IT Executive news

• IDG Contributor Network: Is the death of the smartphone upon us?

  09-05-2017 23:45
  
  In the 10 years since Apple dropped the first iPhone, smartphones have become the most important cultural artefact of the last decade. Sales of the devices have saturated the global market to the point that everyone who wants one, has one.This has led many analysts to predict the demise of the smartphone as other technologies evolve to supersede it. However, others maintain that these handheld devices represent the evolutionary endpoint of a certain type of design and will endure for years to co
  
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• Threat detection automation won’t solve all your problems

  09-05-2017 23:22
  
  This vendor-written tech primer has been edited by Network World to eliminate product promotion, but readers should note it will likely favor the submitter’s approach.A recent Network World article argued that automated threat detection (TD) is more important than automated incident response (IR). But the piece was predicated on flawed and misguided information.The article shared an example of a financial institution in which analysts investigated 750 alerts per month only t
  
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• Microsoft fixes 55 vulnerabilities, 3 exploited by Russian cyberspies

  09-05-2017 23:21
  
  Microsoft released security patches Tuesday for 55 vulnerabilities across the company's products, including for three flaws that are already exploited in targeted attacks by cyberespionage groups.Fifteen of the vulnerabilities fixed in Microsoft's patch bundle for May are rated as critical and they affect Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, and the malware protection engine used in most of the company's anti-malware products.System administrators should prioritize the M
  
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• 57% off J5 Tactical V1-Pro Ultra Bright 3 Mode Flashlight - Deal Alert

  09-05-2017 23:01
  
  Heavy duty, compact and tough as nails. Perhaps the last flashlight you'll ever need. That's how J5 Tactical describes their V1-Pro. A super bright 300 lumens LED produces an intense beam of light up to 600 feet with high, low and strobe modes. It can take a beating, is weather resistant, and works for hours on a single AA battery. With over 11,600 reviews on Amazon, it averages 4.6 out of 5 stars (read reviews). Its typical list price of $29.95 has been reduced by 57% to $12.95. See the di
  
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• Why Edward Snowden loves open source

  09-05-2017 21:52
  
  Infamous government hacker Edward Snowden believes open source is a fundamentally better way to use technology compared to proprietary technology that he believes disempowers users.Snowden was interviewed at the open source cloud computing project OpenStack Summit in Boston via video from a non-descript location and spoke about his personal use of open source technology. In 2013 Snowden, then a government contractor, leaked classified information about government surveillance programs run by the
  
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• This tiny drone can be carried and deployed by soldiers

  09-05-2017 21:49
  
  Drone-maker AeroVironment has developed a handheld quadcopter that it says can be carried by soldiers on the battlefield and quickly deployed to get an aerial look at a potentially hostile location.The drone, called Snipe Nano Quad, has retractable rotor arms so it can be carried in a compact form and unpacked when needed. It weighs just 140 grams (5 ounces).It's equipped with cameras that can send a visible or infrared image back to a handheld controller unit. The infrared view provides a
  
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• CIO finds storytelling challenging but crucial

  09-05-2017 21:31
  
  Dave Smoley recently wrapped up a three-year digital transformation. While most CIOs might be popping the cork on a bottle of champagne, the AstraZeneca IT leader has turned his focus to growth and innovation. Smoley is educating executives on disruptive technologies that may generate more revenues and efficiencies for the U.K.-based pharmaceutical company.AstraZeneca AstraZeneca’s CIO Dave Smoley. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• Verizon taps into open source, white box fervor with new CPE offering

  09-05-2017 21:30
  
  Verizon this week said it would begin offering x86-based servers with OpenStack software aimed at customers looking to support all manner of advanced cloud, software defined networking and network functions virtualization-based enterprises.+More on Network World: Extreme offers glimpse of integrated Avaya, Brocade technology future+According to Verizon, letting customers use a combination of off the shelf hardware over a distributed deployment of OpenStack will let them decouple hardware from so
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: How to recognize what tech your company needs

  09-05-2017 21:29
  
  The advancements in technology have greatly helped small business owners to realize increased productivity and lower cost structure in all sectors. If you want to stay ahead of the competition and maximize your profits, consider investing in the aspect of technology to boost your investments. Here are some aspects of technology you can use to recognize what Tech your company needs: Efficiency
  Speed and time are very integral parts of any business enterprise, and hence you should compete wit
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Chatty chatbots and the 'time to frustration'

  09-05-2017 21:00
  
  Chatbots have been getting a lot of attention recently through a combination of trends: advances in natural language processing (NLP), a resurgence of chat and chat channels (think Facebook Messenger, Slack, Hipchat etc), ubiquitous mobility and advances artificial intelligence — including the emergence of A.I. systems that are beginning to understand the intent of spoken or written words. In addition, consumer and user familiarity with this low-hassle, unintrusive channel makes chat a pre
  
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• Enterprise alert: Microsoft slates next Windows 10 LTSB release for 2019

  09-05-2017 20:22
  
  Microsoft won't issue another Windows 10 "Long-term Servicing Branch" (LTSB) build until 2019, a company official said last week."The next LTSB release is expected for 2019," Nathan Mercer, senior product marketing manager, said in an "Ask me anything"-style Q&A last week. "Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 is the current LTSB release."[ Related: Fix Windows 10 problems with these free Microsoft tools ]The three-year gap between the current and future LTSB versions will be the longest yet for
  
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• HSBC: Why machine learning is accelerating cloud adoption

  09-05-2017 19:19
  
  The financial sector may be one of the more cautious industries when it comes to adopting the cloud. But for HSBC the ability to analyse large volumes of information and access machine learning tools via APIs has served as a catalyst for its own cloud ambitions.Banks are, by their nature, data-intensive organisations, and HSBC -- one of the world's largest banks, with 37 million customers and billions of dollars in assets -- is certainly no exception.The 150-year old lender has around 100 petaby
  
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• VA turns to Congress to expand telemedicine

  09-05-2017 19:18
  
  For all of its administrative challenges in providing essential healthcare, the Department of Veterans Affairs has been recognized for its successes in delivering telemedicine to reach rural and remote patients who might live hours from the nearest VA facility.But it could do more.Officials from the VA recently made their way to Capitol Hill to appeal for legislation that would grant the agency greater flexibility in providing remote health services to the military community. In particular, the
  
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• Stratasys unveils an assembly line of cloud-controlled robotic 3D printers

  09-05-2017 19:17
  
  Stratasys is developing a cloud-service platform that comprises expandable, server rack-like modular 3D printer units configured under one software platform to work simultaneously to mass produce parts.The assembly line-style 3D printing platform will reside both in Stratasys' own facilities as well as on the premises of business partners who can use the new Continuous Build 3D Demonstrator system to build their own parts or allow customers to use it for their own manufacturing needs. StratasysE
  
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• Amadeus picks VMware Integrated OpenStack for private cloud

  09-05-2017 19:14
  
  If you've traveled at all, it's likely you will have crossed paths with products from Amadeus IT Group -- whether that's the software that manages flight searches and hotel bookings or boarding a plane. Now the 30-year-old company has picked VMware to deliver a private OpenStack-based cloud, to support VMware vSphere workloads and as part of a wider digital transformation.Amadeus built its own private cloud to better address the agility, stability and scale needs of its own internal operations t
  
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• Vendors dropping out of OpenStack a sign of good health

  09-05-2017 19:11
  
  As vendors withdraw their support for open source infrastructure platform OpenStack, Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth has said this is a sign of a healthy, maturing project -- but that the OpenStack community needs to have a frank conversation with itself about where it's headed.Speaking with Computerworld UK, Shuttleworth says he is "excited about the maturing of OpenStack.""Some people will say it's going to get boring without all of the fighting, without all of the vendors showing up to ha
  
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• Get $100 Back If You Order Two Newly Announced Amazon Echo Show Devices Right Now - Deal Alert

  09-05-2017 18:57
  
  The newly-announced Echo Show is available for pre-order in black or white and will start shipping on Wednesday, June 28. Right now if you buy two of them and enter the code SHOW2PACK at checkout, you'll activate a special $100 discount. So you'll get two new Echo Shows for the price of two standard Echos. Go in on this deal with a friend, or buy a few for yourself (they work very well in multiple rooms). Echo Show brings you everything you love about Alexa, and now she can show you things.
  
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• 3 top travel apps worth revisiting

  09-05-2017 18:24
  
  Oh, the excitement of summer travel. Discovering new places. Making new friends. Getting dragged from your airplane seat against your will. What’s not to love?Summer doesn’t officially begin until June 20, but, no doubt, you’re already scheming your escape. So, in the spirit of planning quality goof-off time, I’ve revisited three venerable travel apps to see what’s new and noteworthy. I recommend using all three apps, for various reasons.TripAdvisor
  If you’ve
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: How OpenStack is listening to the community and improving the project

  09-05-2017 18:16
  
  OpenStack is growing at an unprecedented rate. According to Jonathan Bryce, Executive Director at OpenStack Foundation, OpenStack deployments are enjoying a 44 percent year-on-year growth. More than 50 percent of Fortune 100 companies are now using OpenStack.With growth comes new sets of challenges and opportunities.This explosive growth of OpenStack also means explosive growth of the community around this project. And it’s very critical for any open source project to listen to and address
  
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• Google case raises doubts about German news copyright law

  09-05-2017 17:43
  
  German news publishers suing Google for copyright dues under a 2013 law may get more than they bargained for, with implications for readers and newspapers throughout the EU.Rather than rule in their favor, the Berlin court hearing their case has raised doubts about the validity of the very law they sought to enforce: It has asked the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) to rule on whether the German government should have notified the European Commission of its introduction.Such notific
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Amazon shames Apple with Echo Show

  09-05-2017 17:42
  
  Apple has had enormous success in the smartphone market. The iPhone is the most profitable mobile device ever created. But the company has lagged far behind some of its competitors in other areas, including the burgeoning home voice assistant market.Amazon, on the other hand, has been way ahead of Apple with its Alexa-powered Echo devices. Now Amazon has leaped ahead again with a new Echo Show device that adds a screen to its Alexa voice assistant product.The Echo Show will be released on June 2
  
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• Amazon's Echo Show marries Alexa's smarts with a touchscreen

  09-05-2017 17:12
  Amazon's Echo is getting a touchscreen. The online retailer introduced the Echo Show on Tuesday, and it looks exactly like the images that popped up online last week.[ Related: Amazon shames Apple with Echo Show ]The $230 Echo Show features a 7-inch touchscreen and dual 2-inch stereo speakers. It can do everything that an Alexa-powered device can do right now, including access third-party skills, tell you the forecast, set a timer, and play music.To read this article in full or to leave a commen
  
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• Why smart contracts can't be fully automated

  09-05-2017 16:59
  
  Blockchain technology has been generating excitement in the public and private sectors for the past several years for many reasons — a prominent one being support for self-executing contracts commonly referred to as smart contracts. But while smart contracts have the potential to streamline many business processes, full automation isn't likely anytime in the foreseeable future."Smart contracts are a combination of some certain binary actions that can be translated into code and some refere
  
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• Microsoft fixes remote hacking flaw in Windows Malware Protection Engine

  09-05-2017 16:26
  
  Microsoft has released an update for the malware scanning engine bundled with most of its Windows security products in order to fix a highly critical vulnerability that could allow attackers to hack computers.The vulnerability was discovered by Google Project Zero researchers Tavis Ormandy and Natalie Silvanovich on Saturday and was serious enough for Microsoft to create and release a patch by Monday. This was an unusually fast response for the company, which typically releases security updates
  
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• 40% off Lexar microSD To Lightning Reader - Deal Alert

  09-05-2017 16:17
  
  Lexar's microSD-to-Lightning reader makes it easy to move all your favorite content to & from your iOS device on the go. So whether you’re offloading stunning action photos from that sporting event, or dramatic video from your drone, or if you just want a simple solution to back up or move around your files while mobile -- it’s got you covered. With its small footprint, you can put it in your pocket and go. And the Lightning connector fits with most iOS cases, providing simp
  
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• T-Mobile quietly kills 'Free Data for Life' giveaway for new tablets

  09-05-2017 15:56
  
  In the age of high definition video streaming, you can't get very far with 200MB of mobile data. That appears to be the reason T-Mobile quietly killed its Free Data for Life program on Sunday.Originally introduced in 2013, Free Data for Life gave tablet users 200MB of free data for the life of their device. As of Monday, T-Mobile is not accepting new devices on the Free Data for Life program. Anyone whose tablet is still pushing pixels can keep on getting their free 200MB every month as usu
  
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• Samsung surprises with early release of unlocked Galaxy S8

  09-05-2017 15:56
  
  Bixby Voice isn’t the only thing we’ve been waiting for when it comes to the Galaxy S8. While Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint customers have been enjoying their infinity displays for weeks, the rest of us have been patiently waiting for unlocked models to hit shelves so we can avoid carrier contracts, er, financing plans.And now the wait is over. Samsung has announced that fully unlocked versions of the S8 and S8+ are now available through its website and Best Buy. The smalle
  
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• Vendors approve of NIST password draft

  09-05-2017 15:33
  
  A recently released draft of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s digital identity guidelines has met with approval by vendors.The draft guidelines revise password security recommendations and altering many of the standards and best practices security professionals use when forming policies for their companies.The new framework recommends, among other things:Remove periodic password change requirements
  There have been multiple studies that have shown requiring frequent pass
  
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• Mobile is the new desktop, and that's good for enterprise apps

  09-05-2017 15:15
  
  Android surpassed Microsoft's Windows in March to become the most popular operating system on the internet, according to figures compiled by GlobalStats, the research arm of web analytics company StatCounter.GlobalStats found that, worldwide, Android had a 37.93 percent internet usage market share, just ahead of Windows at 37.91 percent. "This is a milestone in technology history and the end of an era," said Aodhan Cullen, StatCounter's CEO.  "It marks the end of Microsoft’s leadershi
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: 3 secrets that successful CIOs use when hiring for digital

  09-05-2017 15:00
  
  Executives are in a triple-tough spot. They’re boxed in with declining budgets. In addition, they’re rarely able to dedicate adequate time to hire qualified and — more importantly — competent team members. Finally, the positions they look to fill likely weren’t created out of a new need but were vacated by the abrupt departure of prior staff. Shrinking budgets, lack of time and urgent needs are the essence of bad hires.To read this article in full or to leave a comm
  
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• Cloud security startup RedLock automates public-cloud protection

  09-05-2017 15:00
  
  Cloud security startup RedLock comes out of stealth mode today with a service that helps defend business resources that reside in pubic clouds, gives customers visibility into how these resources are being used and stores records of that activity for auditing and forensics.+More on Network World: FBI/IC3: Vile $5B business e-mail scam continues to breed+RedLock Because virtual machines, application instances and workloads change rapidly it’s hard to get a good picture of what’s going
  
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• Staples hires its very first CISO

  09-05-2017 14:53
  
  Staples has hired its first chief information security officer (CISO), a key new member of the office supply giant's team that combines traditional IT and digital transformation.Staples New Staples CISO  Brett WahlinCISO Brett Wahlin, who will report to the company's CTO, will be responsible for enterprise-wide information, product and data security during a time in which Staples looks to expand its delivery business.  His responsibilities extend into areas such as conne
  
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• Java modularity specification opposed by Red Hat, IBM is voted down

  09-05-2017 14:53
  
  A Java modularity specification failed to pass in a vote by Java executive committee members, leaving the future of the technology in question. The issue could hold up the planned July 27 release of Java 9, which is slated to include modularity.Balloting on Java Specification Request 376 was completed on Monday. The modular plan for Java, intended to make it easier to scale the platform, has been opposed by companies including Red Hat and IBM. Red Hat, in particular, questioned many parts o
  
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• BrandPost: Cyber Security: Why is Just as Important as How

  09-05-2017 14:30
  
  Part of an organization’s IT leadership and consultant’s responsibility is to provide logical explanations of the threats and vulnerabilities that exist – not to mention their potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of operations. The C-Suite should want to hear about it; if they don’t, there’s a problem.But it’s also important for the C-Suite and other stakeholders to fully understand the level of effort it takes for your team to miti
  
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• What it takes to be a security architect

  09-05-2017 14:02
  
  Security architects are the people responsible for maintaining the security of their organizations’ computer systems, and as such they must be able to think as hackers do in order to anticipate the tactics attackers can use to gain unauthorized access to those systems, according to the InfoSec Institute.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
  
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• Sync your files for free, and maintain privacy, using open-source Syncthing

  09-05-2017 14:00
  
  Taking back ownership of your data is rough. I’ve been trying to de-Google my life for almost a year, and I still haven’t mastered it. I still need my Google account and Gmail address to use my Android phone. I still use Google maps. And I still use Google Drive when I need to collaborate on documents. But I have managed to take back my personal files and sync capability.It’s amazing how much we rely on cloud services today. Documents, contacts, photos, and more all live online
  
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• McNealy sees Sun's past in IoT's future

  09-05-2017 14:00
  
  When Sun Microsystems said, "The network is the computer," it might have been talking about the Internet of Things, which was little more than an idea at the time. Today, more machines than ever are talking to other machines, and computing is being distributed across far-flung networks.Onetime Sun CEO Scott McNealy sees some of the legendary company's vision coming to fruition in an IoT "data bus" from a small Silicon Valley outfit called Real-Time Innovations. On Tuesday, McNealy became the fir
  
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• ServiceNow taps AI to automate everyday workflows

  09-05-2017 13:44
  
  ServiceNow is bringing enhanced machine-learning capabilities to its Now Platform for business process automation to help customers prevent outages, automatically route service requests, and predict and benchmark IT performance.The AI capabilities will be offered through the upcoming Intelligent Automation Engine, announced at the company's Knowledge conference in Orlando Tuesday. The move strengthens ServiceNow's base in IT management while making further inroads into other areas of the enterpr
  
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• 15 of the highest paying jobs in IT

  09-05-2017 13:07
  
  Technology offers some of the highest paying and diverse jobs of any industry. While traditional tech roles like software engineer and product manager are still in high demand as CIOs struggle to find skilled IT pros, roles in sales, marketing and business development all offer healthy salaries and an alternate path into the industry.
  According to the latest LinkedIn Salary data, sales roles consist of almost half of the 10 top-paying jobs in the sector, including the top spot with vice presiden
  
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• Leadership for the IT revolution

  09-05-2017 13:00
  
  Leadership in some form or fashion is taught in every college and university on the planet and has been practiced in every organization that ever existed. Despite that omnipresence, as well as society’s fascination with leadership and ample journalistic treatment of what appears to be a perennial “leadership crisis,” many executives lack a framework to evaluate and improve their own leadership. “Good” and “bad” leadership remains for the most part a subj
  
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• Drive smarter and safer with these Android Auto tips

  09-05-2017 13:00
  
  Most of the infotainment systems that come with cars are terrible. Voice recognition feels like it’s from the 1980s, and the navigation scheme would fail most usability tests.Android Auto was supposed to fix that. Problem is, automakers have been driving in the slow lane when it comes to actually building it into their cars. So Google opted to take matters into its own hands and update Android Auto to operate in a standalone mode that lets you run it on your phone.Android Auto is quite goo
  
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• 6 things you need to know about IoT security

  09-05-2017 12:48
  
  Security, trust and data integrityImage by ThinkstockThe emergence of IoT is altering our personal technology security paradigm and is a game-changer in customer/business interaction, in part due to the wide scope of available data and sheer number of devices collecting this data. McKinsey & Company estimates the IoT ecosystem will generate $6 trillion in value by 2025. Successful IoT offerings rely on the perception of benefit they can deliver to businesses and consumers while creating a pr
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Fresh fintech companies to watch in 2017

  09-05-2017 12:35
  
  Over 1,600 representatives of financial institutions, investors, industry analysts and reporters convened at the Spring 2017 Finovate Conference on April 26 in San Jose. With events in Asia, Europe, and the East and West Coasts, Finovate conferences showcase cutting-edge banking and financial technology in a unique, short-form, demo-only format.Here's a look at 20 impressive companies I met at this year's conference. Spacequant
  Spacequant offers a mortgage solution called SQ that'
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: County/municipal IT customer service and the RACI model

  09-05-2017 12:30
  
  Because Mother Nature is so stingy when she doles out the gene for common sense, frameworks and standards for IT governance had to be invented.An example
  Recently, I heard about an incident in which a municipal IT director was planning and executing significant changes to a department’s critical infrastructure without informing the customer — the department personnel. After being confronted, he insisted that he wasn’t required to inform the stakeholders because it was routine a
  
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• How to check for the Intel Active Management exploit that lets hackers take over your PC

  09-05-2017 12:25
  
  If you think you're immune from a scary exploit found in Intel's Active Management Technology just because you're a consumer, think again.The exploit, disclosed on May 1, lets bad actors bypass authentication in Intel's remote management hardware to take over your PC. This hardware, built into enterprise-class PCs, lets IT administrators remotely manage fleets of computers—install patches and software, and even update the BIOS as though they were sitting in front of it. It is, in esse
  
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• IT worker who trained H-1B-holding replacement aims for Congress

  09-05-2017 12:01
  
  Craig Diangelo was an IT worker at Northeast Utilities in Connecticut until he completed training his H-1B-visa-holding replacement. He was one of about 200 who lost their jobs in 2014 after two India-based IT offshore outsourcing firms took over their work at what is now called Eversource.Diangelo, at first, was quiet, bound by severance agreements signed with the company. Then he started speaking out.Craig Diangelo Craig DiangeloTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click
  
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• Oracle hits back at modular Java critics

  09-05-2017 12:00
  
  With voting on a module system for Java set to close within the Java community, a high-ranking official at Oracle is again defending the plan amid criticism from Red Hat.Modularity is the main feature in Java 9, which is due to arrive July 27—if the disagreement over modularization does not hold up the release. Oracle's Mark Reinhold, chief architect in the company's Java platform group, sent out an email on an openjdk mailing list Monday, arguing the issues being brought up have already b
  
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• Industrial robots are security weak link

  09-05-2017 12:00
  
  Industrial robots used in factories and warehouses that are connected to the internet are not secure, leaving companies open to cyberattacks and costly damages.That's the word coming from a study conducted by global security software company Trend Micro and Polytechnic University of Milan, the largest technical university in Italy."The industrial robot – it's not ready for the world it's living in," said Mark Nunnikhoven, vice president of cloud research at Trend Micro. "The reality is the
  
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• Low-cost Android phones to get iPhone features with new Qualcomm chips

  09-05-2017 04:00
  
  Low-cost smartphones like the Moto G5 introduced a few months ago are shipping with soon-to-be-outdated chips from Qualcomm, which has announced successor chips.Qualcomm on Monday introduced the Snapdragon 630 and 660, which are massive upgrades to chips used in low-cost smartphones introduced over the last six months or so.And in a few months, you'll be able to buy low-cost smartphones with these new chips, with prices starting at US$200. The handsets will feature LTE download speeds equivalent
  
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• German firms will streamline online login with a European bent

  09-05-2017 03:16
  
  Several German firms are taking a stab at a single login process for accessing different online services -- an approach that could compete with U.S. offerings. The companies, which include automaker Daimler, insurance provider Allianz and Deutsche Bank, among others, announced the joint effort on Monday. Their goal: to create a platform that revolves around a “master key” for users that can access sites and services across industries.The platform will not only make online regist
  
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