Faster USB Standard Is Coming But There Are Complications

March 23rd, 2019

If you have a need for speed, you'll be thrilled to know that USB 3.2 is on its way. It offers incredible transfer speeds up to 20GB per second, but there's a catch that could throw a wrench into the works, or at least make things more complicated. At the most recent Mobile World Congress, it was announced that the new USB 3.2 specification will encompass both USB 3.0 and USB 3.1, which creates three different tiers of speed.

Bots Are Attacking Retail Sites On A Large Scale

March 22nd, 2019

If you own a retail business, an attack known as "credential stuffing" is the latest online threat to be concerned about.  If you're not sure what that is, read on and prepare to be dismayed. According to the 2019 State of the Internet, Retail Attacks, and TPI Traffic Report published by Akamai, there has been an surge in large scale botnet attacks against businesses, with retail outlets being the hardest hit.

Progressive Web App Office Software Coming To Windows 10

March 21st, 2019

Microsoft has recently announced a new addition, coming soon to the Microsoft Store.  A free Office progressive web app (PWA), which is slated to replace the My Office app that comes pre-installed on Windows devices. The new app is functionally similar to the Office App you're currently using, but it brings some exciting new features into play that users and IT managers alike will love.

Google Security Device Had A Microphone Nobody Knew About

March 20th, 2019

Google has found itself in hot water for something they claim to be an honest mistake and oversight. Owners of the company's popular Nest Guard (the centerpiece to their Nest Secure home alarm system) have recently discovered a microphone hidden in the guts of the device.

New Malware Is Coming Through Messaging Apps

March 19th, 2019

As if your stressed IT staff didn't have enough to deal with, there's a new threat to be on the lookout for.

Researchers at the antivirus company Avast have discovered a new strain of malware that can spread by way of Skype and Facebook Messenger spam messages.

Malware Stealing Usernames And Passwords At Alarming Rates

March 18th, 2019

Much discussion has been had about the fact that hackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and their methods ever-increasing in their complexity.  While that's certainly true, more complex isn't always better.

Take, for example, the malware called Separ, which is a credential-siphoning bit of code, first detected in late 2017.

Separ has benefitted from ongoing development by the hackers controlling it, but what sets it apart from other malware strains is that it's almost deceptively simple, and that simplicity is a big part of its success.

Apple Developers Will Make Apps Usable On All Devices

March 16th, 2019

Apple recently announced an important strategic change in direction that's great news for developers.  In their next SDK release, developers will be able to build a single app that will work on every iPhone, iPad, and Mac the company makes.

The benefits to developers are obvious, with the biggest being a general reduction of development time.

Another Point Of Sale Data Breach Hits Retailers

March 15th, 2019

Another week, another data breach. This time, the target of the breach was North Country Business Products (NCBP), a company that makes point of sale (POS) terminals for businesses.

Although NCBP was the target, they weren't the ultimate victims of the breach.

Safari On Mac Now Vulnerable To Browser History Theft

March 14th, 2019

There's a new macOS security flaw you and your staff need to be aware of.  It was discovered by Jeff Johnson, the developer of the Underpass app for both Mac and iOS, and the StopTheMaddness Safari browser extension.

Fortunately, the new flaw is not one that can be exploited remotely.

Right Clicking In Gmail Will Unveil Its New Features

March 13th, 2019

When is a right click more than just a right click?  When Google reveals its latest changes to Gmail, of course!

The tech giant has recently announced that they're going to be overhauling Gmail's right click menu options. This will enhance its value by adding more and better functionality, with an eye toward improving the overall user experience.