Microsoft will let some users take a time out on Windows 10 updates

Microsoft is giving users some more control over Windows 10 updates, with a new beta build of its operating system released Monday.The build allows folks with the Windows 10 Professional, Education, and Enterprise versions to defer new updates for up to 35 days. In addition, the company will allow those users to decide whether or not they want to include driver updates when they want to update Windows.It’s a move that helps respond to one of the key criticisms of Windows 10: that Microsoft’s regime of forced, cumulative updates has caused problems for users with some configurations. This way, users can steer clear of updates they don’t want to install yet and dodge problematic driver updates.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Citrix bolsters virtualization wares; integration with Microsoft Azure

Citrix and Microsoft are strengthening a long-standing partnership by making it easier for customers to use Citrix’s application and desktop virtualization products, as well as control a fleet of mobile devices, in the Microsoft Azure cloud.Citrix has kicked off its annual partner Summit in Anaheim this week with news of the expanded pact with Microsoft. The moves build on years worth of integration between the two companies, but analysts say there’s a new-found heft behind the partnership since Citrix CEO Kirill Tatarinov took over the company last year after having previously served as a Microsoft executive.+MORE AT NETWORK WORLD: How Citrix is building your workspace of the future | Introducing the New Citrix +To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Response: The Orphaned Internet – Taking Over 120K Domains via a DNS Vulnerability in AWS, Google Cloud, Rackspace and Digital Ocean | The Hacker Blog

So obvious but I’m checking my unused domains to make sure they have no nameservers configured

The root of this vulnerability occurs when a managed DNS provider allows someone to add a domain to their account without any verification of ownership of the domain name itself. This is actually an incredibly common flow and is used in cloud services such as AWS, Google Cloud, Rackspace and of course, Digital Ocean. The issue occurs when a domain name is used with one of these cloud services and the zone is later deleted without also changing the domain’s nameservers. This means that the domain is still fully set up for use in the cloud service but has no account with a zone file to control it. In many cloud providers this means that anyone can create a DNS zone for that domain and take full control over the domain. This allows an attacker to take full control over the domain to set up a website, issue SSL/TLS certificates, host email, etc. Worse yet, after combining the results from the various providers affected by this problem over 120,000 domains were vulnerable (likely many more).

The Orphaned Internet – Taking Over 120K Domains via Continue reading

This year’s 25 geekiest 25th anniversaries

This is the eleventh year I’ve compiled this particular collection of trivia, which will come in handy someday if I’m ever on Jeopardy and the category is 1980s/1990s technology and related stuff.  A big year for such stuff, 1992 saw the release of Linux under GNU, the sending of the first SMS message, IBM trotting out the ThinkPad and Simon, which was the first mobile phone to include PDA features (smartphone). The year also saw the launch of iconic videogame franchises Mario Kart and Mortal Kombat. And, perhaps worst of all, Microsoft unleashed upon the world the scourge that is PowerPoint. Here’s the full list:IBM debuts ThinkPad Raymangold Known for its minimalist design, the ThinkPad laptop was launched by IBM in 1992 and became a  workplace staple for Big Blue before it sold the line to Lenovo in 2005. For years the ThinkPad was the only laptop allowed aboard the International Space Station and there are reportedly some still in use up there. I am typing on a practically new Earth-bound model right now.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

This year’s 25 geekiest 25th anniversaries

This is the eleventh year I’ve compiled this particular collection of trivia, which will come in handy someday if I’m ever on Jeopardy and the category is 1980s/1990s technology and related stuff.  A big year for such stuff, 1992 saw the release of Linux under GNU, the sending of the first SMS message, IBM trotting out the ThinkPad and Simon, which was the first mobile phone to include PDA features (smartphone). The year also saw the launch of iconic videogame franchises Mario Kart and Mortal Kombat. And, perhaps worst of all, Microsoft unleashed upon the world the scourge that is PowerPoint. Here’s the full list:IBM debuts ThinkPad Raymangold Known for its minimalist design, the ThinkPad laptop was launched by IBM in 1992 and became a  workplace staple for Big Blue before it sold the line to Lenovo in 2005. For years the ThinkPad was the only laptop allowed aboard the International Space Station and there are reportedly some still in use up there. I am typing on a practically new Earth-bound model right now.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

This year’s 25 geekiest 25th anniversaries

This is the eleventh year I’ve compiled this particular collection of trivia, which will come in handy someday if I’m ever on Jeopardy and the category is 1980s/1990s technology and related stuff.  A big year for such stuff, 1992 saw the release of Linux under GNU, the sending of the first SMS message, IBM trotting out the ThinkPad and Simon, which was the first mobile phone to include PDA features (smartphone). The year also saw the launch of iconic videogame franchises Mario Kart and Mortal Kombat. And, perhaps worst of all, Microsoft unleashed upon the world the scourge that is PowerPoint. Here’s the full list:IBM debuts ThinkPad Raymangold Known for its minimalist design, the ThinkPad laptop was launched by IBM in 1992 and became a  workplace staple for Big Blue before it sold the line to Lenovo in 2005. For years the ThinkPad was the only laptop allowed aboard the International Space Station and there are reportedly some still in use up there. I am typing on a practically new Earth-bound model right now.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

CES 2017: More hot gadgets and cool stuff

Even statues love CESImage by Keith Shaw / Network WorldHere are some more products and hot technologies that were showcased last week in Las Vegas during the International CES trade event. Even the MGM Grand lion statue was into VR.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Microsoft fires back on reports of CMD prompt’s demise

Last month there were several articles about the news that Microsoft was making PowerShell the default command line in Windows 10, and also claiming that this would be the end of the venerable cmd.exe, also known as the Command Prompt.  Like Mark Twain said, a lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can get its boots on. The articles spawned reactions all over the web, such as one lengthy thread on Reddit. This led to protests from IT professionals who still need to use that command prompt we've known since 1981. Microsoft must have gotten an earful and then some. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Cybersecurity Pros to Trump: Critical Infrastructure Is Very Vulnerable to a Cyber-Attack

Last week, President-elect Donald Trump received a comprehensive briefing on Russian hacking related to the 2016 Presidential election.  In response, Trump released a statement that included the following:"Whether it is our government, organizations, associations or business we need to aggressively combat and stop cyberattacks. I will appoint a team to give me a plan within 90 days of taking office.” These “teams” tend to be made up of a combination of Washington insiders with intelligence and/or military experience as well as an assortment of industry folks.  For example, President Obama’s recent Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, included former NSA director Keith Alexander, former IBM CEO Sam Palmisano, etc.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Cybersecurity pros to Trump: Critical infrastructure very vulnerable to cyber attack

Last week, President-elect Donald Trump received a comprehensive briefing on Russian hacking related to the 2016 Presidential election. In response, Trump released a statement that included the following: "Whether it is our government, organizations, associations or business, we need to aggressively combat and stop cyberattacks. I will appoint a team to give me a plan within 90 days of taking office.”  These “teams” tend to be made up of a combination of Washington insiders with intelligence and/or military experience, as well as an assortment of industry folks. For example, President Obama’s recent Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, included former NSA director Keith Alexander, former IBM CEO Sam Palmisano, etc.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Cybersecurity Pros to Trump: Critical Infrastructure Is Very Vulnerable to a Cyber-Attack

Last week, President-elect Donald Trump received a comprehensive briefing on Russian hacking related to the 2016 Presidential election.  In response, Trump released a statement that included the following:"Whether it is our government, organizations, associations or business we need to aggressively combat and stop cyberattacks. I will appoint a team to give me a plan within 90 days of taking office.” These “teams” tend to be made up of a combination of Washington insiders with intelligence and/or military experience as well as an assortment of industry folks.  For example, President Obama’s recent Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, included former NSA director Keith Alexander, former IBM CEO Sam Palmisano, etc.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Cybersecurity pros to Trump: Critical infrastructure very vulnerable to cyber attack

Last week, President-elect Donald Trump received a comprehensive briefing on Russian hacking related to the 2016 Presidential election. In response, Trump released a statement that included the following: "Whether it is our government, organizations, associations or business, we need to aggressively combat and stop cyberattacks. I will appoint a team to give me a plan within 90 days of taking office.”  These “teams” tend to be made up of a combination of Washington insiders with intelligence and/or military experience, as well as an assortment of industry folks. For example, President Obama’s recent Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, included former NSA director Keith Alexander, former IBM CEO Sam Palmisano, etc.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

When we weren’t looking, smartwatches became niche items

It became pretty clear when the Apple Watch Series 2 focused on athletes and exercise. If even Apple knew it couldn’t make a smartwatch that appealed to everyone, what hope did all the other market contenders have? And at this year's CES, you could see this trend playing out from tech outfits to traditional watch brands to athletic wear and shoe manufacturers.When the Apple Watch 2 came out in September of 2016, it struck a fine balance in terms of new features and continuity—at least in terms of the product itself. But Apple’s positioning of the device changed dramatically. Instead of trying to be the perfect device for everyone to wear on their wrists all the time, it was now focused primarily on workouts and activity tracking. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

IHS Markit: 70% of Carriers Will Deploy CORD in the Central Office

95 percent of operators surveyed will create mini data centers.

Enterprises Aren’t Built to Consume Containers, Dell EMC Exec Says

A little bit of Apple culture couldn't hurt.

How Network World covered the original iPhone announcement from Jan. 9, 2007

While Network World writes a lot more about Apple these days than we did 10 years ago, we didn't skip over the original iPhone announcement on Jan. 9, 2007.Here's a look back at how we covered the story, and you can check out the recorded Facebook Live video below, which features a couple of physical Network World magazine issues from early 2007 (we converted to an online-only publication in mid-2013).MORE iPHONE 10TH ANNIVERSARY COVERAGE: Whirlwind look back at every iPhone model | iPhone prototypes that never saw the light of day | 10 iPhone features that rocked the smartphone world | A look back at prognostications that the iPhone would be a flopTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

One Weird Trick to really be Smarter

For some reason, I seem to be a bit of a question magnet. Not that I mind, of course, because… Well, you’ll discover why in just a moment. I was reminded of this, this week, when someone asked me—”how do you know so much about so many different things?” Before I answered them, Steve Hood published his first post on his journey to the CCNA. Buried in this post is something very important in relation to the question in hand—

Further, over the last six months I have worked, for the first time, in environments in which I am not the sole networking professional. Simply being able to say “hey, what do you think of doing ____?” has been awesome. Before joining a networking team I could only see my own perspective and the things I thought to google. Now I have the advantage of a reply from someone with more or different experience.

This completely exposes one of my primary pathways to knowing a lot of stuff about a lot of stuff. If you don’t see it yet, here it is in plain language, one weird trick that will really make you smarter.

Make certain you are Continue reading

Microsoft, Cisco, Qualcomm Back Israeli Security Startup Team8

Team8 describes itself as a cyber security think tank.

Infotrek Episode 10: Cutovers

The Infotrek podcast gets into cutovers, including how to prepare for them, and tackles recent news including a police request for recordings from an Amazon Echo.

The post Infotrek Episode 10: Cutovers appeared first on Packet Pushers.

Nokia returns to smartphones at long last, but you can’t buy it (and probably don’t want to)

In December, Finland-based HMD Global announced to some fanfare that its first Nokia-branded Android handsets would be landing in early 2017. Less than 10 days into the new year, the first model has already arrived, but those in the U.S. looking to get their hands on the first Nokia phone in years will have to wait a little longer.If the Nokia 6, as HMD is calling it, is any indication of what’s to come from its licensing deal, there isn’t too much to get excited about. Squarely aimed at the budget market, the phone features a 5.5-inch LCD screen, 4GB of RAM, a 16MP camera, 64GB of storage, and a 3,000 mAh battery. Under the screen is a Snapdragon 430 processor, and while the phone does run Nougat, it remains to be seen what kind of skin HMD has applied to it. It will sell for around $250 in an exclusive deal with China’s Jingdong Mall online shop. The My Nokia Blog also also uncovered a commercial for the phone.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here