows 8.1, but it’s unsupported on Windows 10.

  
• 

  Is your 'Open with' option missing in Windows 10? Here's a fix

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 10:12am CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Windows 10 has been out for a while now and, much different from the last version of the operating system, people don't seem to dislike it. That doesn't mean there aren't problems, there's been plenty of the them, and over time fixes have been found for many of those little issues.

  One that has cropped up is the disappearing "Open with" option in the right-click menu for files. There's a fairly easy fix for it though. Just follow the these steps.

  First open Notepad, that little piece of software you likely never use. You're going to have to create a .REG file, but it's a simple process. Just type:

  Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Openwith]@="{09799AFB-AD67-11d1-ABCD-00C04FC30936}"

  Now you'll need to save the document. Just click File and the Save As option and choose AllFiles and type Openwith.reg and OK it.

  You'll now need to search out your new Openwith.reg file from wherever you saved it. Double click it to add it to the registry.

  Alternatively, you can change the registry manually, but that can be a scary process for many users and these simple steps eliminate the headache and nervousness involved.

  If you're having this problem with Windows 10 then let us know how it worked for you.

  Photo credit: charnsitr / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Raspberry Pi 3 launches! 10x faster, 64-bit Quad-Core CPU, built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

  Publié: février 29, 2016, 8:59am CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Four years ago today, on 29 February 2012, the Raspberry Pi Foundation launched the original Raspberry Pi. Conceived as an ultra-cheap way to encourage kids to code as they had back in the 1980s and 90s, the uncased credit card sized computer quickly found an appreciative audience outside of the education system, with over a million Pis sold in the first year alone. Since then the firm has released several new versions, including the Raspberry Pi 2 (launched a year ago), and most recently the ultra-elusive $5 Raspberry Pi Zero.

  Today, to celebrate the Pi’s 4th birthday, a new member joins the family. The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B is significantly more powerful than its predecessors and yet is priced at just $35, the same price as the Raspberry Pi 2.

  The new board is powered by a 1.2GHz 64-bit Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A53 processor, which makes it 10x faster than the first generation Raspberry Pi. It includes wireless LAN & Bluetooth connectivity too, making it perfect for powerful connected projects.

  The full list of specs is as follows:

  • Broadcom BCM2387 chipset
  • 1.2GHz 64-bit Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A53
  • 802.11 bgn Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 4.1 (Bluetooth Classic and LE)
  • 1GB RAM
  • 64 Bit CPU
  • 4 x USB ports
  • 4 pole Stereo output and Composite video port
  • Full size HDMI
  • 10/100 BaseT Ethernet socketbr
  • CSI camera port for connecting the Raspberry Pi camera
  • DSI display port for connecting the Raspberry Pi touch screen display
  • Micro SD port for loading your operating system and storing data
  • Micro USB power source

  The Raspberry Pi Foundation recommends using a 2.5A adapter if you want to connect power-hungry USB devices to the new Pi, although the board can still be run from a 5V micro-USB power adapter.

  SEE ALSO: How to find and buy the ever-elusive $5 Raspberry Pi Zero

  The new board is available to buy from today from all of the usual Pi suppliers including element14 and RS Components. Hopefully, with its more expensive price tag (if you can call $35 expensive), the Raspberry Pi 3 will be easier to buy than the Pi Zero.

  The Raspberry Pi Foundation will continue to make and sell the Raspberry Pi 1 Model B+ ($25) and Raspberry Pi 2 Model B ($35) alongside the new board, as well as the Model A+ ($20).

  A Raspberry Pi 3 Model A will be launched later in the year.

  
• 

  Everything you need to know about Windows 10: product keys, secret tools, essential hacks, and problem fixes

  Publié: février 28, 2016, 8:18pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Windows 10 has been with us for a number of months now, and this has given us plenty of time to unearth all manner of secrets about the operating system. Since launch we have experienced love, hate and everything in between, but we've also learned a great deal. We thought it would make sense to pull together all of this info into one place so you have it available in a handy respository. So what will you find here? Everything!

  In the days of Windows being a paid-for OS, people would hunt high and low for cracks and serials to bypass activation. Now that Windows is free, this clearly isn't as prevalent as it used to be, but you might still want to look up your Windows 10 product key before you reinstall. But that's just the start; read on to learn tips, tweaks, hacks, and problem fixes.

  If you upgraded to Windows 10 rather than performing a clean install, you may be wasting valuable hard disk space. This might not be quite as much of an issue as it would have been years ago, but the popularity of SSDs means that smaller capacity drives are increasingly common. Whether you're rocking an SSD or you just like to be neat and tidy, a quick disk clean-up could be just what the doctor ordered.

  You might be wondering how to perform a clean installation, in which case you will found our guide helpful. Creating a bootable USB drive or bootable DVD is one of the best ways to perform and upgrade or reinstallation. But, of course, not everyone is completely in love with Windows 10. You may have tried it out for a while and decided that it's not for you; if you want to uninstall Windows 10 and roll back to Windows 7 or Window 8.1, you can do just that!

  Assuming you have decided to stick with Windows 10, you can make life a little easier by opting to automatically log into your account -- great if you are the only person who uses a particular computer.  Getting into Windows faster is what every user is looking for, and automatic login is not the only thigs you can do to accelerate the process. You can also enable 'fast start-up' to speed things up a little more.

  A lot of people have experienced a variety of problems with Windows 10. If you have an issue with fonts looking blurry, the fix could be as simple as tweaking your DPI settings. Issues with sound in Window 10 appear to have been particularly common. If you're having sound problems take a look at the suggestions we've covered for fixing them. Microsoft also has a range of Windows 10 troubleshooting tools which can help out in number of situation, an we've shown you how to fix some of the operating system's worst problems.

  Who doesn’t like unearthing a secret? We certainly do, so we were happy to stumble across a secret screen recording tool in Windows 10 that can be used to record much more than just game footage. Keeping Windows up to date is important, and there are things you can do to ensure that you are completely in control. Don't forget to check out the Windows 10 update history site so you know exactly what each update has done to your computer.

  No article about Windows 10 would be complete with touching on privacy and telemetry. This is something we've looked at quite a lot in recent month, and if you're concerned about your privacy there are steps you can take to lock things down. A little, at least. While you're at it, you might want to prevent the appearance of lock screen ads.

  Any tips and tricks you would like to share?

  Photo credit: Christian Delbert / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Emojis can ruin your life and make you a criminal 🔫 🔪 💣

  Publié: février 28, 2016, 6:03pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  Millennials love using emojis, so the smiley faces and symbols must be childish and silly, right? Nah, there is nothing wrong with these young folks or their fancy emoji -- each generation likes to have its own identity. Smartphones, emojis, and apps like Snapchat are totally cool and arguably uniquely theirs.

  But what if I told you that emojis could 100 percent ruin your life and cause all sorts of problems? What if I told you that using certain emoji will turn you into a drug addict or even worse, a hipster? Well, don't believe any of that because it isn't true. What is a true story, however, is that emojis are becoming a contributing factor when some people are accused of crimes. Holy cow! One person is only 12 years old and being charged with what is essentially a terrorist act. Is the charge valid, or ridiculous?

  Well, before we determine if the charge is dumb, let's talk about what an emoji is. It is simply a visual representation of something else. In other words, an emoji of a car, is the exact same thing as writing the word "car". Written language is not only letters -- pictures and symbols are legit characters too.

  With all of that said, if you threaten a school by saying you will bring a gun, knife or bomb to it -- whether with alpha letters, emoji, or a mixture of the two -- it is a threat. The use of emoji is inconsequential to the seriousness of the threat.

  According to the Washington Post, the 12 year old in question allegedly posted the following on Instagram.

  Killing

  "meet me in the library Tuesday"

  

  The fact that this young person chose to use emojis in their message should not be a factor. True, some symbols could be open to interpretation without context, but a gun, bomb and knife when combined with the words "killing" and "meet me in the library Tuesday" seems rather open-and-shut to me. The charge is valid; the child really messed up here, as this could follow them for the rest of their life.

  So, do I think the 12 year old kid is an evil person or a terrorist? No. Quite frankly, there is a good chance that the child thought using emojis made the communication less serious. Since emojis are fairly new, and the accused is so young, there should probably be some leniency. With that said, as the use of emoji becomes more mainstream, common sense will have to be expected.

  This criminal case is not the first to include emojis, and it certainly won't be the last. The big takeaway here is that parents need to educate their children on the dangers of using emojis as threats or in other messages -- the symbols are not a joke or fad, but an extension of our language that appears to be here to stay.

  Do parents and schools need to teach children that using emojis are just as serious as words? Tell me in the comments.

  Photo credit: Rido / Shutterstock

  
• 

  History channel's Vault comes to Roku

  Publié: février 27, 2016, 4:44pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  The History channel is one of those networks that many people either love or hate. While it provides good incite into many things, it can also go a bit off the rails at times. On the whole though, it's a solid viewing choice much of the time.

  History Vault promises to provide hundreds of hours of "curated" content to viewers and to do so commercial-free. Content is divided up by categories including world leaders, inside the presidency, ancient discoveries and more.

  "If you’re not sure what to watch first, the experts at History Vault feature three popular collections on the home screen, followed by Editor’s Picks, Most Popular and Recently Added", the set-top box maker explains.

  To get this latest offering head to the channel store and click on the "movies and TV" category. You'll get a free seven day trial. Once that's up, if you decide to keep it then it will set you back $4.99 per month, not bad providing new content continues to be added.

  
• 

  Tor Project says Google, CloudFlare and others are involved in dark web surveillance and disruption

  Publié: février 27, 2016, 2:57pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  With privacy concerns and the threat of surveillance from the likes of the NSA, more and more people are turning to the dark web and Tor. The anonymous, encrypted network has become a haven for not just illegal activity, but also for those who simply don’t want what they do online to be tracked and traced.

  But now the Tor Project has voiced concerns that CDN and DDoS protection service CloudFlare is monitoring Tor traffic by introducing CAPTCHAs and cookies. CloudFlare is not alone: similar accusations are levelled at Google and Yahoo which are described as 'larger surveillance companies'. Concerns about interference with Tor traffic have been raised by project administrators in a ticket entitled "Issues with corporate censorship and mass surveillance".

  Following instances of malicious traffic originating from the Tor network, CloudFlare introduced CAPTCHAs to ensure that visits to certain sites were being instigated by humans. This has not only proved irritating, but also unreliable. CAPTCHAs have been found to frequently fail, and appear multiple times. But more concerning that it opens up the potential for users to be "tagged, tracked and potentially deanonymized".

  In a post on the Tor Project website, user ioerror says:

  There are companies - such as CloudFlare - which are effectively now Global Active Adversaries. Using CF as an example - they do not appear open to working together in open dialog, they actively make it nearly impossible to browse to certain websites, they collude with larger surveillance companies (like Google), their CAPTCHAs are awful, they block members of our community on social media rather than engaging with them and frankly, they run untrusted code in millions of browsers on the web for questionable security gains.

  It would be great if they allowed GET requests - for example - such requests should not and generally do not modify server side content. They do not do this - this breaks the web in so many ways, it is incredible. Using wget with Tor on a website hosted by CF is... a disaster. Using Tor Browser with it - much the same. These requests should be idempotent according to spec, I believe.

  I would like to find a solution with Cloudflare - but I'm unclear that the correct answer is to create a single cookie that is shared across all sessions - this effectively links all browsing for the web. When tied with Google, it seems like a basic analytics problem to enumerate users and most sites visited in a given session.

  There are concerns about CloudFlare's apparent lack of transparency, although an employee for the company did get involved in the discussion. ioerror continues:

  One way - I think - would be to create a warning page upon detection of a CF edge or captcha challenge. This could be similar to an SSL/TLS warning dialog - with an option for users to bypass, engage with their systems or an option to *contact them* or the *site's owners* or to hit a cached version, read only version of the website that is on archive.org, archive.is or other caching systems. That would ensure that *millions* of users would be able to engage with informed consent before they're tagged, tracked and potentially deanonymized. TBB can protect against some of this - of course - but when all your edge nodes are run by one organization that can see plaintext, ip addresses, identifiers and so on - the protection is reduced. It is an open research question how badly it is reduced but intuitively, I think there is a reduction in anonymity.

  It would be great to find a solution that allows TBB users to use the web without changes on our end - where they can solve one captcha, if required - perhaps not even prompting for GET requests, for example. Though in any case - I think we have to consider that there is a giant amount of data at CF - and we should ensure that it does not harm end users. I believe CF would share this goal if we explain that we're all interested in protecting users - both those hosting and those using the websites.

  There are no denials that the Tor network -- thanks largely to the anonymity it offers -- is used as a platform for launching attacks, hence the need for tools such as CloudFlare. As well as the privacy concerns associated with CloudFlare's traffic interception, Tor fans and administrators are also disappointed that this fact is being used as a reason for introducing measures that affect all users.

  Ideas are currently being bounced around about how best to deal with what is happening, and one of the simpler suggestions that has been put forward is adding a warning that reads "Warning this site is under surveillance by CloudFlare" to sites that could compromise privacy.

  Photo credit: scyther5 / Shutterstock

  
• 

  CudaText: a programmer’s editor that everyone can use

  Publié: février 27, 2016, 8:57am CET par Mike Williams

  

  You need a Notepad replacement, but web searches only get you overcomplicated programmer's editors aimed at people who think in regular expressions and actually want to use line numbers.

  CudaText offers another way. It’s a cross-platform coding editor -- and a good one -- but it's not just for developers, anyone can see its advantages right away.

  This starts with the program’s portability, making it convenient to use, and continues with the tabbed interface. Click File > Open, choose several documents and they'll each open in their own tab.

  Right-clicking reveals a handy option to set a tab color. You can also organize tabs into groups, allowing you to view files side by side, or split a tab to (for example) display two independently scrolling windows on the same file.

  Too complicated? You don’t have to get into that if you don’t want to, and there are other bonus features you’ll discover without any effort at all. Like when you first close and reopen the program, and find your last set of tabs are reloaded.

  There’s solid RegEx support, but you don’t have to know anything about that: just press Ctrl+F, type your search text, press Enter and the first hit is highlighted. "Find First", "Find Next" and "Find Prev" buttons show you clearly what you can do next, and "Count All" and "Mark All" options are on hand if you need them.

  Elsewhere, the Edit menu has a host of line and text processing options, to sort lines, trim spaces, cONVERT cASE and more.

  It's not all what you’d call beginner-friendly. Clicking Options > Settings -- Default opens a default.json text file, for instance, rather than presenting some neat settings dialog.

  Still, even some of these options are clear and easy to understand.

  //Max count of commands which can "undo"
  "undo_limit": 5000,

  If you're a developer then you’ll appreciate the syntax highlighting and HTML/ CSS support (autocompletion, HTML color codes underline, picture viewing), code folding, code tree structure and more.

  The program also provides a host of plugins to support features like code snippets, macros, a color picker and others, and there's even a simple module to help you develop new plugins of your own.

  Overall, CudaText is a well-designed Notepad replacement, generally easy to learn and use, but also with some very powerful features for those who need them.

  CudaText is an open-source application for Windows XP+, OS X and Linux.

  
• 

  Dragon Anywhere dictation app now available on Android, iOS

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 7:33pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Dragon Professional, the dictation program from Nuance Communications, is now available on mobile platforms, both Android and the iOS.

  The mobile dictation app, called Dragon Anywhere, is available in UK English for mobile phones and tablets, and it’s powered by the cloud.

  It offers continuous dictation (no time or length limits), voice formatting, editing, as well as rich customization features. All dictated notes can be synchronized across devices, both mobile and static.

  Besides being able to share files via Dropbox, mail, Evernote or the clipboard, Dragon Anywhere files can also be shared cross-platform, to Mac computers and PCs operating the Dragon Professional Individual or Dragon for Mac.

  "We designed Dragon Anywhere for today’s professionals who spend more of their time in the field or traveling but are still tasked with documentation demands that lengthen the work day and cut into other important tasks", said Peter Mahoney, senior vice president and general manager of Dragon. "With Dragon Anywhere, professionals can complete, edit, and share important documents and reports in real-time, simplifying the paperwork process, saving time, and improving productivity".

  You can get Dragon Anywhere, on UK English, as a subscription service via the Nuance online store. It has a couple of subscription options, including a one-week free trial.

  Subscriptions start at £14.99 a month with the annual package costing £149.99.

  Besides buying it on the Nuance online store, the app can also be found on Google Play and the App Store. It requires iOS 8.1 or Android 4.4 or higher.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Transcend unveils MTS800 1TB M.2 SATA SSD

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 6:52pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  When it comes to computers, thin is in. With every passing year, it seems laptops, tablets and other devices become more svelte. Some people decry this design direction, saying what we have is "thin enough", and yeah, I get that, but manufacturers should never become complacent. As long as the thin nature doesn't compromise the overall experience, I'm all for it.

  Today, Transcend announces a super-thin 1TB M.2 SSD that is designed with a focus on Ultrabooks. Remember folks, PC manufacturers need to source thin and light components in order to keep pushing the envelope. A thin high-capacity drive such as this, while not super-fast, can definitely find a home in some future computers. This all-new 1TB variant joins the existing capacities of 32GB-512GB.

  "By utilizing the next-generation SATA III 6Gb/s interface, Transcend's MTS800 is capable of delivering sequential read/write performance of up to 560MB/s and 460MB/s respectively. The newly released spacious 1TB supplies the MTS800's capacity to its full scale ranging from 32GB to 1TB, which is determined to satisfy the needs of various market fields and individual consumer with personal budget plans", says Transcend.

  The company further explains that the SSD, "features multiple built-in technologies for optimum protection, including Error Correction Code (ECC) that helps detect and correct potential transfer errors, Device Sleep mode to reduce power consumption and shorten the response time upon wake-up from Sleep or Hibernate, and the S.M.A.R.T. function to efficiently monitor SSD health conditions. More standard mechanisms include Intelligent Block Management and Wear-leveling algorithm to protect data integrity and prolong SSD lifespan".

  The company shares the following specs.

  Capacity	32GB, 64G, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
  Dimensions	80.0mm × 22.0mm × 3.5mm (3.15" x 0.87" x 0.14")
  Weight	9g (0.32 oz)
  Storage Media	MLC NAND Flash memory
  Operating Voltage	DC 3.3V±5%
  Operating Temperature	0°C(32°F) to 70°C(158°F)

  Click to view slideshow.

  Unfortunately, this drive is not cutting-edge when it comes to speed. While the SATA III interface will be plenty fast for many, an NVMe PCIe controlled card would be much faster. It is a bit odd to see Transcend refer to the SATA III interface found on the MTS800 as "next generation"; in 2016, that is simply not true anymore.

  Still, I rather like Transcend flash products, and the 1TB capacity is quite attractive. Ultimately, it will be price that determines its worth, but cost is not yet known. If it is affordable, it may be a smart buy as an upgrade to an existing laptop (or desktop) that only has a SATA III controller.

  
• 

  Apple, bring on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro!

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 5:27pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  Not too long ago, we were talking about tablets as PC replacements. Consumers were buying them in droves, losing interest in desktops and laptops. Apple's iPads ruled supreme, dominating this space from afar. Fast forward to today and we are talking about the slate as a has been, as it struggles to command the same levels of attention.

  For Apple, which was used to posting record numbers every single quarter, it is an especially troublesome trend. The company started the tablet craze, after all, when it showcased the first iPad six years ago, and now sales figures are lower and lower as the quarters go by. However, the productivity-oriented iPad Pro appears to be bucking the trend -- could a smaller version do the same?

  Yes, iPad Pro Is a Success

  Sales figures for iPad Pro are not as impressive as for a typical iPad, because Apple only shifted around two million units last quarter out of a total of 16.1 million iPads. But they far exceed the competition, which is what matters considering that iPad Pro is basically a first-generation, niche device. An iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 4 is more mature and appeals to a wider range of consumers.

  Microsoft sold only 1.6 million Surface devices in the whole quarter. Its tablets are the obvious rivals for iPad Pro, so it is a bit interesting to see a newcomer outselling more mature options in this space. The biggest iPad was only available for a month and a half in total, so it could have sold in three to four million units easily had Apple introduced it on October 1; from that perspective, it started off well in this segment.

  Not to mention that all the recent Surface devices are arguably better in the productivity department, as they ship with a stylus and run a full-blown version of Windows. The keyboard is better designed as well. But, the fact that iPad Pro is selling better suggests that perhaps what consumers want is a more beefed up tablet, not a tablet masquerading as a laptop replacement.

  But, Could a Smaller iPad Pro Work?

  Because consumers seem to be responding well to a productivity-oriented iPad, Apple could apply the same recipe to make a smaller, 9.7-inch version. If you think about, there is no reason not to do it.

  Apple should replace iPad Air 2 at some point this year, and a similar-sized iPad Pro could take its place in the lineup. It would be able to do the same things an iPad Air 3 could, while adding support for a stylus, keyboard and beefier apps. The smaller screen would not even be limiting, because iOS is designed to work well on iPads with screen sizes ranging from 7.9-inches to 12.9-inches.

  There are no issues with tablet apps either, as developers optimize them well for all iPads. Not to mention that those apps that are now designed specifically to take advantage of iPad Pro's features could just as easily work on a smaller version, if it has the same -- or more powerful -- hardware inside.

  As it stands now, an iPad Air 3 would likely be just a faster iPad Air 2. As I mentioned earlier, consumers are losing interest in these sort of devices. But, by giving them the extra benefits that iPad Pro has, in a smaller form factor, they could respond better. Many iPad Air owners are already using it with a keyboard, so it would be a natural evolution from this perspective. A stylus is also a popular accessory for content creators. Apple would better cater to prosumers, while empowering the average consumer when the need calls for it.

  Having the potential to do more with a device is attractive, even though most of the time you will be unlikely to make use of any of its standout features. We do this every day with our phones already, if you think about it: how often do you use the camera at its full potential or how often do you take the processor to its limits? But, it is nice to know that you can do that, if you want. Same thing applies to a smaller iPad Pro.

  The trick is to offer it at an attractive price point. A smaller iPad Pro can work as long as it costs roughly the same as an iPad Air 2, because consumers already have many options that are more affordable or more powerful for roughly the same money. Apple can afford to do this, to offer Pro features as a bonus, because margins from an iPad are high already.

  "Pro" Tablets Are Inevitable

  If Apple wants to remain relevant, it will have to offer a smaller iPad Pro eventually. Gartner predicts that these kind of devices, and high-end ultrabooks, will grow significantly in the coming years, from 45 million units in 2015 to 92 million units in 2018. There is huge potential here that cannot be ignored.

  Apple's strength in a particular market comes not from one or two devices, but from an entire lineup. In that sense, adding a smaller iPad Pro to the line is an obvious next step for the company. It has nothing to lose, only plenty to gain.

  Photo Credit: VGstockstudio / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Passive Wi-Fi promises major energy savings for mobile and Internet of Things devices

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 5:15pm CET par Anthony Spadafora

  

  Researchers at the University of Washington have found a way to lower the power consumption of Wi-Fi significantly. They have dubbed the new form of low power wireless internet "passive W-Fi". It could be harnessed to power IoT devices or to help improve battery life in mobile phones.

  Passive Wi-Fi will require just 59 microwatts to transmit data between devices which is 10,000 times less than the power used by traditional Wi-Fi chips in personal computers and mobile phones.

  However, there is a catch. Wireless routers and the devices they are sending passive Wi-Fi to will need new chips to make use of the technology which is still quite a number of years away from a consumer release. A spin off company called Jeeva Wireless has been created to help push the commercialization of this new form of Wi-Fi.

  Currently, wireless routers and wireless devices have chips that allow them to send and receive data over Wi-Fi. Passive Wi-Fi works by replacing the wireless chips in our devices with new ones that are able to act like mirrors that can reflect the wireless data back to our routers. This allows the devices to save the energy they would normally send broadcasting their own signal back to the router.

  The reflected data is able to reach a speed of 11Mbps or the speed of 802.11b Wi-Fi. The researchers at the University of Washington have been able to transmit data between 30-100 feet using this new technology. Passive Wi-Fi is also able to broadcast using line of sight or even through walls if necessary.

  One possible flaw is that since it is a passive signal it is unable to actively alert a router that it is ready to send and receive data. To function, the router will need to give a command to the devices in order to enable them to send data at a certain time or when a certain condition is met.

  Wi-Fi has become commonplace in many homes and offices over the past few years and a new passive form of wireless internet may reinvigorate interest in how businesses and consumers can make use of the technology in new ways.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Image Credit: Sidarta / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Major cities to become 'smart' by 2020

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 3:51pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Within the next four years, a bunch of cities around the world will be transformed into smart cities, technology research firm IHS Technology suggests.

  By becoming smart, they will offer operators $25 billion (£17.96bn) in opportunities.

  According to IHS Technology, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York, London, Amsterdam, Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore are most likely to become "smart" before 2020.

  Currently, there are 423 smart city projects, including safety and security, energy and resource efficiency, mobility and transport, physical infrastructure, governance and healthcare.

  The biggest effort is in the mobility and transport industry, which currently has 110 projects, IHS Technology says.

  Physical infrastructure industry sits on number two with 107 projects, while there are 104 energy and resource efficiency projects. The least amount of projects are in the healthcare industry, a total of 13.

  Companies looking for places to kickstart their smart city initiatives should go either to the United States or the Asia Pacific region, the company suggests.

  The United States is the country with the highest number of smart city projects (91), while the Asia-Pacific region is a key market for smart city development. This is due to accelerated urbanism and economic growth in the region.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Comodo Dome offers cloud-delivered security solution

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 3:13pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Cloud and hybrid environments along with mobile access bring lots of challenges surrounding securing networks.

  One way of addressing these is to provide security from the cloud which is what Comodo is doing with its new cloud delivered secure web platform, Comodo Dome.

  Comodo Dome takes a modular approach, allowing system administrators and IT directors to layer in just the modules they need across their networks as they grow. These include advanced threat protection (ATP), web security, portable containment, sandboxing, antispam, data loss prevention (DLP), next-generation firewall, bandwidth management and a secure VPN service. Individual modules can be easily added to provide total security and compliance to corporate policies, regardless of the end user, device or location.

  "Every best-of-breed Web security solution today leaves significant gaps in securing mobile first, cloud-centric and borderless networks. Having large security content filters and backhauling traffic from remote offices is quickly becoming cumbersome and costly for IT departments of all sizes," says John Peterson, vice president of Enterprise Products at Comodo. "With Comodo Dome, companies can use the platform by itself or layer it with their existing security gateways as an additional and highly critical piece of security, which prevents patient zero infections and unknown file types from being executed on internal networks and devices -- solving the malware problem".

  Comodo Dome is built on the company's next-generation default-deny platform, which places emphasis on allowing known good applications, while denying everything else until a verdict on those applications is reached. This is the opposite of the traditional industry method of default-allow, and thus ensures uninterrupted business productivity across an enterprise, while protecting users from zero-day attacks.

  Dome inspects all Internet traffic and blocks zero-day malware and malicious files in real time, even if they are currently undetected by other antivirus engines. It also acts as a Web proxy that blocks known bad files and then identifies unknown files and wraps them in a portable container in flight, ensuring that end users are free to open, execute and use the files with zero risk of infection. Even sophisticated targeted attacks and the newest emerging threats are contained and blocked in real time.

  Comodo Dome will be on display at next week's RSA conference in San Francisco.

  Image Credit: alphaspirit / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Beware! Windows Store games have serious limitations

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 2:55pm CET par Martin Brinkmann

  

  When Windows Store launched, it featured apps and games that had a clear mobile focus. Games made available via Windows Store were casual for the most part, and it seemed unlikely that the situation would change in the future.

  It changed however with the launch of the Universal Windows Platform which improved what developers could do with the framework that Microsoft provided them with, and the release of Windows 10.

  Rise of the Tomb Raider was the first major AAA title offered through Windows Store but it won't be the last. Microsoft announced plans recently to bring the Xbox One exclusive game Quantum Break, developed by Remedy Software, to Windows Store on launch day. Other games such as Gears of Wars Ultimate Edition and Fable Legends are also lined up to be Store exclusives.

  The games will only be available for Microsoft's game console and through Windows Store, and Microsoft will use the same strategy to push Windows Store by making other games it has control over as Store exclusives.

  This is beneficial to PC gamers on first glance as they gain access to games that they would not be able to play at all on the platform or only after years of delay.

  Windows Platform limitations

  

  But what about games that are available on other PC stores or even retail channels? Are there differences between Universal Platform versions of games and regular desktop versions of said games?

  If you compare the Windows Store version of Rise of the Tomb Raider with the Steam version, you will notice that there are huge differences between both versions.

  A thread on Reddit was the first to highlight major differences between Windows Store games and regular PC games.

  • Games run in borderless fullscreen mode
  • Vsync is always on and cannot be turned off
  • SLI and Crossfire are not supported
  • Games cannot be modified
  • Game overlays are not supported
  • Incompatible with non-Windows 10 operating systems

  Games run in borderless fullscreen mode

  Windows Store games cannot run in exclusive fullscreen mode right now.

  You may notice that this benefits Alt-Tabbing out of games as the switch to other programs or apps is instant, but it does come with a slight drop in performance usually and it enforces Vsync on top of that.

  Vsync is always on and cannot be turned off

  The main purpose of Vsync is to prevent screen tearing in games. Both AMD and NVIDIA introduced better methods to avoid screen tearing in games, namely FreeSync and G-Sync.

  Unfortunately, neither of these features can be used if Vsync is active. In addition, Vsync may cause input lag and a drop in performance.

  SLI and Crossfire are not supported

  SLI and Crossfire are techniques to combine two or more video cards to improve the video processing performance on the device.

  Windows Store games don't support these right now which means that only one video card will be used to power these games.

  Games cannot be modified

  Windows Store games don't support modifications, say, better texture packs or software like SweetFX, that improve the visual quality of games.

  Game overlays are not supported

  Fraps, MSI Afterburner and other screen recording or FPS monitoring applications are not compatible with Windows Store games either at this point in time.

  If you want to record games, you need to rely on the built-in recording capabilities instead or find another app that adds the capabilities to the system.

  Incompatible with non-Windows 10 operating systems

  If you buy a game on Steam, Origin, uPlay or Gog, you can expect it to run on a variety of operating systems usually.

  Rise of the Tomb Raider on Steam is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8.x and Windows 10, whereas the Windows Store version of the game only with Windows 10.

  You buy the game once on Steam, and can install it on all supported platforms. Yes, that may include Mac or Linux as well depending on the game.

  Benefits of running Windows Store games

  

  The universal platform offers some benefits when it comes to running Windows Store games. They tie in with several Xbox features for instance, achievements, screen recording and friends you may have on your Xbox One system.

  The usefulness of most of these features depends largely on how invested you are in Microsoft's Xbox ecosystem.

  If you own an Xbox One and have friends on the system, you may like the idea that you can buy a game for your console and get the same version for your Windows PC free of charge.

  Games may sync data so that you can continue playing them on either system, and cross-play may also be supported depending on the game.

  The screen recording is a universal feature, it works with non-Store apps and games as well as it does with them.

  Closing Words

  The UWP is at the beginning of its journey, and it may seem a bit unfair to compare it to established platforms like Steam or PC games in general.

  The situation may, and probably will, improve in the future when new capabilities and features are added to the platform that games will benefit from.

  For now however, you may want to weigh up the benefits and disadvantages against each other before you make a buying decision.

  It is fair to say though that the majority of issues described above won't be noticed or affect the majority of PC gamers.

  Photo Credit: Sabphoto/Shutterstock

  
• 

  EFF pushes forward with new amicus brief in case against NSA spying

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 2:28pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  At this point it almost feels like we've been living with the Edward Snowden revelations all of our lives. While what was revealed scared many people, it also led to a lot of legal battles that are still raging on. At the forefront of those is the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a group that tirelessly fights for people's rights.

  The foundation has had an ongoing case which has been termed Jewell v NSA, as well as Wikimedia v NSA. There are many irons in the fire in this battle and now the EFF has filed a new amicus brief in the Wikimedia case.

  On Wednesday the organization filed the brief, which urges the court to allow the various parties to continue their pursuit of the NSA for what the EFF terms "illegal surveillance". This has been filed with the Fourth Circuit Court, which could prove favorable as it allowed Jewell v NSA to go forward after quite a bit of stalling by the government.

  This case, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, which represents nine plaintiffs, including Wikimedia, was rejected by a federal judge in Maryland. However the EFF hopes it can move forward on more favorable grounds. The court this was filed with has just recently ruled the Jewell case can continue, authorizing the EFF to begin discovery, which will compel the government to release documents pertaining to the spying.

  "We’re well past the point where the government can simply utter 'national security' and get these cases dismissed at their outset", claims EFF Staff Attorney Mark Rumold. "We battled back these arguments in Jewel, and now we are asking another appeals court to do the same thing in Wikimedia".

  The foundation is simply requesting the court to recognize the damage done by the surveillance. Both cases in question make these allegations.

  Rumold concludes, "The government makes litigating these cases as difficult as possible, but that difficulty doesn’t mean the courts should turn their back on violations of people's constitutional rights".

  Image Credit: Africa Studio / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Digital immortality: How to create an eternal copy of yourself

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 2:22pm CET par Serguei Beloussov

  

  The world around us is changing rapidly, from a prehistoric physical environment 50,000 years ago to a digital world of the future, signs of which are here with us today.

  As a result, many aspects of our lives are becoming increasingly digital, and soon virtually everything in our business and personal lives will be represented by ones and zeros, bits and bytes. The digital world is no longer a fantasy, it is reality.

  Modern IT trends reflect this change. Unlimited computer power is now available to anybody and at any time through cloud technologies. Powerful mobile computers are in everyone’s hand, and they are always connected to the virtually unlimited computing capacity of the cloud and the endless information available on the Internet.

  At the same time, the social aspects of our life -- one of the basic human needs -- are now satisfied by various social networks. People practically live there, inside the digital world, entering it through their personal devices.

  Everything around us is becoming digital.

  Consider the changes we’ve seen in the financial services industry. Most financial operations are conducted electronically today. It’s only a matter of time when paper money and bank cards become obsolete and Blockchain record-keeping takes centre-stage, guaranteeing security of all transactions without central authorities.

  Digital technology is driving modern-day health services and manufacturing. Most objects can be reproduced on a 3D printer. People’s health information, statistics and life activity are monitored in real-time by wearable devices.

  Finally, everything around us is becoming a part of the Internet of Things.

  The world has also seen the arrival of robots and drones, replacing real people right in their own workplaces.

  Big data technology makes massive amounts of information usable for specific purposes and artificial intelligence is becoming smarter every day, making all these digital devices and programs trainable, and nearly alive.

  The singularity

  All this leads to an explosive and ever-accelerating growth of data, over 125 percent per year on average, while opening up a world of new opportunities to connect and learn, forcing people to have a new approach to life in this new digital reality.

  Today’s digital world is directly related to one of the hot topics of today: Technological singularity. Wikipedia defines singularity as "the point beyond which events may become unpredictable or even unfathomable to human intelligence".

  In my view, singularity will arrive when the digital world becomes larger and more important than the physical world.

  Data, digits, bits and bytes will become something that without which there will be no life, just like there is no life without water, food, or air. Soon, digital information will become just as important as the air we breathe.

  We can already see this happening today -- think about larger businesses, organizations and groups of people who rely on digital processes and data availability. Without data, they would cease to exist.

  Digital immortality

  Humans have always been preoccupied with looking for secrets of immortality and bringing people back to life.

  The Egyptian pharaohs were at the forefront of technology of their time. They mummified their bodies and were buried in tombs together with their possessions, treasures, and even servants and family members.

  In addition, they inscribed their life stories with hieroglyphs and pictures along the tomb’s walls.

  If you think about it, their attempts to become immortal were not as futile as it is often perceived. We have a real possibility to create a clone of one of the pharaohs based on his DNA (there are DNA traces of Tutankhamun, an Egyptian pharaoh during 1332-1323 BC), and restore his personality based on information found inside his tomb and the pyramid where he was buried.

  Today we have more advanced ways to preserve a human being and their life as we understand it -- by saving all data directly or indirectly related to the person in question in addition to their DNA throughout their lifetime.

  Most likely, even the person’s mind and thinking can be turned into a collection of digital and quantum data in order to be preserved.

  Unlike the physical world where nothing is eternal, and everything is subject to change, the loss of properties in the digital world is different.

  With some exceptions, digital data is virtually eternal. It can be moved from place to place, from one storage medium to another without any loss of quality for any defined period of time -- for longer than the known life of our universe, for example.

  Even more so, any errors discovered with time can be corrected along the way if proper error correction techniques are utilized.

  This may well mean that if you have a digital copy of a human being in your possession, one day you may be able to 'restore' it, thousands, millions and even billions of years from now.

  Since it is not exactly clear which part of your data is sufficient or relevant, there needs to be a complete set of data in existence -- personal notes, photos, diaries, correspondence, medical records, as well as third-party information, such as friends’ memories, their photos of this person, and so on.

  Restoring this data in the future may help to create a digital 'copy' of a human being -- someone who will be able to react to the outside world and show behavior patterns in line with the 'original' -- and even talking and answering questions in the same way.

  An enhanced version of the famous Turing test could be designed to verify the success of this restoration of the original.

  The ethical conundrum

  Creating a clone of a human being from DNA is already technologically possible (although there are certain ethical and moral obstacles), and there is nothing extraordinary in recording and storing large amounts of information about a particular person.

  The question is how to fully 'upload' this information into the clone to make it better than just a virtual copy.

  Today, a human life’s worth of digital data 'weighs' probably less than 10 terabytes, but may increase up to one petabyte, taking into account the rapid speed of information and data growth.

  And recording and storing this data has grown beyond the practical sense, and now has philosophical and metaphysical meaning.

  Without a doubt, possessing large amounts of person-specific information raises questions about privacy and data safety.

  And this is exactly why we need to learn how to control it and develop tools to manage this information.

  It is not yet clear what data is necessary for a 'proper' restoration of a unique human being. To be on the safe side, it is recommended to record absolutely everything -- every step, every meeting, and every memory.

  Hopefully in the future there will be an easier way to do that without disrupting people’s daily activities. There are already some apps designed for creating extensive records during sleep and physical exercises, and more will likely come.

  Think about Tutankhamun, the most powerful person on Earth as of 3,300 years ago. In addition to his DNA, there is a rather large amount of information in the form of memories and manuscripts containing detailed accounts of his life.

  But all of this is just a fraction of what is possible to record today about every living person (or business), protecting people’s lives for the future to see.

  This data may prove to be a lifeline for people and organizations, and perhaps become a path to the immortality and rebirth people have always dreamed of.

  Photo Credit: Nomad_Soul/Shutterstock

  Serguei Beloussov is the CEO of global data protection leader Acronis, having founded the company in 2001. He has 20 years’ experience in building, growing and leading high performing, multi-national high tech companies in North America, Europe and Asia, founding his first two businesses in the mid-90s. Although Serguei continues as a senior partner at Runa Capital venture fund and executive chairman and chief architect of Parallels, his main focus remains Acronis. The business currently employs more than 850 employees and has enjoyed rapid growth since its birth 14 years ago, generating revenue of almost £100m.

  
• 

  NoVirusThanks PE Capture saves executables as they’re launched

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 2:13pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  Malware analysis normally starts with logging the executables launched on a system: opening this document, launches that application, fires up some scripting tool, which downloads and runs the actual threat (or something like that).

  You could use something like Process Monitor to record what happens, but analyzing the logs will take time, and the malware might delete key files before you can inspect them.

  NoVirusThanks PE Capture simplifies the process by capturing and save PE executable images -- EXEs, drivers, DLLs -- as they’re loaded, making them supremely easy to analyze later.

  The program is portable, no full installation required. Unzip it, launch the 32 or 64-bit EXE depending on your system, and it temporarily installs the kernel driver which carries out the captures.

  Just watch the display and, as processes run in the background, you’ll see the relevant DLL or EXE logged, along with its execution time.

  Test the system further by launching some other application of your own. Google Chrome is a good choice as it fires up several EXEs and DLLs.

  Browse to your \pe_capture_portable\PORTABLE\Intercepted\xx-xx-2016 folder at any time, and you’ll see all the captured images, renamed to their MD5 file hashes.

  Image capture and execution logging can be toggled on or off at any time by selecting that item on the Options menu.

  When you’re done, the text log displays the date and time each file was loaded, along with its MD5 hash.

  If you’re interested in a particular file, look for that MD5 hash in the Intercepted folder.

  But if you’re more generally curious about what’s just been launched, then point your antivirus tool of choice at the Intercepted folder and see what it discovers.

  NoVirusThanks PE Capture is a free tool for Windows XP and later.

  
• 

  Best Windows apps this week

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 2:03pm CET par Martin Brinkmann

  One-hundred and sixty-nine in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps and games released for Windows 8.x and Windows 10 in the past seven days.

  The best application of the week award goes to the Microsoft Garage project Plumbago. It is a digital notebook that lets you draw and write using a digital pen.

  Other great apps and games released this week include the excellent games Tiny Guardians and Tower in the Sky, and the apps Blue Skies and Harvester Messenger.

  As always, if I missed an app or game that has been released this week that you believe is particularly good, let me know in the comments below or notify me via email instead.

  Discounts This Week

  The following discounts are provided by Red Stripe Deals, a weekly changing list of offers, and the Deals Hub application.

  The following is this week's selection:

  • Extreme Landings Pro, a flight simulation game for $4.99
  • Share to Speech: Text to Speech & MP3 for $2.99
  • Riptide GP2, a water racing game for $1.49
  • Algebra Touch, a math education app for $0.99
  • Mahjong Secrets HD (Full), a Mahjong game for $0.99
  • Learning Games for Kids, an educational game for preschool children for $1.99

  App of the week

  Plumbago

  

  The Microsoft Garage project brings a digital notebook to Windows 10.

  You can use it to write and draw using a digital pen or touch featuring handwriting smoothing and, according to Microsoft, realistic ink and paper.

  Creations or writings can be saved and shared, and are accessible in the notebook at any time.

  Other app releases

  Earth View - Map 3D

  

  Browse more than 200 locations worldwide in 3D map modes, and the rest in flat mode.

  You can jump to any location in the world, or browse the list of 3D locations to jump to one of those instead.

  There is a Street View option available for select locations, and data is retrieved directly from Bing Maps.

  Tiny Guardians ($3.99, no free trial)

  

  Tiny guardians' take on the tower defense genre is not unique, but it is certainly different from the majority of tower defense games you find out there.

  Instead of placing towers along paths to defend attacking enemies, it is the player who tries to move characters to reach the level exit.

  Each killed monster along the way enables you to summon additional units or upgrade existing ones.

  One main task of the game is to protect the main character Lunalie, and you can do that by ordering your other characters to form a protective wall around that character.

  Placement is very important in the game,that's nowhere more apparent than when you are fighting one of the many bosses the game throws at you.

  Harvester Messenger ($1.49, free trial available)

  

  Harvester Messenger is a wrapper application for a good dozen messaging and chat services including WhatsApp, Twitter, Skype, Facebook Messenger and Hangouts.

  All those services are accessible from the app, and while it does not offer any cross-service interaction, it may be useful to users who use multiple chat and messaging clients.

  Tower in the Sky

  

  Tower in the Sky is a classic role-playing / adventure game in which you control a party of adventurers.

  While your party may consist of up to ten characters, you can only take four of them with you into battles.

  The characters have different skills which get better as they level up and gain better equipment.

  Battles are fought on a turn-based map in which the enemies advance on the player's position.

  Top Gear: Drift Legends ($1.99, free trial available)

  

  This is a drifting arcade racing game in which you drive "iconic cars" from the Top Gear show either in Season Mode or against your own ghost car.

  Unlock new cars while you play the game, and switch between two difficulty modes for pros and novices.

  Blue Skies

  

  Blue Skies is a new universal weather app for the Windows platform that offers hourly and daily forecasts for one or multiple locations that you add to the app.

  It features detailed weather information that includes humidity, precipitation and wind speed, live tile support, and different color schemes based on weather conditions.

  Important updates

  Excel Mobile was updated with additional functions, better zooming and a new Funnel chart type.

  PowerPoint Mobile supports real-time collaboration now, a new morph transition, and PowerPoint Designer.

  Word Mobile received a small update introducing more highlight colors (yellow was the only one before).

  
• 

  IBM and Check Point team up to offer threat prevention

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 12:45pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Cybercrime is big business, netting $445 billion in annual profits according to the United Nations. To combat it enterprises need to be able to detect risks and have the tools to prevent attacks.

  Check Point Software and IBM Security have announced an expanded alliance which will allow the two companies to share threat intelligence, as well as a broad set of product integrations and expanded investment across IBM's consulting and managed security services.

  "The sharing of intelligence and expertise is how the security industry will take our defensive capabilities to the next level", says Caleb Barlow, vice president of strategy at IBM Security. "Cybercriminals are not new to this concept of sharing and our industry needs to step up to the challenge. Having a partner the quality of Check Point validate this approach is a big win for our joint customers".

  The alliance focuses on four key areas. IBM X-Force and Check Point's security research team will directly collaborate through the sharing of threat identification and analysis using IBM X-Force Exchange (XFE), IBM's threat intelligence sharing platform. This intelligence may be integrated into each company's products, to help deliver protection to customers of both companies.

  Check Point will be launching a new SmartConsole application in the IBM Security App Exchange for integration with the IBM Security QRadar Intelligence Platform. The app will deliver network data and security events from Check Point devices to QRadar to enable operators to view threat information in real-time directly from the QRadar console.

  Integration within IBM Maas360 enterprise mobility management (EMM) will allow customers to easily deploy and manage Check Point Mobile Threat Prevention to limit compromised devices from accessing enterprise networks and data, based on real-time insights. This will allow automated protection against advanced threats across mobile devices, apps and networks, while simplifying the implementation and ongoing monitoring of mobile security technology.

  IBM Managed Security Services (MSS) will continue to deepen its expertise in delivering and managing Check Point solutions for IBM customers. The deployment and management of a broader range of Check Point network security offerings will be supported through new lab equipment and ongoing training of IBM SOC analysts and solution architects. This will give customers cost-effective access to resources and expertise as their security requirements change.

  You can find more about the partnership on the Check Point blog.

  
• 

  Apple dicks about with its site code to avoid a kerning cock up

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 10:20am CET par Wayne Williams

  

  As pointed out on Twitter, and reported by TechCrunch, Apple made a little tweak to its website’s CSS code to prevent people misreading the tagline for its latest operating system, OS X El Capitan.

  The line should say, "There’s more to love with every click", but the word "click" looked a lot like an entirely different, and ruder word.

  As you can see from the before and after GIF created by Ryan Ackermann, Apple has changed the letter spacing, so there’s no chance of accidentally seeing the word "dick" when glancing at the slogan.

  It's this kind of attention to detail that's help make Apple the company it is today.

  @bathtype before & after pic.twitter.com/mcfUW3JGua

  — Ryan Ackermann (@naturaln0va) February 25, 2016

  Photo Credit: iatlo/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Kaspersky declares war on Lazarus hacking group

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 10:19am CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Oooohhh, things are about to get really interesting in the cyber-security world. Kaspersky Lab has just declared war on the infamous hacking collective Lazarus Group, and it’s bringing its friends to the fight.

  Together with Novetta and "other industry partners", Kaspersky Lab has announced the formation of Operation Blockbuster targeted at disrupting the activity of the Lazarus Group.

  For those unfamiliar with the name, Lazarus Group is believed to be responsible for the 2014 attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment, as well as the 2013 Operation DarkSeoul, which targeted media and financial institutions.

  Kaspersky Lab, Novetta and AlienVault have analyzed samples of malware spotted on different incidents and have managed to link a number of high-profile attacks to the group. Prior to the revelation, those attacks were attributed to an "unknown attacker".

  The security researchers said they found a couple of interesting things that linked various attacks to the same group. First, it was discovered that they were recycling code, borrowing fragments from one malicious program to use in another. They also spotted similarities in the way the group works: the droppers (files used to install malware) all kept their payloads within a password-protected ZIP archive.

  "The password protection was implemented in order to prevent automated systems from extracting and analyzing the payload, but in reality it just helped researchers to identify the group".

  Eventually, tens of different targeted attacks were linked to a single actor. The group says the first attack might have occurred in 2009, five years before the Sony incident. It seems as the group is working in the GMT+8 and GMT+9 time zones.

  "As we predicted, the number of wiper attacks grows steadily. This kind of malware proves to be a highly effective type of cyber-weapon. The power to wipe thousands of computers at the push of a button represents a significant bounty to a Computer Network Exploitation team tasked with disinformation and the disruption of a target enterprise. Its value as part of hybrid warfare, where wiper attacks are coupled with kinetic attacks to paralyse a country’s infrastructure remains an interesting thought experiment closer to reality than we can be comfortable with. Together with our industry partners, we are proud to put a dent in the operations of an unscrupulous actor willing to leverage these devastating techniques", said Juan Guerrero, senior security researcher at Kaspersky Lab.

  "This actor has the necessary skills and determination to perform cyber-espionage operations with the purpose of stealing data or causing damage. Combining that with the use of disinformation and deception techniques, the attackers have been able to successfully launch several operations over the last few years", said Jaime Blasco, chief scientist, AlienVault. "Operation Blockbuster is an example of how industry-wide information sharing and collaboration can set the bar higher and prevent this actor from continuing its operations".

  "Through Operation Blockbuster, Novetta, Kaspersky Lab and our partners have continued efforts to establish a methodology for disrupting the operations of globally significant attack groups and attempting to mitigate their efforts to inflict further harm", said Andre Ludwig, senior technical director, Novetta Threat Research and Interdiction Group. "The level of in-depth technical analysis conducted in Operation Blockbuster is rare, and sharing our findings with industry partners so we all benefit from increased understanding is even rarer".

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: Sangoiri / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Hit the roads with Runkeeper while Spotify plays your tunes

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 7:41am CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Training for that big marathon? You have a lot of work to do and plenty of long training runs in your future, but it can be done, it just takes some ambition and fortitude. But those long training runs? It's good to have some company to keep you going. Since a partner isn't always possible, music can be your next best option.

  In running, the Runkeeper app comes in handy for tracking your workout and music can be supplied from a good streaming service such as Spotify. Now the two are teaming up to keep you moving out there.

  "Starting today, we’re excited to bring you the ability to listen to Spotify while seamlessly tracking your running progress on Runkeeper", Spotify announces.

  The latest update combines your running history with the music to help you keep the pace up as you head down the road. It attempts to match your pace with the beats of the songs.

  It can be enabled within the Runkeeper app by using Spotify as your source of music within the app. This gets you started with "Spotify Running". Now head to the "Browse" section and get everything up and, well, running.

  This is available now for iOS customers, but Android users will have to wait just a bit longer, though Spotify promises that it's on the way.

  
• 

  Mozilla sides with Apple against FBI -- proposes basic principles for government surveillance

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 5:42am CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  The ongoing dispute between the FBI and Apple is absolutely chilling. It shakes me to my core to think our government wants to force a company to write code under the guise of anti-terrorism. Quite frankly, the oft-argued opinion that supporting Apple in this regard is anti-American is not only wrong, but insulting. My soul still aches from 9/11, and I love America, but I also support Tim Cook and the company's fight to protect our civil liberties.

  But forget my opinion -- major tech companies, such as Google and Microsoft, are standing up and pledging support for their competitor, Apple. Now, open source darling, Mozilla, is voicing its support too. Taking it a step further, however, the Firefox-maker is also proposing basic principles for government surveillance -- sort of like a bill of rights for encryption and surveillance.

  "Security is paramount to a trusted Internet. Encryption is a critical part of how that trust is made real. The recent events around Apple and the FBI set a dangerous precedent. Our position on these issues is simple: the FBI should not be able to require a technology company to create code that “undoes” years of security enhancements by creating additional vulnerabilities", says Mozilla.

  The Firefox-maker further says, "even when legitimate, government surveillance can cause massive harm to user security and the Internet. Governments don’t always take this harm into account when conducting their surveillance activities. The Apple case is just the latest example. We propose that governments adopt basic principles that guide the scope of their surveillance activities, balancing their legitimate needs with the broader good".

  Mozilla shares three tenets.

  1. User Security: Governments need to strengthen user security, including the best encryption, not weaken it.
  2. Minimal Impact: Government surveillance should minimize impact on user trust and security.
  3. Accountability: Surveillance activities need empowered, independent, and transparent oversight.

  Wow, proposing that a government have its citizens' best interests at heart? What a novel concept! How sad is it that such common sense principles must be proposed? Sigh. Mozilla's proposal is fine, although a bit simplistic.

  READ MORE: Mozilla wants to educate us all on encryption

  Look, I don't think that the FBI is necessarily being intentionally evil -- it is likely just ignorance about the underlying technologies. The bureau probably believes that keeping us safe from terrorism is paramount, and while that is important, it shouldn't come at the expense of our civil liberties.

  What do you think of Mozilla's three-point proposal? Tell me in the comments. If you do like what Mozilla is saying, you are encouraged to tweet with the hashtag #IstandwithMozilla.

  Photo credit: ruskpp / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft demolishes Bridge for Android -- yet another nail in the Windows 10 Mobile coffin

  Publié: février 26, 2016, 12:24am CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  Getting developers to create apps for Windows 10 Mobile is very much a chicken and egg scenario. Developers are hesitant to dedicate resources to a platform with such few users, while users don't want to use a platform with no apps.

  To try and alleviate this app problem, Microsoft came up with a scheme called "Bridges", to help developers easily port their Android and iOS apps to Windows. Today, sadly, Microsoft is killing the Windows Bridge for Android. With the iOS bridge being the final exciting "Bridge" attraction, Windows 10 Mobile consumers should probably just buy an iPhone instead. Right?

  "We also announced the Windows Bridge for Android (project “Astoria”) at Build last year, and some of you have asked about its status. We received a lot of feedback that having two Bridge technologies to bring code from mobile operating systems to Windows was unnecessary, and the choice between them could be confusing. We have carefully considered this feedback and decided that we would focus our efforts on the Windows Bridge for iOS and make it the single Bridge option for bringing mobile code to all Windows 10 devices, including Xbox and PCs. For those developers who spent time investigating the Android Bridge, we strongly encourage you to take a look at the iOS Bridge and Xamarin as great solutions", says Kevin Gallo, VP, Windows Developer Platform, Microsoft.

  Gallo further explains, "the philosophy behind the Bridges has always been to make it as easy as possible for you to bring existing code to Windows, and our investments in the iOS Bridge will make this straightforward. We initially focused on API coverage for game developers, but we are expanding our API coverage for all app types by adding support for additional frameworks, etc. We're aiming for significant development cost savings for the majority of 'typical' apps -- keep an eye on the project on GitHub, and of course we welcome direct contributions, helping us all out".

  There you have it folks -- Windows 10 Mobile is still dead. While Bridges for Android could have maybe resurrected it when paired with Bridges for iOS (unlikely), it now just seems pointless. After all, why should a user buy a Windows 10 Mobile handset and pray for iOS ports? They can just buy an iPhone and have all of the wonderful native goodness of Apple's app store.

  Of course, Microsoft's purchase of Xamarin could be one last "Hail Mary" aimed at pulling Windows 10 Mobile from its current worm-eaten existence. It remains to be seen if that acquisition will be fruitful.

  Is this yet another nail in the Windows 10 Mobile coffin? Tell me in the comments.

  Image Credit: Fer Gregory/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Adblock Plus comes (somewhat) clean about how Acceptable Ads work

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 10:48pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  The Acceptable Ads program from Adblock Plus has proved slightly controversial. The company behind the ad blocking tool, Eyeo, has already revealed a little about how it makes money from the program -- despite the fact that no money changes hands in most whitelisting cases -- and today it has opened up further about how it makes its money.

  Whilst recognizing that people do want to block ads, Eyeo is also aware that sites do need to benefit from ad revenue -- hence Acceptable Ads, non-intrusive ads that it is hoped are less irritating and therefore easier to stomach. But Eyeo itself also wants to make money. How does it decide which company to charge for Acceptable Ads whitelisting, and what to charge? If you're expecting full transparency, you might be disappointed, but we are given a glimpse into how the financial side of things works.

  In a blog post, Adblock Plus' Ben Williams concedes that while people in the ad blocking business are fully aware of how acceptable ads works, "we understand that it might be murky to you". He is quick to stress that most of the companies whose ads are whitelisted do not 'compensate' Adblock Plus ('pay' is such a dirty word, isn't it?). He goes on to offer a rule of thumb for deciding whether to charge or not:

  [...] only advertisers that stand to gain more than 10 million incremental ad impressions per month because of whitelisting are asked to sponsor. To put that in perspective, if 5 percent of a site's users block ads, for example, then that site needs to have 200 million ad impressions to begin with in order to break the 10 million threshold.

  A site's non-ad block traffic is not included in the calculation. Using this definition, most publishers don’t pay anything at all -- in our last measurement, 90 percent were free actually.

  In many ways this is a story we've heard before. There are a few new snippets of information, sure, but there's hardly full transparency; it's far too easy to hide behind phrases like 'we cannot provide details about specific contracts or partners'). The blog post itself is an exercise in making things awkward. Rather than simply presenting the information people are likely to be interested in, in an easy to read format. We are instead treated to a short blog post littered with links to other pages on the Adblock Plus site, forums pages, and so on.

  It doesn’t matter whether you click through every single link provided, you find that you're still left scrabbling for what you want to know. Fancy working through more than 600 forum threads to properly determine how Acceptable Ads works? No. Thought not.

  The post goes on to explain -- a little -- how a chargeable fee is calculated. Adblock Plus also tries to put forward the idea that charging for whitelisting is nothing to do with generating profits. Taken at face value, you'd be forgiven for thinking every cent earned is ploughed back in to the company:

  For those not admitted for free, we calculate the licensing fee as a percentage of the extra revenue the advertiser earns after whitelisting. It is not based on total ad revenue, but rather the value our service creates.

  This revenue allows us to hire employees to do the hard work providing that service demands. Software engineers have to maintain the whitelist, monitor it and provide customer service to each whitelisted site, whether payment is involved or not. Acceptable Ads also provides value to publishers that was previously unavailable -- and not only value, but sustainable value created with the user rather than at his/her expense.

  All clear? No? Good.

  But it's OK, because Ben says:

  Finally, this blog post will not answer every question. Trouble is, we can't, because NDAs and contracts.

  So there you go. Just don't ask about integrity...

  Photo credit: Jean Lee / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft stands with Apple against the FBI

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 9:46pm CET par Joe Wilcox

  

  Microsoft will join Apple against the FBI and U.S. Justice Department, filing a friend-of-court—or amicus—brief in a case going to court tomorrow. The government wants Apple to create a special version of iOS, referred to by critics as FBIOS, to break into an iPhone 5c security feature. The device manufacturer argues that compliance would set a precedent that would give law enforcement carte blanche with other mobile devices.

  Brad Smith, Microsoft's chief legal counsel, says the company "wholeheartedly supports Apple"—a statement that eradicates any potential confusion caused by cofounder Bill Gates. In an interview with Financial Times two days ago, Gates supported the government's demands. I responded, calling his position a "catastrophic occurrence that demands current chief executive Satya Nadella's official response. There needs to be clear policy about government backdoors and the position with respect to the San Bernardino shooting iPhone". The company's position is now unequivocally clear—presuming the legal filing fits with "wholeheartedly".

  Smith publicly disclosed Microsoft's plans during testimony before the House Judiciary Committee today.

  At issue, as the case goes to the first of presumably many court hearings is "he said, she said". Apple says compliance with the order will set a dangerous precedent. The government disagrees. ESET security researcher Stephen Cobb explains the implications in an analysis posted by BetaNews today:

  There is no technical or legal basis for saying this case is a one- off. If Apple complies with the current court order and creates a version of the OS that facilitates access to this one iPhone, it can be used on other iPhones. Other law enforcement agencies will join the line that is already forming to demand Apple’s assistance with other iPhones, and Apple will have no basis to refuse because that’s the way the legal system works...

  if Apple loses in court, a further precedent will be set, one that can be used in cases impacting many aspects of our digital life. Any number of agencies will have a strong legal basis for requiring any hardware and software makers to selectively turn off security features to assist government investigations.

  Meaning: The implications are industrywide, not just about Apple opening a floodgate of government intrusions into iPhones. Microsoft's support seems almost silly given Windows Phone's collapsing market share. But precedent on the single iPhone could touch other software—or hardware if considering Surface series devices.

  But that's a simplification. Microsoft and other iOS app developers typically rely on the platform's built-in encryption technologies to protect customer data. Apple calls FBIOS a backdoor, but that's just one of potentially many others. Consider the instance of a Microsoft customer whose data, while protected in the company's cloud or in PC applications, is grabbed from iPhone—effectively a backdoor's backdoor. Microsoft could resist government requests to break its own encryption only to see the customer data exposed on iPhone.

  Photo Credit:  tankist276/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Spotify moves to Google's cloud

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 8:57pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Swedish music streaming service Spotify has decided to transport its entire product onto Google’s cloud. The news was confirmed on the Spotify blog.

  In the blog post, written by the company's vice-president of engineering and infrastructure, Nicholas Harteau, it was explained how Spotify decided for the move as it could no longer scale fast enough to meet the demand.

  "But in a business growing quickly in users, markets and features, keeping pace with scaling demands requires ever increasing amounts of focus and effort. Like good, lazy engineers, we occasionally asked ourselves: do we really need to do all this stuff?", Harteau wrote.

  He also said that Spotify thought about the idea of migrating to a cloud platform for a long time, but the terms of business were simply not good enough before. We can thank the fierce competition between Google and Amazon for the drop in prices and the availability of cloud services we have today.

  Amazon is the oldest player in the game, and the usual number one choice, with Google being the top alternative. Harteau said Spotify decided to go for the latter as it had better tools.

  "What really tipped the scales towards Google for us, however, has been our experience with Google’s data platform and tools. Good infrastructure isn’t just about keeping things up and running, it’s about making all of our teams more efficient and more effective, and Google’s data stack does that for us in spades", explained Harteau.

  Wired reports that the company has so far shifted about 250,000 user accounts, out of 20 million subscribers and about 55 million additional users. The migration is planned to last 18 months.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: 360b / Shutterstock

  
• 

  MWC 2016: The most important products announced so far

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 8:34pm CET par Sam Pudwell

  

  We are just past the half way point at Mobile World Congress 2016, which has so far given us smartphones, tablets and Internet of Things solutions in abundance from some of the industries biggest players.

  If you haven’t been paying attention for the last couple of days, here’s a quick round up of some of the big stories you might have missed.

  Tablets

  There’s been an emergence of business-focused 2-in-1 tablets at this year’s MWC, with the likes of Fujitsu, Lenovo and Huawei all getting in on the act.

  Microsoft first led the way in this category with its Surface Pro devices, followed by Apple which released the iPad Pro last year. Aimed at the modern mobile worker, these hybrid devices aim to provide the mobility of a tablet with the power and performance of a laptop, thus enabling employees to work anywhere.

  Huawei held a press conference in Barcelona on Sunday to launch the MateBook, its own 2-in-1 effort which it hopes will "redesign the new style of business". Running Windows 10 and powered by an Intel 6th Generation Core m-series processor, the MateBook certainly looks well places to disrupt the market. I got my hands on the device and it is an impressive piece of kit, starting at $699 for the cheapest option.

  Lenovo has also targeted professionals with the TAB3 10 Business, an Android tablet that offering full support for Android for Work and featuring a range of security and encryption options to ensure work-related data remains secure. Starting at just $199, it is a much cheaper option than the Huawei MateBook and will be available from June this year.

  Not wanting to be left out, Fujitsu has focused on security with the STYLISTIC Q736. Powered by the 6th Generation Intel Core i7 vPro processor, the Q736 features Fujitsu’s unique PalmSecure technology which scans the veins in your palm to provide a more secure biometric reading.

  Smartphones

  On to smartphones now, which of course are a prime focus at MWC. HP kicked things off with the Elite x3, which is actually more than just a smartphone -- it’s a mobility ecosystem designed to drive the next generation of mobile computing. The Elite x3 bridges phablet, laptop and desktop use cases through a single device -- a phablet with a 6-inch display, the latest Qualcomm 820 processor and a massive 4,150 mAh battery.

  As with the Huawei MateBook, the Elite x3 is a slick looking device and its versatility could make it very popular with today’s mobile workforce that needs to be able to switch between smartphone and laptop.

  From a more consumer point of view, Samsung and LG have also both launched new flagships at MWC. The Samsung Circus rolled into town on Sunday evening to announce the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, both of which have made steps forward from their predecessors. A surprise appearance from Mark Zuckerberg added to the excitement at an event where virtual reality was also heavily featured.

  LG added the G5 to its mobile portfolio, doing away with the leather casing of its predecessor for an all-metal finish which, although not quite as polished as the Galaxy S7, is still a marked improvement on the G4. Add Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM into the mix and you’ve got yourself a top-quality smartphone.

  Other

  MWC isn’t all about hardware and there have been a few other interesting stories to emerge over the last couple of days. Probably the most notable is Samsung’s semiconductor arm positioning itself as an advocate for a cashless society, with its NFC and digital payments solution ready to take on the burden of our spending habits.

  Moving on to cars, Ford has announced that its automotive connectivity technology SYNC 3 is coming to Europe and that it is working on autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles.

  There’s still one more day to go at MWC 2016, so be sure to check back for more news and updates from the biggest mobile show on earth.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Philips announces 34 inch Brilliance UltraWide QHD Curved LCD Display (BDM3490UC)

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 7:04pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  Buying a monitor can be quite the daunting affair. Not only are there many styles to choose from, but various resolutions too. While 4K monitors are all the rage, some operating systems, such as Windows 10 and some Linux distros, are not optimized for higher resolutions. Text and icons will appear small, and increasing sizes in the OS can cause some programs to display blurry text. In my experience, only OS X scales well to high res monitors.

  Keeping that in mind, it is understandable if you are willing to put up with those concerns, as images, movies and games can be absolutely gorgeous on high-resolution screens. Today, Philips announces a beast of a monitor -- 34 inches, curved, with a resolution of 3440 x 1440. While less than 4K, this resolution offers a very wide view.

  "The 34 inch Brilliance UltraWide Curved LCD Display has a 21:9 panoramic aspect ratio with True 8 bit color depth for superb color accuracy as well as an UltraWide Quad HD 3440 x 1440 resolution for gorgeous detail with a pixel area that is 2.4 times larger than a Full HD monitor. The super widescreen makes the display ideal for viewing spreadsheets, editing multiple documents and running several programs at once. Additionally, the monitor's MultiView technology enables active dual connect and view, so that you can work with multiple devices like PC and Notebook side-by-side simultaneously, making complex multi-tasking work a breeze", says Philips.

  The company further says, "Setup and configuration of the Philips BDM3490UC is simple as it comes equipped with a variety of connectors including DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0, and HDMI 1.4 inputs. Included with the HDMI 1.4 input is MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) functionality making it easy to stream content from the device directly to the display in 1080p quality. In addition to audio/video input connectors, this monitor comes equipped with four USB 3.0 ports supporting data transfer rates of up to 5 Gbps as well as the ability to charge connected mobile devices. To complete the multimedia experience, Philips has built-in, dual, 7W stereo speakers to fully engulf you in sound when viewing videos, gaming, and more".

  Click to view slideshow.

  Philips shares the following specifications.

  SPECIFICATION	BDM3490UC
  -LCD panel type	AH-IPS LCD
  -Backlight type	W-LED system
  -Panel Size	34.1 inch / 86.7 cm
  -Aspect ratio	21:9
  -Optimum resolution	3440 x 1440 @ 60Hz
  -SmartResponse (typical)	5 ms (Grey to Grey)
  -Response time (typical)	14 ms(Grey to Grey)
  -Brightness (typical)	300 cd/m²
  -Contrast ratio (typical)	1,000:1
  -SmartContrast	50M:1
  -Viewing angle	178º (H) / 178º (V) @ C/R > 10
  -Display colors	1.07 billion colors (8 bits +FRC)
  -MHL	1080P @ 60Hz
  -Signal Input	DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0 x 1, MHL-HDMI (digital, HDCP)
  -Audio In/Out	PC audio-in, headphone out
  -Built-in speakers	7W x 2 with DTS Certified sound
  -Tilt	-5/20 degree
  -Power supply	External
  -Color	Black
  -Finish	Glossy

  If you are interested in purchasing this monitor, you can grab it now for $999. For some reason, it is exclusive to B&H Photo, found here.

  Yes, the price is high, but you get what you pay for. A curved display of this size and resolution is on the higher-end of monitors. Not to mention, it has plenty of connection options, plus an integrated USB 3.0 hub. The BDM3490UC should last you many years with all of its features.

  Will you buy it? Tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  GRE tunneling: Keeping human traffic unaffected during DDoS attacks

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 6:10pm CET par Debbie Fletcher

  

  Picture a standard subway ride during rush hour. The car, of course, is crammed full. Some of those subway riders are pleasant commuters, and some are subway villains like pickpockets and purse-snatchers. Now imagine someone has invented a private subway that quickly and efficiently connects you and other pleasant commuters to the subway station in your neighborhood. You don’t have to deal with slowdowns, unexpected stops, or any of the risks associated with being lumped in with the aforementioned subway villains.

  Now stop imagining, because someone has invented such a blissful sort of system. It’s just that instead of being a form of transportation it’s a method of directing legitimate human traffic to a website while it’s being protected from a DDoS attack. Not the best news for your commute, but great news for your website.

  The DDoS Details

  As large and complicated as DDoS attacks can get these days -- and that would be very large and very complicated indeed -- at its core, a DDoS attack is a method of rendering a website or other online resource unavailable to its legitimate users by overwhelming it with malicious traffic.

  Being targeted by a DDoS attack can be incredibly costly. An unmitigated attack can cost a company $40,000 per hour, and that’s not even considering the other consequences of a DDoS attack. (Hardware damage, software damage, and theft of intellectual property, confidential data and consumer information, to name a few.)

  However, one of the most devastating consequences of a DDoS attack for many businesses is the loss of consumer trust or loyalty. When legitimate users are impacted by a DDoS attack, those users may be distrusting enough to abandon your website or business altogether.

  After all, if a website isn’t protected against DDoS attacks, it isn’t protected against DDoS-related intrusions that can steal user information, including financial information. Additionally, this is the age where a competing website is just a click away. Loyalty has become easy to lose.

  So how do you keep your users from being impacted by a DDoS attack?

  A GREat Method

  The general solution is obvious: keep your users from being impacted by a DDoS attack by keeping your website from being impacted by one. Yes, high-quality professional DDoS protection of any sort will go a long way in protecting your users. However, there are specific methods of ensuring an uninterrupted website experience, and one of the best is GRE tunneling.

  GRE stands for Generic Routing Encapsulation. GRE is what’s called a tunneling protocol, and, according to DDoS protection service provider Imperva Incapsula, it is used to establish direct and private point-to-point links between network nodes. These private point-to-point links are the so-called "tunnels".

  In DDoS protection, GRE is used to protect all elements of critical infrastructure. This can be an organization’s website, email, FTP and other online communications. GRE is capable of doing so because it can transmit packets of all sorts, quickly sending them directly to where they need to go.

  

  Example of GRE encapsulation (Source: Incapsula)

  Border Gateway Patrol (BGP): Traffic Control

  DDoS mitigation that uses GRE tunneling is often combined with BGP routing. BGP is the internet protocol that dictates how routing information is transferred between all major internet service providers.

  When a website or other internet-connected resource is targeted by a DDoS attack, it sends up a BGP announcement which immediately directs all traffic -- legitimate and malicious -- to a scrubbing server that can inspect traffic at a granular level, which enables it to separate legitimate traffic from malicious traffic.

  Malicious traffic is scrubbed and never even touches the website (or network, or server, etc.) while legitimate traffic is allowed through via GRE tunneling, with users never experiencing an interruption of any sort.

  Infrastructure DDoS Protection

  This form of DDoS protection is most critical for businesses or websites that require 100 percent uptime, like online banking, Forex and other trading companies, online gaming companies, and SaaS. It’s also critical for businesses or websites in highly competitive industries. However, this quality of protection is also available for smaller websites or companies, it simply uses a protected IP address instead of BGP routing.

  Essentially, there’s no reason to let your legitimate users struggle to get through on a subway would-be muggers when it’s entirely possible to filter out all that bad traffic during a DDoS attack. A GRE tunnel is better for users, and therefore better for your website.

  Debbie Fletcher is an enthusiastic, experienced writer who has written for a range of different magazines and news publications over the years. Graduating from City University London specializing in English Literature, Debbie's passion for writing has since grown. She loves anything and everything technology, and exploring different cultures across the world. She's currently looking towards starting her Masters in Comparative Literature in the next few years.

  Photo Credit: Creativa Images/Shutterstock

  
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  Ping Identity offers flexible real-time access for digital enterprises

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 5:21pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Legacy identity management solutions can struggle to keep up with the current interconnected world where systems may be both local and in the cloud.

  Security company Ping Identity is launching a new Federated Access Management product designed to offer lightweight, open and hyper-connected identity technology for the modern digital enterprise.

  Key benefits include automatic scaling to match AWS and OpenStack environments, which delivers cost and resource savings. It has context-sensitive, risk-based multi-factor authentication to ensure users receive proper access based on their location, role or other criteria set by administrators. The product can trigger 2FA for users attempting to access applications from outside their network, from public Wi-Fi or after hours. There are also time savings for admins thanks to a simplified partner administration and integration interface.

  "Demand for secure access across the entire digital enterprise will only rise in the years ahead," says Andre Durand, CEO and founder, Ping Identity. "Increasingly, identity and access management helps companies realize the benefits cloud has to offer, including enhanced security and better user experiences. With the Ping Identity Platform, we aim to help our customers make the leap to digital transformation quickly, without sacrificing security".

  By analyzing constant streams of contextual data, it allows split-second decisions to be made about user identities and permissions. There are thousands of pre-integrated applications, along with flexible cloud and software deployment options, which allows Ping Identity to leapfrog legacy vendors and offer an extensible, open platform and advanced integration capabilities.

  More information about Federated Access Management can be found on the Ping Identity website.

  Photo credit: Pakhnyushcha / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Baidu's browser leaks sensitive information

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 5:20pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  The browser provided by Baidu (China's answer to Google), leaks all kinds of personal data. Researchers at Canada’s Citizen Lab tested the browser and concluded it "collects and transmits a lot of personal user data back to Baidu servers that we believe goes far beyond what should be collected, and it does so either without encryption, or with easily decryptable encryption".

  The Android version of the browser is even worse: "Data collected and transmitted in the Android version without any encryption includes a user’s GPS coordinates, search terms, and URLs visited. The user’s IMEI and nearby wireless networks are sent with easily decryptable encryption".

  The Windows version leaks search terms, hard drive serial number, network MAC address, as well as the title of all visited webpages. GPU model number is also transmitted.

  At this point, things just become ridiculous. Neither the Windows nor Android versions of the browser protect their software updates with code signatures. That means a hacker could, quite easily, make the app download and execute malicious code.

  But it’s not just the Chinese whose data could be leaking here. The researchers believe pretty much everyone could be at risk here, as the Baidu Browser’s software development kit is "repurposed and employed in thousands of other applications developed by Baidu and third parties, affecting potentially hundreds of millions of users".

  "Thousands of other applications, many of them available on the Google Play Store outside of China, and some of which have been installed hundreds of millions of times, contain the same flaws, and are sending back the same detailed information, to Baidu servers", Citizen Lab concludes.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: Jamie Wilson / Shutterstock

  
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  OnePlus fans rejoice -- new flagship launches by June

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 5:07pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  There is no denying that flagships like Samsung's Galaxy S7, LG's G5 and Xiaomi's Mi 5 have just raised the bar for the high-end smartphone market. Rivals need to step things up a notch, as it is going to be extremely hard to compete against the latest-generation hardware and software, especially when it is offered at price points as low as $300.

  For OnePlus and its current flagship, OnePlus 2, things are not looking good. Mi 5, which competes in the same price range, is a better device on paper and cheaper too. Other similar devices will soon follow, of course. What is OnePlus' answer? Well, it is OnePlus 3 and it is coming by June.

  OnePlus CEO Carl Pei has revealed that the third-generation flagship will be unveiled by the end of the second quarter of 2016, and that it will hopefully "captivate" users in the same fashion as OnePlus One did. There is a new design planned for OnePlus 3, which is to be expected if the company wants to rival what Xiaomi's doing with Mi 5, for instance.

  OnePlus 2 is not a bad-looking phone, but when you put it next to a current-generation flagship its plastic back makes it look less appealing in comparison. Competitors are now using metal or glass for a premium look and feel, and it is time for OnePlus to follow suit in this area.

  There are no details surrounding the specs of OnePlus 3, but it is fair to assume that we are looking at a flagship running the latest processor available from Qualcomm, with lots of RAM in tow, and a decent amount of storage on tap. Android 6.0 Marshmallow is a given, of course, as this will be the latest available release for this half of the year.

  Pei adds that OnePlus 3 will be sold directly by the company and that there will be a "better buying process" implemented for it, although there is no mention of whether the dreaded invite system will be gone or not. Hopefully, OnePlus has learned its lesson here.

  OnePlus should look into ways it can sell its upcoming flagship to consumers without alienating them. It is typical of the company to have an invite system in place for any new device it introduces, which causes plenty of frustration for prospective customers who are willing to spend their hard earned money on the device only to find out that things are not as easy as typing in their credit card information.

  Photo Credit: AlenD/Shutterstock

  
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  New platform offers endpoint protection for Linux servers

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 4:33pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Most of the internet is powered by Linux servers, so it's not surprising that they’re increasingly a target for attack. In particular recent attacks have focussed on using compromised systems to distribute malware to other systems.

  Many Linux systems rely on traditional signature-based threat detection which leaves them vulnerable to zero-day attacks. Endpoint security company SentinelOne is announcing a new solution aimed at protecting enterprise data centers and cloud providers from emerging threats that target Linux servers.

  "As we have seen, Linux endpoints, whether they are servers or other devices, are not immune to malware and other forms of attack," says Tomer Weingarten, CEO of SentinelOne. "To address this new threat plane, SentinelOne EPP now provides the same exceptional level of integrated threat detection, prevention and remediation for Linux machines as it does for Windows and OS X devices".

  SentinelOne uses a lightweight autonomous agent to monitor all activity in both kernel and user space (including files, processes, memory, registry and network) on the protected device. Each agent leverages the SentinelOne Dynamic Behavior Tracking (DBT) Engine which uses sophisticated machine learning to predict threats across any vector against the background of normal application behavior. Once malicious activity is detected SentinelOne immediately employs a series of automated mitigation and quarantine processes to eliminate the threat in real-time. SentinelOne also maintains a detailed audit trail of activity for forensic analysis and reporting which is delivered to the management console in real-time.

  The SentinelOne EPP platform with support for Linux is available now, you can find more information on the company's website.

  Image Credit: rosedesigns / Shutterstock

  
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  Batch print documents, drawings and more with Print Conductor 5.0

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 4:32pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  If you regularly need to batch print folders of documents then you’ll know it’s a lengthy and tedious process: Ctrl+P+Enter+repeat until you die of boredom, essentially.

  Print Conductor is a free-for-personal-use application which automatically lines up and dispatches your targets to their source programs for printing.

  The latest Print Conductor release has a revamped interface with a modern flat look, and reorganized controls for improved ease of use.

  At its simplest, you can just drag and drop your files onto the program and click to start printing. This works with 50+ file types -- PDF, Office, DXF/ DWG, ODT, images, XPS, SVG, TXT, WRI, RTF and HTML, amongst others -- as long as you have suitable source files installed (Microsoft or OpenOffice for DOCX, say).

  But that’s just the start. The latest Print Conductor release can be more selective, including printing a specific page range of Word documents, or maybe printing PDFs without their annotations.

  There’s new support for batch printing password-protected PDF, DOC and DOCX files.

  Picture printing is smarter with a new option to batch print images in a "Fit in frame" mode.

  Whatever you’re doing, the current document list can easily be saved for reuse later.

  The program has a few issues. We clicked "Add Documents", browsed to a folder, and found we weren’t able to sort documents in the Add dialog. That’s very annoying if you’d like to, say, sort by modified date to easily find the latest few documents, and instead you have to browse the list alphabetically and select them one by one.

  Print Conductor is an effective print manager, though, and if you regularly need to print large numbers of documents then it should save you some time.

  Print Conductor is a free-for-personal-use application ($49/ license otherwise) for Windows XP and later.

  
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  Netskope launches threat protection for enterprise cloud apps

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 3:59pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Use of cloud apps, including unauthorised 'shadow' IT, is booming, but it leaves a gap in the protection provided by traditional perimeter security.

  To plug this gap cloud access security broker Netskope is launching a threat protection solution for the cloud. Netskope Active Threat Protection combines threat intelligence, static and dynamic analysis, and machine-learning based anomaly detection to enable real-time detection, prioritized analysis, and handling of threats that may originate from cloud apps.

  It gives a 360-degree view into sanctioned and unsanctioned cloud app usage, even if the user is accessing the app remotely or from a mobile device. It also understands the context of the usage, such as who is uploading, downloading and sharing data -- information that can prove critical when thwarting an attack or limiting its effects.

  Active Threat Protection is designed to prioritize potential threat dangers during scanning without sacrificing the comprehensiveness of the scans performed. This is done at high-speed and in real-time before presenting forensic analysis in a single Netskope dashboard or via a customer's existing SIEM solution.

  "With the constantly evolving landscape of malware, ransomware and other threats to the enterprise, IT need not only 'rip the blindfold off' when it comes to shadow IT, but to be able to react immediately to ensure the safety and security of sensitive data," says Sanjay Beri, co-founder and CEO, Netskope. "With Netskope Active Threat Protection, customers can now take advantage of the Netskope deep cloud app visibility and granular policy enforcement capabilities in tandem with the benefits of a complete threat protection suite. We have collaborated with a number of leading enterprise security companies to offer this service to our customers and ensure that we are one step closer to safer enterprise cloud app usage."

  You can find more details on the Netskope website and the product will be demonstrated at the RSA conference next week.

  Image Credit: Maksim Kabakou/Shutterstock

  
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  New platform can use any data source to gain visibility into attacks

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 3:05pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  A security breach can involve many different elements, this means that analyzing attacks can be a complex and difficult task.

  Security analytics specialist Niara is launching a new version of its security analytics platform that can analyze any data source and supports the customization of behavioral analytics modules, providing organizations with complete visibility into attacks and risky behaviors inside their environments.

  "By making behavioral analytics modular and data-agnostic, Niara enables data sources, machine learning models and features to be easily combined to better isolate attacks and identify risky behaviors," says Sriram Ramachandran, CEO and co-founder of Niara. "That flexibility results in much richer Entity360 risk profiles, allowing attacks to be detected with greater precision and dramatically reducing the time and skill needed to investigate and respond to security events".

  It allows organizations to derive security insights from data sources by combining Niara's built-in behavioral analytics with custom modules unique to a particular environment. As a result, organizations can benefit from more comprehensive risk profiles and extensive information about attacks due to the breadth of Niara's multi-dimensional analytics. Analysis includes factors like privilege escalation, password sharing, credential violations, lateral movement, internal reconnaissance, abnormal access to high-value resources, command and control and exfiltration activities.

  You can find out more on the Niara website or at the company's stand at next week's RSA conference.

  Photo credit: sommthink/Shutterstock

  
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  View all your Chrome, Firefox and IE addons with NirSoft's BrowserAddonsView

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 2:45pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  Freeware developer NirSoft has released BrowserAddonsView, a free tool which detects and displays all your installed Chrome, Firefox and IE extensions, in all user profile folders.

  Every installed addon is displayed in the usual NirSoft table, with details including item ID, status (enabled/ disabled), browser, addon type (extension, plugin, browser helper, ActiveX, more), name, version, description, title and creator.

  Disabled addons may be hidden to help your focus on everything else, and you can sort the table by specific fields to group common items together.

  There are no real management tools here. You can’t remove an addon, disable it, or even open the host browser directly from BrowserAddonsView. The closest the program gets are some right-click options to open the relevant add-on or user profile folder, for further exploration.

  Despite that, the program could save you some time if you just want to browse installed addons for anything suspect.

  It’s also possible to save the list as a text file, enabling you to compare individual browser setups, or see how your installed plugins have changed over time.

  BrowserAddonsView is a freeware tool for Windows XP and later.

  
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  Microsoft buys Xamarin to strengthen mobile side

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 2:34pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  If a few years back we were laughing off Microsoft's efforts in the mobile market, today we are looking at the software giant in a different light. That "mobile first, cloud first" mantra that Satya Nadella introduced us to when he became CEO now defines Microsoft, which has quickly evolved into one of the most important players in the mobile space afterwards.

  Under Nadella, Microsoft has tackled mobile in a more meaningful way, refocusing its strategy so that it could become a major developer for more than Windows and Windows Phone. Today, the software giant's best services and products are also found on Android and iOS, the most important mobile platforms, and more have been added following high-profile acquisitions like Acompli and SwiftKey. Now, Microsoft adds Xamarin to its mobile portfolio, proving once again that it is dead serious about conquering mobile.

  Unlike other acquisitions, which have been about strengthening its own app portfolio, the Xamarin purchase is more about developers. If you are not familiar with it, Xamarin enables developers to "deliver fully native mobile app experiences to all major devices -- including iOS, Android, and Windows". As Microsoft says, developers can "easily share common app code across their iOS, Android and Windows apps while still delivering fully native experiences for each of the platforms".

  It is a good fit for Microsoft, as its presence now spans across all of the three aforementioned platforms. Not to mention that Xamarin leverages .NET, which is one of Microsoft's own creations, and it has already been integrated in products like Visual Studio, Azure and Office 365, as Microsoft points out.

  With the purchase of Xamarin, Microsoft is also getting a significant number of developer customers. The software giant says that Xamarin has over 15,000 users in 120 countries, with more than 100 of them being Fortune 500 companies. Furthermore, the tools offered by Xamarin have been used by more than 1.3 million "unique developers" across the globe, which is nothing short of impressive.

  "Top enterprises such as Alaska Airlines, Coca-Cola Bottling, Thermo Fisher, Honeywell and JetBlue use Xamarin, as do gaming companies like SuperGiant Games and Gummy Drop. Through Xamarin Test Cloud, all types of mobile developers -- C#, Objective-C, Java and hybrid app builders -- can also test and improve the quality of apps using thousands of cloud-hosted phones and devices. Xamarin was recently named one of the top startups that help run the Internet", explains Microsoft.

  Microsoft is likely to keep Xamarin alive, post-acquisition, because of its popularity with the developer crowd. But, the software giant says that it plans to make its "world class developer tools and services even better with deeper integration and seamless mobile app dev experiences". Microsoft is looking to offer the complete package for developers, with tools that allow them to do anything from writing code that works on all major platforms to serving content from the cloud.

  Microsoft says that it will offer more information about its plans regarding Xamarin at Build 2016 and Xamarin Evolve. Naturally, the software giant does not say what the value of its latest purchase is.

  Photo Credit: EDHAR/Shutterstock

  
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  Apple, encryption, iPhones, and the FBI plainly explained

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 2:01pm CET par Stephen Cobb

  

  Most Americans, and many of the world’s iPhone users, are now aware that a court order was filed on February 16 to compel Apple to assist the FBI in retrieving information from an iPhone. This was the phone uncovered in the aftermath of the mass shooting in San Bernardino in December last year. Apple objected to the FBI’s demands and very public legal maneuvering ensued.

  In this article I endeavor to explain some of the key issues that this situation raises, for both privacy and security, as they impact companies, consumers, and governments.

  Technical Matters

  To take the technical issues first, I’d like to clarify some terms that have been tossed around, such as encryption. The Apple iPhone can encrypt information stored on it, meaning the data are scrambled so that nobody can make sense of them without the key, like this: xmmib fmelkb. That is "Apple iPhone" encrypted with the Caesar cipher, to which the key is three, specifically shifting the alphabet by three letters. You could probably figure that out if you stared at it for a while; it’s a highly predictable substitution cipher, so a is always x and so on.

  Yet this illustrates a couple of important points. The FBI is not asking Apple to reveal or break the way the encryption process works on the iPhone, nor are they asking for the key (Apple does not have the key). The FBI wants Apple to remove impediments to guessing the key.

  Many of the encryption systems we use on digital devices today create very complex keys using random data and very long numbers. But there is a user element as well, a passphrase or passcode that we choose ourselves. On iPhones this began as a four-digit number, of which there are 10,000 possible combinations (10)⁴. With the iOS9 version of the operating system you can choose six digits, offering 1 million possible combinations (10)⁶. But letters are also allowed in passcodes now, vastly expanding the number of guesses it would take to crack a truly random passcode.

  For security conscious users, iOS allows up to 37 characters with the Custom Alphanumeric Code option. Drawing from 77 possible letters, numbers, and symbols that yields a staggering (77)³⁷ possibilities. On top of that, the OS includes a delay function that slows down any "brute forcing" of the passcode by a series of guesses. And if that were not enough, iOS is designed to erase the data on the phone after 10 wrong guesses.

  So how could the FBI get to the contents of this phone? By updating it with a specially crafted version of iOS that removes the lockout and delay functions, permitting the FBI to execute a highly automated series of guesses at high speed. Ironically, what makes this approach technically infeasible for the FBI, but feasible for Apple, is the company’s entire security strategy for its products: tight control over suppliers of hardware and software. That’s why most of us get all our apps from the Apple App Store. And it’s why Apple has the only digital identity that your iPhone will trust as a source for an iOS update.

  Precedent Setting

  So why is it a big deal for the FBI to ask Apple to go through with this? The request sounds quite reasonable if you frame it like this: "Please use your uniquely trusted identity to disable the protective features you created and thereby enable us to guess the passcode and get at the potentially life-saving evidence on just this one device". The problem that many technology companies have with this request is also, in my opinion, the strongest of Apple’s numerous objections: The "just this one device" claim.

  There is no technical or legal basis for saying this case is a one- off. If Apple complies with the current court order and creates a version of the OS that facilitates access to this one iPhone, it can be used on other iPhones. Other law enforcement agencies will join the line that is already forming to demand Apple’s assistance with other iPhones, and Apple will have no basis to refuse because that’s the way the legal system works.

  It’s called precedent and, while some FBI statements seem to imply that this case would not set a precedent, I am sure it would. I say this not as a lawyer, but as someone who has read the Department of Justice "Motion to Compel" filed on February 19. The agency’s argument that Apple should be compelled to comply with the court order makes extensive use of precedents arising from prior applications of the statute invoked by the FBI in this case: The All Writs Act of 1789.

  Don’t be distracted by that date. A lot of US case law regarding searches by the government is derived from the Fourth Amendment, which is almost as old as the All Writs Act. The FBI invoked that act because there is no US legislation that speaks to the role of computing device manufacturers in providing evidence to law enforcement investigations. For that matter, there is no clearly stated right to information privacy or data protection in the US constitution or any of its amendments. Absent legislation spelling out the obligations of innocent third parties to help law enforcement access evidence of a crime, the All Writs Act comes into play.

  A 1977 Supreme Court decision in the case of United States v. New York Telephone upheld the use of All Writs to compel a phone company to help the government track telephone activity related to an illegal gambling case (at a time when there were no statutory provisions for that). The government’s case against Apple relies heavily on that ruling and if Apple loses in court, a further precedent will be set, one that can be used in cases impacting many aspects of our digital life. Any number of agencies will have a strong legal basis for requiring any hardware and software makers to selectively turn off security features to assist government investigations.

  Global Context

  Right now, the outcome of FBI v. Apple is impossible to call, with George Washington University Law School professor Orin Kerr likening it to "a crazy-hard law school exam hypothetical in which a professor gives students an unanswerable problem just to see how they do". Yet, even as this case descends deeper into the weeds of US law, there are clearly implications for commerce, especially for companies with business overseas.

  Consider the current negotiations to create a "Privacy Shield" in place of the Safe Harbor arrangement under which companies were allowed to process and store the personal information of European data subjects in the US. Last October that agreement was deemed inadequate by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) because, in light of the Snowden revelations, the US appeared incapable of adequately protecting that information from surveillance by its own intelligence services (notably the NSA but also the FBI). US negotiators striving to put the new Privacy Shield in place are arguing that the US understands and respects the privacy concerns of its EU trading partners. I think that argument is harder to make if Apple loses.

  Something that could get easier if Apple loses, is the poaching of US business by companies and countries that can convince customers they are above the privacy-security fray. Some of that convincing is specious, given that the privacy laws in many countries include exemptions for law enforcement and national security interest.

  But the fact remains that the US does not currently offer its own citizens the same broad data protection that residents of EU countries enjoy. America’s alternative, a patchwork of statutes and case law, once acclaimed for fostering innovation, may end up smothering commerce if it gets torn again, by an FBI win in this case, or the next case (a case involving the hypothetical but inevitable arrival of phones that even the manufacturer cannot unlock).

  Photo Credit: Shutterstock/ymgerman

  Stephen Cobb has been researching information assurance and data privacy for more than 20 years, advising government agencies and some of the world's largest companies on information security strategy. Cobb also co-founded two successful IT security firms that were acquired by publicly-traded companies and is the author of several books and hundreds of articles on information assurance. He has been a Certified Information System Security Professional since 1996 and is based in San Diego as part of the ESET global research team.

  
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  Pawn shop phones contain left over personal data

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 1:48pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  If you buy a used mobile phone you could be getting more than you bargained for according to security software company Avast. It seems that some phone owners are inadvertently pawning their porn.

  Avast purchased 20 used smartphones from pawn shops in 4 cities -- New York, Paris, Barcelona and Berlin. The goal being to see if used phones are regularly being sold with previous owners’ personal information still retrievable on them.

  After buying the phones it used widely available free data recovery software to see what was on them. It discovered that 12 of the phones hadn't been wiped clean, even though shop owners assured the buyers they had been. On them were more than 1,200 photos, more than 200 photos containing adult content, 149 pictures of children, over 300 emails and text messages, identity details of two previous owners and what is described as a 'very adult' video.

  Of the phones that were factory reset, 50 percent still contained personal data as they were running an outdated version of Android that had an improperly functioning factory reset feature. Some of the previous owners had only deleted their files without doing a factory reset, which meant they could be recovered.

  "Through our research, we noticed that some people simply forget to delete their personal data and perform the factory reset before selling the device," says Gagan Singh, president of mobile at Avast Software. "To ensure that all data is removed, a user needs to overwrite the phone’s files. Without this, a user’s personal data could easily end up in the hands of the next owner of the phone. In the end, users are responsible for cleaning all sensitive and personal data from their devices prior to sale, and they should never rely on a shop owner to remove remaining data prior to reselling the phones".

  To find out more about the findings along with tips on how to dispose of an old phone safely on the Avast blog. You can also see an infographic of the findings below.

  

  Photo credit: Africa Studio / Shutterstock

  
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  Google's Project Shield protects news and human rights sites from DDoS attacks

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 1:28pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  The web facilitates free speech, but it also gives groups the opportunity to try to silence those they disagree with. DDoS attacks are common way to retaliate against opposing views, and today Google is expanding Project Shield to protect sites from such attacks.

  Project Shield is not a new service, but it has been limited to a group of testers since its launch a few years back. Designed to detect and eliminate "DDoS as a form of censorship" the free service is now available to everyone -- those who qualify, at least. The aim is to protect news and human rights sites to ensure uninterrupted access to news and information.

  It's not a service that is being made available to everyone. Google explains that "Project Shield welcomes applications from websites serving news. Human rights and or elections monitoring content are also welcome to apply. We do not provide service to other types of content, including gaming, businesses, or individual blogs". The company highlights ease of use, pointing out that the necessary DNS record changes can be made by a webmaster in a matter of minutes.

  The expansion will bring Project Shield to tens of thousands of human rights and news sites, helping to protect journalism and promote free speech:

  A simple, inexpensive distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack can be carried out by almost anyone with access to a computer -- and take a site completely offline before its owners even know they've been attacked.

  These attacks threaten free expression and access to information -- two of Google's core values. So a few years ago we created Project Shield, an effort that uses Google’s security infrastructure to detect and filter attacks on news and human rights websites. Now we're expanding Project Shield beyond our trusted testers, and opening it up to all the world’s news sites to protect them from DDoS attacks and eliminate DDoS as a form of censorship.

  Check out Google's introductory video to find out more about Project Shield:

  If you want to protect your site, you can sign up at the Project Shield website.

  
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  HP teams up with iPass to offer global Wi-Fi across select devices, including those running Windows 10

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 1:26pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Among the downsides of traveling, is limited access to Wi-Fi. Finding hotspots becomes a priority, leaving travelers scrambling for places like Starbucks and various other cafes, libraries and, well...any port in a storm. Wi-Fi is becoming more ubiquitous, though.

  Now HP is looking to help out those using its devices, including both tablets and laptops. The company is extending its partnership with iPass Inc to bring connectivity to what it terms "select devices". Previously this was only available in the Asia-Pacific region, but it is now expanding worldwide.

  "We’ve heard from our customers that as they become increasingly mobile, they need affordable, seamless connectivity no matter where they are located across the globe", says Michael Park, vice president and general manager of Mobility, HP Inc. "We are excited to continue our collaboration with iPass to bring its global Wi-Fi network to our customers, so they can keep doing amazing things and stay connected in more places".

  This is available to customers purchasing certain devices and it must be activated within 12 months of the purchase date. Depending on the product, you could get one, two, or three years. When that runs out you will need to purchase an iPass plan. The network claims to offer "millions of hotspots".

  
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  Samsung unveils speedy 256GB Universal Flash mobile storage -- will Apple use it for iPhone 7?

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 12:46pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  Last year, I bought my first iPhone. Shockingly, the base model still came with a paltry 16GB of storage. Since this was my first-ever such Apple smartphone, I decided to go nuts and splurge on the massive 128GB. Since I store my photos in the cloud, and stream music and movies, I have come nowhere near filling it up. I should have bought the 64GB, but I digress.

  Of course, my situation is not the same as everyone else -- some people truly need 128GB or more. Unfortunately, Apple does not offer more than 128GB -- yet. This may change, however, as Samsung announces crazy fast 256-Gigabyte Universal Flash Storage for mobile. The high performance should make these 256GB modules very popular with manufacturers. This will certainly show up in Android devices, but could Apple select it for the upcoming iPhone 7?

  "The new Samsung UFS memory satisfies needs for ultra-fast speed, large data capacity and compact chip size in high-end smartphones. It is based on the company's most advanced V-NAND flash memory chips and a specially-designed high-performance controller. The UFS memory handles up to 45,000 and 40,000 input/output operations per second (IOPS) for random reading and writing respectively, over two times faster than the 19,000 and 14,000 IOPS of the previous generation of UFS memory", says Samsung.

  The company further says, "for sequential reading, the 256GB UFS takes advantage of two lanes of data transfer to move data at up to 850MB/s, which is nearly twice as fast as a typical SATA-based SSD used in PCs. In terms of sequential writing, it supports up to 260MB/s, which is approximately three times faster than high-performance external micro SD cards".

  Holy cow, folks. While cutting-edge NVMe desktop solid state drives are much faster, Samsung's 256GB mobile storage beats out traditional SATA SSDs in read speeds. In a world where many desktop computers still have mechanical hard disk drives and older SATA SSDs, smartphones could soon offer better disk performance. Even if you don't need 256GB of storage, the speed alone may make it worthwhile.

  This not only has big implications for smartphones and tablets when used as mobile devices, but will improve performance with convergence too. In other words, if using a mobile device as a desktop -- when connected to a monitor, keyboard and mouse -- ever takes off with consumers, technology like this will make it particularly great.

  The big question is, of course -- will Apple use this in the upcoming iPhone 7? What do you think? Tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  Google Chromecast could come built into future TVs

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 12:19pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Google’s Chromecast is a nifty piece of kit. The $35 dongle lets you stream content from your smartphone or tablet to the big screen. It’s great for casting TV shows, movies, music, sports, games and more.

  At the moment you need to purchase a dongle and attach it to your set via HDMI to use this functionality, but in the future that step might not be required as Google is reportedly looking to partner with TV manufacturers to offer Chromecast-like functionality natively.

  According to Variety, Vizio will be Google’s first partner in this venture, and it will produce smart TVs that won’t come with any apps but rather will rely on external Android devices to connect to the TV and beam streaming content from the likes of Netflix and Hulu onto the big screen.

  Variety, which claims to have heard about the plans from "multiple sources familiar with the collaboration" says that the TVs may not come with a traditional remote, but rather a dedicated Android tablet that will be bundled with media apps and a programming guide that will provide content recommendations.

  The first sets are expected to arrive as early as this Spring.

  This kind of approach actually makes a lot of sense, and could be a smart way for Google to make serious inroads into the living room.

  
• 

  Tim Cook goes off-script describing FBI iPhone backdoor request as 'cancer'

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 12:16pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Say what you like about Apple, one thing is for sure -- it is one of the most scripted and tightly-controlled companies in existence. Everything is stage-managed to within an inch of its existence. Leaks about upcoming releases are rare, and there is a tight rein on the media and who has access to its products for review. So when the FBI asked Apple to unlock the iPhone of the San Bernardino shooter it was hardly surprising that the company was a little shaken and unprepared.

  This was a media situation Apple was not in control of. Tim Cook has gone on the offensive in recent days, defending his company's decision not to help the FBI, and in a new interview with ABC News the CEO referred to the request to unlock the phone as requiring "software that we view as sort of the equivalent of cancer" -- something of a shocking thing to say when you consider the cause of death of his predecessor, Steve Jobs.

  Talking to ABC News anchor David Muir, Cook defended his decision not to comply with the FBI's requests, saying "we need to stand tall, and stand tall on principle". But many will be somewhat taken aback by his decision to describe the software the FBI is asking Apple to write as being the "equivalent of cancer". In the wake of Steve Jobs' death -- the ripples of which can still be felt -- it will be seen as a glib, offhand, bad taste comment.

  One can only imagine the repercussions for a more-lowly Apple employee caught saying the same to the media. But of course his time it's ok, because it's Tim Cook. He can get away with anything.

  Apple's argument against working with the FBI has altered slightly since the issue first arose. Cook managed to get a lot of undecided people on board -- as well as publicizing the issue -- with his open letter that made endless references to encryption and Apple's unwillingness to compromise user security and privacy. He is now using rather different language to make his point. In addition to his cancer reference, he said:

  I think safety of the public is incredibly important -- safety of our kids, safety of our family is very important. The protection of people's data is incredibly important, and so the trade-off here is we know that doing this could expose people to incredible vulnerabilities.

  Apple is using this as a PR platform. It may care about the principles involved, it may not. What's important is that it is seen to care. So why won’t Apple write backdoor software for the FBI?

  We think it’s bad news to write. We would never write it. We have never written it [...] This is not something we would create. This would be bad for America. It would also set a precedent that I believe many people in America would be offended by.

  He then shifts from PR mode to fear-mongering mode:

  If a court can ask us to write this piece of software, think about what else they could ask us to write -- maybe it's an operating system for surveillance, maybe the ability for the law enforcement to turn on the camera. I don't know where this stops. But I do know that this is not what should be happening in this country.

  By all means support Apple's stance. By all means agree with not granting the FBI backdoor access to data. But never forget that Apple is using this to its advantage. It's free advertising, and Cook is lapping it up.

  Photo credit: Marco Prati / Shutterstock

  
• 

  IObit Malware Fighter 4 arrives

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 11:10am CET par Mike Williams

  

  IObit has announced the release of IObit Malware Fighter 4, with what looks like some major improvements in protection.

  A new IObit anti-malware engine and a 10x larger database aim to detect and remove even more threats.

  An intelligent cache scanning mechanism has "dramatically enhanced the scan speed".

  A new quarantine method offers more reliable file removal and easier restore.

  The paid edition of Malware Fighter also uses the latest Bitdefender engine for more comprehensive protection.

  The interface has been mildly revamped for improved ease of use, and it certainly looks good to us.

  Real-time protection and the Browser Protect feature have both been "enhanced", apparently -- although IObit hasn’t spelled out the precise details -- and the package now offers full support for Windows 10. Which is fortunate.

  IObit Malware Fighter 4 is available as a free and $19.95 paid package for Windows XP and later.

  
• 

  ISIS threatens Dorsey and Zuckerberg for closing terrorist Twitter and Facebook accounts

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 11:02am CET par Mark Wilson

  

  ISIS is many things including being a master manipulator of the media and an expert at utilizing social media. Facebook and Twitter have been key tools in the group's propaganda dissemination, and the social networks have reacted by closing down accounts whack-a-mole style.

  Now Islamic State has released a video in response to the censorship. It depicts Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey riddled with bullets as "the sons of the Caliphate army" threaten to fight back against account closures.

  Facebook and Twitter do not stand alone in trying to sweep ISIS from the web. Google has also said that it wants to drive the group to the dark web, but for now Sundar Pichai doesn’t appear to be targeted. The 25-minute video pokes fun at the social networks' attempts to wipe out terrorist content, saying:

  If you close one account we will take 10 in return and soon your names will be erased after we delete you[r] sites, Allah willing, and will know that we say is true.

  The footage shows what appears to be hacking of Facebook and Twitter accounts, and it includes the claim that ISIS is currently in control of no fewer than 10,000 Facebook accounts, 150 Facebook groups and 5,000 Twitter accounts. Twitter says that it has already terminated 125,000 terrorism-related accounts, but it is not clear if this is reflected in the numbers claimed by ISIS.

  Despite the menacing nature of the video, a Twitter spokesperson told the Guardian that it will not be responding to it because such threats are now so common.

  It just happens all the time. Welcome to our everyday life.

  
• 

  ASUS' routers will be audited for 20 years

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 10:19am CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Taiwanese hardware manufacturer Asus has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges, the agency reported on Tuesday. Back in 2014, it was discovered that Asus’ routers had poor security protocols, putting hundreds of thousands of users’ data at risk.

  Under the settlement, Asus will have to establish and maintain a comprehensive security program, subject to independent audits for the next 20 years. The FTC said the vulnerabilities allowed attackers to gain access to at least 12,900 routers.

  "The Internet of Things is growing by leaps and bounds, with millions of consumers connecting smart devices to their home networks", Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection said in a written statement. "Routers play a key role in securing those home networks, so it’s critical that companies like ASUS put reasonable security in place to protect consumers and their personal information".

  Back in 2014, thousands of Asus routers were compromised, and whoever did it, left a text file on the device, explaining what happened.

  "Your Asus router (and your documents) can be accessed by anyone in the world with an Internet connection", the good Samaritan hacker told the owners.

  The complaint said that Asus password protection was often too easy to bypass, using a couple of techniques, including the specially crafted URL that was supposed to be accessed only after logging in, or by exploiting cross-site request forgery, to name a few.

  The agency alleges that ASUS did not address these security flaws on time, and failed to notify its users about the risks these vulnerable routers pose.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: ollyy/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Facebook has missed a trick or two with its limited Reactions

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 10:08am CET par Mark Wilson

  

  After years of pestering, yesterday Facebook finally supplemented the famous Like button with five additional Reactions. To the disappointment of many, the much-requested Dislike button is yet to make an appearance, but this is not the only way in which the social network has let people down.

  Advertisers, page owners, and the general Facebook hoi polloi now have at their disposal six reactions that serve little useful purpose. Sure, it gives users the opportunity to express a slightly wider range of emotion, but the range is far too limited. Additionally, Facebook has let down its paying users more seriously -- it fails to register the meaning and intent behind the different reactions, rendering the six options almost pointless.

  Like, Love, Haha, Wow, Sad, and Angry. These six options have the most basic human responses covered. But in deciding not to use Reactions to grade or rate posts in any way, Facebook has reduced what could have been a genuinely useful feature to something that is largely cosmetic. Facebook has long made use of Like data to influence what appears in users' timelines. You would expect the same to be done with Reactions in a far more nuanced way, but no. The company said:

  In the beginning, it won’t matter if someone likes, "wows" or "sads" a post -- we will initially use any Reaction similar to a Like to infer that you want to see more of that type of content.

  Now it could be argued that selecting the Angry reaction is not necessarily indicative of not wanting to see a particular type of post or posts from a particular person. Regardless, Facebook's decision to treat every Reaction as a Like is just a bit weird, particularly when you consider the fact that there are two clearly negative options there -- Sad and Angry.

  Of course the key words in Facebook's statement are 'in the beginning'. It opens up the possibility for change, and it's probable that Facebook is working on how best to deal with the Reaction data that is undoubtedly now flooding in. How should it deal with an Angry response? Perhaps some people like to see posts that make them angry! Are more Reactions needed to allow users to better express themselves with a click, and to allow Facebook to gather more useful data that it can use more helpfully?

  This certainly seems to be the initial reaction to Reactions -- there just aren't enough of them.

  It's a feeling echoed by advertisers who would have liked a way to make meaningful use of user reactions. For now, an indication that a user finds a post or ad funny means the same as a regular Like. Gathering data about negative reactions to things would be helpful not only to advertisers, but also Facebook itself. It's all well and good being able to determine who Likes something and using that information to deliver similar content to them, but how about genuine tailoring that takes into account dislikes as well?

  Even though Reactions have undergone testing in certain parts of the world, the feature still feels as though it is being released unfinished. A case of too little too soon perhaps? Or maybe Facebook is taking a leaf out of Google and Microsoft's book and putting users to work as permanent beta testers.

  Photo credit: N Azlin Sha / Shutterstock

  
• 

  My journey from iPad Pro lemon to Apple lemonade [sixth in a series]

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 3:30am CET par Joe Wilcox

  

  My previous post in this series begins: "I cannot presently recommend Apple's big-ass tablet as a laptop replacement—using the official-issue Smart Keyboard". The statement is retracted.

  Apple PR contacted me after the story published, asserting that the short battery life I experienced was abnormal behavior. Seeing as it was the last day to return iPad Pro under T-Mobile's buyer's remorse policy, I took the assertion at face value and returned the rig. The exchange interrupted my plans to use the tablet as my primary PC for a month. From today, the clock resets to zero, and I start over.

  Do-Over

  To recap: Apple positions its largest and costliest tablet as a laptop replacement. Call me a skeptical but willing test subject. I see the potential, much as I did with Chromebook five years ago when embarking on a smiliar experiment. Later, I adopted the Chromie lifestyle after the platform matured enough to provide adequate webapps for my needs.

  With respect to apps, iOS is considerably more mature, but the utility of a tablet turned PC differs drastically from a laptop with browser as primary user interface. However, with battery life consistently clocking four hours with keyboard attached but taking more than six to recharge, iPad Pro was a non-starter as laptop replacement. The second unit delivers vastly better battery performance.

  My first tablet was a lemon. It happens.

  Battery life is exceptional, whether or not using Smart Keyboard—but remarkable without it. The difference disturbs me and raises concerns about any product reviews: How broad are the variances among any mobile devices, regardless of manufacturer? iOS versions and apps are identical on both devices, and I swapped keyboards, too. I now can get a full workday from the kit and several more when used only as a tablet.

  Standby impresses, too. I let the tablet set all day yesterday. Twenty-four hours later, battery depleted to 94 percent from full. Putting praise aside, most modern laptops, particularly in similar price range, will outlast iPad Pro and Smart Keyboard.

  I start over. February 24th is the new Day One in my quest to use iPad Pro as my primary, and perhaps at some point only, PC. Like Chromebook, the overly-large tablet isn't for everyone, and maybe not most anyone. Apple has produced a reference design for its vision of the so-called post-PC era. Quirks are aplenty, and the app platform must, ah, expand to meet the screen's 12.9 inches. Future posts will expand the themes.

  Hardware Specs

  Apple manufactures three configuration: 32GB and 128GB WiFi, for $799 and $949, respectively;  128GB WiFi and LTE, for $1,079. All three are available in gold, space grey, or silver. Mine, like the first, is the cellular config in grey. For anyone purchasing iPad Pro to do serious productivity work, I recommend 128GB. Most buyers will also want either the $99 Pencil (for drawing) or $169 Smart Keyboard (for typing), if not both.

  Configuration: 12.9-inch multi-touchscreen, 2732-by-2048 resolution at 264 pixels per inch and 424-nit brightness; Apple A9X microprocessor and M9 graphics; 4GB RAM; 32GB or 128GB non-expandable storage; two microphones; four speakers (two on each screen-flanking bezel); 8-megapixel, f/2.4 rear camera that also records 1080p video at 30 frames per second; 1.2MP f/2.2 front camera that shoots 720p vids; fingerprint reader; WiFi ac; Bluetooth 4.2; cellular with assisted GPS and GLONASS (one model); accelerometer; ambient-light sensor; barometer; compass; gyroscope; proximity sensors.

  iPad Pro measures 305.7 x 220.6 x 6.9 mm (12 x 8.68 x .27 inches). The cellular plus WiFi variant weights 723 grams (1.59 pounds), while the non-LTE tab is 10 grams less (1.57 pounds). However, Apple’s Smart Keyboard cover makes the heft more like 12-inch MacBook, which weighs 920 grams (2.03 pounds).

  Apple's Smart Keyboard doubles as a stand, but the angle is fixed. I find it to be perfect, and I touch-type with ease. The front-facing camera is poorly placed, however. In keeping with the design of iPhone and smaller iPads, the thang is meant to be used in portrait mode, which is unwieldily given the tablet's size and sideways fit into the keyboard kit. I understand the reasoning for conforming with the other iOS devices' design and apps primed for it. But the front camera would be better placed center-top in landscape mode, rather than portrait.

  News to Me

  At this stage of my retesting, content consumption is the killer application. This is the device for which Apple's News app was made for. Presentation is fantastic. Clicking any headline expands the story into pleasing format that typically exceeds the source's original presentation.

  The longer I use iPad Pro, the more time I spend in News than any other app. My written-word consumption is way, way up, while my RSS feeder use is way, way down. The reading experience is personal and intimate in ways I can't easily describe. For now.

  Discreet content apps benefit, too. Pinch and zoom is rarely necessary now. Websites, but more particularly news and magazine apps, are life-size readable in portrait mode. The expansive screen and 4:3 aspect ratio elevate iPad Pro above any other devices used to read anything from any source.

  Video is as good, if not better, regardless from where. Rendering is smooth, colors are vibrant, and the speakers deliver warm audio and dynamic soundstage.

  As the retesting continues, I will get nitty-gritty into app usability and finally will discuss the Pencil's benefits. But for Day 1 re-do, that's a wrap.

  This post is the sixth in a series; Parts One, Two, Three, Four, and Five.

  Photo Credit: Joe Wilcox

  
• 

  Typing with fingers is so passé! Google enhances 'voice typing' in Docs for Chrome

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 1:28am CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  In the classic film, Back to the Future II, some children remark to the main character that his use of hands to play a classic video game is essentially uncool and lame. In the real future, maybe mind-controlled input for games and apps will become a mainstream reality, but in the interim, mice, keyboards and game pads will reign supreme for computing overall.

  A less futuristic alternative to using hands is dictation -- computers converting speech to text. Solutions have been offered for quite some time, but only in recent years have they become fairly usable and reliable. Google has been a huge proponent of voice, and today, the company announces it is enhancing 'voice typing' in Docs for Chrome to be much more than just dictation.

  "We launched Voice typing in Docs to help you capture ideas, compose a letter, or even write the next great novel—all without touching your keyboard. Starting today, you can also edit and format your documents with your voice. To get started, select 'Voice typing' in the 'Tools' menu when you're using Docs in Chrome. Say what comes to mind -- then start editing and formatting with commands like 'copy', 'insert table', and 'highlight'", says Isaiah Greene, Product Manager, Google.

  Greene further says, "check out the full list of commands in our Help Center or simply say 'Voice commands help' when you're voice typing. It's a quick and easy way to get ideas out of your head, and into a doc. So try out Voice typing (and editing and formatting) today".

  As you can see in the above video, it is surprisingly easy and intuitive. I am rather impressed by how well it works. With that said, with the exception of users with a handicap, I don't see the value over using a keyboard and mouse/trackpad. Hardcore typists and writers may be frustrated by this. More importantly, office workers, who share spaces with others, will probably annoy the hell out of coworkers.

  Do you see value in using voice beyond dictation, for things like editing and formatting? Would this help or hurt your productivity? Tell me in the comments.

  Image Credit: www.BillionPhotos.com / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Latest Amazon Fire TV update appears to break Harmony remote, but doesn't

  Publié: février 25, 2016, 12:57am CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Earlier today we told you about Amazon's latest roll out of updates, bringing new software to both the first generation Fire TV and the Kindle reader. While Kindle adds a new home screen, Fire TV introduces both Amazon Echo control, though it isn't quite what you think, and a new video section to guide you along the way.

  While the new software improves things quite a bit, there can be a dark side to these updates. Sometimes they just simply break things, mostly in unexpected ways.

  One such problem has cropped up since we updated the Fire TV earlier today. If you are using a Harmony remote control then, first of all, you have a great remote, but second, it is going to seem broken.

  After the update has installed and your set-top box has rebooted, you will get a strange message when you grab the Harmony remote. A box pops up that tells you "Fire TV remote or game controller not detected". Yes, it isn't because you aren't using it, no mystery there.

  Don't worry too much about this. While annoying, you can simply click "OK" and things will work just fine. It's a bit odd that it comes up, given that the device had to recognize the remote in order to go to the app and throw the message up.

  Though it's a bit of a pain, it doesn't really slow you down, aside from that extra click. For now, you will have to live with that, but likely it will be updated soon.

  
• 

  I'm going to let you into a little secret about Windows 10

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 10:05pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Wait for it... wait for it... For all of the criticism I have levelled at Microsoft, I actually rather like Windows 10. It is, of course, not without its faults, but in the main it's a solid operating system and a reasonable upgrade from Windows 8.1. I have a (well-earned) reputation for negativity, cynicism, and pessimism, so what's with the sudden burst of positivity?

  In reality, nothing has changed, but I've settled into my stride. Rather than battling the bits I hate (and there are still plenty), I've learned to turn a blind eye. I've realized that I was trying to fit Windows 10, rather than making Windows 10 fit me. There's still plenty I don't like, but by simply learning not to focus on them, I've come to like the operating system much more. As with so many things in life, it's all about how you use it.

  I've made quite a lot of complaints about Windows 10. Let's face it, I have grumbled endlessly about it. That’s just the way I am; it's in my nature to be critical and negative. But having used Windows 10 for around a year now, I've decided that there's no need to get hung up on the bits I'm less keen on. This might seem a bit backward, but in order to move forward, I've decided to look back at the complaints I've made, and see how my opinion has changed.

  Modern apps

  I still don't like them. Not one little bit. Simple solution: don’t use the buggers! Easy and obvious -- like all the best solutions. I wish I could find something to love, but I can't. As the old adage goes, 'if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all'. So I'll say nothing about modern apps. They need not impact on my life in the slightest.

  Start menu

  I'll level with you: for all of the excitement that surrounded the return of the Start menu, I rarely find cause to use it. Maybe it's because I'm organized, or maybe it's because I don't -- generally -- have the need to use very many different applications, but it's a very rare occurrence for me to fire up the Start menu.

  I can't imagine, really, that I'm all that different to most people. I use a web browser (Chrome) for just about everything -- perhaps this says something about life in the cloud -- and writing is taken care of by Word. Image editing is catered for by the simply brilliant Paint.NET, I play the occasional game in BrettSpielWelt, I browse my hard drive with File Explorer, and I chat with my colleagues using Slack. That really is about it. My needs are pretty basic. Oh, there's also Snagit for screen grabbing.

  The taskbar is home to all of the shortcuts I need on a daily basis. There are few extras thrown in such as a shortcut to Settings, one to Edge (in case, heaven's preserve us, I ever need to use it), and one to Notepad (oh yes... keeping it old school!). Should I need to use Excel, Firefox, or something else, then I can hit the Start button.

  In terms of finding files -- I just know where things are! I'm organized, and my folder structure is such that it never takes me long to track down what I need -- it would almost certainly take me longer to perform searches through the Start menu.

  So, for the most part, I simply ignore the Start menu. It's an arrangement that suits us both down to the ground.

  Microsoft Edge

  My opinion hasn’t changed: Edge still looks like a kindergarten browser. It's still not only horrible-looking, but also lacking in features. Microsoft is working on bringing the features users are asking for, but my interest has already been lost. For now, I'll simply ignore Edge in the same way I did Internet Explorer.

  Start menu tiles

  Still something I completely fail to understand the need for, but if they bring joy to certain people, so be it. I'll continue to give them a wide berth. I've already explained how little time I spend in the Start menu, so Live Tiles and static modern app tiles are not seen very often. When I do fire up the Start menu, I might be irritated by a couple of tiles and delete them. I'm slowly whittling through them -- eventually they'll all be gone!

  Action center

  My loathing of the Windows 10 Mobile-style tile has waned slightly. I still don’t regard this as a triumph of design, but I can appreciate the neat simplicity. It provides handy way to toggle Bluetooth and adjust screen brightness, but I really do wish the problem with the incorrect reporting of Airplane mode could be addressed.

  Cortana

  Not important --another feature I find very, very easy to ignore these days. I just fail to see the point, so why get hung up on it. Move on... there's nothing to see here!

  Privacy

  Who am I kidding? I'm embedded in Google -- I'm used to (although still not entirely comfortable with) the idea of my personal data being collected for the purposes of advertising, personalization of experience and so on. With Google, it has been known about for years... it's what Google is about, after all. Somehow it felt different with Microsoft. Microsoft wasn't supposed to be playing these sorts of games, and when it cropped up in Windows 10 it felt, well, kind of dirty really.

  I'm still not fully reconciled with Windows 10's privacy and telemetry issues, but this is more to do with Microsoft's initial lack of transparency and the absolute fudge it made of communicating with users. Considering I have basically sold my soul to Google in using Gmail, Google Drive and Android, who am I to take umbrage with Microsoft. It's just taken some getting used to, that's all.

  I guess there's also the fact that it is much easier to find an alternative to Google products if I so chose. When it comes to Windows, sure I could switch to Linux or OS X -- I have done before, but I've come back for one reason or another -- but there's nothing quite like Windows in terms of usability, compatibility and familiarity.

  Settings vs Control Panel

  I'll be straight with you -- this is one gripe I'm having trouble letting go of. It still irks me that I have to go to different places to access different settings, but I appreciate that it's not the end of the world. I will occasional get caught off guard when Settings unceremoniously dumps me back into the Control Panel, but then I am fairly easily riled. This is one I'll have to continue to work on, as I hope that Microsoft is working on a way to combine the two into one neat repository for settings. Here's hoping... but I won't be holding my breath.

  I'm interested to know if I'm alone in finding that my view of Windows 10 has softened over the months. There are still things that take me by surprise, new revelations that take be aback, but for the most part I have made my peace with Windows 10 -- have you done the same?

  I can't promise that I won't bitch and moan again in future (what can I say? C'est moi!) but my base level opinion of Windows 10 has crept up.

  
• 

  Majority of data breaches occur in US

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 8:41pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  There have been 1,673 data breaches last year. They have led to 707 million data records being compromised. Those are the results of a new report by digital security firm Gemalto, entitled Breach Level Index.

  The Breach Level Index tracks all data breaches worldwide, looking at their size, severity, as well as the number of records compromised.

  Since the company began tracking data breaches in 2013, more than 3.6 billion data records have been exposed, Gemalto said. Last year, malicious outsiders were the number one source of these breaches, accounting for 58 percent. Accidental loss accounted for 36 percent, state-sponsored attacks two percent, and malicious insiders accounted for 14 percent.

  Looking at compromised records, malicious outsiders accounted for 38 percent, state-sponsored attacks for 15 percent and malicious insiders 7 percent.

  The majority of breaches (77 percent) occurred in North America, with 59 percent of those being in the United States.

  Europe accounted for 12 percent, and Asia Pacific for eight percent.

  "In 2014, consumers may have been concerned about having their credit card numbers stolen, but there are built-in protections to limit the financial risks", said Jason Hart, vice president and chief technology officer for data protection at Gemalto.

  "However, in 2015 criminals shifted to attacks on personal information and identity theft, which are much harder to remediate once they are stolen. As companies and devices collect ever-increasing amounts of customer information and as consumers’ online digital activities become more diverse and prolific, more data about what they do, who they are and what they like is at risk to be stolen from the companies that store their data. If consumers’ entire personal data and identities are being co-opted again and again by cyber thieves, trust will increasingly become the centerpiece in the calculus of which companies they do business with", added Hart.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: elwynn/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Windows 10 Insider Preview Redstone Build 14271 arrives on the Fast ring, and there's an update for Mobile too

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 7:22pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14267 arrived on the Fast ring 6 days ago and brought some very welcome improvements with it, including three additions to Microsoft Edge, although sadly still no support for extensions.

  Today Microsoft rolls out another Fast ring update, Build 14271, and also an update for Mobile, Build 14267.1004. This is the first time the software giant has released new builds for PC and mobile on the same day.

  Starting with the PC build, there’s not a lot of new content to report but the frequency with which Windows asks for feedback is now locked to "Automatically (Recommended)" in the Settings app and managed by the Insider Program.

  Aside from that, the new build fixes a raft of issues:

  • Fixed an issue where the window borders on apps would change from accent color to black after every upgrade to a new build.
  • Updated the music control icons that are shown in taskbar previews in music apps like Groove to look more crisp and clean at higher resolutions.
  • Fixed an issue where the taskbar would sometimes not auto-hide and show unexpectedly on top of full screen windows such as showing above a PowerPoint presentation when in slideshow mode.
  • Fixed an issue where the "Hide notifications while presenting" setting preference is lost after upgrading to a new build.
  • The entire app header in Action Center is now right-clickable instead of just the app name or "x".
  • Now easier to dismiss all notifications from a specific app in Action Center by increasing the target area to encompass the entire app header.
  • Fixed an issue where interaction notifications would not show a button to input text in some cases.
  • Fast user switching should work now with Picture Password.
  • Fixed an issue where some desktop (Win32) apps look missing from Start.
  • Fixed an issue where the accent color does not automatically change when the slideshow option is chosen for your desktop background.

  But of course this is a Fast ring release, so there are some known problems to contend with too.

  • Microsoft is tracking an issue reported by Insiders where some PCs will freeze or bluescreen when resuming from hibernation. Disabling hibernation is a workaround in some cases until this is fixed.
  • If you have Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Internet Security, or the Kaspersky Total Security Suite installed on your PC there is a known driver bug that prevents these programs from working as expected in builds from the Development Branch. Microsoft is partnering with Kaspersky to fix this issue for a future release, but at this time there are no known workarounds. While this issue is present, we recommend using Windows Defender or another third party anti-virus product of your choice to remain protected.
  • Turning on the "always show all icons in the notification area" setting disrupts the layout of the notification area ("systray").
  • When browsing in Microsoft Edge, charts displayed using D3.js library will not display correctly -- e.g. render as black, positioned incorrectly. Known affected sites are Cortana, Bing.com, and PowerBI.com.

  As for the new Mobile build, this is essentially the same as the one Microsoft released last Friday, but fixes the problem of the Lumia 550 not charging or connecting via USB, and overcomes the issue of Visual Voicemail notifications failing to happen.

  The new build also contains one new feature -- the addition of Visual Voicemail for dual-SIM devices, such as the dual-SIM Lumia 950 XL. This was included in the Friday build, but because of the bug didn’t work correctly.

  There are some known issues for this build too:

  • If you have the Windows Feedback app pinned to Start, after upgrading from Build 10586.107 it will no longer show as pinned.
  • Microsoft is seeing reports from Windows Insiders of issues connecting to wireless displays and is investigating.
  • When using Continuum on the Lumia 950 XL the trackpad experience is not working correctly.

  Photo credit: charnsitr / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Alexa, find updates for Amazon Fire TV and Kindle

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 7:03pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  We knew updates were on the way to various Amazon products, but with a gradual roll out it was hard to say when things would arrive. Today the waiting is over, as both Fire TV and Kindle picked up the latest updates from the retail giant.

  So what is in the cards for these updates? Well, lots of cool things that can prove useful to the company's multitude of customers.

  We'll start with Amazon's Fire TV, the set-top box that takes on other heavyweights like Roku in this increasingly competitive market.

  To begin with you get a new "Your video" menu option, which consolidates the left side of the screen a bit. The option does as the name states and shows the latest offerings, a watchlist and your video library. There are also multiple Prime categories and a message at the bottom letting you know that you're subscribed to the service.

  This update also introduces Alexa to Fire TV -- you can access this by holding down the speaker button on your remote control. That's already possible with the actual Echo remote, but it doesn't work with third-party controllers like Harmony. Sadly, you can't just ask Alexa to search the device for content.

  

  As for the Kindle update, a quick walk-through of what's new reveals a home screen that now claims to improve navigation, help you find books and keeps track of what you wish to read. The update will walk you through all of the features and the appearance will be slightly different when you access the device for the first time.

  

  These updates may or may not have yet made it to your devices, but if you haven't received them then just sit tight, as it's all on the way.

  
• 

  Former employees are a major security threat

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 6:59pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  If you’re a business owner in the UK, chances are a good portion of your workers are looking for the first opportunity to ditch you.

  According to a new report by Ilex International, the identity and access management firm, 59 percent of workers are looking for a new job in 2016. Two reasons are behind this: first that the majority feels underpaid, and the second is that the economy is improving and better prospects are out there.

  But that’s not the issue Ilex is tackling -- it’s saying that people leaving work are a security threat for the company staying behind. That’s why the company is urging businesses to put strict security controls in place.

  According to Ilex’s report, entitled Staff migration: The security impact to business, 39 percent of large businesses take up to a month to close dormant accounts, leaving a lot of room for opportunistic hackers and disgruntled workers to strike.

  Large businesses are doing somewhat better -- 58 percent remove access to data on the day, or even a day before departure.

  The company urges businesses to shut down inactive accounts fast, to focus on protecting key data, to track and audit data access and implement a strong identity and access management solution.

  "Disgruntled employees or partners are unlikely to wait until a month after leaving to access confidential company information. Access is likely to be sought in a matter of days", warned Thierry Bettini, director of international strategy at Ilex International. "The findings highlight the importance of having a system in place that helps close inactive accounts immediately".

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: Olivier Le Moal / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Samsung using Android to fight breast cancer

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 6:48pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  Cancer sucks. All variants of the scourge are terrible, but for women breast cancer is one of the worst.

  Luckily, there are many resources being focused on curing and treating cancer. Today, Samsung announces a partnership with the American Cancer Society, and a company called Breezie, to support a pilot aimed at fighting breast cancer with specialized Android tablets. This pilot, called MyJourney Compass, will provide focused and relevant information to individual breast cancer patients.

  "Samsung's Galaxy Tab devices and KNOX security platform are essential to ensuring that patients are confident about the ease of use and the security of their personal data. The American Cancer Society's curated and easily distributable custom content will share information about treatment options, updates from an online support group, and news about the latest clinical trials on a highly personalized basis. Breast cancer patients will now have access to all of the information they need to improve their health and achieve better outcomes", says Samsung.

  Chuck Westbrook, Senior Vice President, Cancer Control Programs and Services for the American Cancer Society explains, "The American Cancer Society is excited to collaborate with Samsung and Breezie to improve the quality of life of breast cancer patients by providing easy access to educational tools and resources as they transition from diagnosis to treatment and through recovery. In addition to hospital resources, American Cancer Society content including treatment options, information on managing the physical and emotional side effects of cancer, and connections to local and online resources".

  

  Samsung shares the following patient benefits.

  • Patients in the pilot will have tailored information about their specific condition pushed out to them through the Breezie interface on their Samsung Galaxy Tab device.
  • Patients can monitor their long-term health and receive information on latest therapies and medical advances with just a few taps on their Samsung tablets.
  • Patients will be able to contact and collaborate with their medical team giving family members and caregivers the peace of mind knowing that their loved ones are getting the personalized care they need.
  • Patients will also have access to all apps available through the Android store using the Breezie interface

  This partnership is really heartwarming. What makes it particularly impressive, however, is seeing the Linux-based Android operating system being used to save lives. Many people simply view tablets as means for Facebook or games, but here is an example of it being used to benefit humanity. Awesome.

  What do you think of Samsung's efforts to fight breast cancer? Tell me in the comments.

  Image Credit: wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Canonical chooses Linux-friendly Dragonboard 410c as Ubuntu Core on ARM 64-bit reference

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 6:02pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  Linux is such a wonderful kernel for many reasons, but I find its adaptability to be the tops. You can get an operating system based on the kernel running on such a broad range of hardware -- something Microsoft can only dream about with its venerable Windows.

  Even though Linux can run on damn-near anything, it is beneficial for developers to have a reference platform to use for creating. Of course, they can always expand from that jumping point. Today, Canonical announces that the Dragonboard 410c hardware will be the reference platform for Ubuntu Core on ARM 64-bit.

  "This will be the very first ARM-based 64-bit development board and SoC available for Ubuntu Core, offering makers and Internet of Things (IoT) innovators an affordable, powerful yet flexible development environment, which can scale from ARM-based servers to embedded solutions. This offering builds on the DragonBoard 410c positioning as a standardised development board for the ARM ecosystem under the umbrella of Linaro’s open source 96Boards program", says Canonical.

  The company further says, "the Dragonboard 410c is the size of a credit card; originally designed to galvanise and inspire IoT developers and innovators by providing a high performance, affordable platform to form the basis of a host of scalable IoT solutions. This 'democratisation' of the business of IoT is designed to breathe life into great 'things' ideas that otherwise, without the proper funding, or access to technology, may never come to fruition. The 'c' in 410c stands for 'community' -- giving developers the tools to work on prototypes without the cost, and provide a smooth path to commercialization through production ready off-the-shelf or custom system-on-modules based on the Snapdragon 410 processor".

  Click to view slideshow.

  This developer board features the quad-core Snapdragon 410 ARM processor, clocked at 1.2 Ghz and 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM. It also has 8GB eMMC for storage and 4 USB ports. Owners can utilize microSD cards for expanding storage and the HDMI interface for connecting to a display.

  In addition to the upcoming (date to be determined) Ubuntu Core OS image, the Dragonboard 410c is also compatible with Android 5.1 and Windows 10 IoT, making this a very smart buy at only $75. If you want to buy this board in anticipation of Canonical's release, you can get it here.

  Will you buy it? Tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  Run a virtual Chromebook on your PC desktop

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 6:00pm CET par Mike Williams

  CloudReady is a custom version of Chromium OS which can transform your old PC into a sort-of Chromebook.

  You can run CloudReady standalone, dual boot with Windows in some situations, or use VirtualBox to run it in a window on your desktop.

  The initial download gets you the ChromeOS image only. If you’d like to install it on a PC, use the Chromebook Recovery Utility to write it to an empty 8 or 16GB USB key (beware, this wipes any other data on the device).

  Boot your target PC from the USB key and the installation program walks you through the setup process.

  If you’d rather use VirtualBox, the easiest approach is to convert the CloudReady image to a VDI disk file.

  VirtualBox’s VBoxManage.exe can handle this. It’s a console-based tool so you’ll need to open a command window, and enter something like the following, changing the paths as appropriate for your system:

  "c:\program files\oracle\virtualbox\VBoxManage.exe" convertfromraw "C:\Users\MyName\Downloads\cloudready-free-45.3.39.bin\chromiumos_image.bin" cloudready.vdi

  Create a new virtual machine, using the type "Other" and the version "Other/ Unknown".

  Assign 2GB RAM to the VM, more if you can spare it.

  At the "Hard Disk" screen select "Use an existing virtual hard disk file" and choose the disk you created earlier.

  Open the VM Settings dialog, click System > Motherboard and check "Enable I/O APIC" and "Enable EFI".

  Click the Processor tab and check "Enable PAE/NX". Increasing the number of processors is a good idea, too.

  For another performance boost, select Display > Screen, gave the system the full 128MB Video Memory and check "Enable 3D Acceleration".

  Boot the VM, a text line displaying the results of the memory test should appear immediately, with the installer popping up next. Follow its instructions and you’ll be ready to go in a couple of minutes.

  The end results have a few issues, like our time being wrong because location services don’t work and the system couldn’t assign our time zone automatically (we just set it manually instead).

  But for the most part CloudReady worked exactly as advertised, using our existing network, logging into Google, syncing our settings, and generally giving us the Chromebook-ish experience we were looking for.

  CloudReady is a free-for-personal-use product. An educator’s edition with Google Management Console enrollment and full technical support costs from $59 per device for a perpetual license.

  
• 

  CrowdStrike improves ability to combat breaches

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 5:13pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Effective cyber security is all about seeing threats and being able to respond to them quickly and effectively. Increasingly this means using the cloud to deliver intelligence.

  CrowdStrike, a specialist in cloud-delivered protection, is launching a new version of its Falcon platform to deliver endpoint, detection and response functions along with advanced antivirus capabilities.

  CrowdStrike's fully cloud-based Threat Graph model analyzes and correlates billions of events in real-time, spots anomalies, and detects behavioral patterns to track and stop both known and unknown threats. This model allows Falcon Host to act like a 'DVR,' providing retrospective visibility and unlimited cloud-recall capabilities. This forensic capacity helps cut the time and cost of incident response, while increasing the chances of containing and mitigating damage by allowing customers to search and query all endpoints in seconds.

  Extension of the platform's APIs means customers can integrate existing third party intelligence and so don't waste their current security investments. Falcon Connector can also transmit Threat Graph information to a customer's preferred SIEM system.

  There's a new ransomware blocking feature too, and added protection for Linux systems with Linux-specific behavioral defenses based on indicators of attack.

  "Our enhancements of CrowdStrike's Falcon Platform reflect our core customer value for redefining next generation endpoint protection to stop breaches," says Dave Cole, CrowdStrike's chief product officer. "Continuing to advance IoA-based prevention with ransomware exploit blocking and machine learning capability are just a couple of the new features that we are announcing today. Expanding CrowdStrike Falcon’s sensor coverage to Linux platforms, combined with our established support for Windows and Mac, is another significant market-leading accomplishment that allows us to provide protection across all mainstream endpoint operating systems. We are committed to continuing to build new innovative capabilities to change the game in endpoint security and ensure that CrowdStrike customers are able to protect themselves against all threats, known and unknown, in the most effective and efficient manner possible".

  You can find out more about the latest release on the CrowdStrike website.

  Image Credit: Balefire / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Xiaomi announces Mi 4s, an updated version of its former flagship

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 5:04pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  On top of unveiling its new Mi 5 flagship, at MWC 2016 Xiaomi has also announced an updated version of its previous top-of-the-line smartphone, Mi 4. Called Mi 4s, the new handset comes with an improved design, up to date hardware and, best of all, a price tag of around $260.

  Mi 4s utilizes the same processor as found in the more affordable Mi 4c, which I have reviewed here, namely a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808. That makes it significantly faster than Mi 4, but less impressive in this regard than the new Mi 5, which sports a top of the line Snapdragon 820 chip.

  As with its predecessor and other devices in the Mi 4 line, Mi 4s ships with a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1,080 by 1,920. It is paired with 3 GB of RAM and a 3,260 mAh battery. Storage capacity is 64 GB, and there is also a microSD card slot.

  Mi 4s has a fingerprint sensor, a feature that only Mi 5 and Redmi Note 3 have in Xiaomi's lineup. The sensor is found on the back, just like on Redmi Note 3; Mi 5 has it on the front, embedded in the home button.

  Mi 4s ships with a 13 MP camera on the rear with phase-detection autofocus. There is no information on the front shooter, however. But it is likely that it is on par with other devices in the Mi 4 line.

  The microSD card slot actually doubles as a SIM card slot so, if you do not need extra storage, you can slap two SIM cards in Mi 4s. It is an approach that we have seen before with other devices.

  Here are other things that you should know. There is support for 4G LTE+, which Xiaomi says that it enables download speeds of up to 600 Mbps, and USB Type-C. It runs Xiaomi's MIUI skin, atop of Android (presumably, Marshmallow). It comes in at 139.26 x 70.76 x 7.8 mm and 133 g.

  Xiaomi is likely to sell Mi 4s outside of China, but there is no information yet on international availability. Color options include black, gold, pink and white.

  
• 

  Identifying users with behavioral biometrics

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 4:22pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  As we're regularly being told, passwords on their own are no longer sufficient to ensure our security. Businesses are therefore on the lookout for new ways to identify users without making the sign in process overly complicated.

  Adaptive authentication specialist SecureAuth is launching the latest version of its product that includes behavioral biometrics, a new risk analysis technology that performs keystroke analysis and mouse movement analysis to determine a user's legitimacy and build a completely unique behavior-based profile on each user device.

  These profiles are compared to subsequent login attempts and if they don't match, SecureAuth IdP v9.0 will ask for multi-factor authentication (MFA) for that login to proceed. SecureAuth is the first identity management vendor to offer this capability as part of a comprehensive risk-based authentication process.

  "Think of SecureAuth IdP as a bullet proof vest," says Craig Lund, SecureAuth's CEO. "It has multiple layers of protection, which creates a strong bulwark against cyber attacks. It’s harder to break through multiple layers of authentication compared to just one. In this case, one of those layers is created by behavioral biometric technology, which is unique in that it is influenced by social and psychological attributes. This makes it nearly impossible to copy or imitate somebody else’s behavior when using a device".

  As well as using behavioral biometric technology to determine risk, SecureAuth IdP also uses device recognition, IP reputation, directory lookup, geo-location and geo-velocity. Features include a tailored login process so that organizations can adjust security requirements for different groups of users.

  IdP only requires multifactor authentication when it detects that risk factors are present -- such as a mismatched behavioral profile. It offers more than 20 authentication methods ranging from SMS, telephony, and e-mail one-time passwords to push notifications, so an appropriate method can be matched with each use.

  SecureAuth IdP will be on display at the RSA Conference in San Francisco next week or you can learn more on the company's website.

  Photo Credit: JMiks/Shutterstock

  
• 

  New platform improves efficiency of security operations

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 3:55pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Security teams often have to spend a lot of their time investigating incidents, which is time consuming and can distract from other tasks.

  To improve the efficiency of security operations centers (SOCs), Israel-based SECDO is launching a new platform aimed at managed security service providers (MSSPs).

  It provides advanced alert validation, investigation and remediation capabilities. The platform dramatically improves the efficiency of the SOC by automatically validating alerts from security event and information management (SIEM) systems, using unique thread-level endpoint activity data to identify false positives and prioritize true positives. Using SECDO, MSSPs will be able to handle the thousands of alerts that they receive each day, while meeting ever-more competitive SLAs for their customers.

  "SECDO is a valuable platform for MSSPs who want to offer their customers advanced services while improving the efficiency and response times of their own SOC," says Shai Morag, CEO and Co-Founder of SECDO. "With SECDO's endpoint analytics, MSSP SOC teams can now understand the full context of every alert, visually investigate, and reduce the time and resources needed to identify and eradicate a breach".

  The platform’s interactive data visualization technology enables SOC analysts to understand the 'who, what, where, when, and how' of every incident by showing the entire attack chain timeline back to the root cause. This enables first and second tier analysts to easily investigate and respond to threats without having to escalate to the next level. When an in-depth investigation is required, SECDO provides multi-dimensional, interactive search capabilities that can reduce hundreds of manual queries into a single visual search.

  It uses SECDO's disruptive thread-level endpoint intelligence and causality analysis technologies to give service providers visibility into their customer’s environment. This allows MSSPs to offer the advanced threat protection, incident investigation and forensics services that are necessary to stay ahead in the security marketplace.

  The platform has been in use for three months, with customers reporting positive results, you can find out more and request a demo on the SECDO website.

  Photo credit: Alex Mit / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Enterprises have no protection against mobile malware

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 3:20pm CET par Sam Pudwell

  

  Mobile enterprise security firm MobileIron has released its Q4 2015 Mobile Security and Risk Review, discussing the threats and risks that enterprises face in their mobile deployments.

  The report reveals the worrying find that more than 50 percent of enterprises have at least one non-compliant device, creating a broader attack surface for malware and data theft.

  "Mobile threats, both internal and external, are on the rise and the enterprise security chain is only as strong as its weakest link", said Michael Raggo, director, MobileIron Security Labs. "A single, compromised device can introduce malware into the corporate network or enable the theft of sensitive corporate data that resides behind the firewall".

  "The real risk is that enterprises will underestimate the seriousness of the problem", Raggo continued. "A single compromised device that goes undetected constitutes a breach. Whether a company loses millions of records or just one record it’s still a breach. For all companies, but particularly ones in highly regulated industries, this is a huge problem".

  The incidence of compromised devices -- i.e. a jailbroken or rooted device -- rose significantly during the quarter by 42 percent and less than 10 percent of enterprises are enforcing patching, thus leaving the device vulnerable to data loss.

  Other key findings are that a massive 95 percent of enterprises have no protection against mobile malware and 22 percent had users who had removed the PIN from their mobile device which eliminates the first line of defense.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: LoveFreedom / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Like! Facebook Reactions launch around the world

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 2:55pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Facebook is, at long, long last, rolling out Reactions globally. The limitations of the famous Like button which have been debated since its introduction are set to become a thing of the past at the social network. Like is now joined by Love, Haha, Wow, Sad, and Angry options.

  As we reported earlier in the year, the 'yay' option that had been tested is not being released at this stage -- apparently users found it difficult to interpret what it means. Reactions do not work exactly as you might expect them to, and this means you might need to be careful about how you use them to start with.

  For sometime now, Facebook has taken a Like as an indication that you would like to see more of the same type of content. You might think that if you used the Angry reaction on a story Facebook would take this to mean you did not want to see such posts -- but you'd be wrong. To start with, using any of the Reactions will be taken as an indication of wanting to see more of the same as Facebook explains:

  In the beginning, it won’t matter if someone likes, "wows" or "sads" a post -- we will initially use any Reaction similar to a Like to infer that you want to see more of that type of content. Over time we hope to learn how the different Reactions should be weighted differently by News Feed to do a better job of showing everyone the stories they most want to see.

  Page owners will be able to see the different reactions to posts, so this could still impact on the type of content individuals and companies put out there.

  Using Reactions is simple, whether you're using the desktop or mobile version of Facebook:

  To add a reaction, hold down the Like button on mobile or hover over the Like button on desktop to see the reaction image options, then tap either Like, Love, Haha, Wow, Sad or Angry.

  
• 

  Xiaomi's new Mi 5 offers flagship hardware at an affordable price

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 1:09pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  Xiaomi is once again proving that you do not need to spend a lot of money to get your hands on a flagship smartphone. Its new Mi 5, which is the successor to the popular Mi 4, offers top of the line hardware for just over $300.

  Mi 5 offers just about anything you could want in a flagship smartphone. It makes you wonder whether it is worth ponying up for a similar device from LG or Samsung, which costs at least twice as much.

  The only place where Mi 5 falls short compared to the competition is in the display department. Its 5.15-inch screen has a resolution of "just" 1,080 by 1,920, which is not as impressive as the 1,440 by 2,560 resolution that some of its rivals have.

  That, however, might work in its favor, because typically higher-resolution displays come with a performance penalty, in terms of both battery life and graphics performance. Most people may not notice the difference in pixel density, but they will most certainly appreciate a few more hours of battery life, for instance.

  Inside, there is a 1.8 GHz or 2.15 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor paired with 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM, depending on the configuration. The base model, which costs around $306, ships with the lower specs, but the mid-range and high-end Mi 5 versions get paired with the faster processor and most RAM. Powering it all is a 3,000 mAh battery, which supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 technology.

  The mid-range version offers 64 GB of internal storage and costs around $351, while the top of the line model has 128 GB of internal storage and can be had for around $458. The larger difference in price likely comes from the choice of back cover, which in the latter case is ceramic as opposed to glass.

  In the imaging department, Mi 5 offers a 16 MP camera on the back with four-axis image stabilization and phase-detection autofocus. There is support for 4K video, of course. On the front, it has a 4 MP shooter.

  Xiaomi points out that there is NFC on board, as well as UFS 2.0 storage, 4G LTE+ cellular connectivity, which enables speeds of up to 600 Mbps, VoLTE, and a fingerprint sensor, which is embedded in the home button under the screen. On top of this, there is also a microSD card slot. It comes in at 144.55 x 69.2 x 7.25 mm and 129 g.

  Mi 5 runs Xiaomi's MIUI skin, atop of Android 6.0 Marshmallow. If you are not familiar with Xiaomi's interpretation of Android, it is a bit over the top overall as it tries to be closer to how iOS looks and works. That is probably the only thing that will be polarizing about Mi 5.

  Xiaomi will offer Mi 5 in China first, but there is a very good chance that it will be made available in other markets as well, if its predecessor's availability is of any indication.

  
• 

  85 percent of enterprises keep sensitive data in the cloud

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 12:51pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  According to a new report by enterprise security specialist Vormetric, 85 percent of senior IT security executives worldwide say they are using sensitive data in the cloud, up from 54 percent last year.

  But even as they move to adopt cloud services, and in some cases believe that cloud environments are more secure than their local IT infrastructure, enterprises remain concerned about the security of their information.

  When respondents are asked about the top data security concerns for cloud services, 70 percent (75 percent in the US) name security breaches or attacks at the service provider. 66 percent cite increased vulnerabilities from shared infrastructure, 66 percent say lack of control over the location of data, and 65 percent select lack of a data privacy policy or privacy service level agreement.

  When asked about changes that would increase their willingness to adopt cloud services, 48 percent asked for encryption of data with enterprise key control on their premises. 36 percent wanted detailed physical and IT security implementation information, 35 percent selected encryption of their organization's data within the service provider's infrastructure, and 27 percent also wanted exposure of security monitoring data for their information.

  "Security is still an afterthought when it comes to adopting new technologies, often taking a back seat amidst the rush to stake a claim in a promising new market," says Garrett Bekker, senior analyst, information security, at 451 Research and the author of the report. "We found that enterprises are storing sensitive data in just these types of environments -- 85 percent in cloud, 50 percent in big data, and 33 percent in IoT. Many have strong concerns about the security of their data as a result".

  With half of all respondents planning to store sensitive information within big data environments (up from 31 percent on last year), these become a much greater concern for enterprises as a possible point of compromise, and as a focus for compliance efforts. The biggest worries are the Security of the reports produced -- as they may include sensitive data, named by 42 percent of respondents, and that sensitive information may reside anywhere within the environment (41 percent).

  The IoT raises similar concerns over the protection of sensitive data and privacy issues. Plus the overlap of IoT with big data has the potential to create a new class of risks.

  You can find more information in the full report which is available to download from the Vormetric website.

  Photo Credit: Jirsak/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Big Brother ist vatching you: Germany poised to use Trojans to spy on internet users

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 12:37pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  German intelligence agencies are set to gain greater NSA-style surveillance powers after the German Interior Ministry announced plans to use Trojans to spy on the internet activities of suspects. Known as Bundestrojaner, the Trojan would give the government the ability to not only track which sites a target visits, but also record conversations, make use of webcams, access data and log keystrokes.

  The Trojan has been in testing since late last year, and having received governmental approval could now be widely dispatched. Widely described as malware and spyware, the tool cannot be used without a court order, but this will do little to assuage the fears of privacy groups.

  A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry said that "we now have the skills in an area where we did not have this kind of skill". A 2008 ruling by the German Constitutional Court said that remotely accessing citizens' computer is only permissible when there is suspicion of plans to commit crime against the state, or when there is a life-threatening situation.

  The announcement comes after the German government took part in European IT security talks at which Federal Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maizière said:

  I support the EU in its efforts to make rules for the Member States to ensure IT security. Our common goal must be to increase the level of IT security throughout the EU, on the basis of decisive national action. With its draft IT Security Act, the Federal Government has presented a number of specific measures to increase IT security in Germany. We have made similar proposals in the ongoing discussion of an EU directive on measures to ensure a high common level of network and information security in the Union. My impression is that the German position is also understood at European level. Germany has thus taken a leading role in an area that will become increasingly important at a time when digital vulnerability is growing.

  As is to be expected, the announcement has met with a great deal of opposition, including from the country's Green party. Konstantin von Notz, deputy head of the party, said:

  We do understand the needs of security officials, but still, in a country under the rule of law, the means don't justify the end.

  It is not yet clear how the German government would deploy the spying software, but this is not the first time this has been attempted. Back in 2011 the hacking group Chaos Computer Club discovered a government-made Trojan in circulation, but this was far more limited in its capabilities. The latest version is created by a company called FinFisher Gamma-International which has a history of creating surveillance and spying tools for European and Middle Eastern governments.

  Photo credit: Mardre / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Eat up! Google Maps 'Explore Around You' comes to 5 more countries

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 12:24pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  One of the great things about travel is the food you get to try, authentic dishes that can sometimes only be found in certain locations. If you aren't picky about new things then you just may find something to satisfy your culinary dreams, perhaps a dish you've never heard of.

  Google Maps has been guiding users to restaurants in both the US and UK for a while now, using a feature called "Explore Around You". Now the search giant is bringing this to more nations so both locals and travelers can find a location to satisfy their appetites.

  Countries being added include Japan, France, Italy, Spain and Germany. Google promises that "whether you’re a tourist looking for a top-rated dinner spot or a local trying to find a new neighborhood watering hole, Google Maps can help you make a delicious, timely discovery while you’re on the go".

  On Google Maps you can tap the "Explore Around You" icon to find out where you can head, regardless if it's a quick bite or a five course meal.

  "Options are organized by category, and once you pick the one that catches your eye (and stomach), you can easily swipe through photos and check out ratings and reviews from Google and previous diners", Google announces.

  There is one catch -- you'll have to be using an Android phone to take advantage of this feature. If you meet that requirement then get started on your next trip or find something you may have missed around your own home.

  
• 

  New platform enables real-time in-app support

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 11:55am CET par Ian Barker

  

  The pace of modern app development often means that support can be something of an afterthought. New startup RevTwo is launching a platform that allows support to be built in to any app on any device.

  The RevTwo In-App Support Platform modernizes the in-app support model by enabling users to connect with app evangelists and users from across the world for real-time support.

  Typically, when app users encounter an issue they can't solve, they are forced to leave the app, search online, trawl through message boards and hope that someone else encountered the same problem. RevTwo flips that model on its head, enabling people to connect with other users, in-app, with the push of a button.

  "Our in-app, community-based support will completely transform the user experience," says Jim Hansen, co-founder and chief technology officer of RevTwo. "From a teacher in Alabama helping a student in California solve a math problem to a professional gamer in Japan providing tips and tricks to a player in Holland, for the first time ever, users can get the help they need from their peers without ever leaving their apps".

  As well as the community model, the RevTwo platform provides universal support at all stages of the app lifecycle. It includes free tools for developer support throughout testing that provide insight into problems at the software level -- preventing issues before production. In-app professional help desk support services are also available to connect users to a help desk within the app through audio, video and screen share, driving faster problem resolution.

  To see inside an app, a developer simply bundles the RevTwo library into any iOS-based app (Android support on the way). Following the integration the app can open support sessions, initiate and respond to voice calls and interact with diagnostic tools like screen sharing, logging, database inspector and file browser.

  Developers can use RevTwo for free with developer support through testing and community support for production. To discover more visit the company's website.

  Image Credit: Rido / Shutterstock

  
• 

  How to stop Microsoft using your Windows 10 lock screen to show ads

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 11:17am CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Sometimes it can feel as though I'm just looking for things to dislike about Windows 10, but just as I'm warming to the operating system a little more (in the last week I went as far as starting to write an article about how my opinion of Windows 10 had changed for the better. It remains unfinished), something else comes along to irritate me. I know I'm not alone, and the most recent annoyance is the appearance of ads on the lock screen.

  You're probably more used to the idea of the lock screen being home to either a photo of your choice, or a randomly selected image from Microsoft that changes from time to time. Recently however, some users have noticed that these images have been replaced with ads for the game Rise of the Tomb Raider. If you want to ditch the lock screen ads, here's how to do it

  You may never have looked at the settings for your lock screen, but it defaults to Windows Spotlight mode. This give Microsoft permission to adorn your screen with images it thinks you might like as well as, sadly, ads. Thankfully, changing the option is a fairly simple affair.

  1. Start by opening up Settings and then head to the Personalization section.
  2. Click the Lock screen link to the left.
  3. From the Background drop down menu, select with Picture or Slideshow and then select the image or folder you'd like to use instead of Microsoft's choices.

  That's not the end of the story, however. Having opted to use your own imagery on your lock screen, there's a new option that you'll need to disable. The previously-hidden setting "Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen" needs to be flipped to the Off position to prevent the appearance of anything else you might not be interested in seeing.

  Photo credit: Maryna Stamatova / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Google working with carriers to replace SMS

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 10:50am CET par Anthony Spadafora

  

  In an effort to modernize SMS messaging, Google and a number of mobile service providers are working together to expedite the release and adoption of Rich Communication Services (RCS).

  The company will be joined by the wireless standards group GSMA along with many global and regional carriers including America Movil, Bharti Airtel Ltd, Deutsche Telekom, Globe Telecom, Millicom, Orange, Sprint, Telenor Group, TeliaSonera, Telstra, Turkcell and Vodafone.

  RCS is a continuing program that was developed by the GSMA to create a new cross-operator messaging platform that functions similar to way SMS does. This new communication service would incorporate many of the features -- such as file sharing, IP voice calls, and group messaging -- that drove users away from SMS and towards Internet based messaging platforms such as iMessage, Skype, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Telegram.

  In recent years, many users have shunned SMS messaging in favor of these new messaging platforms. As a result, SMS has lost the popularity it once had while WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger have grown their user bases significantly.

  WhatsApp now has one billion monthly active users and Facebook Messenger is quite close to reaching that number as well.

  Google has taken note of how its Android users have moved away from SMS and it understands the importance messaging platforms have to its users. This is why the company recently acquired the startup Jibe Mobile, which works to help mobile operators include support for a number of messaging features into their services.

  Google will making the Jibe platform available to mobile operators to allow them to easily support RCS without having to develop their own infrastructure.

  Android and its users could stand to benefit from the new messaging options that RCS will allow across carriers while at the same time Google will put itself in a better position to compete with Facebook, which currently owns and operates both Messenger and WhatsApp.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock

  
• 

  SanDisk announces 'world's fastest' Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-II card

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 2:19am CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  When it comes to microSD cards, they are plenty small enough. We are at a point where making storage cards any smaller would be downright ridiculous -- they are too easily lost as-is. With that said, how can companies continue to push the envelope? Speed.

  SanDisk is one of the leaders for storage like cards and flash drives; its cards are reliable and fast. Quite frankly, I only trust my photos to its cards, but I digress. The company is making its microSD lineup even better, with the all new Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-II, which it claims is the world's fastest such card.

  "The new card, available in 64GB and 128GB capacities, delivers transfer speeds of up to 275MB/s to offload high-quality content at record speeds. Featuring Class 10 and UHS Speed Class 3 (U3), the SanDisk Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-II card is perfect for capturing Full HD and 4K Ultra HD video on the latest action cams, drones and smartphones. It also includes a USB 3.0 card reader to conveniently offload files to a PC", says SanDisk.

  Dinesh Bahal, vice president, product marketing, SanDisk explains, "action cameras are now the fastest-growing segment in digital imaging and drones are becoming increasingly popular, creating an opportunity for people to capture more high-capacity, high-quality 4K Ultra HD content. We designed this card specifically to address consumers’ needs for a faster solution when transferring massive files – and now, with nearly 3x the speed of our fastest microSD UHS-I card, this new offering dramatically reduces time spent transferring content".

  SanDisk shares the following specs.

  Capacity	128 GB	64 GB
  Read Speed	up to 275MB/s	up to 275MB/s
  Write Speed	up to 100MB/s	up to 100MB/s
  Form Factor	microSDXC	microSDXC
  Video Speed	Class 10 (C10) and UHS Speed Class 3 (U3)	Class 10 (C10) and UHS Speed Class 3 (U3)
  SD Adapter	Includes USB 3.0 Reader	Includes USB 3.0 Reader

  If you want to buy this cutting-edge technology, you had better be prepared to dig deep into your pockets, y'all. The 64GB card is $180, while the 128GB variant is a shocking $300 -- hey, at least a USB card reader is included!

  Of course, early adopters always pay a premium -- prices should come down on these cards over time, and in turn, previous generation cards should see a drop too. If you are ready to part with your cash, you won't have to wait too long, as SanDisk promises a Q216 release.

  
• 

  You'll have two chances to buy a $5 Raspberry Pi Zero on Wednesday

  Publié: février 24, 2016, 12:49am CET par Wayne Williams

  

  The Raspberry Pi Foundation’s $5 barebones computer remains ever-elusive for many would be buyers. Almost as quickly as the device goes back in stock it sells out again.

  On Wednesday 24 February, The Pi Hut is going to start selling a fresh batch of Pi Zero stock, and you’ll have not one, but two chances to get your hands on the desirable little piece of kit.

  The Pi Hut launched a poll on Twitter to find out when followers would like the stock to be made available, and the result was so close the company has decided to go for a "double launch".

  There will be two batches up for sale. 50 percent of the stock will be made available at 9.00am GMT/4.00am EST/1.00am PST, and the remaining 50 percent will be up for grabs later the same day at 7.00pm GMT/2.00pm EST/11.00am PST.

  As always, despite a one Pi Zero per customer limit, demand is sure to quickly outstrip supply so you might want to turn up early.

  If you manage to get a Pi Zero there’s a chance it will go out of stock before you get to the checkout. If that happens, The Pi Hut recommends hitting the F5 key which will refresh the page and might result in you getting stock allocated to you. Well, it’s worth a try.

  If all else fails, you can always use this trick to find where else the Pi Zero might be in stock.

  
• 

  Bill Gates is wrong

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 8:33pm CET par Joe Wilcox

  

  I see something disingenuous about Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates supporting the government's demands that Apple selectively unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino, Calif. shooters. The former CEO turned philanthropist spoke to the Financial times in an interview posted today. The implications for Microsoft cannot be overstated, and the company's current chief executive should state corporate policy.

  Gates' position aligns with the government's: That this case is specific, and isolated, and that the demand would merely provide "access to information". Here's the thing: The interviewer asks Gates if he supports tech companies providing backdoors to their smartphones. The technologist deflects: "Nobody's talking about a backdoor". Media consultants teach publicly-facing officials to offer non-answers exactly like this one. The answer defines the narrative, not the interviewer's question.

  Foot in Mouth

  Except this: Gates suffers interviewee foot-in-mouth disease in the worst way, as his response, or lack of it, puts him on the government's side. He later tries to backpedal in an interview with Bloomberg, stating he is "disappointed" with the FT report and "that doesn’t state my view on this". Thing is: Financial Times posts a video of the interview that clearly gives context. The philanthropist's selective, deflective answer to the backdoor question is unambiguous.

  In  followup question during the FT interview, Gates states—and I'd argue without the technical trade secret expertise about iOS and iCloud encryption—that "Apple has access to the information. They're just refusing to provide the access". He likens the government demands to a bank :tying a ribbon around a disk drive. "Don't make me cut this ribbon, `cause you'll make me cut it many times".

  But that response diminishes the encryption technology, which is a helluva lot more like a fortress than a "ribbon" tied around a disk drive.

  FBIOS

  Quick recap: Law enforcement classifies the Dec. 2, 2015 San Bernardino shooting as an act of terrorism. The  county health department owned the iPhone 5c and granted access to it. But a four-digit numerical passcode was needed, and in the hours following the attack an official reset the associated iCloud account, eliminating that as means of getting to the "information".

  The Feds want Apple to create custom software, which I've seen on the InterWebs sarcastically called FBIOS, to turn off the security measure that wipes data after 10 failed password attempts and to enable a means for automating a "brute force" attack to uncover the correct combination. Apple contends that complying would undermine security, create a backdoor for accessing any iPhone, and would undermine customer trust. The DOJ disagrees.

  In a legal filing, the agency asserts that the so-called FBIOS wouldn't need to come into "government custody...Just as with Apple's already-existing operating systems and software, no one outside Apple would have access to the software required by the order unless Apple itself chose to share it".

  Possession doesn't change this: Encryption must be bypassed.

  "Complying with this particular FBI request would set a damaging precedent", Stephen Cobb, senior security researcher for ESET, says. "If Apple were to comply with this court order, the ramifications for U.S. companies and consumers would be significant, from undermining international commerce to eroding trust in the technology on which so much of daily life and business in North America depends".

  Who Benefits?

  In news reporting, my first question always is this: Who benefits? When Gates was Microsoft CEO, I listened to him testify in open court claiming that the company could not remove Internet Explorer from Windows; that such action would break the operating system. The company took a firm position during antitrust cases on two continents that the government shouldn't dictate how software is developed. That is the core issue here with respect to Apple unlocking the iPhone 5c.

  But now Gates is a philanthropist, who travels the globe, and many of his operations require government cooperation. Taking a position against the FBI and U.S. Justice Department could undermine his efforts here and abroad. Perception matters as much in philanthropy as business.

  I wonder if his answers would be dramatically different and more aligned with past positions if answering for Microsoft. As a journalist covering the tech sector for more than 20 years, and Microsoft for much of that time, I see this: Gates' response to the first interview is appallingly contradictory and his backpedaling in the second bewilderingly undermines his authority as successful entrepreneur and philanthropist.

  But matters are worse. During the Windows NT 4 release cycle two decades ago, rumors started circulating that Microsoft had created a backdoor for the NSA. The accusations resurfaced for Windows 2000 and XP. By failing to directly answer FT interviewer Stephen Foley's direct question about allowing government backdoors and by taking a neutral to pro-FBI position with respect to Apple's refusal, Gates appears to support selective government access by way of a backdoor. What he thinks is immaterial to the perception he creates as former Microsoft CEO during the time period in question about the alleged NSA backdoor.

  From a Microsoft public relations perspective, Gates' answers in booth interviews are a catastrophic occurrence that demands current chief executive Satya Nadella's official response. There needs to be clear policy about government backdoors and the position with respect to the San Bernardino shooting iPhone. If Microsoft corporate policy aligns with Gates' statements, say so. If not, state the position for the benefit of the large IT organizations that are the company's core customer base.

  If not, rumors run wild will set the narrative, causing potential harm to Microsoft's brand.

  
• 

  Samsung Pay will be available in more major markets this year

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 8:30pm CET par Anthony Spadafora

  

  After less than a year, Samsung Pay has reached 5 million users in South Korea and the US. The service has already processed over $500 million dollars worth of sales and this number is set to increase as Samsung is preparing to globally expand its mobile payment service throughout 2016.

  The company will be launching Samsung Pay in China next month in partnership with China’s UnionPay. Support for the service will then be made available in Australia, Brazil, Singapore, Spain, the UK and Canada later this year.

  Samsung is adding support for transit passes, coupons, and membership cards to further entice users to adopt Samsung Pay. Currently the service works with credit and debit cards from over 70 major and regional banks.

  In its home country of South Korea, Samsung is positioning Samsung Pay as a secure, simple, and quick way to make online payments. The company will be partnering with BC Card, Hana Card, KB Koomin Card, Lotte Card, NH Nonghyup Card and its own line of credit cards to allow Korean users more flexibility when using the service. Fingerprint authentication can be used when making payments online to ensure security and to help protect users who have lost or had their devices stolen.

  Samsung has just announced its latest flagship devices at MWC 2016, and both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge will support Samsung Pay. The release of the latest versions in the company’s Galaxy Line could help spur adoption of the service.

  Now that the company has coupled an increased list of supported banks and services alongside the release of the S7, Samsung Pay will likely continue gaining momentum and users.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Think your mobile device is faulty? You're probably not using it right

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 5:59pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  A new report shows that almost three-quarters of mobile devices returned with problems to mobile network operators and manufacturers in Europe and North America have 'No Trouble Found'.

  The quarterly trend report from Blancco Technology Group also finds that in Europe device failures soared during the second half of 2015 -- rising from 14 percent during the third quarter to 29 percent during the fourth quarter.

  The company has used data collected from millions of iOS and Android smartphones and tablets that underwent testing on its SmartChk diagnostic platform. The report argues that user behavior is the cause of a substantial number of device performance problems, failures and 'NTF' returns, rather than hardware.

  "The quantity and types of apps being used, app notification settings, location services settings and battery charging habits are just some examples of how user behavior impacts the day-to-day performance and long-term health of devices," says Pat Clawson, CEO of Blancco Technology Group. "Take Asia, for example, where app adoption is high and the most frequently used apps are in the social networking and messaging categories. When these users fail to close the 40+ apps installed on their devices, it eats into the performance, memory and battery life. And all the while, users presume hardware is to blame when behavior is actually the culprit. It's a paradoxical situation and it happens very often".

  Among other findings are that of issues found during the fourth quarter of 2015, 85 percent were on Android devices, compared to just 15 percent for iOS devices. Samsung tops the list of Android device manufacturers with the highest failure rate (27 percent), followed by Lenovo (21 percent), Motorola (18 percent), Xiaomi (11 percent) and Asus (8 percent). The most common causes of device failures worldwide are camera, touch, battery charging, microphone and performance. In Asia, frequent use of social networking apps and messaging applications, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, WeChat and Line, affected device performance in the region. The increasing usage of emoji and productivity apps in Europe played a contributing role in the increase in device failure rates during the second half of 2015.

  Clawson adds, "Being able to detect with certainty the causes and types of device problems to determine if they are fixable is important. For mobile network operators and manufacturers, it allows them to automate and scale the device diagnostics and repair process to deliver a consistent customer experience. It also helps enterprise businesses support the needs and increase the productivity of their mobile workforce".

  More information on SmartChck and Blancco's other mobile solutions can be found on the company's website -- where you can also download the report -- or at its booth at MWC in Barcelona this week.

  Image Credit: Bevan Goldswain / Shutterstock

  
• 

  The top 5 myths about Virtual Mobile Infrastructure (and, oh yeah, the facts)

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 5:44pm CET par Israel Lifshitz

  

  With more and more enterprises recognizing the need to go beyond securing devices while still finding an effective way to deploy native mobile apps to employees, it's little wonder that remote enterprise approaches like Virtual Mobile Infrastructure (VMI) are receiving more eyeballs in the enterprise mobility space and the scrutiny that comes along with it. With this comes questions, doubts and even fears over the whether this new approach can really fulfill on its promise.

  In fact, fears can spiral into outright myths if left to fester. Remember the myth that Macs couldn't get viruses? We all know how that claim turned out. To this end and, without further ado, here's the truth about five of the most common myths you may have heard about VMI.

  Myth 1. No Offline Access Equals a BYOD No Go

  It's true that like Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), apps running on a remote virtual platform require either Wi-Fi access or a cellular network connection to work. If there are too many instances where employees can't effectively work with their apps, what's the point, right?

  Fact: Offline Disadvantages Are Outdated and Overblown

  There are several reasons why this fear is overstated.

  Today's top mobile apps need online access too. Nothing stays static in the mobile world. Just take an inventory of most of the mobile apps that offer true BYOD value for enterprises, and therefore most in demand. They're in demand because their features compliment contemporary mobile workflow.

  This means supporting mobile sensor functionality, be it GPS, movement, angular rotation, Near field communication (NFC), and camera amongst others. To work these services need online connectivity as well.

  Try getting uninterrupted data on the train or in the air for a locally installed app. Not that reliable is it? Your users know and expect this, and the offline issue is much less a factor than initially perceived. Whether remote or installed on the device, an increasing majority of business-class apps are only effective when online.

  Mobile coverage is steadily and markedly improving: This would really hamper BYOD productivity for most industries, if we were operating in 2006. Mobile networks have evolved to such an extent that getting reliable 3/4G or WiFi connection is no longer much of a hindrance. There are still some industries where working with poor or non-existent mobile coverage is a requirement. By and large, unless you're underground or in the air, mobile networks have improved by leaps and bounds and are only getting better.

  Myth 2. Remote Mobile Apps Must Mean Poor User Experience

  Under VMI apps are run on a mobile OS in the data center. Naturally, this could lead you to assume that the performance would be unreliable and suffer from latency, compromising the UX delivered to end users. But it's an assumption largely held by people who have never seen VMI in action for themselves.

  Fact: Feedback on UX for Virtualized Mobile Apps Is Comparable to Native Apps

  Some of these assumptions stem from comparisons with VDI shortcomings, but this is one of the areas where VMI needs to be understood in the proper context.

  Rather than trying to fit Windows desktop apps to a mobile environment, VMI uses a mobile virtual machine (VM) which is created specifically to work on Android and iOS devices. Its foundation is built upon solid performance over mobile networks. A critical part of this architecture is the remote display protocol which connects with a thin client app installed on the endpoint.

  Virtualized mobile apps are engineered for touch screen functionality, mobile sensor support, minimal latency, fast response time and bandwidth efficiency. This lets employees work with apps optimized for mobile form factors and touch input rather than Windows desktops. Apps deployed under VMI provide significantly better mobile user experience than desktop virtualization and very comparable to working native apps.

  Myth 3. VMI Data Center and Infrastructure Costs are Prohibitively Costly

  VMI solutions are almost always compared with VDI and MDM/EMM offerings including price. So, is installing VMI more expensive than VDI or EMM?

  Fact: True VMI Costs Are a Fraction of VDI and Less than EMM

  Let's start with VMI vs. VDI. With VDI, you're working with a heavy OS in Windows which often demands between one and two gigabytes of memory for every VM. This limits the amount of sessions that can be supported at the same time.

  On the other hand, VMI architecture can support between 20-30 concurrent users per VM (based on the Nubo VMI platform). VMI cloud deployment is high-density and lets over 10,000 employees take advantage of mobile app virtualization benefits.

  Now let's put this in the real world context of a BYOD program. VMI lets enterprises completely cut out devices from their network as well as their budget. They no longer have to finance handsets for their employees, saving drastically on hardware costs. They also don't have to incur hefty Windows suite licensing fees. The result? Overall VMI deployment will run you just 10 percent of VDI.

  But how does the cost of BYOD with VMI stack up to EMM? If you're simply comparing installation costs then you'll view VMI as pricier than an MDM or EMM suite. But this doesn't come close to capturing the big picture of why you're installing an enterprise mobility platform in the first place -- and the costs that come with it.

  With EMM solutions the cost only begins here. In order for your organization to actually 'BYOD', you'll need to add IT resources to manage your growing network of smartphones and tablets, and all of the risks which threaten your app and data security.

  From lost and stolen devices, to upgrading OS and app versions, applying patches against vulnerabilities, maintenance and support for end users, and app development and deployment, the resources needed to run and police your BYOD program easily exceed that of running your entire application environment remotely.

  Myth 4. VMI Is Too New and Unproven

  This concern is both understandable and natural. Virtually every new technology must go through this maturation process and be able to address the doubts and fears that lurk in the hearts and minds of industry peers.

  Fact: VMI Is Being Championed by the Most Highly Regulated Industries 

  In the past few years the maturation of VMI can be seen in its adoption by industries managing the most sensitive data, including defense and public safety departments, government branches, hospitals and healthcare providers, banks and financial institutions.

  These sectors recognize VMI's ability to help them ensure compliance with data privacy regulations. As more enterprises continue to ramp up their mobile business strategies, they'll also require greater app and data security assurances.

  The earlier businesses adopt VMI, the earlier they'll gain the mobile deployment and security benefits that come with it. Beyond this, they gain a competitive advantage over those dragging their heels. Prefer to wait? You likely won't be able to prevent your users from taking BYOD into their own hands. You'll need to continue investing in older tools, but they'll become obsolete within the coming years.

  Myth 5. VMI Is Not Inherently More Secure

  Skeptics contend that running apps and data remotely in the enterprise data center doesn't necessarily make it more secure. Sure, no data is left on devices. But let's play devil's advocate.

  What if a hacker finds a way to breach the passcode of the thin client app running on the device? Could they not gain a path directly into the data center? If so, how is that any more secure than containerization?

  Fact: VMI Takes the Weakest Link in Enterprise Security Out of the Equation

  You can't completely secure what you don't own. That's why the Achilles' heel of your mobile network is personally owned mobile devices.

  VMI leaves no digital footprint on the device, keeping all of your apps and data on your enterprise server. Because you own the OS, your IT can fortify it with security measures that you otherwise can't on the device.

  Data center security, for good reason, is much more established and heavily invested in. VMI gives IT the control to apply more patches and encryption on the apps themselves. And when a user's personal environment is breached, there's no corporate information waiting to be hijacked.

  Which organizations are using VMI to improve security? The DoD and other defense agencies worldwide, banks and healthcare providers, which can ill-afford data breaches and compliance violations.

  Israel Lifshitz, founder & CEO, Nubo.

  Photo Credit: nasirkhan/Shutterstock

  
• 

  New platform helps protect enterprise Android use

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 5:27pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Allowing the use of mobile devices and BYOD in the enterprise has led to new challenges for IT teams. Not lease of these is controlling which apps employees can access and how they can use them.

  Security solutions provider OptioLabs is launching a new platform that will allow enterprises to create policies that control each of the 3,300 system methods in Android to provide targeted security protections.

  Called OptioInsight, it allows IT staff to deploy a situationally-aware policy to achieve HIPAA, or FISMA compliance for their mobile devices. These sophisticated situational policies apply controls automatically, based on time, location, network and other factors -- enforcing strict controls only when they are needed, and still preserving an optimal mobile experience for the user. Being cloud-based it can be managed from any browser and can be hosted by OptioLabs or in a private cloud.

  "The increasing speed and sophistication of mobile security threats can easily overwhelm even the best enterprise cybersecurity teams and put sensitive and critical data at risk," says Bill Anderson, Chief Product Officer of OptioLabs. "OptioInsight puts enterprise cybersecurity teams in control, giving them the ability to enforce -- based on policy – how specific applications are used throughout their environment".

  Other features include context-sensitive security policies across Optio-ready devices. This means an enterprise can define security policies that adapt as the mobile user moves through different environments -- ensuring strong security when enterprise resources are used, but allowing the user full access at other times.

  OptioInsight synchronizes with Active Directory to inherit user accounts and group assignments and will automatically update device policies for registered Enterprise users. It can also track system, application, device and user behavior for all Optio-ready devices to produce data analytics for emerging threats.

  You can find out more about OptioInsight on the company's website.

  Photo credit: Kirill__M / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Ford announces new Kuga at MWC 2016

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 5:26pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Ford has announced today that it will unveil the new Ford Kuga SUV during the Mobile World Congress taking place in Barcelona this week.

  If you were wondering what the hell is a car doing on a fair for mobile things, keep on reading.

  Besides the new SUV, Ford is also announcing that its connectivity technology SYNC 3 is coming to Europe. Moreover, it will expand its Ford Smart Mobility plan by tripling the investment.

  Ford’s plan is to transition from a carmaker, to an auto and a mobility company. Basically, it’s building autonomous and semi-autonomous cars, too.

  The company said it is taking two different paths to autonomous vehicles -- on one side there’s a dedicated team developing autonomous tech, while on the other is the Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection – a couple of radars and cameras scanning the road around the car, detecting people and other cars.

  To make all of that happen, it needs a customer experience platform, which is why it’s debuting FordPass in Europe this year. Its partners will be BP and Mobile City. FordPass also will integrate Ford Carsharing, run with Germany’s Flinkster Carsharing.

  "As we look to the future, it is clear we are on the cusp of a revolution in mobility -- from car sharing to autonomous driving to the customer experience", said Ford CEO Mark Fields. "Technology and innovation provide us with the opportunity to address these trends and to make people’s lives better by changing the way the world moves".

  "The use of semi-autonomous functions such as Traffic Jam Assist and Fully Active Park Assist make driving easier and more enjoyable for our customers", said Ken Washington, vice president, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Endpoint specific malware renders signature detection useless

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 4:46pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Signature-based security could be virtually useless as 97 percent of malware is unique to a specific endpoint says a new report.

  This is among the findings of the latest annual Webroot Threat Brief which shows that today's threats are truly global and highly dynamic. Many attacks are staged, delivered, and terminated within a matter of hours, or even minutes, having harvested user credentials and other sensitive information.

  Among other findings are that around 50 percent of Webroot users experienced a first contact with a zero-day phishing site, compared to approximately 30 percent in 2014. This indicates that zero-day phishing attacks are becoming the hacker’s choice for stealing identities.

  Interestingly technology companies, including Google, Apple and Facebook, were targeted by more than twice as many phishing sites as financial institutions, such as PayPal, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America. These companies are targeted because the same login credentials are often used to access other websites, resulting in multiple compromised accounts with each phishing victim.

  Criminals are using more IP addresses too, with 100,000 new addresses created per day in 2015, a significant increase from the 2014 average of 85,000 a day. This shows cybercriminals are relying less on the same list of IPs, and are expanding to new ones to avoid detection. The US continues to have the most malicious IP addresses of all countries. In 2015, it accounted for over 40 percent of all malicious addresses, a significant increase from 31 percent in 2014. Top countries hosting 75 percent of malicious IPs include the US, China, Japan, Germany, and the UK.

  As with IP addresses, malicious URLs are largely hosted in the US (30 percent), followed by China (11 percent). The US is also by far the largest host of phishing sites, with 56 percent of sites within its borders.

  "2015 was yet another record year for cybercrime, during which more malware, malicious IPs, websites, and mobile apps were discovered than in any previous year," says Hal Lonas, chief technology officer at Webroot. "It comes as no surprise to those of us in the Internet security industry that the cybercrime ecosystem continues to thrive, given new innovations and little in the way of risk for those who choose to participate. The continued onslaught of hacks, breaches, and social engineering scams targeting individuals, businesses, and government agencies alike has caused many in the security field to ask if it's truly possible to defend against a persistent attacker. We conclude that we can only succeed by being more innovative than our criminal opponents".

  Webroot suggests that organizations need to bolster their security posture with next-generation endpoint protection and real-time, accurate, dynamic threat intelligence to protect themselves, their users, and their customers from cybercriminal activity.

  The full Threat Brief is available to download from the Webroot site and you can see an infographic summary of the findings below.

  

  Image Credit: wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Unsurprisingly, cyber criminals are using the Zika virus to their advantage

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 4:18pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  The Zika virus has been all over the news lately and people are treating it as if it is something new. In fact, the virus named for the Zika Forest in Uganda, was first discovered way back in 1947. During the time since then, it was isolated to a narrow region near the equator, but several years ago it began to spread, jumping to south Pacific islands and finally landing in Mexico and South America.

  Of course, anytime something is making news and playing to people's fears then there are at least two sectors you can count on to try and latch onto it – the media and cyber criminals. Three if you care to lump in politicians, four if you include recent statements from the Pope.

  We aren't getting into religion and politics though, it's the thieves we're concerned with. We'll just stick with the disease as it applies to technology and, perhaps not shockingly, the cyber criminals are all over this outbreak, attempting to fear-monger their way into people's lives.

  The result is a flood of emails with malicious attachments. According to researchers at Symantec, "The malicious spam email claims to be from Saúde Curiosa (Curious Health), a health and wellness website in Brazil. The subject of the email says, 'ZIKA VIRUS! ISSO MESMO, MATANDO COM ÁGUA!' which translates to: 'Zika Virus! That's Right, killing it with water!' The email itself uses imagery and text taken from a real article on Saúde Curiosa, but includes buttons and attachments to try to capture the recipient’s attention, such as 'Eliminating Mosquito! Click Here!' and Instructions To Follow! Download'."

  The result, if you follow this, is a Bitly link that sends you off to a Dropbox location from whence the malicious file is downloaded. In the end, you have installed JS Downloader, a malware program that proceeds to welcome others to the party.

  As Symantec points out, "Newsworthy events on a regional or global level often provide fertile ground for cybercriminals seeking to capitalize on the interest in these events. In this case, the Zika virus’ impact in countries like Brazil is being leveraged, while the potential impact in other countries make it a prime candidate for more malicious spam".

  Now you don't just have to watch out for mosquitoes, but also emails.

  Image Credit: ZouZou / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Ghostery 6.0 for Firefox redesigns UI, syncs settings with other devices

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 4:07pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  Anti-tracking company Ghostery has updated its Firefox add-on to version 6.0 in what the developer is calling "the most significant upgrade to Ghostery since its inception".

  The interface has been redesigned, with a new dashboard giving an immediate view of the trackers on a site, revamped menus and alerts, and assorted beginner-friendly usability tweaks ("Whitelist Site" is now "Trust Site").

  The 2,000+ trackers have been organized into eight simple categories -- Advertising, Audio/ Video Player, Comments, Customer Interaction, Essential, Pornvertising, Site Analytics and Social Media -- and you can block any category with a click.

  Alternatively, a new "Restrict Site" button immediately blocks all the trackers -- whatever their category -- on the current site.

  Most promising of all, there’s the start of a "sync settings" option which syncs Ghostery’s settings across all your devices.

  Right now the sync feature only works with Firefox, but other browsers are to "soon follow".

  Ghostery 6.0 is a free add-on for Firefox.

  
• 

  Android Pay's security to be put to the test in 2016

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 4:00pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Dell has released its Security Annual Threat Report, taking a detailed look into the IT security landscape of 2015, as well as predicting a few trends for the ongoing year.

  The report is based on "Dell SonicWALL Global Response Intelligence Defense (GRID) network with daily feeds from more than one million firewalls and tens of millions of connected endpoints, Dell SonicWALL network traffic and other industry sources".

  Looking back at 2015, exploit kits were on the rise, with Angler, Nuclear, Magnitude and Rig being the most popular ones. Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader and Microsoft Silverlight were the most popular targets.

  Cyber-criminals are improving their techniques and becoming harder to detect, the report says, as they’re using "anti-forensic mechanisms; URL pattern changes; steganography which is concealing the file, message, image, or video within another file, message, image, or video; and modifications in landing page entrapment techniques".

  Looking forward into 2016, some things will change, while others are expected to stay the same.

  Android will continue to be a prime target, especially Android Pay, as uptake continues. Adobe’s Flash could get some breathing space, as the loss of major browsers support will make them less interesting for attackers.

  Android Pay will be a target through the vulnerabilities in Near Field Communications (NFC), which can target point-of-sale terminals. Attacks against Android Auto can also be expected, the report suggests.

  "The threat vectors for malware distribution are almost unlimited, ranging from classic tactics like email spam to newer technologies including wearable cameras, electric cars, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices", said Patrick Sweeney, vice president of Product Management and Marketing, Dell Security. "In today’s connected world, it’s vital to maintain 360 degrees of vigilance, from your own software and systems, to your employees’ training and access, to everyone who comes in contact with your network and data".

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Picosmos Tools is a quirky image editing suite

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 3:11pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  Picosmos Tools is a versatile image management suite which includes a viewer, editor, batch processor, capture tool, simple publishing tools and more.

  The program stands out immediately with its Windows Start Screen-type launcher, colorful "live tiles" giving you speedy access to each module.

  "Effect" is a highlight. Open your target image, browse the filter and effect thumbnails on the sidebar, and you’ll find a host of ways to tweak and transform your images.

  The individual effects aren’t very customisable, but there are some surprisingly advanced features -- seven selection tools, anyone? -- as well as a library of clipart and photo frames to dress the image.

  "Editor" is a more advanced tool, which opens just about anything (RAW, PSD, TIFF, WEBP), has more effects and filters, all the usual transform tools, and full layer support.

  There’s not a lot of depth here. We went browsing the Adjust > Brightness/ Contrast options, and there are no stretch or equalize options, no curve tweaks, no real levels control -- just individual Brightness and Contrast sliders.

  Other features are equally basic, but if your needs are simple this might not matter too much. And extras like the selection tools, and the ability to apply effects with a brush, give you some control over the results you see.

  "Browse" is a reasonable thumbnail browser. The interface is flashy, with animations everywhere, but it more-or-less worked as we expected, and there’s a lot of wallpaper-setting, slideshow-viewing and general image management features to explore.

  "Batch" is the batch processing side of the image viewer. Supported options include Color (tweak brightness/ contrast/ hue/ saturation, though oddly not RGB), Optimize (resize, save as JPG, change quality setting), Organize (copy or move to a new folder based on date or resolution), Resize/ Convert, Rename, Grey, Rotate, and a simple Watermark tool which crashed when we tried it.

  We weren’t impressed by the Convert or Split modules, which organize images into grids or display a picture with a basic tile effect. Maybe there’s a reason for their existence, but if so, we missed it.

  "Screen Capture" is marginally more useful, enabling anyone to grab an area of the screen, annotate and share it in a few seconds. But it’s still basic, with just a single freehand rectangle capture type, and no competition for a real screenshot tool.

  "Page Design" is considerably better, a sort-of DTP-lite (very lite) module which helps you present your images on a custom poster, cover and more.

  At its simplest, all you have to do is choose one of the photo collage-like "Scene" designs, add your own photos and it’s ready to go. There’s not a lot of low-level adjustments available, but what you get is fun and easy to use.

  On balance, Picosmos Tools isn’t for the experienced user. Most features just don’t have the power or depth they’ll need. But there’s plenty to explore for everyone else, and some of the more unusual modules -- particularly "Page Design" -- might justify the download all on their own.

  Picosmos Tools is a freeware application for Windows XP and later.

  
• 

  90 percent of Android devices are running an outdated OS

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 3:05pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  According to new research over 90 percent of Android devices are running an out of date version of the OS. In addition, 32 percent of those in use in enterprises today are running version 4.0 or older of the operating system, leaving them highly susceptible to vulnerabilities like Stagefright.

  The study by cloud based access provider Duo Security analyzed data from its installed base of over a million mobile devices. It reveals that the problem isn't just with Android, only 20 percent of iPhones run the latest Apple operating system version, iOS 9.2. Outdated iOS devices have well-known vulnerabilities such as Ins0mnia and Quicksand that make these devices susceptible to attacks.

  Duo estimates that over 20 million mobile devices connected to enterprise networks are no longer supported by the device manufacturer and therefore can't be upgraded to the latest versions of the software, which would fix their vulnerabilities. In fact, there are many devices still on the market that can't receive updates, meaning that even a brand-new device may be a security concern for the enterprise.

  "IT administrators need to gain visibility into the health of all devices accessing their critical applications so that they can better protect these apps and at the same time improve the overall hygiene of all the devices," says Ash Devata, VP of Product at Duo Security. "Our new functionality will enable IT admins to understand what devices are out of date regardless of what type of device it is. We can then give admins the power to restrict out of date systems from accessing corporate data, and all of this is done without having to install anything on the end user device".

  Full findings of the report are available on the Duo website. Duo has also made available a free X-Ray app for Android to allow users to detect serious vulnerabilities.

  Image Credit: Palto / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft improves Windows Store's app visibility

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 2:52pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  Finding apps that are published in Windows Store should not be a problem, but this is exactly what some developers have been complaining about. It seems that when conducting a search there are titles that do not show up in the results, even though the query matches their name. As a developer put, it is a "disaster".

  This is a problem not only for the developers who have worked hard to make apps for Windows Store, but also for Microsoft and its users. After all, what the search feature turns out reflects the quality of the app store. This issue may now be gone, as the software giant says that app visibility has finally been improved.

  This also serves as an official acknowledgment of the issues reported by developers across the web. When I first covered these issue, the software giant was serving the same pre-written answer to anyone complaining about being unable to find their apps. Undoubtedly, this has caused frustration for many developers.

  The way that app visibility has been improved is by delivering more accurate rankings and tweaking the indexing algorithm so that better search results are offered. Microsoft specifically names the app's name and related keywords as the areas of focus in the latter case.

  And, when developers still encounter issues, Microsoft says that developer support is now reviewing tickets that relate to these issues to confirm whether its updates fixed the reported issues. Apparently, tickets will not be closed without identifying "any remaining gaps", which is good news.

  This does not mean that all apps will now show up in search results. Developers still have to make sure that they are following the guidelines offered by the software giant, and that their titles are not spammy or abuse keywords.

  How app reviews are managed has also changed, Microsoft says. The idea is to hide reviews that do not meet the requirements, so that users who look at an app's reviews do not see "fraudulent" or spammy reviews.

  Also, reviews published by Windows Insiders who are on the Slow ring will be displayed starting in March, because Microsoft says that the ratings do not differ substantially. Reviews published by Windows Insiders on the Fast ring will be hidden however, "to protect developers from negative reviews that may be due to preview builds of Windows 10 rather than app quality".

  Image Credit: Syda Productions / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Avast finds Mobile World Congress visitors among the least safe

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 2:14pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  One would think that those attending a big technology show would be among the more savvy tech users, but sometimes they are the ones who maybe think they are above the fray and forget about the multitude of things that can go wrong whenever you are online.

  To illustrate this problem, security firm Avast took a trip to Barcelona, where the Mobile World Congress show is underway. Much of the flow of people entering the airport were there to attend the show, though likely some tourists and business travelers were in the mix as well.

  The results of the test conducted by researchers found that during the course of only four hours over eight million data packets were picked up, coming from more than 2,000 users who logged into the public Wi-Fi.

  More information was gleaned from the test. 50.1 percent of users were accessing the service from an iPhone, 43.4 percent used an Android device and a scant 6.5 percent sported a Windows Phone handset.

  61.7 percent utilized Google in some way, either searching for information or accessing a Gmail account. Other services detected included Yahoo, Spotify, Twitter and Facebook. There was even one percent who apparently were looking for love, as they accessed a dating app.

  Perhaps scariest of all is that Avast was able to identify 63.5 percent of these people by both device and user ID.

  "Many individuals recognize that surfing over open Wi-Fi isn’t secure. However, some of these same people aren’t aware that their device might automatically connect to a Wi-Fi network unless they adjust their settings", says Gagan Singh, president of mobile at Avast. "With most Mobile World Congress visitors traveling from abroad, it’s not surprising to see that many opt to connect to free Wi-Fi in order to save money, instead of using data roaming services. When taking this route, people should utilize a VPN service that anonymizes their data while connecting to public hotspots to ensure that their connection is secure".

  All of this means that users really need to utilize a VPN when on the move, something we already knew, but seems lost on many folks, even those who really should know better.

  Photo Credit: wk1003mike/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Fiat Chrysler leverages Google's Android-powered Project Tango to improve car shopping

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 1:29pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  I love cars, but hate shopping for them. My vehicle is a meager Ford Focus, but it took me a year to buy it. Why? Some car salespeople can be very high-pressure, but worst of all, negotiating a price is an exercise in frustration -- it took me a long time to find the right car at the right price.

  Why is it that buying a car can't be more straightforward? Well, Fiat Chrysler may have part of the solution to that problem. By leveraging Project Tango, Google's Android-powered augmented reality solution, consumers will soon be able to experience the vehicle of their desires without entering a showroom.

  "The prototype allows car buyers to hold a device and, using the integrated sensor technology and motion tracking, area learning, and depth perception from Project Tango, view, walk around, look inside and configure a life-size virtual car. On the Accenture demo, doors can be opened to reveal a realistic and detailed interior, where changes to upholstery colors or dashboard styles can be made with a tap on the device screen", says Fiat Chrysler.

  The car company further explains, "Project Tango technology gives mobile devices the ability to navigate the physical world similar to how we do as humans. Project Tango brings a new kind of spatial perception to Android devices by adding advanced computer vision, image processing, and special vision sensors. A Project Tango device maps the 360-degree environment around it, meaning that as it is moved it navigates and views the changing environment in the same way as a person would. As the car is viewed through the device, the virtual car moves in relation to how the user moves".

  [mms.businesswire.com]

   

  Having the ability to not only customize the vehicle using the Android device, but to also see it in different in-person locations, makes this particularly amazing. Seeing a visual representation of the car on, say, your street, or at the beach near your house, really allows you to get a better feel for how it will fit into your life.

  True, you should always experience a car in-person, including test-driving it, before purchasing. With that said, if you can rule out a vehicle from the comfort of your own home, you can save yourself a trip. Unfortunately, it is just a prototype for now.

  Do you see value in Project Tango being used for the car-buying experience? Tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  NetSpot 1.0 Wi-Fi analyzer and troubleshooting tool launches on Windows

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 1:09pm CET par Nick Peers

  

  Etwok LLC has launched NetSpot 1.0 on the Windows platform, joining the existing Mac tool. The initial release of the Windows version has been made free for both personal and commercial use, and contains a subset of the features found in the Mac build.

  The tool is designed to help troubleshoot problematic Wi-Fi network connections by revealing overall reception strength, and includes a mapping tool to help identify 'dead' zones where reception is poor or non-existent.

  NetSpot for Windows, which requires a computer with Wi-Fi adapter, is basically split into two sections: Discover, which provides a standard list of all visible and detected Wi-Fi networks, and Survey, where users can create maps of their immediate vicinity for a more detailed view of signal strength in specific areas.

  The Discover section provides detailed information about all detected networks, including both SSID and BSSID, signal strength, band (2.4GHz or 5GHz), channel, router manufacturer, security level and Wi-Fi mode.

  One or more networks can be selected, then by clicking Details, information is revealed concerning signal strength (in signal graph and tabular data form) as well as strength and frequency of both 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels.

  Switch to the Survey tab and users are able to create survey projects using interactive 'heatmaps' to visualize the user’s Wi-Fi connection over a specific area using a heatmap. Users can restrict their survey to one Wi-Fi network or include multiple networks as required.

  Unlike the Mac version, which comes in free and paid-for versions, NetSpot for Windows launches as a completely free product for both personal and commercial use. There are no limitations on the number of points on a heatmap, and the app supports signal level visualization.

  NetSpot 1.0 is available as a freeware download for PCs running Windows 7 or later, and works with any 802.11 network. Also available is NetSpot 2.4 for Macs running OS X 10.6.8 or later. The Mac release offers a free, non-commercial version that’s accompanied by more fully featured Pro and Enterprise level editions.

  
• 

  Thanks to encryption, UK efforts to block torrent sites are pointless

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 12:28pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  In the UK, ISPs are required to block access to a number of big-name torrent sites -- the thinking being that sites such as The Pirate Bay are used primarily for (gasp!) downloading pirated material. Despite the government's desire to control what people can access online, good old HTTPS means that people are able to very easily bypass any blocks that may be put in place.

  There are all manner of proxy services and mirror sites that provide access to otherwise-blocked content, but these are really not needed. With the likes of The Pirate Bay and Kickass Torrents offering secure, encrypted connection, accessing the goodies they contain could involve little more than sticking an extra 's' in the URL.

  Based on feedback from its visitors, TorrentFreak has been able to determine that a number of torrent sites (including The Pirate Bay, KickassTorrents, RARBG and Torrentz) are all accessible in the UK if people simply opt to visit the HTTPS versions. While this is not a new trick by any means, it seems that the word is spreading and HTTPS torrenting is increasing in popularity.

  In some instance, rather than offering HTTPS as an option, a number of torrent sites default to the secure connection, automatically sidestepping ISP-level blocks. TorrentFreak explains:

  The HTTPS issue is not new and it appears that many ISPs don’t have a countermeasure in place. According to our information, only Sky is structurally blocking secure versions of various pirate sites.

  The precise technical explanation for the issue is unclear, but since HTTPS connections can strip HTTP headers it may be harder to detect that a blocked site is being accessed.

  In theory ISPs could also block the site’s IP-addresses, but since many use shared IPs from CloudFlare this would also take down other unrelated websites.

  It may not work forever, so if HTTPS is giving you access to sites that would otherwise be blocked, make the most of it while you can.

  Photo credit: AlexLMX / Shutterstock

  
• 

  The cost of mobile data breaches in big companies

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 12:24pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  A mobile data breach could cost a large enterprise over $25 million (£18 million) according to a new report.

  The study of security and IT leaders in Global 2000 companies, carried out by mobile security specialist Lookout and the Ponemon Institute, examines the risk introduced by employees accessing increasing amounts of corporate data via their mobile devices.

  The report finds that for an enterprise, the economic risk of mobile data breaches, including direct operational costs, as well as potential maximum loss from non-compliance and reputational damage, could be as high as $25.7 million (£18.2 million).

  It also shows that mobile data breaches are more common than many may think. Two-thirds (67 percent) of organizations report having had a data breach as a result of employees using their mobile devices to access the company's sensitive and confidential information. With an average of three percent of employees' mobile devices infected with malware at any point in time, that could be more than 1,700 mobile devices, in a typical large organisation, connecting to an enterprise network everyday.

  "The mobile workforce is dragging companies into a world where 24/7 access to cloud-based services from any location is a basic requirement. Employees demand flexibility. They want simultaneous access to work apps like Salesforce and personal apps like Facebook," says Gert-Jan Schenk, Vice President of Lookout EMEA. "When you talk to IT and security leaders, their number one concern is balancing mobility with security. It is critical that they get mobile security right from the outset, particularly in light of the financial and reputational consequences if they don't".

  Another issue highlighted by the report is IT and security leaders’ underestimation of how mobile their employees have become. For example, on average IT believes that only 19 percent of employees can access customer records via mobile while 43 percent of employees say they have access. With the risk of mobile data breaches this visibility gap introduces unacceptable risk.

  More details of the study are available on the Lookout website.

  Image Credit: Minerva Studio / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft's Bill Gates sides with FBI in Apple iPhone unlocking row, likens it to 'cutting a ribbon around a hard disk'

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 12:10pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  The debate about whether Apple should help the FBI to access content stored on an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters rumbles on. Based on our poll, the majority of BetaNews readers are against Apple cracking the phone (67 percent say no, 30 percent say yes, and 3 percent are currently undecided), and most tech firms have expressed similar sentiment.

  But in an interview today with the Financial Times (story behind a paywall) Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has come out firmly on the side of the FBI.

  "This is a specific case where the government is asking for access to information", Gates says. "They are not asking for some general thing, they are asking for a particular case. It is no different than [the question of] should anybody ever have been able to tell the phone company to get information, should anybody be able to get at bank records. Let’s say the bank had tied a ribbon round the disk drive and said, 'Don’t make me cut this ribbon because you’ll make me cut it many times'".

  It seems the tide of public opinion may be turning against Apple. Pew Research Center has today released a study that shows 51 percent of Americans believe Apple should assist the FBI and unlock the shooter’s iPhone 5c, while just 38 percent think Apple shouldn’t.

  
• 

  Google Compare is closing

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 11:22am CET par Mark Wilson

  

  From today, Google is starting the process of winding down Google Compare. The price comparison tool is to close completely in the US and the UK by 23 March.

  From this date forward, anyone looking to find the best prices on auto insurance and mortgages, credit cards and more will have to turn to one of the alternative comparison sites. Considering the US version of Google Compare was only recently resurrected from the ashes of Google Advisor, the move will come as a surprise to many.

  The utility and insurance comparison market is one that has become increasingly crowded, and Google's announcement makes it clear that it is feeling the pinch. As reported by Search Engine Land, Google sent an email to Google Compare partners, saying:

  Dear Partner,

  Beginning on February 23, 2016, we will start ramping down the Google Compare product, which is currently live in both the US and UK. We plan to terminate the service as of March 23, 2016. As you know, Google Compare (formerly Google Advisor in the U.S.) has been a specialized, standalone service that enables consumers to get quotes from a number of providers for financial products such as car and travel insurance, credit cards and mortgages.

  Despite people turning to Google for financial services information, the Google Compare service itself hasn’t driven the success we hoped for. We greatly appreciate your partnership and understand that this decision will be disappointing to some. But after a lot of careful consideration, we’ve decided that focusing more intently on AdWords and future innovations will enable us to provide fresh, comprehensive answers to Google users, and to provide our financial services partners with the best return on investment.

  We’re grateful for all the feedback that you have provided over the course of this product’s development, and we are looking forward to partnering with you to achieve greater success in the future.

  We will work with you during this transition and beyond. Please reach out to your Google representative if you have any questions and to discuss the next steps.

  The Google Compare Team

  Photo credit: Fotografiche / Shutterstock

  
• 

  MWC: Mobile isn't everything; it's a few things

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 9:58am CET par Pat Clawson

  

  Mobile technology, data and analytics, mobile security, smart homes, fully autonomous cars, drones, wearable gadgets, enterprise mobility, Internet of Things, mobile commerce, app monetization, 'Internet +' -- you name it, they’re talking about it at Mobile World Congress. And the mix of people that crowded the huge halls of the venue all came from different industries and countries.

  Amidst it all, I kept seeing the same three words pop up everywhere on signage in the exhibitor halls, in video ads and everywhere else -- smart, connected and Internet of Things. The more I saw and heard these three words, the more convinced I became that mobile -- in this very moment in time -- isn’t necessarily everything as the conference theme suggests. Instead, it’s a few things. To help illustrate what I mean, here are a few of those things that stood out for me on the first day of Mobile World Congress.

  Connectivity doesn’t sell; customer solutions do

  I’ve been to my fair share of industry conferences and there are always speakers that have the kind of stage presence and ability to tell a story akin to a pop musician. That’s the kind of vibe one session had for me -- it was the second keynote session of the day titled "Mobile Is Disruption" featuring the CEOs of Intel, AT&T Mobile and Business Solutions and Ericsson.

  Moderated by Shaun Collins, CEO of CCS Insight, the panel’s powerhouse mobile providers (and their CEOs) described mobile disruption as something that needs to go beyond the traditional connotation of devices and instead, needs to be thought about in the mindset of anything a person can be connected to, such as the cloud and the Internet of Things. While the topic veered towards 5G -- and predictions for when it would come into effect (2018-2020 was the general consensus), Ralph de la Vega, President and CEO of AT&T Mobile and Business Solutions, put it into real-world terms for the audience. He said, "The latency of 5G allows you to make real-time decisions in real time. So you can either keep data collected from a user in a car or have 5G-like latency that lets data be switched on and off easily".

  From there, the discussion immediately went into who is responsible for securing the privacy and security of that data that’s switched on and off in the car -- or anywhere else, be it the cloud, a smartphone, a tablet, or elsewhere. To that, de la Vega answered, "It depends on the use case" and shared what AT&T is doing in conjunction with IBM to use data and analytics from a medical center in Texas to improve cancer research. After explaining his way of doing things and how AT&T works as a team across all of their internal teams and vendors to make sure patient information is safe and secure, de la Vega matter-of-factly said, "We as wireless carriers can no longer sell connectivity; we sell solutions". That is absolutely the right mentality and what more businesses need to be doing. Rather than trying to fit customers into their set of products, the products businesses create and market and sell must fit into the customer’s mindset and experience.

  Connectivity isn’t about things; it’s about giving people the freedom to live, work and play how they want

  As the day progressed and I had made my way around the many different exhibition booths, I made my way over to a keynote session that had a long line waiting to get inside -- Mobile Is Connected Living. Ford President and CEO, Mark Fields, recounted the shift the auto maker has made over the last several years from a traditional auto brand to an auto and mobility company. He talked about how the company is looking at data as a real treasure in improving drivers’ experiences -- be it to merge user and weather/traffic data to find parking spots, or launching its new GoDrive car sharing service in London last year.

  It made me realize just how much of a blurred line exists between data’s role in the customer experience and privacy. While brands like Ford and Paypal -- and so many others -- count on data to better understand their customers’ needs, target those needs with content and ads, and predict their future purchase patterns, it’s also a lesson for brand CEOs to bring privacy into the forefront -- as opposed to asking the question of 'is this truly secure?' we should consider what needs to be done if the data needs to removed from the ride-sharing car after it’s been returned by a user. Can users trust that the right questions are being asked -- and at an early enough stage? Can businesses trust that their teams fully understand the ways in which data -- and the improper management of it -- can pose a threat to their reputation and sales? As much as I’m sure businesses want to say 'yes' to these questions, I don’t think we’re there yet.

  Photo credit: peresanz/Shutterstock

  Pat Clawson is Chief Executive Officer Blancco Technology Group. He has more than 20 years of experience in technology and IT security. Most recently, he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lumension Security, Inc., where he successfully grew the business to strong revenue growth and profitability. In addition to successfully launching new technologies into the marketplace and guiding four businesses through acquisitions, Clawson has also established himself as an IT security pundit within the media. His insights have been featured in many of the world’s most influential news publications, including WSJ, CNN, CNET, Washington Post, USA Today, Forbes, CIO and Infosecurity Magazine, just to name a few.

  
• 

  Are you ready to cut the cash?

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 9:56am CET par Sam Pudwell

  

  One of the big debates happening at the moment is when -- and indeed, whether -- we will see the emergence of a cashless society where digital payments rule the roost.

  We are already seeing it happening. Last year, cashless payments overtook physical currency in the UK and the release of services such as Apple Pay has helped propel mobile payments into the mainstream.

  The debate will certainly rage on for some time, but one company ready to embrace a cashless society and help drive it forward is Samsung. At MWC I have met two executives from Samsung’s semiconductor arm -- Joerg Suchy and Thomas Arenz -- both advocates of getting rid of cash once and for all.

  And the reason is NFC. Samsung has been working with a company called SmartLink to create something called the Contactless Companion Platform (CCF), a customizable NFC payments service for mobile and wearable devices that allows users to pay for items their way, using their preferred form factor.

  The platform can store any kind of payment card as well as things like transport tickets or hotel room keys, with the phone being "the host to transfer NFC services to any form factor".

  As Thomas delicately pointed out, "for many people NFC translates into No F***ing Clue", but Samsung is hoping the CCF will change that. Picture the scenario: Your son wants to go out to the cinema with his friends, so instead of giving him cash which can easily be lost of stolen, you distribute £20 to a wearable device. You then set a timeframe in which the money has to be used by and send him on his way. If the wearable gets lost of stolen, it can be disabled from the smartphone so only the wearable is lost, not the money.

  The aim, Thomas explained, is to "replace inherently insecure things like cash and tickets and use the mobile phone to manage the distribution onto a form factor of your choice", whether this be a wearable, smartwatch, ring of piece of clothing.

  And when you think about it, the use cases are easy to imagine. Your ski jacket could have a sensor in the sleeve so you can get access to ski lifts or pay for food and drink without having to spend ages removing clothing and digging around in your pocket for money. When you go for a run or a bike ride, instead of having to take your wallet or cash with you, you strap on a wristband with as much money as you need.

  Now, people will argue that removing cash altogether would be quite a drastic move, especially when dealing with larger sums. But moving mountains isn’t the idea. Joerg thinks things need to stay as "close to cash" as possible in the early stages to ease security worries. We’re talking about those small payments that we all make every day, where convenience is the top priority.

  So, Samsung's semiconductor arm is very much looking ahead to a world of digital payments. The only question is, will the public be ready and willing to cut the cash?

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: s4svisuals/Shutterstock

  
• 

  T-Mobile launches pre-orders of the Samsung Galaxy S7, adds bonuses

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 6:57am CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Samsung has recently unveiled its latest smartphone, the Galaxy S7, a follow-up in the same line the company has been producing for years now. Regardless of what you think of it, it's sure to be popular, and getting widespread adoption requires carriers to be on board.

  One such carrier, T-Mobile, is trying to sweeten the deal in an effort to grab more customers. This involves the handing out of bonuses and there are several to be had if you pre-order this latest handset.

  Those pre-orders open today, February 23rd, and those who participate get a fairly good deal. The device comes for $0 down and $27.92 for 23 months. In addition, the company is throwing is six Samsung VR games and one year of Netflix.

  "There are millions of Samsung fans who’ve been waiting for this day and only the Un-carrier will unleash the full power of Samsung’s new Galaxy S7 and S7 edge with fantastic benefits like Music Freedom, Binge On, Mobile Without Borders and more", says John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. "These new devices combined with the Samsung VR bundle and a year of Netflix on us are a win for consumers who want the hottest new Samsung superphone".

  The company claims that in the past year it has more than doubled the size of its 4G LTE network, stating that it covers 305 million Americans. You can sign up here if you're interested in the S7 and the "un-carrier".

  
• 

  Snapchat gets 'On-Demand Geofilters'

  Publié: février 23, 2016, 2:55am CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  As a dude in his 30's, I am a bit lost when it comes to Snapchat. Believe it or not, I have created a profile on the social network, and even managed to get a good number of folks to follow me. Unfortunately, I find the entire affair ponderous -- it is not particularly rewarding, nor fun for me. Snapchat is seemingly an unorganized mess. Maybe I just need to give it more time, but I digress.

  One of the best features of the curious service, however, are the Geofilters. If you aren't familiar, by leveraging GPS, Snapchat can provide overlays for your images based on location. Today, the company is taking it a step further with really cool 'On-Demand Geofilters'.

  "We initially designed Community Geofilters for public places -- but we kept hearing from Snapchatters who wanted a Geofilter for their business or private event, so today we're announcing something new: On-Demand Geofilters let you create and publish a Geofilter for your party, wedding, business, or any other place or event. It's a fun way to help your friends or customers decorate their Snaps, wherever they are", says Snapchat.

  The company further shares, "you can buy On-Demand Geofilters for an event or even an entire block -- for an hour or up to thirty days! Pricing starts at $5, and depends on a few factors including, among others, the size of your geofence and the time period you’ve chosen. On-Demand Geofilters are available now in the US, UK, and Canada, with more locations coming soon".

  Not sure how this will work? Snapchat shares the following steps.

  • Design: Use your favorite image editor to create a filter. We’ve also provided some templates that are compatible with Photoshop and Illustrator to get you started :)
  • Map: Pick a geofence where your filter will appear, then choose the time and dates you want your Geofilter to be available.
  • Buy: Submit your Geofilter. Our team will quickly review it and, assuming all is well, get it up and running.

  Did you catch that last part? That Snapchat reviews the submissions? That makes me so happy to read. At first, I was nervous that pranksters, bullies, and other nasty people would use this to harass others. In other words, without a review process, evildoers could circle a victim's house or street, and submit a vulgar or threatening Geofilter. Thankfully, humans will need to review and approve the submissions -- hopefully nothing bad slips through the cracks.

  

  If you want to see an example of how On-Demand Geofilters will work, check out the video below. If you want to add yours truly to Snapchat, you can do so using the above Snapcode.

  What do you think of On-Demand Geofilters? Tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  Microsoft shutters video messaging app Skype Qik pushing users to Skype

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 11:23pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  As of 24 March, Microsoft's Skype Qik app will be no more. The video messaging app has essentially been swallowed up by its big brother Skype, meaning that it is now surplus to requirements.

  Microsoft says that the reason for the closure is that Skype Qik's features are now available in Skype. As a result of this, iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone users who had come to rely on the tool to keep in touch will have to seek out an alternative and take steps to save any messages they want to keep.

  Users have just over a month to save what Microsoft describes as "special messages you want to keep", and there are online guides for how to go about preserving these memories. Announcing the closure on the Skype blog, Microsoft says:

  In 2014, we launched Skype Qik, a mobile video messaging app to help share moments with groups of friends. Since then, we have learned that many of you are already doing these things in Skype, and as a result, we migrated some of Qik's most used features into the Skype app you already know and love.

  Microsoft says that Qik fans will still be able send and receive video messages if they switch to Skype, and can also take advantage of features such as filters. There will undoubtedly be a number of users lost to the likes of WhatsApp, but Microsoft will be keen to encourage as many as possible to migrate to Skype.

  
• 

  Amazon pushes Prime by limiting free shipping to orders over $49

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 10:40pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  If you want to qualify for free shipping on your next Amazon order, you might find that you have to stick a few extra items in the basket. The online retailer is upping the threshold for free shipping from $35 to $49.

  US customers who do not pay for Amazon Prime will have to shell out an additional $14 if they want to avoid shipping costs... unless they are buying books, that is. To qualify for free shipping on books, a spend of just $25 is needed, but the increase is part of a push to encourage more people to sign up for Prime.

  The price hike is quite significant -- no less than a 40 percent increase. Amazon is starting to make Prime ever-more attractive; you don’t need to do a great deal of shopping for the $99-a-year service to make sense, particularly if you tend to buy lower cost items. Amazon explains:

  Orders including $25 or more of eligible books qualify for FREE Shipping. All orders of $49 or more of eligible items across any product category also qualify for FREE Shipping. With free shipping, your order will be delivered 5-8 business days after all of your items are available to ship, including pre-order items.

  Amazon has been gradually adding more and more value to Prime so that in addition to two-day shipping and access to Prime Music and Prime Video, subscribers in some zip codes qualify for even faster deliveries. The minimum order threshold increase demonstrates that Amazon is starting to see that free shipping has taken too big a bite out of its profits, and it's determined that people will pay one way or another.

  Photo credit: Evan Lorne / Shutterstock

  
• 

  How to get total control over Windows 10's automatic updates

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 9:20pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  One of the (many) things that divides opinion about Windows 10 is Microsoft’s decision to make updates mandatory. If you have Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise or Education editions you can defer updates, but you can’t reject them outright.

  Windows 10 Home users don’t have this luxury and updates are installed automatically once they become available.

  It’s easy to understand why Microsoft has taken this step. Reducing the number of unpatched systems in the world is good news for everyone.

  Unfortunately, the software giant does occasionally push out updates that cause problems for some users, so it’s far from a perfect solution.

  If you’re unhappy with Microsoft forcefully installing updates on your system without your say so, you can block this function using the latest version of W10Privacy.

  If you haven’t heard of this program before it’s well worth checking out as the software gives you control over Windows 10’s many privacy functions, allowing you to prevent the OS snooping on what you do. Options are color coded so you can see at a glance whether something is safe to change/disable or not.

  In W10Privacy 2, you can now set the program to disable Windows 10’s own update mechanism and replace it with its own. Users can choose which updates to install, and which to ignore. This isn't something everyone should do, but you can easily reverse the steps should you need to.

  Before you can use this function, you need to download some additional components. Follow these steps:

  1. Download W10Privacy 2 and unzip it to a folder on your hard drive.
  2. Download PsExec and copy it into the W10Privacy folder.
  3. Download the Windows Update PowerShell Module from Technet, and unzip it to a subfolder in the W10Privacy folder.
  4. Right-click W10Privacy.exe and choose Run as administrator from the context menu. Choose to make a system restore point. It’s also worth making a full system backup (just in case).
  5. Go to Extras > Windows Updates to manage the options.

  There are six different check boxes. None are enabled by default. They are:

  • PSWindows Update module exists (must be provided previously by user to the W10Privacy folder).
  • PsExec.exe in W10Privacy folder (must be provided by user).
  • W10Privacy adaption of the PSWindows-Update Module.
  • Configure fake WSUS server.
  • W10Privacy is located in a path/folder without spaces.
  • Do not consider drivers in Update Search.

  Assuming you want to manage updates manually, check the first five options. The sixth option lets you decide whether to list drivers alongside updates. This is up to you.

  Click Set changed settings then click the Start checking for updates button and you’ll be shown any new updates that have yet to be installed and can choose what action to take.

  

  Once you’re in charge of your updates, run the software regularly and check to make sure you don’t miss any important updates.

  Photo Credit: fotoscool/Shutterstock

  
• 

  How to improve security in a BYOD enterprise environment

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 9:05pm CET par Guy Caspi

  

  For most of us, our mobile and personal devices have become extensions of our lives and even bodies. Most of us carry our smartphones with us all the time, and when we can’t find them, we feel lost.

  We are essentially always on, always connected to the Internet. This notion of anytime, anywhere access has extended not only to our personal lives but also our professional.

  In the name of employee productivity, bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies have become widespread and blurred the lines between our personal and corporate lives. Employees bringing their personal devices into work-related activities and communications both inside and outside of regular working hours have become the norm practice.

  So why are so many people hopping on the BYOD bandwagon in the first place?

  • Increased productivity. The ability to log in and respond to emails or work on documents, at any time of the day or night, from anywhere, has a dramatic positive impact on productivity. According Forrester’s study on Mobile enterprise services improve flexibility, productivity, and ROI, "anytime, anywhere" access to the workplace enabled employees to gain 45-60 minutes a week.
  • Increased satisfaction. According to a study conducted by CapGemini, Bring Your Own Device It’s all about Employee Satisfaction and Productivity, not Costs, employees feel more comfortable working on their own devices. Abiding to this preference increases employment flexibility and employee satisfaction.
  • Financial savings. Many BYOD policies require employees to cover their own costs, enabling organizations to save on procurement and data plans. Furthermore, people tend to upgrade their devices more often than organizations. This enables organizations to benefit from newer, more powerful devices with the latest features. However, these savings have been found to be offset by the cost of managing BYOD programs.
  • Operational Agility. Organizations are better able to respond to the needs of their global clients when employees are available to respond to different time zones.

  While BYOD brings satisfaction to customers’ employees and increases work productivity for enterprises, it also opens up their network to security risks. Employees are connecting their own devices -- smartphones, tablets and laptops -- to the corporate network and leaving it open up to security risks.

  Herein lays the enormous risk to workplaces. BYOD has become the perfect portal to the corporate network. It opens the door to a plethora of risks, including: ransomware of corporate data, collection of sensitive authentication data (later used for targeted attacks), and a bridge to highly secured, air-gapped networks.

  As more companies embrace the accessibility benefits of BYOD policies, it’s vital to remember the dangerous security implications BYOD also brings. The trick to keeping BYOD productivity, while ensuring corporate security, is to first understand the current limitations of BYOD devices and policies before applying a solution. Some of the most common BYOD dangers include:

  • Cyber threats from unsecured networks. Logging in to the organization’s network outside the secured perimeter of the organization exposes the employee’s device and the entire organization’s network to cyber threats.
  • Cyber threats from applications. Employees might unknowingly download malicious applications that can infiltrate the organization’s network via the device.
  • Data loss. Devices might get stolen or data could be wiped out. Therefore, a network backup policy and infrastructure must be set to avoid critical data losses.
  • Data retrieval upon termination of employment. A company must have a policy in place to retrieve information from an employee’s device once their employment has ended.

  Once this first step is taken, enterprises know their pain points and can apply security measures in a manner that best benefits the business. Until now, organizations had to weigh the pros and cons carefully to decide whether the benefits of BYOD policies are worth the risks.

  Rather than simply banning employees from BYOD workflow or leaving the enterprise network wide open for cyber criminals, below are several tips to help enterprises improve their BYOD security without trading enterprise productivity

  • Define the level of access to corporate data that employees have on their personal devices, depending on their role and device: unlimited access, access to non-sensitive data only, access with IT control over the device and stored data, etc.
  • Educate employees about the risks when working outside the company’s protected environment (e.g. using unsecure Wi-Fi in a café), as well as best practices on device usage (e.g. password protection, back-ups, OS updates, etc.).
  • Ensure that corporate data is backed up in the organization’s network and that employees are not using jailbroken smartphones, which are more exposed to malicious applications. Identify your 'crown jewels": the type of data that can be attractive to hackers, and "place them in a safe" by setting up safety procedures regarding access, storage, and back-ups of that particular information.
  • Encrypt your data as it is worthwhile investing in encryption technologies to protect valuable data and render it useless, or at least lower its value through layering its accessibility.
  • Conduct vulnerability assessment and penetration testing on the network and the applications from the technical side. You should conduct a vulnerability assessment to discover the flaws in your system. Once you have identified the flaws that can be exploited, conduct penetration testing to carry out attack simulated scenarios, gain an in-depth understanding of its degree of severity and how it can be remediated to avoid a real-life exploitation.

  As hackers and cyber-attacks get more sophisticated and creative, it’s a matter of time before major hacks on mobile devices hit the headlines.

  As more companies embrace the benefits of BYOD workflows, cybersecurity solutions must break the paradigm and offer innovative solutions that can deliver protection without affecting enterprise productivity.

  Guy Caspi, CEO of Deep Instinct.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: baranq/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Explore, troubleshoot and diagnose your network with PortScan

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 7:20pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  Freeware developer The SZ has shipped a new version of PortScan, its one-stop network toolkit for Windows XP and later. We last checked out the program way back in 2012, so the new release seems like a good time to look at it again.

  The download is a compact 387KB, and there’s no installation required. Just unzip the single program executable.

  The various PortScan functions are organized across eight tabs: Scan Ports, Search Devices, Ping Devices, Traceroute, Speed Test, Whois, DNS and About.

  That last tab -- About -- is a good place to start, because the latest release doesn’t just give you the program version. There’s also a pile of information on your network setup, including host name, workgroup, IP address, network adapters and their individual details.

  The Port Scanner is smarter than you’d think. Multi-threading and an option to scan "only common ports" means it runs quickly, and you get a vast amount of information on some targets: MAC address, host name, open ports, server details, network shares and more.

  "Search Devices" may give you even more information about your connected network hardware, and there’s no setup involved, no address ranges to enter -- just click Start and it reports any results in a few seconds.

  Ping Devices runs your choice of ping type (3 short, large ping suite, continuous) against a specified IP address or server name, and displays a report.

  Traceroute also works more or less expected. Enter a target, the program repeatedly runs a traceroute, listing intermediate IP addresses, resolving their host names, listing the pings received, minimum, maximum and average response time.

  Speed Test is more impressive, with options to test your speed using 6 different sites and many more servers (it list all available SpeedTest.net servers and you can choose the one you need).

  Whois displays the registration details for your target domain. No surprises there.

  The package is rounded off neatly with a new DNS function, which interrogates the DNS server you specify for records relating to a given domain name. (Don’t have a DNS server address to hand? No problem, Google Public DNS is used by default.)

  PortScan has some issues. You can’t easily use the output of one module in another, perhaps running a continuous ping against a detected device. You’re only able to save some of the reports, and even those are strictly XML-only.

  Despite that, the program remains a handy network toolkit, especially useful when scanning for network devices or running internet speed tests. Give it a try.

  PortScan is a freeware application for Windows XP and later.

  
• 

  From the air back to the ground -- Telecoms are returning to their roots with Gigabit internet

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 7:16pm CET par Ed Fox

  

  Outside of those directly involved in the telecommunications industry, what goes on behind the cellular and wireless networks may be a mystery.

  The truth is that telecoms is advancing just as fast as the rest of the world, and these quieter innovations are driving forces in the success of much of the technology we see featured in the news headlines today.

  Where we’ve been: 5G

  From 3G to 4G to 5G, the telecommunications industry has continually advanced the capabilities of its networks on a frequent basis, often looking to the next breakthrough even before the widespread adoption of its latest discovery. This is certainly what we’ve seen in the case of 5G -- what many end users might not know is that over half of the world’s population have mobile subscriptions for 2G service only (Tolaga Research analyst Phil Marshall).

  So what do we know about 5G now? As the Internet of Things has continued to gain momentum, the need for a network with the power of 5G is undeniable. With 2016 slated to be the year of the connected and self-driven automobile and Internet-connected devices everywhere you look, 5G is on the tip of everyone’s tongue.

  The initial deployment of 4G networks was presented without clear requirements, raising the question as to if it was really an improvement over 3G. There are lessons to learn from this experience, such as ensuring a consensus on the network provisions is met ahead of implementation and deployment. As network bandwidth is already hitting bottlenecks on the 4G services, it’s clear that something needs to be done to keep up with new technologies. However, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on 4G deployment already, and the plan is not even complete yet. A new network would put additional burden on budgets, so consumers have to decide if they’re ready to increase their expenses for the ability to achieve the new network speeds.

  Where we’re going: Gigabit internet

  5G is leading the charge as the new sought-after network, and although not completely standardized across the board, it has a general idea and timeline to work against. This includes faster and more reliable connections across devices for consumers, and general availability by 2020. While there will certainly be hurdles, 5G deployment is already well on its way.

  On a different end of the spectrum, Gigabit internet access is stirring up interest across the United States. The service is typically delivered over fiber optic lines and claims speeds up to 100x faster than the average broadband connection. Some big names are already offering the service, including AT&T, Google Fiber, Comcast and Cox.

  Gigabit internet will also encounter obstacles along the way, much like 5G. The deployment is physical (not virtual), and requires additional infrastructure to be built. This means that Gigabit internet can only be rolled out city by city, and service providers have to pick and choose where they bring the access while the cities they decide on have to ensure infrastructure and topography are aligned with the requirements to build a local fiber network.

  Where we are now

  The telecom industry is tired of being overlooked when it comes to sexy new technology -- when it comes to leading the charge for new technology trends and advancements, it’s telecom that makes it happen. Over the next five years, telecom will undergo a massive transformation that will include both 5G and Gigabit internet deployment -- telcos are bringing sexy back!

  Photo credit: wk1003mike / Shutterstock

  Ed Fox Vice President of Network Services at MetTel. He is responsible for the planning, deployment, and operations of MetTel's broadband, data, and VoIP network infrastructure. He has over 20 years of telecommunications and network experience managing massive organizational and customer growth at major telecommunications providers.

  
• 

  Moveable type: iClever Tri-folding Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard [Review]

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 6:45pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  A few months back, I took a look at the iClever Portable Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard and I was impressed. Now iClever is back with an updated version of the keyboard, the iClever Ultra Slim 3 Color Backlight Bluetooth Keyboard.

  There are a number of enhancements to the original design, the most noticeable of which is that the keys have now grown to full size. As you'll have guessed from the name, the keyboard is now also backlit, and there are also little kick-out legs to help improve stability.

  In terms of build quality, this updated model is just as solid as its predecessor. The same aluminium casing is present, and the hinges that facilitate folding are wonderfully robust and -- just as before -- the keyboard can be used with iOS, Android and Windows (OS X doesn't get a specific mention in the manual, but it does work -- Windows Phone, on the other hand, is singled out as not being supported).

  

  As this is essentially an upgraded version of the previous model, you know pretty much what to expect. The typing experience is simply wonderful, and the full sized layout (291 x 117 x 8.25mm) means that it's actually slightly larger than the keyboards built into many laptops. Folded up, the dimensions reduce to 166 x 120 x 14.8mm, as weighing as just 280 grams, it's hardly a major addition to your bag or pocket.

  

  It's not just the size that has changed for the new keyboard model, there's now a battery indicator -- something I noted was missing from the previous version. The extra size of the keyboard could have impacted upon the stability of the device, but this is something that iClever has taken care by including tiny kick-down legs on each side. As well as preventing the keyboard from rocking because of the fulcrum created by the hinge covers, the legs also feature rubberized feet to prevent slipping.

  

  Backlighting is a very nice touch for anyone looking to use the keyboard at night or in low light conditions, and iClever gives you the choice of what color you would like to use -- a quick key combo lets you cycle between red, blue and green.

  The keyboard can be used wirelessly over Bluetooth, or plugged in via USB. The 750mAh battery offers up to 300 hours of continuous operation, but this is only the case if you forego the pleasures of backlighting. With the keys backlit, longevity plummets to a mere 5 hours -- perhaps a sign that this is a feature that should only be enabled when it's really needed if you are going to be typing wirelessly rather than tethered with a USB cable.

  A full battery charge will take around 4 hours, and iClever says you can expect to enjoy 90 days of standby time, and expect a lifespan of 3 years. As with the previous model, the keyboard comes complete with a carry pouch that has enough room for the keyboard and its cable.

  

  In use, this really does not feel like a foldable keyboard -- it's a small form peripheral that offers everything you would expect from its full-sized counterparts; there are no compromises.

  If you like the look of the keyboard, you can pick one up on Amazon for $54.99 -- iClever Ultra Slim 3 Color backlight Bluetooth Keyboard. As before, this is a portable keyboard that comes highly recommended.

  
• 

  Ballistic unveils six-sided protection cases for Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge smartphones

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 6:43pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  If you are a fan of the Android operating system, Samsung smartphones and tablets are some of the best. The company's devices are beautiful, well-built and full of features. More importantly, the company is reliable for support; sure, OS updates aren't as frequent or timely as a Nexus device, but Galaxy phones aren't abandoned like some others.

  If you plan on buying the latest Samsung flagships, either the Galaxy S7 or S7 edge, you will probably want to protect your investment. Don't worry, Ballistic has you covered. The company announced new cases for those phones, with six-sided protection, that are absolutely gorgeous too.

  "The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, being announced late February with availability in March, will find its ideal match in Ballistic’s new line of protective cases. Ballistic is proud to announce two new series, Jewel Mirage and Urbanite Select. Both new series offer Ballistic’s well-known Six-Sided Drop Protection, and come fully equipped with Ballistic Corners, raised lips and corners and six-feet of drop protection. Users do not need to sacrifice personal style for all-over protection with Ballistic", says Ballistic.

  The company further says, "Jewel Mirage ($29.99) has a slim, sleek design with a sophisticated twist. Its laser etched metal designs, 'Retro' and 'Kasbah', in either gold or silver, take nothing away from the signature Ballistic protection promised with every case. Urbanite Select ($39.99), available in Dark Ash Wood, White Ash Wood or Buffalo Leather, is Ballistic's slimmest series yet, offering an elegant design with a user friendly experience. Its ultra slim, lightweight, pocketable design is crafted from premium materials and holds true to Ballistic’s Six-Sided Drop Protection".

  

  While the Jewel Mirage is attractive, the Urbanite Select is the true star. For only $10 more, you get trendy and premium materials such as wood or buffalo leather -- how fancy! Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so you may prefer the Mirage.

  If you are interested in purchasing one of these cases, you can do so here in March. Will you buy one? Tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  Samsung Galaxy S7 edge vs Apple iPhone 6s Plus: Which one is best for you?

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 5:45pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  Samsung's new Galaxy S7 edge will soon arrive in stores across the globe, giving consumers yet another great option to choose from in the phablet space. Naturally, many of you will also be considering Apple's iPhone 6s Plus for your next big smartphone, so how does Samsung's latest and greatest fare against it?

  Unlike the previous comparison between Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6s, which the former flagship won fair and square, it will be much more difficult to find a winner between Galaxy S7 edge and iPhone 6s Plus. The two phablets are much more similar than their smaller counterparts, making for a much closer fight. But, which one is best for you?

  Big vs Small

  First off, let's talk a bit about the differences between Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, and between iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus to better understand Samsung's and Apple's philosophies for their two flagship phablets and why this battle is much more heated.

  As I explained in my original coverage of Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, there are three main differences between the two flagships: screen size, screen shape and battery capacity. Galaxy S7 has a 5.1-inch display, while Galaxy S7 edge packs a 5.5-inch panel that is curved (hence the edge in its name). The former has a 3,000 mAh battery, while the latter has a 3,600 mAh battery. They are virtually identical otherwise.

  With iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, Apple has not created two flagships as similar. The differences are much more significant here, because iPhone 6s Plus not only has a bigger screen -- 5.5-inch as opposed to 4.7-inch -- but its screen also has a much higher resolution -- 1,080 by 1,920 compared to 750 by 1,334. The battery is also significantly larger -- 2,750 mAh vs 1,715 mAh -- and its main camera also gets the added benefits of optical image stabilization.

  As you can see, there is a much larger gap between iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus than between Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. It is as if iPhone 6s was not cut from the same cloth as its bigger brother. Meanwhile, Galaxy S7 edge is basically just a bigger Galaxy S7 with two curves on the side of its screen.

  I suggest reading the previous article first, which is linked in the opening paragraph, because in some areas the same impressions and conclusions will be drawn due to hardware or software similarities.

  Display

  Galaxy S7 edge has the display with the higher resolution, but iPhone 6s Plus' screen is not really that far off. In practice, both will be quite similar in terms of sharpness, even though their resolutions are not the same. Past a certain point, it is harder to tell the difference.

  Galaxy S7 edge, like Galaxy S7, has an active display which can show information during standby. The 3D Touch technology in Apple's flagship lets users hard press on the screen to get different contextual menus depending on the application.

  Galaxy S7 edge's display does have a slight edge -- no pun intended -- over iPhone 6s Plus' panel, thanks to the higher resolution. But, really, that is like splitting hairs. Both are great, and you should be very happy either way.

  Cameras

  In terms of imaging, we are looking at 12 MP cameras on the back, with optical image stabilization in each case, and 5 MP cameras on the front. Both flagships can handle 4K video recording, and 1080p at higher frame rates.

  The differences are in the aperture of the lenses. Whereas Galaxy S7 utilizes F/1.7 lenses on the front and rear, iPhone 6s Plus has to make do with F/2.2 lenses. The smaller the number, the larger the aperture. The larger the aperture, the better the low light performance. That is basically why this matters.

  In well lit areas, both should produce great photos and videos, however. But, because of that extra low light potential afforded by Galaxy S7 edge's cameras, it wins this round.

  Build and Design

  What I said in my earlier comparison between Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6s holds true here as well, so I will not rehash it. Both phablets look great, and both use premium materials. It boils down to whether you like the glass build of the Galaxy S7 edge or the metal-clad design of iPhone 6s Plus more. You can't go wrong either way.

  Performance

  Just as above, the Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6s comparison again holds true here as well. Again, read the previous comparison for more information; but the gist of it is that their performance will be too close to call, and very similar in real life. There is no winner or loser here.

  Battery Performance

  When it comes to battery life, Galaxy S7 edge and iPhone 6s Plus are, however, different. Galaxy S7 is better equipped for a strong showing here, thanks to that notable difference in capacity. That said, you are still looking at all-day battery life with iPhone 6s Plus, even longer depending on your usage.

  Still, Galaxy S7 edge comes out ahead in this regard.

  Storage

  Since there is no notable difference between Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, and iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in terms of storage, my observations from the previous comparison apply in full here as well.

  As I explained before, Galaxy S7 comes out ahead in this area because it comes with more storage on the base model -- 32 GB as opposed to 16 GB -- and a microSD card slot for expansion by up to 200 GB. Most people will be perfectly fine with the base model.

  Meanwhile, iPhone 6s Plus will be pricier if you want more storage than the 16 GB model offers, but the fixed storage tiers also come with better performance compared to microSD cards. My advice is to pony up for the 64 GB version, which will add to the cost, as the 16 GB model is not future-proof enough to recommend for anything more than very light use.

  Software

  As above, software-wise, Galaxy S7 is basically identical to Galaxy S7 edge. The same holds true for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. So, it all boils down to whether you want Android 6.0 Marshmallow and slower updates or iOS 9 and faster updates.

  Mobile Payments

  Same goes for mobile payments, which are possible with both Android flagships. Galaxy S7 edge, however, will not be the best option here because Apple Pay is more widely embraced than Samsung Pay. If you want to buy things with your new phablet, my advice is to go with iPhone 6s Plus.

  Anything Else You Should Know?

  The rest of the specs are too similar to warrant a comparison, so, at the end of the day, it looks like Galaxy S7 edge is the better option overall, winning in the screen, camera, battery performance and storage departments. It only loses to iPhone 6s Plus in the mobile payments area, so it looks like a clear victory.

  However, iPhone 6s Plus should not be easily dismissed because in practice it is a very competent phablet that does plenty of things well. And, if you want an iOS smartphone, it is the best that you can get.

  Like I said the last time, it comes slightly short of its Samsung-made rival. Galaxy S7 edge is the better phablet for people who are not too caught up in the Android vs iOS fight, and it just makes more sense to buy from a financial point of view. For these reasons, it wins this head to head.

  
• 

  Android banking and payment apps at risk from Acecard Trojan

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 5:37pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  A new Android banking Trojan is now bypassing Google Play security measures -- the Acecard Trojan is capable of attacking users of nearly 50 different online financial applications and services.

  During the last quarter of 2015 researchers at Kaspersky Lab detected an unusual increase in the number of mobile banking attacks in Australia. The suspicious activity was discovered to be the result of a single banking Trojan called Acecard.

  The company describes Acecard as one of the most dangerous Trojans it's ever seen. It uses almost every malware functionality currently available -- from stealing a bank's text and voice messages to overlaying official app windows with false messages that simulate the official login page in an attempt to steal personal information and account details. The most recent versions of the Acecard family can attack the client applications of some 30 banks and payment systems. Considering that these Trojans are capable of overlaying any application on command, the overall number of attacked financial applications may be much higher.

  Acecard is also able to overlay phishing windows on other applications including IM services WhatsApp, Viber, Instagram and Skype, social networks including Facebook and Twitter, the Gmail client, Google Play and Music, and the PayPal mobile app.

  "This cybercriminal group uses virtually every available method to propagate the banking Trojan Acecard. It can be distributed under the guise of another program, via official app stores, or via other Trojans. The combination of Acecard's capabilities and methods of propagation make this mobile banker one of the most dangerous threats to users today," says Roman Unuchek Senior Malware Analyst at Kaspersky Lab USA.

  Kaspersky Lab experts believe that Acecard was created by the same group of cybercriminals that was responsible for the first TOR Trojan for Android and the first mobile encryptor/ransomware. The reasoning for this is based on similar code lines and the use of the same command and control servers.

  To prevent infection by Acecard, Kaspersky recommends not downloading applications you don't trust, not clicking suspicious links, installing a reputable security application and keeping it up to date.

  You can find more details on the Securelist blog.

  Image credit: wk1003mike / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Huawei and Nexusguard partner to offer DDoS protection

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 5:14pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  DDoS attacks are one of the most worrying threats that enterprises face. Chinese hardware company Huawei and security specialist Nexusguard are launching a new joint solution that offers enterprises and internet service providers state-of-the-art DDoS protection using software-defined networking (SDN).

  The companies will combine Nexusguard's cloud-enabled Origin Protection and Huawei's DDoS Protection System Appliances, giving customers low latency and multi-layered protection that can accurately and quickly defend their systems with hybrid implementations.

  In the past, differing customer sizes and requirements meant different ISPs had to set up appliances and build their own DDoS mitigation solutions from the ground up. For service providers overwhelmed by DDoS attack traffic, Nexusguard’s Hybrid Cloud approach will mitigate smaller attacks locally with on-premise appliances, which will be followed by failover to the cloud once inbound traffic exceeds the local network capacity to handle the attack.

  "Businesses look for advantages in technology that can support real-time traffic monitoring and protection with low latency, which is where we believe SDN will be the ultimate model for technology and solution providers in the future," says Liu Lizhu, general manager of the Firewall and Gateway Domain at Huawei. "With Nexusguard's purpose-built cloud DDoS mitigation expertise and our on-premise appliance protection, we can ensure customers enjoy the lowest latency and the quickest recovery from cyberattacks with a hybrid approach".

  Benefits of the combined solution include low false-positives, keeping end user experiences intact, and mitigation capabilities for DDoS attacks of any size, using excess cloud capacity. It offers immediate protection, triggered by real-time attack monitoring, along with security across multiple layers safeguarding against all types of DDoS attack.

  Both companies will be showcasing the joint solution at next week's RSA 2016 conference in San Francisco.

  Image Credit: sibgat / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Samsung Galaxy S7 vs Apple iPhone 6s: Which one is best for you?

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 2:41pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  Now that Samsung has taken the wraps off Galaxy S7, and also made it available for pre-order, many of you will be wondering how the new device stacks up against Apple's iPhone 6s. Both are flagships with impressive hardware and top-notch software, and both are offered in the same price range. But, which one is best for you?

  With Galaxy S7, Samsung has refined last year's recipe, giving prospective buyers pretty much everything they could hope for. Meanwhile, iPhone 6s, while not all that different to its predecessor in most areas, feels like a bolder step forward for Apple. Choosing between the two will not be easy.

  Display

  Let's start with the display. With Galaxy S7, you are getting a 5.1-inch screen with a resolution of 1,440 by 2,560. In this regard, it is virtually unchanged from last year's model. Apple, on the other hand, which has also opted for the same screen size and resolution as with the previous version, has given iPhone 6s a 4.7-inch panel with a resolution of 750 by 1,334, but has also added a neat feature into the mix, namely 3D Touch.

  Obviously, Galaxy S7 has the more impressive screen of the two, thanks to that high resolution alone. That resolution also makes it a better choice if you are interested in virtual reality headsets, because content displayed on the screen will look much crisper than if you are to use an iPhone 6s.

  However, thanks to 3D Touch, Apple's flagship lets you interact with apps in a different manner, due to contextual menus which are revealed when you hard press on the screen. Samsung's device also has a trick up its sleeve, namely an active display which can show information during standby.

  At the end of the day, however, it is hard to compete with a (slightly) larger screen with a much, much higher resolution. Galaxy S7 is the winner here.

  Cameras

  When it comes to imaging, both Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6s have 12 MP cameras on the back and 5 MP shooters on the front. But that is where the similarities end. Samsung has given its flagship wider aperture lenses (F/1.7), on the front and rear, while Apple has stuck with smaller ones (F/2.2). Samsung has also given its flagship optical image stabilization, while Apple only offers this feature on the bigger iPhone 6s Plus. Both can, of course, shoot 4K video, if that is your cup of tea, but also 1080p at a higher frame rate.

  Both devices are capable of great photos in well lit conditions, of course, seeing as they have top of the line cameras. But the real benefit of a wider aperture lens coupled with optical image stabilization is improved image quality in low-light, not to mention more stable video footage.

  This is an area where smartphones typically leave something to be desired, but Galaxy S7 might just alleviate any concerns here. Meanwhile, with iPhone 6s, Apple has not done anything to impress. Again, Galaxy S7 is the winner.

  Build and Design

  This is one area where there is no clear winner. Both smartphones look great, and both offer a premium experience. Galaxy S7 has glass on the back, while iPhone 6s sticks to a metal back. Both, however, have curved edges, which makes them nice to hold in the hand. Ultimately it depends on whether you prefer glass or metal.

  In terms of exterior features, Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6s have fingerprint readers embedded in the home button, and physical controls for the volume. Apple's device adds a mute switch, which is something that can prove useful at times.

  And both flagships share the same design flaw: their main camera sticks out a little. This is more of a concern with Apple's device, since its camera is positioned off-center; in either case, a discreet case will take of this problem.

  Performance

  Crowning a winner here is going to prove impossible. Samsung will offer Galaxy S7 with two different processors, and which one you get depends largely on where you will buy it from. One version has an Exynos 8890 Octa processor, while the other has Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 on board. Meanwhile, iPhone 6s only ships with Apple's A9 chip.

  There is no doubt that both will perform similarly, delivering top of the line performance as we have come to expect. There may be slight differences in benchmark results, but in real life you will be hard pressed to tell the difference at this point.

  Battery Performance

  Battery performance makes for an easier comparison, however. Galaxy S7 has a 3,000 mAh battery, that is non-removable. It supports fast charging, when using a wall charger or a wireless charger, which is a huge plus.

  Apple has given iPhone 6s a tinier battery in comparison, and there is no support for wireless charging here, let alone fast wireless charging. As a result, you might struggle here if you are a heavy user, unless you go for an external battery.

  Galaxy S7 is better positioned to deliver longer battery life, and because it supports wireless charging and fast charging it is the clear winner.

  Storage

  Storage is an area that is worth paying attention to, because you will likely have the device for a year or two. This is less of an issue with Galaxy S7, because this year Samsung brought back the microSD card slot. There will be two storage versions, but no matter which one -- 32 GB or 64 GB, though the latter will likely be harder to find -- you get, you can easily expand the capacity by up to 200 GB.

  In iPhone 6s land, things are trickier. There are three storage tiers, 16 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB, but no expandable storage. The mid-range option makes most sense for most consumers; the base model should be avoided, while the top-tier version is only for those who need to store a lot of content offline.

  Galaxy S7 is much more flexible in this regard. This matters because if you get the base model Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6s, you first of all get more storage capacity with the former and the option to expand it easily for much less than the difference in price to the 64 GB iPhone 6s, if you were to get an iPhone 6s that is.

  Cost-wise, Galaxy S7 is the winner here, but you should not dismiss iPhone 6s. The latter makes more sense if you want more storage without messing around with microSD cards, which aren't as fast as the internal storage is. Ultimately, however, for most people Galaxy S7 is better equipped in terms of storage.

  Software

  This is probably the most important difference between Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6s, but it all boils down to what you prefer. Is it Android or is it iOS?

  With Galaxy S7, Samsung offers Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the latest Android release, with its own TouchWiz skin on top. It looks to be a lighter and more pleasant affair this year, which retains the strengths users have come to appreciate.

  With iOS 9, iPhone 6s offers a predictable user experience. Apple is in full control, so there are no surprises here. If you have used iOS 9 on another Apple device, it will be pretty much the same experience on iPhone 6s.

  But, when Google unveils Android N later this year, you likely will be stuck on Marshmallow for at least a couple of months. Android 6.0 only started to roll out earlier this month, even though it was introduced in early-October last year. Meanwhile, with iPhone 6s, you get immediate access to the new iOS release Apple will introduce this fall, so there is also this benefit to consider.

  Android fans will obviously prefer Galaxy S7, while iOS enthusiasts will find iPhone 6s to be a better choice.

  Mobile Payments

  If you are interested in paying with your phone, iPhone 6s is the better choice. Apple Pay has been adopted by many financial institutions in a number of major markets, so there should be no issues here. Apple has the momentum working in its advantage.

  Samsung Pay, however, does not enjoy the same level of adoption among financial institutions, but Galaxy S7 does offer support for magnetic cards. Perhaps this flagship will change things, but until that happens iPhone 6s makes more sense.

  What Else?

  There are other hardware differences that could be mentioned, but for the most part these are the things that most of you will want to know. Ultimately, which one is best depends largely on what platform you prefer or whether you care about having the most impressive specs sheet with your new smartphone.

  If you want an iPhone, I think that iPhone 6s Plus is a better choice because it has a higher resolution screen, better battery life, and a better camera. Of course, if do not want the larger screen, iPhone 6s remains a great device.

  It is just not as impressive as Galaxy S7 is. Samsung has managed to make a flagship that is truly impressive on all counts that matter so, if you are not too invested in iOS, getting a Galaxy S7 should be the obvious choice for you.

  
• 

  SanDisk unveils Ultra USB Type-C Flash Drive

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 2:28pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  When USB flash drives hit the mainstream, many consumers -- including myself -- were shocked by the small dimensions. I remember staring in amazement, thinking of how many floppy disks would fit on one.

  In 2016, however, flash drives are no longer impressive. Many young tech users have never seen a floppy, and the concept of a flash drive could be seen as a dinosaur, because, you know -- the cloud. Today, SanDisk announces a new such drive, the Ultra USB Type-C Flash Drive. Fairly fast, rather pretty, and using the latest USB connection type, it injects some excitement into an -- arguably -- dying medium. Unfortunately, the quoted "USB 3.1" is a bit misleading.

  "The new SanDisk Ultra USB Type-C Flash Drive is available in up to 128GB and delivers USB 3.1 performance of up to 150MB/s, making it SanDisk's fastest and highest capacity USB Type-C offering. The USB drive features a slim, retractable design to protect the reversible connector and is compatible with the SanDisk Memory Zone app for Android. The app, which is available for free through the Google Play Store, auto-launches upon insertion of the drive into a compatible device, allowing immediate access to the user's content and easy file management", says SanDisk.

  Dinesh Bahal, vice president, product marketing, SanDisk, explains, "we expect to see many new USB Type-C supported devices released in 2016. As more consumers purchase ultra-mobile PCs, smartphones and tablets that feature this new, more advanced USB standard, it is critical to offer a complete ecosystem of compatible products. New offerings, like our SanDisk Ultra USB Type-C Flash Drive, will give consumers the capabilities they’ve come to expect from traditional Type A ports, but with the added benefit of better performance".

  

  The SanDisk Ultra USB Type-C Flash Drive should work brilliantly on Type-C enabled computers, like Apple's MacBook, Google's newest Chromebook Pixel, and various Windows machines. Making it even more versatile, it is also compatible on Type-C Android smartphones and tablets. In theory, it should work on Windows 10 Mobile too, although SanDisk does not specifically list compatibility.

  

  Unfortunately, this drive is not USB 3.1 gen 2, but instead, gen 1. What does this mean? It is essentially USB 3.0 masquerading as 3.1. No, it is not false-advertising, just unfortunate branding approved by the USB Implementers Forum that can lead to consumer confusion. In other words, there is a good chance that your existing USB 3.0 drive is as fast, or maybe faster, than SanDisk's offering. The real benefit here is not speed, but really just the connection type -- if you need it.

  If you want to buy this slick-looking Type-C flash drive, it is available from retailers, like Amazon, starting today. Pricing is pretty reasonable and varies by capacity as seen below.

  • 16GB $20
  • 32GB $30
  • 64GB $50
  • 128GB $80

  
• 

  Registry Finder adds 'search keys by modified date'

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 1:51pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  Open source Registry editor Registry Finder has added the ability to find Registry keys modified within a date range.

  This has many computer forensic applications, such as seeing the keys modified when a program was installed, or getting clues about what another user did on your PC last Wednesday.

  The feature is an addition to the regular Find dialog. Right-click a target like HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, click Find, and there are now "From" and "To" date pickers for selecting your date range.

  Windows and individual applications are updating the Registry all the time, of course, so it’s likely that searches will contain a lot of not-very-interesting data (we scanned HKEY_CURRENT_USER for changes in the last 24 hours and got 3,500 results).

  Fortunately you’re able to sort your results by key, helping you skim over irrelevant clusters of Explorer or system-related junk and zoom in on anything more unusual and interesting.

  There’s also an option to sort the keys by the date and time modified, and that’s maybe the most interesting of all. Even if you don’t know what you’re looking for, scrolling down the list shows you when Registry changes cluster together, highlights changes that happen all on their own, and generally give you a better understanding of what’s happening in the background of your PC.

  The only issue we noticed is "modified date" information is still only displayed in search results, and not the main Registry view. This is going to make for a very clumsy workflow -- you have to search the key you’re already viewing to get the information you need -- but hopefully it’ll be fixed soon.

  Registry Finder is an open source application for Windows XP and later.

  
• 

  New tool uses machine learning to personalize emails

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 1:16pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Most marketing email gets personalized using a static template which limits the amount of information that can be tweaked for each recipient.

  Marketing automation company Boomtrain is launching a new platform, Boomtrain Editor, that adds advanced machine learning personalization regardless of email provider. It predicts the optimal email content for each recipient, and can then be applied by simply dragging and dropping it into a customizable template.

  Rather than displaying the same message for all subscribers, content can be personalized with recommendations for each individual user, regardless of the number of recipients. It can turn existing HTML newsletters into a dynamic, 1:1 personalized template, without needing software specialists to help.

  "You can go out and run predictive models on IBM's Watson or Google's TensorFlow, but if you don't have a team of engineers on staff, you won't be able to use it for practical marketing applications," says Nick Edwards, CEO of Boomtrain. "Boomtrain has bridged that gap to make advanced machine learning personalization accessible for marketers everywhere to leverage this new wave of data and technology".

  In order to create a seamless process for executing email campaigns, Boomtrain has also announced a partnership with Iterable, a user engagement platform that powers marketing across email, mobile and web, to serve dynamic, personalized content to individual consumers through the Iterable email platform. Through this partnership, Boomtrain will create content within the email, while Iterable will be responsible for sending the actual message.

  More information on Boomtrain Editor is available on the company's website.

  Image Credit: Sarah Holmlund / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Lenovo unveils TAB3 10 Business tablet

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 12:57pm CET par Sam Pudwell

  

  As the BYOD trend continues to grow throughout SMBs and enterprises alike, more and more mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones are being introduced into the workplace.

  With this in mind, Lenovo has unveiled the TAB3 10 Business at MWC 2016, an Android powered tablet designed to combine the power and versatility of Android 6.0 with the service capabilities that matter most to business users.

  The TAB3 10 Business is optimized for professional use, offering full support for Android for Work and featuring a range of security and encryption options -- such as persistent endpoint protection and geo-technology to enable businesses to track devices -- to ensure work-related data remains safe and secure.

  The tablet comes pre-loaded with Android for Work apps, Google Play for Work and supports industry solutions in areas such as classroom, point-of-sale and eHealth management. Wear and tear isn’t an issue, as the TAB3 10 Business boasts IP52 certification for dust- and splash-proofing and shielding through scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 3 panels to deal with the toughest working environments.

  Multi-tasking and multi-window support is provided by the 1.3GHz Quad-core processor and the 12-hour battery life means employees can stay mobile throughout the day without having to stop and recharge.

  As business-specific use cases range from digital displays to conference calls, a 10-inch full-HD IPS display with Gorilla Glass 3 and dual speakers boosted by Dolby Atmos cinematic movie audio are also packed in, with an 8MP auto-focus rear camera and 5MP fixed-focus front camera produce quality pictures with high-resolution clarity.

  The TAB3 10 Business will be available from June 2016, retailing at $199 for the Wi-Fi only option, $249 for 2GB and LTE and $299 for 3GB and LTE.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Why Apple's shameless fight with the FBI is all about ego, not just cause

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 11:57am CET par Derrick Wlodarz

  

  After spending the last few days soaking up as much as possible on the Apple-FBI San Bernardino iPhone spat, the evidence -- in my eyes -- has become crystal clear. Apple's planted itself on the wrong side of history here for numerous reasons, and is using nothing less than a finely scripted legalese tango in defending its ulterior motives.

  As a part time, somewhat auxiliary member of the tech media at large, I'm a bit embarrassed at how poorly this story has been covered by my very own colleagues. Many of those who should undeniably have a more nuanced, intricate understanding of the technical tenets being argued here have spent the last week pollinating the internet with talking point, knee-jerk reaction.

  Inadvertently, this groupthink is steering Apple's misguided arguments forward to a populace that otherwise relies on the tech media's prowess in unearthing the truth in such matters. This is one such case where technical altruism is blinding the real story at play here, which are Apple's design flaws -- in other words, inadvertent insecurity bugs -- found in the older iPhone 5c.

  For those that haven't kept up on this story, you can get a great primer on where the Apple vs FBI situation stems from and its surrounding core facets. ZDNet's Zack Whittaker has a great FAQ post that digs into the major topics at hand in an easy to understand manner. No need to retread already covered ground in this post.

  Apple's Framed Narrative in Twisted Prism of Encryption

  The tech media is writing story upon story that makes mention of supposed backdoors the FBI is requesting, which entail things like "master keys" which could potentially unlock any encrypted iOS device. While there are far too many media stories I could link to which prove such misinformation dissemination, I'll point to posts like this one on Venturebeat and even coverage on the otherwise usually judicious podcast, This Week in Enterprise Tech (episode 177 is where the Apple/FBI case was dissected at length).

  While this self-absolving narrative is making its rounds, let's not forget where this all began. It was Apple itself, in its now famous open letter which was published on Apple's website and signed off by no less than Tim Cook himself. And for that, shame on him.

  

  Many in the media have mistaken this to be a case about phone encryption, due to Apple's framing of the discussion in such a light. In reality, the FBI is merely asking Apple to help create a special iOS firmware for a single iPhone 5c which could disable forced-wiping after 10 entries, and altering the timeout delay between entries. Apple's attempt to sway the narrative leads me to believe it is more concerned about corporate image than public safety. (Image Source: Mercury News)

  I know very well that as the leader of a massive publicly traded company, Cook has a duty first and foremost to his most critical stakeholders, those being Apple shareholders. But the finer point which Apple forgets in its shameless fight with the FBI is that the very sacred tenets of American democracy and capitalism have allowed his firm to grow to such unprecedented levels. There is very well a balancing act which needs to be distinguished in a free society that stands at the folds between security and privacy.

  The FBI is not asking for any kind of encryption "master key" here, let's be very clear. Such a request would be an overreach of the inherent division that is required to ensure the greater security of data for the masses in question here. And such a request would be one that I would, as an IT professional, yet more importantly, a member of this society, be very succinctly be opposed to.

  But this is not what has been asked of Apple, and not what's at stake for the company. This move is driven by a PR objective aimed at keeping Apple's ego and image in something it preaches so dearly: security.

  FBI's Request Indirectly Forces Apple to Admit iPhone 5c Insecurity

  If you're curious as to how I could come to such a conclusion, you can feel free to glean through the same well written, and lengthy, expose on this situation which convinced me on the subject with clear technical validation and reasoning -- not purely emotional knee-jerk reaction. The post is on the blog for a company called Trail of Bits which has noted deep expertise in security research.

  Much of my very stance on the subject is also reflected in Mark Wilson's post from a few days ago right here on BetaNews. Even Trevor Pott of The Register penned a rather wordy, but pointedly accurate piece that confirms what the Trail of Bits blog post puts forth as a theory.

  "What appears to be involved is a design flaw. Something about the iPhone 5C in question is broken," says Pott in his Register article.  That's right, a design flaw which happens to be the complete lacking of the "secure enclave" which is detailed at length in the Trail of Bits blog piece.

  If this were a newer A7 or newer powered iPhone, the FBI's chances of getting in without asking for the dreaded pandora's box "master key" (which doesn't exist) would be next to zero. But Apple never included this security facet on its earlier phones, and herein lies the very nuanced tenet of what the FBI truly wants to be able to leverage.

  The FBI doesn't want and has never asked Apple for any kind of master key. It's asking for mere assistance in re-engineering its way through a known security flaw in Apple's iPhone 5c device which doesn't tie PIN entry and authentication to the internal data through the use of this secure enclave. While Apple won't admit as much, this is very much so a security flaw that Apple obviously will never be able to fix for iPhone 5c owners, and naturally, has every intention to re-architect the argument on this situation to deflect any potential for this criticism to reach critical mass.

  And even more acutely, the FBI and Justice Department aren't asking Apple to make this available to "all" future iPhone 5c devices recovered in the course of policing. The DOJ says Apple has the free will to "keep or destroy" this special firmware after its purpose is rendered for the FBI's requests. So Apple's consumer-focused defense that it is being asked to "hack its own users" is just another attempt to misconstrue the real intentions of law enforcement here.

  One important fact which some of the media has glossed over is that the iPhone in question was not even a personal phone of the shooter. The device was actually a work-issued device that was handed out by the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, and in turn, is considered employer property with all accompanying rights that employers have over the data stored on those devices.

  

  Apple's A7-powered and newer iOS devices all employ an internal lockbox known as the "Secure Encalve" which broker access to encryption keys used to access user data. The iPhone 5c lacks this very item, which makes the FBI's chances at getting into the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone very possible -- and technically proven feasible by security experts. But Apple's ego, partially built on an image of security, naturally forces its arm in trying to trump the FBI's request. (Image Source: Troy Hunt)

  I'm not here to use Apple as a pincushion, as the industry at large needs to double down in its attempts to put its actions where its words are about security. But Apple deserves heat here, not only because it's putting shareholders first above national security, but because it has previously been guilty of trumpeting "security through obscurity" as I've covered at length in previous posts.

  Any reasonable technology company is going to have bugs and defects in its devices and code. That's the nature of the beast, and understood by IT pros like myself. But Apple has built an empire in part by its clever marketing teams that have flaunted layers of security which supposedly beat and exceed those of any other company's competing products.

  Sometimes, it is in the right and marketing matches reality.

  But many times, like with the now-dead claims that OS X doesn't get malware which I fought against for years, Apple put greenbacks before fiduciary responsibility to be honest about its software and device capabilities. And while the cessation of the famous "I'm a MAC" advertising campaigns signaled a more subdued competitive standing on the OS X front, Apple's big moneymaker isn't in desktop computers anymore, it's in iPhones that it sells by the millions.

  How does this round back to its reluctance to work with the FBI? Very simply, doing so would inadvertently admit that the iPhone 5c indeed has the security flaw which the FBI and the industry has exposed. And the problem for Apple is that it has created an ego bubble for itself which fans have bought into that has security as a notable keystone.

  If that keystone falls here, Apple's back to square one with winning back its fans that place i-Devices on a pedestal most other manufacturers only wished they had.

  Put in other words, it's Apple's ego at stake here. And it takes that very, very seriously if you haven't noticed.

  Apple Has an Undeniable Duty to the Society it Built its Fortunes On

  We've clearly established some very agreeable, black and white, facts surrounding this situation based on everything I've linked to above:

  1. This is not a debate or court-order surrounding any kind of encryption "backdoor" or "master key."
  2. The FBI is asking for acute access into a single iPhone based on a design flaw which has been exposed.
  3. Apple has the proven technical ability to render this special firmware locked to the iPhone in question.
  4. Apple has the court-ordered right to perform the procedures needed in its own facilities, and destroy the software created once complete.

  As such, I'm convinced beyond any doubt that the abilities to get into this phone exist, and can be done so in a way to protect the universe of iPhone users at large from massive data grabs by legal overreach. Apple's denial in helping the FBI, as described earlier, is not grounded in technical validity, but rather being driven by a corporate ego that has grown too large for its own good.

  Apple's feelgood and impenetrable stances on its device security are at risk of being exposed to the masses. For a company that has built its fortune around peddling a larger-than-life notion about its own security prowess, this would spell downright disaster in the marketplace, especially in the newfound re-emergence it has found in the previously reluctant Enterprise market towards its products.

  VOTE NOW: Poll: Should Apple help the FBI unlock the San Bernardino iPhone?

  But let's go beyond profitability reports and corporate egos, as the larger extrapolation here is Apple's duty that it owes to the citizens of this very nation. A country that is now in need of a compassionate about face by Apple so we can connect the dots on a terrorist situation that will not only help explain the events leading up to the San Bernardino massacre, but likely expose critical nuggets of information about other future plots or combatants.

  Apple's attempt to paint this discussion in a sea of technicalities and promotion of the privacy of its users at large ends up falling on its face when the facts are dissected in sunlight. If that very sunlight means Apple's design flaws must be vaulted into public discussion, so be it. That's the duty it owes its users in being assured that its designs are not merely existing in a lab -- but being tested, sifted, and penetrated to make future generations of hardware better on the whole.

  While our democracy has been historically opposed to gross intrusion of privacy, as seen in opposition to ad-hoc phone record dredging, a common sense approach towards nuanced security needs is something we cannot become blind to. Companies and advocates like Apple will try to smokescreen their intentions with public decrees like Tim Cook's in a blanket position on privacy, but even its future has just as much at stake if the terrorists can use an over-extended privacy veil as its own.

  The day the Justice Department calls for blanketed  encryption"master keys" from Apple is the day I will stand with Apple. But that day is not today, as Apple has not and is not being asked as much.

  Do the right thing, Tim Cook. Your company enjoys prosperity through the same democratic society that is pleading with you to put the future of our nation ahead of personal or corporate motives.

  If future deaths could have been prevented acutely via that iPhone 5c you refuse to help unlock, what kind of responsibility will fall on Apple's shoulders? Only history will be the judge of that.

  Image Credit: klublu/Shutterstock

  Derrick Wlodarz is an IT Specialist who owns Park Ridge, IL (USA) based technology consulting & service company FireLogic, with over eight+ years of IT experience in the private and public sectors. He holds numerous technical credentials from Microsoft, Google, and CompTIA and specializes in consulting customers on growing hot technologies such as Office 365, Google Apps, cloud-hosted VoIP, among others. Derrick is an active member of CompTIA's Subject Matter Expert Technical Advisory Council that shapes the future of CompTIA exams across the world. You can reach him at derrick at wlodarz dot net.

  
• 

  Tips on how to start a successful tech business

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 11:21am CET par Rene Millman

  

  Starting any business can be fraught with difficulties, but a tech business can be even trickier. We look at what things you should do to make your business a success.

  Starting a business is the dream for anyone with a bit of entrepreneurial spirit, but turning dreams into reality is never easy. This year alone, more than 70,000 start-ups have opened for business according to Startup Britain. Each year, more than half a million people start a business.

  But what if your dream is starting a tech business that could one day rival the likes of Apple or Google. What do you need to turn an idea into a Unicorn (a private company worth more than $1 billion)?

  Should the business you start be something you love or something that will make lots of money?

  If you do it for money you will never make much of it, according to Stuart Miller, CEO and co-founder of ByBox. "You don’t need to be in love with your actual product", he says. "Being honest, even though they are at the heart of everything we do at ByBox, I don’t actually love lockers! But I do love proving people wrong and the journey involved in building a world-class business".

  Tom Davenport, founder and co-owner of TalentPool, says that ideally, it should be both. He says very often loving a business (or, more specifically, a product) is the best way to make lots of money.

  "However, we’ve learned over the years to be increasingly commercial. Some of the decisions we made in the early days we would now see as naïve; as in, not thinking properly about the bottom line. So a good and responsible business leader should never forget the numbers. After all, a sustainable business isn’t one that makes fluffy products, it’s one that doesn’t go bust".

  When you get an idea for a new tech business, how soon should you move? Henry Latham, founder at BackTracker says that many people e assume that founders have a ‘eureka’ moment, come up with an idea and start a business the next day.

  "It’s good to jump in at the deep end and get going, otherwise there are infinite excuses not to, but you can take steps towards the moment when you quit your job and focus on your business full-time. As long as you have a clear timeline and targets, then that’s progress", he says.

  Once the idea has been settled upon funding is another thing to consider. Michael Gould, CTO and founder of Anaplan says that when starting any business, you need to spend the necessary time looking at your idea objectively to determine whether you really have a compelling argument as to why your product deserves investment.

  "When I started my business, I spent close to two years hidden away in my Yorkshire barn developing a prototype before I felt that it was at a point where I could pitch the product. This level of planning is crucial to building a solid foundation for your business -- particularly if you are trying to solve complex business problems with your product", he says.

  Bivek Sharma, head of KPMG Small Business Accounting, says that for tech entrepreneurs, funding has to be realistic, "both in what you ask for and what you promise".

  “Vagueness or unrealistic numbers can quickly kill a deal. Lenders and funders need to know exactly how much money you need and when they’re going to start seeing some of it back. Ask for too little and the need for further loans or investment rounds can damage credibility. Too much and you can out-price future funders", he says.

  Once you have turned your idea into a business and got funding, how do you manage resources and built up a team? Davenpot says that in his experience, it’s best to limit the number of people you have in the company at the early stages:

  "It is essential to have a very capable and flexible core team which together covers every area of the business (even if you outsource some delivery). And of course it is critical to have at least one member of that team as, either in title or in effect, your CTO", he says.

  Latham says that when it comes to finding the right people for your tech start-up, two key attributes of a successful team member are resilience and potential.

  "You’ll spend up to 2 years working 14-hour days, for no immediate reward or visible progress and you’ll generally have much easier employment options available to you. If you don’t have the grit to stick it out for this period and decide to leave, then this can have a hugely damaging affect on the team, particularly at an early stage", he says.

  Latham also says that in addition to getting the right people in, time is an important resource: "Your allocation of your time will determine your success or failure. Without a very clear goal for your day, week, month, etc, you can spend every waking hour working without seeing any progress", he says.

  Latham adds that his management team holds a Skype meeting every Monday, while the product development team meets twice a week. "These progress updates (through Slack) ensure everyone understands their position and how their work affects others", he says. "We also use Trello to show what we are doing and what’s in our stack/to-do list, so everyone’s work remains entirely visibility and transparent".

  While having the right team behind is one thing, getting advice is also crucial to success as a tech start-up. "I think having a mentor is one of the best things you can do for a business", says Thomas Coppen, managing director of Keel Over Marketing. "I have had one since I began. There are also a few charities that provide free mentoring as well. You should always take advice. That said, I tend to grow my business faster than advised by my mentor, so you need to have your own idea in there as well".

  There will be challenges when any start-up, but as long as you have the right technology in place alongside the right people and you have researched your market and more importantly your customers, your tech start-up can succeed.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: alphaspirit/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Huawei MateBook first-impressions review

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 10:32am CET par Sam Pudwell

  

  At MWC 2016, Huawei has announced the MateBook 2-in-1 tablet, entering an ever-growing market already populated by the likes of Apple’s iPad Pro and Microsoft’s Surface Pro devices.

  Aimed at business users, the Intel-powered MateBook provides the mobility of a smartphone with the power and performance of a laptop, enabling the modern mobile workforce to work anytime, anywhere.

  We got up close and personal with the new device today and, I’ve got to say, I was impressed. Firstly, it looks good, which is now an important factor in the business world as today’s customers want style as much as substance. The MateBook has a crisp, clean-cut design with sharp lines and just the right amount of bezel.

  It’s also thin (just 6.9mm, which is the same as the iPad Pro) and light (weighing 640 grams) so holding it in one hand for short periods of time is relatively comfortable. From a style point of view it ticks all the boxes both up close and from further away and is every bit as good as Apple and Microsoft’s efforts.

  

  Although I didn’t get a chance to really test out the performance, the MatePad worked as smoothly as you would expect during a quick fiddle. Apps loaded quickly and smoothly -- even when multiple were open at once -- with Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system driving proceedings nicely. You’d have to be able to use the device for a few days to really test its limits, but seeing as it’s being pitched a productivity tool, you would expect pretty smooth sailing in most situations.

  

  Let’s move on to the stylus. The MatePen costs an extra $59 and having spent a bit of time playing with it, I’m inclined to say that it’s worth the extra outlay. First and foremost, it’s comfortable to hold with a ridged section in the middle so it wouldn’t easily slip out of your hand. That’s one box ticked.

  Secondly, it looks good -- very sleek and professional looking -- and fits well with the MateBook when placed together. That’s another tick. But as well as all that, it also has some nifty features -- namely the laser pointer and slide-show navigation buttons -- that would make it hard to say no too.

  

  Using the MatePen is also a delight. It glides smoothly over the display and is very sensitive to changes in pressure and direction. The harder you press, the thicker the line you’re drawing gets and even my useless art skills were made to look adequate. Another clever touch is that you can rest your writing hand on the display as you’re using the pen without affecting the output, providing a perfectly natural writing position.

  All in all, I believe Huawei has got a serious device on its hands that has the potential to be a serious thorn in the sides of Apple and Microsoft. It is due to launch in Asia, Europe and North America within the next few months, with prices starting at $699.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Problems booting up Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14267? Here's a quick fix

  Publié: février 22, 2016, 8:59am CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Microsoft has been rolling out new Windows 10 Insider Preview builds to the Fast ring at a rate of about one a week for the past month or so.

  The latest build, 14267, introduced some welcome improvements, including three additions to Microsoft Edge, but it also added a fast startup bug which has stopped some users being able to boot Windows.

  SEE ALSO: Windows 10 Insider Preview Redstone Build 14267 arrives on the Fast ring -- and brings welcome improvements

  If you’ve experienced this annoying problem (which Microsoft says will be addressed in a future build), there is a temporary workaround. All you need to do is:

  • Right-click Start, and select Power Options in the menu.
  • Click the Require a password on wake-up link on the left.
  • Click the Change settings that are currently unavailable link.
  • Uncheck Turn on fast start-up (recommended).
  • Click the Save changes button.
  • Shutdown your PC, then start it again and login.

  Naturally, disabling fast startup means Windows 10 will take a little longer to boot, but at least it should now start without problems.

  Photo Credit: fotoscool/Shutterstock

  
• 

  How to download any Windows ISO for free

  Publié: février 21, 2016, 10:10pm CET par Mark Wilson

   

  

  Whatever version of Windows you're running, the time will probably come when you want to reinstall. You might be lucky and can have recovery media on hand, or your recovery partition may be intact. If not, what can you do? You can download ISOs for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10 direct from Microsoft.

  It's always best to be prepared, so rather than waiting until you find yourself in desperate need, why not spend a few minutes grabbing the ISO (or ISOs) you need in readiness. There's no need to head off to a torrent site to download an illicit copy of Windows along with a crack, everything is available from Microsoft. Here's what you need to do.

  As noted by Martin Brinkman on gHacks, getting hold of Windows 10 is incredibly easy. You could use Microsoft's Media Creation Tool, but many will see this as adding an extra, unnecessary step. Head instead to the Tech Bench website where, after signing into your Microsoft account you can download ISO for the Home and Pro versions of Windows 10, Windows 10 KN, Windows 10 N, and Windows 10 Single Language. Just select the version you want, pick a language and choose between 32- and 64-bit. Job done.

  

  Things are slightly trickier when it comes to Windows 7 and Windows 8, and you'll have to resort to a little hackery to get your hands on the goods.

  • Visit Tech Bench using either Chrome or Firefox and open Developer Tools by pressing either Ctrl + Shift + J, or Ctrl + Shift + K.
  • Head over to Pastebin where the code you need is ready for you to highlight and copy.
  • Return to your browser, make sure you're in the Console, and paste the code you have just copied.
  • Hit Enter and you'll notice that the Select Edition drop down menu turns blue.

  

  Take a browse through the drop down menu and you'll find that you can download just about every version of Windows 7 and Windows 8 imaginable -- there are also a few extra versions of Windows 10 for good measure.

  Grab all of the ISOs you want, and save them for posterity.

  Photo credit: charnsitr / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Samsung unveils Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge -- here is everything you need to know

  Publié: février 21, 2016, 8:20pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  MWC 2016 does not officially start until tomorrow, but Samsung has already taken the wraps off its latest flagship smartphones. Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge make their debut today, arriving with new features, more powerful hardware, more refined software and a nicer design.

  Compared to their predecessors, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge are not separated just by the curve of their screen. This year, Samsung has went with two different sizes, giving Galaxy S7 a 5.1-inch panel and Galaxy S7 edge a much larger 5.5-inch display.

  It is an interesting choice, but one that makes lots of sense. A curved display is not a pretty convincing feature on its own, to justify a higher price tag as it was the case with last year's Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge, but having it on a bigger screen makes for a more interesting device that clearly stands apart from Galaxy S7.

  Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge share the same resolution -- 1,440 by 2,560 -- so they have slightly different pixel densities as a result. The former touts 577 pixels per inch, while for the latter the ppi comes in at 534. A small different, but a difference nonetheless.

  The internals are virtually identical, with one exception: Galaxy S7 gets a 3,000 mAh battery, while Galaxy S7 edge fits a 3,600 mAh battery. Both support fast charging, both wired and wireless (WPC and PMA compatibility is offered). Obviously, the latter is bigger and heavier, coming in at 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm and 157 g compared to Galaxy S7's 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm and 152 g.

  Samsung wants its new flagships to appeal to a wider range of consumers. Galaxy S7 is a better fit for those looking for a top of the line smartphone that is easier to handle, while Galaxy S7 edge is clearly aimed at phablet fans who value screen size and battery life more.

  But, what about the specs? Well, the big news here is that Samsung has opted for two different processors, namely its Exynos 8890 Octa and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820. Both are manufactured by Samsung, by the way.

  Which one you get depends on where you will be buying your Galaxy S7 (pictured to the left) or Galaxy S7 edge from. In the past, Samsung has typically offered Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S flagships in Europe and North America, and Exynos-toting models in Asia. We can only assume that this will once again be the case. Mobile operators also get a say in this, so you will have to check with your carrier to see exactly what model it will sell you.

  No matter which processor you get in your Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge, it will be paired with 4GB of RAM, which is good news for heavy multitaskers. Both processors support 4G LTE Cat. 9, which basically means download speeds of up to 450 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 50 Mbps. Obviously, such speeds are only attainable, even theoretically speaking, if your mobile operator network fully supports Cat. 9.

  The other highlight is, as expected, the camera. Well, cameras actually. On the back, the new Galaxy flagships feature a "Dual Pixel" 12 MP shooter with an F/1.7 lens and optical image stabilization. What that basically means it that they are capable of very good photos in low light.

  The same aperture has been used for the front-facing camera, which retain the sensor size from last year's models. It is a 5 MP shooter, so it should offer a decent level of detail, which should keep the selfie crowd happy.

  To store all your photos, videos and apps, Samsung has given Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge (pictured to the right) 32 GB of internal storage. This year the microSD card slot is making a comeback, making it possible to extend the capacity by a further 200 GB. There is also a 64 GB version, but if last year's models are of any indication, it will probably get ignored. And, with a microSD card slot, there's really not much of an incentive to buy it.

  It is interesting to point out that the microSD card slot is on the same tray as the SIM card slot. In some markets it will be possible to use two SIMs, though you will have to give up on the microSD card to do this.

  Another change over last year's models that is worth mentioning is the IP68 certification, which makes Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge waterproof at up to 1.5 m in depth for up to 30 minutes. Drop it in the pool or the toilet, and it will work fine after assuming it's not damaged by the impact. In case it is not clear enough from the image above, we are looking at a glass build which makes Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge as fragile as their predecessors.

  What we are not getting this year, and this is something that makes sense considering Samsung's push with its Gear VR headset, is USB Type-C. Both smartphones get the same old microUSB slot, which is a bit of a shame because every other competitor has or will have a reversible connector.

  Samsung has opted to stick with a microUSB connector to maintain compatibility with Gear VR, which has been on sale for a while now. Speaking of it, the headset will be offered for free to those who pre-order Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge.

  Before we talk about the software, here are the other specs you should know about: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac; NFC, MST (that is for paying with magnetic cards), Bluetooth 4.2 low energy, ANT+, and USB 2.0. The fingerprint sensor is clearly present too.

  Now, on to the software. While Samsung has just started its Android 6.0 Marshmallow roll out, Google's latest operating system is preloaded on Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. Obviously, Samsung has slapped its own customizations in there, so it still looks quite different to what you can find running on a newer Nexus device. Still, it is nice to know that at least for half a year Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 users will be using the latest and greatest Android release.

  There is Samsung Pay on board, KNOX, different camera modes like Motion Panorama, a new API -- called Vulkan -- and add-on -- called Game Launcher -- aimed at game developers, and of course a suite of Samsung-branded apps and services.

  Both Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge go on sale on March 11. Pre-orders kick off tomorrow. There is no word on pricing, but you can expect to shell out $200/$300 on a two-year contract in US, or around $650/$750 unlocked; if you are living in Europe, be prepared to spend roughly €700/€800 for the base models.

  
• 

  Continuum-enabled HP Elite x3 tries to breathe life into the Windows 10 Mobile enterprise market

  Publié: février 21, 2016, 7:26pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  HP is aiming to ignite the enterprise market for Windows 10 Mobile phones with the newly announced HP Elite x3. The 5.96-inch phone is verging on phablet territory and includes support for Windows 10's Continuum, allowing for conversion into -- essentially -- a fully-fledged computer.

  A nippy Snapdragon 820 lies under the hood, and the 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM is joined by 64GB of storage, expandable through the use of a microSD card. Other stand-out features include not only a fingerprint scanner, but an iris scanner, as well as wireless charging and a USB Type-C port. Windows 10 Mobile may yet begin to gain traction, but HP is hoping that by catering to the business and enterprise markets, it will be able to carve itself a niche.

  HP has been out of the smartphone game for a while now, so it is perhaps little surprise that its comeback device is something of a feature-packed powerhouse. There are dual, front-mounted stereo speakers, and the quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 runs at 2.15GHz.

  The rear of the handset features a 16MP camera, complementing the 8MP front-facer, while the so-close-to-6-inches-it-hurts screen offers a resolution of 2560 × 1440 and is of the AMOLED Gorilla Glass 4 variety. The HP Elite x3 supports dual SIM, and other IP 67 water resistance. The 4150mAh battery supports both Qi and PMA wireless charging.

  Catering to the security needs of businesses, the handset supports FIPS 140-2 cryptography and 256-bit key full disk encryption. But for the mobile worker, it is Continuum support that is likely to be the key selling point here. Plug the HP Elite x3 into the optional Desk Dock and you have a desktop computer. Alternatively, connect to the Mobile Extender and you have a 12.5-inch laptop complete with extra battery and full keyboard.

  The handset is set to launch this summer, but there are no pricing details available just yet.

  
• 

  Huawei MateBook is ready to take on Surface Book, Surface Pro 4 and iPad Pro

  Publié: février 21, 2016, 5:06pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  MWC 2016 may be barely under way, but the announcements are already pouring out thick and fast. As well as smartphones and smart car dongles, you can expect to see plenty of laptops and tablets, and one of the first to vie for your attention is the impressive-looking Huawei MateBook.

  Clearly aimed as a rival to Microsoft's Surface Book and Surface Pro 4, the MateBook is a 12-inch hybrid tablet running Windows 10. Weighing in at just 640 grams, and measuring a mere 6.9mm thick, the tablet has an optional keyboard cover and stylus. Powered by an Intel Core M3, M5, or M7 processor Huawei claims 10 hours of battery life for the MateBook.

  It's not just the processor that you can choose. Huawei is offering the MateBook with either Windows 10 Home or Pro, kitted out with 4GB or 8GB of RAM, and storage ranging from 128GB to 512GB SSD. The volume rocker features a fingerprint reader as with some Huawei smartphones, so logging into Windows 10 is little more than a finger press away. But it's the screen that Huawei is particularly proud of. The Chinese company says it occupies 84 percent of the device, and it has a resolution of 2160 x 1440.

  The optional stylus, the MatePen, has 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity, offers shortcuts via two customizable button, and can last for up to 100 hours between charges. The keyboard case is a cut above average, as it includes a glass trackpad and features what Huawei is referring to as "near-notebook" key travel.

  The MateBook is set for launch later in the year priced from $699 to $1599. The MatePan will cost $59, the keyboard cover $129, and a dock will also be available for $89.

  
• 

  Samsung Connect Auto turns your dumb car into a smart car

  Publié: février 21, 2016, 4:16pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  It's not just brand new vehicles that can be considered smart cars. Today Samsung launches Samsung Connect Auto, a plug-in module that can transform any car with an OBD II port in a smart car, connected into the Internet of Things.

  Powered by Tizen, Samsung Connect Auto is a small dongle that features a GPS receiver, LTE modem, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. It has been designed to provide drivers with real-time feedback so they can adjust their driving style and improve fuel efficiency. More than this, the dongle also gives the car and its occupants with a Wi-Fi connection, and could provide information to insurers about driving style and frequency to help drive down insurance costs.

  In the US, Samsung Connect Auto will work with AT&T, and in a bid to calm any concerns about privacy and security, Samsung KNOX is on hand to keep things under virtual lock and key. There is also involvement from Orange and AXA, and Samsung says that it has listened to customer feedback in creating its connected car ecosystem.

  As well as helping to save money with fuel-boosting driving tips, Samsung Connect Auto could also reduce the cost of insurance. Serge Morelli, Deputy CEO of AXA Partners and CEO of AXA Assistance says:

  AXA is delighted to partner with Samsung in the development of a secured Connected Car ecosystem that will bring peace of mind for our customers, provide them with additional insurance and assistance services and contribute to enhance drivers' behaviors.

  Samsung is keen to push the security features of the ecosystem:

  The backbone of Samsung Connect Auto is KNOX security and Tizen OS for interoperability. Samsung KNOX provides security from the hardware through the software levels, including applications. Prioritizing security differentiates Samsung Connect Auto from competitor offerings. Developers can leverage Tizen and Samsung's Software Development Kit (SDK) to further evolve additional services. Samsung also encourages safe driving behavior by using geo-fencing and driver rating algorithms. In the event of an accident, emergency alerts notify the driver's contacts and accident concierge services are provided. A 'Find My Car' app also helps in locating your car in real-time using LTE and GPS.

  Samsung Connect Auto is certainly not a new idea, but with the power of Samsung behind it -- and an impressive team of partners including Cisco, Ericsson, Europcar, HERE and IBM -- it stands a better chance of success than rival systems.

  There are no pricing details available at the moment, but Samsung Connect Auto is set for Q2 launch in the US, while Europe and other parts of the world will have to wait until Q3.

  
• 

  MWC 2016: LG G5 is a beautiful, transforming, modular smartphone

  Publié: février 21, 2016, 3:41pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Mobile World Congress 2016 kicks off today in Barcelona and one of the first announcements from the show is the LG G5. This is a modular smartphone that features a number of swappable modules that can be used to tailor it to different needs.

  Powered, naturally, by Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the LG G5 features a removable battery, but it is the add-on 'friends' modules that are of particular interest. At the moment there are just two modules available -- the LG Hi-Fi Plus with B&O PLAY, Hi-Fi DAC audio player, and LG CAM Plus, which transforms the smartphone into something more akin to a traditional camera. But the LG G5 does not rely on gimmicks; it also has some impressive specs.

  Taking style notes from HTC and Huawei, the G5 has a metal, unibody design. There's an always-on display -- a 5.3 inch, curved 3D Arc Glass affair -- that provides at-a-glance access to notifications and the time, and there are also two rear-facing cameras.  There's a 78-degree standard lens, as well as 135-degree wide angle lens allows for more adventurous photography. If you intend to use the LG G5 for taking lots of photos, you might be concerned about how this will impact upon battery life. LG aims to assuage these fears by including an extra 1,200mAh battery in the LG CAM Plus module.

  

  The company also makes much of the display, and says that the always-on feature "requires only 0.8 percent of the battery’s full capacity per hour to operate". The screen adjusts to lighting conditions to ensure maximum visibility at all times -- brightness is automatically increased or decreased up to 850 nits. For those keeping an eye on their batteries, there's more good news. The LG G5 features Quick Charge 3.0 which LG says is "27 percent faster and 45 percent more efficient than the previous generation".

  • The LG G5 boasts the following specs:
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Processor
  • Display: 5.3-inch Quad HD IPS Quantum Display (2560 x 1440 / 554ppi)
  • Memory: 4GB LPDDR4 RAM / 32GB UFS ROM / microSD (up to 2TB)
  • Camera: Rear: Standard 16MP, Wide 8MP / Front: 8MP
  • Battery: 2,800mAh (removable)
  • OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
  • Size: 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7mm
  • Weight: 159g
  • Network: LTE / 3G / 2G
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / USB Type-C / NFC / Bluetooth 4.2
  • Colors: Silver / Titan / Gold / Pink

  When it comes to modules, LG says that there are more planned. The camera and DAC add-ons may not be to everyone's taste, but it will be interesting to see what else LG comes up with in the coming months. With LG using MWC 2016 to announce a new VR headset, there could be a lot to look forward to.

  

  At the moment, there is no word on availability and pricing.

  
• 

  How to: Installing the Nest thermostat

  Publié: février 21, 2016, 1:41pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Nest debuted and became a darling of the home automation crowd, seemingly overnight. There's good reasons for that, as the company offered a unique and well-built system that is fairly simple for a homeowner to install. It also learns user habits and can adjust the temperature accordingly. The screen has a motion sensor and comes to life when you walk up to it, while remain dark the rest of the time.

  The installation may seem confusing at first, but really it's fairly basic once you get past all of the technical talk and just pay attention to the parts that matter. We're going to install in on a fairly basic two wire system, as it is only going to be controlling heat. My home, for some unknown reason, has a separate air conditioning system, but given that I never use it, it really doesn't matter.

  Step 0: Don't let the manual scare you, it isn't as painful as it looks.

  Step 1: While the wiring for the vast majority of thermostats is low voltage it is still best to turn it off first. No, it won't knock you across the room if something happens, but you could short the system. There should be a switch either inside your basement door or near the system -- it looks like a light switch and normally has a red faceplate. If not, then use the breaker panel to kill power.

  Step 2: Remove the old thermostat. The faceplate should pop right off, exposing screws which hold the base to the wall and wires which need to be disconnected. After unhooking the wires remove the screw and the base.

  Step 3: (optional) If your old thermostat was rectangular then you likely will need to paint a bit as the Nest is round and will not cover the same footprint.

  Step 4: Take the base ring and get it as close to level as possible (there's a built-in level you can use) and mark the screw holes for drilling.

  Step 5: Once the holes are drilled and the ring is secured you will likely need to loosen the screws a bit and make some adjustments to get that bubble as perfectly centered as possible -- the holes are oval so there's room for movement. Note the image below was taken before this step and that the wires are already connected, which doesn't make a difference. In this case, it had to be removed to pound anchors into the plaster as the bottom screw missed the lathe and wasn't biting.

  

  Step 6: Now let's connect the wires. With a two wire system this is fairly simple, but yours may have more. For the most part, the ring guides you by color. The white wire here is the heat wire and it's connected to W1. The red wire is power and it can be connected to either RC or RH. In fact, in a two wire system you can even reverse this as polarity doesn't matter.

  The wires simply clamp in, no screws needed. Press the button on the edge of each area and slide the wire into the hole as far as it will go. The button will stay depressed and the wire will be secure. To remove it simply press the button a bit further and pull the wire back out.

  Step 7: Insure that your Nest is fully charged. A micro USB slot on the back allows it to be plugged in -- the company recommends hooking to a computer and not a wall outlet. Once it is installed, the power wire will maintain the charge.

  Step 8: Install Nest. It simply pops onto the ring, just be sure to line up the ports located on the ring and thermostat, then turn the power back on.

  Step 9: You may want to install the app on your phone, if you haven't already. It's not necessary to the setup, but it's part of the reason you likely purchased the device.

  Step 10: The thermostat will now begin walking you through the process. You'll choose the usual things -- language, location (by zip code) and several other options. If your home network has a password (and we hope it does) you can enter it here as well. Options are chosen by turning the ring of the thermostat left or right to go up and down and pressing on the front to click your selection. Once you're finished it will make a test run of your system.

  Step 11: You're done. Turn the thermostat to set the temperature -- right is up, left is down. Click the front to go to the home screen where you can set a schedule, access settings and much more.

  

  Congratulations, everything is out of the way now and you're all set up and running. It may take a while for the system to learn what you want, but it will.

  
• 

  Warning! Linux Mint hacked -- operating system compromised

  Publié: février 21, 2016, 9:32am CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Linux Mint is one of the best distos around, but if you’ve installed it recently you might have done so using a compromised ISO image.

  The Linux Mint team today reveals that hackers made a modified Linux Mint ISO with a backdoor in it, and managed to hack the Mint website so it pointed to this bad version.

  There is some good news however, and that’s the Linux Mint team managed to discover the intrusion and take action quickly. The site is currently down.

  It also only (as far as the team knows) affects the one edition -- Linux Mint 17.3 Cinnamon. If you downloaded a different release or version, or downloaded the OS via torrent or different direct HTTP link, you should be fine.

  Also, the compromised version was only up on the site on the 20 February -- so if you downloaded Mint before or after then, you don't need to worry.

  Mint says the hacked ISOs are hosted on 5.104.175.212 and the backdoor connects to absentvodka.com. Both are in Sofia, Bulgaria. The team is investigating the hack, but the reason for it remains a mystery for now.

  "What we don’t know is the motivation behind this attack," Mint admits. "If more efforts are made to attack our project and if the goal is to hurt us, we’ll get in touch with authorities and security firms to confront the people behind this".

  If you’re worried you might have downloaded and installed a compromised version Mint advises you check by following these instructions:

  If you still have the ISO file, check its MD5 signature with the command "md5sum yourfile.iso" (where yourfile.iso is the name of the ISO).

  The valid signatures are below:

  6e7f7e03500747c6c3bfece2c9c8394f linuxmint-17.3-cinnamon-32bit.iso

  e71a2aad8b58605e906dbea444dc4983 linuxmint-17.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso

  30fef1aa1134c5f3778c77c4417f7238 linuxmint-17.3-cinnamon-nocodecs-32bit.iso

  3406350a87c201cdca0927b1bc7c2ccd linuxmint-17.3-cinnamon-nocodecs-64bit.iso

  df38af96e99726bb0a1ef3e5cd47563d linuxmint-17.3-cinnamon-oem-64bit.iso

  If you still have the burnt DVD or USB stick, boot a computer or a virtual machine offline (turn off your router if in doubt) with it and let it load the live session.

  Once in the live session, if there is a file in /var/lib/man.cy, then this is an infected ISO.

  You can read more about the hack here.

  Photo credit: v.gi / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Google helps lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people discover 'Places of Pride'

  Publié: février 21, 2016, 1:50am CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  While sex and gender discrimination will always exist in some form, I am very proud that many people in the USA have opened their minds -- and hearts -- to people that may be different from them. It warms my heart that people can marry regardless of sex or gender. Sadly, there is still much work to do in the USA and other parts of Earth regarding equality.

  Quite frankly, it is heartbreaking to think of all the people throughout history that had to live closeted lives. It is not shameful to be a person that is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or intersex; be proud, my fellow humans! If you aren't sure where to go to publicly show your pride, don't worry; today, Google announces that it is helping LGBTQI folks discover 'Places of Pride'.

  "Everyday people around the world fall in love, share a kiss, or come out of the closet, and the places where these significant moments occur become cherished for the memories that they hold. That’s why at Fair Day this Mardi Gras we're launching Places of Pride. Places of Pride is a custom map that gives the LGBTQI community and supporters, a place to celebrate and remember their pride stories, memories, and moments, by marking their significant locations on the map with a Pride Pin", says Patrick Hofmann, Google Maps Sydney team.

  Hofmann further says, "a Place of Pride can be anywhere you've experienced or felt pride. Whether it's where you came out to your friends or colleagues, met your partner, or supported provide and diversity in your community, we invite you to mark the places that represent your cherished memories of love, pride, or triumph on the Places of Pride".

  

  What makes this particularly cool, is that users can add places, including comments as seen above. While a mark on the map alone is useful for discovery, the comments share the overall sentiment. Even if you are straight, it can be quite fun and romantic to read these sweet stories. Check the feature out here.

  Before you decide to visit one of these locations, please remember that just because a person publicly expressed pride in their sex or gender at a certain location, doesn't necessarily make it a safe place to do so. Be proud, but also be safe, y'all!

  
• 

  Google cleans up search results by ditching sidebar ads

  Publié: février 20, 2016, 7:08pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Google generates a huge amount of revenue through advertising, and it's not afraid to try mixing things up a little. Ads in search results have long-been controversial, but the latest change is likely to go down well with many people -- the ads that currently appear in the right hand sidebar of search results are to be dropped.

  The change means that ads will only be displayed above and below search results. There will be seven Google AdWords ads in total -- four above search results, and three below. The right hand side of the page will be left free for Google's own Product Listing Ads.

  The new ad experience is set to rollout out to the desktop soon, and it brings the look more in line with how Google works on mobile devices. As yet there is no official word on when the rollout will happen, but some AdWords customers have reported that 22 February is a date that has been suggest by their reps.

  Google has confirmed the up-coming change to The SEM Post, saying:

  We've been testing this layout for a long time, so some people might see it on a very small number of commercial queries. We'll continue to make tweaks, but this is designed for highly commercial queries where the layout is able to provide more relevant results for people searching and better performance for advertisers.

  This is a global rollout which will sees the ad changes brought to all languages.

  Photo credit: Evan Lorne / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Smile! Your DVR may email your picture to China

  Publié: février 20, 2016, 5:41pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  You may look at the DVR as that box that records your TV shows and perhaps even allows you to skip the commercials. But there is more to it than just that. Users can also record video from their home surveillance cameras and replay the clips if something happens. A lot of that data is stored in the cloud -- with some systems it is completely yours with a hardware DVR needed.

  In use as a home recording device the DVR is also known as CCTV, closed-circuit television. There are quite a number of them in use all over the world, many in homes and some in businesses. It seems like a good idea for security, but things aren't always what they seem.

  UK-based security firm Pen Test Labs has been taking a look at these devices and the results were a bit disturbing. To start out, the researchers used the Shodan search engine for IoT devices.

  Many of the boxes in question use the heading JAWS/1.0 and you can do a JAWS search yourself -- our test resulted in over 45,000 results.

  That only begins the problems, though. Sophos points out that results are "full of coding details on how he [researcher Andrew Tierney] got a local root shell on the DVR and used it to uncover an unauthenticated, impossible to disable, remote root shell that an attacker could use to compromise and control the device from the comfort of their own laptop".

  Things go downhill from there. Pen Test Partners purchased a cheap DVR from Amazon branded under the name MVPower, a company that no details seem to exist on – yes, there is an mvpower.us, but they don't make security cameras or DVRs.

  But here is the really scary part. After diving deep into the firmware, the researchers found that "images were being captured from CCTV feeds and sent to the mysterious email address lawishere@yeah.net". The emails contained a 320x180 still image, and the address was hosted in China and owned by someone named Frank Law.

  The email address is still live, though it is now being flooded with the intro to Button Moon, an 80's UK children's TV show.

  Pen Test Partners concludes "Putting one of these on your network leaves you open to serious risk. If you port forward to the web interface, you are allowing attackers to take full control of the device. This can then be used as a pivot and be used to attack the rest of your network from inside".

  Image Credit: Maxx-Studio / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Warning: Comodo Antivirus included insecure remote tech support tool

  Publié: février 20, 2016, 3:09pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  A researcher from Google Project Zero discovered a serious security issue with the technical support tools supplied with Comodo software products. Tavis Ormandy found that Comodo Antivirus, Comodo Firewall, and Comodo Internet Security all included a bundled VNC server with either no password protection, or a very weak password.

  GeekBuddy is a remote desktop tool used by support staff to troubleshoot customer problems, but it also serves as a backdoor that allows for near-unrestricted access to users' computers. The tool installs with full admin rights, meaning that an attacker could very easily gain complete control of a remote computer.

  Older versions of GeekBuddy were installed with no password set, making it possible for anyone to remotely connect to a computer using nothing more than its IP address and a port number. This issue was addressed, but Ormandy found that the password used in subsequent versions is so easily cracked that it offers virtually no protection. He says:

  The password is simply the first 8 characters of SHA1 (Disk.Caption+Disk.Signature+Disk.SerialNumber+Disk.TotalTracks)

  Having been in communication with Comodo over the issue, Ormandy decided to go public:

  Comodo Internet Security installs a VNC server with predictable password by default. [https:] ¯_(ツ)_/¯

  — Tavis Ormandy (@taviso) February 18, 2016

  Comodo has now addressed the problem -- so make sure your software is up to date -- and Softpedia reports that the company has responded to the revelations:

  Comodo has come out to clarify that only its support staff can connect to GeekBuddy, through special company relay servers, meaning remote attackers could not employ this flaw. On the other hand, malware that is already present on the system could use it to escalate its privileges and gain more intrusive capabilities.

  Comodo has refuted the claims, saying that it "makes no technical sense":

  Recently, it was reported by Google Security that there might be a small local vulnerability in Comodo GeekBuddy that allowed a local attacker to gain another locally logged-on user’s privilege. Here is the link from Google’s Project 0. https://code.google.com/p/google-security-research/issues/detail?id=703

  The minor potential vulnerability was fixed and addressed back on February 10, prior to it being made public by Google Security.

  Unfortunately, in some posts and reports, it has been erroneously stated that an attacker could somehow gain access to a user’s PC through Comodo GeekBuddy and a logged in user.

  We spoke with Comodo Senior Vice President of Engineering Egemen Tas on this issue.

  “This makes no technical sense. It is not reasonable to expect a remote attacker to connect to your PC with GeekBuddy.  First and foremost, GeekBuddy does NOT open any ports and does not accept any incoming connections.  Only Comodo technical support, during specific support sessions, can connect and this connection is established through Comodo relay servers, not from a local network or from the internet.”

  Mr. Tas continued:

  “Second, the vulnerability reported has nothing to do with accessing a VNC server remotely, but using a VNC server to obtain another user’s privilege level — if you have access to the same PC and know the details of the password generation algorithm.”

  “Third, the issue cannot be exploited remotely. The attacker has to gain local access to the PC first in order to try and do anything – and the password would need to be predictable only by skilled attackers”

  “And lastly, the minor vulnerability has been fixed and addressed back on February 10.”

  In summary – all software goes through patch and fixes and this minor issue has already been fixed in GeekBuddy 4.25.380415.167(released on February 10th) and shared with customers.

  At Comodo, we always strive to protect our users, and to assist you here are some frequently asked questions on the issue. Customers can feel free to contact GeekBuddy directly atlivepcsupport@comodo.com or 866-272-9804.

  What is the issue?
  GeekBuddy uses a modified version of VNC to allow Comodo technicians remote access the PCs during support sessions.  In order to use VNC, a local user needs to have a password.  In GeekBuddy we automatically generate the password per computer to prevent any local user access to this service.

  Which GeekBuddy or CIS versions are affected?
  The reported issue does not affect Comodo Internet Security (CIS). It is specifically related to GeekBuddy versions prior to Build 167. We released the hotfix on the 10th of February.

  Does GeekBuddy allow remote access by anyone?
  No. GeekBuddy is used for remote technical support by Comodo engineers only. It is not technically possible for anyone to connect to your PC. It does NOT open any ports at all.  This issue does not allow any remote attacker to obtain any privileges. It requires local access and specific conditions.

   

  Photo credit: Biz Idea Production / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Syed Farook's iCloud password was changed by officials; Trump proposes Apple boycott

  Publié: février 20, 2016, 1:04pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Apple is standing fast on its decision not to help -- publicly, at least -- the FBI to gain access to the iPhone owned by Syed Farook, one of the San Bernardino terrorists. In the latest twist in the saga, Apple has revealed that the password for the Apple ID associated with the phone was changed whilst Farook was in custody.

  Apple says that this closes off another route to accessing the data the FBI seeks. Had the password not been changed, the company says, it may have been possible to retrieve backup data without the need to create a backdoor into the suspect's phone. Meanwhile, wading in to the Apple/FBI debate with all of the elegance of an epileptic elephant, serial buffoon Donald Trump has called for a boycott of Apple products -- despite tweeting from an iPhone himself.

  Tim Cook has been vocal and very public in insisting that his company will not help the FBI to circumvent the PIN protection currently blocking access to the data stored on Farook's phone. In a bid to avoid creating a backdoor to bypass encryption Apple had suggested four possible ways for the FBI to try to gain access to the data they wanted -- one of which included triggering an iCloud backup and intercepting traffic.

  It was when this was tried that the Apple ID password change was discovered. This made it impossible to instigate a backup, and the FBI has suggested that the password change was performed by someone from the San Bernardino Health Department.

  And then there's Trump.

  Never a man to keep his thoughts to himself, he has proposed a boycott of Apple products until the company decided to comply with the demands of the FBI. Speaking at a town hall event in South Carolina, the Republican presidential candidate said:

  What I think you ought to do is boycott Apple until such time as they give that security number. How do you like that? I just thought of that!

  Trump might want to start practicing what he preaches as it was quickly noticed by many that his official Twitter account was being updated via an iPhone:

  lol pic.twitter.com/PSnvAUEDgr

  — Colin Jones (@colinjones) February 19, 2016

  Photo credit: GrAl / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft forms IoT-focused Open Connectivity Foundation with Intel, Samsung, and others

  Publié: février 20, 2016, 11:56am CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  As someone who is historically an early adopter of technology, I surprised myself when I didn't jump head-first into the Internet of Things. Don't get me wrong, I love the IoT concepts of the connected home and smart appliances, but a lack of standards make me hesitant. As of now, my house has but one such device -- a WeMo smart outlet so I can turn on a lamp with an Amazon Echo.

  A lack of standards for IoT is extremely problematic, but luckily, companies are realizing this dilemma. In fact, Microsoft announces the IoT-focused Open Connectivity Foundation with partners Intel, Samsung, Cisco and more. While this coalition is a step in the right direction, I am sure there will be many competing groups vying for adoption; the fight could last many years.

  "At Microsoft, we believe in strong partnerships to create opportunity across the ecosystem. Today, we’re pleased to join other industry leaders to create the Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF), which is committed to furthering industry standards for the Internet of Things. Along with founding members Cisco, Electrolux, General Electric, Intel, Qualcomm, Samsung and others, we are proud to be part of the world’s largest open IoT standard group. Together, our goal is to accelerate industry innovation for all of our customers, ultimately benefiting billions of people around the world", says Terry Myerson, Executive Vice President, Windows and Devices Group.

  Myerson further says, "we have helped lead the formation of the OCF because we believe deeply in its vision and the potential an open standard can deliver. Despite the opportunity and promise of IoT to connect devices in the home or in businesses, competition between various open standards and closed company protocols have slowed adoption and innovation. Much like W3C manages the standards for the World Wide Web, the IEEE sets electrical engineering standards and the UPU sets the global postal code -- standardization can help consolidate industry attention and create opportunity, via an agreed upon set of protocols that move industries and the world forward".

  READ MORE: Canonical to release Snappy Ubuntu Core Linux image for Samsung ARTIK IoT platform

  Of course, Windows 10 devices will support the OCF standard. With that operating system on over 200 million devices, the Open Connectivity Foundation instantly becomes a force to be reckoned with. Heck, folks, Microsoft has selected some powerful allies here -- Intel alone can move the dial. With that said, Linux and open source technologies may be more appropriate for the IoT.

  Have you embraced IoT in your home? What devices and platforms have you chosen? Tell me in the comments.

  Image Credit: Ahmetov_Ruslan / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Acadia National Park goes digital, plan your visit now

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 9:29pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  If you ever have the opportunity to visit Maine then a can't-miss destination is Acadia National Park, situated along the Atlantic coast. The 47,000 acres of beauty was preserved way back in 1916 when the US government was rushing to protect huge swathes of land for future generations to enjoy.

  Now the park is partnering with NIC for a new test program called "Your Pass Now". It is the first of three national parks that will trial this new approach.

  Your Pass Now will allow for entrance passes to be purchased online. That's a huge departure from the traditional method of buying an entrance ticket at the gate.

  "Today, many of Acadia’s potential visitors conduct business on their smartphones, tablets, and laptops,” says Acadia Superintendent Kevin Schneider. "Your Pass Now modernizes the sale of entrance passes and provides a digital alternative to purchasing the entrance pass in person".

  This is the work of Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King who fought to have the National Park service offer park entrance pass sales online and to do so starting with Acadia National Park.

  "With the launch of this pilot program at Acadia, the national park system is entering a new era of accessibility", Senator King states. "Electronic park passes will not only make it easier for the American people to visit and enjoy our most treasured places, but they'll also help the Park Service maximize sales and generate new revenues. I applaud the Park Service for embracing the power of this technology and am delighted that Acadia is leading the nation in piloting it".

  Purchases can be made online using either a PC or mobile device. Visitors can then present the pass at the gate using either a printed copy or a digital version right on a smartphone. Customers can also choose dates, allowing advance entrance tickets to be purchased for a specified time. If you opt for digital then the ranger can scan the QR code when you arrive.

  Teddy Roosevelt, though not the first to set aside land, would be proud of what became of one of his favorite projects. Now it's up to you to get away from the computer and out into nature.

  Image Credit: Jon Bilous / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Five not so obvious things you can expect at MWC 2016

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 8:37pm CET par Jim Bailey

  

  At Mobile World Congress (MWC) tides will start to turn. There won’t be an overnight revolution powered by shiny new gadgets, but technologies we’ve seen evolving over recent years will start to demonstrate their real potential.

  We expect to see five major technology themes come to the fore in Barcelona this year:

  1. Internet of Things (IoT) Will Be Evident in the Everyday Enterprise, but Still Earning its Place

  We’re going to move past the talking stage, and will see a significantly broader set of organizations start to adopt the IoT in 2016. There will be a rapid increase in the number of IoT-enabled projects, almost all trial projects that enable experimentation, new business model development and services that didn’t exist before, as organizations begin to test and feel their way to what might be possible through the IoT.

  Traditional products companies will be able to start transforming their approach to revenue generation with the IoT, trying out new and diverse service offerings to complement and grow existing portfolios.

  No one organization can reap the benefits of the IoT alone, so we will also see platforms and standards enabling a more open ecosystem to facilitate IoT adoption. There will be cross-fertilization and mutually beneficial business services created across enterprises, geographies and industries, blurring previous borders and encouraging innovation through ‘fast fail’ trials of IoT projects.

  2. The Third Phase of Enterprise Mobility -- Connected workers

  This is the year of the third phase of enterprise mobility. The first phase empowered users with mobile devices and email on the move. The second was basic transactional apps that could help cut travel time, and removed the need for paper-based operations. The third phase we’re now entering is about the transformation of business processes using mobile technologies, made more accessible thanks to the reduced cost of computing capability, familiarity of employees with devices, and the increased acceptance by CIOs of BYOD.

  A major element of the third phase will be wearable devices as tools enabling enterprise mobility. At MWC, we’ll see evidence of the enterprise market evolving using new mobile devices, as enterprise pilot projects evolve into full roll-outs of wearable technology, particularly in the manufacturing and field force sectors.

  This enhanced use of wearables will create a force of "Connected Workers", able to access the information they need when they need it, collaborating with colleagues remotely and receiving instructions on the go, including mapping information or advice on tools needed for a certain job, sent directly to the device of their choice.

  3. Device Security for Consumers and Enterprises

  As consumer connected devices increase in popularity and the choice in form factors increases, providers will start to look for ways to help users choose which device is for them. Security and data privacy will become an important differentiator, as even consumers with little interest in technology will hear stories about breaches and hackings, and will look to be reassured about how secure their personal data is, but also how far that data will be legally shared with others.

  This concern is just as relevant for enterprise device users, and we expect discussions between different parts of the business such as HR and Legal to start in earnest this year to address this.

  Recent Accenture research found that for nearly half (47 percent) of respondents, security concerns and privacy risks rank among the top three barriers to buying an IoT device or service. To address this, innovative and collaborative approaches to containing and managing device security over the lifetimes of devices and the services sold alongside them will emerge.

  For devices with longer lifecycles and more complex supply chains such as connected vehicles, each element of that supply chain will need to work together to ensure the creation of an holistic security solution for that device.

  4 Autonomous Commerce

  As the IoT makes its way into people’s homes, cars and other devices, we’re going to hear more about autonomous commerce. Devices will be able to make purchases without any human intervention, and in years to come, they will start to learn our needs, wishes and intentions without our needing to tell them.

  The technology already exists for this to happen, but at MWC discussions around an increasing need for education will take place, as well as how the payments ecosystem needs to adapt to ensure that user experiences for frictionless payments remain secure and simple, regardless of how many devices -- varying from white goods to cards to mobile devices -- can store payment details.

  5. Analytics at the Edge

  We will see more connected devices on display this year that are able to carry out analytics on selected data in-situ, in near real-time and without the need to send data to the cloud for analytics to be applied. This will allow for faster, autonomous insights generation and decision-making, and will be a major step towards untethered machine learning in people’s homes and enterprises.

  As the pace of edge computing adoption accelerates, it enables deliberate, highly computational dependent business functions to be performed on a device, ultimately leading to more autonomous, responsive behavior that enables machines to play an active part in the world around us.

  Jim Bailey, senior managing director, Accenture Mobility.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: catwalker/Shutterstock

  
• 

  There is more to boosting traffic to your website than SEO

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 8:32pm CET par Daniel Foster

  

  For a while now, search engine optimization (or SEO) has been applauded for its ability to boost conversions. In fact, an entire industry has been created by specialists in link building and optimizing websites for search engine results pages (SERPS). But through this, some of the basics have been forgotten -- it’s not just SEO that can help drive online sales.

  Over the last five years, we’ve seen a massive rise in the number of good quality blogs appearing -- and these days you’re not likely to come across a good website without at least a news section. For the most part, businesses integrate this into their website as a way of working their way up in SERPS, by providing useful content that readers might share on social media. But blogs are also a brilliant way to naturally drive traffic and boost conversions.

  Back to Basics: Consistency

  Although more and more businesses are introducing blogs onto their websites, there is still a pattern of them being updated irregularly and with content that is inconsistent. Not planning posts could be having a detrimental impact on the effectiveness of a blog, especially when encouraging visitors to convert.

  In fact, B2B companies that blog regularly receive 67 percent more leads every month than those that don’t. And with blogs being named as the fifth most trusted source of accurate information online, it’s worth investing time into one to attract customers.

  Underestimating the Value of Google Analytics

  Don’t forget about Google analytics. Use it to see the kinds of posts that receive the most traffic -- is it posts that contain images, posts that offer advice, or news updates? Also look at those with the most comments, and those shared often.

  It won’t take you long to get this information, and it could be the difference between whether your blog is successful or not. Take the 80/20 approach, 80 percent of your content should be the posts that you know your visitors like, and you can use the other 20 percent to experiment with new themes or ideas.

  Remember what works for others might not work for you, or your industry. So take some time to nail this on the head. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised by the number of businesses getting this wrong, and if they happen to be one of your competitors you could do well by perfecting this.

  Email Is One of Your Most Valuable Tools

  It’s taken time to build up your email list -- so make the most of it. If you’ve not already got a weekly or monthly newsletter going out, you really need to start one. It’s not only brilliant for marketing messages but it’s a valuable tool for increasing the reach of your blog. A notable 74 percent of marketers believe email will still be one of the best channels for delivering ROI in five years’ time, so ignore it at your peril.

  Email is a great way to encourage existing customers back to your website or specific posts on your blog. Whether you’re giving them an exclusive offer, a preview of an upcoming blog, or an update on your business, a newsletter or email marketing message is a brilliant way to tie your marketing strategy together. And as customers will have chosen to sign up to your newsletter or marketing messages, or at least haven’t hit the unsubscribe button, they will be more likely to welcome contact.

  Clickbait Isn’t Always Bad

  Although readers will recognize that titles such as "5 crazy ways to make more money through your website -- 3 is NUTS" is obvious clickbait -- catchy headlines still work. While in clickbait articles the content is often secondary to the title, a punchy headline is going to make your article stand out next to others that could be similar.

  As the SEO rules change, and Google’s updates increasingly make it a sometimes uncertain investment, getting the basics right is a good way to generate steady leads via your website.

  As professionals that use the web to build relationships with customers, devoting time to a blog is worthwhile to instill trust into visitors that statistics suggest is likely to encourage conversions.

  Daniel Foster, technical director and co-founder of WordPress hosting company 34SP.com.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: PathDoc / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Apple vs. the FBI isn't at all the way you think it is

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 7:01pm CET par Robert X. Cringely

  The FBI holds an iPhone that was owned by one of the San Bernardino terrorists, Syed Rizwan Farook, and wants Apple to crack it. Apple CEO Tim Cook is defying the FBI request and the court order that accompanied it, saying that cracking the phone would require developing a special version of iOS that could bypass passcode encryption. If such a genetically modified mobile OS escaped into the wild it could be used by anyone to crack any current iPhone, which would be bad for Apple’s users and bad for Amurica, Cook says. So he won’t do it, dag nabbit.

  That’s the big picture story dominating the tech news this week. However compelling, I’m pretty sure it’s wrong. Apple isn’t defying the FBI. Or at least Apple isn’t defying the Department of Justice, of which the FBI is supposed to be a part. I believe Apple is actually working with the DoJ, which doesn’t really want to compel Apple to do anything except play a dramatic and very political role.

  Now for some more details. In order to get their court order the FBI had to tell the judge that its own lab couldn’t crack the phone. Or maybe they said their lab didn’t crack the phone. Nobody knows. But the first question any cynic with technical bones would ask is, "Can’t the CIA/NSA/Steve Gibson, somebody crack that darned iPhone?"

  John McAfee, who is one of my absolute favorite kooks of all time says he can do it, no problem, in about a month. McAfee says the FBI is just cheap and unwilling to drop big bucks on the right bad guys to make it happen, which kinda suggests that iPhones have been broken-into before, doesn’t it?

  One important point: I know John McAfee and if he says he can do it, he can do it.

  SEE ALSO: Poll: Should Apple help the FBI unlock the San Bernardino iPhone?

  There’s something that doesn’t smell right here. The passage of time, the characters involved, the urgency of anti-terrorism make me strongly suspect that the innards of that iPhone are already well known to the Feds. If I were to do it I wouldn’t try cracking the phone at all, but its backup on a Mac or PC or iCloud, so maybe that’s the loophole they are using. Maybe they didn’t crack the iPhone because they didn’t have to. Or maybe some third party has already cracked it, leaving the FBI with that old standby plausible deniability.

  Let’s drop for a moment the technical arguments and look at the legal side. If you read Fortune on this issue it looks like Apple will probably prevail. The legal basis for compelling Apple to invent a key for a lock that’s not supposed to even exist is flimsy. This does not mean that the FBI couldn’t prevail in some courts (after all, they convinced the judge who issued the original order). But it’s really a legal tossup who wins at this point, or appears to be. Remember, though, that when it comes to lawyers Apple can probably afford better help than can the U.S. Government.

  So Apple’s being seen as an unpatriotic pariah with Silicon Valley companies like Facebook and Twitter only in the last few hours finally starting to support Cupertino.

  Before I tell you what I think is actually happening here let me add one more piece of data. At the same time the FBI is pushing for unprecedented power to force decryption of devices, another news item appeared this week: Columbia University computer scientist Steve Bellovin has been appointed the first technology scholar for the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board -- the outfit that oversees these very activities at federal agencies including the NSA, CIA and, yes, the FBI. Up to this point the Board has never had as a voting member someone who actually understands this stuff in real depth. And professor Bellovin does much more than just understand this technology, he’s publicly opposed to it as co-author of a seminal report, Keys Under Doormats: Mandating insecurity by requiring government access to all data and communications. The report, which was published last July by MIT, clearly takes the position that the FBI is wrong in its position against Apple. Not legally wrong -- this isn’t a legal document -- but wrong in terms of proper policy. Just as the Clipper Chip was a bad idea when I wrote about it right here almost 20 years ago, this forced hacking of iPhones is a bad idea, too, or so claims Bellovin.

  Would Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, or even Jeb Bush have appointed Bellovin to that board? I don’t think so.

  So wait a minute. There’s a plenty of reason to believe that Apple complying with the FBI order is bad policy, it’s legally shaky, and at least one of the people who makes the strongest arguments in this direction is now voting on a secret government board? What the heck is going on here?

  What’s going on is Justice Antonin Scalia is dead.

  Had Justice Scalia not died unexpectedly a few days ago (notably before the Apple/FBI dustup) and had the FBI pursued the case with it landing finally in the Supreme Court, well the FBI would have probably won the case 5-4. Maybe not, but probably.

  With Justice Scalia dead and any possible replacement locked in a Republican-induced coma, the now eight-member Supreme Court has nominally four liberal and four conservative justices but at least 1.5 of those conservatives (Justice Kennedy and sometimes Chief Justice Roberts) have been known to turn moderate on certain decisions. This smaller court, which will apparently judge all cases for the next couple years, is likely to be more moderate than the Scalia Court ever was.

  So if you are a President who is a lawyer and former teacher of constitutional law and you’ve come over time to see that this idea of secret backdoors into encrypted devices is not really a good idea, but one that’s going to come up again and again pushed by nearly everyone from the other political party (and even a few from your own) wouldn’t right now be the best of all possible times to kinda-sorta fight this fight all the way to the Supreme Court and lose?

  If it doesn’t go all the way to the Supremes, there’s no chance to set a strong legal precedent and this issue will come back again and again and again.

  That’s what I am pretty sure is happening.

  
• 

  Verizon has the best cellular network in US

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 6:56pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  Each carrier would like you to believe that its network is better than those of its rivals. It may be touted as the most reliable or the fastest but, at least in one regard, it definitely takes the cake. Such claims can be hard to believe though when they come directly from the horse's mouth. After all, it is easy to lead the pack when you decide exactly what the rules are.

  RootMetrics has conducted its own tests to find out which major US carrier has the best cellular network and, based on its findings, Verizon comes out as the clear winner, well ahead of AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile.

  Verizon's cellular network is the best performer overall with a 94.5 rating, topping AT&T's 91.3, Sprint's 86 and T-Mobile's 80.9. RootMetrics tested the networks for reliability, speed, data performance, call performance and text performance, in all 50 states including the 125 most-populated metropolitan areas.

  Big red is the winner in all of the five categories. In text performance, it shares the top spot with AT&T, however, which ranks a consistent second in the other four. Sprint and T-Mobile claim third and fourth place, respectively, across all categories.

  When looking at the performance across the 50 states, Verizon leads from afar with a 272 rating, compared to AT&T's 110, Sprint's 36 or T-Mobile's nine. Big red has 176 "outright" wins against its rivals, and 96 ties. AT&T has 23 outright wins, and 87 ties. Sprint has no outright wins, but has 36 ties. T-Mobile has two wins, but only seven ties.

  Verizon also has the best cellular network in the 125 most-populated metro areas too, getting a 597 rating from RootMetrics. AT&T comes in second place with a 424 rating, followed by Sprint with 212 and T-Mobile with 209.

  Verizon takes first place in all categories but text performance, where it loses to AT&T and just barely gets past Sprint. AT&T comes second in reliability, data performance, and call performance, while Sprint and T-Mobile trade places back and forth in all categories. Sprint betters T-Mobile in network reliability and call performance, while the latter comes ahead of the former when it comes to network speed and data performance.

  Here are some other things worth mentioning. AT&T and Verizon offer 4G LTE coverage in all of the 125 most-populated metro areas, but Sprint and T-Mobile only manage 103 and 111 markets, respectively.

  AT&T's cellular network offers download speeds of between 10 and 20 Mbps in 62 out of the 125 markets, while speeds of more than 20 Mbps are only seen in 10 markets. Slower speeds are seen in the 20 other markets.

  In Sprint's case, 54 markets see download speeds of between five and 10 Mbps, while speeds of between 10 and 20 Mbps are only encountered in 37 markets. Higher speeds are seen in 14 markets, while the remaining 20 markets see speeds of less than 5 Mbps.

  When it comes to T-Mobile, its cellular network delivers download speeds of between 10 and 20 Mbps in 62 markets, and higher than 20 Mbps in 38 markets. Speeds of between 5 and 10 Mbps are seen in 24 markets, with only a single market getting speeds slower than 5 Mbps.

  Verizon's cellular network manages speeds of between 10 and 20 Mbps in 52 markets, but in 58 other markets users can see speeds of more than 20 Mbps. Slower speeds are encountered in the 15 other markets, mostly between 5 and 10 Mbps.

  If you want to learn more, hit the link in the third paragraph for the complete report.

  Photo Credit: Andresr/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Majority of UK businesses want to move their IT infrastructure to the cloud

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 6:40pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  A significant portion of UK businesses, 63 percent of them, plan to move their entire IT infrastructure to the cloud in the near future, according to a new report by the Cloud Industry Forum (CIF).

  The adoption rate of the Cloud among UK’s businesses currently sits at 78 percent, the same as a year before, but "substantially higher" than when the research was first conducted back in 2011, the report says. The report also says that the adoption is likely to increase to 85 percent in the next two years.

  More than three quarters (77 percent) of the businesses using Cloud use at least two services, while one in eight (12 percent) use five or more.

  Webhosting (57 percent), email (56 percent), eCommerce (53 percent) and collaboration services (52 percent) are the applications most likely to be hosted in the Cloud, the report adds.

  When asked why they decided to go for the cloud, flexibility is the number one reason for 77 percent of those surveyed, followed by scalability (76 percent) and 24/7 service dependence (74 percent). Furthermore, 45 percent said they decided to invest in the cloud as it enables innovation, their business objective, followed by improving customer service (31 percent) and enhanced business continuity (37 percent).

  "This is the sixth major body of research we have conducted into the UK end user community, and while we are continuing to analyze and report on trends and adoption rates within the UK, we also wanted to explore the issue of digital transformation and how Cloud computing is facilitating business change", stated Alex Hilton, CEO of CIF.

  "It should come as no surprise that digital transformation is creeping up businesses’ agendas as they seek to stay ahead of the competition. Cloud is very much part of the digital transformation agenda, and it is clear from this research that those companies with plans to digitally transform, struggle to do so without the delivery model", added Hilton.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Image Credit: Chaiyapop Bhumiwat / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Dark data and why you should worry about it

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 4:56pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  How much of your company's data do you actually use? According to search technology specialist Lucidworks, businesses typically only analyze around 10 percent of the data they collect.

  The rest becomes what the company calls 'dark data' -- information that lurks unused. Much of this data is unstructured and doesn't fit into any convenient database format. This means that companies don't have the tools to make sense of it or simply find they have too much to handle.

  Lucidworks reckons that 7.5 septillion (7,700,000,000,000,000,000,000) gigabytes of data are generated worldwide each day and a large proportion of that will go dark. This data may contain sensitive information or details that could be used to commit crime, so it needs to be looked after. But it also has the potential to uncover details of undetected fraud, or boost business by revealing patterns in consumer habits, or finding untapped sources of revenue.

  There's an interactive graphic on the issue of dark data on the Lucidworks site. You can see a short extract from it below to give you a flavor.

  

  
• 

  Why is Microsoft not selling HoloLens to consumers?

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 4:26pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  HoloLens is one of the most exciting things that Microsoft is working on. First showcased more than a year ago, this headset could transform how we interact with technology on a daily basis, making it possible to display holograms on top of everyday objects. Imagine having a huge TV that is playing your favorite show showing up on your bedroom wall, or seeing snow falling down around you on a hot summer's day. The possibilities are virtually endless.

  But while HoloLens has no doubt captured the imagination of many consumers, Microsoft has not made a kit available to the general public, choosing instead to only offer it for developers and businesses. Question is, why not consumers as well?

  Microsoft seems to have no concrete plans to release HoloLens to consumers in the foreseeable future, based on the comments made by project head Alex Kipman during a TED conference in Vancouver. "When I feel the world is ready, then we will allow normal people to buy it. It could be as soon as we say 'yes', and it could be as long as a 'very long time'".

  The problem is not the hardware, as apparently HoloLens itself is ready for prime time. That is, if you ignore the crazy price tag, which would put it out of the reach of the vast majority of consumers. Developers and businesses that are interested in buying HoloLens have to shell out $3,000 for a unit.

  But, unlike consumers, they will be putting it to good use, creating augmented reality applications that work with the headset. Meanwhile, there are very few things that prospective HoloLens users, from the consumer fold, can actually do with the headset at this stage.

  "If a consumer bought it today, they would have 12 things to do with it", says Kipman. "And they would say 'Cool, I bought a $3,000 product that I can do 12 things with and now it is collecting dust'".

  This is the major reason for the concern surrounding the consumer availability of HoloLens -- if consumers are underwhelmed by it, chances are HoloLens will quickly lose its appeal. If that happens, the whole project turns to dust.

  There is a similar concern with virtual reality headsets, but the number of applications that are compatible with VR headsets looks to be higher than in HoloLens' case. But, at least in this case, the cost to experience this technology is considerably lower -- a typical headset can be had for less than $100.

  The content itself is typically offloaded to a smartphone and not hardware that has to be baked into the VR headset, so consumers would only have to get a headset to enjoy some virtual reality content. This also puts less pressure on manufacturers, which know that early adopters will not be very disappointed when they spend a small amount on cutting-edge technology.

  Microsoft is obviously aware of the fact that virtually no one will pay thousands of dollars for HoloLens, so the software giant is likely waiting for the moment when this technology will be more accessible to consumers to launch it. And since Kipman says he is in "no rush", there is no pressure to deliver the goods. If Microsoft takes its time, chances are we will get a convincing product on launch day.

  
• 

  AirFoil 5.0 adds multiple Bluetooth speaker support, speaker groups

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 3:47pm CET par Nick Peers

  

  Rogue Amoeba has released Airfoil for Windows 5.0 and Airfoil for Mac 5.0, a major new version of its tool for streaming audio from computers to supported networked devices, including AirPlay hardware such as Apple TV and AirPort Express.

  Version 5 adds support for Bluetooth devices, plus introduces a new free tool -- Airfoil Satellite -- that turns other PCs, Macs and iOS devices into clients for the main Airfoil tool.

  Bluetooth support is the undoubted highlight of this release. Previously, Airfoil was restricted to streaming to Apple devices, but the new functionality makes it possible for users to stream audio -- either all audio or a single application’s output only -- to one or more connected Bluetooth devices. If only one application is selected, all other audio remains output to the computer’s speaker.

  Support for multiple outputs allows users to stream to all connected devices with a single click. Version 5 also adds support for Groups, a means of grouping speakers together in a related set, allowing users to stream output to all members of a group with a single click. Speakers can be assigned to groups using any criteria, such as location.

  Other new features include a Silence Monitor, which will automatically disconnect the speaker when streaming silence, while users can now hide speakers -- useful when connected to shared networks. Users also gain the ability to adjust the sync to take into account another device’s built-in latency.

  The user interface has also been refined, although it promises to remain familiar to existing users. Another improvement sees Airfoil now able to capture audio from applications without having to quit and relaunch it first.

  The Windows build unveils a completely rewritten audio capture engine, with the promise of increased robustness. Users can now also stream audio from 64-bit apps as well as apps from the Windows Store.

  Mac users also gain access to custom equalizer presets, while full support for Apple’s VoiceOver feature has also been added.

  The new release is accompanied by Airfoil Satellite, a free client program for Windows, Mac and iOS that make these devices available for audio output. Users can also control the main Airfoil server remotely from Airfoil Satellite on a connected computer. Airfoil Satellite requires the same license key as that used to unlock the main Airfoil application. Also available is Airfoil Speakers for Android and Linux devices.

  Airfoil for Windows 5.0 and Airfoil for Mac 5.0 are both available now as free trial downloads -- both are fully functional, but only stream up to 10 minutes of audio at a time before quality degrades. The full version costs $29 per device (or $40 for both Mac and Windows), or $15 for those upgrading from the previous version.

  
• 

  Apple is using a straw man argument to fight the FBI

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 2:03pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Listen to Tim Cook and you’d be forgiven for thinking that Apple was standing up for the little guy, sticking up for the likes of you and I in fighting the FBI. The FBI, Apple would have you believe, wants Apple to break encryption, thereby weakening security for everyone. But that's not really the case at all.

  The FBI has not asked for encryption to be broken; it wants access to data on the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone, and it wants to do so by using the (as yet unknown) PIN that has been used to lock it. Get it wrong too many times and the device is wiped. The FBI wants custom firmware to be made available that would allow it to brute force the PIN. It's nothing to do with cracking encryption, but that's not what Apple wants you to believe. It's an exercise in misdirection and a classic straw man argument. The problem is, if the straw man goes up in flames, will Apple too?

  Tim Cook went as far as issuing a public letter explaining why Apple was refusing to comply with the court order that has been handed down. The word 'encryption' is used seven times in Tim Cook's letter, the word 'encrypt' once. You'd be forgiven for thinking that the FBI has asked for the magic keys that decrypt data, thereby meaning the same could be done for any iOS device out there -- but that's absolutely not the case.

  The judge actually ruled that:

  Apple's reasonable technical assistance shall accomplish the following three important functions: (1) it will bypass or disable the auto-erase function whether or not it has been enabled; (2) it will enable the FBI to submit passcodes to the SUBJECT DEVICE for testing electronically via the physical device port, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or other protocol available on the SUBJECT and (3) it will ensure that when the FBI submits passcodes to the SUBJECT DEVICE, software running on the device will not purposefully introduce any additional delay between passcode attempts beyond what is incurred by Apple hardware.

  Encryption is not mentioned once. Not once. We could argue, as Tim Cook tries to, that this is merely a matter of semantics, but this is not about encryption... not really.

  Let's use an analogy. Suppose the FBI wanted to gain access to a locked house. It could smash the door down, but this might result in damaging whatever is inside, or even hurting people. This is akin to data being wiped after too many incorrect PIN guesses. The FBI could ask Apple to provide a skeleton key that unlocks every door in the world. This is the story that Tim Cook is putting forward, and it is understandably worrying. The idea that someone could unlock your front door -- any of your doors -- would be concerning to anyone.

  But what the FBI is actually doing is asking for the spare keys to a specific door so they can open it without any collateral damage. It's more like when you lose your car keys, or want to get a spare cut. You can’t just go to the shop down the road and have a supplicate run off, you need to get in touch with the manufacturer who will produce a custom key paired to your vehicle after having performed the necessary security and verification checks.

  Apple is being utterly disingenuous in suggesting that this is a story about encryption. It's not.

  That's not to say Apple is completely wrong, of course, but it is certainly being misleading. Tim Cook is right to suggest that it would set a worrying precedent. He says "while the government may argue that its use would be limited to this case, there is no way to guarantee such control", and he's right. There is cause for concern. What the FBI is asking for is concerning, but not for the reasons Apple suggests.

  The thing is, putting forward the idea of breaking encryption is a far, far more emotive issue. It's something that everyone -- every company -- cares about. That is why Facebook, Twitter, Google, Microsoft and the EFF have offered their support to Apple. But break things down, and the issue is actually very different. Would there be such support if the court order was reworded to say 'Apple needs to disarm the self-destruct feature of this device'? Probably not.

  Apple knows as much, and that's why Tim Cook released his very carefully worded letter as part of a cleverly orchestrated campaign to drum up even more support. I hear you, Tim, but you need to be honest about what's actually going on.

  Apple could help the FBI without compromising the security of anyone else. It does not need to supply the FBI with the source code for any tool it creates that allows for PIN bypassing. It's hard to imagine that Apple engineers don’t already have such a tool, even if it's only for personal use. The phone in question could be brought in house, unlocked by Apple, and handed back. The unlocking tool need never be in anyone's hands other than Apple's, greatly minimizing the potential for abuse.

  But this is just conjecture, and it would still set a precedent. No company wants to be seen to be siding with the enemy, even if the "enemy" is fighting terrorism. The real enemy here, for Apple, is Apple's image. Apple is terrified of any of its sheen becoming tarnished. Sadly, the company has resorted to poorly thought out arguments based on flawed logic and unsound reasoning to support its position. The damage to image has already been done.

  Share your thoughts in the poll we have running: Should Apple help the FBI unlock the San Bernardino iPhone?

  Photo credit: Wuttichok Panichiwarapun / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Canonical to release Snappy Ubuntu Core Linux image for Samsung ARTIK IoT platform

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 1:41pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  Ah, Linux. What can't the open source kernel do? For many projects, operating systems based on it have proven remarkably adaptable -- being made to work with countless hardware configurations. While Windows may remain king of the desktop -- for now -- Linux has its fingers in many pies for which Microsoft's offering is just too bloated. It remains to be seen if Windows 10 IoT will be embraced.

  Today, Canonical announces that it will be releasing an Ubuntu Core image for Samsung's IoT-focused ARTIK platform (5 and 10 modules). What does this mean? Well, developers can now leverage one of the most popular Linux distributions on this hardware. This creates amazing potential for ARTIK.

  "With a tiered architecture built for performance, optimized power consumption, memory utilization and footprint, SAMSUNG ARTIK modules are designed for a variety of applications -- from wearables and end-nodes to powerful hubs with integrated wireless capabilities, local processing and analytics. The 'best-in-class' security solution starts with a hardware Secure Element (SE), and adds software Trusted Execution Environment (TEE). Developers can benefit from the various wireless connectivity options (Zigbee, BLE, Wi-Fi) to securely connect various sensors around the house to the cloud and rely on Ubuntu Core’s capabilities to manage the security of devices once deployed by remotely and reliably upgrading the software running on these devices", says Canonical.

  Maarten Ectors, VP IoT, Canonical explains, “SAMSUNG ARTIK device and platform developers looks set to benefit from the large, well-established Ubuntu developer community which is especially strong in the fields of IoT, Robotics, autonomous vehicles and computer vision. This image will let developers fully and quickly utilize the power of the SAMSUNG ARTIK platform and enable access to a host of powerful new tools for the development of innovative new connected devices. It will create an environment particularly suited to creating solutions for smart homes and smart home appliances".

  Applications like Internet of Things and robotics have a big future, and Canonical is wise to partner with big players in this regard. Ubuntu is a wonderful distro and the Snappy Core variant is sure to play a major role in many technological projects. Not only does this make Samsung's ARTIK platform more attractive to developers, but Ubuntu Core gets a credibility bump too.

  If you are a developer looking to try this image, Canonical promises that it will be available "in the next several weeks". Yeah, waiting stinks -- sorry, y'all. With that said, it will be found here, once released.

  
• 

  Best Windows apps this week

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 1:39pm CET par Martin Brinkmann

  One-hundred and sixty-eight in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps and games released for Windows 8.x and Windows 10 in the past seven days.

  This week saw some great releases and application updates. Facebook's official application is available to all users for instance, and updates to Twitter, Hulu or Todoist improved these apps significantly.

  The new King game Papa Pear Saga is my app of the week pick. It is a fun game that is not another match-3 type of game but a game that stands on its own.

  As always, if I missed an app or game that has been released this week that you believe is particularly good, let me know in the comments below or notify me via email instead.

  Discounts This Week

  The following discounts are provided by Red Stripe Deals, a weekly changing list of offers, and the Deals Hub application.

  The following is this week's selection:

  • Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride (Full), an adventure game for $3.49
  • Doodle God, a puzzle game for $0.99
  • IQ Mission 2, a puzzle game for free
  • Baseball riot, an action game for $1.49
  • Chimpact, a jump and run game for $2.49
  • LCARS Interface, an Enterprise.like computer interface for $1.49

  App of the week

  Papa Pear Saga

  

  The latest King game for Windows 10 is not another Candy Crush Sage clone but a game that stands on its own.

  It plays a bit like the Japanese game of Pachinko mixed with Flipper elements.

  You shoot pears out of a cannon positioned at the top, and try to bump into as many elements displayed in each level as possible to reach a certain score threshold or other level objectives like bringing down fruit or lighting up the buckets.

  Use the mouse, or touch, to control the speed of the projectile as well as its axis. While you may shoot multiple pears in rapid succession, you don't control what happens afterwards to them as that occurs automatically.

  Other apps

  Readia for Windows 10 (free for the next 10-days, then $1.99)

  

  Readia is a comic book reader for Windows 10 that you can use to read and manage your digital comic book collection.

  It supports zip, rar, cbz and cbr archive formats, jpeg, png and bmp image formats, and pdf currently.

  Network Data ($1.39, free trial available)

  

  Network Data displays information about the computer's network traffic.

  Traffic information includes upload and download data for all network adapters, graphs, and options to display all data, or data from the last month, week, day or hour.

  The app supports a live tile to display the information in the Start menu, notifications, and color customization options.

  The data is taken directly from Windows 10's network statistics dialog.

  Voice Wake ($1.99, free trial available)

  

  Voice Wake requires a static IP address and that Wake On LAN is configured on the device.

  It enables you to change power states of the PC (wake, shutdown, restart and hibernate) using Cortana.

  Loop Drive 2

  

  This is a basic game in which you control the speed of a car that is driving around in a circle all the time.

  Your task is to avoid collisions with other computer controlled vehicles by decelerating or accelerating the car.

  Oxenfree ($19.99, no free trial)

  

  Oxenfree is an adventure game about a group of friends opening a ghostly rift.

  The game, inspired by events of World War II, uses a conversation system that changes the story and relationships based on the decisions you make.

  It features beautiful visuals and an interesting story that may remind you of teen and horror movies of the 80s.

  Notable updates

  Facebook, the official Facebook application for Windows 10 is now available to all users. It has still a beta tag though.

  Hulu has been reviewed by Alan this week. The new versions introduces Cortana and Live Tile support, a new vertical layout, and support for personalized watchlists and home pages.

  Twitter updated with Moments support.

  Todoist Preview has been updated with live tile support for "today" and "next 7 days", initial support for Windows 10 mobile, new context menu options and more.

  EzPodder, a video and audio podcast management app is available as a lite version as well now. Plus, it is a universal application.

  TVPlan Beta updated with Tract.tv support, experimental trailer viewer, actor dialog options, and a lot more.

  
• 

  Best Windows apps this week

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 1:39pm CET par Martin Brinkmann

  One-hundred and sixty-eight in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps and games released for Windows 8.x and Windows 10 in the past seven days.

  This week saw some great releases and application updates. Facebook's official application is available to all users for instance, and updates to Twitter, Hulu or Todoist improved these apps significantly.

  The new King game Papa Pear Saga is my app of the week pick. It is a fun game that is not another match-3 type of game but a game that stands on its own.

  As always, if I missed an app or game that has been released this week that you believe is particularly good, let me know in the comments below or notify me via email instead.

  Discounts This Week

  The following discounts are provided by Red Stripe Deals, a weekly changing list of offers, and the Deals Hub application.

  The following is this week's selection:

  • Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride (Full), an adventure game for $3.49
  • Doodle God, a puzzle game for $0.99
  • IQ Mission 2, a puzzle game for free
  • Baseball riot, an action game for $1.49
  • Chimpact, a jump and run game for $2.49
  • LCARS Interface, an Enterprise.like computer interface for $1.49

  App of the week

  Papa Pear Saga

  

  The latest King game for Windows 10 is not another Candy Crush Sage clone but a game that stands on its own.

  It plays a bit like the Japanese game of Pachinko mixed with Flipper elements.

  You shoot pears out of a cannon positioned at the top, and try to bump into as many elements displayed in each level as possible to reach a certain score threshold or other level objectives like bringing down fruit or lighting up the buckets.

  Use the mouse, or touch, to control the speed of the projectile as well as its axis. While you may shoot multiple pears in rapid succession, you don't control what happens afterwards to them as that occurs automatically.

  Other apps

  Readia for Windows 10 (free for the next 10-days, then $1.99)

  

  Readia is a comic book reader for Windows 10 that you can use to read and manage your digital comic book collection.

  It supports zip, rar, cbz and cbr archive formats, jpeg, png and bmp image formats, and pdf currently.

  Network Data ($1.39, free trial available)

  

  Network Data displays information about the computer's network traffic.

  Traffic information includes upload and download data for all network adapters, graphs, and options to display all data, or data from the last month, week, day or hour.

  The app supports a live tile to display the information in the Start menu, notifications, and color customization options.

  The data is taken directly from Windows 10's network statistics dialog.

  Voice Wake ($1.99, free trial available)

  

  Voice Wake requires a static IP address and that Wake On LAN is configured on the device.

  It enables you to change power states of the PC (wake, shutdown, restart and hibernate) using Cortana.

  Loop Drive 2

  

  This is a basic game in which you control the speed of a car that is driving around in a circle all the time.

  Your task is to avoid collisions with other computer controlled vehicles by decelerating or accelerating the car.

  Oxenfree ($19.99, no free trial)

  

  Oxenfree is an adventure game about a group of friends opening a ghostly rift.

  The game, inspired by events of World War II, uses a conversation system that changes the story and relationships based on the decisions you make.

  It features beautiful visuals and an interesting story that may remind you of teen and horror movies of the 80s.

  Notable updates

  Facebook, the official Facebook application for Windows 10 is now available to all users. It has still a beta tag though.

  Hulu has been reviewed by Alan this week. The new versions introduces Cortana and Live Tile support, a new vertical layout, and support for personalized watchlists and home pages.

  Twitter updated with Moments support.

  Todoist Preview has been updated with live tile support for "today" and "next 7 days", initial support for Windows 10 mobile, new context menu options and more.

  EzPodder, a video and audio podcast management app is available as a lite version as well now. Plus, it is a universal application.

  TVPlan Beta updated with Tract.tv support, experimental trailer viewer, actor dialog options, and a lot more.

  
• 

  Poll: Should Apple help the FBI unlock the San Bernardino iPhone?

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 1:11pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  The US courts say Apple should help the FBI access the contents of an iPhone belonging to one of the San Bernardino shooters, but Apple is refusing, on the grounds that it doesn’t want to erode the security of Apple customers.

  I’m personally on Apple’s side, as is my colleague Joe Wilcox, but Donald Trump wants Apple to use "common sense" and open its phone up, while John McAfee is claiming he can help the FBI unlock Apple’s device within "three weeks", primarily through the use of social engineering. The FBI for its part says it doesn’t want Apple to create a backdoor in all iPhones, just unlock the one belonging to the killer.

  Apple has reportedly been given more time to respond to the court order, and prepare its defense, so the situation isn’t likely to be resolved either way anytime soon.

  BetaNews readers have commented on the topic in both mine and Joe’s stories, but what I’d like to know is what the overall consensus is. Are you on the side of Apple here, or do you think the company should open up the iPhone and help the FBI?

  Cast your vote and leave a comment below explaining the reason for your view.

  Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

  Photo credit: Blablo101 / Shutterstock

  
• 

  10 reasons why I don't use Microsoft Edge, and one why I do

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 12:53pm CET par Martin Brinkmann

  

  Microsoft Edge is the default system browser on Windows 10. Microsoft ships the operating system with Internet Explorer as well, and it is easy enough to use either one of the browsers to download Firefox, Chrome, Opera or any of the other browsers available for Windows.

  When Windows 10 came out, I was interested in Microsoft Edge for a number of reasons. It is a new browser by Microsoft that did away with old dependencies that held Internet Explorer back. That should make it sleeker, faster and less prone to attacks.

  Edge gives that impression on start. It is fast, displays only a few mandatory elements in the interface, and works well on most sites you open using it.

  If you dig deeper, or compare it to established browsers, you will notice that it lacks many features that most Internet users would call essential or at least "nice to have".

  Microsoft is working on adding some of those; it introduced options to clear browsing data on exit automatically and a "save to" option to the most recent Insider Preview build for instance.

  10 Reasons why I don't use Microsoft Edge

  The following reasons are why I don't use Microsoft Edge more often, let alone as the main system browser.

  1. No Extension Support

  

  Microsoft Edge will support browser extensions eventually, but the technology is not there yet. Microsoft promised that extensions are a top priority but nothing has come out of this so far.

  Even when extension support is added to Edge on stable builds of Windows 10, it is not the end of it as the usefulness of that feature depends largely on developer support.

  If you look back at plugins and add-ons for Internet Explorer, you will come to the conclusion that there were few available for the browser despite its overall usage share.

  It certainly had something to do with how add-ons were created for Internet Explorer, and Edge will make that easier according to Microsoft.

  Still, after launch, only a handful of extensions will be made available initially.

  2. Barely any interface customization options

  

  I'm a spoiled Firefox user who -- still -- has options to modify the browser interface to his liking. I can add or remove elements, and move most around without issues.

  Edge, just like Google Chrome, limits this to hiding or displaying the favorites bar. There is no option to move icons around or remove them from the browser, and no advanced customization features that allow you to display tabs in a sidebar, add a status bar to the browser UI, or change colors.

  I cannot remove the "make a web note" or "share web note" icons for instance even though I will never use those features.

  "What you see is what you get" seems to be the motto right now. The only option provided is to add a home button to the interface.

  3. Adding Search Engines is a pain, switching between them too

  

  Microsoft Edge ships with Bing as the default search engine. It may also include other search engines that you can pick one from, but there is no apparent option to add search engines that are not listed on the configuration page to the browser.

  The only option provided right now is to use the discovery feature. This works only if the search engine supports OpenSearch. All you need to do in this case is to visit it, run a search, and open the Edge Settings afterwards to change the default search engine to the newly discovered one.

  1. Select the three dots at the top, and then Settings from the context menu that opens.
  2. Scroll down and select "view advanced settings".
  3. Find "search in the address bar with" and click on the change button.
  4. Select a search engine from the list, and click on "set as default" to make it the new default search engine in Microsoft Edge.

  An easy option to switch between search engines is missing as well.

  4. The Missing Address Bar

  

  When you open a new Tab Page in Microsoft Edge, the address bar is removed from the browser UI and all you get is a "Where to next" field on the page which acts as a combined search field and address bar.

  This is inconsistent and in my opinion a decision that leads to bad usability. A browser should not modify the core UI ever, and the address bar is probably the most important element a web browser has to offer.

  The address bar appears if you scroll down on the new tab page, and if you do, you cannot scroll up anymore to display the in-page "where to next" field instead.

  5. The "fly-out" Settings

  

  If you select Settings from the main menu at the top, you will notice that Settings are displayed as a fly-out menu in Microsoft Edge.

  The main issue here is that the Settings don't use the available browser window which means that there is lots of scrolling involved to go through them and that it is not as easy to get an overview of what is available.

  You can click on the pin icon to display the Settings permanently on the screen, but that takes away space from websites that you open in the browser.

  6. Not displaying protocols in the address bar is bad

  

  Microsoft Edge does not display the protocol used to connect to the active site. The only indicator it gives that you are connected to a secure site (https) is the lock icon in front of the address.

  You can click in the address bar field to display the full url, but that is impracticable for a number of reasons.

  In addition, the secure icon should use color indicators (green and red) as this is how all other browsers handle these visualizations.

  7. Favorites and History management use fly-out menus too, no search

  

  If you manage a lot of favorites, or need to browse the history, you will notice that Edge displays these in a fly-out menu as well.

  The menu has the same issues as the Settings one, namely that its width is limited and that there is no option to display the data on a page using the full width of the browser window.

  The display lists only a handful of links before you need to start scrolling, and there is no search available to quickly find what you are looking for.

  There is also no option to sort the favorites quickly, for instance by recency or number of visits.

  8. No tab history

  

  While you can right-click on any tab open in the browser to reopen closed tabs, there is no option to quickly go through a list of closed tabs to open the one you are looking for, or to display all sites that were loaded in the tab previously.

  Chrome and Firefox users can right-click on the back or forward icons to display previously visited sites which makes it easier to open these again.

  9. No user profiles

  

  I use multiple user profiles in Firefox for different tasks. One for work, one for regular web browsing, one for testing, and another for secure activities such as online banking.

  These profiles are configured differently depending on the activity, they use different extensions, and they help me separate work from other activities.

  Microsoft Edge does not support user profiles currently which means that you are stuck with a single profile for all activity.

  10. Right-click search with default search engine, not Bing

  

  When you select text in Microsoft Edge and right-click, you get an option to search using the Bing search engine.

  This option is hardcoded in the browser, and does not change even if you change the default search engine of Microsoft Edge.

  Bing Lookup should change to whatever search engine you have selected as the default one.

  What I DO use Microsoft Edge for

  

  I use Microsoft Edge to watch Netflix. The reason I do so is because it supports higher resolutions than any of the other web browsers on Windows when the HTML5 player is used.

  Microsoft Edge supports resolutions up to 1080p while both Firefox and Chrome are limited to 720p each.

  You can verify this on your machine by using the shortcut Ctrl-Shift-Alt-S while a video is playing. It displays information about all supported audio and video bitrates.

  You will notice that Chrome and Firefox don't support the highest bitrates that Microsoft Edge supports.

  Now You: Are you using Microsoft Edge?

  Photo credit: T.Dallas / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Opera claims you're using 30 percent of your mobile data on background apps

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 12:12pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Mobile data these days comes at a premium. Carriers charge what could be considered ridiculous amounts for it and many customers burn through it. Unless you're predominantly on Wi-Fi then you're likely wondering where all of that data is going.

  The answer, of course, is background apps -- programs that run all the time without the user realizing it. These can eat up tremendous amounts of a monthly allotment.

  In a new study, browser maker Opera has found that these hidden processes can use about 30 percent of your monthly plan.

  The main culprits are likely not a surprise. Both Facebook Messenger and Gmail account for the bulk, wracking up 73 percent of  your background data usage. Google Drive and WhatsApp are also running afoul of your limits, accounting for more than 50 percent.

  "Most apps are made to give a great user experience, not to save data. If you fetch background data through your data plan, it's like throwing away $1 out of every $3 you spend on your mobile data plan", says Sergey Lossev, Product Manager at Opera Software.

  Needless to say, the company produces Opera Max, which can detect this usage and alert users, and the company is recommending people install it.

  Regardless of your inclination when it comes to installing this software, the information seems solid enough, and rather unsurprising. It's up to the users to decide what to do now.

  

  Photo credit: Ron Leishman/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Mobile operator Three to block ads at the network level

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 11:51am CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Ad blocking has been going on for years, but it’s risen in popularity a lot lately, thanks in part to Apple allowing ad blockers into the App Store. Popular content blocker Adblock Plus has been having conversations with advertisers recently too and is looking to discover just why people block ads on the web.

  In an interesting move, mobile network operator Three has announced that it will be using ad blocking technology created by Israeli startup Shine to block adverts on a network level.

  The technology will be implemented by Three UK and Three Italy initially (there are plans to roll it out to other Three Group operators in the future) and will, the company says, give customers "more control, choice and greater transparency" over which adverts appear on their devices.

  While advertisers will, naturally, be unhappy with this move, the goal isn’t to eradicate advertising on Three devices entirely, just block the worst examples.

  The company says it has three principal goals when deploying ad blocking:

  1. That customers should not pay data charges to receive adverts.  These should be costs borne by the advertiser.
  2. That customers’ privacy and security must be fully protected. Some advertisers use mobile ads to extract and exploit data about customers without their knowledge or consent.
  3. That customers should be entitled to receive advertising that is relevant and interesting to them, and not to have their data experience in mobile degraded by excessive, intrusive, unwanted or irrelevant adverts.

  Tom Malleschitz, Chief Marketing Officer, Three UK, says: "Irrelevant and excessive mobile ads annoy customers and affect their overall network experience. We don't believe customers should have to pay for data usage driven by mobile ads. The industry has to work together to give customers mobile ads they want and benefit from. These goals will give customers choice and significantly improve their ad experience".

  Photo credit: Tashatuvango / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Facebook launches Suicide Prevention tool in the UK

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 11:46am CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Facebook has teamed up with charity the Samaritans to bring its Suicide Prevention tool to the UK. It's the same tool that was launch in the US a little over a year ago, and it gives users the opportunity to report content they feel might be indicative of someone struggling with suicidal thoughts.

  While Facebook itself is not involved in seeking out suicide-related posts, it has a team in place ready to handle any content that is reported. The team is able to analyze and prioritize cases, and reach out to individuals to see what sort of support can be offered -- this might be as simple as having a chat, or it could involve a referral to specialist organizations.

  Relying on users to report worrying content posted by the people they follow or are friends with on the social network takes the pressure off Facebook, but ensures that the social network is still seen to be doing something. Users are encouraged to use the Suicide Prevention tool to report content they are concerned about, but in the case of explicit talk about suicide, the advice is to get in touch with the emergency services.

  Every part of the process is kept anonymous in a bid to encourage people on both sides to take advantage of it. As well as providing tips and support for those considering suicide, Facebook also recognizes that it can be difficult for those finding such content in their news feeds. With this in mind, Facebook says it will be providing " new resources and support to the person who flagged the troubling post, including options for them to call or message their distressed friend letting them know they care, or reaching out to another friend or a trained volunteer for support".

  Photo credit: tulpahn / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Streamlining home network security [Q&A]

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 11:22am CET par Ian Barker

  

  Whilst businesses can call on expert resources to secure their systems, for many home users protecting a home network and the devices attached to it can be something of a dark art.

  Finnish security company F-Secure is aiming to make securing systems simple even for the non-technical with its forthcoming SENSE product. We spoke to Mika Majapuro, F-Secure's director of product management, to find about more.

  BN: Can you give us an overview of what SENSE is?

  MM: We've been building F-Secure SENSE for around one and a half years, the reason we started the project was we know that people have more and more connected devices. With the Internet of Things they'll have many more in future thanks to technology like smart TVs and smart thermostats.

  The bad news is that all of these connected devices are hackable and there are worries that maybe your TV or your child's toy could be spying on you. We wanted people to be able to run a connected home but stay safe, secure and private.

  BN: How does it work?

  MM: SENSE is a combination of a Wi-Fi router, endpoint security and cloud service. You take the sense device home and connect it to your existing router, it then creates a new Wi-Fi network to which you move all of your connected devices. SENSE can then monitor all of the traffic going in and out of your home. If it sees something suspicious it can send information to the cloud for analysis. If there's a problem then action can be taken to block the connection and notify the user that maybe their connected toaster is trying to send traffic to China or receiving traffic from a malicious website. It's a behavior and reputation based service.

  For devices like PCs and phones we also install an endpoint app which provides security for when they are taken out of the home. This provides antivirus protection, blocks tracking attempts and so on.

  BN: Once you've bought that SENSE hardware is there an ongoing subscription?

  MM: Yes, you buy the hardware which should be about $199 and that includes 12 months of subscription. After that you pay $8 per month but that’s for an unlimited devices so it doesn't matter whether you have 20 devices or 200 it's the same price. Since it also replaces your traditional antivirus product the cost becomes very competitive.

  BN: How easy is it to set the system up?

  MM: For home users, setting up security can be a painful process. With SENSE we really wanted to make it easy to use so we've used focus groups and redone the setup process more times than I like to remember. The app also gives you valuable information about your connected home, how many devices you have, where they're connecting, how they're behaving and so on. There's also a simple display that tells you when your home is secure and which will alert you if something is going wrong.

  BN: Tell us a bit more about the SENSE gadget?

  MM: If you look at traditional routers it's safe to say they're not the best looking devices and are something which you probably want to hide. We've tried to make the SENSE hardware something that you'd be proud to own and keep visible. The display will show if attention is needed so you can then go to the app to find out what's happening.

  There's nothing special in the hardware, it has a 1GHz dual-core CPU and 512MB of RAM, the real magic is in the software and the cloud service.

  BN: Does it replace your existing wireless router?

  MM: No, it's an add-on. You attach the SENSE device to the router you received from your ISP, either with Wi-Fi or Ethernet. It then sets up a new wireless network to which you'll need to move all of your devices, network attached storage and so on.

  BN: When will it be available?

  MM: We announced SENSE at a startup event in Helsinki last November. We’re still in the final stages of development but in Europe and North America you can pre-order the product on the website and it will start shipping in early summer.

  
• 

  Mendix products now available on Microsoft Azure

  Publié: février 19, 2016, 10:18am CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Platform-as-a-service provider Mendix and Microsoft today announced a partnership which will bring Mendix services on the Azure cloud platform.

  Mendix says the new partnership will allow Azure customers to seamlessly access Mendix’s rapid application development capabilities, adding that two versions are available -- free and commercial.

  The Free Edition features a full-production platform that allows building unlimited apps, with up to 10 users each. Exact pricing for the Pro Edition was not disclosed, as it depends on the number of application users and "other factors".

  "The apps of the future cannot be built with the tools of the past", said Derek Roos, CEO and co-founder of Mendix. "By working together, Mendix and Microsoft are providing a comprehensive cloud stack to power the digital enterprise of the future and unleash a tidal wave of digital innovation".

  "Microsoft Azure is committed to offering best-in-class tools for every developer, so that IT teams can better respond to growing business demands", said John Gossman, architect, Microsoft Azure. "We are excited that the Mendix platform is now available in Microsoft Azure Marketplace. The combination of Mendix’s rapid application development capabilities and Microsoft Azure’s public cloud services enables digital innovation at astonishing speed and scale".

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: wongwean/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Gozi Banking Trojan is now fully compatible with the Edge browser in Windows 10

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 11:18pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Banking trojans, like ransomware, have become big business today. And the people behind all of these malicious products are always moving forward, innovating with the times in an effort to keep up with technology and victims.

  There is a virtual smorgasbord of malware out there just looking for ripe pickings. One is the Gozi Banking Trojan, which injects its code into the operating system via the browser. With Windows 10 being offered (pushed) for free, malware makers are scrambling to cover the adoption rate by updating their products.

  One is the Gozi Banking Trojan which has just received an update to make it friendly with both Windows 10 and its new Edge browser. Given that most users opt for the default browser in Microsoft's operating system, this makes perfect sense.

  Researchers at the X-Lab at IBM found that "the malware’s developer has found a new way to use the same overall code injection mechanism on the Win10 Edge browser as it did on previous Windows OS versions. The code behind this new capability can now be injected into the MicrosoftEdgeCP.exe process, which is the Edge browser’s process".

  Essentially this attacks explorer.exe and its child processes, each of which is altered to maintain the infection. This can result in keylogging ability among other nasty things you don't want on your PC. Now things have changed slightly.

  That wasn't entirely possible with Edge so the programmers came up with a new method of attack. "Gozi needed a new workaround for Windows 10. Its developer began by going to the new parent process and leveraging another process: RuntimeBroker.exe. The latter is the parent process of the Edge browser in Windows 10 machines", states researcher Or Safran. "According to the research of Gozi’s new capability, the malware’s developer has found a new way to use the same overall code injection mechanism on the Win10 Edge browser as it did on previous Windows OS versions. The code behind this new capability can now be injected into the MicrosoftEdgeCP.exe process, which is the Edge browser’s process".

  The Gozi Baking Trojan was first detected back in 2007, making it one of oldest in the business. Parts of its code have since been used in other malicious software. Security researchers will continue to monitor this latest iteration of Gozi and attempt keep users one step ahead.

  Photo Credit: Balefire / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft wants to make Windows 10 and Office 365 more accessible

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 10:40pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Making its products accessible to as many people as possible is clearly in Microsoft's best interests. Today the company outlined how it plans to improve accessibility in Windows 10 and Office 365, setting out a roadmap built on three key principles.

  Transparency, accountability and being inclusive will be the company's cornerstones for 2016. Microsoft wants to "to think about all of our customers and all of the ways we can empower them with technology". But what does this actually mean.

  Listening to and responding to feedback is at the heart of the new Microsoft, and have been central to the development of Windows 10. Accessibility is nothing new -- options have existed in Microsoft software for decades now -- but there is still more that can be done. Looking at Windows 10 in particular Chief Accessibility Officer Jenny Lay-Flurrie says:

  • Improve commonly used features and do a great job with showcase Windows experiences. We are working to ensure that everyone can easily access and use the Start menu, the lock screen, and settings as well as Cortana, Store, Music, Videos and more.
  • We’re also working hard on our new browser, Microsoft Edge. By the end of 2016, the browser will have improved browsing and reading experiences not just for those using our built-in assistive technologies, such as Narrator and Magnifier, but also for people who use other commercial assistive technology. On Feb. 3, we shared our priorities for 2016, including additional detail about the key areas that we think will have the biggest impact.
  • Windows 10 Mail will have improved screen-reader support for common email scenarios – already, we’ve made progress against these goals on Mail for PCs.
  • Work continues to improve our built-in assistive technology by increasing performance, reliability, compatibility and usability. These improvements translate to a faster Narrator, improved compatibility while using apps like Windows 10 Mail and Microsoft Word, better mapping of keyboard commands to user expectations and an increase in the number of supported languages.

  Microsoft has similar goals for Office 365:

  • Making it easier to author accessible content from any device. In 2016, we will be extending the Accessibility Checker (already available in Office for PCs) to Office for Mac and improving the experience with alt-text in Office Online.
  • Making it easier to use Office 365 with screen readers and keyboards on any device. Last year, we added support for VoiceOver for Office for Mac and this year, we will be adding full accessibility support for all our Windows 10 store apps.
  • Enhancing the experience with our apps in High Contrast Mode. For example, we will make it easy to read commands and navigate through controls in Office for PC.
  • Introducing new reading and writing tools that are particularly beneficial for people with dyslexia. In January, we introduced a preview of Learning Tools in OneNote for PC that will be generally available in 2016. We are also working on improving spelling checker in Word 2016 and Outlook 2016 to offer suggestions for phonetic and other less commons misspellings.
  • Enabling everyone to use our applications in more intuitive ways. We introduced "Tell Me what you want to do..." in Office Online and Office 2016 for PCs to help people get things done quickly or get help by entering intuitive commands. We will be extending this capability to Office on iOS and Android in 2016.

  Photo credit: 360b / Shutterstock.com

  
• 

  Apple says sorry for iPhone Error 53 and issues iOS 9.2.1 update to fix it

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 9:36pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Apple has a lot of support at the moment for its stance on encryption and refusing the FBI access to an iPhone's contents, but it's only a couple of weeks since the company was seen in a less favorable light. There was quite a backlash when users found that installing an update to iOS resulted in Error 53 and a bricked iPhone.

  Apple initially said that Error 53 was caused 'for security reasons' following speculation that it was a bid to stop people from using third party repair shops. iFixit suggested that the problem was a result of a failure of parts to correctly sync, and Apple has been rounding criticized for failing to come up with a fix. Today the company has issued an apology, along with an update that ensures Error 53 won't happen again. But there's more good news.

  If you were talked into paying for an out of warranty replacement as a result of Error 53, you could be in line to get your money back. Apple says that the error came about because a test feature was accidentally made public -- it was an update that was never meant to reach customers.

  Apple's full statement reads:

  Some customers’ devices are showing 'Connect to iTunes' after attempting an iOS update or a restore from iTunes on a Mac or PC. This reports as an Error 53 in iTunes and appears when a device fails a security test. This test was designed to check whether Touch ID works properly before the device leaves the factory.

  Today, Apple released a software update that allows customers who have encountered this error message to successfully restore their device using iTunes on a Mac or PC.

  We apologize for any inconvenience, this was designed to be a factory test and was not intended to affect customers. Customers who paid for an out-of-warranty replacement of their device based on this issue should contact AppleCare about a reimbursement.

  Photo credit: Attila Fodemesi / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Automation will take away more than 100,000 jobs within 20 years in the UK

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 9:34pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  You shouldn’t fear immigrants taking your job, you should fear robots. A new study by jobs search engine Adzuna suggests that more than 100,000 of current job vacancies will be fully automated within the next 20 years.

  The results are based on the study of Oxford University researchers, looking at which jobs would basically be given to robots before 2035.

  Adzuna looked at 1.2 million job adverts across the country, and came to the conclusion that almost 10 percent (1 in 11 vacancies) have more than 75 percent chance to be given to robots.

  Machine operators and plant managers are most at risk, together with admin and secretarial roles.

  Looking at where you’d want to live in the next 20 years, London seems to be the best place, while you’d want to get away from Exeter, Norwich and Plymouth. Researchers believe almost nine percent of all ads for jobs in the Devon city will be given to robots. In London, Reading and Edinburgh, 1 in 20 vacancies could face a similar fate.

  "We’ve heard that more than a third of current British jobs may be lost to automation, but our new analysis of the job market suggests that a high proportion of advertised vacancies are still for roles that are at high risk of being performed by robots in the not too distant future", said Adzuna co-founder Doug Monro.

  "The risk of a robot invasion on the Devon coast might sound fanciful, but there’s a serious message for younger workers, whether they’re looking for their first job, or are comfortably in a career:  if you want to remain relevant in the workplace, you need to develop skills that cannot be easily automated".

  

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: bogdanhoda / Shutterstock

  
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  Samsung bringing Gear S2 classic 3G/4G smartwatch to Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 9:21pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  Modern smartwatches are hardly must-have devices. Most are simply extensions of smartphones, serving as nothing more than expensive accessories. In other words, many smartwatches aren't very useful on their own.

  Some of these watches, however, have cellular radios, making them useful as a standalone experience. Heck, they could even replace smartphones for those with limited needs. Today, Samsung announces that it is bringing its standalone-ready Gear S2 classic 3G/4G smartwatch to Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.

  "Beginning Friday, March 11, the Samsung Gear S2 classic 3G/4G (black) will be available on select major wireless networks. Utilizing connected functionality consumers will have the ability to call, text, email and receive notifications directly from their watch, even without their phone. The Gear S2 classic 3G/4G features a fashionable leather band and a unique rotating-bezel design -- giving consumers a quick, precise way to navigate through their notifications, apps and widgets", says Samsung.

  The famed company further says,"the Gear S2 classic 3G/4G will be available at AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Wireless providers will confirm pricing and availability. The addition of the 3G/4G connected Gear S2 classic models provides users with an even wider choice of award-winning Samsung smartwatches".

  Gear S2 classic 3G/4G Product Specifications:
  Display	1.2”, Circular Super AMOLED, 360x360, 302ppi
  AP	Dual core 1.0 GHz
  OS	Tizen based wearable platform
  Audio	Codec: MP3/AAC/AAC+/eAAC+ Format: MP3, M4A, AAC, OGG
  Memory	Storage: 4GB Internal Memory / RAM: 512MB
  Features	Communications: Contacts, Notifications, Messages, Email, Preset text, Voice Input, Emoticons, Keypads
  Health & Fitness: S Health, Nike+ Running
  Information: Schedule, News, Maps & Navigation, Weather
  Media: Music Player, Gallery
  Others: Voice, Voice Memo, Find My Device, Power Saving Mode, Safety assistance, Privacy lock
  IP68 Certified Dust and Water Resistant
  Samsung Services	Samsung Gear Apps
  Connectivity	Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n/e Bluetooth 4.1 NFC 3G/4G Connected
  Sensor	Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Heart Rate, Ambient Light, Barometer
  Dimension	44.0 x 46.9 x 13.4 (54g)
  Battery	Wireless Charging 300mAh Li-ion Typical Usage 2~3days

  If you are a hardcore smartphone user, a connected smartwatch probably won't be replacing your Android or iPhone anytime soon. So who is this for? I could see this being a smart buy for older children, as parents can use it to keep in touch. It is also a great choice for people that can't carry a bulky smartphone, such as runners or bicyclists. The Gear S2 classic 3G/4G would be used in place of the smartphone, which could be left safely at home.

  If you are interested in buying this stylish and powerful connected smartwatch, you do not need to wait long. You can head to a local Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile store on March 11 and snag one. Don't like leaving the house? It should be available online too. Pricing will vary based on provider and contract options.

  
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  The majority of IT pros view email as a major security threat

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 9:17pm CET par Sam Pudwell

  

  Sixty-five percent of IT professionals don’t feel equipped to defend against email-based cyber attacks, according to the findings of a report carried out by email security and archiving company Mimecast.

  The global study of 600 IT security professionals -- Mimecast Business Email Threat Report 2016, Email Security Uncovered -- also found that 64 percent of respondents regard email as a major security threat and one third believe email is more vulnerable today than it was five years ago.

  "Our cyber-security is under attack and we depend on technology, and email in particular, in all aspects of business. So it’s very disconcerting to see that while we might appreciate the danger, many companies are still taking too few measures to defend themselves against email-based threats in particular", said Peter Bauer, chief executive officer, Mimecast.

  "As the cyber threat becomes more grave, email attacks will only become more common and more damaging. It’s essential that executives, the C-suite in particular, realize that they may not be as safe as they think and take action. Our research shows there is work still to be done to be safe and we can learn a lot from the experience of those that have learnt the hard way", adds Bauer.

  Mimecast categorized respondents into five distinct "personas" based on their perceptions of data breach confidence. They are: The Vigilant, Equipped Veterans, Apprehensive, Nervous and Battle-Scarred. The breakdown and explanations are shown in the image below.

  

  The biggest gaps between the most and least prepared respondents were found in budgets and C-suite involvement. Out of the IT security manager polled, only 15 percent say their C-suite is extremely engaged in email security, while 44 percent say their C-suite is only somewhat engaged, not very engaged, or not engaged at all.

  Unsurprisingly, those respondents that felt more prepared have larger budgets allocated to email security. Specifically, 50 percent more than IT managers who were less confident in their readiness to defend against an attack.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: Pavel Ignatov/ Shutterstock

  
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  Windows 10 Insider Preview Redstone Build 14267 arrives on the Fast ring -- and brings welcome improvements

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 7:53pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  After a flurry of new builds, Insiders on the Fast ring have had to wait a whole two weeks for the latest Windows 10 update to arrive.

  Unlike previous Fast ring releases, which focused on updates to OneCore (the core that Windows 10 shares across devices) and preparing the ground work for future additions, like extensions, Build 14267 actually has some improvements worthy of note, including several usability enhancements to Microsoft Edge.

  SEE ALSO: Microsoft announces a third ring for Windows 10 Insiders -- 'Release Preview'

  We’ll get to Microsoft’s browser in just a second, but first there’s a tweak to Cortana which is worth a mention. The software giant’s personal assistant is able to identify and search for music you’re playing (a bit like Shazam), and in the new build you can now add a music search icon to the top right of Cortana that will allow you to quickly start her listening.

  There are Messaging + Skype improvements in the new build as well. You can now easily attach photos to new Skype messages as you compose them, and take and attach photos using the Camera app.

  As for the Edge improvements, there are three: Right-clicking the Favorites bar now lets you choose to just show favicons, or add new folders; download prompts will allow you to choose where to save a file; and Edge can now automatically clear browsing data when you close it. Setting Edge to clear this data is done by clicking the three dots at the top right, going into Settings, and clicking the 'Choose what to clear' button under ‘'Clear browser data'.

  There have been a handful of fixes made in this new build too. Microsoft lists the following:

  • Choosing "Reset This PC" under Settings > Update & Security > Recovery should now work as expected.
  • You should no longer see a WSClient.dll error dialog after logging in.
  • The front-facing camera should be usable again on PCs with Intel RealSense cameras and you should be able to use Windows Hello again.
  • Fixed an issue where incorrect storage capacity was provided for the system volume (the hard drive in which Windows is installed on) under Settings > System > Storage.

  Fast ring releases usually have a whole bunch of known issues to be aware of, but this time there’s just the one:

  If you’re using Hyper-V and upgrade to this build with more than one vswitch or have multiple virtual networking adapters (including legacy), you may lose networking connectivity after upgrade.

  Fortunately Microsoft has a solution:

  To get network connectivity back, there are two workarounds available:

  • Remove all the virtual network adapters connected to the vswitch, delete the vswitch and recreate it, then reconnect their virtual NIC to the new vswitch.
  • Admin command prompt, do "netcfg -d" will wipe-out all the vswitch settings so that you can start from scratch.

  Photo credit: charnsitr / Shutterstock

  
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  Prelert brings behavioral analytics to Elasticsearch

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 5:39pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Increased use of big data in IT management and other areas means that companies are on the look out for new tools to give them better insights from their information.

  Behavioral analytics company Prelert is making it easier for Elasticsearch users to automate the analysis of large data sets with the launch of Behavioral Analytics for the Elastic Stack.

  It's powered by Prelert's machine learning algorithms and capabilities, which have been proven in the company’s other analytics products including its widely deployed Anomaly Detective solution. Prelert’s analytics create accurate, always up-to-date statistical baselines of normal behaviors. From these baselines the software is able to detect, score and link unusual activity that could indicate IT operations problems, IT security incidents, or business interruptions.

  Since the automated analysis flags real issues as they're happening, it eliminates the need for traditional data monitoring rules and thresholds that return false positives if set too strictly, miss activity if set too loosely, and become outdated over time. Prelert's analytics include new statistical influencer tracking, which provides contextual data for each detected anomaly, so the root cause of issues can be identified and resolved quickly.

  "There's a whole new world of possibilities for the way users extract value from their data that’s being driven by combining the power of analytics with the speed of search," says Tanya Bragin, Director of Product Management at Elastic. "Prelert's automated behavioral analytics are a powerful addition to the Elastic Stack and further demonstrates how developers can build an application using Kibana’s UI framework".

  Behavioral Analytics for the Elastic Stack is expected to be available for download next month but in the meantime you can get more information on the Prelert website.

  Photo Credit: Sergey Nivens / Shutterstock

  
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  IBM introduces Blockchain-as-a-service

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 5:38pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  IBM is looking to move blockchain technology beyond Bitcoin and money transfer as it announced Blockchain-as-a-service on Tuesday.

  Blockchain-as-a-service allows developers to "create digital assets and accompanying business logic to more securely and privately transfer assets among members of a permissioned blockchain test network".

  The best part of it all is that it’s free -- 44,000 lines of code are available on GitHub to developers everywhere. Blockchain technology is an online public ledger where you can log pretty much any kind of transaction. Being decentralized, and allowing all parties to double-check the transfers, in theory it could reduce errors or misuse.

  "London Stock Exchange Group is directly engaged in the development of the open blockchain technologies with IBM and we are excited to help enable the creation of solutions that will help manage risk and bring additional transparency to global financial markets", said Moiz Kohari, EVP, group head of technology innovation, London Stock Exchange Group. "We believe this technology has the potential to drive change across the industry but will need to be developed in partnership with customers and industry participants under an open source approach".

  In order to speed things up, IBM has opened up what it calls IBM Garages -- places where developers and IBM experts can collaborate on the design and implementation of blockchain for business. The IBM Garages will open up in London, New York, Singapore and Tokyo.

  "In just a few short months, IBM’s vision for making blockchain a powerful new business solution across multiple industries is becoming a reality as our clients begin piloting innovative new code, services and z Systems optimized for distributed ledgers", said Arvind Krishna, Senior Vice President, IBM Research. "These advancements are making it easier for developers to move from understanding the potential of blockchain, to actually using it to change their business processes in powerful new ways".

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Tomasz Bidermann/Shutterstock

  
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  Vertafore and Microsoft launch first custom CRM solution for the insurance industry

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 4:39pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  CRM systems have become essential tools for sales and marketing teams, giving them the ability to organize and automate the processes that build good customer relationships.

  But off-the-shelf solutions don't always meet the needs of specialist industries. Insurance technology specialist Vertafore is launching its new Agency SalesTrack solution, built on Microsoft Dynamics CRM to cater specifically for the insurance sector.

  "Built on Dynamics CRM, Vertafore's Agency SalesTrack solution addresses the key challenges insurance agents face today," says Tom Feher, US Financial Services Industry Director at Microsoft Corporation. "Working with the rich features and capabilities of Dynamics CRM, Vertafore's SalesTrack Solution provides a 360 view of their production pipeline as well as the details needed to service clients. This increases agent productivity by eliminating duplicate data entry, enabling agents to not only meet their sales quota, but also provide exemplary service to their clients".

  SalesTrack integrates with Vertafore's existing AMS 360 product to to centralize customer information and increase visibility into the key performance indicators affecting insurance sales. It offers a comprehensive view of the entire customer journey, eliminating the need for duplicate data entry and the associated delays and errors.

  "We evaluated the major software providers in the CRM space, and we are really excited to partner with Microsoft Dynamics," says Greg Wright, SVP, Agency and Carrier Solutions at Vertafore. "Together, we're developing solutions for the independent insurance channel at incredible speed. The launch of Vertafore Agency SalesTrack helps independent agencies adapt and meet the evolving need of consumers and the insured so producers can focus on what they do best: selling insurance".

  For more information on Agency SalesTrack and to register for a webinar explaining how it works you can visit the Vertafore website.

  Photo Credit: Mikko Lemola / Shutterstock

  
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  Apple's new Trade Up With Installments program aims to lure Android users to iPhone

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 4:38pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Apple has launched a new program called Trade Up With Installments which makes it possible to upgrade to the latest iPhone in a more affordable way. As the name suggests, this is more than a straight trade-in program -- upgraders can use the trade-in value of their old handset to reduce on-going monthly costs.

  This is something that will appeal not only to people with older iPhones who are looking to get their hands on a newer model, but also ex-Android fans -- Apple is opening up the program so Android handsets can be traded in and their value offset against the cost of a new iPhone. Windows Phone handsets are also eligible.

  Trade Up With Installments is slightly different to the existing iPhone Upgrade Program and trade-in option. After handing over your old handset -- be it iOS, Windows Phone or Android powered -- for part exchange for a new iPhone, you'll then (assuming you qualify) be extended credit and allowed to pay off the remaining balance over 24 months.

  At the moment, Trade Up With Installments is only available in the US, and can only be accessed through Apple Stores. The program starts today, and is likely to prove popular not only because it is can be used by Android handset owners, but also because there is no commitment to getting a new iPhone every year.

  Speaking to CNET, Apple said that the new program is aimed at people who have older iPhones. But taking into account the fact that iPhone growth slowed surprisingly it is understandable that it has been opened up to include other handsets. Launching Trade Up With Installments at the beginning of the year makes sense, as it gives plenty of time for it to get established and for word to spread ahead of the expected launch of the iPhone 7 later in the year.

  Photo credit: Twin Design / Shutterstock

  
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  Cloud storage providers could be breaching the Consumer Rights’ Act

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 4:21pm CET par Secure Data MGT

  

  The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is to launch an investigation into whether cloud storage users are paying the right amount for their data storage service amidst concerns that cloud providers are hiking prices and are locking customers into pricey contracts.

  The issue has arisen at a time when cloud storage is becoming ever more popular with consumers and businesses. The Office for National Statistics has estimated that 40 percent of UK adults now use cloud storage. Consumers often chose to store their photos and music on the cloud whilst businesses frequently depend on cloud application services, including as Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS).

  Over the past few years companies have begun to pass up external hard drives in favor of the cloud. The cloud facilitates work remotely by enabling employees to access data on the go.

  Most leading cloud storage providers give their customers a certain amount of storage space for free, after which they charge prices which rarely exceed £40 a month. Some businesses and consumers have started to complain about these fees, stating that cloud providers have been unexpectedly increasing their monthly prices. In a recent customer survey Secure Data MGT found that 63 percent of IT managers feel they are provided inadequate cloud storage space for their needs.

  The CMA is encouraging businesses and consumers with complaints about their cloud provider to come forward. It may be ruled that the actions of cloud storage providers are in violation of the Consumers Rights' Act. The Act was passed only in October this year. It gives consumers longer periods in which they could refund purchases. The act also protects consumers who shop online. For instance, if a customer makes a digital film purchase but is unable to play it they can get a substitute under this new legislation.

  The CMA has said it is also looking into what happens to consumers' information once they have stopped using a cloud storage service, amid security concerns. It will investigate how this information is destroyed and if it is destroyed securely. The CMA will try to determine how transparent cloud providers are and whether their users are being given sufficient information before beginning contracts.

  Cloud storage providers have in the past given false assurances to consumers. The pledge to provide unlimited storage to customers is frequently recanted by nervous cloud vendors. Providers often offer unlimited storage to customers without actually considering how much storage space businesses and individuals now require. Vendors quickly begin to realize that the cost of providing customers unlimited storage is simply not sustainable. This has been the case with smaller companies, such as Mozy and Hive.

  Even tech giants have had to back-track on their unlimited storage commitments. Just over a year ago Microsoft announced that it would provide unlimited storage, otherwise known as its' OneDrive service, to those signed up to its Office 365 Home and Personal program. Last month Microsoft put an end to this deal, stating that some customers were using up too much of their supposedly 'unlimited storage'. The amount of storage available has been capped to 1TB. Some customers complained that even before Microsoft announced these changes they had found their storage space was being reduced.

  When it comes to data storage, consumers and businesses are becoming more equipped at identifying loopholes. The Consumer Act has emboldened consumers who have felt misguided by their cloud storage providers and has encouraged them put forward their complaints. Increasingly, cloud users are able to understand exactly what they want from their provider; with data security, sufficient storage space and fair costing all ranking high in their list of priorities.

  Cloud providers that do not live up to customers' expectations and adequately fulfill their priorities should expect a swift reprisal. They cannot hide behind tech jargon any longer.

  Photo Credit: bahri altay/Shutterstock

  Secure Data MGT are UK specialists in offsite information backup for physical records and digital media.

  
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  95 percent of US consumers share their passwords

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 4:06pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  It seems that convenience trumps security when it comes to passwords. Although 73 percent of US consumers believe sharing login details is risky, 95 percent do share between one and six of their passwords with other people.

  A new survey by LastPass also reveals that only 19 percent of respondents say they don't share passwords that would jeopardize their identity or financial information, leaving a scary 81 percent of people who would share them.

  The study explored the password sharing habits of more than 1,000 US consumers of 18 or older. Among the key findings were that 59 percent use the same password on multiple sites, which means people are potentially exposing more online accounts than they realize through password sharing.

  "Nearly all aspects of our lives have some online component and when you bring password sharing into the mix, all of that sensitive information is instantly compromised," says Joe Siegrist, VP and GM of LastPass. "We realize that at times, people and teams need access to the same accounts, so we created a new LastPass Sharing Center in our 4.0 version, allowing users to easily and securely share their passwords, giving them the peace of mind knowing their passwords are protected".

  Other findings include that only 27 percent of respondents reset a password after sharing it with others. Younger generations are more trusting too, those aged 18-29 are the most likely to share passwords with friends. In fact, 40 percent said they’d shared a password with a friend as opposed to 15 percent of those aged 30-44, only 6 percent aged 45-59 and 8 percent aged 60+.

  Password sharing isn't limited to personal accounts either. One in four respondents admit to sharing business passwords, classified as any password associated with their workplace. Additionally, 61 percent of respondents say they are more likely to share their work passwords than personal passwords.

  You can find more details of the survey's findings in the infographic below.

  

  Photo credit: shutteratakan / Shutterstock

  
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  Windows clone ReactOS hits version 0.4.0

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 4:04pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  It’s been ten long years since the last major release, but open source Windows clone ReactOS is still very much alive, and the latest release shows just what’s been achieved since 2006.

  There’s finally support for NTFS read and ext2 read/ write, out of the box.

  Hardware improvements include SATA support, a working USB stack, and -- gasp -- sound.

  Networking has also come a long way, with wireless networking and SSL support.

  A new shell adds a lot of functionality, and should be much more reliable.

  There’s also some 3D graphic support, the ability to properly load graphics drivers, an updated memory manager, a much more compatible Registry implementation, and -- maybe most useful of all -- an NT Virtual DOS Machine (NTVDM) for running 16-bit DOS applications, including old games.

  Does it work? Well, we grabbed an installation CD, and had ReactOS running under VirtualBox within minutes, no hassles at all.

  If you’ve not tried ReactOS before, the Applications Manager is a major plus, enabling a host of popular packages to be downloaded and installed immediately: Firefox, Opera, OpenOffice, GIMP, VLC Media Player, IrfanView, various torrent clients, VNC tools and a whole lot more.

  We double-clicked Firefox and watched as it was downloaded and automatically installed: neat.

  But then, when we started using Firefox, problems quickly appeared, with the browser window not always rendering correctly. Maybe it was something specific to us, our settings, graphics driver, or VirtualBox, but most people won’t want to spend an age trying to find out.

  Overall, ReactOS is still very much an alpha release, and not for most users. If you just want a free operating system that’s easy to use, try Linux Mint. The interface is familiar and with Wine installed, you’ll be able to run quite a few Windows applications.

  But if you’re a Windows geek, understand the technical challenges here, maybe have an ancient laptop you’d like to revive or some legacy programs to revisit, ReactOS offers plenty to explore.

  
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  Are you Digitally Enlightened or an Online Nudist?

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 3:51pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  According to the results of a new survey, while two thirds of US respondents say they would like extra layers of online privacy and security, their actions prove otherwise as few even use currently available tools.

  The study by VPN provider Hide My Ass! has been used to categorize people into five different approaches to online life:

  * Old School Sharers are hesitant to share personal information or participate regularly on social media and lack confidence that they are protected from threats.

  * Cautious Contributors are apprehensive about new technology, but are more socially inclined and learn from the mistakes of the past.

  * Online Nudists seek out and bare everything to their online community, craving a high amount of interaction with their peers through social media.

  * Social Savvy Butterflies are active in and seek interaction from online communities, but have stepped up their game and take precautions to ensure their personal information stays safe.

  * The Digitally Enlightened employ the highest levels of security, which enables them to safely maintain their highly active digital lives.

  Among the survey's findings are that 63 percent of respondents have experienced online security issues, but, of those, only 56 percent have made permanent behavior changes afterwards. Nearly one in four people (24 percent) use unsecured public Wi-Fi, leaving their information open to prying eyes, quite often or all the time.

  Take up of existing security tools is depressingly low, only 16 percent utilize privacy-enhancing browser plug-ins, just 13 percent use two-factor authentication and a mere 11 percent use a VPN. In fact 44 percent are not at all familiar with VPNs and a mere four percent use anonymity software (such as Tor).

  While 70 percent say that the risk of exposing personal information online reduces their level of social media use and presence, only a quarter have strict privacy restrictions in place on their social media accounts. Also while two thirds say they are likely to shred physical documents containing personal information they are happy to post details online including their email addresses (51 percent), home addresses (26 percent) and personal phone numbers (21 percent).

  "Even with the NSA revelations and a seemingly endless onslaught of celebrity hacks and public data breaches, Americans still turn a blind eye to their vulnerability online," says Danvers Baillieu, the chief operating officer of Hide My Ass! "While many people say they want to protect themselves online, it is difficult for them to sacrifice things like their level of social presence. For too many, the gratification of a ‘like’ severely outweighs the investment in building a digitally secure life. When it comes to choosing either security or convenience, the latter almost always wins".

  You can find a summary of the findings in infographic form below.

  

  strong>Image Credit: jurgenfr / Shutterstock

  
• 

  New research suggests alarm system SimpliSafe simply isn't safe

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 3:47pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  If you watch TV at all, at least in the US, you've likely seen the ads for the latest technologies being pushed to market. While many folks like to be early adopters, there's something to be said for ignoring that pie-in-the-sky pitch and waiting until something has had time on the market and been thoroughly tested.

  We recently saw this with the Ring doorbell, a product that continues to run endless TV commercials, perhaps just banking on appealing to the average person who doesn't look into things too carefully. Another one taking up your screen time these days is a new alarm system calling itself SimpliSafe. The problem is, research indicates it may not be living up to its impressive moniker.

  Andrew Zonenberg at IOActive reports that, from its testing of the SimpliSafe system, there are some problems, and they are not minor.

  There is some background information on how the system works, but the main components are the keypad and the base unit, which communicate in the 433 MHz and 315 MHz range.

  Once there was some understanding of how the system works, based on dismantling several units, Zonenberg states "Rather than waste time setting up an SDR or building custom hardware to mess with the radio protocol, I decided to 'cheat' and use the conveniently placed test points found on all of the boards. Among other things, the test points provided easy access to the raw baseband data between the MCU and RF upconverter circuit".

  From there the research went on saying "To implement the actual attack I simply disconnected the MCUs from the base station and keypad, and soldered wires from the TX and RX basebands to a random microcontroller board I had sitting around the lab. A few hundred lines of C later, I had a device that would passively listen to incoming 433 MHz radio traffic until it saw a SimpliSafe 'PIN entered' packet, which it recorded in RAM. It then lit up an LED to indicate that a PIN had been recorded and was ready to play back. I could then press a button at any point and play back the same packet to disarm the targeted alarm system".

  The snooping system could be created for a one-time $250 investment in the necessary hardware. It was then just a matter of hiding the device somewhere within 100 feet of the targeted home and waiting for the PIN to be transmitted. Then the bad guy is in and the device can move on to the next location.

  Perhaps the worst part is that there is no fix, as Zonenberg states, "the keypad happily sends unencrypted PINs out to anyone listening". This can be fixed in future products, but current customers are out of luck as the microcontrollers are one-time programmable, so all current systems will need to be replaced. IOActive contacted the manufacturer but received no response.

  
• 

  IT professionals' bad security habits exposed

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 3:17pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Many IT personnel don't follow the same security protocols they’re expected to enforce according to the results of a new survey of over 500 professionals working in IT security roles.

  The study by Absolute Software Corporation shows that 45 percent of IT professionals admitted to knowingly circumventing their own organization's security policies. In addition 33 percent of respondents admitted to successfully hacking their own or another organization.

  "Given that IT is the security gatekeeper for an organization, it was alarming to see such high incidents of non-compliant behavior by IT personnel," says Stephen Midgley, vice president, Global Marketing at Absolute. "Even if these actions are being performed to validate existing infrastructure, senior leadership should be aware that this activity is occurring. It may also be worthwhile to consider third-party audits to ensure adherence with corporate security policies".

  Security remains at the top of the IT spending list, with 87 percent of respondents expecting increased investment in security this year. Despite prioritizing security and increasing budgets, IT departments believe that employees represent the greatest security risk to an organization (46 percent). This may be related to the fact that on average, 33 percent of all security protocols are not being followed by staff. It may also explain the high incidents of security breaches, with 38 percent of respondents experiencing a data breach within the past year.

  Younger professionals are also likely to show a more casual attitude to security according to the findings. Among IT professionals aged 18-44, 41 percent are likely to hack their own organization compared to just 12 percent of those in the 45+ age group. 92 percent of 18-44 year-olds say they are confident in containing a data breach, compared to 79 percent of 45+ professionals.

  "Despite marked improvements, businesses are still very susceptible to attack," adds Midgley. "The gaps in current data breach response plans and in upholding general best practice policies must be addressed".

  The full report is is available to download from the Absolute website.

  Photo Credit: Alexander Kirch/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft offers Red Hat Enterprise Linux in Azure Marketplace

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 2:50pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  Azure already supports a number of major Linux distributions, like CentOS and openSUSE, but Microsoft is now taking things one step further by offering Red Hat Enterprise Linux instances through the cloud platform's Marketplace.

  This comes as a direct result of Microsoft's partnership with Red Hat, which, among other things, is meant to "help customers embrace hybrid cloud computing by providing greater choice and flexibility deploying Red Hat solutions" on the software giant's cloud platform.

  The versions of the Linux distribution that are offered through Azure's Marketplace are Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.7 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2. Both are available in all regions with the exception of China and US government, according to Microsoft's announcement.

  Microsoft makes it clear that users who wish to take advantage of either of the two Red Hat Enterprise Linux instances will have to pay a separate hourly charge, on top of what they already pay for Azure. The pricing information can be found here.

  "Red Hat and Microsoft have worked together to ensure Red Hat subscriptions purchased through the Azure Marketplace provide unique, integrated subscription support and value through direct access to the Red Hat customer portal. This provides you the full breadth of Red Hat enterprise value delivered directly as part of the Azure on-demand experience", Microsoft says.

  In addition, Microsoft has also started to certify a number of Linux images that have been created by Bitnami for the cloud platform's Marketplace. Users can expect to see "many" images being certified over the coming months; you can check Bitnami's virtual machine offerings here.

  Microsoft has also announced the general availability of Azure Container Service, which has been developed in partnership with Docker and Mesosphere.

  As Microsoft puts it, Azure Container Service "makes it easy to create and manage clusters of Azure Virtual Machines pre-configured with key open source components". Interested users can try it here.

  
• 

  Linux was not meant to be open source

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 1:32pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  The Linux community has a lot to shout about. In addition to a seemingly endless choice of distros to suit every taste and need, there's also the highly-prized security. This is helped to a large extent by the open source nature of Linux, but Linus Torvalds has revealed that being open source was not part of the original plan.

  Torvalds made the revelation in a rare interview at the TED conference in Vancouver saying that Linux started off as a personal project that he intended to keep to himself. The computing landscape certainly would have panned out into something very different to that which we see today had he not made that crucial decision.

  In the interview, Torvalds said: "I did not start Linux as a collaborative project, I started it for myself. I needed the end result but I also enjoyed programming. I made it publicly available but I had no intention to use the open-source methodology, I just wanted to have comments on the work".

  He said that he came to understand the value of having input from other people, particularly because of his inability to design a user interface. "If I was stranded on a desert island and the only way to get off was to create a pretty UI I would die there," he said.

  It should come as no surprise that Torvalds describes himself as a nerd. Speaking to TED curator Chris Anderson, he said that he is not a 'people person'. He understood the need to involve 'people people' who were able to do things that he could not.

  I am not a visionary. I'm an engineer. I'm happy with the people who are wandering around looking at the stars but I am looking at the ground and I want to fix the pothole before I fall in.

  Photo credit: Julien Tromeur / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft's Surface Book goes on sale in the UK

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 11:00am CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Surface Book, Microsoft’s hybrid laptop/tablet combo, officially launches in the UK from today.

  If you're not familiar with it, the device has a detachable screen, a hinge that divides opinion (some people think it looks great, others hate it), and enough power to suit most users’ needs. It has a 13.5-inch PixelSense touchscreen display with a 3:2 aspect ratio that makes it great for getting "real work" done.

  If you're thinking of buying one, be warned it’s a little pricey. The base model, with a Core i5 processor, is priced at £1,299, while the top of the line model, which boasts a Core i7 processor and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GPU, will set you back an even more wallet-worrying £2,249.

  Surface Book is available to buy today through Microsoft's online store and various other popular retailers, including Amazon, John Lewis and Currys PC World.

  
• 

  Cisco announces Firepower Next-Generation Firewall

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 9:47am CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Cisco has released a new firewall solution which aims to completely change how security services tackle cyber-threats.

  The new product, Cisco Firepower Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW), is built to detect threats on a system, and not keep the system on a lockdown. Here’s how Cisco explains the new product

  "Think of it as legacy NGFWs protecting 'homes' by securing windows and doors, whereas Cisco’s approach is to identify, detect and protect against would-be burglars no matter how they try to gain access to a property", Cisco says NGFW is the first product in the industry to link contextual information about the usage of apps with threat intelligence.

  To complement the firewall, the company has also unveiled the new Cisco Firepower 4100 Series appliances, for high-performing business apps. These dense, compact units are capable of 40GbE network connectivity. They will be managed through the Cisco Firepower Management Center, also a new Cisco product. The Center will serve as a 'nerve center', providing a rich, unified management console.

  "Attackers are getting bolder and coordinating their efforts. The industrialization of hacking is putting businesses on the defensive against a growing group of adversaries that steal information for profit", said David Goeckeler, senior vice president and general manager at Security Business Group, Cisco.

  "In the last three years, Cisco has spent billions in strategic cybersecurity acquisitions and internal innovations to help stay ahead of the world’s most malicious attacks that threaten organizations. For businesses to get real value and manage risk as they implement digital operational models, their security platforms need to integrate into the business and support growth opportunities. This means taking a threat-centric approach, with protection from the mobile endpoint to the cloud", added Goeckeler.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Image Credit: Katherine Welles / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Scan your PC for unsigned files with SigcheckGUI

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 9:01am CET par Mike Williams

  

  Your PC is misbehaving. Is it malware? Faulty software, maybe? Scanning for PC for digitally signed files can help to pick out trustworthy executables, and highlight unsigned files for more investigation.

  Sysinternals’ Sigcheck provides a vast amount of information and options, but it’s also a console tool, maybe inconvenient if you don’t use it enough to learn the various switches.

  SigcheckGUI is a portable free alternative, a front-end for Sigcheck which allows you to set it up in a few clicks, and adds a few bonus features as well.

  You’ll probably start by choosing your scan targets. These can be specific files, the contents of a folder tree, or all running processes.

  (Scanning can take a very long time -- tens of minutes -- so we’d recommend starting with a test folder to assess the speed, before pointing the program at \Windows.)

  SigcheckGUI doesn’t check VirusTotal by default, for performance reasons. If that’s a problem, click the Options tab and check "Query VirusTotal" to turn the feature on.

  Whatever you choose is scanned, and details are displayed about each file: whether it’s signed or unsigned, the signing date, publisher, description, product name, product/ file/ binary version, whether it’s 32 or 64-bit, its original name, internal name, copyright, comments, hashes, path, and -- optionally -- VirusTotal score.

  Unsigned files are highlighted in red, making them easy to spot. This doesn’t mean they’re dangerous -- even SigcheckGUI.exe is unsigned, ironically -- but you’ll at least get some ideas about what to check next.

  Right-clicking any file displays options to help you investigate further. You’re able to open the file location, run web searches, open a VirusTotal URL for the file, and more.

  SigcheckGUI’s interface isn’t great, and we noticed one or two minor bugs in our tests (right-clicking a file and selecting Open File Location didn’t always work).

  The program carries out its main tasks without difficulty, though, and overall it can be a useful way to find malicious or unwanted software.

  SigcheckGUI is a free application for Windows XP and later.

  
• 

  Linksys EA7500 MAX-STREAM AC1900 MU-MIMO 802.11ac gigabit router now available

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 5:58am CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  When friends or family ask me to help with their Wi-Fi woes, I often discover the same thing -- low-cost and aging routers. Understandably, people are always looking to save a buck, but a router is not the place to do so. A quality router is worth the money -- dropped connections and necessary reboots are a scourge.

  Today, Linksys announces that its EA7500 MAX-STREAM AC1900 MU-MIMO 802.11ac gigabit router is available for pre-order. Not only is it fast and chock-full of features, but it is reasonably priced too.

  "The new Linksys AC1900 MU-MIMO router leverages the 802.11ac Wave 2 MU-MIMO (Multi-User, Multiple Input, Multiple Output) technology, which helps ensure uninterrupted Wi-Fi connectivity to multiple devices in the home and functions as if multiple devices have their own dedicated router. With MU-MIMO, the whole household can enjoy 4K and HD TV streaming to multiple devices as well as play video games, listen to music, check email, shop, and more – all at the same time", says Linksys.

  Justin Doucette, director product management, Linksys expains, "if you have or are planning to purchase a 4K TV you will need a Max-Stream router to ensure you have a seamless 4K online streaming experience. A single stream of 4K content takes a minimum of 20 Mbps to maintain a consistent stream, and when you combine that with multiple streams plus normal Wi-Fi use from gaming, internet surfing, IoT connectivity and music streaming, it adds up fast. Max-Stream will enable multiple streams of Wi-Fi to occur so users can have the ultimate 4K and networking experience".

  Linksys shares the following features.

  • Next-Gen AC Wi-Fi – 802.11ac Wave 2 with MU-MIMO Technology for uninterrupted Wi-Fi connections to multiple devices at the same time
  • Qualcomm IPQ 1.4GHz Dual Core Processor
  • Dual-band AC1900 Wireless speeds up to 1300 Mbps 5 GHz + 600 Mbps 2.4GHz, which is a combined speed up to 1.9 Gbps
  • Four Gigabit LAN Ethernet ports One Gigabit WAN for wired speeds up to 10x faster than fast Ethernet
  • One USB 3.0 and One USB 2.0 ports for connecting printers, storage and more
  • Three external and adjustable antennas for maximum coverage
  • Manage and monitor your network and easily control Wi-Fi devices remotely on a smart phone with the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi app
  • Advanced WPA/WPA2 encryption and SPI firewall helps keep the network safe

  How much does this super-cool router cost? A rather reasonable $199. If you are used to purchasing budget routers, this price may seem high, but when it comes to networking, you get what you pay for. Sure, you can sometimes score a reliable router with discounted pricing, but Linksys, and parent company Belkin, are known for quality -- this should offer a solid experience.

  If you are interested in buying it or learning more, you can can check it out here.

  
• 

  New drivers and firmware fix Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book power management problems

  Publié: février 18, 2016, 1:17am CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Both the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book have been well-received devices on the whole, but there have been complaints from some users about power management. A failure to properly enter sleep mode has been causing not only battery drain, but also heat issues -- now Microsoft have issued fixes.

  Starting today, new drivers and firmware updates are rolling out that address these problems as Microsoft says it continues to listen to user feedback.

  Over on the Windows blog, Panos Panay writes: "Today's updates include a set of Microsoft and Intel driver and firmware updates for Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 that will help you get the most of the power management options that Surface is designed to offer and continue to make your Surface more productive".

  On the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 update pages, Microsoft reveals exactly what the updates include:

  • System Hardware Update -- 2/17/2016
  • Microsoft driver update for Surface UEFI
  • Microsoft driver update for Surface Management Engine
  • Microsoft driver update for Surface System Aggregator Firmware
  • Surface Management Engine update (v11.0.0.1202) improves system stability.
  • Surface System Aggregator Firmware update (v88.1081.257.0) improves accuracy of battery status and battery life during sleep.
  • Surface UEFI update (v104.1085.768.0) improves battery life and improves stability during power state transition changes into and out of sleep states.
  • Intel Precise Touch Device driver update (v1.1.0.226) improves stability during power state transition changes into and out of sleep states.
  • Intel HD Graphics 520 driver update (v20.19.15.4364) improves display stability, system stability and battery life.
  • Intel Display Audio driver update (v8.20.0.745) supports compatibility with the updated graphics driver.
  • Realtek High Definition Audio(SST) driver update (v6.0.1.7734) improves system stability.
  • Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST) Audio Controller driver update (v8.20.0.866) improves system stability.
  • Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST) OED driver update (v8.20.0.866) improves system stability.
  • Intel Management Engine Interface driver update (v11.0.0.1176) improves system stability.
  • Intel Serial IO GPIO Host Controller driver update (v30.63.1603.5) improves auto rotation reliability when tablet mode is turned off.
  • Intel Serial IO I2C Host Controller driver update (v30.63.1603.5) improves auto rotation reliability when tablet mode is turned off.
  • Surface Book Base Firmware driver update (v1.2.0.0) improves battery life during sleep.

  If you have Automatic Updates installed, there's nothing to do other than sit back and wait for the updates to arrive. But if you've disabled this setting, now is the time to perform a manual check.

  
• 

  Twitter makes it easier to annoy your followers with GIFs

  Publié: février 17, 2016, 10:24pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  GIFs are, sadly, here to stay. We've come a (relatively) long way since the days of animated GIF adverts that adorned countless web pages through the 90s, but the animated image format is still highly divisive -- and I'm not just talking about whether it is pronounced with a hard or soft G sound.

  Some people loathe GIFs with a passion that knows no bounds, while for others they are the perfect means of communication. If you fall into the latter camp, Twitter has some good news for you -- a 'GIF search' button is making its way to the web, as well as the iOS and Android apps.

  The button will be making an appearance "over the coming weeks", and will provide Twitter users with an easy way to track down the perfect cat GIF to accompany their tweets. Powering the service are Giphy and Riffsy, and it will be possible to use the search feature to add GIFs to public tweets as well as private, direct message.

  Twitter has already learned that animated content is very popular, and this led to the decision to make GIFs and video autoplay in timelines. The addition of a GIF search feature is a continuation of this idea. If you hate GIFs, now might be the time to disable the autoplay option lest you become overwhelmed with pithy animated memes.

  Photo credit: Quka / Shutterstock

  
• 

  The role of collaboration in GDPR compliance

  Publié: février 17, 2016, 9:02pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  As the European Union reaches an agreement on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which will require companies to comply with state-of-the-art cybersecurity requirements, security firm Palo Alto Networks has surveyed businesses to see how much they know about cyber-security and where the responsibility lies.

  The survey suggests much work still needs to be done, particularly in areas of collaboration and responsibility sharing.

  The key takeaway from the survey is that a significant amount of accountability is placed solely in the IT. Forty-eight per cent of managers, and 57 percent of IT departments agree IT has sole domain over a company’s security.

  The lack of consensus over where the duty lies could come from the lack of basic understanding what cyber-security is, at a leadership level, Palo Alto Networks suggests.

  Thirteen per cent of C-Level executives could "kind of" understand what defines an online security risk to a business and "still have to use Google to help explain it". On the other hand, 10 percent of employees don’t believe executives understand current cybersecurity issues.

  Here’s what Palo Alto Networks suggests:

  • Create a strategy focusing on preventing cyber-attacks. Make sure you include every step of the attack, and take employee awareness and accountability into consideration
  • Use automated security technology
  • Educate your employees on their role in preventing cyber-attacks

  "The new EU regulations will require businesses to step up their cybersecurity practices, and this can be an opportunity or a risk, depending on how these businesses choose to approach it", said Greg Day, vice president and regional chief security officer, EMEA, Palo Alto Networks. "Ultimately, it is critical that managers recognize that, when it comes to cybersecurity, the onus is on everyone -- it’s no longer a dark art but an everyday business practice that must pervade every level of the organization".

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Image Credit: Lightspring / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Google wants you to 'Gmailify' your non-Gmail email accounts -- but should you?

  Publié: février 17, 2016, 7:38pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  While Gmail is the most popular webmail service in the world, not everyone uses it. Plenty of people prefer to get their email through Outlook.com or Yahoo Mail.

  Google would like you to use its service -- naturally -- but understands you may not want to go to the hassle of switching, or changing your email address. This is where Gmailify comes in. Link your existing Microsoft or Yahoo webmail account through it (support for other email providers is planned), and you’ll get all of the benefits of Gmail without needing a Gmail address.

  Those benefits, according to Google, include:

  • Gmail's spam protection
  • Automatically sorting email based on type (Social, Updates, Promotions)
  • Faster search, with advanced search operators
  • Travel and hotel reservations appearing automatically in Google Now
  • All your mail in one place.
  • Better mail notifications on mobile

  Gmailify is Android only for now, and to get it up and running you’ll firstly need to install the Gmail app, and then add your non-Gmail account. Once done, follow these instructions:

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app.
  2. In the top-left, open the Hamburger Menu.
  3. Scroll down and tap Settings.
  4. Tap the non-Gmail account you’d like to link.
  5. Tap Link account.

  Emails sent to the linked address will appear in both the Gmail Android app, and on the web at mail.google.com.

  While the benefits of Gmail are great, let’s not overlook the fact that there’s a reason why Google wants to Gmailify non-Gmail accounts. This way it gets to scan your messages and get its hands on your data which, understandably, you may not be too keen on. If you prefer the look of your existing email app, then you probably won't be in a rush to start using the Gmail app either.

  It kind of reminds me of Google Chrome Frame, an add-on from a few years ago which installed Google's web browser inside Internet Explorer.

  What's your view of Google's latest move? Will you be Gmailifying your non-Google email accounts?

  
• 

  Tim Cook is absolutely right

  Publié: février 17, 2016, 7:12pm CET par Joe Wilcox

  

  Some documents are historically significant. They mark moments, comment on them, in manner demanding future citation and even use in courts or classrooms. That's how I read Apple CEO Tim Cook's "Open Letter to Our Customers", about breaking iPhone encryption. His exposition spotlights seminal moment in the United States of America: Government's further expansion of powers encroaching indiviuals' rights to privacy and one company standing up and saying "No".

  Some people will scoff at my comparison, but it truly is what I see. Cook is like Rosa Parks, refusing to take a seat at the back of the bus—or in this instance behind one court judge and the FBI. Cook and Apple stand up for us all. I applaud law enforcement's efforts to protect us from terrorism but tyranny shouldn't be the means; taking away Constitutionally-given freedoms to protect them. Tim Cook is right.

  Encryption is an increasingly contentious topic, which illuminance increased following the Dec. 2, 2015 San Bernardino, Calif. shooting that has been classified as an act of terrorism. Law enforcement can't break the encryption on a key piece of evidence, an iPhone. Cook already is on record opposing backdoors made available to federal agencies. Yesterday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym ordered compliance with the FBI's request to break into the smartphone.

  Cook says that Apple has cooperated with law enforcement to a point, but balks at what investigators now seek:

  The FBI wants us to make a new version of the iPhone operating system, circumventing several important security features, and install it on an iPhone recovered during the investigation. In the wrong hands, this software—which does not exist today—would have the potential to unlock any iPhone in someone’s physical possession.

  The question everyone should ask: Is this moment about one investigation or attempt to expand powers for many others? Is this the precedent that changes everything? I ask because this incident isn't isolated, with respect to mobile device privacy protections and government demands that companies like Apple break them.

  Cook's position is certain:

  The FBI may use different words to describe this tool, but make no mistake: Building a version of iOS that bypasses security in this way would undeniably create a backdoor. And while the government may argue that its use would be limited to this case, there is no way to guarantee such control...

  The government suggests this tool could only be used once, on one phone. But that’s simply not true. Once created, the technique could be used over and over again, on any number of devices. In the physical world, it would be the equivalent of a master key, capable of opening hundreds of millions of locks—from restaurants and banks to stores and homes. No reasonable person would find that acceptable.

  Cook calls capitulation a "dangerous precedent" and refers to the FBI's expansion of powers as "unprecedented". I am no Constitutional lawyer, but as a citizen protected by the U.S. Constitution and as a journalist writing about the tech sector for more than 20 years, I must side with Apple—and I applaud the company's defiance.

  For More Perspective: "Why Apple is right to reject the order to unlock a killer's phone"

  Cook presents greater case for refusing the court order, such as undermining the broader security of iOS. Further, "government’s demands are chilling", he contends. "The government could extend this breach of privacy and demand that Apple build surveillance software to intercept your messages, access your health records or financial data, track your location, or even access your phone’s microphone or camera without your knowledge".

  If, as law enforcement publicly states, the San Bernardino shooting spree is a single act of terrorism, where is the imminent risk that justifies protecting us all? Urgency to save many might justify one instance of capitulation—unless Apple's CEO is correct and accessing one time is for all time, and compliance here establishes precedent that other tech companies must follow.

  "Opposing this order is not something we take lightly", Cook writes. "We feel we must speak up in the face of what we see as an overreach by the U.S. government. It would be wrong for the government to force us to build a backdoor into our products. And ultimately, we fear that this demand would undermine the very freedoms and liberty our government is meant to protect".

  Tim Cook is absolutely right.

  Photo Credit: Apple

  
• 

  Microsoft announces a new Windows 10-friendly Wireless Display Adapter

  Publié: février 17, 2016, 6:28pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Microsoft launched its original Wireless Display Adapter back in 2014. The accessory allows anyone to wirelessly beam content from a Miracast-enabled device -- be it a tablet, smartphone or laptop -- directly to a big screen TV. It functions in a similar fashion to the Chromecast, but while Google's dongle works best with apps that support it, Microsoft's product uses Miracast technology and doesn't require individual app support.

  Today the tech giant announces plans for an updated model. So what’s changed?

  While Microsoft says it’s just as easy to set up and use as its predecessor, the new edition has been completely redesigned (it's smaller, and more stylish), and promises to reduce latency. Naturally, there’s a Windows 10 twist too, as Microsoft says the device will allow users to "mirror or extend their screen from Miracast-enabled Windows 10 phones, tablets and laptops, including the Surface lineup".

  The Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter is available to pre-order now in the US and Canada, and it will be available to buy from March 1. It’s priced at $49.95, which is $10 cheaper than the original retailed for, and you’ll be able to pick one up from Microsoft Store, Best Buy and Amazon, as well as other retailers down the line.

  Microsoft says it will be available in additional markets "soon".

  
• 

  Sony is inviting you to try its latest PS4 beta software

  Publié: février 17, 2016, 6:23pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  When it comes to next-gen console gaming the community is largely segmented into two camps: Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4. A few people stay out of this fray, opting instead for the Nintendo offering.

  Now, as it has done before, Sony is looking to sign up guinea pigs, or rather willing customers, to try out the latest beta version of its upcoming console software.

  The beta signup opens to everyone today, giving a preview of what will soon be headed to every PS4 owner's system. "The beta program will kick off in early March, and if you’re part of the program, you’ll receive an email with instructions on downloading the system software", the manufacturer states.

  Sony also promises that there is no need to worry just because this is beta software which may not yet be ready for prime time. Customers can back out and return to the current software at any time. The company also promises to monitor the forums during this period and listen to all suggestions and potential problems. There is the usual caveat to that statement -- "while we can’t always implement changes suggested by the community, it’s super valuable for us to hear your feedback to help guide the direction we take".

  The new beta software will begin rolling out in March as the spring update follows the fall update which was beta tested back in September. You can sign up for version 3.5 here.

  
• 

  Malwarebytes launches new endpoint detection platform for enterprises

  Publié: février 17, 2016, 6:20pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Traditional endpoint security often ends up generating lots of false alerts which take up valuable support time to investigate and resolve.

  Anti-malware specialist Malwarebytes is aiming to make things easier for businesses with the launch of its latest Breach Remediation product, a platform that improves organizations' ability to remove advanced threats from their endpoint systems.

  It uses a scanning engine that detects and removes infections and related artifacts simultaneously across all endpoints on the network. Malwarebytes Breach Remediation scans network endpoints looking for suspicious files or anomalies and, when found, pieces together all of the threat traces allowing it to automatically fix other compromised systems on the same network.

  "Traditional breach remediation involves an incident responder running to each computer to put out cyber fires, one at a time," says Marcin Kleczynski, CEO of Malwarebytes. "Three hours later the same security team member runs to put out another fire. This inefficient way of 'solving' the issue hasn't evolved for decades. Now, Malwarebytes and our integration partners are creating an automated sprinkler system that enables the whole enterprise to put out fires as they appear across thousands of endpoints".

  In addition using its own behavioral rules to identify compromised endpoints, Malwarebytes Breach Remediation can read custom indicators of compromise (IOC) from third party sources, including Mandiant, Lastline and Fidelis, as well as the Open Indicators of Compromise (OpenIOC) framework, to hunt for new and undetected threats.

  The product is available now from authorized resellers and will be shown at the RSA Conference in San Francisco from 29 February to 4 March. For more information you can visit the Malwarebytes website.

  Photo Credit:  Palto/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Canonical announces premium Linux-powered Meizu PRO 5 Ubuntu Edition smartphone

  Publié: février 17, 2016, 6:17pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  While I love iOS when it comes to mobile devices, Linux is my true love on the desktop. Android used to be my choice for mobile, but I jumped ship due to scary exploits and untimely (or nonexistent) OS updates. Linux should be synonymous with security, but Google's mobile OS has tainted that, sending me into Apple's loving arms.

  Luckily, Google is not the only Linux player with mobile -- Canonical is still moving ahead with Ubuntu. True, it is a long shot to ever meet or exceed iOS or Android in market share, but fans of Linux and other open source software should pay attention. Today, Canonical announces the Meizu PRO 5 Ubuntu Edition -- a premium and luxurious smartphone.

  "The Meizu PRO 5 Ubuntu Edition launches as one the highest spec smartphones on the market. This elegantly designed device comes with a Samsung Exynos 7420 Octa-core processor. The Meizu PRO 5 sports a highly durable 5.7-inch 1920×1080 screen made with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and the crystal clear AMOLED display screen adds a larger field of view to deliver more content, save power and ensure longer battery life. The Meizu PRO 5 has higher specifications than many other leading smartphones, including its LPDDR4 memory technology which makes it a fast and responsive device for even the most avid multi-taskers and demanding applications", says Canonical.

  The company further says, "the Ubuntu Phone experience continues to delight Ubuntu fans and new users alike. The content-centric user experience has transformed the way we access our most important digital services – whether that’s music, social, web browsing or sharing photos and video. With scopes, all these services are available directly from the home screen. The rich and unified experience delivered by Ubuntu scopes is a world away from burying content and services inside multiple apps in an icon grid".

  Unfortunately for Canonical, it faces the same roadblock that Microsoft does on mobile and Linux-based operating systems do on the desktop -- lack of apps. It doesn't matter how great the hardware is, or how intuitive the user interface -- consumers don't want to be excluded from trying the latest fad app or game.

  

  READ MORE: Microsoft Lumia 650 is an affordable Windows 10 Mobile device, but does a missing feature make it a fail?

  Strangely, the the Meizu PRO 5 lacks MHL, so it can not double as a desktop -- one of Canonical's biggest selling-points of Ubuntu on mobile. This shortcoming is eerily similar to Microsoft's recently announced Lumia 650 which does not support Continuum.

  Pricing and availability are sadly unknown, but Canonical will be demoing the device at Mobile World Congress starting February 22. With that said, consumers will probably want to stick with iOS and Android for now. Investing in Ubuntu for mobile would be premature; it would be wise to sit on the sidelines a bit longer to see how it plays out.

  
• 

  Fujitsu, Toshiba and Vaio plan to merge PC divisions

  Publié: février 17, 2016, 6:01pm CET par Anthony Spadafora

  

  Toshiba, Fujitsu and Vaio, which was recently spun off from Sony, have entered into the final round of negotiations to integrate their PC divisions.

  If the three firms can reach an agreement, they plan on establishing a joint holding company with subsidiaries responsible for running each firm's PC businesses.

  One of the main motivations for this joint venture is that will allow all three firms to keep their respective brands. Toshiba, Fujisu and Vaio are all well-known brands that have strong name recognition in the Japanese market.

  Toshiba, Fujitsu and Vaio will be working together to improve their production systems. The three firms will also use their combined power to increase price pressure on their component suppliers. Toshiba, Fujitsu and Vaio will dethrone NEC Lenovo Japan Group when it comes to shipments in the Japanese PC market if they are successful in reaching an agreement.

  The parent company of Vaio, the investment fund Japan Industrial Partners, will have a higher equity stake and will be taking more initiative in the new company. Toshiba and Fujitsu are both planning to have equity stakes that are lower than 50 percent in the new company. This will keep their PC businesses separate from their other businesses and will help mitigate some of the risk of continuing to manufacture PCs despite both companies seeing decreased sales in their PC divisions.

  Toshiba, Fujitsu, and Vaio are aiming to reach a final agreement by March 31 which will be the end of the 2015 fiscal year.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: Zurijeta/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Your VoIP phone could be used to spy on you

  Publié: février 17, 2016, 5:44pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  You should be careful when running voice-over-IP (VoIP) phones, as weak passwords could turn your device into a covert spying tool.

  Security consultant Paul Moore says he has discovered how default and weak passwords on enterprise-grade Snom VoIP phones could allow attackers to make their own calls using your service, or listen to your conversations.

  In a report on the issue, The Register says it was confirmed that this was, in fact, a beta version of Snom VoIP firmware, even though it was marked as the latest version. Moore had done quite a thorough investigation and a proof of concept, saying he will now redo the tests with the new firmware version.

  His tests have shown that the device’s setup console had no authentication protocols, meaning you could be exploited by simply visiting a site with a hostile JavaScript payload.

  Together with a pair of colleagues, he made a proof of concept:

  "Unbeknownst to me, Per has forced my VoIP phone to call his premium rate number and disabled the speaker, so unless I’m looking at the phone, I wouldn’t know it’s dialing", Moore says.

  "What can the attacker do? Make calls, receive calls, transfer calls (even before it rings), play recordings, upload new firmware and crucially... use the device for covert surveillance. If you install, use or just find yourself sat next to one of these devices, just remember... it’s basically a PC, with all the security vulnerabilities associated with them", adds More.

  "Don’t assume it’s safe because it’s running as the manufacturer intended; seek professional advice", concludes More.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: Everett Collection / Shutterstock

  
• 

  ID as a Service solution helps to secure digital access

  Publié: février 17, 2016, 4:23pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Identity and access management (IAM) is a growing field, expected to be worth around $18 billion by 2019 according to a recent report.

  This is partly down to cloud growth creating the need for a secure solution that can scale quickly, in on-premise environments and across cloud applications, without additional costs for installation and extra hardware.

  IAM solutions company IDdriven is entering this market with its new Identity as a Service (IDaaS) solution. This aims to offer an easy-to-implement and cost-effective way for companies of all sizes to secure and manage their digital access points.

  "My team and I spent 24 months engineering a product that we felt encompassed and addressed all of the technical elements currently missing from IDaaS solutions on the market," says Arend Verweij, CEO of IDdriven. "This is reflected in the core features and delivery of IDdriven. We offer scalable pricing, access control based on company role and location, along with analytics and reporting on use and threats. These features, among others, give our company a massive competitive edge in a crowded marketplace".

  IDdriven is subscription-based, so that businesses of all sizes can secure their digital access, cost-effectively. It also integrates seamlessly with existing ID management systems, to add new functionality while getting the most out of existing investments.

  It has a robust and secure back end running an easy-to-use UI, specifically designed to be accessible to all users, regardless of their experience level. Role and zone-based access control delivers the ability to manage the identities and access rights of employees based on their company role and precise location, anywhere in the world and on all devices. A self-service feature gives added flexibility, without risking security, by enabling employees to request access to applications from a central service desk as their job roles evolve.

  You can find out more and request a demo on the IDdriven website.

  Image Credit: Kirill Wright / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Windows 10 to be installed on 4 million US Department of Defense computers

  Publié: février 17, 2016, 3:38pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Microsoft keeps shouting about the millions of users that have switched to Windows 10, and soon the company will have another 4 million to bray about. The US Department of Defense is the latest big name to give Windows 10 the seal of approval apparently unconcerned with the privacy and telemetry issues that have put off others.

  4 million enterprise upgrades for Windows 10 is a real feather in the cap for Microsoft, and the aim is to get each system running the latest version of the operating system inside a year. The DoD has also announced that it is granting certification to Surface 3, Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 4, and Surface Book devices, meaning that they now appear on its Approved Products List.

  The confidence the DoD has in Windows 10 will come as a surprise to many as the operating system is still in its infancy -- many organizations tend to hold off for longer to allow any teething problems to be ironed out. Standardizing around Windows 10 is part of the government's desire to try to reduce costs by ensuring that IT department only has a single version of the operating system to support.

  The cost of the switch to Windows 10 has not been revealed, but endorsement by the Department of Defense can only work in Microsoft's favor -- it's certainly something we can expect to see references to in future marketing materials and ad campaigns.

  Photo credit: Stanislaw Mikulski / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Threat Stack launches integrated cloud security suite

  Publié: février 17, 2016, 3:28pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Keeping systems secure has become more complicated as companies adopt cloud and hybrid environments for their systems.

  To eliminate the need for multiple different security products and give users a single-pane view into workloads, infrastructure monitoring, vulnerability management, threat intelligence and compliance reporting, Threat Stack is launching a new Cloud Security Platform.

  Threat Stack CSP gives users the immediate visibility and vital insights needed to operate efficiently, prevent data loss and identify and verify threats, while keeping data secure and compliant.

  "We recognized an opportunity to evolve with the many companies looking to move into or expand within the cloud. Today’s security needs go beyond singular point solutions, so we have answered the market's requests with a complete security platform which will not only scale, but meet all of the immediate and future needs of our customers," says Brian M Ahern, chairman and CEO of Threat Stack. "This integrated platform approach will save our clients money, as well as organizational effort to manage security and compliance initiatives".

  Key features include workload insights to help organizations verify whether their environments have been compromised by insider threats and/or data loss by tracking suspicious user activity, tracking connections to command and control servers and tracking access to secret configuration files. Tracking changes to infrastructure in real-time and generating infrastructure alerts based on user, event name, counts of events, and source IP means changes to a software-defined infrastructure won’t occur without security teams knowing about them.

  Threat Stack CSP examines package information and tells the user if there is anything vulnerable. It then organizes workflows around what’s important based on common vulnerabilities and exposure (CVEs). Threat Intelligence lets companies know when workloads are communicating to known bad hosts, and receive granular alerts about who servers are talking to.

  There's also real-time visibility, detailed audit trails and built-in compliance reporting provide the historical record companies need to meet compliance regulations and ensure data and infrastructure are protected.

  Threat Stack CSP is available now and you can find out more on the company's website.

  Photo Credit: Marynchenko Oleksandr / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Eternal 5D nanostructured glass optical discs hold 360TB of data and last billions of years

  Publié: février 17, 2016, 1:39am CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  Storing data is extremely important for many situations. Businesses often need to retain information for legal purposes, while home users cherish things like family photos and heirloom recipes. For many people, utilizing flash drives, optical media, or the cloud is sufficient. I prefer redundancy -- cloud and local data.

  What if you need to store a lot of data? I'm talking, like, a lot of friggin' data. Well, your needs may be met by a new invention from the University of Southampton. Not only can its newly announced Eternal 5D nanostructured glass discs hold 360TB of data, but they can last billions of years too. Hell, these discs could possibly outlive the Earth and its sun!

  "The storage allows unprecedented properties including 360 TB/disc data capacity, thermal stability up to 1,000°C and virtually unlimited lifetime at room temperature (13.8 billion years at 190°C ) opening a new era of eternal data archiving. As a very stable and safe form of portable memory, the technology could be highly useful for organisations with big archives, such as national archives, museums and libraries, to preserve their information and records", explains The University of Southampton.

  The university further explains, "coined as the 'Superman memory crystal', as the glass memory has been compared to the 'memory crystals' used in the Superman films, the data is recorded via self-assembled nanostructures created in fused quartz. The information encoding is realized in five dimensions: the size and orientation in addition to the three dimensional position of these nanostructures".

  

  Will you be using Eternal 5D nanostructured glass discs to store your mp3s and family photos anytime soon? Heck no! Not only is this technology nowhere near being ready for consumers, but it may never even be adopted. Still, the technology behind the invention is impressive, and further shows that humans have not hit a wall with innovating new technology.

  The real potential here is not in the capacity, but in its durability. For those wanting to record information for posterity -- such as works of art, historical texts, literature and history, Eternal 5D could be absolute perfection.

  What do you think of this technological breakthrough? Tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  Mozilla wants to educate us all on encryption

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 9:54pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  Terrorists use encryption. They also breathe air, drive cars, and drink water. What do I mean by saying this? Well, just because a bad person uses something, doesn't make the thing they use evil. In fact, encryption is not evil at all -- it is a tool to protect the privacy and communications of all people.

  Sadly, not everybody understands encryption. There is nothing wrong with being ignorant on a subject -- not everyone can be knowledgeable about everything. With that said, some politicians and other decision-makers could enact policy about encryption due to knee-jerk reactions to things they don't understand. Luckily, Mozilla has a new initiative aimed at educating people as to what encryption actually is.

  "In the coming weeks, Mozilla will release videos, blogs and activities designed to raise awareness about encryption. You can watch our first video today -- it shows why controlling our personal information is so key. More importantly, you can use this video to start a conversation with friends and family to get them thinking more about privacy and security online", says Mark Surman, Executive Director, Mozilla.

  Surman further says, "if we can educate millions of Internet users about the basics of encryption and its connection to our everyday lives, we'll be in a good position to ask people to stand up when the time comes. We believe that time is coming soon in many countries around the world. You can pitch in simply by watching, sharing and having conversations about the videos we’ll post over the coming weeks".

  You can see the first video below. I rather like that it lays out the benefits of encryption without going into boring in-depth details. In other words, a person does not initially need to know how encryption works, only that it secures their information and protects their privacy. With that said, I hope future videos explain what encryption is beyond just benefits -- even if the narrative is fairly simplistic.

  Do you support Mozilla's education efforts? Read more about it here, and tell me in the comments.

  [https:]

  Photo credit: Maksim Kabakou / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Amazon Web Services buys NICE to strengthen cloud offerings, boost customer base

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 8:46pm CET par Alasdair Gilchrist

  

  Amazon Web Services, Amazon's cloud computing arm, has bought the Italian software and service company NICE for an undisclosed sum. AWS is after NICE’s 2D and 3D desktop cloud virtualization software that allows 3D developers and game designers access to work remotely from any type of computer.

  This works because the hardware required to render the 3D images is supplied by the cloud not the computer that the developer is using to access their designs.

  Another reason that AWS could be interested in NICE is to gain access to European customers with high performance requirements, such as 3D games developers. After all just last year Amazon launched more C4 instances just for this type of high performance customer.

  At the time Amazon explained that those instances are meant for applications where CPU performance is paramount. These include "high-traffic front-end fleets, MMO gaming, media processing, transcoding, and High-Performance Computing (HPC) applications".

  Constellation Research founder, R Ray Wang believes AWS gets quite a bit out of this deal.
  "The NICE acquisition gives Amazon a good trove of IP, access to good clients and a good presence in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). These IP capabilities help with performance and some newer features that can benefit the overall Amazon platform", Wang tells TechCrunch.

  For now at least, NICE will continue to operate as before, retaining its brand name, customers, and current projects.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: rvlsoft/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Copy Plain Text strips the formatting from copied text (Firefox)

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 8:46pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  You’re browsing the web, find some interesting text, copy and paste it elsewhere… And then realize it’s got all the original formatting, now entirely unnecessary. And maybe an unwanted image, too.

  Copy Plain Text is a Firefox add-on which supports copying plain text only, and adds some handy text processing extras as well.

  It’s all very straightforward. Select some formatted text, right-click, and select the new "Copy As Plain Text" option. Formatting and graphics will be stripped out, leaving only the text.

  If you need the formatting, right-click and choose "Copy", as before.

  The add-on’s Options dialog allows further reformatting, including trimming surplus lines and spaces (handy if your initial selection wasn’t too precise).

  There’s a useful option to reformat special characters, like replacing the copyright symbol with "c", and the trademark symbol with "TM".

  You’re also able to assign a custom keyboard shortcut for your copy action.

  It may be small and simple, but if you’re regularly reformatting pasted text then Copy Plain Text could save you a lot of time and hassle. Check it out.

  
• 

  Intel may soon launch 10TB SSDs

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 8:22pm CET par Anthony Spadafora

  

  Intel’s SSDs may soon see a significant increase in their capacity and speed as a result of Micron’s latest chips, which could also be used to create competitive SSDs that are as small as flash drives.

  Micron is responsible for producing the flash which is used in Intel’s SSDs and now it has begun manufacturing and distributing its 3D NAND flash in large quantities. The company’s 3D flash chips would allow tiny SSDs to reach a capacity of 3.5TB, and 2.5 inch SSDs could possibly hold even more than 10TB of storage.

  Currently, the largest SSDs Intel sells offer up to 4TB of storage. Using Micron’s 3D NAND chips, the storage in these SSDs could be tripled. Although Intel has yet to offer any timeline as to when it would be releasing new SSDs possibly using Micron’s new chips to their full potential, the company’s enterprise SSDs are long overdue for an upgrade.

  Besides providing flash for Intel’s products, Micron does produce its own SSDs. It is planning to release new drives in the spring and summer of this year. Hopefully Micron’s new drives will include its new 3D flash chips and offer consumers greater storage capacity in the form of a standard 2.5 inch SSD.

  Micron is not the first company to produce chips using a 3D NAND flash structure. Samsung and Toshiba made the switch many years prior to help improve the storage capacity of their drives and to help lower production costs. Micron on the other hand does use a different production method than its rivals.

  The company uses floating-gate cells to improve the capacity and reliability of its drives while Toshiba and Samsung use charge-trap technology to manufacture their 3D flash which may result in longer battery life.

  Currently Micron is collaborating with Intel to develop a noticeably faster storage and memory technology called Xpoint. Whether or not the company’s new 3D NAND chips will be a part of this project is still unknown. Micron and Intel believe that Xpoint will be 10 times denser than DRAM and that it will produce SSDS 1,000 times faster and stronger than flash storage.

  Micron and Intel’s upcoming SSDs might just be worth waiting for if you have been putting off the upgrade to an SSD because of storage limitations. Either way it will be interesting to see if Intel puts Micron’s new 3D NAND flash chips in its upcoming SSDs or saves them for Xpoint.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: Rose Carson/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Automate almost any PC task with AlomWare Actions Lite

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 6:55pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  AlomWare Actions Lite is a scripting tool which allows even novice users to automate many PC tasks.

  There are commands to launch applications, download web pages, send emails, type text, simulate mouse clicks, work with files, and a whole lot more, and these may all be combined to make up a single action.

  The program gets off to a poor start, due to its very cluttered interface. Instead of hiding details like settings or command help in separate dialogs, everything is displayed up-front in its own pane.

  If you really are a scripting beginner then it might be tempting to give up immediately, but wait: look more closely and it’ll begin to make sense.

  The top-left pane lists some example actions you can perform immediately -- encrypt/ decrypt text, download a random Wikipedia article, email a screenshot, open Calc and make it transparent and "always on top", enter your email address into any application, and more.

  Double-clicking any of these -- or using the hotkey -- runs the action immediately.

  Selecting an action also displays its commands in the right-hand pane.

  AlomWare Actions scripts can be very simple. Choose the "Type my email address action" and you’ll see a single "Keyboard: Type Keystrokes" command with a value of "info@alomware.com". Using its default hotkey pastes that text into your current application.

  That’s very basic, but it’s also easy to develop and expand. Add a "Type my name" action, with the same command, your own name as a value, and a Ctrl+Shift+A hotkey, and you’re starting to build up a custom library of text snippets.

  Choosing the "Download random Wikipedia article" action displays an interesting 12-line script with many more powerful commands.

  A "Web:Assign" command grabs the contents of a URL, for instance. "Web:Save raw" assigns it to a variable. File:Assign saves it, there’s a smart String command to grab the title text from the file, and Rename and Move commands to leave the file where you’d like it to be.

  If you’re curious to see what else might be possible then the "Step Chooser" lists all available commands. These can request or display information, clear or set the clipboard, run executables, define and send emails, simulate keystrokes or mouse clicks, create and work with files and folders, open and save URLs, manipulate application windows, and more.

  Stringing together even a few of these commands can achieve quite sophisticated results. You might use the "Wait" command to wait for a program window to appear or disappear, for instance, then take a screenshot, attach it to an email and send it to whoever you like. Even with the poor interface, you’ll have something working within minutes.

  AlomWare Actions Lite has a couple of limitations: it’s free for personal use only, and supports a maximum of 10 actions at any one time (a $19.99 commercial version lifts the limit to 999). But if you can live with that, there’s enough power here to automate all kinds of PC tasks.

  If you need real system automation power, though, there’s no substitute for AutoIt. It’s a real programming language, so there’s much more of a learning curve, but it can also do far more (and being free doesn’t hurt, either).

  AlomWare Actions Lite is a free-for-personal-use application for Windows XP and later.

  
• 

  Women are excellent coders, according to GitHub research

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 5:18pm CET par Alasdair Gilchrist

  

  A survey back in 2013 found that only 11.2 percent of software developers were female. Working then on the premise that males would be prejudiced against female coders work, a group of students has now studied the acceptance rate of GitHub pull-requests by gender.

  A pull-request is when volunteers submit work to a project and it receives some scrutiny by the project team, they often accept the work or reject it with some advice. What the study team has discovered is that 78 percent of work submitted by women was accepted, which compared favorably to only 74 percent for men.

  "Women’s acceptance rates dominate over men’s for every programming language in the top 10, to various degrees", the researchers find.

  The team then looked at submissions where the coder was clearly identifiable as a female, and to their dismay discovered that in this case females performed worse than their male colleagues did, suggesting a gender bias.

  However, not all female coders related to those results. Jenny Bryan, a professor of statistics and her profile makes clear that she is a woman: "The men I interact with in the R community on GitHub know me and, if my gender has any effect at all, I feel they go out of their way to support my efforts to learn and make more contributions".

  Lorna Jane Mitchell, a software developer whose work is almost entirely based on GitHub, said, "that it was impossible to tell whether a pull request was ignored out of bias, or just because a project owner was busy or knew another developer personally".

  Elizabeth Eastaugh, a director of technology at Expedia comments: "The GitHub analysis is not only indicative of gender bias in web development, but a sign that the lack of all diversity is still a huge problem in the tech world. Looking at the approval rates at the quality of code for women compared to men when the developer’s gender is concealed is quite demoralizing. But it is crucial that these results don’t dissuade minorities from revealing their identities in the future. In fact, it should spur them on to do the opposite".

  "It’s important that people realize that minority groups do exist in the tech industry, and it’s also crucial that these minorities do not feel isolated in their respective fields. The technology industry needs more C-level role models who dispel the notion that great success is the preserve of well-educated white men", adds Eastaugh.

  "The findings should by no means justify the decision to hide your gender, because identifying yourself as female in a primarily male-dominated industry is extremely important. And the issue of inclusion and diversity shouldn’t just end with gender -- it should incorporate race, sexuality and disability as well", concludes Eastaugh.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: Shutterstock/Rawpixel

  
• 

  Android founder Andy Rubin wants to give you a free dashcam, there's just one catch...

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 4:00pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Andy Rubin, best known as the founder of Android, became the head of the division after Google purchased the mobile operating system. He left the company in 2014 after briefly heading the robotics division, and founded Playground Global.

  Since then his tech incubator has provided funding and help to many startups with Google being one of the sponsors of this venture.

  Now the famed inventor has hatched a new plan, one that could be considered exciting by some, but is more likely to scare many others. Rubin would like to give you a free dashcam -- you know, those little devices that record what's ahead on the road and could be valuable evidence in an accident. Sounds great, doesn't it? Doesn't it?!

  There's a bit more to this than the kindness of Rubin's heart. In exchange for this there's a trade-off. Rubin gets your data. That's where the tinfoil hats start being placed on heads.

  To be fair, we don't expect Rubin to be selling anyone down the river for some advertising deal targeting the places you go, for example. However, that does not rule out the possibility, especially if the company were to be sold sometime.

  The plan in all of this is to create what essentially would be a real-time Google Street View. In a recent profile in Wired magazine, the author writes "When pressed, he says he is in fact working on a dashcam, which he plans to give away in exchange for its data -- potentially allowing Playground to build a real-time visual map of the world".

  The Verge agreed, stating "Dashcams could enable real-time traffic status, or even a real-time Street View-like service".

  The question is, will people buy into this? It would need large-scale adoption to work the way it should, and that could be a hard sell in today's privacy-conscious society. The revelations of the likes of Edward Snowden, which have done a tremendous amount of good and resulted in people beginning to use encryption, may also prove a hindrance for something such as this, making it much easier for groups like the NSA to keep tabs on people. We'll see what happens when this actually becomes available.

  Image Credit: supirak jaisan / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Store your personal data in a HAT to keep it safe

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 3:45pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  As we use the internet we give away information to lots of sites from shopping portals to search engines. The growth of the Internet of Things is likely to see a further boost in the amount of data held and shared about us.

  The Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick in the UK is working on £1.2 million HAT (Hub-of-all-things) research project to develop a platform technology where individuals can keep all their personal data in one place.

  Funded by the Research Councils UK Digital Economy Programme and working in conjunction with industry and commercial partners, the research project has developed a personal data platform to perform all four key operations on personal data: collect, control, re-combine, contextualize and share.

  "Now is the time to wake people up to just how much personal data they pour online and empower them to use that data to benefit them as much as its benefiting the businesses that are harvesting it," says Professor Irene Ng of WMG. "With the internet of things growing as a concept people need to get as much utility out of their own data as the product providers and utilities that will increasingly be taking that data".

  A HAT Foundation will develop the next phase of the technology, taking over from the HAT research project team in WMG to roll-out the HAT globally in 2016. The Foundation will scale-up the HAT ecosystem and build a community of HAT users, to promote widespread take-up of HATs by individuals.

  "The data on your HAT is owned by you and can be recombined by you so that you can make it meaningful and useful for decision-making. The HAT is also a fully scalable personal data platform for firms to offer you services for your data in a privacy-preserving way, as well as allowing you to track and creatively organize your data for better informed decisions in your lives," adds Professor Ng. "Most importantly, I believe that the HAT will start a movement for individuals to claim our personal data, as we believe it is now time for us to gain control of our digital lives and put ourselves, as individuals, at the center of the growing data exchange in the sharing economy".

  You can find out more about the project on the HAT Foundation website.

  Photo Credit:  jazzerup/Shutterstock

  
• 

  LG unveils new stylus-toting phablet

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 3:10pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  LG likes to do things differently when it comes to product announcements, revealing some things ahead of the big unveiling. Case in point are the Quick Cover accessory and Active Display technology for its upcoming G5, which were presented ahead of the new flagship. But with its new Stylus 2, I think it has taken things a bit too far.

  LG says that Stylus 2 will be unveiled at MWC 2016, which takes place later this week in Barcelona. But, considering that it has officially announced virtually everything we may want to know about this new phablet and even posted presentation photos, I wonder exactly what will be left for it to "unveil".

  Stylus 2 is LG's successor to last year's G4 Stylus, being positioned as a productivity-oriented offering in the company's Android lineup. And, like its name suggests, it indeed comes with a stylus. The specs, however, imply that it is designed with price-conscious shoppers in mind.

  Stylus 2 has a 5.7-inch display with a resolution of 1,280 by 720. It is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor with 1.5 GB of RAM and a 3,000 mAh removable battery. There is a 13 MP camera on the back, and an 8 MP shooter on the front.

  Storage-wise, it has 16 GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for expansion. In terms of connectivity, it supports 4G LTE and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.1, but not USB 3.0. It comes in at 155 x 79.6 x 7.4 mm and 145 g.

  The software, however, is much more up to date, as Stylus 2 runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Of course, LG has thrown in a number of extras that are designed to accommodate the stylus. There is, for instance, Pen Pop, a menu that makes it easier for the user to access notes and scanner features when the stylus is removed, Pen Keeper, a feature that is designed to prevent users from forgetting to insert the stylus back after use, and Calligraphy Pen, a font that mimics the use of a fountain pen.

  "LG Stylus 2 provides both the big screen and premium notetaking functions of a premium large phone at a price of a mid-tier phone", says LG's Juno Cho. "This device is another example of our commitment to the mass-tier segment where there is so much opportunity for growth and creativity".

  There is no word on pricing or availability yet, but LG says that Stylus 2 will be offered in brown, titan and white.

  
• 

  New solution protects enterprise websites from attack

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 3:06pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Some of the latest cyber attacks seek to steal information using man-in-the-browser (MITB) attacks. These represent a dangerous trend because they circumvent even the strongest authentication techniques by hijacking the session after the user has authenticated a bank or other site.

  Threat intelligence start up buguroo is looking to combat this with its new online fraud detection solution that can detect hijacked sessions in real time and stop them before any money leaves the bank.

  The company's new bugFraud Defense technology is entirely host- and cloud-based and doesn't require any action, such as installing software or an agent, by an end-user client in order to be protected. The buguroo software is transparent to the user, requires minimal resources and doesn't degrade the user experience or performance.

  "Any online fraud detection solution that still relies on signatures or requires users to take action is based on a failed model," says Pablo de la Riva Ferrezuelo, CTO and founder of buguroo. "Industry research shows that 'opt-in' models that require installing client-side software at best get low single digit percentage participation. Study after study shows users expect their service providers to protect them, and they are not willing to help. Period. That's what we do".

  The solution is implemented at web server level for both development and security teams. It then requires only a lightweight modification in regular server content to link online sessions to the cloud-based fraud detection engine.

  Available immediately in the US, Europe and Latin America, buguroo bugFraud Defense can be bought as a standalone product or as part of bugThreats, the company's comprehensive threat intelligence platform, also announced today. The company is targeting those sectors most commonly attacked by cyber criminals, banking, social networking and e-commerce. More information is available on the buguroo website.

  Photo credit: Lichtmeister / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft's Lego-like PC makes upgrading super-easy

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 1:44pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Part of the reason the PC was originally so successful is down upgradability, and that’s still a factor today. If your computer starts to run a little sluggish, you can always add more RAM, or swap your HDD for an SSD. Some PCs are easier to upgrade than others, but Microsoft is looking into a way to make upgrading so easy that absolutely anyone could do it.

  The idea is a modular computer that consists of magnetic units that you can snap off without the use of tools and replace with newer, better components. Not unlike building a PC from Lego.

  The software giant filed a patent for a Modular Computing Device in July year, and it was published a few days ago. The patent describes the proposed system as:

  A computing device comprising: a display modular component including a housing, a display device physically and communicatively coupled to the housing via a hinge, and one or more display hardware elements disposed within the housing and configured to output a display for the display device; and a computing modular component including a housing that is physically and communicatively coupled to the display modular component, a processing system disposed within the housing, and memory disposed within the housing, the processing system configured to execute instructions stored by the processing system to generate a user interface for display by the display device of the display modular component, the processing system and the memory being swappable within the housing of the computing modular component.

  Got that? The diagram below makes things easier to visualize.

  

  Microsoft hardware is on a roll at the moment, with both Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book doing well, and this modular PC patent lists Tim Escolin, a senior designer on Microsoft’s Surface devices team, as one of its authors.

  The idea of a modular system such as this is far from new (anyone remember Project Christine?) and Google’s Project Ara is a similar idea for smartphones, but this looks really good, and I’d love to see it turned into something you can actually buy.

  Photo credit: Vector3D / Shutterstock

  
• 

  UK government wants money-making porn sites to age-check visitors

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 1:14pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  The UK government is launching a public consultation over its plans to require pornographic websites to verify that visitors are aged 18 or over. The Conservative party wants to deliver on its manifesto pledge to introduce age verification to all porn sites, but the latest proposals go further.

  The government wants all companies that profit from pornography online to implement systems to have a legal requirement to ensure that visitors are over 18. The consultation runs until 12 April and has the aim of using British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) issued 18 / 18R ratings for sites, but it's unclear how effective the system would be for free porn sites.

  The government says that its preferred approach for protecting children from pornography would put "responsibility squarely on the shoulders of companies who create and profit from online pornography". This is something that has been talked about for some time, and ISPs have already been tasked with blocking access to porn sites by default, although customers can ask for access to be granted to them.

  Inviting feedback on the latest proposals, the government says:

  The UK is a world leader in the work it does to improve child safety online, but we cannot be complacent. Government has a responsibility to protect citizens from harm, especially the young and most vulnerable.

  That is why we committed in our manifesto to requiring age verification for access to pornographic material online, and are now seeking views on how we deliver on our commitment.

  The government wants to not only implement age check, but also to set up a framework with legal process overseen by regulators. The regulators would:

  • Monitor compliance with the new law by commercial pornography providers.
  • Enable those that support the business model of pornographic content providers (such as payment providers, advertisers and other ancillary services) to withdraw services from commercial providers in breach of the law.
  • Impose sanctions where breaches have been identified and providers remain non-compliant.
  • Give the regulator discretion to set and monitor standards for age verification controls.

  The proposals are likely to prove divisive. Any form of age checking is likely to raise privacy concerns among consumers of pornographic material, and porn providers are unlikely to be keen on additional red tape. Children's charity NSPCC, however, welcomes the government's action. Chief executive Peter Wanless said:

  This consultation is an important and welcome step forward in keeping children safe from online pornography. Companies that produce and profit from this material have a responsibility to give children the same protection they would get in the offline world.

  Every day ChildLine receives calls and messages from young people who feel they are being badly affected by the way they and their friends can view unlimited online pornography. As a matter of urgency we must prevent children having ready access to content rated over 18 as it can give them a warped view of sexual relationships.

  To give your feedback head over to the Child Safety Online: Age Verification for Pornography consultation page.

  Photo credit: Nickylarson974 / Shutterstock

  
• 

  The Vega+ is a handheld ZX Spectrum packed with retro goodness

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 12:24pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  If you grew up in the UK in the 1980s, you likely either had a Sinclair ZX Spectrum or a Commodore 64. I was firmly in the Spectrum camp, and whiled away much of my youth playing classics such as Jet Set Willy and Skool Daze.

  Retro Computers, led by Sir Clive Sinclair, last year resurrected the Spectrum in the form of the Vega, and this year it’s following up that low-cost games computer with a handheld model -- the Vega+.

  The portable games console has a built-in LCD screen (but can still be connected to your TV if you want to play it on there) and comes with over 1,000 games built in, with another 14,000 tiles available to download.

  Sir Clive Sinclair says: "The present surge of interest in retro products inspired me to plan the Vega+ as a handy games console which can be played anywhere".

  It’s been designed by Rick Dickenson, who worked on the original Sinclair computers back in the 1980s.

  The development of the Vega+ is complete and there’s a fully working prototype waiting to go into production in the UK. Retro Computers is currently crowdfunding through Indiegogo and has already raised over £23,000 of its £100,000 flexible goal with a month to go.

  It will retail for around £100, when available.

  
• 

  IBM unveils new mainframe for secure hybrid clouds

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 12:15pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  More and more organizations are seeing the benefits of adopting the hybrid cloud, but they don’t want to risk sacrificing the security advantages of more traditional systems.

  To help businesses tap into hybrid cloud without sacrificing security, IBM is announcing a new mainframe, the z13s. Building on the mainframe’s world-class performance and security profile, the z13s features new embedded security technologies, enhanced data encryption and tighter integrations with IBM Security solutions.

  The z13s provides the foundation for a more secure, end-to-end hybrid cloud environment, allowing organizations to protect their most sensitive data without sacrificing performance. Features include a new cryptographic co-processor and hardware-accelerated cryptographic coprocessor cards provide encryption up to two times faster, so users can increase workload security without compromising throughput and response time.

  The new z13s has up to 4TB of memory (eight times more than previous single-frame mainframes) along with faster processing speeds and sophisticated analytic capabilities. IBM Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) for z/OS has been integrated into the operating system, adding to overall security by requiring users to enter a second form of identification, such as a PIN or randomly generated token, to gain access to the system.

  It also has IBM's Security Identity Governance and Intelligence software which helps prevent data loss by governing and auditing device access. Integrated into the mainframe, QRadar and Identity Governance use real-time alerts to focus on identified critical security threats, while Security Guardium uses analytics to help ensure data integrity by providing intelligent data monitoring.

  "Fast and secure transaction processing is core to the IBM mainframe, helping clients grow their digital business in a hybrid cloud environment," says Tom Rosamilia, senior vice president, IBM Systems. "With the new IBM z13s, clients no longer have to choose between security and performance. This speed of secure transactions, coupled with new analytics technology helping to detect malicious activity and integrated IBM Security offerings, will help mid-sized clients grow their organization with peace of mind".

  New z13s systems will be available from next month and you can find out more about IBM's z Systems portfolio on the company's website.

  Tomasz Bidermann/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Has Windows 10 reset your default apps back to Microsoft stock?

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 11:11am CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Yesterday, The Inquirer reported on how Windows 10 was resetting some changed app defaults back to Microsoft’s own bundled universal apps.

  In the primary example given, image viewer Irfanview was displaced by Windows 10’s own Photos app, a change that had been instigated, it seems, by cumulative update KB3135173.

  It’s not a change I’ve personally experienced, mainly because Photos is the one Microsoft app I still have as the default, and none of my other defaults have altered after installing that update either. But that said, it would hardly be a first for Microsoft.

  Since I updated Windows to the new OS I’ve found myself having to change the default apps back to my preferred choice on more than one occasion. Microsoft Edge in particular was a pain, once refusing point blank to relinquish the default web browser spot even though I had changed it in both Settings and Control Panel, and no one in their right minds would opt to use that half-baked browser as the default when there’s the infinitely superior Chrome and Firefox available.

  Edge also desperately wanted to be the default PDF viewer, despite my having an actual PDF viewer installed, and sneakily reclaimed that spot too.

  Fortunately, Edge Blocker came to the rescue here, telling Microsoft Edge in no uncertain terms it wasn’t required.

  SEE ALSO: Microsoft forcing Windows 10 onto people is wrong

  Windows 10 hasn’t changed my default apps for a while now, which makes The Inquirer’s story interesting to me. Is the 'new' problem isolated to just a few unfortunate users or is it more widespread?

  Have you experienced an issue with Windows 10 resetting your app defaults?

  Photo Credit: wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock

  
• 

  End of an era as pioneering BBC3 becomes an online-only station

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 10:58am CET par Mark Wilson

  

  13 years ago, BBC3 launched in the UK. Last night, the TV station broadcast over the airwaves for the last time. In a bid to slash expenditure, the youth-oriented channel that launched countless comedy careers is now only available online.

  The likes of Being Human, The Mighty Boosh, Gavin and Stacey, and the like will live on, but only on the web -- which the BBC is spinning as an opportunity to be freed from the constraints of regular scheduling. The change has been known about for some time now, and there have been a number of campaigns and petitions to try to get the BBC to change its mind.

  It might seem strange that there is such a vocal outpouring about the loss of a TV channel, particularly when it is not being completely killed off. But BBC3, like its more serious sibling BBC4, has been held in high regard for many years, thanks largely to the fact that a massive proportion of its output was original. The channel was used as a testing ground for shows that later became huge, with many migrating to the more mainstream BBC channels.

  With the channel's budget slashed from £85 million to £30 million, it was clear that something had to budge. BBC iPlayer will now be home to the channel's edgy output. The BBC says that "younger people do watch most TV online anyway", but this does not take into account the channel's full demographic, nor cater to viewers with no, slow, or capped internet access.

  It remains to be seen just how popular BBC3 is in its online incarnation. It's hard to imagine that audience figures will do anything other than drop; while the channel has always been youth-centric, the move to online-only broadcasting is likely to alienate swathes of casual viewers who will no longer be able to accidentally stumble across a gem of a show whilst idly flicking through the program guide.

  Thanks for everything, BBC3.

  
• 

  Ransomware is lucrative -- almost half of all victims pay

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 10:06am CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  I recently covered a story in which security firm Imperva said Cryptowall 3.0 was the most successful ransomware of all time, earning its creators $325 million (£225.7m) so far. Now another story about ransomware emerges, and this one comes from another major security firm, Bitdefender.

  In its report, the company says almost half (44 percent) of all ransomware victims have paid to get their data back, with 39 percent saying they expect to be attacked again, in the future.

  Ransomware is a type of malware which encrypts all the data on the victim’s computer and demands money in Bitcoin to release the data. If no payment is made in a specific timeframe, the documents are lost.

  Victims are willing to pay up to £400 for their data, the company says. The survey also shows that most respondents know exactly what ransomware is and how a computer gets infected with it.

  Ransomware is expected to grow and become even more present in 2016.

  Catalin Cosoi, chief security strategist at Bitdefender said: "The ransomware phenomenon has been hitting internet users and generating huge profit for cybercriminals for years. While victims are usually inclined to pay the ransom, we encourage them not to engage in such actions as it only serves to financially support the malware’s developers. Instead, coupling a security solution with minimum online vigilance could help prevent any unwanted ransomware infection".

  Bitdefender says it has already developed anti-ransomware technology, protecting documents, video and photos from being encrypted by ransomware.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: Ton Snoei / Shutterstock

  
• 

  You can now watch Hulu on your Windows 10 device

  Publié: février 16, 2016, 1:03am CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  You could always watch Hulu on your PC or Mac, or for that matter, on multiple other mobile devices. Now the streaming service wants to integrate much deeper, using Windows 10 as its launchpad.

  This doesn't mean it will cease to be accessible in all of the previous ways, it just adds one more option for customers of the service.

  This comes with a big extra, as Stephen King's 11.22.63 appears and will be available to Xbox One customers, including non-Hulu Plus users, for a limited time, running February 15th to the 21st. Right now, it's only episode one available for viewing, but it will be an eight-part series.

  There's some interesting integration in this also. Microsoft points out "Hulu's new app works beautifully with Windows 10 features like Cortana and Live Tiles and features an adaptive, responsive layout. The Hulu app on Windows 10 is the only version of Hulu available today that uses universal voice search through Cortana".

  An example of the integration would be something like say "Hey, Cortana. Play Hulu Sleepy Hollow". This also supports Live Tiles and can be pinned to your Start menu.

  This was created as an all new Universal App, and users can easily choose from the multitude of shows available from Hulu. No matter what your tastes are, you can likely find something to watch.

  
• 

  iPad Pro's fatal flaw [fifth in a series]

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 11:13pm CET par Joe Wilcox

  

  I cannot presently recommend Apple's big-ass tablet as a laptop replacement—using the official-issue Smart Keyboard. The reason may surprise you. The foible isn't the utility of iOS, available apps, or overall hardware performance but the battery and charging system. Inadequate combination is an understatement.

  Two weeks ago, I purchased iPad Pro through T-Mobile's Jump On Demand program. My 13th day using the tablet as my primary PC progresses with acceptance that an ongoing problem is a deal breaker. When I use iPad Pro like a laptop, even primarily working only with mail and two browsers (Chrome and Safari), battery burns down too rapidly and subsequent topping off takes too long. Oddly, battery-life is exceptionally good for tablet use.

  With Smart Keyboard attached, I can deplete iPad Pro's battery in about four hours, while recharging takes six or more hours. More disturbing: When plugged into the Lightning cable and 12-watt brick, and in-use. the tablet typically reaches a steady-state where the battery charges little to not at all. Yesterday, I got the thing from 14 percent to 100 percent in under 5 hours by powering off and detaching the accessory.

  The fundamental problem might be partly remedied. Apple's 12-watt charger is insufficient for the 10,307mAh battery. But the device is capable of 29 watts with right brick and Lightning cable, neither of which the company offers. A bigger brick wouldn't increase battery life, but it should substantially reduce recharge time and make more feasible using the tablet when plugged into electrical outlet.

  Restated, there are three related problems with the current configuration:

  • Battery depletes too quickly with Smart Keyboard attached
  • Little to no recharging occurs when tablet is used with keyboard
  • Recharge time takes too long, particularly set against actual usage time

  For nearly two weeks I've limped along using iPad Pro as much as possible as my primary PC, but shifting back to laptop when the battery depletes. I have tried working with the tablet plugged into power, but there's something disconcerting watching the charge percentage go down, which can't be good for the battery.

  Tablet experience is quite different, however; the overall UX surpasses iPad Air 2. Battery blows past a full waking workday of use, and is easily replenished overnight. The 12.9-inch display delivers content consumption wallop. Now that I'm more accustomed to the size—305.7 x 220.6 x 6.9 mm (12 x 8.68 x .27 inches)—content consumption benefits are better appreciated. Finally, I can read magazines as full page, without pinching to zoom text, for example.

  I will have much to say about content consumption and apps usage in a follow-up post. Teaser: Apple's News app is transformative on this tablet like no other or from any competing software-service.

  If big is your thing, iPad Pro is a fabulous tablet. But the battery/charging system limits use as a laptop replacement, and that's ignoring other gotchas to be discussed later.

  This post is the fifth in a series; Parts One, Two, Three, and Four.

  Photo Credit: Joe Wilcox

  
• 

  iPad Pro's fatal flaw? [fifth in a series]

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 11:13pm CET par Joe Wilcox

  

  Editor's Note: Apple contacted me on February 16th, suggesting the short battery life is abnormal. We discussed tech support option but I chose instead to replace the whole kit—iPad Pro and keyboard—to see if the short battery life with Smart Keyboard is a one-off hardware problem. Look for an update in the sixth post. The hardware exchange will take a day or so to sort out, before the series can resume.

  Original Post: I cannot presently recommend Apple's big-ass tablet as a laptop replacement—using the official-issue Smart Keyboard. The reason may surprise you. The foible isn't the utility of iOS, available apps, or overall hardware performance but the battery and charging system. Inadequate combination is an understatement.

  Two weeks ago, I purchased iPad Pro through T-Mobile's Jump On Demand program. My 13th day using the tablet as my primary PC progresses with acceptance that an ongoing problem is a deal breaker. When I use iPad Pro like a laptop, even primarily working only with mail and two browsers (Chrome and Safari), battery burns down too rapidly and subsequent topping off takes too long. Oddly, battery-life is exceptionally good for tablet use.

  With Smart Keyboard attached, I can deplete iPad Pro's battery in about four hours, while recharging takes six or more hours. More disturbing: When plugged into the Lightning cable and 12-watt brick, and in-use. the tablet typically reaches a steady-state where the battery charges little to not at all. Yesterday, I got the thing from 14 percent to 100 percent in under 5 hours by powering off and detaching the accessory.

  The fundamental problem might be partly remedied. Apple's 12-watt charger is insufficient for the 10,307mAh battery. But the device is capable of 29 watts with right brick and Lightning cable, neither of which the company offers. A bigger brick wouldn't increase battery life, but it should substantially reduce recharge time and make more feasible using the tablet when plugged into electrical outlet.

  Restated, there are three related problems with the current configuration:

  • Battery depletes too quickly with Smart Keyboard attached
  • Little to no recharging occurs when tablet is used with keyboard
  • Recharge time takes too long, particularly set against actual usage time

  For nearly two weeks I've limped along using iPad Pro as much as possible as my primary PC, but shifting back to laptop when the battery depletes. I have tried working with the tablet plugged into power, but there's something disconcerting watching the charge percentage go down, which can't be good for the battery.

  Tablet experience is quite different, however; the overall UX surpasses iPad Air 2. Battery blows past a full waking workday of use, and is easily replenished overnight. The 12.9-inch display delivers content consumption wallop. Now that I'm more accustomed to the size—305.7 x 220.6 x 6.9 mm (12 x 8.68 x .27 inches)—content consumption benefits are better appreciated. Finally, I can read magazines as full page, without pinching to zoom text, for example.

  I will have much to say about content consumption and apps usage in a follow-up post. Teaser: Apple's News app is transformative on this tablet like no other or from any competing software-service.

  If big is your thing, iPad Pro is a fabulous tablet. But the battery/charging system limits use as a laptop replacement, and that's ignoring other gotchas to be discussed later.

  This post is the fifth in a series; Parts One, Two, Three, and Four.

  Photo Credit: Joe Wilcox

  
• 

  What you need to know about biometric security

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 9:10pm CET par Barclay Ballard

  

  Generally speaking, biometrics refers to the measure or statistical analysis of a person’s physical or biological characteristics. However, increasingly the term is being defined more narrowly, at least in a business context, to refer to biometric security.

  Although passwords can be guessed and network vulnerabilities exploited, overcoming biometric security protocols is significantly more challenging. For example, how would a cybercriminal go about duplicating a fingerprint or an iris scan? As a result, the unique aspects that make up our physical features are increasingly being utilized for authentication methods by businesses all over the world.

  Common Implementations

  The fact that biometric technology is increasingly finding its way into the business environment should perhaps come as little surprise given recent developments in the consumer space. The use of biometrics within smartphones, for example, will certainly help encourage mainstream acceptance of the technology.

  New models of Apple's iPhone as well as an increasing number of Android handsets now include fingerprint scanning technology. Dan Bachenheimer, director at Accenture Public Safety, believes that developments such as these will help to drive biometric adoption.

  "With advances in biometric technologies and improvements in IT infrastructure, there is a growing acceptance of biometric recognition technologies in our daily lives, and this acceptance will grow further with time", Bachenheimer explained. "Today, the use of biometric technology on smartphones and other consumer devices has bolstered public acceptance and familiarity with the technology far more than any previous industry deployments combined".

  In fact, Juniper Research recently estimated that 770 million biometric authentication applications will be downloaded each year by 2019, representing a significant increase from the six million downloaded in 2015. Some businesses are already embracing biometric security and we’ve listed the common implementations below:

  1. Fingerprint scanning. Fingerprint scanners are already being implemented by businesses to improve authentication and security. In order to work, the scanner must have a pre-scanned image of the authorized fingerprint, so that it can carry out a comparison.

  In order to allay privacy concerns, however, fingerprint scanners do not store actual fingerprint images. Instead unique characteristics of the fingerprint are analyzed and stored as an encrypted mathematical representation.

  Similar technology is also being trialled by Barclays bank in the form of a finger-vein ID reader. This takes an infra-red scan of the customer’s unique vein pattern in order to verify their identity. Eventually, this could see authentication methods like PIN codes and passwords abandoned. The system has already been trialled in Poland and there’s no need to worry about any grisly criminal activity as the scanner only works with a live finger.

  2. Iris scanning. As an alternative to fingerprint recognition, iris scanning is also being employed by businesses to deliver a faster, more secure form of authentication.

  Although banking trials have been implemented, the technology is also being utilized by the United Nations’ refugee program. Iris scanning is used in ATMs, banks and airports across the Middle East, so the technology is helping the UN to process refugees more efficiently and crack down on aid money fraud.

  Aside from security, biometrics are being used to create other business advantages. Some organizations have begun using the technology to prevent time loss, for example, making it more difficult for employees to fake being at work.

  Employees sometimes ask colleagues to sign them in and out of work fraudulently, which can add up to significant losses for their employers. This has led some companies to use biometrics to verify employee presence. The use of a fingerprint scanner, for example, can give businesses a more accurate representation of attendance.

  Although using biometrics in this way can give businesses more control, they should be wary against creating an atmosphere of mistrust. If organizations do go down this route, they should be upfront about their reasoning or employees could feel as though they are under constant surveillance.

  The Changing Nature of Security

  One of the other reasons that biometrics have seen greater uptake is because of changing attitudes towards security. People expect to be able to access highly important information and services securely wherever they are. Having all your company data stored on an internal server that is locked away in a maximum security vault may be difficult to infiltrate, but it is also practically useless.

  And yet at the same time, high-profile security breaches will simply not be tolerated by investors, partners or customers. And so we come back to the same old balancing act between utility and security. For businesses, biometrics could provide a valuable tool to help them manage this challenge

  However as with any new technology, organizations should carefully consider whether biometric security is right for them. For example, the technology does have some disadvantages in its current state.

  Firstly, there is the question of accuracy. Studies indicate that the majority of fingerprint scanner have an error rate of around one to three percent. Even for more accurate devices, cultural inertia could see the technology considered less trustworthy than more traditional security methods.

  What’s more, some biometric identifies can change slightly over time, meaning that the technology will have to be reconfigured. These may not be major issues, but considering that biometric technology will require time and financial investment, it is easy to see why businesses may not be ready to get onboard.

  Trust issues are also likely to abound as well. Whereas employees are unconcerned about handing over a password to their employer, giving them more personal information such as their fingerprint raises more fears. Even though the technology does not store actual fingerprint images, worries surrounding identity theft and privacy are likely to remain for the foreseeable future.

  That being said, there are many advantages to biometric technology, particularly in the field of business security. Although criminals can lie about who they are, or steal an identification pass, mimicking a unique fingerprint or iris pattern is, at the moment at least, much more difficult. As long as that remains the case, businesses hoping to safeguard their sensitive data will look at biometrics as a viable option.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: Johan Swanepoel/Shutterstock

  
• 

  How to find and buy the ever-elusive $5 Raspberry Pi Zero

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 8:59pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  The Raspberry Pi Zero is incredibly hard to get hold off. Hardly surprising, when you consider its $5 asking price.

  Retailers such as The Pi Hut do replenish their stocks on a semi-regular basis, but even so you’ll have to act fast as even with a one-per-customer restriction in place, they sell out again almost immediately. Fortunately, there is a clever way to find out where the Pi Zero is in stock.

  Find My Pi takes the leg work (or rather the mouse and keyboard work) out of finding out where the Pi Zero is available.

  It regularly checks for stock at all of the major suppliers -- Raspberry Pi Swag Store, Pimoroni, The Pi Hut, Adafruit, and element14 -- and tells you if there are any Pi Zeros available.

  The chances are all of the stores will be reported as out of stock but check back regularly and you might just get lucky.

  
• 

  IT security experts are confident they can spot a data breach

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 8:13pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  A new study by security firm Tripwire says IT security experts are very confident they can detect a breach, and that they can detect it quite fast. For automated tools, they do not share the same levels of confidence.

  The survey questioned 763 IT professionals in various verticals, including retail, energy, financial services and public sector organizations in the US, about the seven key security controls that need to be in place in order to quickly spot an ongoing hack attack.

  The seven key controls, which are required by security regulators, are PCI DSS, SOX, NERC CIP, MAS TRM, NIST 800-53 and IRS 1075. These controls also align with US-CERT recommendations and international guidance such as the Australian Signals Directorate’s Strategies to Mitigate Targeted Cyber Intrusions.

  The company said the majority of respondents answered with confidence, saying they could detect a data breach. However, they weren’t sure how long it would take automated tools to discover some of the key indicators.

  The key question revolved around the detection of unauthorized configuration changes, as that is, according to Tripwire, the "hallmark of malicious covert activity".

  When asked how long it would take automated tools to detect unauthorized configuration changes to an endpoint on the organization’s network, 67 percent could not be precise or did not use such tools at all. Still, 71 percent said it would take minutes, or hours at worst, to detect a configuration change to an endpoint on the organization’s network.

  "All of these results fall into the 'we can do that, but I’m not sure how long it takes' category", said Tim Erlin, director of IT security and risk strategy for Tripwire. "It’s good news that most organizations are investing in basic security controls; however, IT managers and executives, who don’t have visibility into the time it takes to identify unauthorized changes and devices, are missing key information that’s necessary to defend themselves against cyber-attacks".

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: elwynn/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Five tools for recovering corrupted Word documents

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 8:07pm CET par Mike Williams

  You’ve been working on it forever, and had almost finished, but… Disaster. That all-important Word document no longer opens.

  If you’re using some other viewer, try reopening it in Word. It may offer to repair the file, and this can fix a lot of problems.

  Can your archive tool extract the contents of the document? DOCX files are Zip archives, so that might work (rename the extension to .zip if you have any problems).

  If you can see inside the file, browse to the Word folder to check for document content. For example, "document.xml" should contain the plain text.

  If none of this delivers what you need, and you don’t have any backups, then there’s still the chance that a third-party recovery tool can restore at least some of your document.

  What’s your best option? We pitted five tools against our carefully corrupted test files to try and find out.

  DataNumen Word Repair 2.5
  Platform: Windows NT
  Supports: DOC, DOCX, Microsoft Word 6 -- Office 2-13
  Price: $89.95 right now as a special deal, $129.95 normally

  

  DataNumen Word Repair opens with a cramped and non-resizable interface, but at least it’s easy to use: just select your broken files and click "Start Repair".

  If recovery has been successful then a window appears to display the results.

  The preview is, well, not ideal. The formatting isn’t always accurate, even with files that aren’t broken. And the fixed-size window is so small that the text wraps, so what you see isn’t necessarily going to look like the real page.

  There is one preview plus -- no annoying "<demo>" tags inserted into the regular text, as happens with some of the competition -- but that’s about it.

  Of course this is just a demo, so there’s no way to select, save, or print the document content until you purchase a license.

  Still, DataNumen Word Repair did well where it mattered, recovering at least some of each of our test files. Worth a try.

  DocRepair 3.10
  Platform: Windows NT+
  Supports: DOC, DOCX, Word 6.0 -- 2010 (and maybe 2013)
  Price: from $79

  

  At first glance DocRepair looks like it’ll be as easy to use as the competition, with a 3-step wizard to lead you through the recovery process.

  But then we ran into the Document Recovery Options screen. Here we were told to check a box if the document text wasn’t English (no-one else needed to know this), and check another box to retrieve any document image (all the other tools did that automatically).

  Select what you need, click Next, and wait as the document is recovered… Maybe.

  In our tests, DocRepair recovered minor damage correctly. Sometimes this took a long time, though, and some of the more seriously corrupted documents saw the program lock up altogether.

  Even when it did succeed, DocRepair presented its results in plain text, no formatting at all, with many words replaced by DEMO, and embedded images only visible in a separate dialog. Even if the content seems correct, there’s absolutely no way to tell whether the document the program recovers will look like the original.

  Put it all together and DocRepair was the poorest performer in this group. You might still want to try it -- there’s always a chance it’ll recover something that another program has missed -- but that’s strictly as a last resort.

  Savvy DOCX Recovery 3.0
  Platform: Windows XP-8
  Supports: DOCX, Word 2007-2013
  Price: free

  

  Most Word repair tools are eye-wateringly expensive, but if you’re short on spare cash then the open source Savvy DOCX Recovery might appeal.

  The initial signs made us wary, with assorted buttons and menu options leading to a host of websites -- some pointless, or with broken links -- and the developer highlighting his own "$22 manual repair" option.

  Still, if you ignore all the junk, Savvy DOCX Recovery works much like a basic version of the other tools here. Nothing advanced -- no options, no "batch repair" -- just hit "Browse" to select your file and "Recover" to try and fix it.

  Our tests showed very inconsistent results. At its worst, the program failed to fix simple corruption which every other tool here could handle.

  But just when we were about to give up, Savvy DOCX Recovery scanned our most damaged file, and repaired it as well as the best of the competition.

  Savvy DOCX Recovery isn’t exactly reliable, then, but we’d still keep a copy around for emergencies. It just might do everything you need.

  Stellar Phoenix Word Repair 5.0.0.0
  Platform: Windows NT+ -- 7
  Supports: DOC, DOCX, Office 2000-2010 (in our experience 2013 too)
  Price: $49 (non-commercial), $199 (commercial usage)

  

  Stellar Phoenix Word Repair installs easily, and has absolutely no annoying dependencies to get in your way (it runs on anything from NT up, and although Windows 10 isn’t "officially" supported it worked well for us).

  The interface is straightforward. An opening dialog asks you to select the target file or folder, there’s an option to search subfolders, and you can launch the repair process with a click.

  After 5-10 seconds the preview window displays whatever has been recovered. We were able to view all document content, text and images, but unsurprisingly there’s no way to save or print it until you’ve purchased a licence.

  If you selected multiple files then they’ll be listed in a left-hand sidebar, and clicking any of these will start another recovery attempt.

  Unfortunately, previews are largely crippled for all documents after the first. You’ll see some text, but other parts are missing, there are endless "<demo>" tags to get in your way, and formatting is incomplete. It’s annoying, but you can get around it by opening documents individually.

  Repair performance was excellent, with Stellar Phoenix Word Repair recovering fragments of content where nothing else could. They were just fragments -- a few images -- but it was still an impressive performance, and put the program just ahead of DataNumen Word Repair.

  Office Recovery
  Online service
  Supports: Word 6.0 -- 2010
  Price: $39 for one file, $59 for 30 within 48 hours, more subscription options

  

  Office Recovery is a web service which can recover a host of file types: Office, email, virtual machines, databases, images, archives, and more.

  We pointed our browser at each test document in turn, and watched as it was uploaded and processed.

  There’s no direct preview of the results. Instead you must download a "demo-repaired" RTF version of the file, and open it in some local application.

  As with the commercial competition, Office Recovery doesn’t give you the full document for free. The beginning of the file is correct, but after that most text is replaced by the word "demo". Over, and over, and over again.

  Office Recovery is easy and convenient to use, and its repair abilities are up with the best of the desktop competition. But it’s expensive for anything more than one-off emergency use.

  Conclusion

  A good Word repair tool must be able to fix all kinds of damage, and -- if it’s a commercial product -- give you an accurate preview of your document, so you can be sure it’ll be recovered correctly.

  DocRepair fails these tests immediately, due its poor recovery performance and plain text, image-free preview window.

  Savvy DOCX Recovery also failed to recover some of our test files, but others were repaired perfectly, and as it’s also free, this is probably the tool you should use first.

  Office Recovery delivered great recovery performance. It’s also expensive, but if you need a very quick one-off repair -- or you’re nowhere near a PC -- then it’s a solid choice.

  If you’d like a tool you can use regularly, though, it’s a very close match between our final two products. Stellar Phoenix Word Repair’s low price just about tips the balance in its favour, if you’re a non-commercial user, but DataNumen Word Repair delivers good results too: try them both, see what they can do for you.

  
• 

  Should you use Amazon S3?

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 7:54pm CET par Neil Stobart

  

  In any discussion about cloud computing, it is becoming harder and harder to ignore Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3), the massively scalable, cost-effective cloud storage solution developed specifically to house the huge influx of data created by organizations worldwide.

  Amazon S3 commands twice the market share of all its closest competitors combined and is likely to be the storage platform of choice for on-premise hybrid or private cloud deployments for some time to come.

  To a certain degree, S3 has already become the standard for cloud storage. Almost every application connects to S3 and most storage vendors have already announced that they connect to S3 or are working to do so.

  In addition to Amazon, there are a number of competing storage implementations, including Google Cloud Storage, Openstack Swift, Rackspace’s Cloud Files and Ceph, that are S3 compliant. These services use the standard programming interface, but have different underlying technologies and business models.

  The rise of S3, which Amazon describes as "cost-effective object storage", has also helped drive the adoption of object storage. In addition to Amazon, some of the biggest names of recent times such as Facebook, Netflix, Dropbox and Twitter use object storage.

  It’s also deployed by enterprises for applications that require massive amounts of unstructured data, including content media storage, backup and archiving, data analytics, private cloud, file distribution and sharing.

  With S3 and object storage so heavily interlinked, there are compelling reasons why companies seeking to implement a cloud strategy, whether it be across public, private or hybrid clouds, should take a closer look at the credentials of their storage supplier.

  Compatibility Is Key

  For organizations considering deploying an open-hybrid cloud and/or moving data between S3 and the private cloud, it is of the utmost importance that they understand the level of compatibility a storage platform claims versus its compatibility in reality. With S3 quickly becoming the object storage standard, choosing the right storage platform for the hybrid or private cloud can save organiZations money and shave months off the time to deploy. In essence, compatibility matters.

  Companies and developers implementing applications with the Amazon S3 API depend significantly on its compatibility to ensure their applications remain compatible and functional. But because no one enforces standards over S3 compatibility, choosing the right storage platform can be much more complex than providers would like customers to believe.

  There are 51 total operations available through the S3 API (nine simple, 18 moderately complex and 24 advanced), a good reference to S3 API set is here, but compatibility is based on a storage platform’s ability to perform some, many, or all of them.

  This means that, in practice, storage platforms may claim S3 compatibility even though they only support the nine simple operations that allow only very basic manipulation of data through the API. And while other platforms might be able to provide a moderate level of compatibility, most of them are still unable to perform all of the 18 additional moderately complex operations.

  Needless to say, most storage platforms find it even harder, if not impossible, to provide the 51 total operations of the S3 API. This should be a concern for organizations and developers that want the assurance their applications are S3 compatible and will work seamlessly with their hybrid or on-premise cloud, because they need to choose a storage platform that provides advanced compatibility with the S3 API. Only then can they have certainty that whatever strategy they adopt and whatever application they use will survive into the future.

  If, however, organizations opt for a platform with only limited S3 compatibility, they could find that their storage does not support the commands required by future applications further down the line.

  SDS in Private and Hybrid Clouds

  The storage platforms best suited to providing private or hybrid cloud are highly likely to be software defined storage (SDS) solutions. Because SDS abstracts logical storage services and capabilities from the underlying physical storage systems, it is massively scalable, resilient, highly available and reduces complexity by allowing a single application to execute data services across multiple storage hardware platforms. Allowing organizations to use commodity hardware instead of expensive proprietary equipment, saves costs by eliminating vendor lock-in and the expense of forklift upgrades.

  In effect, SDS allows organizations to replicate the Amazon S3 experience in their data centers and on their private and hybrid clouds. This makes it even more beneficial for enterprises to look for SDS-based object storage platforms that are truly S3 compatible.

  Which means that the answer to the question, to S3 or not S3, is both.

  Neil Stobart, EMEA Technical Director at Cloudian.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: rvlsoft/Shutterstock

  
• 

  The tech industry's greater responsibility

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 5:51pm CET par Sagi Gidali

  

  Today, Internet censorship is becoming a growing concern among dozens of developing countries. In the mid-1990s, China began blocking foreign websites and saw successful results, proving to other authoritarian countries wishing to control their constituents that these types of regulations are well worth the effort. Since then, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Azerbaijan, Syria and others have followed China’s footsteps and began implementing regulations censoring Internet activity.

  This means that the people living within these countries are unable to access information from the outside world. Thus, they are fed filtered information that praises their leadership and government, and because they are not exposed to varying and contrary opinions, are susceptible to believing and accepting their government’s authoritarian policies. In western countries we often take our first amendment right for granted. We are allowed to say, write, and scream whatever we’d like about our government without the risk of being jailed or beaten. We’re allowed, even encouraged, to question policies and think differently. If only this were the case worldwide.

  Social media sites have taken over the world of pop culture to such an extent that censorship actually strengthens dissent when very popular sites are blocked. For example, perhaps a person isn’t very interested in politics but they love watching music videos on YouTube -- however, when they try to go to YouTube the site is suddenly blocked. Even if that particular person wouldn’t normally follow the news, this leaves them with an unsettling thought: if the government is willing to block harmless videos, how important is the information that is being withheld from us?

  In 2009, for example, after Iranians moved to social networking sites in order to speak out against the elections and organize protests, the government cracked down on Internet censorship. It’s pretty straightforward as to why Iran did this: they didn’t want its citizens demonstrating against the government ever again. Rather, Iran wanted "stability" and quiet control.

  Since then, Iran has implemented several methods in order to effectively regulate the Internet. First, Iran requires that every Internet service provider ought to comply with filter lists. Second, Iran uses smart filtering to restrict citizens from accessing certain websites, most of which are deemed immoral (such as pornography) or too political (such as English news sites). Third, Iran uses "speed throttling", or purposely slowing down the Internet connection, to frustrate users. And lastly, Iran monitors the web activity of its citizens. In censoring the Internet at every possible angle, there’s not much that Iranians can do to receive outside information and learn about what’s really going on both in the world and in their home country.

  Countries that uphold strict censorship laws have eroded the trust many other societies have built with their consumers. Citizens under censorship are aware that with Internet regulations comes propaganda. Instead of allowing the unbiased media to sway the opinions of the government, consumers rely heavily on recommendations from friends, family and social media influencers far more than Westerners do.

  It’s for this reason that the tech community must band together and help those without a voice.

  Giving those who have limited access to both freedom of expression and current events in the world the opportunity to use a VPN or Virtual Private Network eliminates the isolation set in place by restrictive governments. A VPN is an advanced technology that reroutes normal web traffic via the service provider’s private servers using encryption protocols to make all of the activity untraceable and away from prying eyes. It’s as if users are given an online alias allowing them to access information and share their opinions without fear of sometimes fatal repercussions.

  VPN providers can join forces with non-for-profits to provide unrestricted Internet access to those who need it most. #UnblockTheWeb, for example is partnership that exemplifies the potential of such cooperation. This movement was established with the goal of offering online freedom and anonymity to activists and dissidents living in closed societies.

  This is just one example of how tech companies can meet their greater responsibility and instill changes that go far beyond technical innovation to forever impact human rights.

  Photo Credit: Pressmaster/Shutterstock

  Sagi Gidali is the Founder and CPO of SaferVPN, a cyber-security SaaS company that provides a premium VPN (Virtual Private Network) service to over 300,000 international users. Sagi is a UX/UI Expert who believes in keeping things simple-- both in life and in tech. He has a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Economics from Tel Aviv University and over 10 years of industry experience.

  
• 

  'The room had started to smell. Really quite bad': Stephen Fry exits Twitter once again

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 5:22pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  For a man so readily associated with words -- and certainly for a wordsmith so enamored with technology -- Twitter seems like something of a natural home for Stephen Fry. Over the years he has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, but last night he closed his account. Fry's latest exit from Twitter (there have been several over the last few years for numerous reasons) came about because of the backlash he received for making a joke at an award ceremony.

  Hosting the BAFTAs (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) on Sunday, he referred to costume designer and award winner (and, indeed, friend) Jenny Beavan as being "dressed as a bag lady". 'Offended' Twitter users attacked Fry in their droves, and he fought a valiant battle, before eventually giving up and terminating his account. It comes just days after Twitter set up a new Trust & Safety Council.

  The complainers seemed oblivious to the fact that Beavan and Fry are close friends -- even less that she was in on the joke. After hours of abuse from the hard of thinking, Fry lashed out by saying: "Will all you sanctimonious fuckers fuck the fuck off Jenny Beavan is a friend and joshing is legitimate. Christ I want to leave the planet".

  In a post on his own website, Fry explains his reasons for ditching Twitter:

  [...] let us grieve at what twitter has become. A stalking ground for the sanctimoniously self-righteous who love to second-guess, to leap to conclusions and be offended -- worse, to be offended on behalf of others they do not even know. It's as nasty and unwholesome a characteristic as can be imagined. It doesn't matter whether they think they’re defending women, men, transgender people, Muslims, humanists... the ghastliness is absolutely the same. It makes sensible people want to take an absolutely opposite point of view. I've heard people shriek their secularism in such a way as to make me want instantly to become an evangelical Christian.

  He likens his departure from the site to simply leaving the room. He may well return, but at the moment the waters of Twitter are "frothy with scum", and Fry suggests that "too many people have peed in the pool" to make him want to stick around right now.

  Twitter has long been trying to be seen to fight trolls that abuse other users, but Fry is quick to counter suggestions that he has been run off the site:

  But you've let the trolls and nasties win! If everyone did what you did, Stephen, the slab-faced dictators of tone and humour would have the place to themselves. Well, yes and they're welcome to it. Perhaps then they'll have nothing to smell but their own smell.

  So I don't feel anything today other than massive relief, like a boulder rolling off my chest. I am free, free at last.

  Photo credit: Twocoms / Shutterstock

  
• 

  LG lets you choose a flagship feature with X series smartphones

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 4:42pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  Two of the features that consumers get by opting for a flagship smartphone, as opposed to a mid-range or low-end device, are a nicer display and a better camera. Typically, if you are looking for a lesser (and less expensive) handset you will have to settle for less. Manufacturers have to sell those premium devices somehow, right?

  But, with its new X series smartphones, LG is challenging the status quo by giving prospective buyers the option to get a flagship-worthy camera or display. It is an interesting strategy, but how is it implemented?

  The X series is actually comprised of two different smartphones, one with a better camera called X cam and the other with a better screen called X screen. The former "sports dual cameras on the rear and delivers one of the most advanced camera experience in a mass-tier smartphone", LG says. Meanwhile, with the latter, consumers get "an 'always-on' Second Screen which until now has only been available on LG’s premium V10". It sounds simple, but in practice consumers are not getting two nearly-identical smartphones with just two differences between them.

  X cam (shown on the left) is equipped with a 5.2-inch 1080p panel, a 1.14 GHz octa-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, 13 MP and 55 MP rear cameras, 8 MP camera on the front, 16 GB of storage, 2,520 mAh battery, 4G LTE and Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It measures 147.5 x 73.6 x 5.2-6.9 mm and weighs 118 g. Available colors are gold, pink gold, titan silver and white.

  X screen (shown on the right) packs a 4.93-inch main screen with 720p resolution and a 1.76-inch secondary panel with a 520 by 80 resolution. It is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor with 2 GB of RAM and a 2,300 mAh battery. It has a 13 MP camera on the back and an 8 MP camera on the front. It also offers 4G LTE connectivity and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It measures 142.6 x 71.8 x 7.1 mm. Available colors are black, pink gold and white.

  As you can see, by the looks of it, X cam has a better processor, larger battery and, I think for most consumers, a more attractive display thanks to the higher resolution. Meanwhile, X screen seems to only appeal to those looking for a novel display which, I think, makes it a niche product.

  Both smartphones will be showcased at MWC 2016 later this month, and will be available starting next month in Asia, Europe and Latin America.

  
• 

  Wink home automation hub gets water sensors with leakSMART

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 3:50pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Water damage is a big deal, in fact, it's one of the most reported claims for home insurance, behind only fire and lightning, and wind and hail. Now with home automation products increasingly gaining market share and mainstream acceptability, that problem can be reigned in to a certain extent. No, it won't prevent extremes like Hurricane Katrina, but if a pipe springs a leak then you can get a jump on it.

  Wink, makers of a home automation hub that is compatible with many third-party devices, is getting its first water sensors thanks to leakSMART, one of the more prominent manufacturers in the business.

  Like any such product, there's a bit of work on the part of the user. You'll need to get the valve and install it at the point of your home's main water source. There's no getting around this, you'll need to cut the space out of the pipe, so measure twice. I did this a few years ago for a filter system and can attest to how nervous you can be when you're about to cut the line that supplies water to your whole home and family.

  Once that's out of the way, you'll be home free, just install the sensors in obvious locations, under a sink, near a washing machine, etc.

  It may be worth it, as Wink points out "once both the Valve and Sensors are paired to the Wink HUB, a Robot can be enabled within the Wink app that will automatically shut off your home’s main water source if any of the sensors detect a leak".

  While the hub is reasonably priced at $50, a starter kit for leakSMART will set you back $699. Of course, in the long run, that's cheaper than water damage and less painful than dealing with insurance.

  
• 

  New report reveals in-game purchase habits

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 3:29pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Only around two percent of free to play game users spend money making in-game purchases. A new report into buying habits from gaming analytics specialist SOOMLA reveals the -- perhaps unsurprising -- information that those who made an in-app purchase in one game are six times more likely to do so in another.

  Yaniv Nizan, Co-founder and CEO of SOOMLA, says, "Attracting payers to your game is like finding a needle in a haystack, but when crossing in-app purchase data from thousands of other games, our payer prediction technology reveals which user segments will eventually convert and what they're likely to buy".

  Other insights from the report include the fact that quick payers (those who make a first in-app purchase within 24 hours of install) are nine times more likely to pay in another game. Plus over 40 percent of users who paid $25 or more in one game, will also pay in another game.

  For each in-game item users purchase with real currency, an average of 18 additional items are purchased with virtual currency. And while 71 percent of in-game purchases are for 'single use' items, like extra time or ammunition, it's 'lifetime' items such as characters, level packs or advert removal, that account for 65 percent of revenue.

  Looking at usage patterns, daily active users increase by as much as 33 percent at weekends, and this occurs primarily on phones, although sessions on tablets are often longer in duration. Patterns differ across game genres as well, with strategy games boasting the highest average session duration of 11 minutes -- 2.6 times more than for other genres. Seasonal factors are at work too with developers who market their apps in time for the holiday season achieving an average revenue per paying user increase in December of 83 percent above the annual average.

  If you want more information the full report is available to download from the SOOMLA website.

  Photo credit: Mmaxer / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Rampant waste: the hidden cost of enterprise software

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 2:23pm CET par Vincent Smyth

  

  A new Flexera Software report reveals that most organizations are unnecessarily wasting significant portions of their enterprise software budget.

  Consider these statistics: 75 percent of enterprises are out of compliance with regards to at least some percentage of their software, 44 percent of enterprises (compared to only 25 percent the prior year) paid $100,000 or more in true-up costs to their software vendors as a result of noncompliant software use; and for 20 percent (up from only 9 percent in the prior year) the software audit true-up costs were $1,000,000 or more! In addition, 93 percent of organisations report spending money on at least some software that is under-used -- i.e. shelfware.

  Increasingly enterprises are waking up to the fact that as much as 25 percent of their software spend is being wasted -- but many are less clear on why this waste is occurring and what they can do about it.

  The Problem Managing Software Licenses

  The very software that facilities the efficient functioning of enterprises on a daily basis happens also to be among the most difficult types of assets to track, manage and optimize -- creating hidden wastes and complexity. Several causes contribute to the problem.

  First, each of the license agreements governing the thousands of applications run within the enterprise contains dense and complex terms -- Product Use Rights -- pertaining to what organizations are entitled to do with the software. These Product Use rights must be tracked, managed and understood to ensure compliance. If usage exceeds those terms, an organization is out of compliance. When the software vendor audits their customer and discovers this non-compliance, an enterprise is often subject to "true-up" penalties that can and often do run into six- and seven-figures per application.

  The contrary is also true: if those licenses aren’t being utilized, or if all of an organization's Product Use Rights aren’t being fully utilized -- then it has purchased "shelfware" that is sitting idle. Most organizations experience these issues simultaneously -- they are out of compliance with some of their software titles, while other titles are being under-utilized.

  Additional factors further complicate the scenario, such as new technologies like the cloud, virtualization and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies that allow device-based access to applications. These technologies have software licensing consequences that can seriously impact whether a company stays in, or falls out of compliance. Other factors such as employee turnover, mergers and acquisition, retirement of hardware further muddy the waters, rendering software license management more difficult.

  Common Software Asset Management Mistakes

  Below is a list of the most common mistakes organizations make that commonly result in shelfware and non-compliant use:

  1. Making ad hoc purchases -- Lack of controls over purchases is common, even for when made under a Volume Agreement.
  2. Not tracking installation and use -- By tracking installations of software and its usage, organizations may be able to substantially reduce ongoing maintenance payments
  3. No central repository -- A central repository holds proof of software licenses, making them more easily accessible for review. It also allows organizations to quickly comply with vendor audit requests, saving time and money.
  4. Not tracking renewal dates -- Failing to keep track of software license agreements and renewal dates makes organizations vulnerable to lapses in maintenance or loss of use rights, which can prove costly.
  5. Not optimizing spend by leveraging Product Use Rights -- Accurately applying Product Use Rights can drastically reduce license consumption and hence reduce the need to buy more licenses.
  6. No communication between departments -- IT operations must work with procurement to ensure that software is installed and used in accordance with the respective license agreements to avoid compliance issues.
  7. Not ascertaining strategic requirements -- Ordering licenses without determining what the organization is currently using and truly requires over the longer term could be an expensive mistake.
  8. Assuming licensing rules don’t change -- Licensing rules change frequently and failure to stay on top of these changes can result in being out of compliance.
  9. Not purchasing maintenance at the right time -- The right time to purchase maintenance is when organizations are looking to upgrade. If organizations buy maintenance before a release is announced, the price often is significantly lower and they will become automatically eligible for that product upgrade.
  10. Not automating Software License Optimization -- An optimized license environment cannot be achieved without people, processes and automation. Software Asset Management/Software License Optimization solutions enable organizations to collect all the necessary data and apply license entitlement rules to help ensure continual compliance and optimization.

  Chief Information Officers would be well advised to be versed on the challenges associated with Software Asset Management. Without this insight, it will be impossible for them to put into place the necessary people, processes and technology to eliminate this source of financial waste and corporate risk.

  Photo Credit: ARENA Creative/Shutterstock

  Vincent Smyth is Senior Vice President EMEA at Flexera Software, responsible for driving revenue, market share and customer satisfaction in the independent software vendor, high-tech manufacturer and enterprise account domains. Prior to Flexera Software, he has held several sales management responsibilities for Business Objects, PTC and Computer Associates. He has extensive experience of doing business across Europe and the Middle East.

  
• 

  Samsung starts rolling out Android 6.0 Marshmallow for Galaxy S6

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 1:28pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  Android 6.0 Marshmallow has reached only a small number of Android users since its debut in early-October of last year. Google's latest numbers place it at just 1.2 percent distribution share. Aside from a limited number of handsets that arrive with Marshmallow on board, the other reason why Android 6.0 has such a small reach is the fact that upgrades are only available for very few popular handsets.

  Samsung is now changing that, as today it announces that the much-awaited Android 6.0 Marshmallow update has finally started to roll out, with its Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge flagships being the first devices to get it.

  Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are among the handful of devices that Samsung has confirmed as getting the Android 6.0 Marshmallow software update. Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge Plus are also on this list, but it is not clear when they will receive the same treatment. Same goes for flagships that arrived in 2014, like Galaxy S5.

  As is usually the case with major updates, it can take months before the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update is available for all Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge units. Some markets and mobile operators will get it sooner than others; there is no official timetable at this point, and I doubt there will be one. So, basically, it will be available when it will be available.

  If you want to learn more about what Android 6.0 Marshmallow brings to the table for Samsung devices, check out this article. Samsung specifically mentions "the enhanced edge screen and new edge screen features", which make "[Galaxy S6 edge] faster and more convenient than ever" as a change that Galaxy S6 edge users can expect to see.

  
• 

  Microsoft Lumia 650 is an affordable Windows 10 Mobile device, but does a missing feature make it a fail?

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 1:13pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  When Microsoft purchased Nokia's handset business, it was viewed by many as a way to stop the Finnish company from defecting from Windows Phone. In other words, Microsoft may have thrown money at a problem to prevent embarrassment. Since the purchase, Lumia hardware has been fairly beautiful and affordable, but sales have continued to be abysmal, while Windows 10 Mobile has seen delays.

  Despite dark skies in Lumia Land, today Microsoft cranks out yet another handset. The Lumia 650 body is aluminum, and at $199, the phone is affordable too. Unfortunately for Microsoft fans, there is a huge catch that, for many, could make this business-focused smartphone worthless.

  "We've paid attention to every detail, pairing the highest level of craftsmanship with maximum everyday productivity. The 5 inch OLED display is bright and crisp; colors really pop and blacks are deep and clear. It’s by far our most beautiful screen ever at this price point. Lumia 650 also features a highly polished, diamond cut and anodized aluminum frame, giving it an unparalleled and premium feel. Importantly, we didn't sacrifice the removable battery and expandable storage, something we know our customers enjoy having. And with a profile of only 6.9mm and weighing just 122 grams, it’s incredibly thin and light", says Samuli Hänninen, GM, Phones Program Management, Microsoft.

  Hänninen further says, "Lumia 650 also features a 5MP wide-angle, front-facing camera and Microsoft’s flagship imaging algorithms, providing remarkable photo and video capabilities. Leveraging our world-class optics, the advanced 8MP rear-facing camera includes options for rich capture and living images enabling you always to capture the memory as it happens".

  Notable Specs

  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 212
  • Storage: 16GB (expandable)
  • RAM: 1GB
  • Battery: 2000 mAh
  • Display: 5 inch OLED, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
  • Display resolution: HD720 (1280 x 720)
  • Height: 142 mm
  • Width: 70.9 mm
  • Thickness3: 6.9 mm
  • Weight: 122 g

  On paper, an affordable Windows 10 Mobile handset with decent specs and an aluminum body sounds like a winner, right? Unfortunately, this phone comes with a big catch. Microsoft often touts the Continuum feature of its OS, but it is not found here due to the fairly anemic Qualcomm Snapdragon 212. In other words, the business-focused Lumia 650 cannot double as a desktop like the more expensive consumer-focused 950 series devices. Arguably, Continuum would make more sense on a business device. Oh well.

  Continuum aside, this could be a smart choice for businesses where app availability is less important than it is for consumers. If security, email, and Microsoft solutions like Office and Lync for Business are what you need, this affordable smartphone makes much sense. While the loss of Continuum stings, if you aren't ready to ditch traditional workstations anyway, it could be inconsequential.

  READ MORE: I'm sorry, Lumia fans, but Microsoft Continuum can't run two apps side-by-side

  The removable battery in particular will make this attractive to road warriors, where carrying a few extra packs of juice can save the day. The micro SD card slot is appreciated, although I'm dubious that businesses will truly want removable media on an employee device. Quite frankly, besides Microsoft calling this a business-focused smartphone, I am not sure what really makes it so. In other words, consumers should appreciate the low price and metal body too.

  Unfortunately, it will only be sold in European markets for now. Starting February 18th, people in that region can purchase it in white or black. Whether it will come to the USA is unknown at this time.

  Is it odd for Microsoft to release a Windows 10 Mobile device without Continuum in 2016? Sound off in the comments.

  
• 

  Mazar Bot malware can root and wipe Android smartphones

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 12:09pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Security experts are warning about new malware attack that targets Android users. Mazar Bot is delivered via SMS, is able to gain root access to devices, installs software including Tor, and can even go as far as completely wiping a victim's phone.

  Mazar Bot was discovered by Heimdal Security whose researchers analyzed a text message that had been found sent to random numbers. The message purports to provide a link to an MMS, but in fact tricks recipients to install the malicious mms.apk -- Mazar Android BOT in disguise.

  The message reads: " You have received a multimedia message from +[country code] [sender number] Follow the link http: //www.mmsforyou [.] Net / mms.apk to view the message", and would be enough to fool many people into clicking through to view what they believe to be a photo or video. The MMS Messaging app uses administrator privileges to gain access to permissions such as SEND_SMS, READ_PHONE_STATE, and ERASE_PHONE.

  The malware also installs Tor, connects to the http://pc35hiptpcwqezgs.Onion server, and sends an SMS to an Iranian phone number revealing the handset's location. Heimdal Security warns that Mazar Bot can:

  • Open a backdoor into Android smartphones, to monitor and control them as they please;
  • Send SMS messages to premium channel numbers, seriously increasing the victim’s phone bill;
  • Read SMS messages, which means they can also read authentication codes sent as part of two-factor authentication mechanisms, used also by online banking apps and ecommerce websites;
  • Use their full access to Android phones to basically manipulate the device to do whatever they want.

  But there is the risk of a man-in-the-middle attack using the Polipo proxy, and Mazar Bot can also inject itself into Chrome.

  Interestingly -- and perhaps revealingly -- the malware will not install on handsets configured to use Russian. While Mazar Bot is not entirely new (it was first talked about back in November), it was previously restricted to advertisements on the Dark Web. This is the first time it has been seen out in the wild.

  Photo credit: Georgejmclittle / Shutterstock

  
• 

  App stores to generate over $100bn in revenue in five years

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 9:48am CET par Anthony Spadafora

  

  When apps first came to smartphones, it completely changed the ways users interacted with their devices. Mobile phones went from being just phones that could make calls and send short messages to devices that resembled miniature computers.

  Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store saw a dramatic rise in the number and quality of the apps they offered almost instantly. For many users, apps have become commonplace and they no longer hold our interest or excitement as they once did.

  However in other parts of the world, smartphone adoption is just beginning to ramp up. According to the data provider App Annie, based in San Francisco, global mobile app store revenue will reach $101 billion in five years. The decreasing cost of smartphones combined with data plans becoming more accessible will enable people in developing countries to own a smartphone for the first time which will in turn lead these new users to purchasing their first apps.

  The user base of smartphones and tablets will reach 6.2 billion by 2020, which is more than double the current user base of 2.6 billion. India, Indonesia, China, Mexico, Brazil and Turkey will likely see some of the strongest growth. The revenue each device generates will increase to $16.2 in 2020 as a result of an increase in spending in Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East, while there will be a slight decline in the amount spent in the Asia-Pacific region.

  Apps that stream video and music along with dating apps will lead the predicted increase in spending. Better hardware and cheaper data plans will allow services such as Netflix, Spotify, Tinder and iQiyi in China to expand significantly.

  Games are where a majority of users spend money on mobile apps, and this will continue to be the case, but their share of the money users spend on mobile apps will likely drop from 85 percent currently to 74 percent in the future.

  It is important to keep in mind that App Annie’s projections include subscriptions to streaming services while omitting money spent on e-commerce, which includes ride share apps such as Uber and in-app advertising.

  Apple is likely to retain its lead in gross revenue over the next five years. However, the Google Play Store and other third-party Android app stores will gain greater market share.

  As global smartphone adoption increases it is likely that new apps and services will emerge. Smartphone ownership will also further propel the idea of a truly connected world.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: Jean Lee / Shutterstock

  
• 

  According to eHarmony, Millenials are also seeking love for Valentine's Day

  Publié: février 15, 2016, 3:10am CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Online dating is big business these days, though not everyone thinks it's such a great idea. Security has to be kept in mind -- if you're meeting someone in person it's best to do so in a public place. With that said, it can also be great for someone who suddenly finds themselves single later in life.

  That demographic includes millenials, a group of people born in the 1980's, though there are no exact dates to define it. According to a recent report, this group of people have become rather prominent on dating sites, or at least on one.

  eHarmony has released statistics on its user base. "Because eHarmony is renowned for its ability to match for long term relationships and marriage, understanding where our numbers are growing tells us something about the trends that are driving the numbers", says Dr. Neil Clark Warren, founder and CEO of eHarmony. "In this case, we can see that millennials might be a little bit misunderstood".

  There are other caveats in this study. The company claims that in 2011 81 percent of users came from the desktop, but now 66 percent are using the mobile app. "The trend toward mobile is accelerating as more and more users replaced their desktop and now their laptops with the robust functionality that smartphones deliver", claims Armen Avedissian, eHarmony President.

  As for location of online daters, the results show that the most popular areas are Washington DC, North Dakota, New York, Florida and Kentucky.

  It's certainly some interesting information, both on demographics and location.

  Photo credit: katalinks / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Image Color Analyzer tells all about picture palettes

  Publié: février 14, 2016, 10:23am CET par Mike Williams

  Artists and photographers often need a clear understanding of the colors used in an image, but standard photo editor tools like the histogram do little to help.

  Image Color Analyzer is a free Android app designed to deliver a clearer view of an image palette.

  The target can be an existing file, or a new picture taken from your device camera.

  Image Color Analyzer examines the colors used in your image, groups and sorts them from the most dominant to the least significant.

  The report then gives you the breakdown of these shades, including their color names. You might see that the dominant color is "steel blue", there’s "khaki", some "cream", whatever it might be. Each color has a percentage figure representing its usage.

  Your image will probably have too wide a palette range for this to be useful on its own, but the app also organizes similar shades into groups. If your image has five percent each of "ivory", "canary yellow" and "cream", for instance, Image Color Analyzer will show 15 percent usage for the "yellow" group.

  While the color names bring some clarity, you’ll occasionally need the raw values as well, so it's good to see that the app provides RGB and hex codes for every shade.

  If you need more power -- in particular, you'd like to save or do something more with this information -- the developer also produces a$0.99 Professional edition with a histogram, "export to Excel" feature and other sharing options.

  Image Color Analyzer is a free app for Android 3.0 and later.

  
• 

  AMD Zen processors will have 32 cores and Symmetrical Multi-Threading

  Publié: février 13, 2016, 11:43pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  We seem to have hit something of a ceiling when it comes to the raw speed of processors; things are now progressing rather more slowing than they have been. Attention has now turned to other areas, such as the number of cores. Dual-core, quad-core, and octo-core CPUs are now quite common, but AMD's upcoming processor -- codenamed 'Zen' -- will feature no fewer than 32 cores.

  We already knew that Zen would have 'a lot' of cores, but a CERN engineer has now revealed not only how high this figure is, but more details of the processor. But this is not a true 32-core processor -- AMD is using a little trickery to up the numbers.

  During a presentation, CERN engineer Liviu Valsan revealed that Zen will feature up to 32 physical cores and will support Symmetrical Multi-Threading. This is achieved by combining two 16-core CPUs on a single die with what is described as "a next-generation interconnect". AMD's CPU refresh has been a long-time coming, and there's a little more we know about Zen.

  As well as 32 cores, the upcoming x86 processor will:

  • Feature 14nm FinFET technology.
  • Offer 430 percent improvement for Instructions Per Clock when compared to current processors.
  • Support DDR4 (8 channels).
  • Support PCIe 3.0

  There's no word on when Zen processors will see the light of day, but launch is expected by the end of the year.

  
• 

  How much do you know about telemetry and privacy in Windows 10... and how much do you care?

  Publié: février 13, 2016, 10:45pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Privacy concerns about Windows 10 have existed since the moment the operating system was released. Endless virtual column inches have been spawned from fears about the telemetry features Microsoft employs, and a small cottage industry has sprung up creating tools that disable 'spying' features. But for all of the words that have been spilled, how much does the average user know -- or indeed care -- about privacy issues, data collection and the like?

  There's one thing that just about everyone can agree on: Microsoft did a terrible job of communicating information about data collection in Windows 10. We also know that the mere existence of data collection features has irked a lot of people. Microsoft listened to enterprise users and made it possible to completely disable telemetry in Windows 10 Enterprise, but the same courtesy has not been extended to home users. Are you bothered by this?

  Back at the end of September, Microsoft said: "Our enterprise feature updates later this year will enable enterprise customers the option to disable this telemetry, but we strongly recommend against this." This update is already out there in the enterprise version of Windows 10 build 1511, but there's no sign of the same happening for everyone else.

  There's no denying that Windows 10 has been the most widely questioned version of Windows ever. In addition to the privacy issues, Microsoft failed to do a very good job of properly communicating pricing details for the operating system -- and even as the free upgrade period draws ever closer, it's still not entirely clear what, if anything, it will cost late-adopters. But it is privacy that has -- much to the company's chagrin -- been the thorn in Microsoft's side.

  Post-Snowden, post-NSA, post-Assange, post-GCHQ ,we live in a highly suspicious age. Not all privacy fears are completely unfounded, but it seems that all too often those who question what is going on are shot down as conspiracy theorists. There's a slight irony to the fact that in these despite the concerns -- well-founded or otherwise -- Microsoft raises about privacy, it also keen to present itself as a transparent company.

  Has it succeeded with being transparent when it comes to privacy and telemetry?

  The endless debates about the rights and wrongs of what Windows 10 involves would certainly suggest not.

  But what really matter is what users think. Users like you.

  Has Microsoft done enough to let you know about what data is being collected from your computer and reported back as you use Windows 10? Have users been given enough control over their privacy? Why is there a difference between enterprise and non-enterprise telemetry, and does this concern you?

  Privacy and telemetry is about trust, and Microsoft has said that there are two principles behind its approach to privacy:

  • Windows 10 collects information so the product will work better for you.
  • You are in control with the ability to determine what information is collected.

  The company has also tried to make it clear what is collected, and what is not:

  Safety and Reliability Data -- We collect a limited amount of information to help us provide a secure and reliable experience.

  Personalization Data -- We aspire to deliver a delightful and personalized Windows experience to you.

  Advertising Data We Don't Collect -- No matter what privacy options you choose, neither Windows 10 nor any other Microsoft software scans the content of your email or other communications, or your files, in order to deliver targeted advertising to you.

  Falling in to the 'making Windows 10 better' category are things like communication with Windows Update. In order to check what updates are installed and which are needed, information needs to be transmitted back to Microsoft. This is something that few people would take issue with, but there is more to it that that.

  If you are concerned about privacy in Windows 10, Microsoft points out that there are settings you can change to take control of things. But do these settings go far enough for you? Would you like the ability to just completely opt out of everything in the same way that enterprise users can? Head to the Privacy section of Settings, and you'll find screen after screen of toggle switches that can be used to disable various options. How many people are likely to work through each of these, or even be aware that they might want to?

  That's the point of this post: to gauge opinion, to find out how much people think they know, and to see if you feel Microsoft needs to be even more open about what's going on.

  Over to you...

  * I'll be a little preemptive: before the question is raised about why Apple, Google et al are not being put under the same scrutiny. This is about Microsoft specifically, not tech companies in general. Google and Apple have already been scrutinized and criticized, and they will be again. For now, we're talking about Microsoft -- not because it's an easy target, or there's any sort of vendetta, but just... because...

  Photo credit: Paul Stringer / Shutterstock

  
• 

  King Arthur is back on Facebook after falling foul of Real Name policy

  Publié: février 13, 2016, 3:32pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  For many, Arthurian legend is just that: legend. But for others, it is very real. One such person is King Arthur -- or Rev Arthur Uther Pendragon to give him his full title -- was recently kicked off Facebook as the social network did not believe he was using his real name.

  But now the king is back. Having proved his identity, the once and future king (Rex Quondam Rexque Futuris) has had his account restored under his legal name of Arthur Uther Pendragon. King Arthur is not the first person to cross swords with Facebook's real name policy, and he certainly won't be the last.

  For the avoidance of all doubt, Arthur Uther Pendragon is a real man. Arthur Uther Pendragon really is his name. I know. I've met him (in Glastonbury... obviously). As well as being the 'reincarnation of King Arthur', he's also an eco-warrior, leader of the Loyal Arthurian Warband, and 'battle chieftain' of the Council of British Druid Orders. He's more used to battling for access to Stonehenge, and fighting for the right of prisoners who identify as druids to wear their druidic robes in jail.

  After having his account reported for failing to use a real name, King Arthur was forced to create a second Facebook account using the name Arthur Rex -- primarily to let people know why he had suddenly vanished from the site. But after showing Facebook copies of his driving license and passport, Arthur Uther Pendragon's original account has been restored:

  I'm BACK

  I sent Facebook a link to The Article by Tristam Cork in The Western Daily Press and I know The Salisbury Journal rang them up and asked for a quote.

  Having already sent copies of my current UK Driving Licence and UK Passport. previous and current.

  The Western Daily Press describes the original ban a "treasonous act". King Arthur himself says:

  I don't know who keeps falsely reporting me to Facebook as a non-person or a made up name but they do. It's a pity they don't take action against them rather than me.

  So what next? Arthur Uther Pendragon is battling with English Heritage over an alcohol ban at Stonehenge (an important site for druids), and plans to charge for parking at the monument.

  Photo credit: Roger Nichol / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Pay for piracy? uTorrent's latest plan is banking on it

  Publié: février 13, 2016, 2:09pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Believe it or not, people download movies and music illegally. This may not be earth-shattering news to anyone, as it has been going on for a long time, most famously with things like Napster and The Pirate Bay. These days it has become more sophisticated and turned into a real business for the torrent sites.

  Now the popular service uTorrent is instituting a new pay plan. No, you don't have to pay, but the service hopes to give those who do a better experience.

  The latest selling point being used by the service is a new ad-free version that it hopes will draw in more users and also the revenue that keeps every site alive.

  "This gives users the option of avoiding any and all ads in the client. It’s exciting to us because it gives users the ability to avoid advertising at 25 percent of the cost that it used to be -- about 5 dollars a year instead of 20 dollars", the company states.

  To be precise, it's $4.95 per year, which isn't a bad price, but there are some considerations here. The biggest is, do you want to hand over your credit card or PayPal information to uTorrent? That's something that should be given careful thought.

  
• 

  What I like about Apple iPad Pro [fourth in a series]

  Publié: février 13, 2016, 12:07am CET par Joe Wilcox

  

  Day 10, and it's difficult to wonder where nearly two weeks went. Yet here I am with iPad Pro, and more settled than last weekend, when griping about how the tablet frustrates me.

  I want to start by discussing Apple's Smart Keyboard, which is a $169 accessory that I recommend for everyone who doesn't plan on using fingers and Pencil as primary, ah, utensils. Typing is amazingly smooth and accurate. The keys present terrific travel, without requiring too much force while still giving plenty of tactile response. Shocked best describes my reaction to the experience. Sometimes what's missing brings something more: Ommission of the trackpad, which either is brilliant conception or Apple chief designer Jony Ive and team getting goddamn lucky.

  By removing all that wasted space given to the trackpad and spread around it, the keyboard is closer to the body and arms, which I find improves posture, reduces stress on the wrists, and increases overall typing accuracy, Something else: Proximity creates intimacy with the tablet you won't have with a laptop.

  Additionally, the shorter distance overcomes the great usability flaw with vertical touchscreens: Guerilla Arm, which primary is an aching ailment of the biceps. Reaching to touch the screen is more moving the forearms forward. Had Apple included a touchpad, and thus increased the reaching distance to the screen, Guerilla Arm would surely result (as it does on laptops). By accident or design, what’s missing is something more.

  The 12.9-inch Retina Display, with 2732 x 2048 native resolution at 264 pixels per inch, is super sharp, while colors and contrast pop off the screen. What I ike best: The 4:3 aspect ratio makes the display more square than rectangular, expanding the landscape for content. Webpages and apps present beautifully, with a caveat. Websites stuck in the 1024 x 768 past present oversized everything. The worst offenders render mobile sites only optimized for smaller screens and/or lower resolutions. Meaning: They don't scale. Same applies to apps, too many of them, that need resolution/scaling tweaking. Are you listening, developers?

  Touch overall impresses, much as I would expect from an iPad but with greater urgency. If the Pro is to be a PC replacement, not companion, and one without a trackpad, touch needs to be accurate. Where your finger goes the cursor must follow, and it does most of the time. Touch responsiveness is best of class and almost mind-reading.

  In landscape mode, touch is more intimate than other iPads, when using Smart Keyboard. Because of the screen's proximity, I can rest my forearms on the desk and reach most everything necessary primarily using thumbs and also first two fingers. That positioning makes faster the processing of messages in Apple Mail, for example. Other apps, and even general navigation, benefit, too.

  iPad Pro presents a split-screen view but no windowed apps for multitasking. That said, the aforementioned proximity to the screen makes moving among app icons a fairly fast, and not at all cumbersome, activity. Manually switching apps/tasks isn't the hardship that I had anticipated.

  Performance is another stunner. Years of PC-configuration mentality must be put aside before considering the tablet as possible primary personal computer. There's Apple's A9 chip, 4GB memory, and 128GB storage set against laptops with Intel Core processors, 8GB (or more) RAM, and as much if not greater SSD. Comparison is less, less, less. But responsiveness is more, more, more. Damn, does this tab feel fast.

  That said, iOS idiosyncrasies are in place. When resources shift to one thing from another, something is left behind. I learned when leaving browser tabs with text input but not saved to, say, WordPress. Going back to the tab, refreshed it, wiping away my input content. That's behavior I hadn't seen on Android tablets, although Chrome OS can idle and refresh browser tabs leading to similar result.

  That gotcha aside, everything about iPad Pro is perky. Buzzing around my brain: What if Apple bridged its tablet/laptop gap by shipping 12-inch MacBook's successor with A9 chip instead of Intel Penitum M. The little laptop is mighty speedy for its size and processor class. A9X would differentiate MacBook from every other thin-and-light laptop.

  Moving along to Pencil, a $99 add-on, I'm impressed based on my limited testing, with two caveats: I need to work more with the stylus, and I am no artist; someone who draws would better evaluate the input device. But I recognize the promise, which will get fuller treatment in a follow-up post. For now: iPad Pro presents in its 12.9-inch display a broad canvas upon which artists can draw or annotate.

  Wrapping up, I'm not in love with iPad Pro, but I like it more each day. Some of the quirks are devastating to the typical workflow that is easily achievable on a laptop. These topics will get fuller treatment later on in this series. As my month with iPad Pro progresses I increasingly see that more can be achieved by adapting habits and accepting the user experience for what it is rather than what it is not. I learned that from seeing the many benefits presented by removing the trackpad and Apple's design choices doing so, for example.

  While the tablet has been in my possession for 10 days, I placed the order earlier. February 13th is when I must decide whether to keep iPad Pro, and continue this series, or return within the 14-day buyer's remorse period. Installment five will reveal which choice I made (or will make).

  This post is the fourth in a series; Parts One, Two and Three.

  Photo Credit: Joe Wilcox

  
• 

  Court rules it is not illegal for GCHQ to hack computers

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 10:13pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Privacy International has lost a court case that questioned the legality of GCHQ's hacking operations. The UK-based privacy and human rights charity launched a legal campaign after Edward Snowden revealed the spying and surveillance that was being carried out by the NSA and GCHQ.

  In the course of the case, GCHQ admitted for the first time that it was involved in hacking devices and computers not only in the UK, but around the world. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) ruled that activities such as the installation of keyloggers, the remote activation of microphones and cameras, and the use of malware by the intelligence agency is entirely legal.

  With the UK government planning to implement the snooper's charter (or Investigatory Powers Bill) this year, surveillance has once again become big news. The ruling from the IPT today found that there is a balance "between the urgent need of the Intelligence Agencies to safeguard the public and the protection of an individual’s privacy and/or freedom of expression".

  Privacy International is understandably displeased with the outcome of the case, and says it will continue to fight what it describes as "state-sponsored hacking". The charity's legal officer, Scarlet Kim, said:

  This case exposed not only these secret practices but also the undemocratic manner in which the government sought to backdate powers to do this under the radar. Just because the government magically produces guidelines for hacking should not legitimise this practice.

  The British government, however, is delighted with the result. Foreign secretary Philip Hammond said: "The ability to exploit computer networks plays a crucial part in our ability to protect the British public. Once again, the law and practice around our Security and Intelligence Agencies' capabilities and procedures have been scrutinised by an independent body and been confirmed to be lawful and proportionate". He says that the Investigatory Powers Bill will introduce even more surveillance opportunities for intelligence agencies.

  
• 

  Everything you need to know about SIM swap scams

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 9:38pm CET par Alex Cambell

  

  In today’s mobile-centric world, using mobile phones for Internet banking is standard practice for most people, but do customers know they could be at risk of a new type of scam?

  SIM swap fraud, where scammers cancel and re-activate new SIM cards to hack into bank accounts, is reportedly on the rise.

  What Exactly Is SIM Swap?

  SIM swap is a type of phishing fraud that poses a serious threat to customer and bank security. The fraudster obtains an individual’s banking details through phishing techniques or by purchasing these from organized crime networks.

  They then use this information, including personal details sourced via social media, to pose as the victim to the mobile network operator and fool them into cancelling and reactivating the victim’s mobile number to a SIM in their possession.

  As a result, all calls and texts to the victim’s number are routed to the fraudster’s phone, including one-time passwords for banking transactions. After receiving a one-time pin or password from a bank, the fraudster can then potentially access the customer’s bank account and transfer funds.

  Why Is It on the Rise?

  Currently SIM swap fraud is quite difficult to detect. Since it is a fairly new type of scam, banks are still trying to find effective ways of identifying when a customer’s mobile number has been fraudulently swapped and ported onto a new device. With fraudsters continuing to exploit this weakness, putting better authentication processes in place is vital.

  What Are the Risks to Customers?

  Anyone who uses mobile banking services or notifications is potentially at risk. Customers make themselves particularly vulnerable by answering fraudulent calls or illegitimate emails which ask for personal details. It’s about being vigilant and responsible for protecting your personal data.

  Given that fraudsters are using personal details sourced from social media, customers need to be applying the necessary privacy settings on their profiles to stop criminals from snooping.

  How Should Companies Tackle SIM Swap Fraud?

  Customer service teams arguably need tighter processes and guidelines on how to detect potentially fraudulent activity. Companies can look at specific training to help agents recognize when someone might be impersonating a customer and stop them in their tracks.

  In addition, these companies need to be making better use of the data they have available to them, including SIM card information, device type and location data, and consumer behavior. Risk can be significantly reduced by tracking these patterns better. Of course consumers have a responsibility to be vigilant and take their own precautions as well.

  In addition to costing companies money, SIM swap fraud poses a significant risk to a company’s reputation and customer base. If the necessary prevention measures are put in place from the beginning, banks and phone providers could prevent real reputational damage and the loss of crucial resources, time, and money.

  How Can Banks Get Access to Customers' Mobile Data Without Putting Those Customers at Risk?

  While the customer’s mobile data is owned by the mobile operators, it can still be made available to banks. Mobile operators need to work closely with banks to build better practices in combating SIM swap fraud. This involves making historical customer data available for lookup by a bank’s fraud prevention solution that can then analyze the data to assess the risk of fraud.

  How Can Banks Spot the Vulnerabilities?

  Banks can use fraud prevention software to analyze customers' historical mobile network data and help them to verify the authenticity of transactions and communications. These technology solutions automatically check for any data mismatches for certain actions, such as an account password request, in order to help the bank assess the risk of SIM swap fraud.

  How Can Banks Block the Fraudsters and Notify Their Customers of an Attack?

  If the bank identifies a data mismatch, fraud prevention solutions produce a risk score, determining the level of threat and what actions need to be taken.

  For example, if mismatches in historical data highlight a low or moderate threat of SIM swap fraud, the bank is able to determine through workflows what actions will be taken in the situation, whether the one-time password is delivered or denied, or further verification is required.

  If mismatches indicate that a SIM swap fraud has occurred, the prevention technology alerts the bank immediately and access is denied to the fraudster. Trigger based communications are also sent to the fraudster and victim notifying them that the scam has been detected.

  How Can Banks and Mobile Operators Adapt Their Authentication Processes?

  Banks and mobile operators can do a number of things to improve their authentication processes and prevent more of these incidents from occurring.

  Given that criminals on occasion have been able to bypass these companies’ security measures, banks and phone providers should be, and in some cases are, investing in security technology. They should also be putting in place extra security questions that cannot be answered by simply knowing a few personal details sourced from social media.

  In addition, contact centers and customer service teams have a responsibility to put adequate training and system alerts in place to help agents better identify potentially fraudulent activity. Fraud cases can also be reduced by driving awareness of this growing threat and creating guidelines to help customers protect themselves.

  The challenge though is that fraudsters will always innovate so the prevention measures need to be in place from the onset. Ultimately, banks need to utilize the customer data generated by mobile networks and devices in order to identify risk before a customer loses their money.

  Alex Cambell, VP of Enterprise Sales, IMImobile.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: NorGal/Shutterstock

  
• 

  PSA: Time to switch to Google Photos as Picasa shuts down

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 9:37pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  It has been a long time coming, but when 15 March rolls around Google will no longer support the desktop Picasa app -- and this is just the start of the shutdown. Picasa is being gradually shuttered in favor of Google Photos as the search giant focuses its energy on a single photo service.

  So what does this mean for Picasa fans? Well, the good news is that there's nothing to do in terms of migrating content from one service to another. Picasa Web Album content can be viewed, edited and shared through Google Photos, but if you don't want to migrate then it will be archived from 1 May.

  The Picasa closure starts on 15 March, however, and from this date Google will no longer issue any update for the desktop app. It will continue to work, but there will be no more support of any sort. Developers will lose access to some features of the Picasa API: Flash support; community search; mutation operations other than uploads; all support for tags, comments, and contacts.

  The closure of any service runs the risk of user backlash, and this is something that Google is only too aware of. Announcing the closure, the company says:

  We know for many of you, a great deal of care has gone into managing your photos and videos using Picasa -- including the hours you've invested and the most precious moments you've trusted us with. So we will take some time in order to do this right and provide you with options and easy ways to access your content. We've outlined below some of the changes you can expect.

  
• 

  It's too easy to breach a bank

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 8:41pm CET par Ryan MacDougall

  

  I arrived onsite to suite 102 -- the bank’s corporate headquarters -- around 9:40 am. I was impersonating a local utility worker -- with all the garments like a hardhat, clipboard, obnoxious yellow vest, and some old Timberland work boots. I played the part well.

  When I approached the suite I saw a giant glass entrance into the main office of the bank with a secretary minding the entrance and questioning visitors. I also noticed employees were entering and exiting an unmarked door at the end of the hallway -- no cameras to be seen. I proceeded slowly past the main entrance and then ran to catch the secured door as it was closing behind an unsuspecting employee. I was in!

  Entering that door, I casually walked further into the office looking for opportunity. All desks and offices were occupied, and I made eye contact with a number of employees while walking around without being questioned (it must have been my great outfit.) I saw an empty office, slipped in, and deployed a small device under the desk that automatically connected back to a VPN server under my control. I left the suite and returned to the hotel to check connectivity -- in and out in about 10 minutes.

  Upon arrival at the hotel, I confirmed connectivity and achieved remote access. A few minutes later, authentication hashes were captured off the network from the device and, voila, I had internal access and verified domain credentials to access the network like a typical employee.

  With some lateral movement through the network, it was only a matter of time before I found domain admin credentials. Now I owned the bank’s corporate network. If that wasn’t enough, the bank has a branch down the street from me, so I decided to give them a chance to catch me there.

  I arrived at the branch at around 12:30 pm impersonating a local food delivery driver. The food was prepaid, of course, so I just needed to drop it off. Initial conversations with internal staff at the entrance did not yield any access to the building. Great job by them.

  I asked to use the restroom on the first floor and while there successfully dropped a USB drive. This was no ordinary drive, however, because it contained a single file -- a reverse shell macro-enabled Excel document titled Employee Bonus Plan.xlsm. That ought to get someone’s attention.

  A final attempt to deliver the food was denied and a local police officer was now stationed by the front door standing guard. Yikes. I took the food with me and exited the building, "Have a nice day officer", I said, hoping someone would find the drive and open the file. In and out in 10 minutes.

  Back at the office, after I enjoyed a few sandwiches from my "delivery", the payload executes! I saw the happy stream of data signaling the Excel document was executed on a user’s workstation and a metasploit meterpreter session was successfully established. This resulted in complete control of the user’s workstation.

  With the user’s local access being administrator, persistence was established to maintain the connection through reboots. Now I had internal access at the branch and verified domain credentials to access the network like a typical employee. With the previous access gained at the corporate office, I also owned the branch network!

  Anyone need a loan? Great rates!

  Ryan MacDougall, senior security consultant at Coalfire.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: Frank11 / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Pedophiles are reportedly using Facebook to share images of children

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 8:05pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  An investigation by the BBC has found that secret groups on Facebook are being used by pedophiles to share images -- and Facebook doesn't seem to be doing much to control such activity.

  The BBC reportedly unearthed numerous private groups which were both run by and for men with a sexual interest in children. One group was found to have a convicted pedophile as its administrator. Despite many of the groups and images being reported to Facebook, not all of them were removed, raising the question as to whether Facebook is doing enough to combat pedophilia.

  In addition to pornographic content, the groups are home to images culled from newspapers and clothing catalogs and attract a barrage of obscene comments from users. Many of the groups are named in such a way that it makes their purpose entirely clear and Anne Longfield, Children's Commissioner for England, says that Facebook needs to do more to police content and protect children.

  The BBC went as far as setting up a fake profile of its own in order to gain access to the groups as part of the investigation:

  In one secret group called "cute teen schoolies", we found a picture of a girl in a vest, aged 10 or 11, accompanied by the words "yum yum". Facebook responded that it did not breach "community standards" and the image stayed up.

  Out of 20 images reported, just half of them were removed, some by Facebook, and some by the uploaders. Other images which featured children in "highly sexualized poses" were deemed not to breach Facebook's community standards, and so remained in place -- this in spite of the fact that the BBC found some material so disturbing that it contacted the police.

  Facebook's head of public policy, Rishi Saha, told the BBC:

  When it comes to specific groups I think it's really important that we investigate the groups, so if you're able to share the details of these groups with me then I can work with my colleagues who do the investigations on these and make sure we're investigating them and we're removing the content that shouldn't be there... [We] deal directly with law enforcement to make sure they're aware of these groups and follow the proper process.

  Photo credit: Rob Hyrons / Shutterstock

  
• 

  binvis.io is the visual way to analyze binary files

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 5:32pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  Exploring the structure of binary files can be very useful for identifying malware, and tools like PeStudio and HxD may help point you in the right direction.

  But if you find they bury you in fine detail, when you’re more interested in the big picture, then you might like to try another approach.

  Binvis.io is an online service which imports target files and converts them to images, where each color is based on the source byte value (0 = black, low = green, ASCII = blue, high = red and 255 = white).

  Sounds simple, but it’s surprising how effective this can be. Open something which is mostly solid blue, for instance, and you’ll know at a glance that it’s probably some kind of text file.

  Now move your mouse cursor over the blue area and a hex editor-type view displays its contents, telling you more.

  If your file is mostly random colors, then it’s likely to be compressed or packed: an archive, JPG, maybe a video or audio file.

  PDFs are more interesting to explore. Simple text-only files will be mostly blue, but they may also contain multi-colored images, fonts, videos and more.

  Binvis.io’s images makes these objects immediately obvious, and you can zoom to them, and check out their structure in seconds.

  Opening executables may also give you some indication about their internals. Standard files are likely to have a mix of patterns, while packed EXEs will probably look more random.

  If the default settings don’t tell you much then there are other options to try, including an Entropy color scheme which can accurately highlight encrypted or compressed data in your file. And whatever you’re doing, the current image may be saved as a local PNG in a couple of clicks.

  Put it all together and binvis.io is a neat way to get an overview of a file’s structure. And the pictures are pretty, too. Check it out.

  
• 

  Samsung to plant Trojan horse in Apple's yard

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 5:28pm CET par Mark McDonald

  

  Samsung already has a bunch of its apps on iOS, but this year the company plans to bring the majority of its apps to the App Store. In fact, it's quite possible that all of Samsung's apps will be available for iPhones and iPads soon.

  To many, this decision comes across as counterintuitive considering Samsung's rivalry with Apple. However, there’s no reason for Samsung not to make money off of Apple. In fact, it’s a smart decision that will support its position on the market, while Apple will likely take a hit, which may not seem quite that obvious.

  Apple follows a strategy of building a platform instead of selling standalone products. It’s a great business strategy that made Apple what it is today. As a result, once you buy Apple you're more likely to buy more of it, which is exactly what makes Apple so successful.

  Among its users Apple is a monopoly and the last thing it wants is to have their top competitor pitch its products to the company’s core customer base. Especially now when Apple chases the next big thing, namely smartwatches. And bear in mind, that unlike Samsung which offers a variety of products in many different markets, Apple relies on selling few core products to the same customer base.

  Samsung, on the other hand, comes from the world of commoditization. With Android being an open platform, anyone can build hardware, and that makes everyone other than Apple compete on price. Competing on price makes margins thinner and thinner; just ask early days PC manufacturers like IBM and Compaq.

  With commoditization in the Android market, Samsung smartphone profits are now in decline and the sales outlook for 2016 isn't too optimistic either as the company expects slower growth amid intensifying competition. Among the new apps coming over to iOS are the companion apps that meant to work for Samsung’s smart devices like smartwatches, smart TVs and smart cameras.

  For example, Samsung is rumored to be working on Gear Fit Manager for iOS as well as S Health app for iPhone, which can be used to log daily activity, workouts, calorie intake, sleep, etc. Other apps Samsung is working on include Remote Control and Family Square apps for the iOS, which support Galaxy View and Level app for Samsung's audio devices. And then there's a newer version of the Smart Camera app for iOS, used for remotely controlling the company’s smart cameras.

  Smart TVs, smartwatches, and smart cameras are the next generations of devices where Samsung can expect some growth, also as a part of the rising trend of the connected home, for which the company seems to have big plans.

  Besides, wearables, especially smartwatches and fitness bands, seem to mimic the growth tablets few years ago, according to analysts at investment bank Piper Jaffray. That makes it a very attractive product category. The move will allow Samsung to market its products to iPhone users who otherwise would consider buying them from Apple or some other brand (e.g. Pebble, that's not a huge threat to Apple's other product lines.)

  How exactly is it going to hurt Apple? Firstly, Samsung can now pitch is smartwatches to the iPhone crowd who wouldn’t otherwise buy it. Secondly, one of big reasons why Apple holds a monopoly status is brand loyalty. Now that Samsung can fully pitch itself to Apple consumer base, it also gets an opportunity to build some brand loyalty for itself.

  As a consumer you may buy a Samsung camera and Samsung View because it works with your iPhone. If you get to like those product next time you’re buying a phone it’s Galaxy vs. iPhone. Right now it’s iPhones, iPads and Apple Watch, but in the future there may be more product categories where Apple and Samsung compete.

  This is positive news for consumers who will enjoy wider product options. Another group who might feel some positive effects are app developers. If Samsung manages to win a leading share of the growing market for wearables developers will find it more attractive to build apps for it.

  Most developers of paid apps prefer to develop for iOS first because its users spend more money. So if Samsung can now tap into that demographic, developing for Galaxy Gear first might be an interesting option.

  This is a smart move on Samsung's part. Its phone sales are weaker and, with more price competition in the Android market to come, the trend will likely continue. The new generation of products is where the next market opportunity is.

  For example, wearables are forecasted to reach 111 million shipments this year and over 200 million per annum by 2019, according to IDC. There is no clear winner in those markets yet, but Samsung is clearly going for it.

  For Apple, this isn't great news. It's not horrible news either, but unless Samsung screws up, it is likely to lose at least some part of the potential Apple Watch customers to Samsung.

  Mark McDonald is co-CEO at Appster.

  Image Credit: Sadik Gulec / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Better customer experience can turn travel searchers into bookers

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 4:09pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  When people are booking travel, companies like travel agencies, hotel chains and airlines have an opportunity to gain a loyal customer.

  But a new survey of more than 500 travelers from data science specialist Boxever suggests that the window to turn searchers into bookers and beat the competition is a narrow one.

  While you might think that price is a driving factor, only 47 percent of those surveyed say they prefer airlines and online travel agencies to present the cheapest flights first in online search results. The results show that almost a third of travelers want the best, most relevant options presented first, those that take into account a range of key elements including price, timing, duration, personal preferences, past travel history and needs.

  A personalized booking experience is important too, 85 percent say they would value travel websites that remember their personal preferences and automatically present the best and most relevant options.

  There's also a demand for a more connected experience, 54 percent of frequent travelers would like airlines, hotels, ground transportation providers and other travel companies to automatically share their travel information. People say they are willing to provide more information about themselves if it leads to a better travel experience.

  The opportunity to sell extras is there but it's important that it’s presented early in the booking process. 48 percent of travelers who purchase extras or services do so when booking, but just 16 percent will add extras -- like Wi-Fi or a seat upgrade -- in the days before a flight, and even fewer wait until they actually arrive at the airport.

  Respondents also displayed a reluctance to respond to promotional messages. 38 percent say they almost never check the promotions or adverts tab in their personal email, nine percent only check it a few times a year and 13 percent a couple of times a month. However, 33 percent say they would consider moving a company’s mail to their main inbox if the content was consistently targeted to their needs and preferences, and not the marketing priorities of the company.

  The full report is available to download from the Boxever website.

  Photo Credit: Ilin Sergey/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Electronic toys maker wants to blame parents for data breaches

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 4:07pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Electronic toys maker VTech has recently been a victim of a cyber-attack, which has seen the data of more than 6.3 million children exposed. The hackers got access to chat logs and photos.

  Following the breach, VTech has updated its End User License Agreement, saying the company can’t provide a 100 percent guarantee that it won’t be hacked. It also shifts the responsibility back to the parents:

  You acknowledge and agree that you assume full responsibility for your use of the site and any software or firmware downloaded.

  You acknowledge and agree that any information you send or receive during your use of the site may not be secure and may be intercepted or later acquired by unauthorized parties.

  You acknowledge and agree that your use of the site and any software or firmware downloaded there from is at your own risk.

  Commenting on the move, security expert Jonathan Lieberman, VP of Product Strategy at Lieberman Software says:

  It’s only a matter of time before every online business has T&Cs attempting to limit their liability in the case of cybercrime. This kind of avoidance language is all around us. When you park your car in the city, there’s a sign saying they aren’t responsible if someone steals something. When you leave your valuables in a gym locker, there is a notice that it’s at your own risk. It’s natural that when you put your information into a website or data in the cloud that they will hang up a sign telling you criminals may attempt -- and succeed -- to take it.

  As the money associated with online crime grows both in the form of rewards criminals can reap and premiums insurance firms insuring against those losses, you will see lawyers crafting ever more creative and complex terms to protect their clients from liability associated with data breach. The key is how well they will work to protect you while you use their online service and how well you will protect yourself.

  He advises parents to read the terms and conditions carefully, and see if the company is taking reasonable measures to protect the data. If you can’t sit through countless pages of legal language, limit the exposure of your information.

  Mark James, Security Specialist at ESET said:

  Every company has a responsibility to protect the data they harvest while you use their products. I agree with VTech that no company can protect 100 percent against the possibility of being hacked, but taking sufficient precautions and ensuring a good level of security is maintained should be the fundamentals of any policy where user’s private data is being held.

  To shift ownership over to the users is bad enough in itself, but to make it known through walls of text in T&Cs or EULAs is a bad way to do it, no one honestly reads it, especially a parent trying to setup something for their children. Can you imagine telling your three year-old that they need to wait a little longer while you read, digest and decide if you want to keep the toy based on the terms and conditions?

  Our minors’ data should be ultra-important for any organization and protecting that should be their number one priority. If voting with your feet is the best way to make them understand then maybe that’s the right thing to do. It’s our data, but more importantly it’s the data of our possible future leaders that’s at stake here, we must take it very seriously indeed.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: M. Dykstra/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Get your legs moving, Asics buys RunKeeper app

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 3:11pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  As a society we tend to put an emphasis on being physically fit. There may be more diet plans out there than there are people to follow them. But honestly, there's no substitute for a smart meal plan and exercise, nothing fancy is needed.

  If you exercise then you're likely familiar with the name Asics, a popular manufacturer of running shoes and clothing. To keep it all in the family, the company has now purchased FitnessKeeper, maker of one of the top running apps available in the mobile space. The app can track more than just runs, though. It handles walking and cycling as well, using GPS to calculate distance and pace.

  Asics acquired 100 percent of the shares in FitnessKeeper, a move to future-proof its business as fitness tracking, smartphones and wearable technology continue to expand in market share.

  The company notes "Asics reached a decision on this Acquisition as we believe that the integration of 'Runkeeper’s' globally recognized brand and worldwide user base with Asics’ technological competence in manufacturing will lead to continued enhancement of our corporate value".

  Where will this new partnership lead? Asics hopes to continue to advance the digital technology, but what role it could play in future wearable tech from the company remains unclear. Could we see something built right into a running shoe or clothing?

  Photo Credits: ostill/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Samsung Gear S2 Classic smartwatch now available in rose gold or platinum

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 1:44pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  While Apple did not invent the smartwatch, it certainly pioneered the luxury-focused variants. Before the Apple Watch, many smartwatches were merely geeky extensions of smartphones -- now, they can be fashion statements (with premium prices).

  Today, Samsung goes the luxury route too, with its Gear S2 Classic. The existing device is now being sold with beautiful 18k rose gold or platinum plating and genuine leather bands. Should you pay the premium?

  "On Friday, February 12, two new Samsung Gear S2 classic models, plated in elegant 18k Rose Gold and timeless Platinum, will be available at Samsung.com, BestBuy, Amazon.com, Macy's, and other stores in the United States, and will retail for $449.99. The 18k Rose Gold edition features Rose Gold plating and an Ivory Genuine Leather Band, while the Platinum version comes with a Black Genuine Leather Band. Both smartwatches feature the Gear S2's unique rotating-bezel design -- giving consumers a quick, precise way to navigate through their notifications, apps, and widgets", says Samsung.

  Gary Riding, senior vice president, mobile computing at Samsung Electronics America says, "at Samsung, we're all about designing technology that integrates seamlessly with the lives of our consumers. These stunning new finishes offer consumers a way to complement their personal styles -- while the revolutionary technology of the wearable complements their increasingly active, connected lives".

  

  While I appreciate fancy things, I am a bit dubious about luxury tech. After all, when the technology becomes obsolete, you may regret paying the premium. It is unlikely that luxury smartwatches will retain value, let alone appreciate. In other words, I doubt a platinum Samsung Gear S2, or even a pricey Apple Watch, will ever become a treasured family heirloom.

  What is your opinion of luxury smartwatches? Tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  Best Windows apps this week

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 1:14pm CET par Martin Brinkmann

  One-hundred and sixty-seven in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps and games released for Windows 8.x and Windows 10 in the past seven days.

  Microsoft revealed information about the highly anticipated game Quantum Break this week. Initially thought to be an Xbox One exclusive, the company announced that it will also be made available for Windows 10 on the same day.

  No application of the week award this time though.

  As always, if I missed an app or game that has been released this week that you believe is particularly good, let me know in the comments below or notify me via email instead.

  Discounts This Week

  The following discounts are provided by Red Stripe Deals, a weekly changing list of offers, and the Deals Hub application.

  The following is this week's selection. The Toca apps are only discounted for one day, while everything else is discounted for the whole week.

  • KVADPhoto+ PRO, image processing application for $0.99
  • Sparkle 2, puzzle game for $2.99
  • Bookviser Reader Premium, access to an ebook library for $3.99
  • My Trips, a TripIt companion app for $1.29
  • Solitaire Mystery: Four Season (Full), a solitaire game for $0.99
  • Mind Games Pro, a brain-training app for $2.49
  • Lara Croft Go, a turn-based puzzle game for $0.99
  • Toca Life: School, free
  • Toca City, free
  • Toca Kitchen 2, free
  • Toca Train, free
  • Toca Life: Town, free
  • Toca Cars, free
  • Toca Builders, free
  • Toca Kitchen, free

  App of the week

  none this week

  Other apps

  Demolition Derby: Crash Racing

  

  Remember Destruction Derby? Demolition Derby is a modern version of the game featuring improvements such as car upgrades and different cars you can buy that take the genre to the next level.

  The game itself features two main modes: destruction derby and races. It plays with touch or the keyboard, and suffers a bit from automatic camera changes while you are driving.

  All in all though it is a fun game with free to play mechanics (grind or pay).

  Polarr Photo Editor Lite

  

  This is the lite version of the popular photo editor for Windows 10. The lite version includes most features of the pro version except for a select few such as the creation of custom filters.

  It enables you to make adjustments to the image, for instance color or light changes, and to apply filters to the photo with a single click.

  Puzzle Craft 2

  

  Puzzle Craft combines farm building with puzzle elements. You build your farm on the strategy map, construct buildings, hire workers, and create tools that help you in the puzzle part of the game.

  A click on the farm launches the puzzle section in which you need to collect resources for your farm by matching items on the game board.

  Grover Pro Beta ($2.99, no free trial)

  

  Grover Pro is a universal podcast application for Windows 10 that features a well-designed interface and a podcast store that you can use to find and subscribe to podcasts of interests.

  The app has a couple of small issues, like podcasts not updating when new episodes are released, but that is likely because it is still listed as beta and not final.

  The Sequence ($1.99, no free trial)

  

  The Sequence is a puzzle game in which you use modules to transfer binary cells.

  What you do in each of the 72 levels is drag and drop modules on the board in order to move cells from start to finish. You run your setup whenever you want to test it, and modify it based on what goes wrong.

  Notable updates

  Fhotoroom was completely rewritten. New features include support for 650 RAW formats, full metadata support, Continuum support and performance improvements.

  Newsflow has a new extended readability mode which improves the readability of downloaded articles in the app. In addition, you may disable the loading of images.

  
• 

  Adblock Plus wants to know why you're blocking ads (!)

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 1:05pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Adblock Plus has been in the headlines quite a lot recently. Adblocking is certainly popular, but the company needs to strike a balance between keeping users happy, and maintaining a good relationship with advertisers. The Acceptable Ads program is part of this, but at its second #CampDavid session there have been some further ideas about the future of adblocking.

  There was talk about what should be viewed as an 'acceptable ad', and an Acceptable Ads Committee will oversee this. But the discussion between Adblock Plus and advertisers brought up an important question: just why do people install adblockers?

  On the face of it, this seems like a stupid question with an obvious answer -- ads are bloody annoying, and blocking ads reduces this annoyance while boosting privacy and security. But is it that simple? Do people actually think about what is involved in blocking ads, or is it just something they feel they should do? Have things changed online since they started using an adblocker? Do they know how much content they are missing out on because of it?

  Writing about the #CampDavid Europe meeting, Adblock Plus' Ben Williams says:

  Someone there brought up a novel but basic idea: finding a (nonintrusive) way to ask our users why they decided to install an ad blocker in the first place. Lots of studies go after this information -- indeed, we used one such survey as the basis for an update to our criteria -- but if actual users tell us it takes some of the guesswork out of it.

  Clearly it will be difficult to gather information about why Adblock Plus is being used without in some way intruding on a user's web experience. This is something that Adblock Plus recognizes, but ultimately it would be helpful to feed this back into the Acceptable Ads Program, as well as educating advertisers more about what is deemed tolerable.

  Something along these lines will likely take a while to implement, because there are significant user experience issues involved in any “user survey”; but if there were a way to get this information without annoying anyone, it would lead to more granular blocking possibilities and a better idea of what we shouldn’t block. That is, what is acceptable.

  Photo credit: patpitchaya / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Social engineering tops the hacking pops

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 12:45pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Hackers are constantly seeking new ways to attack systems and gain insider access to data. A new survey from IT security company Balabit reveals the 10 most popular hacking methods to help companies understand how to protect themselves.

  The survey of almost 500 IT security practitioners reveals that social engineering is the most popular means of attack. Hackers aim to get a 'low level' insider user account by means of phishing and escalate its privileges.

  "Traditional access control tools and anti-malware solutions are necessary, but these only protect companies’ sensitive assets while hackers are outside of the network," says Zoltán Györkő, CEO at Balabit. "Once they manage to break into the system, even gaining a low level access, they can easily escalate their rights and gain privileged or root access in the corporate network. Once it happens, the enemy is inside and poses a much higher risk as they seem to be one of us".

  Compromised accounts, such as those with weak passwords, is the second most popular route. If users have the same password on work and personal accounts the attacker only needs to discover one, from a social network account say, to open up corporate systems.

  Third place is taken by web-based attacks such as SQL injections. The quality of code in many applications is still questionable from a security point of view, and there are many automated scanners from which attackers can easily detect vulnerable applications.

  "The highest risk to corporations is when outside attackers gain insider access, as they can stay undetected within the network for months," says Györkő. "Balabit aims to support organizations to know their enemy by knowing who is behind their user accounts, and determining whether it is a legitimate user or a masked hacker. This should be the fundamental priority in every kind of organization's IT security strategy".

  You can see the full top 10 in the infographic below.

  

  Photo Credit: igor.stevanovic/Shutterstock

  
• 

  ISP filters could be harming UK users’ love lives

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 12:15pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Content filters are supposed to protect you from bad stuff, but they can have unexpected side effects and block things you want to access.

  As we approach Valentine's Day a new survey by UK broadband comparison site Broadband Genie has discovered that filters may be preventing Brits from finding love by blocking online dating sites.

  As part of prime minister David Cameron's bid to protect children from adult content, ISPs are now required to have 'family-friendly' web filters automatically enabled. The filters can block a wide array of sites, from online dating to pornography, but there is skepticism about their effectiveness and concerns about how sites are classified.

  The company revealed last year that 46 percent of users may have their filters activated, meaning many could struggle to access online dating services. But these latest results show that 73 percent of people surveyed wouldn't know how to access online dating websites if they'd been blocked by their ISP's content filter.

  "Not only are there questions on the effectiveness of the filters, but the sheer amount of confusion they're causing is very worrying indeed," says Rob Hilborn, Head of Strategy at Broadband Genie. "The opt out nature of the filters means ISPs now have a much bigger responsibility to provide users with accessible information and simple processes to make a decision on opting out if they should want to".

  Respondents to the survey are divided on whether dating sites should be blocked. A majority (60 percent) say online dating websites shouldn't be blocked by default, however, 29 percent think dating sites don't do enough to stop children from accessing them, and 54 percent believe dating sites pose a threat to children.

  Hilborn concludes, "It's incredibly important we put the correct measures in place to protect children online, whether that's through web blocking tools or better education. However, we shouldn't be damaging legitimate businesses through poorly executed and confusing blanket filters which ignore how people actually use the internet".

  You can read more on the report's findings on the Broadband Genie blog.

  Photo Credit: SueC/Shutterstock

  
• 

  What makes Cryptowall 3.0 the most successful ransomware?

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 10:43am CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Cryptowall 3.0 is the most successful ransomware of all time, a new report by security firm Imperva says. Ransomware is a type of malware which, once active on a device, encrypts all the data and demands payment from the victim, typically through Bitcoin.

  In its report on the dangers of ransomware, and the impotent attitude of the FBI, which usually advises victims to pay the ransom, Imperva says Cryptowall 3.0 has caused $325 million (£225.7m) in damages so far.

  Commenting on the news, Jonathan Sander, VP of product strategy at security firm Lieberman Software says it’s not that the police isn’t doing anything -- it’s that they can’t do much in the first place:

  "It’s not that local law enforcement doesn’t want to help with Cryptowall, they can’t. A friend works with cybercrime efforts of local police here in the States, and recently told me that since Cryptowall most often crosses international boundaries there’s not much the police can do. They know this already. So when they are told about it they mostly give condolences and move on to investigations where they can have an impact".

  Sander also said Cryptowall is easily avoided with a good backup policy: "The other problem is that reporting Cryptowall issues to more savvy law enforcement sounds like reporting your bike was stolen when you didn’t bother to lock it up. Since a good back up strategy can be almost 100 percent effective to combat Cryptowall, police may simply feel the real crime was your own lack of preventative measures".

  Even though the advice to back up a computer sounds simple, many companies don’t do it. Sander compares it to the health and fitness advice we hear all the time.

  "So much good security advice sounds like health advice. Everyone knows they should eat right and exercise, but so many simply shrug at this advice as they return to chips in front of the television. Every organization knows they need to back up, monitor file activity, protect admin privileges, and run basic perimeter defenses like antivirus and firewalls. Since none of that security seems to contribute to the bottom line and takes a modicum of effort, people’s laziness kicks in and they skip the basics".

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Image Credit: Robynrg/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Cinemax makes its debut on Sling TV

  Publié: février 12, 2016, 1:44am CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  When Sling TV launched it already had a number of deals with major networks such as ESPN and CNN, bringing real-time TV viewing over an internet connection, and doing so for a reasonable price, especially compared to cable and satellite providers. There were also a number of add-on packages for such things as extra sports and news channels.

  Last year, just in time for Game of Thrones, the service landed HBO, and now it has another prize in its lineup, one that may attract even more customers.

  The company is announcing that Cinemax is now available, and this is a milestone. Sling notes that "What's particularly cool about this announcement is it marks the first time Cinemax is available to cord cutters on a standalone Internet TV service. Previously, it was only available to those who paid for a traditional cable package".

  Cinemax premiers a new movie every Saturday night and also provides original content such as Strike Back, Hunted, The Knick, and Banshee.

  All customers can now subscribe for $10 per month, which is slightly cheaper than rival HBO is going for on the service.

  
• 

  Changing the date could permanently brick your iPhone

  Publié: février 11, 2016, 9:22pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  There have been a few serious iPhone issues discovered recently. Some phones got bricked by the iOS 9 Slide to Upgrade bug, there was a website that instantly crashed browsers and rebooted iPhones, and -- most recently -- Error 53 bricked devices repaired by non-Apple technicians.

  Now a new iPhone-bricking bug has reportedly been discovered. And I say reportedly, because I’m certainly not about to try it.

  According to a post on Reddit (and backed up by some reports in China), setting your device back to a particular date and time will brick it.

  Now here comes the warning. It should go without saying, but trying this yourself will in all likelihood brick your device, and we wouldn’t want that. If you really want to do it, go ahead, but we really, really would advise against it. Obviously.

  The bug, which only affects 64-bit Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads and iPod touches, rears its head when you set the date to January 1, 1970 (aka the Unix epoch). You do this by going to Settings > General > Date & Time and toggling off the option to set the date and time automatically. Scroll back to 2000, go back into Date & Time settings and repeat the process until you hit 1970.

  Once you’re at the date, reboot your iPhone and it will (probably) die a sad and lonely death.

  According to the reports, neither putting the phone into DFU mode nor restoring it from a backup fixes the problem. Although disconnecting the battery and reconnecting it, or letting it drain down fully might (again, we haven’t tested it).

  Some people have reported that they’ve tried this and their phones have emerged unscathed.

  A Reddit user speculates this might be down to time zones. He says:

  For those who got away with trying this and it not bricking your device, there's a reason why -- time zones.

  In some time zones, setting the date to 1 Jan 1970 will set the internal clock to a number less than zero, as the time is stored in GMT (as the number of seconds since midnight on that date) and then the offset is applied before display. In other time zones, setting the clock will result in a positive time value. Best guess is that this is triggered by having the time value less than zero.

  Obviously this isn’t really a bug to worry about -- if you don’t ever set your device back to that date then nothing will happen. But maybe make sure you have a passcode or Touch ID set on your phone, to prevent malicious pranksters testing out this trick while your back is turned.

  Photo Credit: iQoncept/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Gmail now warns you if your emails are not TLS encrypted

  Publié: février 11, 2016, 8:31pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  To celebrate Safer Internet Day the other day, Google gave away an extra 2GB of cloud storage to anyone who completed a simple security audit of their account. At the same time the company also introduced a couple of important security enhancements to Gmail.

  The first change sees the appearance of a simple indicator that makes it clear when an email is received through, or is about to be sent through, a service that doesn’t support TLS encryption.  A broken padlock icon indicates that TLS encryption is not available, serving as a warning that there is the potential for the email in question to be dangerous or for the message to be intercepted.

  Google points out that in order for TLS (Transport Layer Security) to be effective, it is important that it is supported by both the sender and the recipient of emails. If either party fails to meet this requirement, this is when the broken padlock indicator makes an appearance.

  The second security feature makes it easier to tell when an email address has been authenticated. While you would normally expect to see an avatar for people you already have in your address book, non-authenticated senders have previously simply had a blank profile image. The latest change sees non-authenticated senders highlighted with a red question mark avatar which should be easier to notice.

  

  Google says:

  Not all affected email will necessarily be dangerous. But we encourage you to be extra careful about replying to, or clicking on links in messages that you’re not sure about. And with these updates, you’ll have the tools to make these kinds of decisions.

  Photo credit: Butterfly Hunter / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Mac tool vulnerability exposes lots of apps to man-in-the-middle attacks

  Publié: février 11, 2016, 8:29pm CET par Alasdair Gilchrist

  

  A security specialist has discovered a flaw in Sparkle, a third-party framework that Mac apps use to receive updates, which makes a man in the middle attack possible when unencrypted HTTP connections are used.

  If the attacker has the ability to intercept the unencrypted data stream for example on a public Wi-Fi hotspot they could possibly inject malicious code.

  The number of apps affected is unknown, but researchers believe there to be a significant number. Some of the known vulnerable apps are; Camtasia 2 v2.10.4, DuetDisplay v1.5.2.4, uTorrent v1.8.7, and Sketch v3.5.1. as well as Hopper reverse engineering tool and DXO Optics Pro, amongst many others.

  However, not all apps that use Sparkle are susceptible, only ones that use HTTP instead of HTTPS and use a vulnerable version of Sparkle are at risk. Sparkle has issued an update, however the security specialist, Radek, who originally discovered the flaws warns in an email, that it is not a trivial process to apply it.

  This process requires [a developer] to:

  • Download the newest version of Sparkle Updater
  • Check if new version of Sparkle is compatible with the app
  • Create some test cases, verify update and so on
  • Address this vulnerability and publish new version of the app

  Now, this is the moment when people can check for an update and replace this particular app version on their Macs with the newest one.

  It all depends on the complexity of an application, its size and maintainers. That’s the reason why some developers don’t want to update or can’t update Sparkle in their applications (quickly enough).

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: wk1003mike / Shutterstock

  
• 

  SourceForge pledges to clean up its downloader act

  Publié: février 11, 2016, 6:11pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Likely just about everyone has installed software from SourceForge at some point in their computing history. In 2013, the software repository enabled a feature called DevShare which developers could opt-in to. This wrapped developer software in SourceForge’s own installer, which also, unfortunately, came with bundled junk  -- something many users might breeze right past during an installation.

  But last month Sourceforge, along with Slashdot, was sold to BIZX and some changes are going to take place under the new ownership, and that means no more DevShare.

  SourceForge president Logan Abbott says "We want to restore our reputation as a trusted home for open source software, and this was a clear first step towards that. We’re more interested in doing the right thing than making extra short-term profit".

  The company now wants to focus on developers and visitors, creating a better experience. Logan goes on to say "Eliminating the DevShare program was just the first step of many more to come. Plans for the near future include full https support for both SourceForge and Slashdot, and a lot more changes we think developers and end-users will embrace".

  While it's a good start, the company may find that it will take time to regain the trust of users. One too many bad experiences can do that.

  Photo Credit: Gajus/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft is slowly conquering Android

  Publié: février 11, 2016, 5:38pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  Microsoft may not have a strong presence in the smartphone market as a vendor, but the software giant is trying to make a splash in a different way, by partnering with other players to make its mobile apps available on as many devices as possible. And it stands a very good chance of making serious inroads.

  Microsoft has so far teamed up with 74 companies, in 25 countries, to ship its apps on their Android smartphones and tablets. The latest major player to partner with Microsoft is Acer, which will preload some of the software giant's most-prominent Android apps.

  The focus is on cloud services and Office, as Acer's customers can expect to find Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook, Skype and Word on their new Android devices. Microsoft says that these apps are already preloaded on smartphones and tablets like LG G Pad 2 and Samsung Galaxy S6, and that "specific offerings may vary by device".

  This agreement will bear fruits starting in the second half of the year, but it will not impact every single new Android device in Acer's portfolio. There is no word on what sort of devices will have Microsoft's apps preloaded, but premium smartphones and tablets are likely targeted.

  Microsoft does not say exactly what its hardware partners are getting in exchange, but there are mentions of intellectual property which suggests that it may allow partners to take advantage of (some of its) patent portfolio.

  Photo Credit: Andresr/Shutterstock

  
• 

  How B2B eCommerce is evolving in the cloud [Q&A]

  Publié: février 11, 2016, 5:10pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Modern IT architectures have opened commercial off-the-shelf software categories to new forms of innovation. But still, most B2B eCommerce solutions have yet to evolve. The result is that many firms are left with outdated, in-house infrastructures or bulky SaaS tools that hamper operations, leave customers unsatisfied and can’t keep up at the speed businesses demand. Developers today who work with B2B eCommerce tools gravitate toward cloud-based platforms that are more comprehensive, agile and customizable. This allows for the creation of services and workflows that meet their unique needs.

  I spoke with Steve Davis, chief technology officer at Four51, which powers B2B eCommerce for over 10,000 businesses and nearly 20 million users, about what B2B eCommerce solutions should entail and what developers’ priorities are -- or should be -- when building a modern day eCommerce site.

  BN: Can you elaborate on how modern IT architectures have changed the way companies operate?

  SD: As companies upgrade their technologies to take advantage of current web, mobile and automation capabilities, most realize they need to update their technology stack. As such, increasingly these firms are seeking out cloud-based systems for their sales, marketing, eCommerce, ERP and other systems, and leveraging APIs as necessary to connect to other software and point solutions.

  For example, now companies no longer have to build out complex tax logic in their own systems or build their own functionality for mobile since tax software such as Avalara or a mobile platform such as Twilio can be leveraged via API.

  ProgrammableWeb has been tracking this "API Economy" for the past several years, and they’ve noted the growth of web APIs from fewer than 10 in 2005 to over 14,000 in 2015. That connective tissue, in that broad of an ecosystem, is new to the world and it is unlocking immeasurable efficiencies, innovation and growth.

  BN: Despite these new forms of innovation, most B2B eCommerce solutions have yet to evolve. Why do you think that’s the case?

  SD: Salesforce pioneered cloud technologies beginning in 1999, and initially the concept of the cloud was a tough sell, especially with the more conservative technology, security and back-office positions in the enterprise.

  The cloud has now become pervasive primarily in the front-offices of sales and marketing, but the back-office has still been slow to adopt. Despite new forms of eCommerce innovation, they have been slow to catch on due to a false notion many enterprises have about the cloud and the fact that enterprises are unaware of the benefits in scalability, cost, and speed the cloud provides them.

  Status quo has been easier for these large, risk-averse organizations, so they continue with their expensive, in-house or on-premise solutions controlled entirely by their own employees, rather than "renting" via subscription a lower cost SaaS or customizable PaaS solution.

  Also, decision makers should consider that authoritative publications and research groups like the Wall Street Journal and Gartner have made it clear that the cloud has significant IT security advantages over on-premise solutions.

  BN: What makes cloud platforms a better answer for developers who work with B2B eCommerce tools? Are there any drawbacks?

  SD: Three main drivers of cloud platforms as being superior for developers include the low cost of cloud, scalability and the connectivity APIs afford. The cloud is simply a more economical and scalable way to manage eCommerce. It also allows for updates more easily in the future.

  The advent of REST APIs, coupled with cloud enables developers to build exactly what they want, integrate with existing systems and launch a superior solution for their customers.

  BN: What would you say developers should prioritize in terms of tools for building modern day eCommerce?

  SD: It is vital that developers maintain a high degree of agility. The capability to release software daily is essential. In order to accomplish that, teams must support continuous integration, automated regression testing and collaboration with customers. The ability to react to customer needs quickly will enable the delivery of the best experience possible.

  Additionally, all software created must be usable on every device. Responsive web design is a requirement now and no longer just a "nice to have".

  BN: What are the most important features and functionality?

  SD: The most important features and functionality are in the eye of the beholder. The customer knows how they want to do business and the software created needs to support that explicitly. That requires a robust data model, exposed through an API, that can be leveraged to create the custom workflows. The software should be molded to your business practices rather than the business molding to the software.

  BN: More generally speaking, how do B2B commerce systems fit into broader digital ecosystems?

  SD: B2B eCommerce is emerging from its former spot in the back-office to a forward-looking, customer-facing technology. If you look at all industries today you’ll note the trend we call "Digital Self-Service".

  This refers to technologies that enable customers to help themselves using friendly digital user interfaces. Whether you’re booking a flight, making a restaurant reservation, buying a ticket to a movie, or even purchasing your burger at McDonalds, the chance that you are doing it digitally via mobile, web or kiosk is higher than ever. B2B eCommerce is the next evolution of that journey -- now putting full digital self-service into the hands of B2B customers.

  Photo Credit: Nonnakrit/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft introduces Windows 10 Mobile update history page

  Publié: février 11, 2016, 4:24pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  Microsoft has decided to give more information about the updates it releases for Windows 10 by introducing a dedicated update history page on its site, where you can check all the major changes that the software giant includes. And, so that users of its new smartphone operating system are not left in the dark either, Windows 10 Mobile now also gets the same treatment.

  However, before you get too excited, just like the update history page for Windows 10 is not exactly filled with all the relevant information you might need, the update history page for Windows 10 Mobile is not yet ready for prime time either.

  Microsoft seems to have only started working on the page, because no update has yet been mentioned or detailed on it. Microsoft has not officially launched Windows 10 Mobile, as strange as that may be, even though the OS is shipping on smartphones like Lumia 950 XL and Lumia 950.

  Even though the said page is now void of any update information, Microsoft has, in fact, released updates for Windows 10 Mobile, for the Windows Insider program and customers who are using the version of the OS that debuted alongside the two handsets -- the final-but-not-so-final release, basically.

  With MWC 2016 coming this month, Microsoft is likely waiting to make the big announcement sometime during the conference. Or, perhaps, given the state that Windows Phone is in now, it will not bother at all. Few people would be waiting for it anyway.

  
• 

  The Internet Archive now lets you run over 1,000 Windows 3.1 programs in your browser

  Publié: février 11, 2016, 4:05pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Windows 3.1 was the first version of Windows I ever used. The Internet Archive, which has over the past couple of years made it possible to play classic DOS games and console games in your browser, has just added over 1,000 Windows 3.1 programs to its catalog.

  These include games, utilities and business software, and each can be run in your browser just by clicking on them.

  Obviously, with over 1,000 titles to choose from, you’re going to be struggling to find the really good ones to try without a bit of help, but fortunately the Internet Archive has curated some of the best here.

  Highlights of the Windows 3.x Showcase include a Windows 95 demo (something to look forward to!), Merlin: The Quest for the Wand, Election 92, Windows Adventure (a GUI edition of the classic Crowther and Woods' game), Taipei, and WinTrek.

  If you prefer, you can browse the complete software library here.

  Did you use Windows 3.1? If so what programs and games do you remember from "back in the day"?

  

  

  
• 

  The top threats to watch for in 2016

  Publié: février 11, 2016, 4:01pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Messaging and infrastructure security specialist Cloudmark has released its Annual Global Threat Report for 2015 which reveals the biggest current threats based on its crowd sourced security platform, which analyses user behavior from more than a billion subscribers.

  Top of the list is the Swizzor malware which delivers unsolicited ads, modifying browser settings without user permission. This silent threat delivers booby-trapped emails to unsuspecting users with varying subject lines. Each email contains a zip file carrying the malware payload, this uses a simple domain generation algorithm for command and control synchronization to create a large number of domains that then clash with legitimate websites and make it difficult for them to be taken down.

  Senior marketing consultant Pam Strayer writing on Cloudmark's blog says, "This under-the-radar malware uses novel URL naming conventions with common, simple words to disguise itself as normal traffic. Appearing as normal email traffic, the malware attempts to subvert typical email security and character distribution analysis".

  Shortened links were another major concern in 2015 with 25,000 different malicious links detected, of which 97 percent are email spam. Spammers are using this method as an easy way to generate an unlimited number of call-to-action URLs that redirect to a server hosting storefronts and spam content. By using multiple links it's harder for spam filtering to detect them all. This activity also reflects badly on major brands, the CNN.it URL shortener for example has been abused, peaking at 8,800 malicious URLs in a single day on 11th Jan 2016.

  Cloudmark reports that 91 percent of firms have experienced a spear phishing attack and that this is costing companies $1.6m annually. In a surprising development the report also shows that Germany has become the biggest spammer in Europe, sending more junk email than Russia, India and China.

  Cloudmark expects that as the Internet of Things creates more uses for connected devices and intelligence, criminals will find a way to take advantage for malicious purposes. For example a home security system could be hacked and instructed to unlock a door to allow a thief to enter -- or perhaps lock a victim in. Other possibilities include, spying on conversations, or filming people in the privacy of their homes using smart TVs connected to webcams.

  Other predictions are that zero day exploits will become so valuable that they may be deliberately introduced by developers so that friends can claim the bug bounty. The report also forecasts that the UK's Investigatory Powers Bill will cause other major Internet companies to follow Yahoo's lead and move their operations out of the UK to avoid being subject to this law.

  The full report is available to download from the Cloudmark website.

  Image Credit: underverse /Shutterstock

  
• 

  More consumers now care about how businesses handle their data

  Publié: février 11, 2016, 2:55pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Nearly three million Brits have decided to leave a service provider that got hacked, a new research by security firm Privitar reveals. The report shows that 23 per cent of Brits have been affected by a security breach at some point, and 24 per cent of these reacted by switching providers.

  The company says consumers now pay attention to how well a company handles data, when making choices. Even though data handling has become one of the key selling points for many companies, 52 per cent of consumers say it’s difficult to find any information on how companies store and use their personal information.

  Consumers are not ones to stick around, though -- 83 per cent have said they’d gladly switch to another service, if they believed it could manage their private data better.

  "High profile breaches such as those at TalkTalk and Ashley Madison mean that the issues of privacy and data protection have entered mainstream consumer consciousness", said Privitar CEO Jason du Preez.

  "People are taking a more active interest in how their data is used day-to-day. Organizations have two years to comply with GDPR, but those that are proactive can gain competitive advantage by winning customer trust. Organizations should look to adopt leading technology solutions to add privacy protections, particularly as part of big data analytics infrastructure and clearly communicate with their customers as to how they are protecting and using their data".

  The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is expected to become law by May, and it will force companies to adopt Privacy-by-design in new information architectures.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: Johavel / Shutterstock

  
• 

  LG announces Quick Cover for yet to be unveiled G5 flagship

  Publié: février 11, 2016, 2:30pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  LG is certainly tackling the launch of its upcoming G5 flagship differently than other major players. Earlier this month, when it announced the event during which the Android smartphone will be presented, it officially referred to it as G5. The company has also revealed that it would arrive with a so-called Active Display.

  But that is not all. Unlike other manufacturers which mention official accessories right after showcasing their latest flagship, LG has decided to talk about G5's Quick Cover ahead of the handset's unveiling next week.

  Using LG's own words, "Known as a company ahead of the times, LG took this characterization to heart by revealing the existence of the accessory before the actual product".

  This is another unusual situation, because when it comes time to discuss smartphone cases, manufacturers tend to also show how the device they are meant for fits inside. This time, because we will not know what G5 looks like until February 21, the smartphone is hidden.

  What you need to know about Quick Cover is that it is designed with G5's Active Display in mind, meaning it will enable users to, for instance, take calls without opening the cover to swipe on the display.

  LG has not discussed Active Display to fully understand what advantages it offers, but it is clear that it will enable certain things to be displayed while it appears to be turned off, similar to how the Glance screen functionality works on Lumia Windows Phones.

  Information on the display is visible through the case as well, for convenience purposes -- LG says that with the case on, G5 users also will be able to check the time and notifications.

  

  The case will be on display at MWC 2016. There is no word on availability or pricing, but we can, of course, expect it to be on sale after G5 hits the shelves.

  
• 

  Dating apps -- the good the bad and the ugly

  Publié: février 11, 2016, 12:47pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  It's coming up to Valentine's Day, so inevitably the IT industry turns its thoughts towards dating apps. Two new reports show that the apps may not be living up to expectations, and that users of them could be revealing more than they intend to.

  New research from app quality researcher Applause shows that consumers are more dissatisfied with dating apps than any other type.

  The research looked at 97 apps, with a minimum of 2,000 app store reviews, which received a quality score based on consumer sentiment on a 0-100 point scale (100 being the best score). Overall, the dating apps lagged all other apps in quality by 23 points.

  Just 11 dating apps earned quality scores of 50 or more with more than 10,000 app store reviews, including OKCupid and GROWLr by Initech. Tinder dropped by over 10 points in the last year, since Applause's first report on the category last February.

  Consumers have high expectations when it comes to their dating app's style, privacy and security. The report concludes that, "Brands looking to improve their app quality in the eyes of users would be wise to invest in usability and security audits to prioritize product improvements". The full version is available on the Applause website.

  As if that wasn’t bad enough news for the industry, software management specialist Flexera has issued a report which shows that many popular dating apps could present a security risk for enterprises when installed on BYOD devices.

  Of the 25 popular Apple iOS dating apps tested 88 percent, including Grindr, OKCupid and Tinder, are capable of accessing a device's location services. 76 percent support ad networks and 60 percent are capable of accessing the device's social networking apps as well as SMS/Texting functions.

  36 percent, including Grindr, Lovestruck and OKCupid, are capable of accessing the device's calendar, and 24 percent, including Blendr, Hinge and Tinder, are capable of accessing the address book.

  The full report is available on the Flexera website and there’s an infographic summary of the findings below.

  

  Photo Credit: JoeyBear/Shutterstock

  
• 

  The problem with current 'smart' access control systems

  Publié: février 11, 2016, 11:49am CET par Hector Hoyos

  

  There’s been an explosion in products that promise to make our facilities, assets, networks and cloud resources "smarter", more secure and safe, but do they?

  With control system hacks on the rise and traditional lock/entrance manufacturers like Honeywell, Assa Abloy and Stanley developing more intelligent lock systems, it’s clear that enterprises in hospitality, healthcare and government are looking for a more granular access control that increases security.

  These smart access control systems frequently use an RFID, keypad entry, sensors or radio receivers for remotes or smartphones to grant access. To switch over to these systems, there’s usually a very large upfront cost as infrastructure of the network and power must be installed to all controlled access doors, the door hardware must be replaced, and a central system established. Additionally, these systems require backup power options in case of a power loss, and cards and badges must be issued to each employee.

  But what happens if your employee loses an access card? There’s a chance it could get into the wrong hands.

  This is certainly an issue for concern, but the true root of the problem with current smart access control systems isn’t simple human error. It’s that most of these current systems are connected to facilities’ business networks, like Z-Wave, NFC or WiFi, making the switches, gates and locks being controlled remotely accessible. This might sound convenient, but it’s actually making these smart access control systems accessible for remote attacks because of how easy their frequencies can be scanned and hacked into. It’s as simple as searching on YouTube to find "how-to" videos on hacking physical access control systems.

  Whether it’s a malicious attacker or disgruntled employee, if the attacker was to gain access into a server room or an office building they could put your whole organization at risk. Attackers could steal easy-to-grab devices with sensitive information on them, delete and alter information, disrupt normal business operations, hack into a system and cause a data breach or worse -- physically harm your employees.

  So is there an alternative? Biometric security in smart access control systems have significant advantages over all other forms of identification, authentication and verification. It’s fast and easy to use; it doesn’t need a token or fob. And unlike a key code password, which requires memorization and is easily replicable, an individual’s fingerprints, irises, facial constructs and other biological traits should be impossible to duplicate.

  However, companies need end-to-end security frameworks that encrypt and protect biometric information to ensure the proper level of authentication and verification -- limiting access to a physical location. After all, the threats to data are everywhere. For instance, many companies believe that because their location is controlled remotely by their phone or computer, the data inside is safe. To the contrary, thieves can install malware into the device and gain access into a location without direct contact. Data breaches have been similarly achieved through email, apps and the interception of a Wi-Fi connection.

  Standards also matter when dealing with biometric-based access control systems. Without having proper standardization in place to clearly secure and authenticate someone’s identity in a comprehensive manner, information is left open to attack.

  For biometrics, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has created the Biometric Open Protocol Standard (BOPS) or as it’s called, 2410. With this, organizations can create and use biometric-based technologies that allow people to safely and effectively authenticate access into secure locations without the need of key cards and passwords.

  In the coming years, biometrics have the potential to be the leading security metric for smart access control systems, but a single ultra-hack could derail this progression permanently. It’s up to today’s companies to recognize the importance of protecting biometric data, as this is vital step for protecting its assets in the future.

  Photo credit: ra2studio / Shutterstock

  Hector Hoyos is the founder and CEO at Hoyos Labs, one of the leading innovative biometrics, authentication and identification technology companies. He’s been in the biometrics and IT fields since the mid-1980s as the founder and president of various cutting-edge companies.

  
• 

  Don't have TV service? You can watch the Super Bowl on Windows and other devices

  Publié: février 7, 2016, 8:37pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  We're now counting down the hours to the kickoff of Super Bowl 50, which begins at 6:30PM EST when the Denver Broncos meet with the Carolina Panthers in Santa Clara, California. The fact the big game is carried by network TV was a problem a few years ago for anyone who had cut the cord, but those days are changing and doing so quickly.

  These days you have options that weren't available in those earlier times. In fact, it's not even just the game, but the halftime show and even the commercials, which sometimes become the real star of the game.

  The network plans to carry it via its CBS Sports app, which has been rolling out on many different platforms. There's a dedicated Windows 8 and 10 app, but if you're on an older version of Windows (or you're on a Mac) then you aren't out of luck, as you can head to CBSSports.com and watch it there.

  The apps from the network are also available for many other platforms, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire tablets and Android devices.

  But what about the commercials? Amazon will be airing its first Super Bowl ad, featuring Alec Baldwin, Dan Marino and Missy Elliot. You can watch that now on the retailer's YouTube channel. In addition, the company informs us it is "releasing a behind-the-scenes blooper reel from the making of the teasers and commercial, which will be live on Amazon and YouTube at 9AM PST on February 8th". There's even "Missy's Party Popping Playlist" available through Prime Music.

  You can also catch all of the ads on YouTube, including ones from past games. If you visit AdBlitz then you can even vote for your favorite. In fact, many of the ones you will see later are already available there.

  Image Credit: Mark Herreid / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Julian Assange can't be allowed to hide behind the skirts of WikiLeaks to avoid answering rape allegations

  Publié: février 7, 2016, 6:17pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Like Edward Snowden, Julian Assange is an incredibly divisive character. Just as Snowden is viewed by some as a hero for exposing the activities of the NSA, so Assange is viewed as a hero for exposing -- amongst other things -- the darker side of the US military through WikiLeaks. But both figures are also viewed as villains by those who believe that their whistleblowing has endangered national security.

  While Snowden scampered off to Russia to avoid the US legal system, Assange took refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. While it's certainly true that he's a man of interest for the US which ultimately seeks to prosecute him over the activities of WikiLeaks, Assange is actually holed up in the UK to escape extradition to Sweden where he faces questioning over allegations of rape. He has continually used the additional prospect of extradition to the US for WikiLeaks-related questioning as an excuse for not facing the music in Sweden. This is just about as wrong as it's possible to be.

  Edward Snowden riled the US government with his exposé of NSA surveillance and he felt that this meant there was no way he would be able to receive a fair trial. Julian Assange has used a similar argument following his work with WikiLeaks. While both men's fears may be well-founded, Assange stands accused of the ultimate violation -- rape. There can simply be no excuse for not answering to these allegations.

  In the last week, Assange's appeal to the United Nations went in his favor. The UN panel decided that his time in the Ecuadorean Embassy amounted to 'arbitrary detention'. Except it didn't. Over the course of the last several years, Assange has only been held against his will for a period of 10 days after having been arrested in London back in late 2010. He was then released on bail, but in 2012 when it was decided that he could be extradited to Sweden to face the rape allegations, he decided to seek 'political asylum' at Ecuador's embassy in London.

  Despite anything Assange may say, he has been free to leave the embassy at any time since walking through its doors; he chose not to. He chose not to, presumably, because he would instantly have been arrested and carted off to Sweden. But that's not the story he's putting forward. He wants the world to feel that he has been detained. This is just utterly untrue.

  It has been suggested that the rape allegations are completely false, having been fabricated simply to get Assange into the legal system so he can be handed over to the US to talk about WikiLeaks. This is likely a construct of the conspiracy theorists, but it doesn’t matter either way. Assange has been accused of rape. He needs to be seen to go through the relevant legal processes to either clear his name or receive the relevant punishment. Any talk of possible extradition to the US is being used as a smokescreen and a distraction -- the rape allegations need to be dealt with first and then, and only then, does the US/WikiLeaks side of the story come into play.

  WikiLeaks has done some fabulous work exposing the nefarious activities of governments, militaries, individuals and companies around the world. For this -- and ignoring the fact that he is an utter odious man (regardless of the veracity of rape allegations) -- Assange is to be applauded. Just like Snowden, he has brought to light important matters that the public needed to know about. But it shouldn't act as a get out of jail free card.

  There is a possibility that Assange would, ultimately, be extradited from Sweden to the US. But it is a possibility rather than a certainty. He has already proved himself perfectly capable of evading justice, and there's no reason to think that he wouldn't be able to do this again. But if he is to be taken seriously, Assange needs to show that he is a man of principle and stop hiding behind the skirts of WikiLeaks.

  Face the rape allegation and then fight US extradition. It's simple, really. If Assange can’t be seen to do the right thing, he is going to very quickly lose any support he has, and the good work WikiLeaks has achieved will be undone -- if not literally, then symbolically.

  Photo credit: haak78 / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Now the Pirate Bay lets you stream just about anything for free

  Publié: février 7, 2016, 4:05pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Legalities aside, there is one problem with content made available through the likes of the Pirate Bay. Whether you use traditional torrents or magnet links, you'll (usually) need to wait for a download to complete before you can enjoy the movie, show, or album of your choice. But not anymore.

  A new beta feature for the world-famous torrent site makes it possible to stream videos without the need to download them first. By integrating the Torrents-Time plugin, the Pirate Bay now includes a Stream It option for all video torrents.

  Of course, pirate streams are nothing new, but integrating the option into such a high-profile site helps to bring it to the masses. It means that the Pirate Bay can now be considered more of a destination rather than just a means to an end -- searching and viewing can now all take place in the browser without the need for any additional software.

  Just as with downloading torrents, the ability to stream is dependent on connecting to a large enough number of seeds. Perform a search as normal, and as well as the familiar comment and magnet links, you'll also find a Stream It link. Click this and a new window will open to house the selected video -- the first time steaming is attempted, users are prompted to install the Torrents-Time plugin.

  

  The player itself is a fairly basic affair -- this is a beta, remember -- but it still includes subtitles, Chromecast, Airplay, and DLNA support. It works with Chrome, Internet Explorer and Firefox on Windows and OS X.

  
• 

  Twitter may not be dead after all -- Jack says your timeline is safe... for now

  Publié: février 7, 2016, 1:46pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Twitter went slightly nuts over the last couple of days. Suggestions that the chronological timeline was to be ditched in favor of one controlled by an algorithm gave birth to the #RIPTwitter hashtag. But the panic may have been for nought; Jack Dorsey wants to clear things up.

  The Twitter founder took to the site to assure its users that a timeline change is not on the cards -- at least not next week. But what he says may not completely quell the fears of those who have been talking about the death of Twitter.

  He says: "I *love* real-time. We love the live stream. It's us. And we're going to continue to refine it to make Twitter feel more, not less, live!" Quite how it's possible to feel, or be, 'more live' remains to be seen, but Twitter seems to be learning that it needs to listen to its users. Dorsey tried to reassure users by saying: "Thank you all for your passion and trust. We will continue to work to earn it, and we will continue to listen, and talk!".

  The speed with which Dorsey took to twitter to try to allay fear about timelines is impressive. But his tweet is worded in such a way that it does not rule out the possibility of an algorithmic timeline being introduced:

  Hello Twitter! Regarding #RIPTwitter: I want you all to know we're always listening. We never planned to reorder timelines next week.

  — Jack (@jack) February 6, 2016

  The key words here could well be next week. Considering the backlash that the original story brought about, you would have thought that Dorsey would have been keen to completely squash the rumor. He chose not to, leaving the door open for changes at some point further down the line.

  Photo credit: Jeff Cameron Collingwood / Shutterstock

  
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  What I Don't Like About Apple iPad Pro [third in a series]

  Publié: février 7, 2016, 8:24am CET par Joe Wilcox

  

  Day 5 morning, and I am close to returning the iPad Pro to T-Mobile. There are too many quirks that reaffirm my contention in this series' second post: Apple's big-ass tablet is a proof-of-concept device that's ready, or so I thought, for few users (digital content creators) but not the masses. Now I wonder if the thang is ready for anyone.

  Setting up Apple Pencil should be as easy as pulling off the rear cap, inserting into Lightning port, and acknowledging Bluetooth connect request prompt. But there is no response from the tablet, after a half-dozen attempts, so I Google for solutions. No luck there, and I check Bluetooth settings, where the device doesn't appear. Disconnect my Harman Kardon speakers. No change. Turn off and on Bluetooth. Nope. Detach Pencil, try again. Success! Device shows up, pairs, then disconnects, and stays that way until I try again, and then it's "Groundhog Day" time. I'm Bill Murray reliving the same moment over and over without progress.

  Resolution comes applying the tried-and-proven troubleshooting tactic: Shut down and restart. Afterwards, plugging into the Lightning port pops the permission prompt. I accept, and Pencil plows digital ink across Adobe Procreate. Something here feels too much like Windows XP during the promised plug-and-play early days. In September I complained about an overall decline in Apple software quality over the past two years. Dare I say buggy?

  No Pencil pusher this AM, other things nag. A fair number of websites appear oversized, with fonts bigger than my fingernail. They're effing huge. Some Amazon ebooks are similar, where opening them on iPad Pro enters this magnified reading realm for the nearly blind. Google+ is among the like-magnified offenders, and no setting I find remedies the need to pull way back from the screen to get something resembling reader-friendliness. Hello, developers, can we properly scale apps for the larger screen, please?

  The annoyances cumulate: Feedly can't open posts in Chrome, but Safari works just fine. The key combo to bring up a current webpage search box sometimes works in Chrome, but often doesn't. The culmination of these fumbles added to so many other quirks or visual heartbreaks saps some of my enthusiasm for iPad Pro.

  Physical size continues to be a dilemma. Is the tablet too big? Set up in landscape orientation with Apple Smart Keyboard attached, the size and dimensions are superior to any Mac laptop. The omission of a trackpad, while strange at first, is brilliant design. I find being closer to the screen, without all that wasted space around the trackpad, to improve typing speed, better my posture, and give greater sense of intimacy.

  However, as a tablet, iPad Pro is godawful big, measuring 305.7 x 220.6 x 6.9 mm (12 x 8.68 x .27 inches). The cellular plus WiFi variant, which I own, weights 723 grams (1.59 pounds), while the non-LTE tab is 10 grams less (1.57 pounds).

  Thinness, lightness, and excellent physical balance make limited one-hand carrying quite manageable. Nevertheless, I nearly dropped the tab more than once, and that's a problem I haven't encountered with any other. The thing looks too big in my hands, an impression magnified when gigantic text fills the screen. iPad Pro doesn't look or feel like a lug-around tablet. If the landscape experience is so good, then wouldn't a touchscreen MacBook be better? I can't escape that question, which nags and makes me consider returning this beast during the 14-day buyer's remorse period.

  Okay, I've vented my frustrations. A follow-up post will put aside grievances and get into what I like about iPad Pro. The device does deliver many benefits and might just be laptop enough for my needs, or even yours. Maybe. It's too soon to say.

  This post is the third in a series; Parts One and Two.

  Photo Credit: Joe Wilcox

  
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  European Court of Human Rights says websites are not responsible for reader comments

  Publié: février 6, 2016, 8:47pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  In something of a landmark ruling, the European Court of Human Rights says that websites cannot be held liable for comments left by readers. The ruling comes after a Hungarian website was sued over the content of messages left by readers.

  The court said that if websites were held responsible for comments, it would constitute a breach of the right to free expression. Even in the case of 'offensive and vulgar' comments, providing nothing unlawful was written -- such as hate speech -- Hungarian news site Index.hu, and others, could not be held responsible for readers' comments.

  The ECHR's ruling came after Index.hu was sued by a real estate agent back in 2013 after the company was described in a comment as a "sly, rubbish, mug company". While the site took down the comments in question as soon as they were flagged, but its lawyers expressed concern that readers' right to free expression would be restricted if it was expected to look out for and take action on all comments that people took exception to.

  As explained by the BBC:

  Under the European Convention on Human Rights, which has been in force since 1953, freedom of expression is a right which everyone has.

  It includes the freedom to communicate 'information and ideas' without interference from public bodies.

  However, the right is limited.

  States may restrict freedom of expression in the interests of national security, in order to prevent crime, or to protect health or morals, among other things.

  In its ruling, the court said:

  The Court notes that it was not in dispute between the parties that the applicants' freedom of expression guaranteed under Article 10 of the Convention had been interfered with by the domestic courts' decisions. The Court sees no reason to hold otherwise.

  Such an interference with the applicant company's right to freedom of expression must be "prescribed by law", have one or more legitimate aims in the light of paragraph 2 of Article 10, and be "necessary in a democratic society".

  Referring to a previous case in which site comments were found be best dealt with on a notice-and-take-down basis:

  [...] the Court found that if accompanied by effective procedures allowing for rapid response, the notice-and-take-down-system could function in many cases as an appropriate tool for balancing the rights and interests of all those involved. The Court sees no reason to hold that such a system could not have provided a viable avenue to protect the commercial reputation of the plaintiff. It is true that, in cases where third-party user comments take the form of hate speech and direct threats to the physical integrity of individuals, the rights and interests of others and of the society as a whole might entitle Contracting States to impose liability on Internet news portals if they failed to take measures to remove clearly unlawful comments without delay, even without notice from the alleged victim or from third parties. However, the present case did not involve such utterances.

  Photo credit: Flat Design / Shutterstock

  
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  Windows 10 phones home (A LOT) even with all reporting and telemetry disabled

  Publié: février 6, 2016, 8:32pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  One computer user has become so disillusioned with Windows 10's spying features that he has been driven to using Linux Mint as his primary operating system. But Voat user CheesusCrust was curious to find out just how pervasive Microsoft's privacy invasion is. The results of his investigation are quite staggering.

  Using a router kitted out with DD-WRT, and a copy of Windows 10 Enterprise installed in a virtual machine on his Linux laptop, he started by disabling every single one of the tracking and telemetry features found in the operating system. Eight hours later, 4,000 connection attempts to 93 different IP addresses were logged, with most of these IPs addresses being linked to Microsoft.

  Explaining his setup on Voat, CheesusCrust said that he used a completely virgin installation of Windows 10 which had been used only to verify that the internet connection was working properly. Perl was then used to pull 8 hours of data from log files and push them into a MySQL database. Perl was also used to obtain route data for any connections. Presenting the results, CheesuCrust says:

  Here is the roughly 8-hour network traffic analysis of 5508 connection attempts of an unused, base install of Windows 10 Enterprise (NOTE: I did not remove any 192.168.1.x home network IP addresses from the analysis).

  Broken down, this works out to 3967 connection attempts to 51 different Microsoft IP addresses. You can see full tabulated results on Voat.

  With Microsoft facing unprecedented levels of criticism for its lack of transparency over spying components, these findings will serve only to add fuel to the fire. The fact that it was the Enterprise edition of Windows 10 that was used for testing is likely to raise further questions.

  Photo credit: Stanislaw Mikulski / Shutterstock

  
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  Apple says it is bricking iPhones with Error 53 for security reasons

  Publié: février 6, 2016, 6:59pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  You wouldn't expect a simple iOS update to completely kill your iPhone, but this is exactly what is happening. Users who took their handsets to a third party for repair and subsequently updated their software have run into error 53 and a bricked handset. Apple is not only aware of the problem, but says that it is intentional.

  As we learned the other day, the problem seems to arise for people who have had their home key (specifically) fixed by a non-Apple-authorized repairer. Apple has now admitted that iOS detects the home key has been tinkered with, and says that Error 53 is a move to 'protect our customers' -- customers who will, presumably, think twice before upgrading to an iPhone 7.

  The reason for the extreme security measures taken by Apple is that the home key houses the Touch ID sensor. The fear is clearly that the button could be replaced with one that includes a hacked sensor so Apple has decided that in order to prevent unauthorized access to iPhones and iPads, all access will be blocked -- and this is achieved by unceremoniously bricking said devices.

  In a statement to the Guardian, Apple defended what is happening by saying:

  We take customer security very seriously and Error 53 is the result of security checks designed to protect our customers. iOS checks that the Touch ID sensor in your iPhone or iPad correctly matches your device’s other components.

  If iOS finds a mismatch, the check fails and Touch ID, including for Apple Pay use, is disabled. This security measure is necessary to protect your device and prevent a fraudulent Touch ID sensor from being used. If a customer encounters Error 53, we encourage them to contact Apple Support.

  It’s hard to imagine a comparable scenario in which the arbitrary disabling of an expensive device, that has not been reported stolen, would be deemed acceptable. Upon contacting Apple Support, an admission by customers that a third party repairer has been used is an admission of violating the company's terms and conditions. This means that Apple charges customers handsomely for the privilege of replacing their bricked handsets, magically recouping the money -- and more -- lost to the third party.

  Photo credit: Petlia Roman / Shutterstock

  
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  #RIPTwitter? What's with all the hoopla?

  Publié: février 6, 2016, 2:59pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  There have been changes aplenty at Twitter as the company fights to remain relevant in an increasingly crowded social marketplace. There have been rumors that the famous 140-character limit could be dropped, and we're already seeing Twitter dropping the requirement to be logged into an account in order to see conversations. Just like Facebook, Twitter has also experimented with changing the order in which content appears in users' timelines, and it seems like this is something that's due to spread to everyone.

  The company could be on the verge of launching a new algorithm-powered timeline that displays tweets not in reverse chronological order, but based on what it thinks you might want to see. Before the change has even been implemented, there has already been something of a backlash, with many people suggesting this could be the death of Twitter. The hashtag #RIPTwitter quickly started trending and is home to vocal opposition to the change.

  While nothing concrete has been confirmed by Twitter, we already know that timeline changes have been previewed to small groups of users. Buzzfeed reports that the new timeline structure could roll out to everyone as early as next week, and a Twitterstorm has blown up questioning not only Twitter's motives, but also its future.

  One of the main arguments being voiced against changing the way tweets are displayed is that it takes control away from users. The Twitterati have chosen who they want to follow on the site, they don't need to have content surfaced that they 'might be interested in'. Without knowing quite how the algorithm works, it's hard to say whether its implementation will simply mean seeing broadly the same content in a slightly different order -- which could play havoc with people trying to follow a narrative through tweets from numerous people -- or if Twitter will take this as an opportunity to extend its advertising and promoted tweets programs.

  Twitter is accused of trying to ape Facebook, and users are angry that the company should be so arrogant as to assume to know better than individuals what they might want to see. In choosing who to follow, users have already indicated what or who they are interested in; bringing other content to the fore runs counter to this idea.

  But it might not all be bad news -- if, indeed, you regard the timeline change as bad news. NBC's Josh Sternberg suggests that the algorithm may not be forced on everyone, but will in fact be optional:

  Sources at Twitter tell me algorithms are strictly opt in.

  — Josh Sternberg (@joshsternberg) February 6, 2016

  This is certainly not the first time the death of Twitter has been predicted, but the angry outbursts that the latest timeline news has led to is pretty much unprecedented. Twitter may not be dead, but it's certainly treading a dangerous line and risking alienating large swathes of its users.

  It has even inspired poetry:

  Dear Twitter, I wrote you a love letter... #RIPTwitter pic.twitter.com/7a4ZtmocUI

  — Chloë Forbes-Kindlen (@C4Compete) February 6, 2016

  #RIPTwitter? Maybe not. But Twitter does need to start listening to what its users are saying they want -- an Edit button, anyone? -- rather than continuing to tell them what they want.

  Photo credit: Kornfoto.com / Shutterstock

  
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  Twitter tackles terrorists in targeted takedown

  Publié: février 6, 2016, 1:45pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Having previously battled trolls, Twitter has now turned its attention to terrorists and their supporters. The site has closed down more than 125,000 accounts associated with terrorism since the middle of 2015, it announced in a statement.

  Although a full breakdown of figures is not provided, Twitter says most of these accounts were related to ISIS. Having increased the size of its account review team, the site has reduced the time it takes to investigate accounts that are reported, and has also started to investigate 'accounts similar to those reported'.

  Twitter reveals that it is not working on its own. As well as relying on reports from Twitter users about terrorist accounts, it also works with law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, 'when appropriate'.

  The blog post points out that there is no 'magic algorithm' for identifying and tackling terrorist content online -- it is, and will always be, a very hands-on process. Pre-empting suggestions that closing accounts could be deemed censorship or an infringement of freedom of speech, Twitter says:

  As an open platform for expression, we have always sought to strike a balance between the enforcement of our own Twitter Rules covering prohibited behaviors, the legitimate needs of law enforcement, and the ability of users to share their views freely – including views that some people may disagree with or find offensive.

  Going out of its way to state the obvious, Twitter says:

  We condemn the use of Twitter to promote terrorism and the Twitter Rules make it clear that this type of behavior, or any violent threat, is not permitted on our service.

  But of course condemnation is not enough; Twitter has to be seen to be doing something. As well as advising global governments, the company has also been working with People Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.

  Photo credit: theromb / Shutterstock

  
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  Firefox OS is leaving handsets but moving on to IoT

  Publié: février 6, 2016, 12:58pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Have we heard enough about the Internet of Things yet, or is it only just the tip of the iceberg? There are more players in this game all the time, and the latest is Mozilla. Yes, the folks who produce the Firefox web browser, among other things.

  The move isn't entirely new, the organization alluded to moving its operating system here already. To date Mozilla has been testing products to bring into the fold, and it is moving forward with its plans.

  According to the organization "As of today, we have a good set of projects that have passed the first gate, including more SmartTV work (building on the success of our work with Panasonic in this space) and new opportunities such as FoxLink (a personal Web of Things) and Vaani. We’re working to open up this innovation process to non-staff participation soon".

  Vanni is an Echo-like AI device that Mozilla has big plans for, as you can see in the video below. It can answer your questions and control home automation.

  The Boot to Gecko platform will also continue moving forward and remain open source to allow developers to work with it and come up with innovative ideas.

  It remains to be seen how much traction this gets, but it seems that Mozilla is off to a solid start.

  Photo Credit: bergserg/ Shutterstock

  
• 

  Is Apple iPad Pro too big? [second in a series]

  Publié: février 6, 2016, 2:37am CET par Joe Wilcox

  

  "Look up, waaaaaay up" is a phrase familiar to Canadians of a certain age, who watched "The Friendly Giant". The kids program aired from 1958 to 1985 on CBC, which our TV antenna grabbed from the local affiliate across the border in New Brunswick (I'm from Northern Maine). There's something about iPad Pro's enormity that makes it feel more like something the Giant would use.

  My question this fine Friday: Is iPad Pro too big? For the majority of potential buyers, my answer is unequivocally yes. I don't see a product made for the majority. Whatever Apple's post-PC ambitions, iPad Pro is more a proof-of-concept for future laptop replacement. However, for the few -- creators looking for larger digital canvas -- iPad Pro offers much. For the many, the first version will work out the kinks, such as getting the app platform placed, for mass-market successors. Warning: Embracing the expansive tablet may make switching to something smaller nearly impossible. Size matters, and sometimes larger is better.

  (This is second in a series sharing my experience, observations, and review of the tablet, which I hope to use as my primary PC throughout February.)

  Deft or Daft?

  During Steve Jobs' second coming as CEO, several design ethics consistently permeated Apple products: Humanization, touch as primary user interface, and miniaturization are among the primaries. There's a living, human-like quality to using Apple tech, and you see it too rarely from other inventors in the industry. iPad Air and mini, along with iPhone, are intimate devices because of how they respond to you and the ways you caress them with your fingertips.

  Finger-first is one of Apple's oldest design ethics, going back to the original Macintosh launched 32 years ago. But touch's role started to expand with release of the click-wheel iPod in October 2001 before taking a huge leap with iPhone in June 2007. Apple is too obsessed with touch nearly nine years later, I contend. Touchless, voice-response interaction matters as much and in many ways more. iPad Pro is finger-friendly and human-like responsive but I wouldn't describe the user experience as intimate or immersive as the original 9.7-inch tab or its Air successes. Size is major reason.

  Conceptually, iPad Pro reminds  me of Microsoft's ill-begotten Windows CE for Smart Displays. The concept basically turned LCD flat-screen monitors, ranging from 10 to 15 inches, into pseudo touchscreen tablets. Mira (the codename) failed for many usability reasons -- size being the most forestalling. Carting around a PC monitor, even from den to living room made little sense in 2003 (not that Microsoft or its OEM partners understood). Apple's over-stuffed tablet isn't far removed, with respect to  screen landscape but not heft or thickness. That said, meaningful comparison stops there with respect to iPad Pro's considerably greater utility, usability, and flexibility. I refer solely to the concept of carrying around a big slab.

  Larger size pushes against Apple's long emphasis making computing devices smaller. Consider the Mac laptop's evolution for the 11.6-inch Air and 12-inch MacBook. iPod's size shrank as song capacity increased, culminating in the lovely iPod nano launched in September 2005. Less than two years later, Apple released the first iPhone, which shrank together capabilities by combining iPod's core functions with a telephony and Internet-connected device. Sure Apple sells a 27-inch iMac and once offered a 17-inch laptop, but the trend has been to put more capability into devices that are less bulky.

  Sizing Up

  The gorgeous screen is 12.9 inches diagonally, which is marketing-gimmick for making the size seem closer to 12 than to 13. iPad Pro measures 305.7 x 220.6 x 6.9 mm (12 x 8.68 x .27 inches). The cellular plus WiFi variant, which I own, weights 723 grams (1.59 pounds), while the non-LTE tab is 10 grams less (1.57 pounds). However, Apple's Smart Keyboard cover makes the heft more like 12-inch MacBook, which weighs 920 grams (2.03 pounds).

  Thinness and lightness counter-balance the screen's expanse. Remarkably, iPad Pro is thinner than iPhone 6s, which is 7.1 mm thick. Regarding that one-and-a-half pounds, consider third-generation iPad, which bulked up for the battery to 662 grams (1.46 pounds). While being heavier, the Pro feels lighter because of balance, which is the hallmark of good design -- particularly for things that are handled. Digital cameras with detachable lenses are good examples of the concept in practice.

  Physical balance is paramount. Consider the automobile you drive to work, the aerodynamics and how the vehicle turns. An aerodynamically unbalanced auto will vibrate or burn fuel faster. Likewise, an unbalanced SLR camera will be clumsy in the hand when telephoto lenses are attached, if design isn’t balanced.

  For the size, iPad Pro has superb balance. That's despite the laptop-like screen size in the hand. However, the tablet is a bit clumsy to handle when attached to the Smart Keyboard. Unfolding from cover to stand operation can be awkward, and I suspect some people could drop the kit. Expect five or more seconds versus the immediacy of opening a laptop lid. As a slate, however, waking and using the Pro is similar to iPad Air 2. It's quick!

  The 4:3 aspect ratio feels more sensible on this tablet than 9.7-inch iPads. In landscape mode, with keyboard attached, the view is more expansive and satisfying than the 16:9 of MacBook Air or 16:10 of the Pro models. If Apple wants the larger tablet to replace laptops, the screen's physical presentation is a check for the plus column.

  Portrait mode usage will be a matter of taste. Some people won't like holding the larger tablet. That said, because of fabulous balance, after four days use, my arms don't tire as expected from holding the extra weight. Think of the Pro as being large magazine size (why Rolling Stone for comparative photo) or small picture book. After first feeling the tablet was too large, my perception changed. iPad Air looks puny, undersized, now, If you think that's a vote for bigger being better, perhaps it is.

  Nevertheless, despite iPad Pro's relative thinness and lightness, the overall size, shape, and aspect ratio make for one big-ass tablet. Stated differently, the proportions appeal in landscape mode attached to the Smart Keyboard. Held in portrait orientation, the tablet is too wide, like someone who is overweight. No, wait. Short, squat, and overly-wide. The emotional connotations are negative.

  The large display, which resolution is 2732 by 2048 at 264 pixels per inch, is a fantastic canvas for consuming and creating content -- much more so than Apple's smaller alternatives. This usage benefit, more than anything else, pushes iPad Pro into the PC replacement category. Artists are going to love Pencil, which I will discuss in a follow-up post that also discusses the overall app experience. Four days usage is far too short a time to properly broach the topic. But even this short of time in, I see the appeal for creative types. Caveat: If the canvas isn't too big, something further testing can answer. Some artists might prefer iPad Air 3 and Pencil to double-wide Pro. Supply stores sell different size sketch pads for a reason. One size doesn't fit all.

  And another category: Baby Boomers who are long-time Apple loyalists should find the massive screen real estate better for diminished vision. Every company should be designing with some thought to the rapidly aging population, and in the case of established Apple customers that means money to spend. Starting price is $799 for the 32GB WiFi iPad Pro.

  Why No Touchscreen Notebook?

  One last topic remains regarding size and the justification for choosing the oversized-tablet for any purpose, including PC replacement: Why is there no touchscreen Mac laptop? My answer: iPhone. Apple's active iOS install base is 1 billion, while during calendar fourth quarter 2015 the handset accounted for more than two-thirds of overall revenue. OS X is not the company's leading platform but iOS, which already is optimized for touchscreens. It's sensible that Apple should push the platform forward for PC-like utility and usability.

  My feeling four days in: iPad Pro is for the few not the many, but that's nevertheless a viable and worthwhile market. Meanwhile, the device is proof-of-concept pushing iOS upwards. Platform maturity, or even successor tab, could tip the scales for the masses.

  Don't forget the less-is-more principle. Too many professional reviewers hang up on iPad Pro or any other contextual cloud-connected device as needing to do as much as a PC to replace it. Of course not. There is a "good enough" threshold. For many people, a smartphone is computer enough, and it's a more natural progression for an iOS-only user to go to iPad Pro than a personal computer running any operating system.

  Microsoft has proved with Surface Pro that there is a market for a 12-inch class device that is both tablet and PC. The company's slate also benefits from a mature desktop operating system capable of running many windowed applications together. From physical design, and associated balance of benefits, I regard Surface Pro 4 to be superior, something a future post in this series will explore.

  That said, in some ways SP4 does too much and not enough. Windows 10 complexity and confusion are greater for a touchscreen tab, while many of the most appealing or popular apps available for Android or iOS are missing. While I regard Apple's UI as being tired, it is nevertheless less complex and more mature with respect to applications than Windows 10.

  Will I still feel this way in a couple of weeks?

  Photo Credit: Joe Wilcox

  
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  Microsoft: Windows 10 will keep you safe, and this is how

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 9:32pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  The reason Microsoft has given for pushing Windows 10 so aggressively is it wants to get users to a "safe place". Very altruistic. Although there’s no excuse for forcing users to upgrade in the manner that it has.

  Still, there’s no questioning that Windows 10 is Microsoft’s safest operating system to date and to help sell the security benefits, the software giant has put together a web page detailing how the OS can protect you from modern security threats.

  There are headings on Secure Devices, Identity Protection, Information Protection and Threat Resistance, and links to information relating to solutions such as Device Integrity, Cryptographic Processing, Microsoft Passport, Windows Hello, and SmartScreen.

  Microsoft is clearly targeting businesses in its introduction:

  Addressing today’s threats requires a new approach. Windows 10 offers architectural changes that protect from the inside out and go well beyond perimeter defense and building bigger walls.

  If you look back at how security threats have evolved over time, you’ll find some disturbing trends. Enterprises that are used to attacks from individuals and small groups that were out for mischief or personal notoriety have been replaced by well-funded criminal organizations seeking profit. More recently these criminal organizations have been joined by highly clandestine organizations with ulterior motives and whose attacks appear to succeed at will.

  The harsh reality is that the attackers have acquired the advantage, and if your organization is in the crosshairs, it’s not a question of whether the attackers can get access to your network, it’s a question of how fast they can do it and how long will it take you to find out. It often takes months to detect and almost as long to remediate.

  So what exactly has Microsoft done to keep users safe? According to the software giant:

  In Windows 10, we have made significant architectural changes to the platform, many of which address tactics used in the attacks that you have been reading about or have personally experienced. These changes are not just defensive measures that present steeper walls for attackers to climb; they are improvements that take critical tactics off the table, in some cases entirely. To achieve this goal, Windows 10 takes full advantage of state-of-the-art hardware technologies to help protect user identities, information, and devices against hacking and malware threats.

  You can read about how Windows 10 protects users from security threats here. Do you trust Microsoft to keep you safe, or do you rely on other third-party tools?

  Photo Credit: Shutterstock/alphaspirit

  
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  Microsoft Azure IoT hub is now available -- here's what you need to know

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 9:32pm CET par Alasdair Gilchrist

  

  Microsoft has released the latest component of its cloud IoT suite, the Azure IoT hub, which was first announced back in September.

  Azure IoT Hub is designed to make it easy to connect IoT devices to the cloud as well as allowing bidirectional communication, with device to cloud telemetry and cloud to device commands.

  These bidirectional messages are then secured and authenticated, thereby ensuring privacy and confidentiality. Additionally, Azure IoT Hub provides access to libraries for all the most popular languages and platforms, which provide the tools to reliably and securely make the connection to the solution back-end.

  If you are unable to use the libraries then Azure IoT Hub also exposes a range of public protocols and extensibility such as AMQP 1.0 and HTTP 1.1, as well as MQTT via the Azure gateway protocol. Azure IoT Hub can also scale to millions of connected devices and simultaneously millions of events per second making it suitable for even the largest field deployments.

  However what differentiates Azure IoT Hub from the many other services and platforms is its processing power, with the ability to process millions of events per second on your hot path by using an event processor engine. It can also store them on your cold path for analysis. IoT Hub retains the event data for up to seven days to guarantee reliable processing and to absorb peaks in the load.

  Microsoft’s policy is to charge for Azure IoT hub on a per-message basis, in both directions, for example whether from a device to cloud, or from the cloud to a device. However, Microsoft does offers a free trial that lets users try out the service with up to 500 devices and sending up to 8,000 messages per day.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Image Credit: Ahmetov_Ruslan / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Heading to the Super Bowl? Stay away from these apps.

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 8:58pm CET par Dylan OConnor

  

  Last year’s Super Bowl brought in over  114.5 million viewers worldwide, and chances are even more are gearing up to watch the big game this weekend (we’ll let you decide if it’s for the football or the commercials). While much of the focus should be on the big screen broadcasting the plays, it’s inevitable that viewers will pull their phones out of their pockets throughout the game. With 52 percent of smartphone owners reporting that they check their devices several times an hour or more frequently, and the Super Bowl typically lasts about four hours, it’s almost a given that you’ll be looking at your mobile device at some point during the game.

  Social networking apps will probably take up the most time on the phone screen, as last year’s Super Bowl saw more than 28.4 million global tweets, making #SB49 the most tweeted Super Bowl ever. Facebook also boasted some impressive stats, with more than 65 million people posting about the game, including 55 million from the U.S. alone. During the final play of the game (which sealed the deal for a win for the Patriots), over 1.3 million unique people per minute were active on Super Bowl-related content.

  Nachos and wings are fine, but these apps aren’t

  Sharing game day photos, videos and posts on social apps are totally acceptable -- and typically not dangerous. However, if you’re watching the game from inside Levi’s Stadium or your favorite bar and are connected to the public Wi-Fi, there are some apps that you’re definitely going to want to avoid.

  The first is tax software apps, which we hope nobody is signing into anyway during the Super Bowl, especially not if connected to an unsecure network. Next is online banking apps -- want to check your balance before paying your friend back for the wings and nachos? Take a look at home before the game, or disconnect from the public Wi-Fi and use your carrier network instead. Third is any health, medical or benefits portals or apps, which includes access through unencrypted websites (think "http" instead of "https"). Again, we hope that you’re not using the Super Bowl as a reminder to schedule your next doctor’s appointment! Finally, stay away from any applications that store or use your credit card data to conduct a transaction. No impulse buy is ever worth credit card theft.

  What else can you do?

  This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t connect to the public Wi-Fi during the game, but a reminder that you should always be careful and aware of your usage of that network. When possible, avoid staying logged into applications or websites on your mobile device that is connected to the public network. It’s possible (and strongly recommended) to configure your device to not automatically connect to unsecured Wi-Fi networks by default, so adjust your settings now so you don’t have to think twice.

  The Super Bowl should be about friends, family, food and football -- not fraud. Keep it that way by avoiding these four types of apps on your mobile device.

  Dylan OConnor is the CTO of Thrive Networks. You can reach him on Twitter at @dylanoconnor.

  .

  
• 

  Industry's reaction to Europe's new EU-US Privacy Shield

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 8:17pm CET par Holly Hunter

  

  After months of negotiations, this week saw the European Commission (EC) announce a replacement to Safe Harbor after it was declared invalid in October 2015.

  The new framework, dubbed the EU-US Privacy Shield, has been put in place to protect the rights of Europeans when their data is transferred to the United States and ensure legal certainty for businesses.

  So what implications does this have for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic? And what do businesses need to do now to ensure they comply with this new framework? We speak to industry experts to get their views.

  A Responsibility for Data Sovereignty

  Deema Freij, global privacy officer, at Intralinks, feels data sharing can’t be taken for granted any more. "Companies and their cloud providers are more responsible than ever for data sovereignty, and this responsibility is only going to increase when the GDPR is adopted, leaving organizations with a two-year time limit to comply. The penalties for wrongdoing are well-publicized and severe for companies which fail to adapt to the new data privacy landscape".

  "At the moment, businesses have switched -- or are switching -- to other legal solutions so they are able to transfer personal data to the US -- in a bid to avoid any issues with the decision invalidating Safe Harbor 1.0 by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Those legal solutions include EU-prescribed Model Clauses. Now, if organizations choose to stay on these model clauses, nothing will change, and they can still use them to support data transfers globally. Model clauses work for all data transfers -- not exclusively for transfer of personal data to the US -- but they are admin-heavy", said Freij.

  "Alternatively, they can use Safe Harbor 2.0 as a means of transferring personal data from the European Economic Area (EEA) to the US -- and it won’t be as much of an administrative burden. Model clauses will still be needed for any other data transfers outside of the EEA, however", added Freij.

  Issues with Self-Regulation

  Safe Harbor has historically been a self-regulated framework and David Mount, director, security solutions consulting EMEA, at Micro Focus, believes this is one of the core issues with any alternative.

  "Historically, companies have proved their compliance with the agreement by ticking a box stating that the company adheres to the principles of Safe Harbor and has adequate controls in place. There are some fundamental issues with this, since self-certification does not foster trust and transparency -- in fact, it does the opposite", said Mount.

  "It’s important to create more transparency around what data is being stored, what can be shared and what the purpose of this is, but levels of trust are always going to be low in a self-regulated environment. It will be interesting to see how negotiations have addressed the arguably conflicting ideas of trust and self-certification, and whether there is any other way to effectively police data sharing when there is so much data and so many parties involved", added Mount.

  The Movement of Data

  But what about managing the data itself?

  "Meeting the requirements of EU data privacy standards is extremely challenging at the best of times, let alone when the goal posts are constantly being moved", said Richard Shaw, senior director, field technical operations, EMEA at MapR, "Fundamentally though, how an organization is able to adapt to this is largely dependent on how it manages its data".

  "The reality is that the sheer volume of data an organization of even modest proportions generates these days is staggering. This means that the only way to effectively provide the US authorities with the information they demand in a way that complies with all mandated regulatory requirements, is by automating governance processes around management, control, and analysis of data. Compliance protocols can be embedded into the system, guarding against nefarious intervention by rogue elements. Without this level of management and control over data the task becomes a manual effort, that’s simply not fit for purpose", added Shaw.

  Access to Real-Time Traffic Patterns

  However, just addressing the challenges of a new framework from a data residence perspective is incomplete at best, said Dave Allen, SVP & general counsel at Dyn.

  "Businesses need to understand that the actual paths data travels are also a very important factor to consider, and in many ways a more complex problem given the constraints that come with the cross-border routing of data across several sovereign states", said Allen.

  “While there is no silver bullet for compliance with the emerging regulatory regimes that govern data flows, visibility into routing paths along the open Internet and private networks need to be seriously considered by businesses that rely on the global Internet to serve their customers. In this era of emerging geographic restrictions, having access to traffic patterns in real time, along with geo-location information, provides a much more complete solution to the challenges posed by the EU-US Privacy Shield framework", added Allen.

  Encryption and On-Premise Keys 

  Security should also be a consideration here. In light of the stronger obligations, safeguards and transparency of data brought about by the EU-US Privacy Shield, Peter Galvin, senior VP of Strategy at Thales e-Security, notes that techniques such as encryption will ensure information is protected, regardless of its location.

  "Robust encryption ensures the safety and security of data wherever it is in the world, allowing organizations to leverage cloud-based infrastructures while ensuring the safety of their sensitive data", said Galvin.

  "Crucial to this encryption process is effective key management. By ensuring they keep their 'keys' on premise -- or by allowing them to 'bring their own keys' stored safely in a hardware security module (HSM) -- organizations hosting protected data in the cloud will be able to take control of their data, no longer needing to worry about external decisions influencing their policies", added Galvin.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: Shutterstock/ra2studio

  
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  How to boot a USB key in VirtualBox

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 4:45pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  VirtualBox is an amazing virtualization tool, ideal for all kinds of software testing situations -- unless they involve booting from USB, where there’s no direct support at all.

  There’s a workaround which will sort-of solve the problem, no additional software required, but it’s awkward and inflexible. Virtual Machine USB Boot is an interesting alternative, an open-source portable tool which makes it much easier to boot USB keys in both VirtualBox and QEMU.

  Setup is simple. We clicked "Add", entered a name for our project, chose the VirtualBox VM to be launched (these were automatically detected and presented in a list), and the USB drive to boot from.

  There’s no need to do anything else, although the program does offer one or two other tweaks -- alternative load methods, run minimized/ full screen options, CPU priority choices -- for anyone interested.

  Every boot item you create is added to a list. Double-click one and it dismounts the USB key from your PC, adjusts the VM’s settings to include it, then launches the VM for you.

  This worked perfectly for us, with our test VM correctly booting from the USB drive. This wasn’t then available to our host operating system – you can access it from one system, or the other, not both at the same time -- but once we closed the VM, Virtual Machine USB Boot mounted the key and we were able to use it again.

  You might not be so lucky, depending on how your VM is set up. Virtual Machine USB Boot tries to add your key to the first available port in the VirtualBox storage controller, for instance, but if there’s no port available this will fail. It also won’t work if there’s a prior port with an HDD, or your VM isn’t set up to boot from HDD.

  Don’t let that put you off, though -- the program won’t harm your existing setup, it should work just fine with most VMs, and if you do run into any problems then they’re likely to be easily resolved.

  Virtual Machine USB Boot is an open source tool for Windows XP -- 8.1.

  
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  Dridex botnet hacked to deliver free antivirus software

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 3:14pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Widely used by cyber criminals to introduce malware onto systems, the Dridex banking trojan has been subject to a number of high profile investigations, and a takedown by US authorities last year.

  These things don't stay dead for long, however, and Dridex is back in business. But in an interesting new twist it seems that the Dridex botnet has been hijacked to deliver the free Avira antivirus program rather than its more usual malicious payload.

  Dridex is spread by spam, usually using a Word document with malicious macros. Once the file has been opened, the macros download the payload from a remote server, and the computer is infected. In the latest version though the links have been modified to deliver Avira instead.

  "The content behind the malware download URL has been replaced, it's now providing an original, up-to-date Avira web installer instead of the usual Dridex loader," says Moritz Kroll, malware expert at Avira.

  The company denies that it's behind the modification itself. "We still don't know exactly who is doing this with our installer and why -- but we have some theories," says Kroll. "This is certainly not something we are doing ourselves".

  Explanations as to why this is happening include that it's an attempt to confuse detection processes. It could also be the work of white hat hackers who want their identities to remain secret. "While what they are doing is fundamentally helpful, it is also technically illegal in most countries, so they probably don't want to be known or identifiable," adds Kroll.

  You can find out more about this unusual development on the Avira blog.

  Image Credit: Julien Tromeur/ Shutterstock

  
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  Windows 10 hits 18 percent usage share in the enterprise

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 3:12pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Windows 10 is doing great. Despite various problems, security and privacy issues people have had with its virtual assistant Cortana, the adoption rate of Microsoft’s latest operating system has been quite impressive.

  According to the latest studies done by Spiceworks, 18 percent of businesses are currently using Windows 10. The predictions are saying that 40 percent of businesses are expected to upgrade by July this year, when Windows 10 celebrates its first birthday. The operating system seems to be on good course, as the penetration has increased seven percent since October last year.

  Besides doing great on its own, Windows is also doing much better than its predecessors, the report suggests. Windows 10 took half a year to reach 200 million devices. Windows 7 took a full year, while Windows 8 needed more than 15 months to reach the same goal.

  In terms of the penetration rate in the enterprise, Spiceworks has compared Windows 10 to Windows 8. Windows 8 had a 9.3 percent penetration rate, six months after the launch, while Windows 10 has double the rate.

  As one might expect, the best penetration rate is in North America, where Windows 10 is "well above" the worldwide baseline of 18 percent, Spiceworks says.

  The Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region falls in line with the overall average, while Latin America and Asia-Pacific regions "significantly" lag behind.

  The full report can be found on this link.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: Anton Watman / Shutterstock

  
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  New UK homes to get superfast broadband -- maybe

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 2:38pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  The UK government has today announced that it will work with Openreach -- BT's local access network business -- and the Home Builders Federation (HBF) on an agreement to deliver superfast broadband connectivity to new build properties in the UK.

  The deal will mean that fibre-based broadband is offered to all new developments either for free or as part of a co-funded initiative.

  Openreach will offer an online planning tool for homebuilders. This will tell them whether properties in any given development can be connected to fibre for free, or if a contribution is needed from the developer to jointly fund the deployment of the local fibre network. Openreach says it will make a 'significant contribution' to the installation costs before seeking funds from developers.

  "This is an important step towards bringing fibre broadband to as many new build properties as possible," says Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach. "We recognise that high speed broadband connectivity is a major factor for homeowners when deciding to buy a house. That's why we’re offering to deliver fibre to all new build developments either for free or as a co-funded model".

  The announcement has met with a luke warm response in some quarters, however. Dan Howdle, consumer telecoms expert at broadband and TV advice site Cable.co.uk says, "What is the purpose of a network provider making it easier for developers to install proper broadband infrastructure if it still remains the homebuilder’s choice as to whether or not to take action? These measures are arbitrary and unlikely to have any effect. They comprise neither legislative enforcement of superfast for new builds, nor any obligation for homebuilders to inform buyers they face years of broadband misery".

  Howdle continues, "Today's announcement allows homebuilders to continue to do exactly what they have been doing: to sell homes with little or no broadband connectivity and without forewarning their buyers. As such, it is unlikely to appease the many thousands of families forced to choose between living with little or no connectivity, or selling up and moving on".

  More details of the announcement can be found on the UK government's website.

  Image Credit: Peter Bernik / Shutterstock

  
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  Mozilla kills Firefox OS 2.6 for smartphones but it lives on in smart TVs and connected devices

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 2:21pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Following on from the announcement that Firefox OS would no longer be developed for smartphones, Mozilla has explained the thinking behind the decision (failures on its part) and also revealed that Firefox OS will continue to live on in other devices.

  The operating system is already used to power Panasonic SmartTVs, and this is set to continue. This will certainly come as good news to owners of such TVs, but Mozilla says that the OS stack will be used in a range of Connected Devices.

  Talking about the decision to kill Firefox OS in smartphones, Mozilla's Ari Jaaski admits that "we failed to build the full ecosystem". The company also failed to offer what it refers to as "a compelling and differentiating end-user value proposition" -- essentially an admission that the operating system wasn't as good as iOS and Android... maybe even Windows 10 Mobile.

  Looking to the future, Mozilla is keen to put its failed experiment behind it as it works on integrating the OS stack into a new Connected Devices (Mozilla's capitalization) range. This means that the Firefox Marketplace is also being killed off as part of the "end-of-life plan for the smartphone project with the Firefox OS 2.6 release".

  There is also a call to arms as Jaaski reiterates the open nature of Mozilla's platform:

  Although Mozilla development of the smartphone OS will cease with 2.6, the OS stack will be used for Smart TVs and potentially other devices in the future. Our platform is open, as always, for volunteers, contributors and enthusiasts to improve on and submit patches for further advancement of the OS stack.

  
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  Here's how to bypass the iOS lock screen passcode

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 1:45pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  There are numerous ways to keep your smartphone safe from prying eyes, and a lock screen protected with a passcode is a popular choice. But a newly discovered vulnerability in iOS 8 and iOS 9 means that iPhones and iPads could be accessed by attackers.

  The vulnerability was discovered by security analyst Benjamin Kunz Mejri and it has been assigned a Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) count of 6.0, as well as a 'high' severity rating. Apple has been aware of the issue since late last year, but has yet to issue a patch.

  Vulnerability Laboratory has issued a security advisory that warns: "An application update loop that results in a pass code bypass vulnerability has been discovered in the official Apple iOS (iPhone 5 & 6 | iPad 2) v8.x, v9.0, v9.1 & v9.2. The security vulnerability allows local attackers to bypass pass code lock protection of the Apple iPhone via an application update loop issue. The issue affects the device security when processing to request a local update by an installed mobile iOS web-application".

  As explained by security expert Graham Cluley, the exploit works by taking advantage of a brief period after rebooting during which passcode authentication is disabled. Vulnerability Laboratory details how to exploit the security hole (text is produced verbatim with the original typos and grammatical oddities):

  • First fill up about some % of the free memory in the iOS device with random data
  • Now, you open the app-store choose to update all applications (update all push button)
  • Switch fast via home button to the slide index and perform iOS update at the same time. Note: The interaction to switch needs to be performed very fast to successfully exploit. In the first load of the update you can still use the home button. Press it go back to index
  • Now, press the home button again to review the open runnings slides
  • Switch to the left menu after the last slide which is new and perform to open Siri in the same moment. Now the slide hangs and runs all time in a loop
  • Turn of via power button on the ipad or iphone ....
  • Reactivate via power button and like you can see the session still runs in the loop and can be requested without any pass code. Note: Normally the pass code becomes available after the power off button interaction to stand-by mode
  • Successful reproduce of the local security vulnerability!

  Check out the video below to see the exploit in action:

  Physical access to the device is required, so the advice is to make sure you do not leave your iPhone or iPad unattended.

  Photo credit: Twin Design / Shutterstock

  
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  Mozilla moves Firefox to variable release schedule

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 1:12pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  In mid-July 2011, Mozilla announced that it would speed up the release schedule for Firefox, bringing it down to just six weeks between major versions. Firefox 5 and subsequent releases have been impacted by this decision, bringing new features and changes to users at a faster pace. Fast forward to today, and the organization decides to relax things a bit.

  After studying the fixed -- so-called "Train Model" -- release schedule process "carefully" and learning "a lot" from it in the past years, Mozilla has announced that Firefox is now moving to a variable release schedule.

  New major versions of Firefox will be released every six to eight weeks; Mozilla says that this will not impact the number of new releases per year, and that it will "gain a few significant benefits" over the previous release schedule.

  Mozilla says that this variable release schedule will allow it to "respond to emerging user and market needs and provide at least six working weeks for every release". The organization also wants "to help support the well-being and connectedness of [the] global Mozilla community by specifically allowing time for holidays".

  The move to the variable release schedule effectively starts with Firefox 47, which will be introduced seven weeks after Firefox 45. Firefox 45 will arrive six weeks after Firefox 44, which launched last month, on January 26. The longest waiting time between major releases will be for Firefox 48, which will arrive eight weeks after Firefox 47.

  By allowing more time between Firefox releases, Mozilla likely wants to ensure that every new release gets the attention it deserves, no matter the time of the year that it is set to arrive in. Especially during summer and around the winter holidays, developers, just like other people, want to take breaks and go on vacation, so this variable release schedule will take that into account.

  It remains to be seen whether it will actually change anything in terms of the usage share. Firefox has remained pretty much in the same place it has been for years, losing users to other competitors in this field like Google Chrome and Safari. The organization has tried to remedy this by, among other things, officially -- and finally -- introducing Firefox on iOS in November 2015.

  
• 

  Best Windows apps this week

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 12:28pm CET par Martin Brinkmann

  One-hundred and sixty-sixin a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps and games released for Windows 8.x and Windows 10 in the past seven days.

  This week saw the release of several high profile apps and games.

  Games like Evo Explorer or King's Guard TD, and apps like Boards by Todoist or Join are all great additions and well worth the download.

  As always, if I missed an app or game that has been released this week that you believe is particularly good, let me know in the comments below or notify me via email instead.

  Discounts This Week

  Microsoft seems to have removed Red Stripe Deals from Windows Store. The following selection is provided by the Deals Hub store offering.

  The following is this week's selection:

  • Pin More, custom tile pinning for $0.99
  • Prune, a beautiful game for $1.99
  • Hand of Fate, for $19.99
  • Resume CV Builder, for $3.99
  • Jewel Tree: Match it for for $0.99
  • Mahjong Artifacts, a Mahjong game for $3.49
  • Grapholite - Diagrams, Flow charts and Floor Plans Designer for $19.99
  • Space Marshals, a tactical top-down shooter for $2.49
  • Lexis Audio Editor, for $3.49
  • Media Player Gold for $6.99
  • 7z Zip RAR, and archiver for $4.49
  • Sticky Notes Pro, for $3.99

  App of the week

  Evo Explores ($1.99, free trial available)

  

  Evo Explores is an exploration-based puzzle game in which you try to move the main character of the game from start to finish.

  You do that through manipulation of the environment, for instance by rotating objects, flipping switches or moving objects in front of gaps in the level to walk across them.

  The game is quite challenging and if you are good at thinking outside the box, right up your alley.

  If you like puzzle games then I suggest you download the trial of the game from Windows Store as it is beautifully designed and very interesting.

  Other apps

  King's Guard TD

  

  King's Guard TD is a well-designed, medieval-themed Tower Defense game for Windows 10 that offers tons of towers, enemies and levels.

  You can play through three different games, and place various towers in each of them to defeat the onrushing hordes of enemies.

  Different types of towers are effective against certain types of enemies, and you will have to pay close attention to the foes, tower types at your disposal, placement options on the map and upgrades to successfully beat a level.

  Join by joaoapps

  

  The idea behind join is to bring all of your devices together using the application to exchange data between them effortlessly.

  For instance, you can use it to paste your PC clipboard on your Android device, send SMS from your PC, or send links or files from any device to any device.

  The app is in beta currently, but it works surprisingly well already. Its author plans to improve the current feature set in the future.

  Hand of Fate -- Official Windows 10 Edition ($19.99, no free trial)

  

  Hand of Fate mixes deck building with rogue like-gameplay and action-RPG elements.

  The player interacts with a dealer who narrates the adventure, deals cards, offers loot, lore and commentary on progression.

  You earn cards while you are playing the game, and start with a basic set of cards that include heroes, encounters or equipment,

  Story mode consists of dungeons that you need to explore, and a boss battle.

  Boards by Todoist

  

  The experimental first-party application for Todoist enables you to visualize your Todoist tasks using Kanban boards.

  Use the visualization to track projects, and change the state of each task using dragging motions.

  The boards sync with Todoist, and features like uploading attachments, assigning tasks, commenting and more are all supported as well.

  Bloxiq ($1.99, no free trial)

  

  Bloxiq is a match-4 type of game with a twist. Instead of trying to match gems and other items on a two-dimensional field, you do the same on a three-dimensional board in the game.

  It features 100 challenging levels in which you try to match at least four blocks of the same color that are adjacent to each other.

  Stop the Robots

  

  Defend your backyard using an arsenal of weapons against the attacks of robots.

  You start as Frank, the slingshot king, but can unlock other characters and skill upgrades as the game progresses.

  The game itself sees robots rushing towards a fence you are positioned at, and it is your task to shoot nuts at them to destroy them before they reach it.

  Notable updates

  The official Dailymotion application received a massive update. It is a universal application now, featuring a new design, Cortana voice search integration, picture-in-picture mode, video casting and drag and drop uploads using the application.

  
• 

  PSA: Updating iOS could brick your iPhone 6 with error 53

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 11:45am CET par Mark Wilson

  

  OS upgrades can often be a pain, but you don't usually expect to run the risk of killing the device you are upgrading. If you’ve spent a small fortune on an iPhone, you're likely to be particularly upset if an upgrade is borked, but this is precisely the problem facing iPhone 6 owners who have previously had their handset worked on by an unofficial third party.

  Growing numbers of iPhone 6 users are encountering error 53 in iOS9, effectively rendering their handset useless. What the affected handsets all appear to have in common is that their home button was fixed by a non-Apple technician, although some users report the same issue if they have a problematic home button that has not been fixed.

  The Guardian recounts the tale of freelance photographer Antonio Olmos. While working in Macedonia, he had to get his iPhone repaired at a non-Apple verified place due to the lack of Apple stores in the area. A short while later a standard OTA iOS upgrade was offered which he started to install. The installation never finished, and Antonio was left with a bricked handset showing error 53. Apple says there is nothing that can be done apart from buying a replacement.

  There are lots of stories from other iPhone 6 owners on Apple Support, including from people who have not taken their handset in for repair. With the bricking issue seeming to affect only people with home button issues, and Apple charging hundreds of dollars for an official repair, rumors are circulating that Apple is using this as a cash cow whilst simultaneously trying to kill the third-party repair market.

  Kyle Wiens from iFixit says:

  The 'error 53' page on our website has had more than 183,000 hits, suggesting this is a big problem for Apple users. The problem occurs if the repairer changes the home button or the cable. Following the software upgrade the phone in effect checks to make sure it is still using the original components, and if it isn’t, it simply locks out the phone. There is no warning, and there's no way that I know of to bring it back to life.

  It is the lack of warning that is particularly concerning here. It's one thing for Apple to detect when third-party repairs have been carried out and use this as a reason to block upgrades (if this is indeed what is happening), it's quite another for bricking to happen on such a scale with no warning.

  On Twitter, Samuel Gibbs from the Guardian summed things up perfectly:

  I totally get the reasoning. But why brick it? Why not just warn and stop the install? That’s ridiculous. [https:]

  — Samuel Gibbs (@SamuelGibbs) February 5, 2016

  What's Apple's take on things? It's a security feature, apparently. A spokesperson said:

  We protect fingerprint data using a secure enclave, which is uniquely paired to the touch ID sensor. When iPhone is serviced by an authorized Apple service provider or Apple retail store for changes that affect the touch ID sensor, the pairing is re-validated. This check ensures the device and the iOS features related to touch ID remain secure. Without this unique pairing, a malicious touch ID sensor could be substituted, thereby gaining access to the secure enclave. When iOS detects that the pairing fails, touch ID, including Apple Pay, is disabled so the device remains secure.

  When an iPhone is serviced by an unauthorized repair provider, faulty screens or other invalid components that affect the touch ID sensor could cause the check to fail if the pairing cannot be validated. With a subsequent update or restore, additional security checks result in an 'error 53' being displayed [...] If a customer encounters an unrecoverable error 53, we recommend contacting Apple support.

  Photo credit: Attila Fodemesi / Shutterstock

  
• 

  PowerArchiver 2016 unveils major redesign and rebuild

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 11:38am CET par Nick Peers

  

  ConeXware has released PowerArchiver 2016, a major new release of its trialware archiving tool for Windows. The new release is the first version of the program to be developed using IDE, a process that began over two years ago.

  Version 2016 adds 4K resolution and touch-screen support, a major new user interface and the splitting of key features into separate, fully independent apps.

  The new user interface design makes no attempt to reinvent the wheel, leaving everything exactly where it was previously, but unveiling new classic and ribbon/modern designs. The app is now properly skinned, with 9 pre-built skins available, and this can be switched off to improve performance on low-powered computers.

  The interface also gains a new icon design and logo to reflect its thoroughly modern look, although traditionalists retain the option (under View > Skin Options > Icon sets) of reverting to the traditional look. Almost all aspects of the program interface can now be customized too.

  The app has been tuned to work better with Windows 10, but retains compatibility all the way back to XP. Support for high-res displays -- all the way to up to 4K -- has also been implemented, along with support for touch-screen displays via a special Touch Mode.

  The program’s rebuild also sees it split off key tools -- including backup, enctryption, burner and virtual drives -- into their own fully independent apps, accessible from PowerArchiver but also capable of being run separately.

  Other highlights include being able to encrypt and sign Office and Adobe PDF documents, the addition of an audio burner and ripper, and full read/write support for ZPAQ and WIM formats.

  The burner engine has been updated to support the latest Blu-Ray standards, and performance has been improved -- not just with quicker startup times, but also when compressing files.

  The latest version also promised better support for Windows Libraries when managing files in the File Manager mode.

  PowerArchiver 2016 is available now as a free 10-day trial for PCs running Windows XP or later. The full version can be purchased for $22.95/€19.95.

  
• 

  WhatsApp Web now works in Microsoft Edge

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 10:58am CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  WhatsApp introduced a web interface for its messaging service a year ago, initially supporting only a single browser -- Google Chrome -- and a single mobile platform -- Android. Since then, the number of browsers that work with WhatsApp Web has increased, and iPhones were added into the mix.

  Depending on which web analytics resource you believe, Google Chrome is either the most-popular desktop browser (according to StatCounter and W3Schools) or the second (per NetMarketShare's numbers), so WhatsApp's decision to support it first is understandable. But the latest browser to work with WhatsApp Web is an unexpected choice.

  WhatsApp Web has received support for Microsoft Edge, the software giant's new browser ships with Windows 10. Given that neither the operating system nor the browser command a high market share at this point, it seems a bit strange to enable Microsoft Edge support ahead of Internet Explorer.

  According to NetMarketShare, Internet Explorer is the most-popular browser on PCs. StatCounter claims that Internet Explorer is second. If you ask W3Schools, it comes third. Microsoft Edge does not register in any of the aforementioned web analytics resources.

  WhatsApp has not made an official announcement for the Microsoft Edge support in WhatsApp Web, but, nonetheless, it is live now. To use WhatsApp Web, hit this link, then, from your Android smartphone or iPhone, open the WhatsApp Web menu, and scan the QR code displayed in Microsoft Edge to enable the service in the browser.

  Keep in mind that WhatsApp Web only serves as a browser interface for the WhatsApp client that is installed on your smartphone. Your smartphone has to stay connected to the Internet for WhatsApp Web to be available. The web interface also supports Mozilla Firefox and Opera, on Windows, and Safari on OS X.

  
• 

  Just in time for the big game, No Huddle brings your NFL news to TuneIn Radio

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 9:52am CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Sunday is it. The big day will be here as the Denver Broncos take on the Carolina Panthers. Peyton Manning squares off against the up and coming Cam Newton in a showdown for the coveted Lombardi Trophy, first hoisted into the air by the Green Bay Packers back in 1967, three years before the legendary namesake passed away.

  Fast-forward 40-plus years and we've arrived at that day again, though this time the game will be held in a more temperate climate, as that is now the way the league wants it to be. No more frozen tundra, but weather more suitable to fans and media.

  This season TuneIn Radio made broadcasts of games available for the first time. It required a subscription, but it was much cheaper than NFL Sunday Ticket. Now it's adding its own NFL news with a program called No Huddle.

  The show was unveiled this week as part of the big Super Bowl celebration, which includes a show at the Moscone Center.

  "The show is available to all TuneIn users via NFL on TuneIn, a 24/7 NFL channel that also features audio from select NFL Media programming, including popular NFL Network shows such as NFL Total Access, Around the NFL, and NFL HQ", the service announces.

  The show can be heard Monday through Friday 4pm-7pm on TuneIn's dedicated NFL channel.

  
• 

  Vaio's first smartphone runs Windows 10 Mobile

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 7:43am CET par Anthony Spadafora

  

  It has been over a year since Sony sold off its Vaio brand due to decreased laptop sales, but now it seems that the brand may be making a comeback in the form of a mobile device. The Vaio Phone Biz will be the company’s first smartphone and, surprisingly, it is running Windows 10 Mobile.

  Vaio is trying to retain the design and build quality of Sony’s laptops by using high quality materials in its new handset. The Vaio Phone Biz features a very sleek aluminum build with a silver finish.

  Not only has the new phone been designed well, but the company has also put the device through extensive testing to ensure its quality and that it will withstand daily wear and tear.

  The Vaio Phone Biz will have a 5.5-inch 1080p LCD screen that will hopefully save battery life while giving users plenty of screen real estate. It has a 13 megapixel camera on the back and houses 3GB of RAM along with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor.

  Though this is not the latest nor powerful chip from Qualcomm, it allows the Vaio Phone Biz to make use of Windows 10 Continuum desktop mode, which enables the phone to transition into a desktop mode when docked with a monitor, keyboard, mouse and other accessories.

  Vaio is partnering with the leading Japanese telecom NTT Docomo to provide applications as well as network support for the Phone Biz. The device will go on sale this April for $424 and will come unlocked.

  Launching its first smart phone will be a challenge for Vaio and doing so using Windows 10 Mobile as its OS may make this an even more risky venture.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Satechi unveils Aluminum Wireless Presenter

  Publié: février 5, 2016, 1:55am CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  In the business world, there are many constants. You probably aren't appreciated by your boss. You likely don't get paid enough for all you do. And of course, you probably have to sit through many horrible PowerPoint presentations.

  Don't get me wrong, PowerPoint presentations aren't always bad, but there's a good chance that a large number of them will be boring. If you ever find yourself needing to present your own such presentation, you should invest in a wireless presenter. Not only will it make you look more prepared and professional, but it can allow you to move about the room to keep your audience engaged. Today, Satechi announces an affordable such Bluetooth presenter, with a beautiful aluminum body.

  "The lightweight, portable Aluminum Wireless Presenter is the perfect solution for controlling presentations across a variety of programs, including Keynote and PowerPoint, on a Bluetooth-enabled iOS or other smartphone, tablet or computer. With a Bluetooth 3.0 range of up to 33 feet, users can use the controls to navigate slides back and forth, and the integrated laser pointer ensures the audience’s attention stays on the presentation", says Satechi.

  The company further says, "the Aluminum Wireless Presenter’s long-lasting lithium-ion battery is USB-chargeable, eliminating the need for expensive batteries. The presenter's slim, portable design means users can easily place it in any backpack, bag or purse to use anytime, anywhere".

  A paltry $40 can score you a valuable tool that can enhance your appearance in the workplace. If you use a MacBook, you can even match the color, as the Satechi Aluminum Wireless Presenter comes in gold, silver or space gray. Of course, Windows users can get it on the action too, and select any color that tickles their fancy.

  Click to view slideshow.

  The tubular-shape looks very ergonomic, meaning using it should be a comfortable affair. I am particularly impressed by the laser-pointer functionality. True, this is not unique, but it completes the package nicely. If you are a teacher, trainer, or any businessperson that uses PowerPoint or similar program, this could be exactly what you need.

  If you are interested in buying it, you can do so here.

  
• 

  Forget SMS, ChatSim offers unlimited free chatting to mobile users as they travel the world

  Publié: février 4, 2016, 10:34pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Described as the world's first "instant messaging mobile operator", ChatSim aims to take the pain out of travelling with a mobile phone. Roaming charges can quickly mount up for travellers who lose track of the number of texts they send, and in order to avoid high data fees, you might find yourself seeking out Wi-Fi connections to make use of the likes of WhatsApp instead.

  But there is an alternative. ChatSim lets you stay in touch without worrying about the cost. Buy a SIM card for just $25, £16 or €20, and you can send an unlimited number of messages -- over Wi-Fi or 4G... whatever connection you have available -- without incurring any additional charges. Sounds good? It gets better.

  This is not a SIM card that is limited to use in just a handful of countries. With partnerships in more than 150 countries and over 250 providers, the chances are that if you go there, ChatSim can be used there. This is a SIM card that's all about staying in touch without breaking the bank, and while you can only send text and emoji based messages through your favorites IM app -- WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, LINE, QQ to name but a few -- there are no limits on the number that can be sent.

  ChatSim says:

  No longer do holiday-makers have to wait until they find a WiFi hotspot when they land on foreign turf, or worry about not being able to get in touch with loved ones for fear of the cost. By simply swapping in a SIM which instantly connects to a local operator, they can message friends and family, using any of the compatible chat apps already on their phone, including WhatsApp, Messenger and WeChat.

  But of course, you may want to take things a step further, and this is where you will have to pay a little extra. If you want to send photos or videos, or make voice calls, you can purchase extra credits in the form of a "multimedia recharge".

  Credits	Cost	Photos?	Videos?	Voice calls?
  2,000	$12 / £8 / €10	Up to 200	Up to 40	Up to 80 mins
  5,000	$30 / £20 / €25	Up to 500	Up to 100	Up to 200 mins
  10,000	$60 / £40 /€50	Up to 1,000	Up to 200	Up to 400 mins

  Find out more at ChatSim.com.

  
• 

  Why the Internet of Things is a security nightmare

  Publié: février 4, 2016, 9:19pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  The good guys over at Context Information Security have cracked Motorola’s outdoor security camera just to point out how the Internet of Things is still a completely unsecure industry that needs serious work.

  The camera that got cracked was the Motorola Focus 73, and not only did the researchers manage to get inside, but they also managed to obtain the home network’s Wi-Fi password, take full control of the camera’s movement and even redirect the video feed.

  The exploit was fixed in the meantime, and the update to the firmware released without the end user having to do anything. So basically, if you have one of those cameras, there’s no need to panic, any more.

  The process of cracking the camera was, according to the researchers, a piece of cake: "During set up, the private Wi-Fi security key is transmitted unencrypted over an open network, using only basic HTTP Authentication with username 'camera' and password '000000', while a number of legacy webpages on the camera revealed that the device is based on the same hardware as a legacy baby monitor product", the company said.

  After some more investigation, the researchers managed to get root access to the camera. The root password was easy to crack as it was '123456' -- one of those passwords you should never set up. The home network’s Wi-Fi password was sitting there in plaintext, as well as factory wireless credentials for secure test networks.

  What’s even more worrying, is that the credentials for the developers’ Gmail, Dropbox and FTP accounts were also there. For the icing on the cake, the researchers managed to install their own firmware and it wasn’t checked for validity.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: Lighthunter/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Brits say their smartphone data is worth £6,504

  Publié: février 4, 2016, 6:42pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Choosing between the wallet and the smartphone, the majority of Brits would rather have their wallet stolen, a new research by the Ponemon Institute and Lookout has found.

  But that’s not because of the smartphone’s quality, value or price. It’s what’s inside that counts.

  A lot of Brits use their smartphones to access corporate email and corporate data in general, and they’re aware that such information is valuable, not only to themselves and their company, but to hackers, as well.

  They’ve also said that the photos and videos stored there are priceless -- 38 percent have said that they could never replace the content on their phone.

  Nearly half (45 percent) have said that the amount of confidential data stored on their phones has increased significantly in the past 24 hours. That trend is set to continue, the report adds.

  In total, individuals value the data in their devices at £6,504, the report adds.

  But even though Brits are aware of the value of the data in the device, almost half don’t think data protection features are an important thing to have on a smartphone.

  "Despite the growing amount of lucrative data and consumers’ growing concern about getting hacked, almost half of Brits (47 percent) don’t see data protection features as important when purchasing a mobile device", the report concludes. "Unless we start to safeguard our personal data as much as we do our physical belongings, we are liable to lose our priceless content and memories through a breach or hack".

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit:  D. Hammonds/Shutterstock

  
• 

  DevOps in web hosting is like Hamsterdam from The Wire

  Publié: février 4, 2016, 5:28pm CET par Andrew Maybin

  

  If you’ve watched original must-see box-set The Wire, you might recall Hamsterdam. For those who haven’t seen the series, Hamsterdam was an area of Baltimore which a senior police officer allocated as an unofficial decriminalized area for drug dealing and use.

  Bemused beat officers, under instructions only to take action if violent crimes were being committed, were left watching activities that would ordinarily have put them on red alert. That is a bit what it’s like being a web host getting to grips with DevOps practice for the first time.

  You see, external web hosting is -- or at least traditionally has been -- about creating a neat, controlled environment that is governed by agreed standards of IT and security best practice and policed by a strong aversion to change, uncertainty or risk in order to keep a population of clients safe and secure.

  When an agile DevOps approach was first brought to Tibus by clients wanting to create a development-production continuum, our natural inclination was to fight back and arrest this potential threat to our lovely controlled hosting environment.

  Dragged kicking and screaming by clients who wouldn’t take no for an answer, we’ve learnt to embrace a sort of DevOps Hamsterdam. To do this, we have had to pretty much tear up the rulebook and find new ways of working. But the truth is that we wouldn’t go back to the old way of doing things. Here are a few lessons we learned along the way.

  Move the Ring-Fence

  As alluded to above, most successful hosting companies have traditionally operated by enforcing tight change control. To be a successful web host in the age of DevOps, that has to change.

  The ring-fence around the production environment has to be lifted or at least expanded to include the development environment. Clients, you will face resistance because this is as alien to a web host as the idea of watching a drug dealer go freely about his business is to a police officer, but it is an absolute must for agile, rapid or frequent deployments.

  For that reason, you need to push to find a change control demarcation point that meets your needs. Listen to your host’s advice on good change control, but don’t settle until you have agreed to a plan that meets your production and development needs. If you don’t fight for this, your DevOps approach will not function as it should.

  Don’t Get Bogged Down in the Politics

  If you did watch The Wire, you might remember that Hamsterdam worked perfectly in its aims of reducing crime and anti-social behaviour across the city and bringing health services to those most in need, but was ultimately thwarted by political pressure and uninformed moral outrage around the idea of what it represented.

  This could have easily happened to us before our DevOps Hamsterdam even got up and running because the idea of some of the changes seemed to fly in the face of everything we stood for. Of course, we now know that the reality is nowhere near the nightmare scenario we first imagined.

  Candid, face-to-face meetings are the most efficient way of thrashing out precisely what is needed and the best way of accomplishing that without client or host getting hung up on scaremongering or politics.

  Embrace Increased Speed to Deployment

  Efficient ways of working are good for web host and client alike. At the outset, we were unsure whether these efficiencies would outweigh the problems created by loosened change control. Experience tells us the risks were overstated.

  Just as The Wire’s police department found that policing a small area containing a large proportion of those committing crimes made their jobs much easier, so we’ve discovered that being able to quickly deploy software that performs much closer in delivery to how it was planned in production is good for our clients and therefore good for us, too.

  Find New Ways to Communicate

  Some of the police officers in The Wire struggled to comprehend the move from cracking skulls and rounding people up into police vans to a softer, more observational brand of policing.

  While there are surely no web hosts out there going round cracking skulls, some are using communication tools that are almost as primitive. DevOps means the days of the ticketing support system are numbered. Slow back-and-forth correspondence with an approximate response time doesn’t cut it with a DevOps approach. Using instant messaging tools, like Slack, allows for host-to-client correspondence that is as flexible, collaborative and agile as DevOps practice.

  In summary, a DevOps Hamsterdam can work in external web hosting and is almost certainly the future. That can only happen once an acceptance has been reached by a web host that times have changed. At that point, it is possible to move away from fears of a lawless free-for-all and start planning for a style of web hosting that works for clients and is suited to the workflow of today’s developers.

  Andrew Maybin, managing director of web hosting firm Tibus.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Image Credit: alphaspirit / Shutterstock

  
• 

  GoPro will only sell Hero4 action cameras from April, discontinuing older models

  Publié: février 4, 2016, 4:43pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  GoPro has announced that it will discontinue older action cameras, following weak financial results in the last quarter of 2015. The company has posted revenue of just $436.6 million in Q4, which represents a 31.1 percent loss year-over-year. In year prior, GoPro's revenue was $633.91 million.

  GoPro has had trouble attracting consumers with its Hero4 line, being forced to slash the price of its Session action camera twice. The product, which originally launched for $399.99, can now be had for just $199.99.

  Even though it looks to have been a poor performer, Hero4 Session is among the only three action cameras that GoPro plans to keep offering. The other two are the Hero4 Black flagship and Hero4 Silver. The former goes for $429.99, while the latter is $30 cheaper at $399.99.

  The trimming of the product line will happen starting in April, when GoPro will stop selling the $299.99 Hero+ LCD, $199.99 Hero+ and $129.99 Hero. The three products I just mentioned are older-generation action cameras, which have much cheaper alternatives from the likes of Xiaomi and other Chinese action camera makers like SJCAM.

  This year, GoPro will introduce a new flagship action camera, which will be called Hero5. It will also officially launch the Karma drone -- you can see a video shot with the device here.

  
• 

  The $5 Raspberry Pi Zero back in stock shortly -- but you'll need to act fast

  Publié: février 4, 2016, 4:33pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  The Raspberry Pi Zero might be tiny, but it’s been a huge hit for the Raspberry Pi Foundation. The $5 asking price has resulted in tremendous demand for the barebones microcomputer, resulting in near continuous sell-outs.

  If you have yet to get your hands on one, there’s some good news. A fresh batch of Pi Zeros is set to be made available today, but you’ll need to act very quickly if you want to get your hands on one.

  The Pi Hut announces it will start selling the Pi Zero today from 6PM UK time.

  As you might expect, stock is still very limited though -- there’s a one device per person restriction in place -- and there’s a very good chance it will sell out again quickly, so don’t delay.

  Although only The Pi Hut has announced availability so far it might be also worth checking other sellers, including element14 and Pimoroni in the UK (where it’s priced at £4.20), and Adafruit and Micro Center in the US.

  
• 

  Protect your PC from the latest threats with Shade Sandbox

  Publié: février 4, 2016, 3:00pm CET par Mike Williams

  Sandboxing is a smart technology which isolates programs from the operating system, preventing them from making any permanent changes.

  Run your browser in a sandbox, say, and it won’t matter if you’re hit by a drive-by download, a toolbar gets installed or your home page is updated: clear the sandbox and all changes will be lost.

  Shade Sandbox is a free application for Windows Vista and later which makes it very easy to run vulnerable or suspect applications in a secure environment where they’re unable to affect your files or Registry.

  Installation is simple; one reboot and you’re done. You’ll also need an activation code to use the program for more than a couple of days, but there’s no cost involved -- just provide your name and email address.

  To get started, drag and drop your browser shortcuts into the program window, or right-click them and select "Put into Shade". Run those applications as normal (from the desktop, Start menu or wherever) and they’re now sandboxed.

  Move your mouse cursor to the edge of the window border, and a purple frame should appear around that application, confirming that it’s sandboxed.

  One problem with this isolation approach is that it also applies to downloaded files. If your browser is sandboxed, and you save something important to your desktop, it won’t be there when you look later.

  Fortunately there’s a simple solution. Clicking "Open Shade Folder" displays an Explorer window at a folder representing your drive ("C", probably). Any folders with downloaded files are listed here, so you can browse to \Users\[Name]\Desktop, Downloads or anywhere else and access the file as usual.

  If you’re already using Sandboxie then Shade Sandbox is going to seem very underpowered. It won’t detect or adapt to awkward or conflicting applications, it doesn’t display currently sandboxed programs, you don’t get the handy system tray shortcuts, there’s no immediate "run sandboxed" Explorer option, and if you like to tweak, customize or fine-tune this kind of app, tough: you can’t.

  Still, if your needs are simple then Shade Sandbox delivers all the core basics, in an easy-to-use interface, for free. Worth a look for sandboxing beginners.

  Shade Sandbox is a freeware program for Windows Vista and later.

  
• 

  Here's how to unlock (and play) Facebook Messenger's secret game

  Publié: février 4, 2016, 2:37pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Although there are lots of apps and services you can use for chatting to friends, Facebook Messenger is one of the better options because you can pretty much guarantee most people you know will have a Facebook account.

  In addition to chatting with your friends you can now challenge them to play a game of chess, but only if you know the secret phrase to launch it, and the hotkeys used to pay the game.

  To start a new game just type @fbchess play during a conversation. A board will appear. Your opponent will go first.

  Select a piece using following:

  K for king

  Q for queen

  B for bishop

  N for knight

  R for rook

  P for pawn

  

  And enter the corresponding letters and numbers to move it on the board. So, for example, to move a pawn you might type @fbchess Pd3

  You can get further advice and tips by typing @fbchess help.

  Photo Credit: Shumilina Maria/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Logitech announces G810 Orion Spectrum RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

  Publié: février 4, 2016, 2:12pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  If you are like me, you probably spend a lot of time in front of a computer. Quite frankly, other than sleeping, there is nothing that I do more than computing. This means I am constantly using a keyboard and mouse. I have a comfortable bed for sleeping; shouldn't I also have quality input devices?

  Yes. Everyone deserves quality tools for what they do. Whether you use a computer for work or play, a mechanical keyboard is a sound investment, as it can improve the typing or gameplay experience. Today, Logitech unveils a beautiful such keyboard -- the G810 Orion Spectrum. With a focus on gaming, it should also serve well for more general typing needs.

  "We are very excited to introduce the new Logitech G810 Orion Spectrum, a full-size mechanical gaming keyboard that features Logitech's exclusive Romer-G mechanical switches and intelligent RGB illumination. Every aspect of the keyboard is precisely engineered, resulting in a uniquely crafted design to deliver peak performance for a pure gaming experience. This uniquely crafted keyboard represents Logitech G's dedication to better understanding what gamers are asking for and analyzing what will help improve their gameplay", says Logitech.

  The famed peripheral-maker further says, "Romer-G mechanical switches deliver near-instant responsiveness, registering key presses up to 25 percent faster than standard mechanical switches. By using our Logitech Gaming Software (LGS), you can get full control of the keyboard. Select and personalize each individual key light from a spectrum of more than 16.8 million colors, and synchronize lighting effects with other Logitech G gaming gear".

  So, how much does this beast cost? A pretty reasonable $160. If this price seems very high for a keyboard, you must remember that mechanical variants are often of much better quality than $20 generic models found at Amazon or the like. Logitech has historically produced durable products and this should be no exception.

  On top of that, this 810 Orion Spectrum comes with cool features, like the customizable RGB lighting and well-designed media controls -- the volume roller looks awesome. It even comes with a free PC game -- Tom Clancy's The Division.

  Will you buy it? Tell me in the comments.

  Click to view slideshow.
• 

  Managing risk in the digital supply chain [Q&A]

  Publié: février 4, 2016, 12:42pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  You may be aware of risks and problems in your own business, but increasingly it's possible to be exposed to issues by other organizations that you deal with, particularly if you're buying in IT services.

  How can enterprises deal with these threats and ensure that their data and that of their customers is kept safe at all stages of the supply chain? We spoke to Dean Coleman, head of service delivery at service management and support specialist Sunrise Software, to find out.

  BN: How difficult is it for larger organizations to manage problems that might occur further down the supply chain?

  DC: It can be quite difficult, historically most organizations have a handle on risk in terms of what's going on in the business, financial targets and so on. But when it comes to IT risks and the supply chain providing IT they don't have the same visibility. These days IT is everywhere and businesses depend on it so IT problems have a larger impact. The understanding of risk needs to be something that key decision makers are more aware of.

  BN: Is this a particular problem when dealing with smaller companies who might not have resources in house?

  DC: Yes, from the supplier side of the fence we see that smaller organizations often don't have the skills in house to deal with security, infrastructure, and so on. They rely heavily on these services but don't see them as a core part of their business. Because they don't have the skills and resources they will often turn to third parties to manage these things for them. However, in some cases the third parties also don't do a very good job, they’ll be providing reactive services rather than the proactive ones that are really needed to predict problems based on risk.

  BN: Is this something larger companies need to address in their service agreements with smaller ones?

  DC: Definitely, it's essential that they do. They should be offering services that highlight back to their customers what the potential risks are and what the impact of those risks could be. They also need to highlight where changes and improvements are needed and where investments will be most effective. Information from service providers can allow businesses to make effective decisions.

  BN: Is it about more transparency at all levels?

  DC: Not only does the customer benefit from having better information to make decisions, it helps the service providers themselves because they're highlighting the risks of, say, a server failure. While service providers might be responsible for keeping systems up and running they don’t necessarily have direct control of the hardware and infrastructure involved. This can leave them in a position where they can highlight a risk -- like a server running short of disk space -- but it's down to the customer to take action.

  BN: How much emphasis should there be on education since the human factor is often the weakest link?

  DC: There is an element of that, education is always key when it comes to IT. People need to be aware of issues like phishing, although services like filtering are now very effective there’s always a risk of things like fake invoices getting through and catching users unawares.

  BN: What challenges will service providers face in future?

  DC: One of the struggles for service providers is how they manage risks, keep track of them and make sure their customers are aware of them. They need to regularly report back to customers with risk assessments and the potential impact they can have, plus recommended courses of action. Most providers will now have very good tools to ensure that systems are kept up to date rather than relying on spreadsheets and older methods. they’re now able to link risks not only to infrastructure but to specific services or people they could directly affect.

  BN: Does this ultimately lead to providing a better service because you have a more resilient system?

  DC: Yes, if you're aware of and managing the risks and have plans to mitigate problems then the services you provide should improve. The availability should increase because you’re taking a more proactive approach, and as a service provider it also leads to opportunity for more revenue, selling services, technology, project management and so on. Greater transparency leads to a better relationship with the customer and the opportunity to quote for more business.

  Image Credit: jannoon028 / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Android adblocker apps blocked by Google

  Publié: février 4, 2016, 12:17pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Well that was... brief. Just days after Samsung released an update that allowed for adblocking software to be installed on its handsets, Google has put its foot down. The company has already started to pull adblocking apps from Google Play.

  Being so reliant on advertising revenue, it's understandable that Google might take a dim view of anything that stops the cash rolling in. Nonetheless, a move to block apps that have already proved incredibly popular has raised the ire of developers and users alike.

  Of course, Google is not saying outright that it has a problem with the distribution of adblocking tools per se, but the end result is the same. Developers are being contacted by the company to inform them that their app violates Google policy.

  Rocketship Apps, the company behind Adblock Fast, the first adblocker to make its way into Google Play, received an email from the 'Google Play Review Team':

  Hi Developers at Rocketship Apps,

  I reviewed Adblock Fast, com.rocketshipapps.adblockfast, and found that it violates section 4.4 of the Developer Distribution Agreement. This particular app has been disabled as a policy strike.

  Just as a reminder, you've agreed to follow the Google Play Developer Program Policies and additional enforcement could occur if there are further policy issues with your apps.

  If you've reviewed the policies and feel this rejection may have been in error, please reach out to our policy support team. One of my colleagues will get back to you within 2 business days.

  I appreciate your support of Google Play!

  So what does section 4.4 of the Developer Distribution Agreement say? This is the clause that prevents developers from 'interfering' with other apps and services:

  Prohibited Actions. You agree that you will not engage in any activity with the Store, including the development or distribution of Products, that interferes with, disrupts, damages, or accesses in an unauthorized manner the devices, servers, networks, or other properties or services of any third party including, but not limited to, Android users, Google or any mobile network operator. You may not use customer information obtained from the Store to sell or distribute Products outside of the Store.

  It seems that Google's problem lies with standalone adblocking tools. If a web browser happens to feature the ability to block ads, more power to it, but if a developer wants to add adblocking to an existing browser, that's a different matter. While users and developers may be annoyed by this, it also places Samsung in something of an awkward situation as it provided access to an API with the specific aim of allowing developers to produce adblockers for its own browser.

  Photo credit: Light And Dark Studio / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Seagate faces class-action lawsuit over faulty 3TB hard drives

  Publié: février 4, 2016, 10:31am CET par Anthony Spadafora

  

  Hard drive failure is inevitable, but manufacturers will generally provide an estimate of how long their products will last, giving businesses and consumers plenty of time to backup their drives. When a hard drive fails unexpectedly and long before it should, it can cripple a business.

  A class-action lawsuit has been brought against the hard drive manufacturer Seagate after many users reported that the company’s 3TB drives were failing at an alarming rate. The law firm Hagens Berman and Sheller has filed a case in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

  The firm claims that Seagate sold both their Barracuda 3TB internal and Backup Plus 3TB external drives under misleading terms and that the lifetime of the drives was greatly exaggerated by the company.

  Although the drives were initially advertised as dependable with extremely low failure rates, many consumers have reported that their drives have failed well before Seagate’s projected failure time. Some of the company’s 3TB drives even failed after only a few days of use.

  The integrity of Seagate’s drives has been questioned in the past as well. In 2014, a hard drive reliability report by the cloud storage company Backblaze indicated that the company’s 3TB drives had a 10 percent failure rate and that its 1.5TB drives had a 13 percent failure rate.

  The report though was called into question because of the way in which Backblaze tested the drives. Although the company purchased consumer grade drives from Seagate, these drives were installed and used in servers running around the clock which is quite different than the way in which consumers would normally be using the drives.

  The law firm involved in the dispute has requested that the case be made into a class-action lawsuit so that anyone in the US who purchased either of the drives can be included in the settlement.

  If those who did purchase Seagate’s 3TB drives will be compensated they are likely receive a small portion of what they originally paid for the drives.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: Piotr Tomicki/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Windows 10 Insider Preview Redstone Build 14257 arrives on the Fast ring

  Publié: février 4, 2016, 9:11am CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Last year Fast ring preview builds of Windows 10 arrived at a pretty sedate pace. This year they are coming thick and fast with a new build announced on a weekly basis.

  The speed that new builds arrive does mean the differences between versions aren’t huge, but it’s all about preparing the ground work for future additions, like extensions.

  Announcing the new Build 14257, Windows Insider chief Gabe Aul says:

  Teams are still early in their new feature work and changes in this build are mostly about laying the foundation for those features to start coming into builds. So you won’t see many visible changes quite yet. Also, the increased pace of the Fast ring (You’ll note that this build is only 6 revs newer than the last build we sent to the Fast ring) means that there will be fewer big changes between builds as opposed to this time last year when builds were about 30 days apart. There is a ton of coding work going on, but I want to set your expectations on how it will show up for you at our increased Fast ring pace.

  As a result, this release is all about shoring things up and Microsoft lists the following bug fixes included in this build:

  • The issue of periodic app crashes or other memory related app errors due to a memory management change has been resolved. If you were having issues launching the Git client for Windows, you should now be able to launch it in this build.
  • The Connect button now shows up again in Action Center.
  • F12 Developer Tools will now load correctly Microsoft Edge.
  • Fixed an issue where suggested apps were being shown on the Start menu even though "Occasionally show suggestions in Start" was turned off under Settings > Personalization > Start.
  • Fixed an issue where if you try to change the Lock screen picture with "Get fun facts, tips, tricks and more on your lock screen" turned on it will revert back to the default.
  • Fixed an issue where the positions of desktop icons get jumbled up after switching DPI settings from 100% to 150% or 175%.
  • Also fixed an issue where pasting files into a new .zip file (compressed folder) in File Explorer by either right-clicking or Control-V would not work. You should be able to paste tiles into new .zip files just fine now.

  Naturally, with this being a Fast ring release, there are various known issues to look out for.

  • If you choose "Reset This PC" under Settings > Update & Security > Recovery -- your PC will be in an unusable state. There is no workaround if your PC gets into this state and you will need to reinstall Windows. This issue will be fixed in the next build. You can still rollback to the previous build if for some reason this build doesn’t work out for you. This bug also existed in Build 14251 so please avoid resetting your PC on these builds.
  • You might see a WSClient.dll error dialog after logging in. We’re working on a fix for this but as a workaround, you can run the following in Command Prompt with administrative rights: schtasks /delete /TN “\Microsoft\Windows\WS\WSRefreshBannedAppsListTask” /F. This issue will be fixed in the next build.
  • The front-facing camera is unusable on PCs with Intel RealSense resulting in being unable to use Windows Hello or any other apps that utilize the front-facing camera.
  • After logging in to your PC, you may hit a UI issue in which Airplane Mode will incorrectly show as "on" even though your PC’s Wi-Fi is powered on. This is due to a timing issue between how the UI communicates and waits for the underlying platform to respond. The UI for Airplane Mode essentially does not wait long enough for the device’s physical radios to power on before reporting the current state. You can toggle the Airplane Mode on and off to get Airplane Mode back to showing the correct state.

  Photo credit: charnsitr / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Hell, yeah, Amazon should open more bookstores

  Publié: février 4, 2016, 6:44am CET par Joe Wilcox

  

  There is collective head-scratching across the InterWebs about a Wall Street Journal report that Amazon will open as many as 300, or even 400, stores selling books. The company's massive success selling ebooks and the cost and selection advantages of warehousing their physical counterparts make the concept seem nonsensical. I contend that it's brilliant.

  Amazon is in process of expanding online services into the purview of local retail, which biggest competitive advantage is immediacy. In conjunction with the $99-per-year Prime program, the online retailer offers faster shipping; same day, and within hours, in some locales. The company increasingly contracts its own carriers, as well. Immediacy requires presence. What better location than a bookstore that also warehouses other goods and provides customer service operations? That's all without considering the branding opportunities, which, as Apple Store demonstrates, can be huge.

  During fourth quarter 2015, Amazon generated modest $482 million net profit from $35.7 billion revenue. Cost of sales was $24.34 billion. Meaning: Like retail operations with physical stores, Amazon's margins are thin. Local shops have presence, which is great for their brand awareness, customer interaction, and cost of distribution. On the latter point, Amazon risks higher costs getting goods to customers as Prime membership rises (free shipping benefit), Prime Now shipping increases, amid customer sales priority makes immediacy as important as low cost.

  By placing distribution centers closer to larger populations, like cities, Amazon can reduce some distribution overhead. Bookstores would be excellent storefront to a warehouse hub. The stores can:

  • Extend brand awareness
  • Build community around the brand
  • Provide pleasant place for customers to hangout
  • Be an Amazon Locker for picking up or returning purchases
  • Build goodwill with locales by providing jobs and paying taxes
  • Be a place where customers can get live, in-person assistance

  Amazon needs to control distribution costs as it makes more products available faster. Bookstores fronting warehouse hubs is my recommendation, regardless of plans underway.

  • Let customers see the brand
  • Let them handle actual products for sale
  • Let them gather to read books, drink coffee, and chat
  • Let them experience Alexa and what she can do for families

  Apple Store helped popularize the corporate brand, at a time when the fruit-logo company had little market share for any product. The retail shops created sense of belonging and good feelings about the brand. Apple promoted a digital lifestyle that customers could experience first-hand around its products and those from platform partners. Amazon could achieve similar results through a chain of bookstores.

  With a difference: People already have memories of hanging out at bookstores, scouring the magazine rack, combing the aisles for sweet reads, and relaxing with a hot cup of brew. Amazon can tap into good feelings behind past experiences.

  Whatever the cost to set up and operate the stores, the potential long-term benefits are greater.

  Image Credit: SEASTOCK/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Windows 10 is Microsoft's Elephant Man

  Publié: février 4, 2016, 2:12am CET par Mark Wilson

  

  I read a comment from a user who was talking about Windows 10 Mobile. He referred to it as Microsoft's stillborn baby. As dark and as gruesome an image as this may be, it feels very fitting, and it got me wondering how best to think of the desktop version of Windows 10. Clearly this is not a stillborn -- there's plenty of life in this kicking and screaming beast, and there is no sign of an abortion on the horizon.

  But it is the black sheep of the family, the -- brace yourselves, politically correct gentlefolk -- deformed and underdeveloped spawn of Microsoft's loins. If it was an animal, it probably would have been destroyed in utero. As it is -- to view it in more human terms -- it's more like the Elephant Man: a lumbering, lurching curiosity that many would like to see dead, but which at the same time retains its right to existence.

  With Windows 10, Microsoft has really done very little to endear itself to people; the number of slipups along the way has been impressive. We started off with some slight confusion about what 'free' meant as there was some very poor communication and some very poorly-worded announcements made in the run-up to launch. Just what is the deal with the free upgrade?

  And when the launch did roll around, there was a general feeling that Microsoft had ushered an unfinished product out of the door. To this very day, the much-touted replacement for Internet Explorer -- Microsoft Edge -- remains incomplete. The add-in support that users have so long been waiting for remain elusive. And that's before we even start to think about issues with InPrivate not being quite as private as the name might suggest.

  These are just two of the issues that users, and would-be users have been complaining about and in the background there is the other elephant (man) in the room -- the hostile way in which Windows 10 has been foisted on people. Add to this the various spying and telemetry features (again, with an amazing opaqueness that is incredibly surprising coming from a company such as Microsoft) and it's little wonder than Windows 10 is eyed with such suspicion.

  The whole thing is so ugly (the situation, not the OS itself before you bite my head off) that one can’t help but wonder if we're trapped in some Wildean world. Maybe a devilish deal has been made somewhere and we're actually experiencing the corrupt, evil painted version of Windows 10 up in the attic where things gradually become uglier and more twisted, while the youthful, nimble, spry and sexy Dorian Gray-like edition of the operating system exists in some parallel universe, delighting and enthralling everyone who encounters it.

  But ultimately, it is the Elephant Man idea that holds out. Joseph Merrick was ridiculed, feared and exploited -- the same is true of Windows 10.

  
• 

  Extensions are coming to Microsoft Edge via the Windows Store, and Insiders will be able to try them 'soon'

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 9:17pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  The kindest thing that can be said about Microsoft Edge is Windows 10's new browser has potential. It’s far from awful, it’s just rather unfinished. There’s little there to tempt users of Firefox or Chrome into switching.

  Microsoft is working to change that though, and make the browser more appealing. Today it reveals a little more about its future plans, including how it will be handling extensions. It doesn’t announce exactly when the browser will receive this much-requested feature, but it does touch on how add-ons will be made available, and how you’ll be able to try out some early examples for yourself.

  SEE ALSO: Stop using Microsoft Edge's InPrivate mode if you value your privacy

  Kyle Pflug, Program Manager at Microsoft and editor of the Microsoft Edge Dev Blog, admits that extensions are a priority for the software giant and it’s working to ensure that they are implemented correctly. In a new blog post he says:

  Last year, we announced our intent to deliver a new extension platform for Microsoft Edge to replace the often unreliable and insecure native add-ons of the past. Extensions are among the most requested features for Microsoft Edge and we’re building an extension platform powered by web technologies and familiar to developers. Any browser extensibility is a potential vector for malicious software, and our extensions will be vetted, delivered, and managed through the Windows Store.

  Our implementation is underway and we look forward to sharing early examples soon via the Windows Insider Program. We will share more information on developing and publishing your own extensions at a later date…

  So if you want to be among the first to see how well (or otherwise) extensions are implemented in Microsoft's new browser you’ll need to sign up to the Windows Insider Preview program, and wait for the relevant future build.

  Will extensions be enough to tempt you into using Edge in place of another browser?

  Photo credit: T.Dallas / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Jaguar Land Rover wants autonomous cars to emulate human drivers

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 7:46pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Jaguar Land Rover wants to make autonomous vehicles behave more like humans, and less like robots.

  The company is looking into how humans behave in specific situations, like slow-moving traffic, roadworks and busy junctions.

  I’m not entirely sure why anyone would want to build a robot car that’s going to honk maniacally every time someone slows down for no apparent reason, and would love to know if the car is going to cuss at jaywalking people, or will that be left to the "real" humans.

  Jokes aside, Jaguar Land Rover says it’s important to know how humans behave behind the wheel and try to emulate that behavior, in order to make humans feel more relaxed around autonomous cars. Bosch and Direct Line Group are also partners in the project.

  "To successfully introduce autonomous cars, we actually need to focus more on the driver than ever before", said Dr Wolfgang Epple, director of research and technology at Jaguar Land Rover.

  "Understanding how drivers react to a range of very dynamic and random situations in the real world is essential if we want drivers to embrace autonomous cars in the future. By understanding and measuring positive driving behaviors we can ensure that an autonomous Jaguar or Land Rover of the future will not simply perform a robotic function", Epple added.

  The research is a part of a £5.5 million project, with a goal of developing specialist insurance for autonomous vehicles. The MOVE-UK initiative was announced yesterday by Sajid Javid MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, alongside a £2.75 million grant from Innovate UK to help fund the research.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: RioPatuca/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Google Maps helps Android users celebrate NFL Super Bowl 50: Newton vs. Manning

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 6:32pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  Watching the Super Bowl is easy. Sit down, turn on your TV, and you are good to go. With that said, properly experiencing the big game is something else. For maximum fun, it is a good idea to watch it with other people while eating delicious snacks.

  If you are an Android user and not sure where to watch Super Bowl 50, Google has you covered. Its Maps service will help you discover some awesome places to watch the game. If you don't have any friends to call upon, don't worry -- you can use this as an opportunity to make some.

  "Starting today on Google Maps for Android in select cities across the U.S., you can discover the spots near you where you can get a great seat for kickoff. Just open Google Maps, tap on 'explore food & drinks in this area' and select 'Best Spots for the Big Game -- Where to eat, drink & watch'. You'll see a curated list of bars and restaurants around you where you can go to watch the biggest game (and best commercials) of the season. The experience is available in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas-Ft. Worth, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Denver and Charlotte", says Susan Cadrecha, Google Maps.

  READ MORE: Carolina Panthers will defeat Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 says Microsoft and Madden 16

  Cadrecha further explains, "for those wanting to explore more of what the Bay Area has to offer, Google Maps Local Guide and foodie expert Kristin Rimbach has used My Maps to put together an insider’s guide for you to experience the best of the East Bay, the South Bay, and the city itself. East Bay highlights include some Latin love at Brazil Cafe and unmissable mac and cheese at Homeroom. If you're going to stay within SF's 49 square miles, she recommends stopping by Suppenkuche for hearty German fare and Smitten Ice Cream for a sweet treat".

  

  Is leaving the house necessary for having a good time with the Super Bowl? Not at all. Quite frankly, staying home with friends and family can be very rewarding and safe. But watching alone takes some of the magic out of it. Don't be lonely, Android users -- fire up Google Maps, and get out there!

  Where will you be watching Super Bowl 50? Tell me in the comments.

  Photo Credit: Jeff Thrower/Shutterstock

  
• 

  The first driverless cars may soon be unleashed on the roads of the Isle of Man

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 6:18pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  You perhaps have not heard of the tiny island nestled between England and Ireland, but the Isle of Man has a long and rich history, including its now dying language of Manx. Its most prominent export these days is cyclist Mark Cavendish, a multi-stage winning sprinter in the Tour de France.

  Now you just may be hearing much more about it as the island lobbies to be the test bed for driverless cars, a product that Google has made famous, but that many more manufacturers are attempting to produce as the future seems to dictate it.

  If the transportation minister has his way then the tiny island will become a testing ground for new vehicles. It's a small area (572 square kilometers) and sparsely populated which makes it an ideal place for this type of thing.

  "We like to be innovative on the island", Phil Gawne, transportation minister, told the Sydney Morning Herald. "We like also to be independent. This helps both those areas in terms of our international image and reputation".

  This isn't entirely selfless. Isle of Man is its own nation and it's tiny, so bringing in these types of products and having big companies pay for them is a winning situation, especially if it can enhance an infrastructure that stumbles because of the slim population and revenue.

  While horse-drawn carriages are still popular, The Washington Post reports "Its reliance on tourism dictates keeping the horse carriage in business. Driverless cars probably would draw visitors, too, and the government’s ability to move quickly given its small size could make it an appealing destination for companies developing such vehicles".

  While Jaguar would like autonomous cars to react more like humans, I think we can all safely say that's probably a bad idea and if you've been on the roads then you know why.

  This isn't yet set in stone, but the tiny independent nation is working hard to make it a reality. It would be good for its economy and good for manufacturers looking to test the latest technology.

  Photo Credit: Elias Gayles

  
• 

  The future of the NSA: fight the hackers or embrace the hackers

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 6:05pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  With its well-known habit of uncompromising surveillance, the NSA has earned itself something of a poor reputation among internet users. But while the spying side of the agency is what it is most famous for, it is actually made up of two different divisions: offensive and defensive.

  Later this week the NSA is expected to announce an internal restructuring that will see the two divisions merging. This presents the agency with an interesting predicament: does it continue to work to fight the efforts of hackers, or does it adopt hacker-like techniques to help gather data? Experts says that the merger is a mistake, largely because the aim and modus operandi of the two departments are diametrically opposed.

  The dilemma comes about because while the offensive Signals Intelligence Directorate (SID) actively seeks security holes and uses backdoors to attack foreign nations, the defensive Information Assurance Directorate (IAD) seeks to plug security holes to protect companies and governments. The NSA seems determined to go ahead with the merger, despite advice from experts and the Obama administration that greater separation would actually be the best move.

  The reshuffle means that the NSA will have to choose between exploiting security holes or fixing them so they can't be exploited by others -- there really is no middle ground. Writing for the Guardian, Danny Yadron points out:

  The NSA could decide not tell a tech company to patch a security flaw if it knows it could be used to hack into a targeted machine. This could leave consumers at risk.

  The choice is stark. Is the NSA of the future going to concern itself with offense or defense? Working as it currently does with hackers and companies, the NSA risks straining relationships and threatening its own internal operations no matter which route it goes down.

  Photo credit: Nadir Keklik / Shutterstock

  
• 

  OnePlus 2: Impressive mid-range smartphone [Review]

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 4:53pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  OnePlus may not be a name that springs instantly to mind when you think of smartphones, but it really should be. It is a Chinese company that is fast developing a reputation for turning out quality handsets at something of a bargain price.

  The company's latest OnePlus X model starts at around £200 which is only about £40 below the price of its flagship, the better specified OnePlus 2 model, so does it live up to the company’s claims that this is an affordable phone with premium features?

  In the Box

  You get a nicely presented package which makes it feel like you’re getting a quality product from the off. Lift off the lid and you find the phone sitting on top of a red box which contains the charger, instructions, a clear screen protector and a rubber sleeve.

  The phone itself looks smart with milled edges that catch the light and a shiny glass black back panel -- though this does show every fingerprint. It’s just under 7mm thick and weighs a relatively lightweight 138 grams. There’s a limited edition Ceramic version of the phone available too, but in appearance it’s not too different from the black glass of our review unit and its functionality is the same.

  

  Power and volume switches are on the right-hand edge; again, these have a machined finish that makes them feel a cut above the plastic buttons on, say, a Nexus 5X. The combined SIM card and memory card slot, accessed in the usual way by poking a tool into a little hole, is also on the right.

  On the left is a three position Alert Slider; this is a novel touch that lets you quickly set the phone to silent, priority or tell-me-everything modes in a single action. It’s handy for when you’re going into meetings for example allowing you to quickly silence the phone without having to access the screen. On the bottom edge are the speaker grilles and a standard microUSB port, the headphone socket is at the top left. Unlike the OnePlus 2 the X lacks a fingerprint scanner.

  

  There are hardware buttons at the base of the screen for the usual back, home and recent apps functions. These are very faint and quite hard to see, but you can opt to use soft buttons instead; these nibble away a bit of your screen space. Like the Nexus 5X, the phone is a nice size to hold and operate one-handed thanks to a 5-inch screen.

  Under the skin is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and an Adreno 330 graphics processor. If you need more space you can add a microSD card to expand the storage up to 128GB.

  There’s a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front and the display offers 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. It’s all powered by a 2,525mAh battery which, depending on how you use it, should get you a couple of days between charges. It’s a dual-SIM phone too, connectivity is via 4G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but you don’t get NFC.

  The OnePlus X runs the previous generation Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, and it has OnePlus’ Oxygen user interface. This doesn’t make many changes to stock Android other than adding light and dark menu options, shortcuts to apps you use frequently and some tweaks to app management. It’s largely free of bloatware though, with the only installed apps being the SwiftKey keyboard, a custom file manager, Google Office apps and a OnePlus Radio app.

  Business Features

  The Alert Slider is a clever extra for busy executives who don’t want to be interrupted by their phone in meetings -- or perhaps when entertaining clients at the opera. Move the switch to one of its three positions and the phone just gives a little buzz and displays a message on the screen to acknowledge the instruction.

  The dual-SIM feature is useful if you want to have access to separate business and personal networks on the same handset. However, one of the SIM slots doubles as a microSD card slot; a neat design, but it means you can’t have more storage and two SIMs installed at the same time.

  The Oxygen UI’s app management feature gives you the ability to control permissions for individual apps, something that’s standard in Android Marshmallow, but not in Lollipop. This helps prevent data leaks by keeping your information private, limiting what information and hardware features each app is allowed to access without preventing you from using its features.

  The Oxygen skin also lets you assign shortcuts to the physical home, back and recent apps buttons. You can have up to two shortcuts on each one, useful for apps that you use on a regular basis. Google Office apps for Docs, Sheets and Slides are pre-installed allowing you to work when you’re out of the office and access your data stored in the cloud.

  In Use

  The OnePlus X is a good size for ease of one-handed use and is nicely weighted without being too heavy. It also looks and feels like a much more expensive piece of kit, using it back-to-back after the Nexus 5X there’s no doubt that in a blind test you’d say the OnePlus was a much costlier device.

  The phone feels nice in your hand too and the machined edges make it easy to grip. It does lack some hardware options you’ll find on pricer models, a fingerprint scanner and NFC communication being the main missing features.

  Having a standard USB port means you’re more likely to already have adaptors, car chargers, etc that will fit, but on the other hand you miss out on USB-C features like faster file transfers. The supplied plastic cover feels a bit tacky, but it does help protect the edges and back of the phone from knocks and scratches and helps you to grip the handset. A selection of other covers is available from the OnePlus website if you fancy something a bit more stylish.

  The OnePlus X’s Snapdragon 801 processor spec is one you’d have seen in the priciest flagship phones just a year or so ago. But despite the fact that it isn’t the very latest in CPU technology it feels easily fast enough to cope with day-to-day tasks. It streams video smoothly, opens apps fast and never feels like it’s struggling.

  The display is a real high point of this phone, you often get LCD screens at this price point but the OnePlus uses AMOLED. What this means on a technical level is that the individual pixels are illuminated rather than the screen being cross lit as with an LCD display. In practice this translates to a display that delivers bright, vibrant colors and superb contrast, which means deep blacks. This combined with the black of the handset really seems to have colors zinging out from the screen.

  Combine this with 440ppi pixel density that delivers nice sharp text and images and you have what is probably one of the best displays of any phone in this price bracket. In fact the display here is rather better than that on the more expensive OnePlus 2.

  The physical buttons below the screen on the other hand are very faint and there’s no illumination option so you may well find yourself sacrificing some screen space to the soft buttons for the sake of ease of use. The screen has an auto brightness setting, but it does seem to make things a little too bright indoors; you’ll probably end up finding a comfortable setting for most conditions and turning the automatic option off.

  Of course you’ll want to use headphones for serious listening, but the speaker -- yes, speaker, although there are two grilles on the bottom of the phone there is only one -- on the OnePlus is actually pretty good, delivering a clear sound at everyday volume levels.

  It begins to sound a bit harsh if you crank things up higher, but that’s carping as few phones offer hi-fi speaker quality. The OnePlus Radio app lets you receive FM stations, it uses the headphone cable as an antenna so you can’t listen via the speakers when using it.

  The Oxygen interface doesn’t mess too much with the Android user experience. As standard it has a dark theme which nicely shows off the capabilities of the phone’s screen. Probably the most useful feature it offers is frequently used shortcuts which can be found by swiping right from the home screen.

  This gets automatically populated with apps and contacts according to use, rather like the frequently visited sites on your Google home page, you can also take control yourself and add widgets here for specific apps making it a good aid to everyday use.

  Oxygen does have some odd omissions too, there’s no Gallery app, for example, meaning you have to find your photos and videos via the Files app. Oxygen is quite tweakable, however, so you should have no problem customizing it to fit in with the way you want to work.

  

  Out of the box the OnePlus X comes with a number of gesture controls enabled. You can draw an "O" to launch the camera app for example or slide two fingers down the screen to pause playback of music or videos. You can turn these gestures on and off according to taste.

  The rear camera delivers okay results though there’s no image stabilization and the f2.2 lens is slower than the one on its OnePlus 2 brother. You simply tap on the screen to focus, this also brings up a little gear wheel icon which you can drag around to adjust the exposure.

  In low light it automatically cranks up the ISO level, this delivers clear images -- without using flash on many occasions -- but at the expense of some graininess. You also get some extra shooting modes built in including HDR for balancing detail and shadow, and a Beauty mode for enhancing portraits.

  There’s also something called Clear Image which creates a higher res picture by stitching 10 images together. This takes just a couple of seconds to do and although it sounds gimmicky it delivers surprisingly good results.

  

  There’s no 4K on offer, but you can capture video at 720P or 1080P. The 8MP front camera is not brilliant, but is fine for selfies and video calls. You do get a selection of basic editing functions which allow you to carry out simple fixes like adjusting brightness and cropping images, as well as adding some effects. It’s never going to get keen photographers excited, but the OnePlus X camera delivers perfectly good everyday snapshots.

  Conclusion

  Although it only costs £199/$249, the OnePlus X pulls off the trick of looking and feeling like a much more expensive phone, a result of the glass back and nicely machined metal components. There are no plasticky budget overtones here and the quality of the screen adds to the overall good impression too.

  That said it’s not perfect, having to sacrifice the dual-SIM capability for extra storage is a bit frustrating, and the lack of NFC means no using Android Pay or quickly swapping data with other handsets. Other more minor frustrations include the hard to see hardware buttons below the screen and the fact that the back quickly becomes covered in fingerprints making the phone look rather scruffy.

  There’s no doubt that this is an impressive phone for the price and one that you won’t be ashamed to whip out in high-level meetings -- or for that matter in the pub. Whether you buy one really depends on how you’re going to use it.

  Given that the OnePlus 2, which does come with a fingerprint scanner and has a better camera, but still no NFC, only costs £40 more you might want to weigh up which is the better option depending on which features really matter to you.

  Pros

  • Excellent screen
  • Smart design
  • Well made

  Cons

  • No NFC
  • Faint hardware buttons
  • Second SIM/SD card trade-off

  ITProPortal Review: 7/10

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  OnePlus X: Impressive mid-range smartphone [Review]

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 4:53pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  OnePlus may not be a name that springs instantly to mind when you think of smartphones, but it really should be. It is a Chinese company that is fast developing a reputation for turning out quality handsets at something of a bargain price.

  The company's latest OnePlus X model starts at around £200 which is only about £40 below the price of its flagship, the better specified OnePlus 2 model, so does it live up to the company’s claims that this is an affordable phone with premium features?

  In the Box

  You get a nicely presented package which makes it feel like you’re getting a quality product from the off. Lift off the lid and you find the phone sitting on top of a red box which contains the charger, instructions, a clear screen protector and a rubber sleeve.

  The phone itself looks smart with milled edges that catch the light and a shiny glass black back panel -- though this does show every fingerprint. It’s just under 7mm thick and weighs a relatively lightweight 138 grams. There’s a limited edition Ceramic version of the phone available too, but in appearance it’s not too different from the black glass of our review unit and its functionality is the same.

  

  Power and volume switches are on the right-hand edge; again, these have a machined finish that makes them feel a cut above the plastic buttons on, say, a Nexus 5X. The combined SIM card and memory card slot, accessed in the usual way by poking a tool into a little hole, is also on the right.

  On the left is a three position Alert Slider; this is a novel touch that lets you quickly set the phone to silent, priority or tell-me-everything modes in a single action. It’s handy for when you’re going into meetings for example allowing you to quickly silence the phone without having to access the screen. On the bottom edge are the speaker grilles and a standard microUSB port, the headphone socket is at the top left. Unlike the OnePlus 2 the X lacks a fingerprint scanner.

  

  There are hardware buttons at the base of the screen for the usual back, home and recent apps functions. These are very faint and quite hard to see, but you can opt to use soft buttons instead; these nibble away a bit of your screen space. Like the Nexus 5X, the phone is a nice size to hold and operate one-handed thanks to a 5-inch screen.

  Under the skin is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and an Adreno 330 graphics processor. If you need more space you can add a microSD card to expand the storage up to 128GB.

  There’s a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front and the display offers 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. It’s all powered by a 2,525mAh battery which, depending on how you use it, should get you a couple of days between charges. It’s a dual-SIM phone too, connectivity is via 4G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but you don’t get NFC.

  The OnePlus X runs the previous generation Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, and it has OnePlus’ Oxygen user interface. This doesn’t make many changes to stock Android other than adding light and dark menu options, shortcuts to apps you use frequently and some tweaks to app management. It’s largely free of bloatware though, with the only installed apps being the SwiftKey keyboard, a custom file manager, Google Office apps and a OnePlus Radio app.

  Business Features

  The Alert Slider is a clever extra for busy executives who don’t want to be interrupted by their phone in meetings -- or perhaps when entertaining clients at the opera. Move the switch to one of its three positions and the phone just gives a little buzz and displays a message on the screen to acknowledge the instruction.

  The dual-SIM feature is useful if you want to have access to separate business and personal networks on the same handset. However, one of the SIM slots doubles as a microSD card slot; a neat design, but it means you can’t have more storage and two SIMs installed at the same time.

  The Oxygen UI’s app management feature gives you the ability to control permissions for individual apps, something that’s standard in Android Marshmallow, but not in Lollipop. This helps prevent data leaks by keeping your information private, limiting what information and hardware features each app is allowed to access without preventing you from using its features.

  The Oxygen skin also lets you assign shortcuts to the physical home, back and recent apps buttons. You can have up to two shortcuts on each one, useful for apps that you use on a regular basis. Google Office apps for Docs, Sheets and Slides are pre-installed allowing you to work when you’re out of the office and access your data stored in the cloud.

  In Use

  The OnePlus X is a good size for ease of one-handed use and is nicely weighted without being too heavy. It also looks and feels like a much more expensive piece of kit, using it back-to-back after the Nexus 5X there’s no doubt that in a blind test you’d say the OnePlus was a much costlier device.

  The phone feels nice in your hand too and the machined edges make it easy to grip. It does lack some hardware options you’ll find on pricer models, a fingerprint scanner and NFC communication being the main missing features.

  Having a standard USB port means you’re more likely to already have adaptors, car chargers, etc that will fit, but on the other hand you miss out on USB-C features like faster file transfers. The supplied plastic cover feels a bit tacky, but it does help protect the edges and back of the phone from knocks and scratches and helps you to grip the handset. A selection of other covers is available from the OnePlus website if you fancy something a bit more stylish.

  The OnePlus X’s Snapdragon 801 processor spec is one you’d have seen in the priciest flagship phones just a year or so ago. But despite the fact that it isn’t the very latest in CPU technology it feels easily fast enough to cope with day-to-day tasks. It streams video smoothly, opens apps fast and never feels like it’s struggling.

  The display is a real high point of this phone, you often get LCD screens at this price point but the OnePlus uses AMOLED. What this means on a technical level is that the individual pixels are illuminated rather than the screen being cross lit as with an LCD display. In practice this translates to a display that delivers bright, vibrant colors and superb contrast, which means deep blacks. This combined with the black of the handset really seems to have colors zinging out from the screen.

  Combine this with 440ppi pixel density that delivers nice sharp text and images and you have what is probably one of the best displays of any phone in this price bracket. In fact the display here is rather better than that on the more expensive OnePlus 2.

  The physical buttons below the screen on the other hand are very faint and there’s no illumination option so you may well find yourself sacrificing some screen space to the soft buttons for the sake of ease of use. The screen has an auto brightness setting, but it does seem to make things a little too bright indoors; you’ll probably end up finding a comfortable setting for most conditions and turning the automatic option off.

  Of course you’ll want to use headphones for serious listening, but the speaker -- yes, speaker, although there are two grilles on the bottom of the phone there is only one -- on the OnePlus is actually pretty good, delivering a clear sound at everyday volume levels.

  It begins to sound a bit harsh if you crank things up higher, but that’s carping as few phones offer hi-fi speaker quality. The OnePlus Radio app lets you receive FM stations, it uses the headphone cable as an antenna so you can’t listen via the speakers when using it.

  The Oxygen interface doesn’t mess too much with the Android user experience. As standard it has a dark theme which nicely shows off the capabilities of the phone’s screen. Probably the most useful feature it offers is frequently used shortcuts which can be found by swiping right from the home screen.

  This gets automatically populated with apps and contacts according to use, rather like the frequently visited sites on your Google home page, you can also take control yourself and add widgets here for specific apps making it a good aid to everyday use.

  Oxygen does have some odd omissions too, there’s no Gallery app, for example, meaning you have to find your photos and videos via the Files app. Oxygen is quite tweakable, however, so you should have no problem customizing it to fit in with the way you want to work.

  

  Out of the box the OnePlus X comes with a number of gesture controls enabled. You can draw an "O" to launch the camera app for example or slide two fingers down the screen to pause playback of music or videos. You can turn these gestures on and off according to taste.

  The rear camera delivers okay results though there’s no image stabilization and the f2.2 lens is slower than the one on its OnePlus 2 brother. You simply tap on the screen to focus, this also brings up a little gear wheel icon which you can drag around to adjust the exposure.

  In low light it automatically cranks up the ISO level, this delivers clear images -- without using flash on many occasions -- but at the expense of some graininess. You also get some extra shooting modes built in including HDR for balancing detail and shadow, and a Beauty mode for enhancing portraits.

  There’s also something called Clear Image which creates a higher res picture by stitching 10 images together. This takes just a couple of seconds to do and although it sounds gimmicky it delivers surprisingly good results.

  

  There’s no 4K on offer, but you can capture video at 720P or 1080P. The 8MP front camera is not brilliant, but is fine for selfies and video calls. You do get a selection of basic editing functions which allow you to carry out simple fixes like adjusting brightness and cropping images, as well as adding some effects. It’s never going to get keen photographers excited, but the OnePlus X camera delivers perfectly good everyday snapshots.

  Conclusion

  Although it only costs £199/$249, the OnePlus X pulls off the trick of looking and feeling like a much more expensive phone, a result of the glass back and nicely machined metal components. There are no plasticky budget overtones here and the quality of the screen adds to the overall good impression too.

  That said it’s not perfect, having to sacrifice the dual-SIM capability for extra storage is a bit frustrating, and the lack of NFC means no using Android Pay or quickly swapping data with other handsets. Other more minor frustrations include the hard to see hardware buttons below the screen and the fact that the back quickly becomes covered in fingerprints making the phone look rather scruffy.

  There’s no doubt that this is an impressive phone for the price and one that you won’t be ashamed to whip out in high-level meetings -- or for that matter in the pub. Whether you buy one really depends on how you’re going to use it.

  Given that the OnePlus 2, which does come with a fingerprint scanner and has a better camera, but still no NFC, only costs £40 more you might want to weigh up which is the better option depending on which features really matter to you.

  Pros

  • Excellent screen
  • Smart design
  • Well made

  Cons

  • No NFC
  • Faint hardware buttons
  • Second SIM/SD card trade-off

  ITProPortal Review: 7/10

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  How to uninstall the Windows 10 'Recommended' update and go back to Windows 7 or 8.1

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 4:41pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Now that Microsoft is forcibly downloading Windows 10 onto unsuspecting Windows 7 and 8.1 users’ PCs there’s going to be a lot of unhappy customers faced with a new OS they never asked for nor wanted.

  You can prevent this from happening by making sure the "Recommended Update" setting is unchecked on your PC, but if you fail to do this and accidentally allow the installation to go ahead (or maybe you tried Windows 10 and didn’t like it), the good news is it’s easy to roll things back to your original operating system.

  Once the installation has completed you have 30 days to change your mind and go back to Windows 7 or 8.1.

  All you need to do is click Start and launch Settings. Go to Update and Security and click Recovery on the left. You’ll see the option to Go back to Windows 7 or Go back to Windows 8.1 (depending on which version of Windows you had before). Click on Get Started and follow the instructions.

  Windows 10 is actually a decent operating system, so if you have actually installed it, I’d recommend at least giving it a good go before rejecting it out of hand. You do have a month in which make up your mind, and you can roll the OS back at any point within that time frame.

  Image Credit: Richard M Lee / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Amazon Kindle gets an update, brings improved home screen and more

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 3:08pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  When it comes to reading books, things have changed quite a bit since school days, well, depending on your age. Now many people read books on electronic devices and, while tablets are fine, the Amazon Kindle leads the way.

  Amazon is planning to roll out a big update to its handheld devices. You're likely wondering, correctly so, "how much can a book be improved?". Well, there are enhancements, but don't expect your trusty Kindle to change massively.

  It starts with the home screen, which will now display your most recent reads, samples you have downloaded, book recommendations and your Amazon Wish List. The last is another of the retailer's less-than-subtle pushes for customers to spend money.

  Also being added is an enhancement to settings that allows users to find their most frequent choices like airplane mode and device sync. There's book recommendations that utilize what you've already read to help you decide what should be next on your list. And, lastly, there is a new sharing feature that allows you to send books and quotes to friends via either Facebook or Twitter.

  Amazon describes that "In the next few weeks your Kindle e-reader will receive a free, over-the-air software update, designed with you in mind. We know that readers are always looking for ways to discover their next favorite book, and this update provides new ways to help you do just that. While this update will happen automatically, it won't affect your library or the e-books on your device".

  
• 

  New analytics solution helps retailers protect revenues

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 3:01pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Accurately modeling consumer behavior and the events that drive and inhibit sales is a tricky problem for retailers.

  Specialist in IT operation and security analytics Prelert, has turned its expertise on the problem and is launching a new Retail Order Analytics solution. It's aimed at helping online and multichannel retailers to identify technical and operational issues as they're happening in order to stem losses and protect revenue streams.

  Built using unsupervised machine learning technology, Prelert's solution automates data analysis and detects the periodic nature of daily and weekly order cycles. It adapts to changing data patterns that may result over time due to factors like a new product becoming available or current events that cause a spike in product interest.

  "A significant drop in the number of orders taken by an e-commerce site during a particular day might be obvious in retrospect, but can be very difficult to catch in near real time without automated machine learning. Static thresholds and even moving averages can’t reliably identify issues," says Mark Jaffe, CEO of Prelert. "Our anomaly detection algorithms have been proven to work and provide significant ROI within hundreds of progressive IT organizations around the globe. We can provide the same value now for retail and e-commerce organizations, with a solution tailored specifically for them".

  Unlike other solutions which require data to be moved or batch uploaded, Prelert is designed to be easy to deploy, bringing analytics to where an organization's data already resides and analyzing it in near real time. In addition, an open API allows developers to use Prelert in their own products or environments.

  For more information on Prelert's Retail Order Analytics you can visit the company's website.

  Image credit: iQoncept/Shutterstock

  
• 

  More students taking up computing courses

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 2:52pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  There is a resurgence of interest in computing courses, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) claims. According to the agency’s latest report, there has been an increase of 5 percent in the number of students starting an undergraduate computing course in 2014/15.

  A total of 24,900 students signed up. The computing courses significantly outperform undergraduate enrollments as a whole, the agency continues, saying that in the same period, it rose by only 2 percent.

  The rise comes after a few years of decline, suggesting a resurgence of interest, but some problems are still present, including a fairly high percentage of dropouts, as well as a low percentage of females.

  Just 15 percent of those signing up for computer courses are female -- while out of all undergraduate students, 55 percent are female.

  The dropout rate is also fairly high, and goes up to 20 percent, which is another reason to be worried. Only 19,480 achieved a qualification in 2014/15, which represents a fall of 3 percent on the previous year, and the third consecutive year of decline since 2010/11.

  What’s also interesting, and quite unbelievable, is that 10 percent of computing graduates have been unemployed for six months after graduating in 2014. Unbelievable, knowing how severe the lack of IT staff is.

  The report claims this is the highest level compared to any other subject grouping, which is why it is the topic of investigation by Sir Nigel Shadbolt, principal of Jesus College, Oxford.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: Goodluz/Shutterstock

  
• 

  ZAGG buys mophie

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 2:25pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  While consumers love smartphones and tablets, there is one aspect of the mobile business that is sometimes overlooked -- accessories. There are countless companies producing things like cases, cables, keyboards, and more for our precious devices. Quite frankly, that is part of the fun -- customizing the experience.

  Two of the more popular such accessory manufacturers, ZAGG and mophie, are merging. Technically, the former is acquiring the latter. Is this a smart move?

  "ZAGG has agreed to pay $100 million at closing, plus the amount by which 5X Adjusted EBITDA exceeds $100 million over a 12-month earn-out period. The 12-month earn-out period will run from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017. The purchase price at closing will be funded with cash and debt. The earn-out will be financed through a combination of cash, debt and up to $5 million in ZAGG common stock. The agreement also allows mophie to collect approximately $15 million from certain pre-merger tax and custom duties refunds and real estate sale proceeds, if received post-closing", says ZAGG.

  Daniel Huang, mophie Chief Executive Officer, says, "ZAGG and mophie represent two companies with strong brands and shared values. The rationale for the merger is powerful and the combination enhances each company's growth strategy while offering a truly compelling value proposition. Together, we intend to build on our market leadership to deliver great products, advance the brand strength, and increase our global presence in mobile accessories".

  ZAGG shares the potential benefits of the merger.

  • Enhanced Capabilities for Profitable Growth: The combination will create an improved technology platform, strengthened engineering and manufacturing resources in China, along with a global distribution network with facilities in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
  • Best in Class Product Development: Retail customers and mobile consumers will benefit from the alignment of strong product development teams that are focused on delivering Creative Product Solutions.
  • Improved Brand Strength: The brand strength of the combined companies will be leveraged to increase consumer awareness through an expanded global platform and focus on always being the Preferred Brand.
  • Expanded Global Distribution Channels: The combined entity intends to further increase its Targeted Global Distribution through a broader retail presence and new product introductions.
  • Improved Financial Profile: The combination is expected to increase net sales and adjusted EBITDA with a focus on leveraging operational efficiencies and performance.

  Marketing speak aside, this should benefit the companies as they can share resources. ZAGG now owns a well-known brand -- many people leverage mophie battery cases to get through the day. With Apple now producing its own such case, it is clear that this is an important -- and probably lucrative -- market.

  The question, of course, is will this either benefit or hurt consumers? This is less clear. A reduction of competition in the market is often a bad thing, but these two companies weren't really competitors outside of portable battery packs. From the consumer standpoint, I'd say it is inconsequential.

  What do you think about this merger? Tell me in the comments.

  Photo credit: Jean Lee / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Build your own Windows 10 update blocker with Aegis

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 1:55pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  There are now a pile of Microsoft telemetry and Windows 10 update-blockers around, all claiming to protect your privacy and get rid of annoying "upgrade to Windows 10" alerts.

  Unfortunately most give very few details of what they’re doing. You have to click the "Disable evil stuff" button and hope the developer has got it right.

  Aegis is different. It disables assorted Windows 7/ 8 telemetry options, tweaks a privacy setting or two, and tries to block Windows 10 updates, but it’s also just a regular CMD script -- you can inspect, edit and rework it however you like.

  If you’d like to know why this is a good thing, the Aegis changelog offers some clues. Here’s one of the tweaks in the current version, for instance:

  "removed 25 host blocks (based on user feedback removed blocks for bing, hotmail, msn, outlook, and skype)"

  Yes, apparently the developer felt that running a search at Bing, or checking your webmail, involved so much Microsoft "spying" that it needed to be blocked. (Insert your favorite rolling eyes animation here.)

  But, we’ve no doubt that other telemetry blockers also do bizarre things. At least this developer has changed his mind. And because it’s a script, you can see exactly what’s happening and amend it to suit your needs.

  There are some useful tips, too, including code to create a custom-named restore point, disable the Windows 10 download directory, uninstall and hide updates, disable scheduled tasks, apply custom entries to your HOSTS file, and more.

  And if you’re tried this kind of system-level tweakery before, but run into problems with permissions, there’s another plus. The script shows how to use SetACL to manage permissions, auditing and ownership of Registry keys and files, allowing you to do whatever you need.

  We wouldn’t recommend Aegis as a beginner-friendly, one-click, black box solution, but if you’re interested in building your own custom Windows 7/ 8 telemetry and Windows 10 upgrade blocker then it’s a good place to start.

  Aegis is an open source package for Windows 7 and 8.

  
• 

  Microsoft buys SwiftKey

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 12:22pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  Since November 2014, Microsoft has purchased a number of major apps and games to bolster its mobile portfolio on Android, iOS and, of course, Windows and Windows Phone. It has added Minecraft, Acompli, Sunrise and Wunderlist under its belt, titles which have been very popular and highly regarded by smartphone and tablet users. These acquisitions have turned the software giant into one of the strongest developers on the aforementioned platforms.

  But Microsoft is not stopping there, as it just announced the purchase of SwiftKey, one of the most popular third-party keyboards available for Android and iOS. And, just like that, four of my favorite apps are now owned by the software giant.

  Outlook, or Acompli as it was previously known, has long been my go-to email app on Android and iOS, due to its cross-platform availability, support for multiple providers, like Gmail and Outlook.com accounts, and some very lovely email management features.

  Wunderlist, my favorite to-do app, is one of the best in the business, offering all the right features I need to get things done on a day to day basis. All of the things that I need to do on a specific date are in Wunderlist and, so far, it has helped me greatly.

  I do not play Minecraft, but I do enjoy -- or had enjoyed, I should say -- Sunrise quite a bit. Before Microsoft decided to get the team behind this app involved more with Outlook and less with improving Sunrise, I was using it to keep track of all my calendar entries and add new events. Right now, being last updated sometime around mid-2015, it has lost its charm.

  This brings me to SwiftKey, which I personally view as the best keyboard on Android and iOS, bar none. It is very good if you need to write in multiple languages, it offers decently good predictions and, just like the aforementioned apps, it is available on Android and iOS, which makes it easier to use multiple platforms on a daily basis.

  SwiftKey, which is installed on over 300 million Android and iOS devices, will continue to be developed under Microsoft's ownership, or so the software giant says. Third-party keyboards are a popular category on both platforms, so it makes sense for Microsoft to want to keep it alive and not bury it like Sunrise. This would have the benefit of making Microsoft a better-known developer among Android and iOS users, of course.

  Microsoft also says that it plans to integrate (some of) the technology behind SwiftKey in its Word Flow keyboard for Windows (and, soon, iOS) and other products and services that it has. "SwiftKey’s predictive technology aligns with Microsoft’s investments and ambition to develop intelligent systems that can work more on the user’s behalf and under their control", says Microsoft's executive vice president of Technology and Research Harry Shum.

  SwiftKey co-founders Jon Reynolds and Beb Medlock say that the app will remain free on Android and iOS. The other aforementioned productivity-oriented apps that Microsoft offers are also free. The software giant is rumored to have paid $250 million to acquire SwiftKey.

  
• 

  Google to use ads in attempt to combat jihadi terrorists

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 12:12pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Large swathes of the internet have taken it upon themselves to try to stem the flow of ISIS propaganda and other terrorist content. People working under the Anonymous banner are perhaps the most obvious, but now Google is getting involved as well.

  In an overtly political move a senior Google executive, Dr Anthony House, has revealed measures that are being trialled to try to combat extremism. As well as making it easier to discover who is looking for extremist content online, the company is also piloting a scheme that uses its AdWords system to display anti-ISIS messages.

  This is an interesting use of Google's technology, and stands in stark contrast to the blunt DDoS attacks employed by some anti-ISIS groups. Google has already been heavily involved in controlling the dissemination of ISIS videos, removing large numbers from YouTube. But the latest idea takes something of a different angle; it aims to "make sure when people put potentially damaging search terms into our search engine they also find these counter narratives".

  Quite how effective it will be to display an 'ISIS is bad' message to jihadi sympathizers is not clear, but it's something that Google is willing to try. Dr House said:

  We offer Google AdWords Grants to NGOs so that meaningful counter-speech ads can be surfaced in response to search queries like 'join Isis'.

  What this does not mean -- despite what has been reported by some sites -- is that Google is going to start delivering the 'wrong search results to would-be jihadis'. The only thing that will be affected are the ads that adorn search results.

  Photo credit: photogearch / Shutterstock

  
• 

  How communication tools are being used in the workplace

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 11:22am CET par Ian Barker

  

  Interaction at work has been changed in recent years thanks to tools like Slack, but what do IT managers look for when sourcing communication tools?

  According to the results of a new survey of 250 IT managers by West Unified Communications more than half believe that relying on best-of-breed communication and collaboration tools is more important than adopting solutions from the same vendor.

  Other findings are that the adoption of video technology is on the rise. More than one-third of IT managers (36 percent) expect to implement or expand their video capabilities in the next three years, but cite it as one of the most difficult technologies for IT departments to maintain.

  The top reason for delaying unified communication deployment, according to 52 percent of respondents, is not cost or budget, but that a technology isn't a ‘must have’ priority. The top technology is still audio conferencing, used by 79 percent, followed by web conferencing (76 percent) and instant messaging (73 percent).

  More on the survey's findings is available on the westUC website and there's a summary in infographic form below.

  

  Photo credit: Everett Collection / Shutterstock

  
• 

  How much do UK businesses spend on mobile devices per year?

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 9:46am CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  An average business in the UK spends approximately £1,272 every year on a mobile device and all the expenses that come with owning one.

  Those are the results of a new survey by mobile data security firm Wandera. Surveying 500 UK IT decision makers, Wandera’s survey has shown the true cost of ownership (TCO) of mobile devices for UK enterprise.

  Here’s how the expenses are split: carrier charges take up 36 percent of cost, hardware 21 percent, bill shock 14 percent, security 11 percent, IT resource 10 percent and additional services 8 percent.

  There are two particularly interesting things about this report: one is that bill shock (additional unexpected charges for exceeding carrier plans or roaming charges), that takes up 14 percent of TCO, can jump up to 21.9 percent for the largest companies.

  Larger companies, per annum, can pay up to £279 per device for bill shock.

  Another important discovery is that more than half (58 percent) of TCO is controllable. "Costs can be reduced through improved mobile data management, policy setting and security threat prevention", the company said in a press release, adding that using these measures usually removes about 28 percent of the total TCO.

  "For years, most enterprises have considered TCO to be simply made up of the cost of the device plus the carrier charges", comments Eldar Tuvey, CEO of Wandera. "But this is frankly a naive view. In fact, the 'real' TCO is twice as much as commonly expected. In the UK, approximately £644 per device of annual costs for services, security and IT are not being taken into account when calculating the TCO of enterprise mobility".

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: Syda Productions / Shutterstock

  
• 

  My Apple iPad Pro adventure begins [first in a series]

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 3:43am CET par Joe Wilcox

  

  The first thing you notice about iPad Pro is the size. The tablet is ginormous. Its 12.9-inch screen lays before you like a chalk slate -- a blank canvas demanding typed text or drawings made with Apple Pencil. Yet something also feels wrong about the thing. During the so-called Steve Jobs era, refined designs were smaller -- like iPod nano. Apple is no stranger to larger; 27-inch iMac today or 17-inch MacBook Pro of yesteryear are examples. Perhaps. But there's big, and BIG.

  The giant tablet arrived around 2:50 p.m. PST on Groundhog Day 2016, marking a bold computing adventure for February: Using iPad Pro as my primary PC, and hopefully only one. Perhaps you read my recent obituary to Apple love lost and might wonder why buy anything Apple? I like to experiment and am paid to try out new things (so you won't have to). By sheer size, PC replacement -- not companion -- is the only sensible use for iPad Pro. Can it meet the demands? I want to find out.

  Been There

  This isn't my first adventure of this kind. On July 31, 2011, I started a summer sojourn using a Samsung Chromebook, which became my primary PC. But three months later, frustrated by lacking utility and performance problems, I put aside Google's then new platform. The experience nevertheless changed my computing lifestyle, pulling my habits from desktop applications to their browser-based, cloud-connect counterparts. Following the release of Samsung Chromebook 550, in May 2012 I made the switch. I've gone back to Apple a few times since but get better overall utility -- as a writer -- from Google platforms. My primary PC is Chromebook Pixel LS -- or was before the next, grand experiment's start.

  I have no plans to give up Pixel, which is a joy to use. But iPad Pro intrigues, and I will soon start a podcasting project for which webapps don't deliver the utility I want. Let's see what Apple's big-ass tablet can deliver. Apps are there, and they should be easier to use on the larger screen.

  To repeat:  I also want to answer for my satisfaction, and hopefully for yours, whether a tablet can replace a PC, as Apple contends. Someone surely will ask why not Surface Pro 4 or Surface Book? Two answers: They're outside my cash-out-of-pocket budget, and both Microsoft device run desktop operating systems. They are PCs. IPad Pro falls into aebulous category, because of iOS. Can the apps be enough? Are ingrained habits a barrier to switching. Little things, like doing away with mouse and trackpad. I don't use Macros or specialized keyboard shortcuts, unlike many other PC users. The answers to these and other questions will unfold as I write about my experience.

  Day One

  I ordered iPad Pro on Jan. 31, 2016, from my local T-Mobile store, adding the cost to my monthly phone bill. The carrier sells the 128GB cellular model in Space Grey or Gold. I chose the muted of the two. As I type this paragraph, the tab has been out of the box for about two hours.

  I purchased the Smart Keyboard from my local Apple Store. Typing has a tacky feeling, by the way,  that concerned until surprisingly finding touch typing to be so easy and accurate. I am pleasantly surprised by the keys' responsiveness and touch-without-looking placement. Warning: There is no backlighting, making accurate touch-typing all the more important.

  Apple Pencil is perennially sold out at the local store and an online order wouldn't deliver for at least nine days. So yesterday, February 1st, I contacted Apple PR requesting a review loaner. To my surprise, the team obliged and the stylus shipped for arrival February 3rd. This is the first review product that Apple has sent me in six years. Or is it eight?

  Smart Keyboard doubles as a cover and stand. The Apple Way or no way is a truism. With Surface Pro 4, users can tilt back the screen to desired angle. Using the Smart Keyboard, there is but one choice. But that's okay. The angle is perfectly chosen (can't promise you will agree). I write this first impressions foreword directly into WordPress using Google Chrome, which got a big rendering engine update during the last week of January.

  Got to say: The overall user experience surpasses my expectations, which admittedly were low. The screen is bright and crisp. Performance feels fast from fumbling around; it's smooth. As a tablet, iPad Pro promises to be a grandmaster. I can see that already. I will let you know about laptop replacement as the series unfolds. That's a wrap.

  Photo Credit: Joe Wilcox

  
• 

  AMD officially releases A10-7860K APU, Athlon X4 845 'Excavator' CPU, and new coolers

  Publié: février 3, 2016, 2:24am CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  As a system builder, I am constantly looking for new hardware and good value. While Intel makes a fine processor, I often find myself choosing AMD solutions for builds. Why? The company makes great bang-for-your-buck processors and graphics chips. Its APUs are a phenomenal value, while its traditional CPUs are powerhouses. Gamers in particular should take a look at its offerings.

  Today, AMD officially unveils two new processors -- the A10-7860K APU and Athlon X4 845 CPU. The latter is particularly notable as it is the first-ever CPU to feature the 'Excavator' architecture. To keep temperatures on these new chips low, AMD has revealed new coolers too.

  "The AMD Athlon X4 845 is the first desktop processor featuring the AMD 'Excavator' x86 architecture technology. The quad-core CPU is clocked at 3.8GHz boost and offers the highest IPC (instructions per clock) AMD x86 performance yet. When paired with a discrete graphics card, the AMD Athlon X4 845 enables great gaming and multi-threaded processing performance for an attractive price. The new Athlon X4 845 is a 65W TDP processor that comes with a new AMD 95W thermal solution to provide excellent cooling performance and near-silent operation", says AMD.

  The company further explains, "quiet, efficient and an incredible value, the new AMD A10-7860K APU is powered by four CPU cores clocked at 4.0GHz turbo boost and eight GPU cores with integrated Radeon R7 processor graphics running at 757MHz to enable smooth play of popular online games like Dota 2, League of Legends, and Counter Strike: Global Offensive. The A10-7860K is the first unlocked desktop A10 processor to feature 65W TDP (Thermal Design Power) and includes a near-silent thermal solution rated at 95W TDP to ensure quiet operation. In addition, the AMD A10-7860K supports AMD FreeSync technology that puts an end to choppy gameplay and broken frames with fluid, artifact-free performance at virtually any framerate".

  Both of these processors look to be great values. The A10-7860K APU costs a very affordable $117, while the Athlon X4 845 is a mind-boggling $70. Holy cow, folks -- those are some low prices for such great hardware. Since the APU also serves as a GPU (with FreeSync), it should be a great choice for a budget build where consumers have modest gaming needs. The Athlon X4 845 also makes sense for those building on a budget, and should be awesome when paired with a lower to mid-range 300 series AMD graphics card.

  

  To cool those chips AMD is showing off a new stock cooler with a beautiful red fan and impressive copper pipes. Rated for 95W TDP, it could possibly be appropriate for modest overclocks too. This cooler will also be included in new packaging for certain existing processors.

  AMD previously unveiled its beautiful 125W TDP Wraith Cooler, and today, it announces that it will be exclusive to certain chips, such as the FX 8370 CPU. The company promises it will be "near silent". While silence is great, I am probably more excited by the LED-illuminated logo on the fan -- sweet. Check out the first-look video above for more details.

  • AMD FX 8370 - $199.99 USD (New Wraith Cooler included)
  • AMD A10-7860K - $116.99 USD (New APU+New cooler)
  • AMD A8-7670K - $104.99 USD (New cooler included)
  • AMD A8-7650K - $94.99 USD (New cooler included)
  • AMD Athlon X4 870K - $89.99 USD (New cooler included)
  • AMD Athlon X4 860K - $79.99 USD (New cooler included)
  • AMD Athlon X4 845 - $69.99 USD (New CPU+New cooler)

  If you are interested in purchasing, I have great news -- these new processors and coolers are available today. Will you buy them? Check out the pricing above and tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  Twitter tries to appeal to people who don’t like Twitter

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 10:36pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  It has been suggested that Twitter is on a downward spiral, losing users, popularity and significance. Twitter would clearly disagree, but that's not going to stop the company from attempting to make its site more appealing -- even to people who don’t have a Twitter account.

  Despite the ubiquity of hashtags and the prevalence of references to tweeting, there is something of a problem with Twitter. Visit Twitter.com and you'll immediately be prompted to sign into your account. Not a problem if you have one, but if you don't have an account it means that you’ve hit something of a wall. Twitter is now tearing down this obstacle, transforming its homepage into a valuable source of news and information regardless of whether you have an account or not.

  Twitter says that it wants "to make great content accessible for everyone -- even if you’re not signed in". It might seem like a minor and obvious change, but it is a significant one that people have been asking for for some time. It's a change that opens up Twitter to a far wider audience and means that more people will be able to follow along with live events or see what TV shows and celebrities have to say without having to go quite as far as signing up for an account.

  Of course, by not signing into an account you'll miss out on (most of) the personalized options that Twitter has to offer, but this is not the point of the change. Twitter says:

  We're rolling out a home timeline to people across 23 countries who visit the twitter.com homepage on their mobile devices. Before today, you could see individual Tweets but it was hard to discover stories and conversations happening on Twitter without signing in. Now, you can check out a news story as it unfolds, dive into the play-by-play discussions around a game, and then come back again to see that exchange between two rappers everyone's been talking about. It's real-time and straight from the source, just like the Twitter experience for those who log in.

  If you're in the US or Japan, you might wonder what all of the fuss is about. This is not an update for you!

  Today we're bringing Tweets to more people around the on our homepage: [https:] pic.twitter.com/C0htvdamPn

  — Twitter (@twitter) February 2, 2016

  Even if you're not signed into an account, Twitter will still try to show you the most relevant content, based on your location if nothing else.

  This is not the only change coming to Twitter today -- the way conversations are displayed is also being tweaked. Twitter explained it, funnily enough, in a tweet:

  New on [https:]: entire Tweet conversations pop out with a single click––no more losing your place! pic.twitter.com/RJq8dZIMKh

  — Twitter Support (@Support) February 2, 2016

  Conversations in a pop out seems to be getting something of a mixed reception, but it will be interesting to see how the mood develops over time.

  
• 

  NSA's lead hacker offers security tips

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 8:00pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  An interesting talk happened recently during the Usenix Enigma security conference in San Francisco. It was held by Rob Joyce, basically the number one hacker of the US. He is the head of NSA's Tailored Access Operations, or TAO. That's pretty much the government's hacking team, tasked with breaking and entering into the systems of its enemies. Or allies, if need be.

  This man, who assumed the position of hacker-in-chief just a few months before Edward Snowden blew the whistle on the whole ordeal, spoke about a lot of things which Wired summed up in one smart sentence -- he explained how to keep people like him out of your systems.

  Although everyone agrees that he probably didn’t say anything about TAO's classified operations, he did say a couple of interesting things.

  1. NSA Hunts Sysadmins

  The NSA will always look for the credentials of network admins and pretty much anyone with high levels of access. It will also look for hardcoded passwords in legacy protocols.

  2. No Crack Is Too Small

  If your system has a crack and NSA can find it, it will use it. No matter how small and insignificant it might be. Do not underestimate what even the tiniest of cracks can do to your system.

  3. BYOD Is Dangerous

  If you use your own device to connect to your company’s network, make sure to keep it safe, use it only for work and don’t give it to your kids. Joyce said that Steam, the Internet-based digital distribution platform for games, is a huge security threat.

  So basically, if you want to stay safe, limit access privileges for important systems and segment the networks. Patch up your systems and remove any legacy protocols. And remove hardcoded passwords.

  A more detailed overview of the conference can be found on this link.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: igor.stevanovic/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft accused of Iowa Caucus voter fraud with hashtag #MicrosoftRubioFraud

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 6:35pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  Here's the deal, folks. As I said in a previous article, open source is a necessity when it comes to voting. I praised Bernie Sanders' campaign for questioning Microsoft's motives in providing the platform for the Iowa Caucuses. With that said, Microsoft was ultimately not the problem, closed source was.

  Unfortunately for Microsoft, as could be expected, it is now being accused of voter fraud by apparent Donald Trump supporters. Since Ted Cruz won last night, you would think the claim is that the Windows-maker fraudulently boosted him. Nope. Actually, conspiracy theorists are claiming Microsoft increased the number of votes cast for Marco Rubio, who placed third. This movement is using the hashtag #MicrosoftRubioFraud.

  According to Fortune, who shed light on the below tweets, it seems conspiracy theorists are pointing to Microsoft's large donations to Senator Rubio as a motive for helping him. True, his performance was better than expected last night, but committing fraud in order to improve a candidate to third place doesn't seem like a very worthwhile risk.

  Open source would actually help Microsoft in this case, as the company could point suspicious citizens to the source code. Closed source not only has the potential to hurt voters, but it is preventing Microsoft from being transparent. In other words, Microsoft will never be able to shake these claims while source code is hidden from voters.

  READ MORE: Use smartphones to vote for president

  Do I think Microsoft committed fraud to help Marco Rubio? No. But my opinion -- and the opinion of others -- is inconsequential here. With the source code locked away, no one can really be sure. With that said, there is no definitive proof that any fraud occurred either.

  What do you think? Is the #MicrosoftRubioFraud movement nonsense, or a legit response to a large corporation controlling the voting platform? Tell me in the comments.

  #microsoftrubiofraud THEY WHO COUNT THE VOTES MATTER pic.twitter.com/nGLVgqT0GF

  — TdA (@AxisFB) February 2, 2016

  #MicrosoftRubioFraud
  -Microsoft benefits from H1Bs. Counts vote.
  -Microsoft is #2 donor for Rubio.
  -Rubio magically gains 10% of votes.

  — The Man with No Name (@WesternPaladin8) February 2, 2016

  Image Credit: Ben Garrison

  
• 

  Download files from a script with fGet

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 6:16pm CET par Mike Williams

  Foolish IT has released fGet, a freeware portable tool which enables downloading files from a script.

  The program uses Internet Explorer components to handle the tricky bits, which means the fGet executable can be a tiny 51.1KB.

  Basic usage is simple, requiring only a /url switch to specify what you’d like to download, and a /file switch for the name and path where you’d like it saved.

  The end result looks something like this.

  fget /url="http://www.domain.com/path/file.zip" /file="c:\archives\latest.zip"

  Optional switches allow you to specify a user name, password or custom referring URL.

  /rurl=[spoof/referring url]
  /user=[username]
  /pass=[password]

  What you don’t get is much -- okay, any -- help in dealing with problems or exceptions. FGet doesn’t check to see if the local file you specify already exists, it won’t create the destination path if it’s not already there, and there are no status messages to indicate progress or errors.

  If your scripting needs are basic then this probably won’t be an issue, and fGet worked without any difficulty for us.

  But if you’d like more download scripting power then cUrl supports lots of protocols, can upload files, resume transfers, set upper or lower transfer speed limits or more, and it’s also very straightforward to use.

  FGet is a freeware application for Windows XP and later.

  
• 

  How to block the Windows 10 'recommended' update on Windows 7 and 8.1

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 6:01pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Microsoft has changed the Windows 10 update from "Optional" to "Recommended". And by "Recommended" it means "You’re getting it whether you want it or not".

  If your Windows 7 or 8.1 PC is set to install recommended updates automatically (because -- more fool you -- you just wanted it to be up to date and safe) then Microsoft will cheerfully download the new OS and start the installation process for you. Don’t want that to happen? Here’s how to stop it.

  First things first. Microsoft won’t install Windows 10 on your PC while you sleep (though it will download it). That’s the good news. If the installation process starts you’ll be able to cancel it.

  But let’s not allow that in the first place. To prevent Microsoft downloading and installing Windows 10 on your computer, you need to turn off the Recommended Updates setting in Windows Update and hide Windows 10 from the list of available recommended updates.

  In Windows 7, go to Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Update. Click the Change settings link on the left.

  Look for the Recommended updates entry and make sure it’s unchecked. Click OK.

  In Windows 8.1 you can either follow the same steps listed above, or you can go through the PC Settings app. Go to Settings > Update and recovery > Windows update and select Choose how updates get installed. Uncheck the Recommended Updates box and click Apply.

  Windows 10 will still appear as an available update, but it won’t be automatically installed now.

  Finally, right-click on the Windows 10 update, and select Hide Update to make sure you don't install it by mistake.

  Photo credit: chrisdorney and tanuha2001 / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Risk of malware infection growing in UK

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 5:53pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  UK's businesses have had a bigger chance of being attacked by a malware than those in the US or the Republic of Ireland in December 2015, a new report by security researchers suggest.

  According to a report by Check Point, in December 2015, UK was the 99th most attacked country globally, surpassing the US (122nd) and the Republic of Ireland (116th).

  The risk of malware infection in the UK increased 17 percent, the company concludes, with the number of active malware families increasing by 25 percent. The company says more than 1,500 different active malware families were identified in December, up from 1,200 in November.

  The most popular malware was (and remains) Conficker, accounting for 25 percent of all known attacks in the period. Its popularity is seen even better once it’s compared to second-placed Sality, which accounted for 9 percent of attacks.

  Conficker works by disabling security services, rendering the machine vulnerable to DDoS and similar attacks.

  Nathan Shuchami, head of Threat Prevention at Check Point said: "The increase in active malware during December highlights the severity of the threat posed to organizations' networks and sensitive data. As a result, organizations should be pushing cyber-security to the top of their agendas for 2016, as cyber-criminals continually find new ways to attack networks, so that they can be equally relentless in robustly securing their networks".

  The top three malware variants used to attack UK networks during November were Conficker, Kelihos and HackerDefender.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: Balefire / Shutterstock

  
• 

  New cloud solution offers one-stop backup, archive and recovery

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 5:31pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  As businesses adopt the cloud for increased flexibility and reliability, public cloud services are increasingly being used as a protection platform to provide backup, archiving and disaster recovery.

  Data protection specialist Druva has recognized the importance of this market and is adding disaster recovery capability to its Phoenix product to offer a converged cloud solution.

  Druva Phoenix is built on Amazon Web Services and makes use of the public cloud’s elasticity, global presence and security, meaning companies can store, protect and manage large volumes of data simply, efficiently and effectively.

  "Companies have been forced to juggle multiple hardware and software resources -- including on-site tape, secondary disk hardware and backup software -- to manage, protect and secure data. This has created organizational silos and significant expense. Phoenix has been designed as a one-stop-shop for on-demand, infrastructure data protection services," says Jaspreet Singh, CEO, Druva. "By adding DR to Phoenix's existing public cloud backup and archival capabilities, these silos are eliminated saving enterprises money and resources".

  Phoenix's new DR capability allows organizations to continuously back up their VMware environments. They can automatically recover and spin-up their virtual machines in the AWS public cloud when disaster strikes, ensuring business continuity. It helps save on costs too by eliminating the need for additional dedicated on premise software, storage or hardware. Thanks to advanced configuration settings, Phoenix users can set up detailed polices to automate network and security failover to a DR environment, significantly reducing downtime. In addition, administrators can create multiple copies of virtual machines across geographies and accounts for test and development.

  More details on the latest capabilities in Phoenix are available on the Druva website.

  Photo Credit: Andreas Weitzmann/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft forcing Windows 10 onto people is wrong

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 4:58pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  Microsoft says it wants to get people to a "safer place" and that’s why it’s so aggressively pushing Windows 10. But it’s one thing to advertise the new OS on someone’s computer, and another thing entirely to force them to upgrade to it.

  Microsoft Marketing Chief Chris Capossela, says a lot of people are putting off upgrading to Windows 10 ("constantly kick[ing] the can down the street" in his words), and so the software giant is taking steps to give them a "push" into taking action. But not with a gentle reminder, or even full on nagging, but by downloading and then starting the OS installation without permission, and that sucks.

  Yesterday, Microsoft changed Windows 10 from being an optional update for Windows 7 and 8.1, to a recommended update. If a PC is set to install recommended updates automatically then Windows 10 will be downloaded and the installation could then start once the download is complete.

  People allow Microsoft to install recommended updates because they trust the company to keep their PCs safe by installing bug and security fixes automatically. They don’t -- and rightly so -- expect the software giant to download a massive 3.5GB+ file in the background and then attempt to change the operating system they use -- the operating system they paid good money for -- into something entirely different.

  Sure you can cancel the upgrade when it starts, but if a user is in the middle of an important task, and they see a popup announcing something is happening with their PC, there’s a good chance they’ll just click OK and then find themselves waiting for an installation they didn’t actually want to complete before they can go back to whatever it was they were doing, except in a different operating system.

  If they do cancel the Windows 10 install it’s not going to go away forever -- and while you can roll back Windows 10 within 30 days once the installation is complete, that’s a lot of hassle for someone who never asked for the new OS in the first place.

  A lot of people aren’t even aware of Windows 10. My in-laws for example use and love Windows 7. They’ve never heard of Windows 10, and when that operating system turns up -- uninvited -- on their PC they’re not going to have the first clue what’s happened. Will they be happy about Microsoft getting them to a "safer place"? No, they won’t. They probably won’t even take the time to learn the new OS either -- because they don't want it -- they’ll just use their iPads more.

  SEE ALSO: How to block the Windows 10 'recommended' update on Windows 7 and 8.1

  Forcing Windows 10 on to people like this is frankly despicable behavior. Just because Microsoft has made Windows 10 free doesn’t excuse it. This is not an incremental change -- like when Apple updates iOS -- the difference between Windows 7 and Windows 10 is huge, and not all of the changes are for the better. Enjoying using Media Center? Yeah, we've taken it away.

  Imagine if other companies behaved like that? If Amazon decided to swap the book you chose and paid for, for another book without your say so. "It’s new, it’s free!" Yes, but it’s also not the book I wanted or bought.

  Microsoft says it wants Windows 10 on a billion devices. Google and WhatsApp have both just announced they have 1 billion active users. But the difference with them, is it’s a billion users who actually wanted Gmail, or wanted WhatsApp in the first place.

  When Microsoft next announces how wonderfully well Windows 10 is doing, and how many more million users have been added from yesterday onwards, it will be a meaningless number, a hollow achievement, and certainly nothing for the company to be proud about.

  Photo credit: Sebastian Gauert / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Gmail and WhatsApp boast over one billion monthly active users each

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 4:18pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  There are many products that have hundreds of millions of active users in a single month, but there are few that have passed the billion mark. However, the select group, which includes the likes of YouTube and Facebook, has just gotten bigger.

  And it is Google and Facebook which once again add new members to that list, with Gmail and WhatsApp, respectively, joining the pack. Both services passed that milestone in January, with one taking longer than the other to reach it.

  Gmail was first introduced nearly 12 years ago, on April 1 2004. The email service was initially available only via invites, becoming available to a wider audience nearly three years later. Gmail had one of the longest beta testing phases, which lasted until mid-2009. It reached 900 million users in May 2015, just over 11 years after its soft launch.

  WhatApp, meanwhile, has evolved much more quickly. Its initial release dates back to January 2010, six years ago. In mid-April, CEO Jan Koum announced that the service had 800 million monthly active users. At the time, WhatsApp was about six months into Facebook ownership.

  Fast forward to today and both services now claim to have more than one billion monthly active users. But, are those figures close to the truth? In WhatsApp's case, users are directly linked to phone numbers, and you cannot have more than one account per phone number.

  Users can be counted twice if they have two phone numbers, but, realistically speaking, more than two sounds a bit far fetched. Not to mention that it makes little sense to have multiple WhatsApp accounts, since you would normally be chatting only with your phone contacts anyway, because that is the way the service is designed to be used.

  In Gmail's case, however, it is not uncommon for one user to have more than one account. At some point I had two (possibly more, but I cannot recall exactly), but my colleague Wayne Williams says he now has five. I know other Gmail users who have a similar number of accounts, so I wonder how exactly does Google -- or WhatsApp for that matter -- know exactly how many actual users are accessing their service every single month?

  Photo credit: PathDoc / Shutterstock

  
• 

  A 7 step security checklist for migrating from on-prem SharePoint to Office 365

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 4:13pm CET par Phil Dicorpo

  

  Microsoft Office is the tried and true solution for work, so it’s no surprise enterprises moving to the cloud look to a familiar face in Office 365. Despite the cloud services’ significant adoption numbers -- 87.3 percent of organizations have at least 100 employees using Office 365 -- the vast majority of companies have yet to migrate all users to the cloud: 93.2 percent of employees still use Microsoft on-premises solutions.

  The transition to cloud leaves companies puzzled on how to safely and effectively migrate extensive on-premises SharePoint environments to SharePoint Online. Once content is successfully migrated, companies must have controls already in place to properly enforcing security, compliance, and governance of sensitive data. Microsoft has significantly invested in the security of Office 365. According to Gartner, however, 95 percent of security incidents involving cloud will come from customer vulnerabilities rather than the service provider. Companies need to worry less about Microsoft suffering a breach and more about their own users’ high-risk activity within Microsoft applications.  It is ultimately up to the enterprise to secure their data in Office 365, and the greatest threats frequently come from within.

  Unfortunately, many organizations lack the expertise to address security challenges in the cloud. A recent survey conducted with the Cloud Security Alliance found that a lack of skilled security professionals is the number one obstacle for effectively protecting data in the cloud.

  The complexity of Office deployments is a major foundation for security concerns. It is common for organizations utilizing SharePoint Online to end up with hundreds, even thousands, of site collections accessed by employees all over the world. SharePoint Online enables employees to easily provide access to data to individuals outside of the company such as customers, suppliers, or business partners. This is a key benefit of cloud, but far from risk-free.

  After studying several successful and failed migrations to SharePoint Online, seven lessons stand out for those thinking of making the switch or tie up loose ends after the fact.

  1. Locate the crown jewels.

  The first step in auditing security when moving to the cloud is to find out where sensitive data is stored and who has access. In the average SharePoint Online deployment, 17.4 percent of documents contain sensitive data. Broken down by data type, 9.2 percent contain confidential data, 4.2 percent contain personal data, 2.2 percent contain health data, and 1.8 percent contain payment data. The simplicity of accessing and sharing data in SharePoint Online highlights the need to tailor each employee’s access to sensitive data based on role. There is no need for an engineer to access customer financial data, or an HR professional to download intellectual property. Finally, "hidden in plain sight" is not an effective strategy when it comes to cloud security. The average company has a shocking 143 files stored in OneDrive that contain the word “password” in the filename.

  1. Limit data oversharing.

  Office 365 enables several convenient functions, including ease of collaboration with fellow employees and even external business partners. In fact, Office 365 is a major driver of the cloud economy: the average enterprise uses collaborates with 72 business partners on the platform, more than on any other collaboration platform. Nevertheless, companies may not to limit the sharing of sensitive data with business partners. Research shows that 29 percent of data shared externally ends up in the hands of high-risk partners, potentially exposing companies to a Target-style breach.

  1. Don’t leave Information Rights Management (IRM) policies behind.

  Enterprises often enforce IRM policies for data in their on-premises SharePoint. However, many companies shy away from applying the same policies to data in the cloud because they  do not wish to host their encryption keys in the cloud and/or to avoid the hustle of downloading client software to access acquired SharePoint file.

  Companies should still apply IRM policies, but in a targeted manner: only to sensitive files as they are downloaded, using encryption keys stored on-premises.

  1. Get smart to machine learning.

  Microsoft makes all user events in Office 365 available via a Management Activity API, which provides 162 event types that users perform. It would be preposterous to manually track these events for malicious or negligent behavior, such as an employee extracting vast amounts of data before leaving for a competitor. The recently added Graph API opens the door to security tools to analyze these raw events. Microsoft has followed the lead of enterprise cloud providers by opening up this partner ecosystem. Now companies can leverage emerging technologies like machine learning to identify anomalous activity against a background of millions of routine events that make up everyday cloud usage at an enterprise today.

  1. Construct policies based on devices and access locations.

  Office 365 enables users to access data on a smartphone or laptop at anytime and from anywhere in the world, increasing the mobility of the modern workforce. Nonetheless, the increased accessibility and sprawl of information exposes corporate data to new risks. Accessing sensitive data through unmanaged networks, such as public WiFi, substantially increases the risk of a security incident. A good place to start is to block downloads of sensitive data in SharePoint Online unless employees use trusted networks and VPNs managed by the company. By doing this, you restrict download permissions while still allowing the employee to preview items in Office 365 online. Additionally, restrict access to sensitive material from unmanaged devices and enforce the use of managed devices. In case an employee’s phone is stolen, the thief will not be able to access Office 365 and the company can remotely wipe the drive.
  

  1. Don’t make passwords your last line of defense.

  Passwords have become a weak link in enterprise security, and Office 365 is not exempt. 76.3 percent of enterprises experience at least one incident each month where a third-party gains access to a corporate cloud account via a stolen or guessed password. The average company experience 5.1 incidents each month. Using the same Activity Monitoring APIs mentioned above, third-party security solutions can identify out-of-order login attempts such as a user who normally logs in from San Francisco logging in from an untrusted location such as China, consecutive logins to an account across an implausible geographic distance in a given time frame, or multiple brute force login attempts. Closing passive accounts belonging to former employees, or zombie accounts, is one way to reduce the risk of having accounts compromised.

  1. Do not put all your eggs in the same administrator’s basket.

  Every company’s nightmare is the rogue administrator using his or her privileged account to exfiltrate data, with the infamous example of Edward Snowden. Administrators have even branched out illicit use of their access to include crimes like insider trading. As a result, it is crucial to not only include end users when auditing activity and permissions, but also the administrators overseeing sites.

  There’s no question using SharePoint Online benefits collaboration and access to information to employees. When done right, the move to Office 365 can improve security as well. By taking a pro-active approach to security when migrating to SharePoint Online, companies can receives the full benefits of cloud while keeping sensitive data safe.

  Photo credit: Melpomene / Shutterstock

  Phil Dicorpo is Director of Product Management, Skyhigh Networks

  
• 

  New cloud service helps organizations meet document preservation requirements

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 3:27pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Companies increasingly face demands to keep documents in order to satisfy legal and compliance requirements. This can present problems in deciding what to keep but also in keeping up with the latest regulations.

  The latest EU/US Data Transfer negotiations for example are causing businesses to re-think their current business processes and data governance strategy in order to address these changes.

  Compliance and archiving specialist Actiance is launching a new version of its Alcatraz product offering on-demand preservation capabilities so that organizations can hold, capture, search, and review content across more than 70 communications channels.

  This allows legal departments to effectively manage eDiscovery requirements, while mitigating risks that may arise during the critical collection and preservation steps, as well as complying with new Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) regulations.

  "The standards for legal preservation have become better defined, posing greater challenges for customers who face frequent, unpredictable legal discovery," says Kailash Ambwani, president and CEO, Actiance. "Actiance's On-Demand Preservation capabilities provide a gold standard in proving that a firm has taken the reasonable steps required by the Federal rules to collect and preserve all information that may be relevant for litigation".

  The software uses a modern, tamper-proof data store so that legal teams can upload content from communication and social channels to automatically place under legal hold when required for eDiscovery. Electronically stored information is then immediately available for legal teams to conduct searches, filter unneeded content, and export data for review. With built-in, easy-to-use eDiscovery features, legal teams are able to manage collection and preservation tasks without relying on IT staff.

  Alcatraz and its enhanced features will be showcased at LegalTech in New York this week and you can find out more on the Actiance website.

  Image Credit: Constantine Pankin / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Snooper's Charter is vague and confusing

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 3:25pm CET par Sam Pudwell

  

  A group of MPs has criticized plans put forward in the Draft Investigatoy Powers Bill after consulting with several top technology firms, including the likes of Apple, Facebook and Google.

  The Science and Technology committee has slammed the bill as being vague and confusing, issuing a 43-page report outlining its views on key issues such as encryption and data collection.

  The committee’s chairwoman, Nicola Blackwood MP, said: "The current lack of clarity in the Draft Investigatory Powers Bill is causing concern among businesses. There are widespread doubts over the definition, not to mention the definability, of a number of the terms used in the draft bill. The government must urgently review the legislation so that the obligations on the industry are clear and proportionate".

  One of the most contentious aspects of the bill is encryption, with some firms worried that they will have to adopt weaker encryption standards and build backdoors into their products so that data can be accessed. This is especially relevant for companies that use end-to-end encryption, with Apple’s iMessage communication being a prime example.

  On this area, the report says: "There is some confusion about how the draft bill would affect end-to-end encrypted communications, where decryption might not be possible by a communications provider that had not added the original encryption. The government should clarify and state clearly in the Codes of Practice that it will not seek unencrypted content in such cases, in line with the way existing legislation is currently applied".

  Bulk data collection is also raising some serious concerns. Communications providers such as BT and Sky are worried about the prospect of having to keep records on all customers for 12 months, something which raises both ethical and security issues.

  "Given the volume of data involved in the retention of ICRs and the security and cost implications associated with their collection and retention [...] it is essential that the government is more explicit about the obligations it will and will not place on the industry as a result of this legislation", the report says.

  Antony Walker, deputy CEO of techUK comments: "There are several important recommendations in this report that we urge the Home Office to take on board. In particular we need more clarity on fundamental issues, such as core definitions, encryption and equipment interference. These are all issues that we highlighted to the Committee and can be addressed both in the Bill and in the Codes of Practice which we believe must be published alongside the Bill, and regularly updated, as recommended by the Committee. Without that additional detail, too much of the Bill will be open to interpretation, which undermines trust in both the legislation and the reputation of companies that have to comply with it".

  "The draft Bill presents an opportunity for the UK government to develop a world leading legal framework that balances the security needs with democratic values and protects the health of our growing digital economy. But we have to get the details right", adds Walker.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Image Credit: Creativa Images / Shutterstock

  
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  Windows 10 is extremely popular among gamers

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 2:10pm CET par Mihăiță Bamburic

  

  Windows 10 appears to be making good progress as, in January, it overtook Windows 8.1 in terms of usage share. Its lead varies, but no matter which web analytics resource you choose to go by, the new operating system is still very close to its predecessor at this time. Meanwhile, the gap between it and Windows 7, while no doubt getting smaller, is shrinking at a very slow pace.

  The difference in usage share, when looking at NetMarketShare's and StatCounter's numbers, comes from the fact that both analytics companies sort through web traffic. But, if we look at how all the major Windows releases fare on the popular gaming platform Steam, things are very different -- Windows 10 comes quite close to Windows 7, which may surprise many.

  Steam's numbers for January 2016 place Windows at a combined usage share of 95.39 percent for all the major versions, with OS X releases taking 3.55 percent and Linux the remaining 0.95 percent usage share. On the gaming platform, the majority of Windows users are rocking Windows 7, which has a combined usage share of 42.08 percent, for the 64-bit and 32-bit versions. Windows 10 is not that far off however, as the 64-bit and 32-bit versions are used by 34.05 percent of Steam users, which represents a huge increase over what both NetMarketShare and StatCounter reported yesterday.

  Windows 8.1, the 64-bit and 32-bit versions, has a usage share of 14.43 percent, while its predecessor, Windows 8, is placed at 2.06 percent. Windows Vista is at 0.42 percent, while Windows XP comes just above Windows 8 with 2.31 percent usage share.

  Steam's numbers show that Windows 10 has increased its lead over other Windows releases by a combined 1.59 percent compared to the previous month. The gains come mostly from Windows 7 64-bit and Windows 8.1 64-bit, which are preferred by gamers over their 32-bit counterparts.

  What does this all mean? For one, it shows that gamers represent a group of Windows users who are more eager and willing to embrace a newer Windows release. Windows 10's performance is quite impressive if we consider that it was only launched six months ago. It would not be surprising to see it overtaking Windows 7 soon.

  Gamers also typically upgrade their PCs much more often than the casual Windows users, and when that time comes it is much easier to also slap on a newer operating system. Not to mention that top-tier hardware is also typically well supported on newer versions of Windows. Gamers are also more likely to be early adopters, the users you are most likely to see toting the latest and greatest in terms of hardware and software.

  When looking at the PC market as a whole, Windows 10's performance is a bit "meh". Realistically speaking, that is to be expected because the average user, as long as things work, will not bother making the jump to something new and unknown. People are also used to getting the latest version of Windows 10 when they get new hardware anyway because, in the past, it made little sense to spend hundreds of dollars on upgrades. I would not be surprised to hear that most users have no idea that Windows 10 is even offered as a free upgrade from Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.

  Given time, things will change, but for the moment we have to keep in mind the fact that the Windows crowd as a whole is very conservative. Newer versions of Windows take a very long time before they reach critical mass. Steam's numbers may not be representative for the Windows market, but they do suggest that Windows 10 has what it takes to gain significant traction going forward. It has made good progress since the last time we covered Steam's numbers too.

  Microsoft is being pushy about the new OS, seemingly going out of its way to get more and more users to install Windows 10, whether they want it or not. It will be interesting to see if the new operating system will indeed reach Microsoft's goal of being installed on a billion devices in the first to three years of availability, but, right now, things are looking good. The latest official numbers place Windows 10 on more than 200 million devices.

  Image Credit: Ariwasabi / Shutterstock

  
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  The Internet of Things expected to roll out to law enforcement increasingly through 2025

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 2:08pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  The Internet of Things (IoT) seems to be everywhere these days, proliferating our lives with more gadgets than anyone can possibly need. Just yesterday we saw smart refrigerators and washing machines announced by Samsung.

  But what do all of these devices mean for law enforcement? No, the police won't be checking the food supply in the station's fridge, but getting technology that will better aid them while on the move.

  According to Irish firm Research and Markets, "Budgetary pressures and the demand for increased operational efficiencies are driving law enforcement agencies to invest in technologies that allow greater access to information and data on the move".

  The move began in 2014 and is expected to continue to trend upwards through 2025. It will include an increasing amount of connectivity with command, sharing voice, video, and text data.

  This obviously means a growing number of officers with connected devices. The analysts point out "the average number of devices per law enforcement vehicle, and the number of IP-enabled video surveillance cameras, will increase".

  This is also expected to lead to new solutions for IP-based communications, better inventory management solutions and cloud-based management of data. Not surprisingly it also means a need for better cybersecurity.

  All of this should help agencies to better track down the bad guys and fight crime. Will it lead to safer streets? That question remains to be answered.

  Photo Credit: Dutourdumonde Photography/Shutterstock

  
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  Opera 35 improves download manager, adds new customisation section

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 1:48pm CET par Nick Peers

  

  Opera Software has unveiled Opera 35 FINAL, a major new release of its desktop web browser for Windows, Mac and Linux PCs.

  There are four new features of note in this release: first, a button for muting audio on specific tabs, followed by a refreshed downloads interface. There’s also the addition of a Basic section in Opera’s options page for faster access to key customization settings, plus a new advanced setting that allows users to search using a standalone Search bar.

  The new audio mute button sees Opera playing catchup with rival browsers including Firefox and Chrome. It enables users to quickly see which tabs are playing audio and -- like Firefox -- makes it easy to quickly mute sound from specific tabs simply by clicking the audio button. Click again to unmute it.

  Opera 35 FINAL’s most notable improvements can be found in its handling of downloads. It debuts a new, refreshed user interface that provides a clearer view of files, allowing users to more easily see the status of downloads. The new interface also provides a number of links for filtering the download list by type, including documents, PDF (which didn’t work in our tests), Images, Archives and Others.

  The new release also throws up a prompt warning the user if they attempt to close Opera while a download is in progress.

  Opera 35 also adds a default Basic section to its settings page. Users can now easily define the browser’s start-up behavior, choose a default directory for downloads, opt to show or hide the bookmarks bar, switch themes and set default behavior for cookies from a single screen.

  The list of new features is rounded off by the addition of one new option to Opera’s settings. It’s only visible when the "Show advanced settings" dialog is ticked under Browser, and allows users to enable a separate search box next to the main Address bar.

  Beneath-the-hood improvements sees the bookmark manager improved so it can automatically remove duplicates that may be created when syncing bookmarks between devices, while the browser has been updated with support for the latest Chromium/Blink 48 release. There are also the usual stability enhancements and bug fixes.

  Opera also recently updated its Opera Mini for Android browser to version 14.0 with a new QR code reader and generator, in-app camera support for file upload, UI language settings and the ability to set custom search engines per category.

  Opera FINAL 35 is available now as a freeware download for Windows, Mac and 64-bit Linux users, with the Android version due imminently. Also available are Opera Mini for Android 14.0 and Opera Mini for iOS 12.1.

  
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  netboot.xyz boots PCs from an image on the web

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 1:15pm CET par Mike Williams

  If you’ve been managing computers for a few years then you’ve probably build up a library of supporting discs or USB keys. OS installers, antivirus rescue discs, backup tools, partition repair, hardware checkers, and the list goes on.

  These aren’t just a hassle to build. You’ll also need to keep them up-to-date, and make sure they’re around and working whenever you need them.

  Netboot.xyz is an interesting alternative. It’s a bootable environment which uses iPXE to display a web-based menu of assorted OS installers and utilities. Choose one, it’s downloaded and your system boots from it -- no local media required.

  To get started, download the netboot.xyz ISO, burn it to a CD or DVD, create a bootable USB key, or assign it to your favorite virtualization tool.

  Boot from netboot.xyz and it automatically connects to http://netboot.xyz and displays your various options: "Boot from local hdd", "Linux Installers", "BSD Installers", "FreeDOS installers", "Utilities", "iPXE shell", "Network card info".

  If you want to install Ubuntu, say, you’d select Linux Installers > Ubuntu, choose your preferred release and install type (Install, Rescue Mode, Expert Install, Specify preseed url).

  If you’re running a PC then you’ll be most interested in the Tools menu, where you’ll find applications to edit the Windows password, recover lost partitions, test RAM, detect and remove viruses, run or restore image backups, securely erase your hard drive, and more.

  Select what you need from the menu and netboot.xyz downloads the appropriate image. This uses a link to the original project directory or a trusted mirror, not a netboot.xyz-hosted copy, so there are minimal security concerns.

  Once the image arrives, your system boots from it, and you carry on just as if you’d booted from a local DVD or USB key.

  Netboot.xyz worked well for us: it’s lightweight (a 1MB ISO), connected automatically with no intervention required, ran quickly and displayed enough status information to make it clear what was going on, for anyone interested. Check it out.

  
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  New risk management software helps companies handle sensitive data

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 12:35pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  Endpoint security and digital investigations specialist Guidance Software is launching a new solution to help organizations identify and classify confidential data.

  EnForce Risk Manager allows organizations to reduce their surface area of risk, limiting the potential damage from breaches and improving their ability to comply with global data protection rules.

  The software allows enterprises to identify the most commonly compromised data anywhere it's stored, including file shares, email sources, servers, databases and all types of endpoints. They can then categorize that data for review and validation, and automatically address issues through digital removal and other control actions.

  "The amount of data stored on electronic systems today is growing at an exponential rate. And as we've learned from high-profile breaches that compromised sensitive information, including health records and credit card information, the ability to mitigate risk remains challenging," says Ken Basore, senior vice president of product engineering, Guidance Software. "In conversations with our customers, the need to combine data management, e-discovery, privacy and security, as well as policies, into proactive, corporate-wide information governance has repeatedly arisen. With EnForce, Guidance Software is committed to reducing business risks, decreasing storage and information technology costs, and providing greater peace of mind to our customers".

  EnForce Risk Manager better equips organizations to comply with external data privacy regulations and polices such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), as well as with internal policies.

  By identifying and systematically deleting data that is old, no longer needed or has no current business value, organizations can also reduce current and future storage costs. Removing old data will leave businesses with higher quality information to help them make more accurate and better informed business decisions.

  Guidance Software will be previewing EnForce Risk Manager at LegalTech, from February 2-4, in New York. The product will be generally available later this year, for more information visit the company's website.

  Photo credit: Olivier Le Moal / Shutterstock

  
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  How much will Windows 10 cost at the end of the free upgrade period?

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 10:59am CET par Mark Wilson

  

  The launch of Windows 10 was revolutionary. We're not just talking (or even talking at all) about features and changes -- this was the first version of Windows to come without a price tag. Windows 10 for free. It's a tactic that paid off.

  Microsoft tells us that this is the most successful version of Windows yet, with unprecedented rates of take up. It's free; it's hardly surprising, particularly when you factor in Microsoft's incredibly aggressive pushing of the upgrade. But all good things must come to an end. We've known that Windows 10 would only be free for first year. As the upgrade-for-free deadline of 29 July fast approaches, just what happens next? What if you haven't upgraded to Windows 10? What will it cost to upgrade if you're late to the party?

  From the very beginning, Microsoft has been rather opaque about Windows 10. Was the free-for-the first-year deadline set in stone? Would there be any sort of grace period? What would the cost of a not-free upgrade be? There's now less than six months until the free upgrade period comes to an end, and it's clear from comments online -- on BetaNews and beyond -- that people are simply not clear about what happens if they don't upgrade by 29 July.

  So we asked Microsoft.

  When asked what the cost of upgrading post 29 July would be, a Microsoft spokesperson said:

  For those who decide not to upgrade for free within the first year beginning on July 29, you can purchase Windows 10 through the Microsoft Store or Microsoft retail partners. Once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current via Windows Update for the supported lifetime of the device.

  But if you decide to leave the upgrade until after this date, what will it cost you? In characteristic form, Microsoft is not entirely clear. A spokesperson said:

  The current pricing is $119.99.

  This says nothing about what the upgrade price will be post 29 July, but this is indeed the current price on the Microsoft website for Windows 10 Home; Pro has a price tag of $199.99. Will these prices stay the same after the upgrade deadline? That's not clear.

  Clearly Microsoft is eager to get as many people as possible to migrate away from Windows 7 and 8.1 and move to the software-as-a-service model of Windows 10. This is precisely why we have seen such a push of the upgrade, and to all intents and purposes this has been a resounding success. Microsoft says:

  Since launch we've seen more than 200 million active devices running Windows 10, we're very confident in the server and network infrastructure to continue to successfully upgrade more customers to Windows 10.

  At this rate, it won't be long before we see Windows 10 on a billion devices, particularly after the launch of Windows 10 mobile and after the panic-upgrading before 29 July. It's hard to imagine that Microsoft won't do one of two things when the end of July rolls around -- either extend the free upgrade period, or dramatically slash the price of buying the operating system.

  Microsoft is keeping its cards close to its chest, and only time will tell. Maybe it's happy with the level of uptake we've seen of Windows 10 and is ready to start taking money from people for the software. But if there's a secret target that the company wants to hit in terms of user numbers, we could well see some sweetening deals from August onwards.

  Of course, Microsoft isn’t going to tell us anything until the last minute...

  Photo credit: little Whale / Shutterstock

  
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  Cloud email adoption is low in the enterprise

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 9:09am CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Cloud email services are still not as big as you’d expect in the enterprise, but they are growing stronger. Those are the results of an automated survey by market analyst Gartner.

  According to the survey, 8.5 percent of public companies use cloud email service from Microsoft’s Office 365, while 4.7 percent use Google Apps for Work.

  The rest, 87 percent, use either on-premises, hybrid, hosted or private cloud email, managed by smaller companies.

  The automated report looked at a large number of publicly available email routing records, Gartner said. By using the email server addresses in the domain records of some 40,000 public companies worldwide, Gartner was able to pinpoint which of those use cloud email from Google or Microsoft.

  "Although it is still early days for cloud email adoption, both Microsoft and Google have achieved significant traction among enterprises of different sizes, industries and geographies", said Nikos Drakos, research vice president at Gartner. "Companies considering cloud email should question assumptions that public cloud email is not appropriate in their region, size or industry. Our findings suggest that many varied organizations are already using cloud email, and the number is growing rapidly".

  Microsoft dominates, especially in industries such as utilities, energy and aerospace, while Google is more present in software publishing, retail, media, food and beverage or education.

  "Among public companies using cloud-based email, Microsoft is more popular with larger organizations and has more than an 80 percent share of companies using cloud email with revenue above $10 billion", said Jeffrey Mann, research vice president at Gartner. "Google’s popularity is better among smaller companies, approaching a 50 percent share of companies with revenue less than $50 million".

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit:  2jenn/Shutterstock

  
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  Use smartphones to vote for president

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 6:00am CET par Joe Wilcox

  

  Over the weekend, my 94 year-old father-in-law asked what I would do to assure that every American who could vote would do so. That was an unexpected question, but one I addressed gingerly. This post is my answer restated for a public venue.

  Simple answer: Smartphone. According to PewResearchCenter, nearly 70 percent of Americans own one of the devices, but the number among voting age adults tops 80 percent, according to other estimates. Surely a program could be in place by the 2020 Presidential race, and if lawmakers were truly serious about universal suffrage, a Manhattan-like project could make it happen by the next Mid-terms.

  The program would demand commanding commitment from state and federal governments, starting with the development of voting apps for each and every state and building secure server infrastructure. Then there is the two-pronged problem of making sure everyone who is eligible to vote has a smartphone and every device owner is registered to vote. Authentication, to prevent fraud, is another concern.

  The the progam would have three fundamental goals:

  • Achieve as close as possible universal suffrage
  • Provide real-time voting results, even for absentee voters
  • Increase voting accuracy, while eliminating need for absentee ballots

  App Development

  If built around an adopted standard accepted by all states, the smartphone app could resolve many of the problems with voting today. The process for voters would be similar, regardless of local variances, such as referendums in some locales. Registered voters could cast their ballots, captured in real time, right up until the polls close.

  Of course, the result of that could send the news media and pollsters into a frenzy—candidates, too—if large pools of undecided voters watch and wait to cast their ballots based on early returns. But, hey, that's democracy.

  For critics who argue that smartphones would be too complex for older voters, come to my ophthalmologist's office where many of the patients are elderly and tap on smartphones just like youngins.

  The biggest problem I see is contractual, meaning who gets to make the app(s) and the RFP (request for proposal) process dictated by local governments. Fairness and cost should be lower considerations, and perhaps even ignored. Few mobile apps ever developed would need to be as reliable and absolutely secure; these priorities matter more. Quality should be priority over bidded price.

  There would need to be safeguards that ensure votes are captured during times of network congestion, like before polls close, and clear mechanisms (such as text message receipt) that assure the citizen that his or her ballot was registered.

  The apps could be built to decrease the likelihood a ballot would be invalidated. Mistakes like marking two candidates go away, for example.

  Something else: The apps could enable voters to make more informed decisions. Each candidate's name would be hot-linked to open the smartphone's default search engine, so that citizens could do additional last-minute research on contenders. However, the app should not provide any additional information. Going that route would add unnecessary complexity, increasing the chance the ballot wouldn't be completed, and lead to all kinds of messy ethical/influence problems. Smartphone in hand is a last-minute opportunity for citizens to do additional research—those who choose to do so.

  Infrastructure

  The more challenging part would be on the back-end. The Affordable Care Act shows that state and federal governments can build big back-end server systems suitable for the purpose.  Likewise, problems encountered when launching sites like healthcare.gov spotlight how and where failures can occur.

  I expect jurisdictional and states rights issues to complicate the creation of a single-connect server system or local ones that are interconnected.

  Security is a worry. Consider the problem of a complex DDOS attack swamping servers during polling, interrupting voting and leading to some ballots being invalidated.

  Smartphone Program

  Not every voter owns a smartphone, and not every smartphone owner is registered to vote. Solution to both is intertwined. Using a federal subsidy program, perhaps, people who don't own smartphones could get one for free. Flagship phones from the top-five vendors, based on sales, would be eligible for the program.

  RFP would be based on lowest bids. Meaning: To be included in the program, manufacturers would not collect from the government, say, $649 for 16GB iPhone 6s. The cost of getting millions of new customers, and at the same time serving the public good, justifies less profit on each device. By limiting the program to flagship phones, government could deter, or even prevent, manufacturers from dumping older or less-desirable handsets.

  To participate, citizens would either need to be registered to vote or do so when entering the program. Voters who, by cellular carrier check, do not own a smartphone or possess a device that falls below a minimum standard (such as manufactured more than years earlier) would be eligible for the hand-out.

  Registered voters who do not participate in the smartphone program, and are verified to own a device, would receive an income tax credit equivalent to the value set by the aforementioned RFP. Government could encourage any laggards to register by making voter registration requirement to receive the tax credit. Additionally, government could promise, and deliver, a larger tax credit for previous smartphone owners who do vote and a smaller, but in total value equivalent, credit to program participants casting ballots.

  Authentication

  Voter fraud has to be a concern, and there will always be some regardless of the polling system used. Authorized apps would be distributed through official app stores, mainly (and perhaps only) Apple App Store and Google Play. The dilemma: How to authenticate voters without adding complexity that prevents them from voting.

  One idea: Distribute four-digit codes by mail that the citizen combines with the last four digits of his or her social security number when voting. Simpler still: Social security number is authentication mechanism, which also should enable processing of real-time votes, assuming voter registration already is tied to the SS#..

  Since the goal of the program is to achieve, as close as possible, universal suffrage, security must be balanced with simplicity.

  That's my basic proposal, understanding that bureaucracy, local and federal laws, logistics, special interests, and other factors likely would be wrenches in the works.

  Photo Credit: Shutterstock/Alexandr III

  
• 

  If Apple iPad Pro is a failure, why did it beat Microsoft Surface in sales?

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 3:31am CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  For a while, it seemed like everything Apple touched turned to gold. iPod, iPhone, iPad -- all changed the computing landscape. Unfortunately, the more recent products such as the Apple Watch and iPad Pro were viewed by many pundits to be weak. Heck, some have called the iPad Pro a failure.

  But what if iPad Pro wasn't a failure? What if those pundits were wrong? Microsoft's Surface line has been viewed as a success -- part of the company's turnaround story. With that said, would you be surprised if I told you that the iPad Pro significantly beat the Surface during the holidays? Well, it is true. The perception of weak iPad Pro sales was exactly that -- perception only. The reality is, iPad Pro destroyed Surface in Q415.

  "Despite the holiday season, the worldwide tablet market declined yet again in the fourth quarter of 2015 (4Q15) with 65.9 million units shipped, down -13.7 percent year over year, according to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker. Total shipments for 2015 were 206.8 million, down -10.1 percent from 230.1 million in the prior year. Despite the market's negative trajectory overall, shipments for detachable tablets reached an all-time high of 8.1 million devices", says IDC.

  Jean Philippe Bouchard, Research Director, Tablets at IDC explains, "one of the biggest reasons why detachables are growing so fast is because end users are seeing those devices as PC replacements. We believe Apple sold just over two million iPad Pros while Microsoft sold around 1.6 million Surface devices, a majority of which were Surface Pro and not the more affordable Surface 3. With these results, it's clear that price is not the most important feature considered when acquiring a detachable -- performance is".

  READ MORE: Major university goes all-in on iPad Pro -- shuns Microsoft Surface

  Think about it folks. Apple sold 2 million iPad Pro computers, compared to 1.6 million Surface tablets. These sales figures only include the Pro variant of Apple's tablet, while Microsoft's total includes all Surface variants. This makes Apple's sales much more impressive.

  Taking it a step further, and making it even more amazing, the iPad Pro did not go on sale until mid-November. This means Surface had a month-and-a-half head start for Q415 and still lost. Yikes.

  Does this signal that the iPad Pro is a success? Tell me in the comments.

  Photo credit: Olha Insight / Shutterstock

  
• 

  Microsoft makes Windows 10 a 'recommended update' for Windows 7 and 8.1 users

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 2:04am CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Microsoft has been accused of pushing Windows 10 rather aggressively, and the company's latest move is going to do nothing to silence these accusations. For Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users, Windows 10 just became a 'recommended update' in Windows Update.

  This is a change from the previous categorization of the upgrade as an 'optional update' and it means that there is renewed potential for unwanted installations. After the launch of Windows 10, there were numerous reports of not only the automatic download of OS installation files, but also unrequested upgrades. The changed status of the update means that, on some machines, the installation of Windows 10 could start automatically.

  As noted by ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley, the push of Windows 10 as a recommended update will be phased. For anyone who has Automatic Updates turned on, this means that they will simply be given the option of downloading and installing (assuming installation files have not already been downloaded, that is...). If the 'Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important update' option is enabled, the update will not only be downloaded, but the installation will be started.

  A Microsoft spokesperson said:

  As we shared in late October on the Windows Blog, we are committed to making it easy for our Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 customers to upgrade to Windows 10. We updated the upgrade experience today to help our customers, who previously reserved their upgrade, schedule a time for their upgrade to take place.

  The change is not entirely out of the blue, but it is still likely to catch many people off guard. There is still the ability to opt out of the installation -- and even if the Windows 10 upgrade is accidentally completed, there is a 31 day grace period in which to revert to Windows 7 or 8.1 -- but this will still be seen as an aggressive push by Microsoft.

  Photo credit: Stanislaw Mikulski / Shutterstock

  
• 

  VisionTek unveils Waterproof Bluetooth Mini Keyboard for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS

  Publié: février 2, 2016, 1:26am CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  While many people type with on-screen keyboards every day, let's be honest -- a physical variant can be much better. Typing on a piece of glass fails to give the user true feedback, which can lead to typos. Even worse, auto-correction on those typos can create messages that are not only wrong, but potentially embarrassing. On a smartphone in particular, the smaller screen means a smaller keyboard -- that can be frustrating.

  Luckily, Bluetooth keyboards have been a godsend in this regard. While a smartphone or tablet are primarily consumption devices, a good wireless keyboard can make them productivity powerhouses too. Today, VisionTek unveils a new such Bluetooth keyboard. This wireless input device has one really cool feature that sets it apart from many -- it is waterproof.

  "Great for travel, school, or any work environment requiring the benefits of waterproof devices, the VisionTek Waterproof Bluetooth Mini Keyboard is ideal for health care, restaurants, construction, schools, or any environment where users share a keyboard during the course of the day. The VisionTek Waterproof Bluetooth Mini Keyboard is IPX6 waterproof rated to protect against heavy splashing and rain. This test sends water at all angles through a 12.5mm nozzle at a rate of 100 liters/min at a pressure of 100kN/m2 for 3 minutes from a distance of 3 meters", says VisionTek.

  The company further explains, "VisionTek has incorporated a unique waterproof design to protect the keyboard against liquid spillage, as well as offer the practical benefit of easily washing off germs, environmental grime, and bacteria commonly found on traditional keyboards. The VisionTek Waterproof Bluetooth Mini Keyboard features soft-to-the-touch rubberized keys that are durable, silent, and responsive. Unlike normal keyboards, this rubber-coated keyboard is washable with soap and water using a damp cloth. Easily disinfect the keyboard with a wipe of the entire surface! No more sticky keys or unresponsive keys, resulting from spilt coffee, soda, or crumbs".

  

  VisionTek shares the following specs.

  • OS Support: Most Windows, iOS, and Android Devices
  • Bluetooth Version: 3.0 standard
  • Maximum Operating Distance: 10 meters (~32 feet)
  • Modulation Mode: 2.4 G straight sequence fh (FHSS)
  • Transmit Power: Class 2 levels
  • Standby Time: 150 days
  • Key Dynamics: 60 + 10g
  • Continued Usage Time: 110 hours
  • Approximate Charging Time: 1-1.5 hours
  • Battery Type: Lithium-Ion 302530
  • Battery Capacity: 170 mAh
  • Approximate Use Time: 45 Days (With ~2 Hour Use Every Day)
  • Operation Temperature: 0-55 °C
  • Storage Temperature: -10-60 °C
  • Working Voltage: 3.7V
  • Working Current: 1.5 mA
  • Standby Current: 1.0 mA
  • Sleeping Current: 40 uA
  • Charging Current: 150 mA
  • Warranty: One Year

  

  While the company does not particularly list support for traditional Linux-based operating systems (Chrome and Android are listed), the Waterproof Bluetooth Mini Keyboard should work fine with Ubuntu, Fedora and others. Actually, it should work with any modern OS without worry.

  

  If you are interested in purchasing this accessory, I have good news for you. Not only is it available immediately, but it only costs $20 (buy it here). This is a very competitive price for a waterproof portable keyboard. If you are a hardcore texter or on-the-go businessperson, it would be very smart to keep a device like this in your bag.

  Will you buy it? Tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  Here's what's new in Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview Build 10586.71

  Publié: février 1, 2016, 8:11pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  The official launch of Windows 10 Mobile may have been delayed, but the preview builds keep on coming. Today Microsoft launches Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview Build 10586.71, a cumulative update complete with a few extra bug fixes.

  Some of the performance-enhancing features of today's build were made available to Insiders on Friday through the Configuration Update, but this is included in this cumulative update. If you're on the Fast Ring, there's another update to download as well -- Insider Fast Configuration Update. This ensures that future flights will be downloaded by updating expiring certificates.

  Microsoft says that it has been working to improve the upgrade experience for people moving from Windows Phone 8.1. Based on user feedback, there are improvements to cellular and Wi-Fi data profile migration, for example. But this is just part of the story.

  Gabe Aul reveals some of the fixes included in this latest build:

  • Windows Update performance and reliability improvements
  • Improvements in migration of data profiles and messaging settings when upgraded from Windows Phone 8.1.
  • SensorCore API’s are now upgraded correctly from Windows Phone 8.1; allowing applications, including many fitness applications, to correctly access movement data.
  • SD card detection has been improved on boot and after insertion; File Explorer now handles the removal of an SD card when the default for apps or photos are set to SD.
  • Improvements in the Edge browser, including PDF rendering.
  • Bluetooth improvements when re-connecting to already paired devices and cars; turn by turn directions, and when using Cortana with the Microsoft Band.
  • Improvements in Settings when downloading Maps or changing Quick Settings.
  • Reinstalling Groove Music from the Windows Store no longer causes DRM music playback issues. Groove Music local song collections are now more quickly imported within the application
  • Device power improvements after listening to music, after missed phone calls when iris detection is disabled, and when downloading updates.
  • In app purchases now work correctly when cellular data is disabled.
  • Improvements to the reliability of Kids Corner.

  Check for updates and get downloading!

  
• 

  Lenovo ThinkPad 10: A viable laptop substitute [Review]

  Publié: février 1, 2016, 8:10pm CET par Ian Barker

  

  The majority of tablets are aimed at consumers and, therefore, business features can sometimes feel a little tacked on. Some manufacturers take a different approach, however, and there is little doubt that latest second generation of ThinkPad 10 from Lenovo is not aimed squarely at business users.

  It runs 64-bit Windows 10, has Trusted Platform Module encryption and other features and options that will make it an attractive corporate choice. Add in the fact that it is solidly built and has lots of accessories available to improve its usefulness as a business tool and it looks even more impressive, and even more similar to the Microsoft Surface. So, is this a better option for serious tablet users than a device based around a mobile OS, like Android?

  In the Box

  The ThinkPad 10 comes in both 2GB and 4GB memory versions, and both are powered by the quad-core Intel Atom x7-Z8700 Processor with 2MB of cache and integrated HD graphics.

  The 2GB versions come with 64GB of on-board storage while 4GB models have 128GB; in either case you can extend this by adding a microSD card. The 4GB versions are available with or without mobile web access, although it is only 3G; if you do opt for the mobile version you also get Windows 10 Pro installed as opposed to the Windows 10 Home version on the other models.

  The front camera is 1.5MP and the rear is 5MP and it comes with auto-focus and flash; it is capable of recording 1080p video too. The tablet has a 10.1 inch multi-touch Gorilla Glass screen with 1920 x 1200 resolution. Connectivity is via 802.11 a/c Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and, in the top versions, 3G mobile.

  There is a built in Swipe fingerprint reader on all versions. Optional extras on offer include a built-in SmartCard reader, NFC, and the ThinkPad Pen Pro with WRITEit allowing you to use stylus input.

  As standard you do not get a lot in the box other than the tablet itself and a mains charger. This does not have a standard USB connection but uses a proprietary plug so you will need to make sure you have the charger with you if you are out and about and likely to run short of juice. Talking of which the battery should be able to deliver up to 10 hours of life on a full charge.

  

  As to the design of the tablet itself, there is a power switch on the top edge, on the right are volume controls, microSD and SIM card slots plus ports for HDMI, USB 3.0, headphones and power. On the left-hand side is a Kensington lock slot, and on the bottom edge are the connectors for a case/keyboard or docking station. The fingerprint sensor is on the back and is positioned so that it falls neatly under your right forefinger when you are holding the device in landscape format.

  Business Features

  The ThinkPad will attract business users for a number of reasons. Most obviously because it runs the familiar Windows platform, so compatibility with MS Office documents is assured and users can easily sync system settings via their Windows ID.

  Trusted Platform Module encryption ensures that your data stays secure and for those wanting even more protection there is the option of a smart card reader to augment the standard fingerprint scanner. Other attractive add-ons for business users include the Folio Keyboard, which is a keyboard, touchpad and case combined, allowing you to use the device like a conventional laptop.

  There is also the option of the Pen Pro stylus, plus a desktop dock that offers keyboard, mouse, USB, HDMI and audio ports as well as an Ethernet connector so you can use the machine in the office. The Pen Pro comes with a holder to keep it safe but this attaches to the USB port thus denying you access to it for other purposes. You can see from this collection that Lenovo is serious about cracking the business market -- though of course all of these things ramp up the cost of the device.

  

  There are a couple of useful pre-installed apps too. REACHit allows you to search for files across all of your devices and cloud storage from a single screen, and SHAREit which is a cross-platform file transfer tool.

  Order direct from the Lenovo website and you can mix and match the options you want, and add software, upgrading from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro, for example, or adding Office. The problem is that once you have built it up you could have bought a decent laptop for the same money.

  In Use

  The back of the ThinkPad has a smooth matt finish which feels nice to the touch, though it does tend to show marks and fingerprints. It has a red power LED that forms the dot over the "i" in the ThinkPad logo, which is a pleasing design feature. There is also a subtle red highlight around the rear camera lens.

  The back does look a bit busy though, with copyright information and an Intel Inside and Lenovo logos printed on it, plus the fingerprint scanner, NFC touchpoint and speaker recesses. There is a slight design quirk in that the top corners are rounded, while the bottom ones are square; this, presumably, is to aid docking, attaching keyboards, etc, but it does make the tablet look a little odd, as though it is part of something else.

  It may not be the best looking tablet in the world then, but there is no doubt that it feels rugged and is likely to survive the day-to-day rigors of corporate life. Lenovo’s website makes much of its premium construction, stress testing and reliability. The buttons for power and volume are plastic, but they do not feel cheap.

  The ThinkPad is a relatively heavy beast compared to, say, a Galaxy Tab. It weighs almost 600 grammes (1 pound 5 ounces in old money) and you would not want to hold it one-handed for long. It also gets quite warm in operation at around the bottom right corner, particularly when it is charging, and this is just the spot at which you hold it.

  

  The tablet boots up and shuts down very quickly and it copes well with most everyday tasks, including music and video streaming, without breaking a sweat. It also switches between open apps with minimal lag. The ThinkPad 10 copes well with legacy Windows programs too, which can sometimes be rendered uncomfortably small on tablet screens. When you turn it from landscape to portrait, however, there is always a slight delay before the screen decides to reorient itself.

  It has a wide black bezel around the screen, which makes the tablet feel rather larger than it needs to be, but you quickly get used to this and, on the flip side, it does make it easy to hold without accidentally triggering functions. The Windows logo below the screen is not there just for show; it also acts as a Windows Start button, which is a neat touch.

  You get the advantage of a full-sized USB 3.0 connector; however, it is hidden under a little rubber cover which is quite fiddly to open and is not tethered to the chassis, so you will no doubt end up losing it. If you have an NFC enabled version, the touch point is just below the camera and is marked with a small label for ease of location.

  The screen itself is one of the ThinkPad’s most impressive features; it is bright and responds well and accurately to touch inputs. It delivers smooth video playback too and if you are apt to play Candy Crush under the table during boring meetings it will not disappoint there either. The resolution is good and the size feels just about right, making use of the on-screen keyboard comfortable with minimal risk of mistyping.

  The speakers are on the back, down towards the bottom edge, which makes them easy to cover with your hand when you are holding the device. Sound quality is okay, though it is not room-filling, but it has enough bass response to allow you to feel a slight vibration through your fingers.

  

   

  Although it is only 5 megapixel, the ThinkPad’s rear camera captures pictures that are sharp and bright with good levels of detail and accurate colors. It is at least as good as most tablet cameras, though it does not compare to those found on the latest smartphones. Things can be a bit grainy in low light if you opt not to use use the flash, and this is even more pronounced on the rear camera, but it is good enough for video calling.

  It comes with some Lenovo programs pre-installed, including Companion, Lenovo ID, and the REACHit and SHAREit apps mentioned above. There is also a trial of McAfee LiveSafe installed, but otherwise the ThinkPad is commendably free of bloatware. You can opt for various software packages when ordering, including Office -- or an Office 365 subscription -- Photoshop Elements and various security options.

  One of the attractions of the ThinkPad is that it allows you to operate in the familiar home comfort of Windows, but that is also a source of some of its frustrations. The on-screen keyboard, for example, has big buttons, but to access numbers you either need to switch to numeric mode or use a less than intuitive press and hold technique.

  Also, when you press on an input field the keyboard does not automatically appear as it does on Android, you have to start it manually. The Camera app too feels rather underdeveloped compared to those on other platforms. You can address some of these issues with a visit to the Windows Store, but even so there is not the choice of alternatives that you get on iOS or Android.

  

  There is a wide selection of accessories available for the ThinkPad, mostly aimed at business use as we noted above. For more general users -- particularly those who use the camera a lot -- there is a Quickshot cover that has a neat fold-down corner, which exposes the camera lens and launches the camera app. It also has a magnetic closure that automatically puts the tablet into sleep mode when closed and wakes it again when opened.

  Conclusion

  As a tablet in its own right the ThinkPad 10 has a lot to like, but is let down by one or two minor niggles; but, to be fair, some of those are down to Windows rather than the device itself. It is an attractive business proposition though, thanks to the compatibility of its Windows OS, its security features and the availability of accessories that allow you to effectively bridge the laptop/tablet gap.

  The 2GB version costs £459.99, while the top of the range 4GB smart card version is £709.99. This makes the Lenovo look a bit pricey against Android tablets, especially of you start adding keyboards and styluses, but then it is not really a direct competitor. It is a machine that is more likely to be bought by companies to equip their employees, rather than by BYOD or personal users.

  Looked at in that light, the ThinkPad 10 is a robust device that offers an alternative to the Microsoft Surface. It lacks the Surface Pro 4’s faster Core CPU, but otherwise offers a similar spec at a slightly lower price point, though with either machine you will pay extra if you want to add a keyboard. Even so, if you are looking for a tablet that can serve as a viable laptop substitute, the ThinkPad 10 is worth adding to your shortlist.

  That said, there are plenty of alternatives in the form of laptops that use 360 degree hinges or detachable screens to give similar functionality, plus, up at the top of the ThinkPad’s price range, you are getting close to the Surface Pro 4 with its larger screen and faster Core CPU.

  Pros

  • Security features
  • Build quality
  • Impressive screen

  Cons

  • Heavy
  • Pricey
  • Limited app choice

  8/10

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  
• 

  Microsoft opens up FastTrack to more SMBs to sweeten the Office 365 deal

  Publié: février 1, 2016, 7:25pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Microsoft today unveiled a measure designed to attract more SMBs to Office 365. The new scheme sees Microsoft's FastTrack customer service operation expanding so that it is now available to organizations with as few as 50 users; the previous minimum was 150 seats.

  Microsoft says that many SMBs who have opted to use Google's App instead reach a "breaking point" when they hit 50 users. The company aims to capitalize on this by offering enterprise-grade services to businesses that would otherwise not be able to take advantage of features such as centralized management capabilities.

  One of the fears that hold businesses back from switching to Office 365 is on-going support. FastTrack provides a way for organizations to get help from dedicated engineers and partners, as well as gaining access to valuable resources.

  The expansion of the program is not only of value to smaller businesses; it also means that Microsoft Partners are in line for additional financial benefits. Microsoft says:

  Speaking of Microsoft Partners, this global network of IT experts plays a critical role in helping companies small and large get up and running with the right technology. In addition to extending FastTrack to more customers, we are expanding the FY16 Adoption Offer to include Office 365 small business plans and adding payouts for customer deployments of 50-149 seats. This means Microsoft Partners will be eligible for a payout of $25 per seat for 50-149 seats, in addition to the existing payouts for 150 seats and above.

  
• 

  Majority of UK shoppers prefer mobile devices

  Publié: février 1, 2016, 7:22pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Shopping via mobile phones is now the default in the UK, a new research by market intelligence company SimilarWeb suggests.

  According to the research, 64.54 percent of all website visits, by UK shoppers to retailers, was made via a mobile device this year. With these figures, the UK has now surpassed the US (55 percent), Germany (43 percent) and France (35 percent). It is still, however, lagging behind India, a country with 65 percent of mobile shoppers.

  A total of 35.46 percent of people visited shopping sites from a desktop computer, but that’s not the only metric analyzed. The number of pages visited, as well as the time spent on each is different, as well. On smartphones, people visited, in average, 7.3 pages per session. On desktops, that figure stands at 12.4 percent.

  Mobile shoppers also take less time to do their shopping, spending an average of 5:50 minutes. On desktop, they usually take 7:21 minutes.

  All of the most popular 10 UK retail sites, including Amazon, eBay and Argos, registered a bigger share of visits from mobile, compared to desktop visits.

  Pavel Tuchinsky, SimilarWeb Digital Insights Manager, said: “Shopping via mobile is now the default, with all leading retailers experiencing a majority of visits to their sites via smartphones. The UK is now a European leader in mobile shopping, far ahead of France, and Germany.

  "However engagement and time on site has not been maintained in the transition towards mobile shopping. Retailers must continue to embrace the rapid change towards mobile, including better checkout flows, and integrations between desktop and mobile sites".

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: D. Hammonds/Shutterstock

  
• 

  Hillary Clinton? Ted Cruz? Bernie Sanders? Donald Trump? Google can help you decide

  Publié: février 1, 2016, 7:11pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  Voting can be hard. Well, not the act itself, but rather, deciding on a candidate. Quite frankly, between political advertisements, news reports, and debates, you can be left very confused. This is true regardless of your political affiliation.

  This year is particularly difficult, as there is an outgoing president. In other words, both Republicans and Democrats have candidates to pick. Hillary Clinton? Ted Cruz? Bernie Sanders? Donald Trump? Someone else? Who should you pick? Luckily, Google has your back. The search-giant is aiming to help potential voters find information about the election and candidates.

  "To help you learn where candidates stand on the issues that matter to you, you can now find candidate statements on important topics -- such as national security, taxes, and immigration -- right in search results. In addition to seeing direct statements from the candidates -- if they choose to share them -- you'll also see a variety of candidate quotes aggregated from news articles. So now, if you search for a specific candidate ('Ted Cruz') or a specific candidate and issue topic ('Hillary Clinton economic policies') you'll see statements and quotes from the candidate", says Jacob Schonberg, Product Manager, Google.

  I find this particularly helpful, as the issues are often glossed over on television. Unfortunately, personalities and sound bites can reign supreme. As someone who is an undecided voter, this will help me find a candidate that is most aligned with my beliefs and thoughts.

  Schonberg further says, "tracking what's happening in the primaries and how each candidate is doing state-by-state can be hard. So now when you search for 'primary results' or 'resultados de la elección primaria' you’ll not only see the primary election schedule, but you'll also see live results and an evolving tally of how many delegates each Republican and Democratic nominee has received. This feature works in English and Spanish".

  If you leverage Google Now cards, they too will help you with election news. The cards can keep you abreast of schedules and results. In other words, Google can push this content to you -- an awesome feature to prevent forgetting about it.

  Will you use Google Search to help you pick a candidate? Tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  AnVir Task Manager Free 8.0 now available

  Publié: février 1, 2016, 7:10pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  After three years without a major update we thought AnVir Task Manager Free was dead, but no: the developer released a beta 8.0 version late last month.

  What’s new? Unfortunately AnVir forgot to tell us, but we grabbed a copy anyway for a closer look.

  The program offers the core basics you’d expect from a task manager alternative.

  Running applications, processes and services are listed across several tabs. You’re able to view more details about each process -- loaded DLLs, files open, network connections used and more -- and right-clicking gives options to set the process priority or affinity, close it down, search for the name on the web, and more.

  Windows experts familiar with Process Explorer or Process Hacker will be disappointed by the lack of low-level features. You can’t inspect threads, browse memory blocks or search them for strings, for example.

  What you do get are an array of window management functions, including options to send selected windows to the system tray, set their transparency, make them "always on top", and more.

  These can be made optionally available from individual application windows, too. We right-clicked Notepad’s title bar, set and saved its transparency, and this was preserved when we closed and restarted the program.

  The "Log" tab is another plus, as it records interesting events like processes launched and closed, and windows created. Again, experts won’t be amazed -- Process Monitor is several hundred times more powerful -- but it’s still a useful feature which you won’t find in most of the competition.

  The "Startup" tab is the other main feature, listing your Windows startup programs and allowing them to be delayed, disabled or deleted. There’s also an unusual option to launch the program as an icon in your system tray.

  AnVir Task Manager Free can’t compete with Process Explorer or Process Hacker’s level of detail. You can’t drill down to thread stacks here, inspect security tokens, or check out the process environment block, among other things.

  But the program does offer plenty of extras you won’t always find in the rest of the competition, particularly its window management tools, and if you’re interested in this type of application then it’s worth a look.

  AnVir Task Manager Free is a free-for-personal-use application for Windows XP or later.

  
• 

  Carolina Panthers will defeat Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 says Microsoft and Madden 16

  Publié: février 1, 2016, 6:24pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  Super Bowl 50 is almost here! While my beloved New York Jets are not in the big game, I will still tune in. Why? Not only should it be exciting football, but it is a shared social event. Many people watch -- even those that aren't NFL fans -- for things like the commercials and the overall camaraderie and competition. Oh, there is a lot of snack-eating too!

  This Sunday, February 7, the two competing teams are the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. The former will be the champions. Well, at least according to predictions by both Microsoft's Bing and the Madden 16 video game. Will they be right?

  "In Sunday’s title game, the Bing Predicts models project 17-1 Carolina to win the Big Game with 64 percent probability. During the regular season, Carolina was the league’s #1 scoring offense and #6 scoring defense, while Denver was the #20 scoring offense and #4 scoring defense. Carolina’s rush offense was #2 vs #17 for Denver, and Denver’s rush defense was #3 while Carolina’s was #4. Both defenses are stout, so our models expect Carolina’s much stronger offense to be the difference, becoming the first 18-win champion in 30 years", says Walter Sun, Bing Predicts Team Lead.

  Famed video game maker, Electronic Arts, explains that its Madden 16 video game "has tabbed the Carolina Panthers as the next world champions, defeating the Denver Broncos 24 - 20. For the first time ever, fans can get in on the action for themselves by heading over to the Madden NFL 16 Super Bowl Prediction Hub and create their own outcome based on a variety of factors. Fans can then share their dream Super Bowl 50 outcome with the hashtag #MyMaddenPrediction".

  

  Before you run out to place a bet, remember -- these are only predictions. While both Bing and Madden have good track records, past performance does not guarantee future results. In other words, Denver can absolutely still win the game. Heck, one injury to a key player can change everything.

  While the winner is still up in the air, one thing is for sure -- it should be an exciting quarterback battle between the elder Peyton Manning and the younger Cam Newton.

  Who do you think will win? Tell me in the comments.

  
• 

  Android 6.0 Marshmallow update brings Adblock Plus to Samsung phones and tablets

  Publié: février 1, 2016, 5:52pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Earlier today we learned that a new API is bringing adblocking to Samsung's own mobile web browser. Adblock Fast was the first to take advantage of the new option and now, hot on its heels, comes the big guns -- Adblock Plus.

  Today Samsung is rolling out an Android 6.0 Marshmallow update and once this has been installed, Adblock Plus can also be installed. The extension brings content blocking capabilities to Samsung's own web browser, but you'll have to jump through the relevant hoops to gain the privacy and bandwidth preserving capabilities.

  Once your handset has been updated to the very latest version Marshmallow, you'll need to head over to Google Play to grab a free copy of Adblock Plus (Samsung Browser). Next you'll need to enable Adblock Plus within the browser and then choose the level of content blocking you'd like to use. For complete privacy and malware protection, you can opt to block all ads, but there's also the option of permitting Acceptable Ads -- Adblock Plus points out that this is the default setting.

  Adblock Plus co-founder Till Faida says:

  Adblock Plus is very excited to continue our momentum in the mobile space by solidifying a working relationship with Samsung that allows us to handle content blocking on any Samsung device. We are excited that Samsung’s mobile product offering is now including content blocking and are happy that Samsung users can find us in the Google Play Store to assist them with their ad blocking.

  For now, Adblock Plus for Samsung Browser is only available for devices running Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but in March it will also be an option for Android 5.0 Lollipop users.

  
• 

  Samsung unveils 'smart living' products at its Southeast Asia Forum 2016

  Publié: février 1, 2016, 5:50pm CET par Alan Buckingham

  

  Samsung has been in the Internet of Things market for some time now, with smart devices and a line of automation products aptly named SmartThings. Now the company is unveiling the latest in its line during a show in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

  The event, known as "Samsung Southeast Asia Forum 2016", was used to unveil all sorts of products for the new year, including TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, even new watch faces for the Gear S2.

  The hardware maker unveiled its 2016 SUHD TV with a curved screen which Samsung claims is designed to work well in all different light conditions. This is a smart TV running the Samsung Tizen operating system and is designed to allow customers "to discover and access all their favorite content and services, from TV and movies to games and program information, all in one place with the New Smart Hub, Smart Control remote and Smart View mobile application".

  Also unveiled is a new smart Blu-ray player, the UBD-K8500, which Samsung claims will offer four times the resolution and 64 times detailed color display of other Blu-ray players.

  There's also the Samsung AddWash washing machine and the Family Hub refrigerator, which can apparently provide all sorts of information including to-do lists and even entertainment.

  Finally, there's two new watchfaces for the Gear S2 smartwatch. They are classified as "rose gold" and "platinum", but they really boil down to shades of blue and pink.

  The show runs from now through February 3rd so there may still be other items on the way.

  
• 

  DDoS attacks are now more sophisticated

  Publié: février 1, 2016, 5:46pm CET par Sead Fadilpašić

  

  Kaspersky Lab has released its report into DDoS attacks for the fourth quarter of 2015, and it claims that the global reach of attacks shrunk, but the sophistication of those attacks grew.

  According to the report, in the fourth quarter of 2015, resources in a total of 69 countries were attacked. In the previous quarter, that number stood at 79. Similar to the previous quarter, in the last three months of 2015 the majority of attacks (94.9 percent) took place in just ten countries, with the US, China and South Korea being the most affected of the bunch.

  A marathon DDoS attack was also noticed in Q4, one which lasted 15.5 days, or 371 hours. Linux bots are also on the rise, from 45.6 percent to 54.8 percent.

  "We can see that the complexity and the power of DDoS attacks have not diminished with time, even if the number of attacked resources has fallen. Unfortunately, DDoS remains a convenient and affordable tool for online crime because there are still software vulnerabilities that attackers can use to penetrate servers", said Evgeny Vigovsky, head of Kaspersky DDoS Protection at Kaspersky Lab. "There are also users who fail to protect their devices, increasing the chances of those devices being infected by bots. For our part, we are committed to providing businesses with information about the DDoS threat and promoting the fight against it, because DDoS is a threat that can and should be combated".

  The full Kaspersky Lab report can be found on this link.

  Published under license from ITProPortal.com, a Net Communities Ltd Publication. All rights reserved.

  Photo Credit: Duc Dao / Shutterstock

  
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  Just how successful is Windows 10?

  Publié: février 1, 2016, 3:30pm CET par Wayne Williams

  

  As you’ll have seen earlier, according to figures from NetMarketShare, Windows 10 overtook Windows 8.1 in January, taking just six months to do so. StatCounter, which also measures operating system usage, shows Windows 10 achieving the same feat in that month, although its figures are slightly different.

  To mark this achievement it seems only right to compare Windows 10’s growth with that of past Windows releases to see how the new OS is really doing.

  StatCounter found that in January, Windows 10’s global desktop usage hit 13.7 percent, compared to 11.7 percent for Windows 8.1 (NetMarketShare has the figures as 11.85 percent and 10.40 percent, respectively).

  Breaking that down by territory, StatCounter has Windows 10 on 15.7 percent in the US (Windows 8.1 has 11.19 percent), and a whopping 22.4 percent in the UK (where Windows 8.1 has 12.5 percent).

  Globally, the new operating system’s rate of growth is significantly above that of Windows 8, which had just 5 percent share six calendar months after release, and compares very similarly to that of Windows 7 which was on 13.5 percent at the initial half year stage.

  You can see a breakdown of the three operating systems in table form:

  	Windows 10     (Jan 2016)	Windows 8     (April 2013)	Windows 7      (April 2010)
  Worldwide	13.7%	5.0%	13.5%
  US	15.7%	5.8%	14.7%
  UK	22.4%	6.6%	15.2%

  Obviously, while Windows 10 is clearly faring better than both previous operating systems, it’s important to remember that not only is the new OS free for Windows 7 and 8.1 users, but upgrading to it has been made incredibly easy and only requires a few mouse clicks. It’s also being pushed far more aggressively than any previous Windows operating system.

  You can draw your own conclusions from that, but clearly Microsoft’s tactics are working. The software giant has a stated aim of getting the new OS on one billion devices within 2-3 years, and it’s not unfeasible to see it hitting half a billion in its first full year.

  Photo credit: Robert Kneschke / Shutterstock

  
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  Samsung will unveil Galaxy S7 on February 21

  Publié: février 1, 2016, 2:57pm CET par Mihaita Bamburic

  

  The unveiling of a new Galaxy S smartphone is nearly as predictable as the introduction of new iPhones. Weeks before MWC, Samsung starts to tease the first Unpacked event of the year and, when the curtain finally lifts, it takes the wraps off its next flagship smartphone. A year ago, it was Galaxy S6 being presented, joined for the first time by an edge version.

  Things appear to be no different this year. Samsung has just released a teaser for its first Unpacked event of 2016. It will be held in Barcelona, one day before this year's MWC conference kicks off. What will be unveiled? "The Next Galaxy", of course.

  The first teaser suggests that Samsung will allow Gear VR users to experience the launch of Galaxy S7 in virtual reality. In case you are wondering, the headset requires a Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge Plus or Galaxy Note 5 to work.

  While Samsung has not come out and said that it will announce Galaxy S7 at Unpacked, which takes place on February 21, it is quite obvious that it is "The Next Galaxy". What we do not know is whether there will also be other models being unveiled, like a Galaxy S7 edge or Galaxy S7 edge Plus.

  The launch of Galaxy S7, which starts at 19:00 CET, will be livestreamed by Samsung. Our very own Brian Fagioli will be attending the New York unveiling of the flagship. There will also be another dedicated US Unpacked event on the west coast, in San Francisco.

  
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  ASUS VivoMini VC65 is world's smallest PC with four 2.5-inch drive bays

  Publié: février 1, 2016, 2:47pm CET par Brian Fagioli

  

  When people buy a new computer, there is a good chance they will be attracted to a diminutive offering. While the mini computer is not a new concept they can, quite often, be under-powered or limited in their expandability.

  Enter the ASUS VivoMini VC65 Series. This new computer series is designed to not only save physical space, but with optional Intel Skylake processors, offer high performance too. Plus, more importantly for some, it can be configured to accommodate up to four 2.5 inch storage drives!

  "The VC65 and VC65R mini PCs feature a versatile modular design with three storage and optical drive configurations for increased performance, productivity, and entertainment. They are the world's smallest mini PCs that can accommodate up to four 2.5-inch SSD or HDD storage modules", says ASUS.

  The company further shares, "VivoMini VC65 Series mini PCs are designed for a wide range of computing tasks for the home or office, and are powered by up to desktop-grade 6th-generation Intel Core processors. The top-of-the-line VivoMini VC65R model features built-in RAID support, making it ideal for a network attached storage (NAS) or mini server system. These mini PCs feature a compact design with an embedded power adapter, and can be placed horizontally or vertically. VivoMini VC65 Series can also be VESA-mounted".

  

  These are far from bare bones either. They feature a diverse video output offering (HDMI, VGA and DisplayPort), a 4-in-1 card reader, six USB 3.0 ports (four USB 3.0 and two 2.0 ports on the non-R variant) and 802.11ac. You can choose between four 2.5 inch drive bays, two 2.5 inch drive bays or two 2.5 inch drive bays with a slim optical drive.

  

  These should not only serve as excellent servers or business workstations, but personal computers or HTPCs too. While ASUS lists Windows 10 for an operating system, these should run Linux-based operating systems like a champ too. Intel-based systems historically work very well with operating systems based on the open source kernel.

  

  Unfortunately, both price and availability are unknown for now, but these details should be available soon.

  
• 

  Tron is the ultimate PC cleanup script

  Publié: février 1, 2016, 1:47pm CET par Mike Williams

  

  Your PC is misbehaving, and there’s no obvious cause? Then it’s usually time to start working through the generic "fixes": run an antivirus scan, clear your temporary folders, enter "sfc /scannow" and more.

  But if you’ve tried everything you know, without success -- or you don’t have hours to spend in front of the keyboard -- then maybe it’s time to call in some heavy-duty support.

  Tron is a batch file which automates just about every possible step in the process of disinfecting, cleaning and repairing a Windows PC.

  This isn’t as limited as it sounds, because the package is more than a script: it also includes a vast number of freeware and open source tools. There’s antivirus (Malwarebytes, Kaspersky, Sophos), cleaners (CCleaner, FindDupe), archiving tools, updaters, Adobe Reader, Flash and more.

  The end result does an enormous amount of work, including:

  • Finding and removing viruses
  • Repairing WMI
  • Resetting Internet Explorer, network settings
  • Cleaning junk files, Windows event logs, duplicate downloads, Windows Update cache
  • Uninstalling common OEM bloatware and some Metro apps
  • Removing OneDrive integration
  • Defragging your hard drive
  • Resetting Registry and file system permissions, file extensions
  • Updating Flash/ Adobe Reader/ Java/ Windows

  …and a whole lot more (the full list is here). It could take hours to run.

  There are plainly some major issues here. Like, does the developer really have the right to bundle all these third-party applications, even in an open-source product? (Something tells us the answer is "no".)

  Tron also carries out a lot of actions which you may not like, from the minor (reducing the space allocated for shadow copies) to the major (uninstalling apps and applications which in many cases are harmless, and are most unlikely to be causing you any problems at all).

  Despite that, there might be a case for using Tron as a last resort, if your PC seems broken and nothing else has helped. Just keep in mind that the script could make your situation worse, so back up the system first, and read the instructions in full before you start.

  If you’re not happy using the dubiously-bundled tools, there’s still plenty of value here. Tron has various command line switches to disable certain actions (-sa to skip antivirus, say), or you can just edit out actions you don’t like.

  Even if you never intend to use the full script, Tron has plenty of interesting batch file snippets you can reuse. A lot of the repairs are carried out by the script and standard Windows utilities only, so you might reuse parts of it. And a host of supporting elements show you how a batch file can detect it’s running in Safe Mode, or as an administrator; identify the version of Windows you’re using; get and save free disk space; resume at the right point after a failed run, and a whole lot more.

  Tron is a PC repair and cleanup tool for Windows XP- 10.

  
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  It's all a facade: Encryption may do nothing to reduce surveillance or increase privacy

  Publié: février 1, 2016, 1:18pm CET par Mark Wilson

  

  Living in a technological age where there is a near-fanatical obsession with privacy, a move towards encryption seems to make perfect sense. While there have been calls from some governments to ban encryption and demands for decryption keys to be handed over, there is a drive by companies and online services to try to increase security and privacy with encryption.

  But a new report (Don't Panic: Making progress on the encryption debate) from Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet & Society suggests that encryption may be all but pointless when it comes to curtailing surveillance. While governments and surveillance agencies may balk at the idea of people using encryption to 'go dark' online, and many people embrace the idea as a means of increasing their privacy, the report suggests that the task of surveillance is not going to be made impossible, and could be helped by the Internet of Things (IoT).

  In fact, rather than the future being one that features less surveillance, the report suggests that there might actually be more opportunities for surveillance. Drawing on input from security and policy experts from academia, civil society, and the US intelligence community the report looks at consumer-level encryption and what this means for the ability to monitor the communication of criminals, terrorists and the like.

  Despite increased take up of encryption, a huge proportion of web traffic remains fully accessible to law enforcement agencies. This includes not only communications which has not been purposely encrypted, but also metadata -- that staple of the NSA's diet -- which is unencrypted by nature. But more than this, the increased number of connected devices -- cars, home heating system, network cameras, smart devices, and so on -- actually means that there will be more opportunities for surveillance.

  Intelligence and law enforcement agencies may be concerned that end-to-end encryption will make their job harder, but the report suggests that these fears are unfounded. It says:

  End-to-end encryption and other technological architectures for obscuring user data are unlikely to be adopted ubiquitously by companies, because the majority of businesses that provide communications services rely on access to user data for revenue streams and product functionality, including user data recovery should a password be forgotten.

  We have already seen that the likes of the NSA can gather metadata on a massive scale, and this is not something that is expected to be affected by increased awareness of encryption:

  Metadata is not encrypted, and the vast majority is likely to remain so. This is data that needs to stay unencrypted in order for the systems to operate: location data from cell phones and other devices, telephone calling records, header information in e-mail, and so on. This information provides an enormous amount of surveillance data that widespread.

  But the report also includes prophesies that will undoubtedly concern those with privacy fears. Any switch to using encrypted modes of communication will simply make those conducting surveillance pursue other channels. It notes:

  Networked sensors and the Internet of Things are projected to grow substantially, and this has the potential to drastically change surveillance. The still images, video, and audio captured by these devices may enable real-time intercept and recording with after-the-fact access. Thus an inability to monitor an encrypted channel could be mitigated by the ability to monitor from afar a person through a different channel.

  There is also the problem of fragmentation and a lack of standardization to consider -- as well as differing standards and laws around the world. One of the key points raised by the report is that the idea of 'going dark' -- that the ability to intercept and surveil communication -- is wrong. While current methods and techniques may increasingly fail, there are plenty of other opportunities for surveillance and privacy infringement available now, and on the horizon.

  Image Credit: Maksim Kabakou / Shutterstock