A hacking group has released suspected U.S. government files that show the National Security Agency may have spied on banks across the Middle East.Numerous Windows hacking tools are also among the new batch of files the Shadow Brokers dumped Friday. In recent months, the mysterious group has been releasing hacking tools allegedly taken from the NSA, and security researchers say they actually work.Friday’s leak includes an archive describing the internal architecture at EastNets, a Dubai-based anti-money laundering company that also offers services related to SWIFT, the financial banking network.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Samsung Electronics has appointed the former CIO of the U.S. Department of Defense to help a global push to expand its mobile enterprise business.Terry Halvorsen served as chief information officer at the Pentagon from 2015 until this year. Before that, he served as deputy commander of the Navy Cyber Forces and deputy commander of the Naval Network Warfare Command.At Samsung, he will be an executive vice president and global enterprise advisor to J.K. Shin, president of Samsung's Mobile Communications division.Samsung said it wants Halvorsen to help expand its business in the corporate, government, and regulated industries space, where there are higher demands on security.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The prices of PCs, smartphones, and tablets are going up, with higher component prices to blame. Shortages in DRAM, flash, batteries and displays are hitting buyers in the wallet.Minor relief is in sight next year when prices of memory and NAND flash -- which is used in SSDs -- will start to gradually decline. But prices will plummet big time in 2019, predicted Jon Erensen, research director for semiconductors at Gartner.The impact could be felt on the prices of PCs and mobile devices. But it's too early to predict the exact impact of the projected NAND and DRAM price crashes on PCs and mobile devices, Erensen said.If the prices drop, it may be affordable for computer users to acquire components off the shelf and build PCs at home. But the prices of pre-made devices, in the end, depend on what PC makers do with the savings resulting from cheaper component pricing.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Security operations is changing, driven by a wave of diverse data types, analytics tools and new operational requirements. These changes are initiating an evolution from monolithic security technologies to a more comprehensive event-driven software architecture (along the lines of SOA 2.0) where disparate security technologies connect via enterprise-class middleware for things like data exchange, message queueing and risk-driven trigger conditions. ESG refers to this as a Security Operations and Analytics platform architecture or SOAPA. When speaking or writing about SOAPA, I often compare this evolution to an analogous IT trend in the 1990s. Way back then, large organizations abandoned stand-alone departmental applications in favor or a more integrated software architecture, ERP. This transition resulted in a new generation of business applications acting as a foundation for greater automation, efficiency and profitability.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
While much of the market is focused on the promise of an SD-WAN to lower connectivity costs, I believe SD-WAN, when done right, can offer significant incremental value beyond the favorable economics of broadband connectivity.A complete SD-WAN solution must assure consistent application performance and resiliency, make the WAN edge more application-driven, improve network security, and overall, dramatically simplify the WAN architecture for geographically distributed enterprises. It should also enable enterprises to create a thin branch where network functions such as routing, firewalls, WAN optimization along with SD-WAN are delivered as a single integrated solution.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
An unpatched vulnerability in the Magento e-commerce platform could allow hackers to upload and execute malicious code on web servers that host online shops.The flaw was discovered by researchers from security consultancy DefenseCode and is located in a feature that retrieves preview images for videos hosted on Vimeo. Such videos can be added to product listings in Magento.The DefenseCode researchers determined that if the image URL points to a different file, for example a PHP script, Magento will download the file in order to validate it. If the file is not an image, the platform will return a "Disallowed file type" error, but won't actually remove it from the server.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Smartphones have the power to make our lives more efficient. They also have the power to cause major migraines.Let’s face it: Technology wouldn’t be technology without the occasional facepalm-inducing failure—and mobile devices are no exception. But an annoying Android error doesn’t have to send you scrambling to the nearest clueless carrier store or online help forum. I’ve been covering and personally using Android since its infancy, and I’m here to help. (My certified-geek badge is on file in the main office if you need to see it.)[ Android is now ready for real usage in the enterprise. Read InfoWorld’s in-depth guide on how to make Android a serious part of your business. | Get the best office apps and the 38 best business-worthy apps for your Android device. | Keep up on key mobile developments and insights with the Mobile Tech Report newsletter. ]
Check out the fixes below or save this story for a rainy day. With these troubleshooting tips in hand, you’ll be swatting away problems and getting back to business in no time—no aspirin required.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Despite the artistic implications of its name, the Windows 10 Creators Update, which started rolling out April 11, brings with it several nuts-and-bolts productivity enhancements. Here’s an overview of four that can make a big impact on your day-to-day routine. We’ll likely look at each of these more in-depth in the weeks to come.Recurring Cortana reminders
Cortana is one of the most useful productivity features of Windows 10, thanks largely to its ability to provide contextual reminders around meetings, deadlines, and other important events. Surprisingly, though, it hasn’t allowed you to set recurring reminders.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
A sneak peek at Android OImage by GreenbotGoogle I/O is still more than a month away, but we’ve already gotten a sneak peek at what Google is planning for Android O. To help developers make sure their apps are in tip-top shape for the public release later this year, Google has given them the first preview a little early, opening up a brand new box of tricks and tools.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
By the time John Kronick became a data security strategist a few years ago, he'd already been in the security industry for 20 years. But he didn't come to security from IT.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
Whether you're pushing for a promotion or raise or management has broached the topic with you, one thing is certain: The process will take longer than you expect. In most companies, managers don't have the authority to give you new responsibilities or a pay increase. They must go through the proper channels to get approval."While it's natural to feel antsy while waiting for the raise they asked for, it's critical to find some more productive, tactful ways to prove their worth in the meantime," says Vip Sandhir, CEO and founder of HighGround, an HR software company.But just because the process may seem out of your hands, you don't have to sit around patiently waiting for your promotion or raise to kick in. There are plenty of small ways you can remain engaged and proactive in the process, and even help push it along.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Just two days after Microsoft's Windows 10 Creators Update arrived, HP announced two PCs that will come pre-loaded with the new OS.HP refreshed its Pavilion laptops and X360 2-in-1s with new processors and also is offering optional discrete GPUs with the new PCs.You'll be able to select AMD Radeon or Nvidia 940MX graphics when configuring the PCs. Intel or AMD chips (but not Ryzen) can be selected with the PCs.HP realizes entry-level gaming is becoming a basic prerequisite for many laptop users, and discrete GPUs will provide serious graphics punch that integrated graphics can't match. The Pavilion x360 is primarily a laptop but can be used a tablet after you fold the screen. Prices for an entry-level 11.6-inch model, which has only a 720p screen option, will start at US$399.99 with a Pentium N4200 processor, but it can be upgraded to Intel Core i3 or i5 processors. The 14-inch model with Core i3 starts at $499.99, while the 15.6-inch model with Core i5 starts at $699.99. The 14- and 15-inch models can be upgraded to full HD screens.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Today I’m going to talk about a topic that has gained a lot of attention since the presidential election: encrypted email.Services such as ProtonMail—a secure email system with end-to-end encryption—have reported record signup numbers in recent months. This parallels the increasing adoption and provision of encrypted instant messaging services such as Signal, Telegram, iMessage and WhatsApp. As someone who works in security, I applaud this; more people communicating via encrypted messaging can only be a good thing.+ Also on Network World: Enterprise encryption adoption up, but the devil's in the details +
However, there is a big problem with encrypted email, which is that it mostly sucks. The problem lies in the open nature of email itself. Unlike proprietary messaging systems like WhatsApp, email is based on open-standards. Anyone can run their own email server, and you can send an email to anyone in the world just by knowing their email address using any software you like.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Samsung is seeing strong demand for its Galaxy S8 and S8+ smartphones, suggesting that consumers may be looking beyond the company’s debacle with the Galaxy Note7.The company’s head of mobile DJ Koh said at a media event in South Korea on Thursday that pre-orders for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ had outstripped those for its predecessors, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, which were launched in March last year.A Samsung spokesperson confirmed Koh’s remarks but did not provide figures for the pre-orders for the devices. The company disclosed, however, the number of pre-orders for the S8 and S8+ in home market South Korea, which were at over 728,000.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
It was another tough quarter for PC shipments, but there was good news for HP, which edged Lenovo to regain the title of world top's PC maker, according to IDC.Worldwide PC shipments totaled 60.3 million units in the first quarter of 2017, growing by just 0.6 percent compared to the same quarter the previous year.IDC previously forecast a decline of 1.8 percent in PC shipments, so the positive growth was a sign the PC market is recovering. Quarterly PC shipments reported positive growth for the first time since the first quarter of 2012. Lenovo previously beat HP for the title of the world's top maker in 2013 and has mostly held the position since then. HP regained the top spot this quarter boosted by strong laptop shipments worldwide. Now the question remains if HP can hold the spot.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Forget about security bulletins; Microsoft is so done with them. Now, it’s all about the Security Update Guide – something Microsoft claimed customers wanted back in November 2016. Bulletins were supposed to bite the dust starting in January 2017, but it appears as if they did starting in April 2017. This new era for patching Microsoft is great, if you really like clicking again and again. If not, I suppose that is too bad, so sad.The release notes are slightly more informative than the Microsoft Security Response Center post about the April patches. The latter simply stated, “Today we released security updates to provide additional protections against malicious attackers.” Microsoft recommends turning on automatic updates, but probably not to stop the upcoming migraine for the click-fest you will have to endure to find out about the security updates.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Raspberry Pi may be the most well-known board computer, but rival Orange Pi is rolling out a much larger range of boards at a furious pace and at cheaper prices.The number of board computer users is growing, with Raspberry Pi's shipments passing 10 million units last year. Orange Pi hasn't shipped as many devices but is trying to customize its boards to meet a wider set of computing needs. The latest board computer is the US$30 Orange Pi Prime, which is almost identical to Raspberry Pi 3 in terms of features. The Orange Pi Prime has better graphics by using a Mali-450 GPU, which can process 2K video.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
TurboTax coaches you every step of the way and double checks your return as you go to handle even the toughest tax situations, so you can be confident you’re getting every dollar you deserve. Its typical list price of $59.99 has been reduced a generous 42% to $34.89, a deal that is exclusive to Amazon. Learn more, or take advantage of the deal now, on Amazon.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The Microsoft vs. Apple argument is getting old. At this point, it's safe to say there's enough room in the enterprise for both tech giants. Still, it's difficult to ignore when one starts to surpass the other in either enterprise or consumer popularity.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
Small business owners, whether working in a busy office, on the road or from home, can easily get distracted – and overwhelmed. From email (and text) messages bombarding their inboxes and smart phones, to having to stop what they are doing to attend meetings or put out fires, to the temptation to check social media, it can be hard – make that nearly impossible – to stay focused and complete tasks on time.And while many entrepreneurs claim to be excellent multitaskers, research has shown most are not.So what, if anything, can small business owners do to stay focused and on top of things? Following is a list of free or inexpensive tools (listed alphabetically) that can help.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here