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September 9, 2019 by Vertical Axion
There’s another chapter in the ongoing MS Paint saga. In case you missed the first part of the story, several months ago, Microsoft upset its user base when a Windows 10 Build took Paint out of the equation. They replaced it with an updated version of the software that supported 3D effects and other advanced […]
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September 7, 2019 by Vertical Axion
This year stands to shatter last year’s record in terms of the number of successful hacks against businesses and government agencies. It seems that the hackers have a new favored tool: The ransomware attack. According to statistics gathered by Malwarebytes, attacks against government and business are up by a whopping 365 percent. IBM’s consumer statistics […]
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September 6, 2019 by Vertical Axion
There’s a mix of good news and bad news concerning the security of smart devices in general, and smart medical devices specifically. As most people are aware, the Internet of Things (IoT) has a serious problem. The overwhelming majority of such devices have little to no security and are incredibly easy to hack. The good […]
September 5, 2019 by Vertical Axion
This year hasn’t been good for users of Open Source software, which at one level or another, includes just about everybody. Unfortunately, a recent grim discovery makes it unlikely that we’ll see the number of attacks decline any time soon. Not long ago, two new back doors were discovered in more than a dozen libraries […]
September 4, 2019 by Vertical Axion
There’s great news today in the tech realm for gamers around the world. Nvidia recently announced a major driver update for its graphics cards that offer a variety of improvements. The 436.02 update promises a framerate improvement of up to 23 percent for World War Z, Strange Brigade, Forza Horizon 4, Battlefield V, and Apex […]
September 3, 2019 by Vertical Axion
Earlier this year, Google, the parent company of YouTube, found itself in hot water for YouTube’s violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPA). They got in trouble for their data collection practices and the fact that the company allowed third-party ads to run rampant on videos that were more likely to be viewed […]
September 2, 2019 by Vertical Axion
If you’re a G Suite user, you’re probably already aware that Google has been making plans to shut down Google Hangouts. In fact, the original plan was to begin phasing it out of the G Suite in October of this year (2019). If you’re a fan of the service and rely on it for interoffice […]
August 31, 2019 by Vertical Axion
There are changes afoot in Gmail designed to help improve the quality of your writing using new AI features. These features will auto correct simple spelling errors and offer suggestions to improve your grammar. As the company notes in a recent blog post on the matter: “If you’re working against deadlines to write a lot […]
August 30, 2019 by Vertical Axion
When surveying the state of your company’s security, it’s important to understand what your biggest risks are. According to the 2019 Application Report published by F5 Labs, the answer is simple. Fully 71 percent of all web-related data breaches in 2018 specifically targeted customers’ financial information. The single biggest culprit? Formjacking. According to F5’s Senior […]
August 29, 2019 by Vertical Axion
Recently, an independent researcher named Bob Diachenko worked collaboratively with Comparitech. They discovered an unsecured database containing nearly 700,000 hotel records belonging to Choice Hotels. Unfortunately, although Diachenko reported his finding to the company, hackers had beaten him to the punch and had already downloaded the file. They are now demanding a ransom for its […]
August 28, 2019 by Vertical Axion
Google recently released a large-scale password study that will probably give every IT manager in the country heartburn. The results of their study indicate that a disturbing percentage of users continue to use passwords after they’ve been warned that those passwords have been compromised. One of the most common tactics hackers employ is called ‘password […]
August 27, 2019 by Vertical Axion
According to Apple, the 15 Inch MacBook Pros sold between September 2015 and February 2017 have a serious battery issue that makes them prone to fire. When the company discovered the issue in June of this year (2019), they issued a recall and urged all MacBook Pro owners to check the serial number of their […]
August 26, 2019 by Vertical Axion
Wormable bugs are an ongoing concern for Microsoft. Recently, the company released a set of patches for two newly discovered ‘BlueKeep-Like vulnerabilities” that impact a wide range of Windows Operating Systems. These bugs plague the company’s remote desktop services and permit malware to spread rapidly from one device to another. Remote Desktop Services is an […]
August 24, 2019 by Vertical Axion
Do you employ a biometric security solution at your company to control building access? If your solution employs BioStar 2 technology (which is often integrated into third-party systems such as Nedap’s AEOS access control system), you have cause for concern. Recently, researchers from vpnMentor announced that they uncovered a massive database. It is about 23 […]
August 23, 2019 by Vertical Axion
A security researcher known as “_MG_” on Twitter has invented a modified Apple Lightning cable that could allow a hacker to remotely access any Mac computer using them. He demonstrated his new invention, dubbed the “OM.G Cable” at the Def Con hacking conference in Las Vegas recently. The Lightning Cable is used by Apple owners […]
August 22, 2019 by Vertical Axion
Being more of a nuisance than anything, adware doesn’t see as many innovations as other forms of malware. Once in a while, an adware developer surprises the security researchers. That happened recently when two researchers working for enSilo discovered an innovation in an adware strain, known as DealPly. As Adi Zeligson and Rotem Kerner indicated […]
August 21, 2019 by Vertical Axion
Researchers at CheckMarx recently discovered some serious security flaws in the popular LeapPad Ultimate tablet. The tablet was designed by LeapFrog to provide kids in the UK and Europe with a safe environment to access games, videos and educational apps. The researchers had this to say about their discovery: “The first thing we found […]
August 20, 2019 by Vertical Axion
Grim news comes out of Russia, as reported by Microsoft. The tech giant has been tracking the activities of a Russian hacking group that goes by the name of Strontium. Their other names include APT28 and Fancy Bear. Microsoft has confirmed that the group was behind a new attack that took place in April of […]
August 19, 2019 by Vertical Axion
Hardly a week goes by that we don’t see another major data breach making the headlines. The latest company to fall victim to hackers is CafePress. They are well-known on the internet for offering a platform where users can create their own customized coffee mugs, tee shirts and the like. The company didn’t make a […]
August 17, 2019 by Vertical Axion
Not long ago, both Google and Apple found themselves in hot water when it came to light that both companies had been making use of third-party partners to review Siri recordings. As the companies explained at the time, their goal was to make their voice recognition software more efficient and more effective. After they found […]
August 16, 2019 by Vertical Axion
Apple has partnered with Goldman Sachs and their long-awaited “Apple Card” begins rolling out in limited fashion. The card becomes available to all iPhone owners in the United States toward the end of August. According to CEO Tim Cook, a random selection of people who signed up to be notified about the Apple Card are […]
August 15, 2019 by Vertical Axion
If you own an iPhone, be aware that a new iMessage vulnerability has been recently found and patched by Apple. This was part of the iOS 12.4 update. The flaw allowed hackers to access and read the contents of files stored on iOS devices remotely. They could access files the same way as the device […]
August 14, 2019 by Vertical Axion
Let’s take a little time to talk about the vast numbers of smart devices in use around the world. You probably have several in your home or office. Smart devices need operating systems, just like your phone and your PC. Of course, mobile device operating systems must be much smaller and more compact. After all, they […]
August 13, 2019 by Vertical Axion
If you own an Android device, there’s a new threat to be at least moderately concerned about. It takes the form of a new ransomware family that spreads from one victim to the next with text messages that contain poisoned links to every contact on an infected device. The ESET research team that found the […]
