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Submission + - Avoid using hotel Wi-Fi for your telework, FBI warns

Submitted by SmartAboutThings
SmartAboutThings writes: A recent FBI study shows that hotel Wi-Fis aren't exactly the safest place from which you can perform sensitive online operations, especially when it comes to working.
There have been a lot of questions about the security risks involved when working from home.
Furthermore, working from a public Wi-Fi is that much more dangerous.Here's what the FBI had to say:
Guests are largely unable to control, verify, or monitor network security. Cybercriminals can take advantage of this environment to monitor a victim’s Internet browsing or redirect victims to false login pages.
That being said, using hotel Wi-Fis, in general, is not safe at all, and if you have no other choice, then you might as well give VPN services a try.

Submission + - Flight simulator 2020 is finally out, but many can't install it (windowsreport.com)

Submitted by SmartAboutThings
SmartAboutThings writes: Microsoft released Flight Simulator 2020 but many people who bought it online have problems downloading it, installing it or simply running the new game. Some users simply didn't get to download the game even if they tried several times to do so. When the download was finally complete, they received an error while trying to install it. Even if some users also got through the installation, they faced another problem: the game freezed at the starting screen. Microsoft didn't present a solution yet but Windowsreport.com wrote first about these problems and offered some workarounds and possible solutions.

Submission + - Stop using Internet Explorer, says US Homeland Security

Submitted by SmartAboutThings
SmartAboutThings writes: While Microsoft Edge is right on track to replace Internet Explorer, it seems that the last one is a bigger security liability then you may think.

In a newly released advisory, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is warning users about an IE vulnerability.

To keep your personal data safe and don't expose your PC to dangerous malware, the agency further recommends to immediately change your browser:

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) encourages users and administrators to review Microsoft’s Advisory ADV20001 and CERT/CC’s Vulnerability Note VU#338824 for more information, implement workarounds, and apply updates when available. Consider using Microsoft Edge or an alternate browser until patches are available,[]

As a reminder, this is not the first international agency that ranks IE's security very low, as Germany's BSI shared a couple of months back a similar study.

Submission + - Symantec Endpoint Protection causes Google Chrome 78 to crash (windowsreport.com)

Submitted by SmartAboutThings
SmartAboutThings writes: Many Chrome users who installed the latest browser update (Google Chrome version 78) reported getting the Aw Snap error when trying to open a new tab.
This problem is prevalent for Symantec Endpoint Protection users. Symantec already acknowledged the issue and is working on a permanent fix.

Submission + - Proof that Windows 10 Enterprise ignores user privacy settings 1

Submitted by SmartAboutThings
SmartAboutThings writes: Recent user reports suggest that Windows 10 Enterprise ignores various privacy settings. According to Mark Burnett, an independent IT security analyst, the OS lets users enable their preferred privacy settings only to ignore them after the fact.

Ultimately, Microsoft doesn’t honor it’s own Group Policy settings. For more details about this strange Windows 10 Enterprise behavior, you can check out Mark Burnett's Twitter page. You’ll also find screenshots for all the privacy issues listed above as well.

Submission + - Windows 95 and 98 still power Pentagon's critical systems

Submitted by SmartAboutThings
SmartAboutThings writes: The Pentagon is set to complete its Windows 10 transition by the end of this year, but nearly 75% of its control system devices still run Windows XP or other older versions, including Windows 95 and 98. A Pentagon official now wants the bug bounty program of the top U.S. defense agency expanded to scan for vulnerabilities in its critical infrastructure.

Submission + - Microsoft is allegedly Selling Nokia to Foxconn

Submitted by SmartAboutThings
SmartAboutThings writes: It's no secret that Microsoft's phone business isn't going according to plan. Last quarter alone saw a 46% drop in phone revenue, slightly better than the 49% drop the quarter before that.

And now it seems that Microsoft is finally realizing this: according to rumors, the tech giant is considering licensing 50% of its mobile business to Foxconn — in other words, the Nokia brand it had purchased for 10 years, until 2024. It appears that negotiations have reached very advanced stages, with Microsoft and Foxconn currently deliberating the final clauses of the deal.

Submission + - BMW Showcases Self-Driving Concept Car

Submitted by SmartAboutThings
SmartAboutThings writes: We’ve just been given a glimpse of what the future of motoring could look like, with BMW showing off its latest concept car, and it’s self-driving. The Vision Next 100 was unveiled on Monday, at a ceremony celebrating BMW’s 100th birthday, at Munich’s Olympic Hall. This comes just a few days after BMW made official its intentions of competing with Google to build software for Self-Driving cars.

The Vision Next 100 has two driving modes, a driver mode and an autonomous mode, or ‘ease’ as its known. In driver mode the car operates mostly like cars do now, except the BMW indicates the ideal driving line and speed, but when the car is set to autonomous mode the steering wheel retracts and the two front seats turn to face each other. Perfect for two people to have a chat, and if it’s only you in the car, put your feet up and relax.

Submission + - BMW to Compete with Google to Build the Software for Self-driving Cars

Submitted by SmartAboutThings
SmartAboutThings writes: Google is about to get some serious competition in the self-driving car race from no other than BMW, one of the most important names in the car industry. Speaking to Reuters, BMW’s Head of Research and Development, Klaus Frohlich, said the following while present at the Geneva auto show.

“For me it is a core competence to have the most intelligent car. Our task is to preserve our business model without surrendering it to an internet player. Otherwise we will end up as the Foxconn for a company like Apple, delivering only the metal bodies for them.”

BMW believes its competitors in the future will include internet taxi service Uber and sales website Truecar. As the company is approaching its 100th birthday, the company is now on a quest to build the “ultimate driving machine”. The company is ‘preparing for a world in which its customers will be mere passengers, and the cars will do the driving themselves’. This, obviously, puts the company in direct competition against Google.

Submission + - Windows RT Could Make a Comeback

Submitted by SmartAboutThings
SmartAboutThings writes: Windows RT has been a terrible flop for Microsoft, but it seems the company isn't yet ready to totally abandon the concept. There's now speculation that Microsoft is working on Windows 10 RT, as mentions of the 'new OS' have been spotted inside of Device Guard which is a new security feature for Windows 10 Enterprise that scans a program for a digital signature, and determines whether it's trusted or not. Judging by its name, the OS should not be confused with proper Windows 10 that we see on Microsoft’s mobile devices as Windows 10 RT is a version of the OS that is designed for the desktop class PC and tablets.

Submission + - Russia's Putin Wants to Ban Windows on Government PCs

Submitted by SmartAboutThings
SmartAboutThings writes: The Russian government is allegedly looking to ban Microsoft’s Windows operating system, increase taxes on foreign technology companies, develop its homegrown OS and encourage local tech companies to grow.

All these proposals comes from German Klimenko, Vladimir Putin's new 'internet czar, as Bloomberg describes him. In a 90-minute interview, Klimenko said forcing Google and Apple to pay more taxes and banning Microsoft Windows from government computers are necessary measures, as he is trying to raise taxes on U.S. companies, thus helping local Russian competitors such as Yandex and Mail.ru.

Submission + - Vivendi Takes Over Radionomy, Winamp Relaunch now Possible

Submitted by SmartAboutThings
SmartAboutThings writes: Winamp could once again be brought back to life after Vivendi Group took over the majority stake in Radionomy, the previous owner of the app who purchased it from AOL in early 2014. AOL originally planned to discontinue both Winamp and Shoutcast, but instead the company decided to sell the software to Belgian online radio service, Radionomy. The new owners initially promised that they’ll keep Winamp alive, but no updates have been released since the takeover, which made most people think that Winamp era has ended for good.

Vivendi Group, which owns or is involved in famous companies such as Dailymotion, Ubisoft, and Deezer, could help relaunch Winamp, although the press release announcing the acquisition offers no suggestion in this regard. The company, however, does mention Winamp and Shoutcast as two of the most important assets that will join its portfolio following the takeover.

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