IT Executive news

• Apple reports second straight quarter of declining iPhone sales

  26-07-2016 23:17
  
  Apple has reported its second straight quarter of falling iPhone sales, hit by stiff competition in China and the ongoing slowdown in the worldwide smartphone market.The company sold 40.4 million iPhones from April to June, down from 47.5 million in the same quarter last year, Apple announced Tuesday.Revenue for the quarter, the third of its fiscal year, was $42.4 billion, down 17 percent from $49.6 billion a year earlier. Its net profit fell 27 percent to $7.8 billion. To read this article
  
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• NTSB: Tesla in fatal crash was speeding with Autopilot on

  26-07-2016 23:12
  
  The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) today released a preliminary report that details the circumstances of the fatal accident involving a Tesla Model S driving with its Autopilot engaged.
  The accident, which took place May 7 in Williston, Fla., was the first known fatal crash involving a vehicle using an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) based on computer software, sensors, cameras and radar. The all-electric Tesla hit the side of an 18-wheeler that turned left in front of it.
  
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• Google taps AI to help you bid for digital ads

  26-07-2016 23:10
  
  Real-time bidding is an aspect of digital marketing that can seem overly complex for the average bear, so it was only a matter of time before AI entered the picture. This week, Google brought machine learning into the process to help make it easier.Tapping some of the same artificial-intelligence technologies that have already appeared in Google Photos and AlphaGo, Smart Bidding is a new capability for conversion-based automated bidding across AdWords and DoubleClick Search to help companies det
  
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• FBI to lead nation's cyberattack responses

  26-07-2016 22:21
  
  President Barack Obama issued a policy directive Tuesday putting the FBI in charge of cyberattack responses.For businesses, this means the FBI should be in the speed dial if help is needed.
  The intent of the directive is to improve management of the U.S. response to "significant" cyberattacks.
  Analysts say this action was needed because it was never clear just what agency was taking the lead in response to a cybe attack -- the U.S. Secret Service, an agency within the Department of Homeland Sec
  
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• Gain access to an ARM server running Linux OS, through the cloud

  26-07-2016 22:20
  
  If you want to play with an ARM-based server, you can now apply to gain access to one online through the Linaro Developer Cloud.The cloud service was announced in March but has finally gone live. It's mainly targeted at developers who want to evaluate ARM servers.The free service is one way to access ARM servers, which aren't widely available. Applications go through an approval process, and only those serious about programming for ARM servers will likely be approved.Developers will get rem
  
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• Office 365 gets new Word, PowerPoint and Outlook features

  26-07-2016 22:18
  
  Microsoft today announced a new set of features designed to help Office 365 users save time and increase productivity. The cloud services bring new capabilities and insights to three of Microsoft's most popular business applications: Word, PowerPoint and Outlook."Editor," a new feature in Word, for example, is designed to help you improve your writing by suggesting changes beyond simple misspellings and grammatical errors. The digital writing assistant will provide more advanced proofing and edi
  
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• 61% off LEMONBEST HD 720p Handheld Wifi Inspection Scope - Deal Alert

  26-07-2016 21:57
  
  Here's one of those gadgets you might want to have around, just in case. This wireless inspection camera is ideal for HVAC inspection, cable routing, automotive inspection & maintenance, or for anybody who just likes to drop things into dark confined spaces. Simply put, this waterproof camera/scope lets you see into those hard-to-see spaces. The camera is flexible, 3.2 ft in length, and roughly the size of a #2 pencil. It has an adjustable high-intensity LED light and an attachable hook
  
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• Yahoo users have no need to panic

  26-07-2016 21:54
  
  For Yahoo's stalwart users, the company's acquisition should not usher in any dramatic changes in the near future.
  Actually, some industry analysts say people using Yahoo Mail, its search engine or its news page now may feel more secure, and that services are unlikely to disappear from lack of funding or lack of corporate interest anytime soon.
  However, for a company that has become a decided B-list player after once being an Internet pioneer, changes to Yahoo may be akin to a tree falling in a
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: 6 things to do after installing Arch Linux

  26-07-2016 21:39
  
  Mastering Arch LinuxImage by Dell/ThinkstockI have written an in-depth tutorial on installing Arch Linux, but, like any operating system, there are a lot of things that can be done after the install to make your system more usable. (Hat tip to Alexander Diana, a member of the Arch Linux community, for his contributions to this story.)To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• Smartwatch shipments nosedive, but recovery due in 2017

  26-07-2016 21:22
  
  The global smartwatch market nosedived by 32% in the second quarter of 2016, with Apple Watch shipments down by 55% when compared to a year earlier, according to research firm IDC.
  The decline — the first since the market started in 2013 — is expected to reverse next year after Apple and Google launch important operating system updates this fall, IDC said. Also, more watches will launch with cellular connections to LTE wireless without the need to connect via Bluetooth to a smartpho
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Why Microsoft’s revival of Skype for Linux is a big deal

  26-07-2016 21:21
  
  Around two weeks ago Microsoft surprised the Linux community by announcing a brand new Skype client for Linux. It was a surprise because Skype on Linux was in a holding pattern for a very long time.
  A brief history of Skype on Linux
  Before being acquired by Microsoft, Skype was the default VOIP solution on Linux. At one point, Canonical featured Skype on its official website.
  After the acquisition, Microsoft filed for patents that would allow the company to secretly intercept Skype calls. Secur
  
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• Why Land O'Lakes broke IT into six businesses

  26-07-2016 21:15
  
  When you think about all that an IT organization provides to its business (security, operations, delivery and innovation) and add up the costs of those services, you tend to wind up with a big number.That's what happened years ago at Land O'Lakes, the $13-billion cooperative. "Senior management had seen the IT budget increase too fast prior to 2004, so they asked IT to reduce costs to a great extent," says Mike Macrie, who has been the company's CIO since 2013.From 2004 to 2008, that's exactly w
  
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• Should CIOs be chief robot wranglers?

  26-07-2016 21:15
  
  Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is gaining increasing acceptance not just to handle certain IT tasks but also in business areas like finance and accounting, data entry and claims, and invoice and loan processing. Many organizations are looking to these emerging software tools’ ability to perform well-defined, repetitive tasks traditionally performed by human workers as the next big source of corporate cost cutting and productivity improvements. [ Related: How to prepare IT workers fo
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: CIO Masters Series: Mark Bramwell, CIO of Oxford Said Business School

  26-07-2016 20:49
  
  If you’re a CIO and would like to be interviewed for our special U.K. vs. U.S. CIO Master series please get in touch.At first, stepping onto the campus of Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, opposite the Oxford train station, is like stepping into an experience. Designed by Jeremy Dixon and Edward Jones, who also designed the London Opera House, the campus delicately blends classical outdoor architectural design, complete with amphitheater, columns and cloisters and oak pa
  
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• SMS-based two-factor authentication may be headed out the door

  26-07-2016 20:48
  
  SMS messaging for two-factor authentication might become a thing of the past. A U.S. federal agency is discouraging its use.The National Institute of Standards and Technology is pushing for the change. Its latest draft of its Digital Authentication Guideline, updated on Monday, warns that SMS messages can be intercepted or redirected, making them vulnerable to hacking.Many companies, including Twitter, Facebook, and Google, as well as banks, already use the phone-based text messaging to add an e
  
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• WD preparing to ship flash chips with half a terabit of capacity

  26-07-2016 20:41
  
  Western Digital (WD) has begun manufacturing the third generation of its 3D NAND flash chips, which increase the number of layers from 48 to 64 and will allow it to double capacity.
  Pilot production of the new 64-layer chips has already started in WD's Yokkaichi, Japan joint venture fabrication plant; initial shipments are expected in the fourth quarter of this year.ToshibaToshiba's 48-layer 3D NAND chips.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• Intel is developing AR smart glasses for interactive collaboration

  26-07-2016 20:39
  
  Intel seems to be developing a pair of augmented reality smart glasses, and we may see them at the company's developer show next month.The Intel Remote EyeSight, a set of head-worn AR smart glasses, is built around the idea of remote collaboration. The company will offer details at a technical session during next month's Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco.Further information about the AR smart glasses wasn't immediately available, but they seem like a cross between Microsoft's HoloLens
  
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• Financial analysts forecast another downturn for Apple's iPhone, Mac

  26-07-2016 20:25
  
  Apple later today will again announce a downturn for all three of its primary product lines, according to a group of independent and institutional financial analysts.
  The June quarter results will nearly mirror those of the first three months of 2016, when Apple reported selling 16% fewer iPhones than in the same period in 2015, marking the first time since the 2007 roll-out that sales for the iconic smartphone contracted on a year-over-year basis.
  According to Philip Elmer-DeWitt, who formerly
  
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• AT&T supports FCC crackdown on robocalls, other carriers ... don't

  26-07-2016 20:20
  
  The frustrating plague of "robocalls," or automated telephone calls that deliver recorded messages, is still a very serious issue. But at least one companies in the telecom industry appears ready to protect its subscribers. The United States' No. 2 wireless carrier, AT&T, got a shoutout from the FCC yesterday for pledging to develop and deploy technology that lets its subscribers block those annoying calls."I applaud AT&T for committing to make robocall-blocking technology avai
  
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• 10 ways to celebrate Sysadmin Day

  26-07-2016 20:18
  
  Sysadmin Day – last Friday of July, first Friday in our heartsYes, Sysadmin day is just around the corner again, as we prepare to recognize business IT’s foot soldiers in the war against downtime and general stuff-not-working-right-ness. Here are 10 ways to celebrate these great and deserving people. (MORE: Our 2015 look at Sysadmin Day)To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• Microsoft Word gains powerful Editor, Researcher tools to help you write more good

  26-07-2016 20:07
  
  For years, Microsoft Word has included spell checking, grammar checking, and bibliography tools to help students and others polish their writing skills. You can think of the new Editor and Researcher tools as supercharged versions of what’s already there.
  Both capabilities will only be available to those who subscribe to Office 365, Microsoft’s subscription service, however. The Researcher tool should be available today to subscribers, or after your Office 365 suite completes its mo
  
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• BrandPost: The 3 Most Common Production Planning and Scheduling Headaches—and How to Get Relief

  26-07-2016 19:59
  
  Managing a fine balance between customer demand and available capacity and resources is a complex process—especially while maintaining high customer service levels. Manufacturers know what can go wrong in the production process and the headaches that go along with it. Here are a few common pain points and some insight into how a cloud ERP solution can provide much needed relief:1. Disparate, Outdated SpreadsheetsIf you plan on growing, you are going to run into customers with complex needs
  
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• Kimpton Hotels is investigating a possible payment card breach

  26-07-2016 19:12
  
  Kimpton Hotels, operator of boutique hotels across the U.S., is investigating reports of a possible payment card data breach. If confirmed, it would become the latest in a string of successful attacks on hotel chain operators in the last year.The San Francisco-based company said it was "recently made aware of a report of unauthorized charges occurring on cards that were previously used legitimately at Kimpton properties."As a result, it has hired a computer security firm to investigate whether i
  
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• Verizon's Yahoo deal creates tracking powerhouse, privacy groups warn

  26-07-2016 19:01
  Verizon's planned US$4.8 billion acquisition of Yahoo is likely to create an international consumer tracking powerhouse, and that's raising serious privacy concerns.Combined with other recent acquisitions, the Yahoo deal will allow Verizon to track consumers not only on the web, but also at their physical locations, said Jeffrey Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, a privacy advocacy group.Verizon's acquisition of Yahoo's core digital advertising business, "when combi
  
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• A10 Networks makes pivot to cloud with Appcito acquisition

  26-07-2016 19:00
  
  A10 Networks, with its acquisition this week of startup Appcito, has become the latest Application Delivery Control (ADC) company to make a big push into supporting cloud applications.
  Many traditional ADC vendors have focused their platforms on helping customers manage applications in their own data centers. As more and more applications are hosted in the cloud, however, ADC companies have begun evolving their platforms to support cloud-based application management. In doing so, they find them
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: How a talent strategy can help banks get their IT groove back

  26-07-2016 18:45
  
  It’s no secret that the banking industry is facing unparalleled disruptions. Banks are continually forced to revisit their strategies and operating models as a result of new market entrants, cybersecurity concerns, changing customer profiles and automation. The burden of legacy technologies and overdue strategic change means that IT organizations are no longer positioned to effectively influence the overall direction and capabilities of a bank. While there certainly is no silver bullet fo
  
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• GE waves developers onto its huge IoT stage

  26-07-2016 18:30
  
  It takes a village to raise an IoT infrastructure.
  That’s the way it looks as the major players in the internet of things pair up in one partnership after another, while also reaching out to developers from startups and enterprises. The potential uses of IoT are so diverse, especially in the industrial realm, that specialized knowledge is a key part of the formula.
  General Electric has more than a century of industrial experience, but its five-year-old GE Digital division hopes to leverag
  
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• 53% off Universal Phone Mount for Bicycle and Motorcycle - Deal Alert

  26-07-2016 18:30
  
  Currently receiving 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon (read reviews), the 'Freedom' Handlebar Phone Holder from Tackform offers comprehensive protection for mounting your smartphone while riding your bike or motorcycle. The patented phone cradle provides full support for holding your phone, while providing full access to your screen and buttons while riding, allowing you:To easily listen to music without headphones for maximum safety while riding
  Easy and quick access to GPS for m
  
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• BrandPost: Disaster Recovery in a Virtual World

  26-07-2016 18:24
  Business is in the process of going digital, and while that has profound implications for the entire organization—technology, processes and people—it is particularly relevant to data protection and disaster recovery. Most data protection and data recovery (DP/DR) tools currently in use were created before optimization for virtualized server environments, integration with new storage technologies and cloud services were widely considered, according to IDC.And because backup is seen as
  
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• Epic CEO: How Microsoft is plotting to cripple Steam and seize control of PC gaming

  26-07-2016 18:10
  
  Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney still thinks Microsoft is trying to destroy the PC as an open platform, only now his claims are getting wilder.
  Speaking to Edge magazine (via PCGamer), Sweeney posited that Microsoft will slowly introduce bugs into competing PC game stores such as Steam. Meanwhile, the company will push the Windows Store (and Universal Windows Platform) as an alternative, so that eventually no one will want to use Steam anymore.
  Lest you think that was an unfair paraphrasing of
  
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• BrandPost: The Right IT Recruiter Can Help Find Your Unicorn

  26-07-2016 18:06
  In IT recruiting, a job description is just the tip of the iceberg.Employers may say they want a data analyst, but what they really want is a data analyst with experience in healthcare—who is also an expert in security and compliance. Or maybe they want a mobile applications developer—one who really gets how interior designers think.It’s not that employers mean to be picky. Usually, they’re looking to do one of two things. The first is filling an urgent need in the wake
  
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• NodeSource, Kubernetes team up for better app deployment, security

  26-07-2016 18:00
  
  NodeSource is preconfiguring its N|Solid enterprise-level Node.js technology to work with the Kubernetes container management system for better security and easier deployment of applications on the server-side JavaScript platform.
  Now in beta, the N|Solid-Kubernetes combination accommodates on-premise and cloud deployments of N|Solid. It features the N|Solid monitoring interface and Docker images for running Node.js applications in a Docker container using the N|Solid runtime. N|Solid is positi
  
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• You can't turn off Cortana in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update

  26-07-2016 17:46
  
  Microsoft made an interesting decision with Windows 10’s Anniversary Update, which is now in its final stages of development before it rolls out on August 2.
  Cortana, the personal digital assistant that replaced Windows 10’s search function and taps into Bing’s servers to answer your queries with contextual awareness, no longer has an off switch.Cortana’s settings in the Anniversary Update.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• Cyberespionage group Patchwork sets its sights on multiple industries

  26-07-2016 16:55
  A cyberespionage group known for targeting diplomatic and government institutions has branched out into many other industries, including aviation, broadcasting, and finance, researchers warn.Known as Patchwork, or Dropping Elephant, the group stands out not only through its use of simple scripts and ready-made attack tools, but also through its interest in Chinese foreign relations.The group's activities were documented earlier this month by researchers from Kaspersky Lab, who noted in their ana
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: 5 fun Donald Trump apps for iOS

  26-07-2016 15:32
  
  As I write this post Donald Trump is surging in the polls, to the chagrin of his political opponents. The Donald seems to have gotten a big bounce from his convention in Cleveland, and is now focusing his attention on Hillary Clinton for the general election.Since Trump is all over the media, I could not resist taking a peek in the iOS App Store to see what sort of apps were there that featured him. I found some fun apps for the iPhone and iPad that were centered around Trump’s…er&h
  
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• Many popular wireless keyboards completely unprotected

  26-07-2016 15:30
  
  Earlier this year, security researchers went to their local OfficeMax, Staples and other office supply stores and bought a bunch of wireless keyboards.
  "We're in the business of scanning the enterprise airspace to look for vulnerabilities in IoT, mobile, and other wireless devices," said Ivan O’Sullivan, CRO at Santa Cruz, Calif.-based Bastille Networks Inc."We look at all the wireless devices that we see broadcasting on many different protocols and look for data security vulnerabilities
  
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• 11 ways to build your online brand

  26-07-2016 15:17
  
  One of the most difficult aspects of starting a business is getting people to know who you are. You may have a great product or a great service, but people want to know who you are as a company – what your brand is – before they buy from you.[ Related: 8 ecommerce categories that will be hot in 2016 ]So how can new ecommerce and multichannel businesses create a strong brand presence online, and off? Here are 11 tips.1. Research your brand/company name – and register it. “
  
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• Kindle Oasis and two must-have mobile apps for summer 2016

  26-07-2016 14:56
  
  Every three months or so, I look back at the mobile apps, devices, and wearables I reviewed during that period. I ask myself one question: What have I continued to use and enjoy after my initial tests? This summer, three products passed the acid test.1. Kindle Oasis is a top-notch ereader
  At first, I resisted buying Amazon's latest Kindle ereader. It’s expensive, starting at $290. I wasn't sure why I needed a dedicated ereader when I could read ebooks on my iPad mini. And it's yet another
  
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• U.S. and EU tech companies at sea with end of data Safe Harbor

  26-07-2016 14:25
  
  Nobody is more aware of our shrinking world than technology executives. They are also in a good position to see that contradictory requirements in the areas of data protection and privacy have created a confusing patchwork that, at times, runs counter to a global marketplace that places a premium on close collaboration and the smooth transfer of digital information.
  Most companies are extremely diligent about complying with their cybersecurity legal obligations, but wildly inconsistent laws mak
  
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• Why every tech pro should learn to code

  26-07-2016 14:18
  
  Coding is one of the hottest skills on the tech market. According to a recent survey from Burning Glass, programming jobs are growing 12 percent faster than the average. According to the survey in 2015 there were seven million job openings that required coding skills.To discover trends around occupations, skills, credentials and salaries, Burning Glass evaluated its database of 26 million unique job postings collected in the U.S. in 2015. The study found that in the "career track" category -- de
  
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• Healthcare organizations 114 times more likely to be ransomware victims than financial firms

  26-07-2016 14:00
  
  Healthcare organizations were 114 times more likely to hit by ransomware infections than financial firms, and 21 times more likely than educational institutions, according to a new research report by Solutionary.
  The Omaha-based security firm detects millions of attacks a year, according to threat intelligence analyst Terrance DeJesus. But while health care accounts for just 7.4 percent of the company's client base, it saw 88 percent of all ransomware attacks during the first half of this year.
  
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• 5 innovative ways to solve unimportant problems

  26-07-2016 13:59
  
  5 innovative ways to solve unimportant problemsImage by Envoy/Pacific ContentAll work and no play not only makes Jack a dull boy, it makes for a pretty disengaged workplace. In Silicon Valley, especially, the competition for talent is cutthroat, and offering fun and innovative projects is a great way to attract and retain elite talent.Digital guest management and visitor sign-in solutions company Envoy's CEO Larry Gadea and his team wanted a way to publicly recognize the efforts of employees. Te
  
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• Taxi hailing apps Mytaxi and Hailo will merge to counter Uber in Europe

  26-07-2016 13:52
  
  Daimler’s Mytaxi and British firm Hailo, both ride-sharing companies, have merged to form what is being described as Europe's largest taxi hailing company with 70 million passengers and 100,000 registered taxi drivers in over 50 cities across nine countries.Subject to approval of European regulatory authorities, the newly formed company will operate under the Mytaxi brand, with headquarters in Hamburg, Germany. All Hailo operations in UK, Ireland, and Spain will be rebranded by mid 2017, t
  
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• Cybersecurity firm offers users reimbursement for ransomware infections

  26-07-2016 13:30
  Security firm SentinelOne is confident it can beat any of today’s ransomware -- and is willing to put money behind that claim.
  The company is offering a new service that will cover up to US$1 million in damages for any customers infected by ransomware.
  SentinelOne is calling it the “Cyber Threat Guarantee” and treating it like an extended warranty that customers can buy starting Tuesday.
  However, the company is convinced it won’t have to make any pay outs, said Jeremiah
  
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• Case study: IoT lighting system cuts energy costs, improves productivity

  26-07-2016 13:30
  
  You’d think that with a 3-year-old building, its fixtures and systems would be among the best on the market. Not necessarily so. 
  As Atlas Global Solutions found out after conducting an energy audit of a relatively new manufacturing facility, the light fixtures were costing them more than aging manufacturing equipment—the focus of the energy audit. 
  + Also on Network World: How the IoT keeps Ben & Jerry’s ice cream safe +
  Atlas, a global protective packaging
  
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• Blockchain: You’ve got questions; we’ve got answers

  26-07-2016 12:49
  
  Chances are you’ve been hearing about a technology called “blockchain,” because it has received a lot of hype lately. As with any newer technology, lots of claims and notions are being floated around.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
  
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• So you want to be a security researcher?

  26-07-2016 12:48
  
  It doesn’t seem that a week goes by without some new device or application being discovered vulnerable – from IoT devices to big enterprise applications, proclaimed Andrew Hay, CISO at DataGravity, during a recent presentation at the MISC security conference. In his talk, MISC 2016: Bootstrapping A Security Research Project, Hay said that anyone can perform security research – and it’s often not the technical details of the research itself that is the challenge for w
  
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• 9 steps for a successful incident response plan

  26-07-2016 12:36
  
  Making a planImage by PexelsDetails matter when developing an incident response (IR) plan. But, even the most successful IR plans can lack critical information, impeding how quickly normal business operations are restored.This quick guide from Cybereason takes a closer look at nine of the often forgotten, but important steps that you should incorporate into your IR plan.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• The best hidden features of Windows 10's Anniversary Update

  26-07-2016 12:30
  A year's worth of features within Windows 10Image by Mark HachmanSince Microsoft rolled out Windows 10 at the end of last July, the company has been busy adding features to the code. Cumulatively, these additions and tweaks have produced the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Fragmentation could be the Achilles' heel of bot technologies

  26-07-2016 12:30
  
  Bots are becoming one of the most popular trends in the modern technology ecosystem. Driven by popular messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger or Slack, bots are establishing new principles in user experience and user-to-system communications. However, with explosive growth comes new challenges, and the bot technology ecosystem is certainly facing a few hurdles as it transitions from early to mainstream adopters. Among the potential challenges of current bot technology, nothing is more conce
  
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