IT Executive news

• 34% off Master Lock Bluetooth Keyless Outdoor Padlock - Deal Alert

  26-09-2016 23:05
  
  Use your smartphone to open this padlock from Master Lock. Share access, monitor access history and receive alerts if someone is tampering. Designed for outdoor use, its shackle offers 2 inch vertical clearance and is made of boron for maximum resistance to cutting and sawing. The lock features alternate methods of access for when Bluetooth isn't available or the replaceable battery dies. Its typical list price of $89 has been reduced 34% to $59 (see on Amazon). An indoor version is available,
  
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• As Adobe, Microsoft Azure ink cloud partnership, Amazon looms

  26-09-2016 23:00
  
  To kick off his company’s Ignite conference in Atlanta this week, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that Adobe will run three of its most popular software as a service apps on the Microsoft Azure IaaS cloud.
  The move is a power play by Microsoft and Adobe on multiple fronts, analysts say. But, it should also be taken with a grain of salt: A spokesperson for Adobe confirmed that the company has a “large footprint” with AWS and it expects to use both AWS and Azure moving for
  
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• Logitech K780 Wireless Keyboard review: One fantastic keyboard for your computer, phone, and tablet

  26-09-2016 22:30
  
  As its name clearly states, Logitech’s K780 Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard promises to be the one keyboard to rule all your computing gizmos. Indeed, it’s fully compatible with Windows, Mac OS, Chrome OS, Android, and iOS—and more importantly, it provides fast and effortless switching between your computer, smartphone, and tablet.This full-size, six row keyboard features a complete set of function keys and a number pad. Certain keys—such as Alt and Ctrl—will automat
  
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• Microsoft commits to running data centers off 50% renewable energy by 2018

  26-09-2016 22:28
  
  Microsoft announced it plans to power its data centers around the world using 50% renewable energy by 2018.
  The company also plans to boost its use of renewable power for its data centers to 60% by the early 2020s.
  Rob Bernard, Microsoft's chief environmental & cities strategist, made the announcement at the VERGE16 conference last week.
  Bernard's comments during a conference keynote were a reiteration of a commitment earlier this year by the company to increase its use of clean energy.To r
  
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• CIO September 2016 Digital Magazine: Big data on campus

  26-09-2016 22:26
  
  Download the CIO September 2016 Digital Magazine.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Are you taking the lead in the digital initiative?

  26-09-2016 22:25
  
  The digital transformationAfter many years of fighting the recession by cutting costs, enterprises are now entering a new frontier to tackle financial challenges. The buzzphrase digital enterprise is the new wave of things giving CIOs endless nightmares. This is targeting to create strategic added value through social networking and analysis of customer and market shifts, and by harnessing mobile technology, cloud technology, data and software to earn an edge advantage opportunity in every indus
  
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• MIT aims to makes sense of Twitter’s presidential debate firehose

  26-09-2016 22:22
  
  With Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump set to face off in the first debate of a contentious presidential election tonight, the MIT Media Lab is set to make sense of the firehose of chatter expected to hit Twitter.
  The Laboratory for Social Machines, part of the MIT Media Lab, launched the machine-learning project, dubbed Electome, about a year ago to help give people more of a voice about the election.
  Then representatives from the Commission on Presidential Debates reached out to Electome's pro
  
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• Microsoft confirms Windows 10 adoption slowdown

  26-09-2016 22:14
  
  Microsoft today acknowledged that the Windows 10 adoption pace had slowed when it claimed the new operating system was running on approximately 400 million devices.
  The company reset the Windows 10 uptake status on the same day it kicked off the 2016 edition of its Ignite conference in Atlanta.
  Microsoft's last Windows 10 update was at the end of June, a month before it halted the free upgrade for consumers and small businesses running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Then Microsoft pegged the number
  
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• New Mac Trojan uses the Russian space program as a front

  26-09-2016 21:59
  
  Security researchers have found a new Mac OS X malware that appears to be targeting the aerospace industry.The Trojan, called Komplex, can download, execute, and delete files from an infected Mac, according to security firm Palo Alto Networks. Interestingly, the Trojan will also save a PDF document to the infected system concerning the Russian space program.The PDF document details planned Russian space projects from 2016 to 2025, but it acts as a decoy, Palo Alto Networks said in Monday blog po
  
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• 42% off Corsair Waterproof Shockproof 256GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive - Deal Alert

  26-09-2016 21:23
  
  Military-style data transportation. That's how Corsair describes their Flash Survivor Stealth series of USB flash drives. Its anodized, aircraft-grade aluminum housing is waterproof to 200 meters, vibration-resistant, and shock-resistant while small enough to fit on your keychain. USB 3.0 offers read speeds up to four times faster than traditional USB 2.0 drives, so it's fast enough to play most videos directly from it, without having to transfer to a hard drive first. The drive is bac
  
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• Apple's big plan for HealthKit would put all your medical data in one spot

  26-09-2016 20:31
  If you live in America and you’ve seen more than one doctor in your lifetime, you know there’s no central database where all of your medical data lives. Instead, each health care provider has a separate record, and rarely are they ever merged.
  Apple is reportedly working on electronic health record software that will take advantage of all the data collected from HealthKit apps and use it in more meaningful ways—like to diagose medical conditions—and create a centralized
  
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• Va. senator wants SEC probe of massive Yahoo breach

  26-09-2016 20:25
  
  U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., on Monday urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate whether Yahoo met its legal obligations to keep the public and investors informed about a massive breach of 500 million Yahoo accounts.
  In a letter to the SEC, Warner said Yahoo failed to file a Form 8-K disclosure to the public about the breach, and that the company said in a proxy statement on Sept. 9 that it had not experienced any breaches.
  Warner said Yahoo knew about the breach as earl
  
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• Forget the robocalypse -- 'Homo connecticus' may be what's coming

  26-09-2016 20:07
  
  Robots' potential to take over the world is a commonly expressed fear in the world of AI, but at least one Turing Award winner doesn't see it happening that way. Rather than replacing mankind, technology will create a new kind of human that will coexist with its predecessors while taking advantage of new tech-enabled tools.So argued Raj Reddy, former founding director of Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute and 1994 winner of the Turing Award, at the Heidelberg Laureate Forum in Germa
  
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• 39% off iClever Backlight Bluetooth Folding Keyboard for Smartphone, PC, or Tablet - Deal Alert

  26-09-2016 20:06
  
  This lightweight and super portable keyboard from iClever features a compact design with full standard-size keys, but folds down into ⅓ of the size. This model has a convenient backlight feature with red, blue, or green selectable at two brightness levels, so you can type in every environment from a dimly-lit classroom to a dark airplane cabin. Its Broadcom Bluetooth module has a generous operating range of 30 feet, and connects quickly with your devices when you simply unfold the keyboard
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: What is it like to work in an Apple Store?

  26-09-2016 19:31
  
  Apple’s stores have become iconic landmarks in a way, with millions and millions of people visiting them each day around the world. But what is it like to be on the other side of the counter and work at an Apple Store?A redditor recently asked that question and got some very interesting answers:
  NabroleonBronaparte: “I was a genius for a few years, left in 2014. Its retail work, lots of appeasing customers, lots of long hours, lots of getting out of work late. But it was fun, met a l
  
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• Microsoft-Nissan partnership treats cars like PCs

  26-09-2016 19:28
  
  The future of Windows phones may be in doubt, but Microsoft’s mobile vision now extends to another frontier: cars. A partnership with Renault-Nissan treats the car of the future much like Microsoft treats PCs.
  Microsoft said Monday that it has struck a multi-year deal with Renault-Nissan to power the carmakers’ future vehicles using Microsoft’s Azure cloud technology. Renault-Nissan said it hopes to have 10 models of autonomous vehicles on the road by 2020, and will use Micros
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: DocuSign continues to build out digital transaction management platform

  26-09-2016 19:00
  
  Over the past few years, DocuSign, one of the famous "unicorns" (private companies valued at more than $1 billion), has migrated from its genesis in electronic signature to a full-on supplier of end-to-end digital transactions. This effort has led the company to many partnerships, acquisitions and standardization efforts, as it attempts to become a one-stop shop for companies wishing to accelerate their businesses with 100 percent digital workflows, processes and agreements. The payoff has been
  
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• 22% off ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent Pest Control Outdoor and Camping Lantern - Deal Alert

  26-09-2016 18:44
  
  The Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Lantern effectively repels mosquitoes and other biting insects in a 15 x 15-foot zone. It has no open flames, operates on a single butane cartridge, and is perfect for a deck, porch or campsite. It averages 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon and is currently discounted to $31.02. See it now on Amazon.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• IT pros, how does your pay stack up?

  26-09-2016 18:40
  Help us help you by taking Computerworld's 31st annual IT Salary Survey. (Bonus: You can enter to win one of three $500 gift checks.) We'll share aggregated salary info for more than 50 IT titles in our 2017 salary report next spring.(survey.researchresults.com)To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• Microsoft to connect Renault-Nissan self-driving cars through Azure cloud

  26-09-2016 18:23
  
  Microsoft has penned an agreement to help the Renault-Nissan Alliance develop next-generation connected services for self-driving cars that will be enabled through Microsoft's Azure cloud infrastructure.
  Azure cloud services, the companies said, will be the foundation for more advanced navigation features, vehicle monitoring and predictive vehicle maintenance and for mobile connectivity and over-the-air updates.
  Renault-Nissan plans to develop connectivity technologies and features to support t
  
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• Armies of hacked IoT devices launch unprecedented DDoS attacks

  26-09-2016 18:20
  Security researchers have been warning for years that poor security for internet of things devices could have serious consequences. We're now seeing those warnings come true, with botnets made up of compromised IoT devices  capable of launching distributed denial-of-service attacks of unprecedented scale.
  Octave Klaba, the founder and CTO of French hosting firm OVH, sounded the alarm on Twitter last week when his company was hit with two concurrent DDoS attacks whose combined bandwidth rea
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: 5 experimental ways you can boost employee productivity

  26-09-2016 17:56
  
  Hello, corporate decision-maker! Let me tell you I am indeed very happy to see you here.There are many reasons that may have motivated you to open this article: 1) the productivity in your company has drastically gone down, 2) the tension in your workplace is so thick you need fog glasses, or c) your attrition rate has jolted you into taking action.No matter what your reason, you want to turn things around, and these five experimental ways are as good as any to start with. Let’s explore a
  
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• Illusive Networks seeks to slow Swift attackers through deception

  26-09-2016 17:53
  
  Today's savvy bank robbers don't break into vaults looking for gold or diamonds: They're more likely to be hacking networks looking for access to the Swift payment system. Illusive Networks wants to catch them in the act.In February, hackers exploited Bangladesh Bank's access to the Swift fund transfer network to steal US$81 million -- and almost got away with $951 million.They had infiltrated the bank's network, installing malware on the Swift Alliance Access server that exchanged messages with
  
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• Microsoft continues pushing hybrid cloud with new launches

  26-09-2016 17:15
  
  Microsoft continued its push to get companies on the hybrid cloud train on Monday, with the launch of several products all tailored at helping bridge on-premises datacenters and the public cloud.The company announced that Windows Server 2016 and System Center 2016 will be available for purchase on October 1, and generally available in mid-October. On top of that, it unveiled new Azure functionality that makes it easier to monitor both public cloud infrastructure and on-premises datacenters in on
  
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• Understanding Microsoft’s cloud application platform

  26-09-2016 16:54
  
  When the new Dynamics 365 cloud CRM and ERP service comes out this fall, the obvious comparison is going to be toSalesforce (and NetSuite), but Microsoft’s ambition here is broader than just creating a cloud business software subscription service from its on premise business tools.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
  
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• Vivek Kundra (Salesforce): ‘Mijn werk wordt voortdurend beïnvloed door klanten’

  26-09-2016 16:43
  Elk individu met een goed idee kan binnen enkele maanden een multinationale onderneming bouwen. Bovendien gaan oude modellen en structuren massaal op de schop: in de gezondheidszorg, retail, maakindustrie en bij financiële instellingen. Bedrijven en ook overheden moeten beter anticiperen op de behoeften en wensen... lees meer
  
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• These new features in Office 365 can help users work smarter

  26-09-2016 16:03
  
  Microsoft is going big on features powered by machine learning in its productivity services, with the announcement of a handful of updates to Office 365 on Monday.
  As part of its Ignite conference in Atlanta, Georgia, the company unveiled a set of new capabilities for Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Sway. Microsoft faces tight competition in the productivity space, and these services may help the company compete with Google for market share among businesses.MicrosoftMicrosoft Word's Tap fe
  
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• Why CIOs are embracing SaaS ID management

  26-09-2016 16:00
  
  Adopting single sign-on software to federate access to corporate applications is a key priority for many CIOs seeking to make employees more efficient without sacrificing security.Experian has consolidated identity management with a single cloud application, laying the foundation for a hybrid cloud computing model that supports its credit scoring software. The company has standardized on software from startup Okta, which has quickly become a favorite among CIOs seeking to gain efficiencies in an
  
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• AirPods: Just as bad as you thought they’d be

  26-09-2016 15:40
  
  Thanks to a friend who worships at the church of Apple, I’ve gotten my first look at Apple’s AirPods. They’re just as annoying as I’d expected.
  To catch you up on the story, Apple dumped the headphone jack in iPhone 7. Why? Was there a change.org petition to get rid of old, working technology? Nope.
  According to Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing ,Phil Schiller, it was so Apple could make an even skinner phone and/or add new technology. Because, d
  
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• Fitness features Fitbit needs to add to new Zip, One and Surge trackers

  26-09-2016 15:29
  
  Now that Fitbit updated its Charge HR fitness tracker with Charge 2 ($150 to $180), and its Flex with the new Flex 2 ($100), you have to wonder when we'll see a "Zip 2," a "One 2," or a new "Surge 2." And what cool features might the updated versions offer?Here are some highly subjective suggestions for future iterations of those three Fitbits. The suggestions aren't based on rumors, nor do I have any specific knowledge of Fitbit's plans, because company declined to provide insigh
  
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• iOS 10 slower off the uptake mark

  26-09-2016 15:12
  
  iPhone and iPad owners adopted Apple's iOS 10 at a slower tempo during its first dozen days than they did last year's upgrade, according to data from an analytics vendor.
  At the 12-day mark, iOS 10 accounted for 41.9% of all iOS editions detected by Mixpanel, whose metrics platform is widely used by mobile app developers to track usage and user engagement.
  That was significantly lower than the 52.4% accumulated by iOS 9 last year at the same post-release point, but slightly higher than iOS 8's
  
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• Review: Microsoft Windows Server 2016 steps up security, cloud support

  26-09-2016 15:01
  
  Today, Microsoft announced the release to manufacturing of Windows Server 2016. In this piece, I'll comb through the product and offer my thoughts on this new operating system.The verdict on Nano ServerSecurity improvements with SDNShielded virtual machinesTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
  
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• Here's how Microsoft is using containerization to protect Edge users

  26-09-2016 15:00
  
  One of the biggest security risks for computer users is their web browser. According to Microsoft, 90 percent of phishing emails use the browser to initiate attacks, which can then be used to help attackers establish a beachhead inside a company.
  Microsoft is aiming to better protect users and organizations from the threats that they face with a new feature called Windows Defender Application Guard. It's designed to isolate Microsoft Edge from the rest of the files and processes running on a us
  
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• 7 lucrative careers for IT pros

  26-09-2016 14:14
  
  7 high-paying IT careers for 2016Image by ThinkstockAs IT unemployment hovers below 3 percent (and the national unemployment rate at 4.9 percent), companies are increasingly having to up the ante to attract and retain elite IT talent. The results of cloud compensation and services provider PayScale highlights just how high many organizations are willing to go to fill these critical technology roles. Here are seven high-paying -- and highly lucrative -- IT services roles showcased in PayScale's I
  
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• How to implement an effective BYOD policy

  26-09-2016 13:58
  
  Concerns around BYOD once revolved around security with third-party services, but that's getting easier to manage, says Fred Ouawad, founder and CEO of TaskWorld, a company focused on employee performance and management. Now businesses are finding it more difficult to govern BYOD policies internally.Businesses are more focused on internal security. For example, if an employee doesn't perform regular updates on their smartphone, it can pose a risk to the business says Mouawad.
  "At the moment, pus
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: 6 tips for creating infographics that destroy the competition

  26-09-2016 13:00
  
  Infographics are everywhere. Small businesses and large organizations alike are using these immersive tools to convey valuable information and reach customers who are fascinated by visuals. The only question is: are your infographics standing out?Infographics by the numbersIf you haven’t given infographics a try, then you’re missing out on what others have already discovered to be a powerful marketing tool. Before delving into some tips and best practices, let’s highlight a fe
  
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• Declutter your phone for a cleaner, faster Android experience

  26-09-2016 13:00
  
  Decluttering is usually an exercise you go through at home to banish unnecessary decorations and excessive pieces of furniture. A clean place leads to a clean mind, or so the thinking goes. 
  This mindset can also improve the smartphone experience. Without intending to, it’s easy to turn your phone's home screen into a mess of app icons, folders, and widgets that can make it really tough to find that new weather app you just downloaded.
  We can help you embrace a more minimalist setup
  
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• Apple Watch Series 2 review: A faster, brighter fitness machine

  26-09-2016 12:45
  
  Apple's second-generation watch doubles down on fitness with GPS, water-resistance, a dual-core processor, and super-bright display.
  
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• Hillary Clinton’s email has vanished but why can’t yours?

  26-09-2016 12:44
  
  The warnings about the longevity of email are regular and ominous: Don’t be careless with it. Email is forever.
  Indeed, in some very high-profile cases it seems that way. Former CIA director and retired US Army General David Petraeus lost his job and his reputation, and "gained" a criminal record in 2012, when emails from an account he thought was private exposed his mishandling of classified information and an affair with his biographer.
  Much more recently – just in the past c
  
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• University of California’s ties with HCL are complicated

  26-09-2016 12:29
  
  The offshore outsourcing planned at the University of California's San Francisco (UCSF) campus is following a standard playbook. The affected employees expect to train their replacements as a condition of severance. Their jobs will soon be in India and they'll be out of work.
  But the chancellor of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Pradeep K. Khosla, may still be getting compensated by HCL Infosystems. It is one of the units of India-based HCL, the IT services contractor hired by t
  
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• 7 hidden features in macOS Sierra you may have missed

  26-09-2016 12:14
  There’s a lot going on in macOS SierraSiri, Universal Clipboard, Auto Unlock with Apple Watch—these are just three of the features that Apple showcases for macOS Sierra, the latest version of the company’s Macintosh operating system that made its debut last Tuesday. We go over the marquee features in our review, but there are a few features that go unheralded. We’ll shine a little bit of the spotlight on them in this slideshow. These are less glamourous, but they make you
  
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• What’s in your code? Why you need a software bill of materials

  26-09-2016 12:00
  
  Writing secure applications doesn't mean simply checking the code you've written to make sure there are no logic errors or coding mistakes. Attackers are increasingly targeting vulnerabilities in third-party libraries as part of their attacks, so you have to check the safety of all the dependencies and components, too.
  In manufacturing, companies create a bill of materials, listing in detail all the items included when building a product so that buyers know exactly what they're buying. Processe
  
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• The best new features in Windows Server 2016

  26-09-2016 12:00
  
  As we’ve come to expect from new versions of Windows Server, Windows Server 2016 arrives packed with a huge array of new features. Many of the new capabilities, such as containers and Nano Server, stem from Microsoft’s focus on the cloud. Others, such as Shielded VMs, illustrate a strong emphasis on security. Still others, like the many added networking and storage capabilities, continue an emphasis on software-defined infrastructure begun in Windows Server 2012.To read this article
  
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• Citrix wins VDI shootout

  26-09-2016 12:00
  
  Virtual Desktop Interface is becoming easier to do, with potentially killer graphics, reasonable port virtualization, fine-grained administrative control, and with potential hosts other than Windows.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
  
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• 802.11ad is the fastest Wi-Fi that you might not ever use

  26-09-2016 11:00
  
  Millimeter-wave Wi-Fi technology, better known as 802.11ad, is a powerful new wireless standard, for which products are just beginning to hit the market – a router from TP-Link and a laptop from Acer are the only ones so far.
  802.11ad is based on very high-frequency radio waves – where today’s 802.11n and 802.11ac standards use 5GHz frequencies, ad uses 60GHz. That means that it’s both capable of handling a lot more data than earlier standards, and a lot more short-range
  
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• Winkelen voor data

  26-09-2016 10:46
  Door Ivo-Paul Tummers – Hip en hot zijn de thema’s cloud, mobiel en cognitief. De eindeloze mogelijkheden voor nieuwe inzichten en trends zijn oppermachtig. In het nieuwe tijdperk zal besluitvorming nog meer op informatie rusten. Maar er zullen drempels moeten worden overwonnen om digitale transformatie... lees meer
  
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• Trump hotel chain fined over data breaches

  26-09-2016 08:42
  
  Trump Hotel Collection has arrived at a settlement with New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman over hacks that are said to have led to the exposure of over 70,000 credit card numbers and other personal data.The hotel chain, one of the businesses of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, has agreed to pay US$50,000 in penalties and promised to take measures to beef up its data security practices, according to the attorney general’s office.The chain is one of many hotels and
  
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• How to keep terrifying medical device hacks from becoming reality

  26-09-2016 07:24
  
  While some of the scariest IoT hacks envisioned – those involving hijacked medical devices such as pacemakers and insulin pumps – have yet to surface in the real world, those in the medical and IT security fields are not letting down their guard. They’ve seen enough ransomware and other attacks on healthcare outfits of late to know they are major cyberattack targets.
  The reality is that more medical devices are becoming connected ones, and that’s increasing the security
  
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