Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin When the technical director of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) Cybersecurity Directorate, and the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), both urge Windows 10 users to take action and update as soon as possible, you might suspect that something serious has happened. You would be right. As I predicted in an article called " New Windows 10 ‘Extraordinarily Serious’ Security Warning For 900 Million Users ," published early yesterday morning, the monthly Patch Tuesday update from Microsoft disclosed a particularly concerning vulnerability in Windows 10. Even before Microsoft itself disclosed the details of CVE-2020-0601, a Windows CryptoAPI spoofing vulnerability, the NSA had confirmed the importance of both the flaw and the fix. Anne Neuberger, director of the NSA Cybersecurity Directorate, warned that the issue "makes trust vulnerable." Indeed, it … [Read more...] about U.S. Government Issues Critical Windows 10 ‘Update Now’ Alert
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Windows 10 Security Flaw ‘Makes Trust Vulnerable’ Says NSA
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Earlier today, I reported that the security grapevine was buzzing with rumors that an "extraordinarily serious" security vulnerability in a core cryptographic component of Windows 10 was to be disclosed when the monthly Microsoft Windows Patch Tuesday updates were released. While there is still no news from Microsoft itself ahead of the Patch Tuesday disclosure, the National Security Agency's (NSA) director of cybersecurity, Anne Neuberger, has now confirmed that the vulnerability exists. Here's what she had to say, and what we now know. NSA director of cybersecurity confirms Windows 10 security flaw In a briefing call to media today, the NSA director of cybersecurity, Anne Neuberger, confirmed the existence of the vulnerability rumored to be fixed in the Patch Tuesday release later today. Neuberger disclosed that it was the NSA which reported the vulnerability to Microsoft, and that "this was the first time Microsoft … [Read more...] about Windows 10 Security Flaw ‘Makes Trust Vulnerable’ Says NSA
New Windows 10 ‘Extraordinarily Serious’ Security Warning For 900 Million Users
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Microsoft Windows users have got used to the monthly "Patch Tuesday" update cycle and the disclosure of fixed vulnerabilities impacting the operating system it brings with it. Because of the well-documented problems that users updating Windows 10 have suffered over the last year or two, many are inclined to do what they can not to implement these updates immediately. Today is not the day to defer your Windows update if the Microsoft security grapevine is anything to go by. It appears that there could be what one leading investigative reporter has called "an extraordinarily serious security vulnerability" in a core cryptographic component that is present in Windows 10. Before you take a deep breath and relax because you're still using Windows 8, Windows 7 or Windows XP , that same crypto component is present in all versions of Windows. To add fuel to this critical security vulnerability fire, it is also rumored … [Read more...] about New Windows 10 ‘Extraordinarily Serious’ Security Warning For 900 Million Users
‘Liquid windows’ could be the answer to more sustainable buildings
Windows on their own are helpless. If you want to reduce how much light, or heat, comes into your home office on a clammy summer day, you have no choice but to call in reinforcements like shutters, shades, blinds, drapes, or even worse— air-conditioning . This happens because typical windows are made up of an air gap sandwiched between two solid panes of glass, and both materials—if we can even call air a material—are rigid. But what if that air gap were filled with a paper-thin layer of water instead? All of a sudden, you’d have a malleable material that can reflect and refract light. You could color it and mix it with an array of molecules and particles that can scatter light, absorb heat, and dictate how much of either gets to pass through your window and enter your space. That’s the premise behind “liquid windows,” as outlined in a new study by University of Toronto Engineering, and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . The … [Read more...] about ‘Liquid windows’ could be the answer to more sustainable buildings
Which Young Strikers Could Manchester United Target In Summer Transfer Window?
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Manchester United’s need for a new centre forward is clear. Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure before the 2022 World Cup opened a spot in Erik Ten Hag’s squad and while Wout Weghorst has filled it on loan from Burnley, the Dutchman isn’t the long term number nine required for United to become a force again. Reports have linked Victor Osimhen with a move to Old Trafford this summer. The Nigerian has been a figurehead for Napoli this season with Luciano Spalletti’s team top of the Serie A table and in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Osimhen would fit the bill for Ten Hag in terms of what he wants from a frontman. Harry Kane might also be on the market this summer with the England captain still to sign a contract extension with Tottenham Hotspur. Kane is now Spurs’ all-time top scorer and could feasibly seek a new challenge at another club like Manchester United where he would have a better chance of winning a … [Read more...] about Which Young Strikers Could Manchester United Target In Summer Transfer Window?
Want to speed up Windows? Tweak these 3 settings
In its first 37 years, Windows has come a long way. But thanks to its nearly unlimited selection of apps, beautiful visuals, and other resource-hungry capabilities, system slowdowns can still present a very real challenge. There’s hope, though. With a couple of minutes and a handful of clicks, you can speed things up exponentially and keep them running smoothly into the future. These tricks work for both Windows 10 and Windows 11, so give them a try if your PC feels a bit sluggish. Prevent apps from starting automatically Many programs that come pre-installed on your PC or that you install yourself think they’re so very important that they have the unmitigated gall to start automatically each time your computer starts. The thing is: Most of them don’t need to be running all the time. And each program that’s running takes away system resources from other programs. So, let’s prevent these self-important apps from starting up on their own by hitting … [Read more...] about Want to speed up Windows? Tweak these 3 settings
Keychron’s Q1 Pro Is The Brand’s First Full Aluminum Wireless Keyboard
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin I’m a big fan of Keychron keyboards. The company makes an extensive range of mechanical keyboards suitable for Windows, Mac and Linux computers. You don't know what you are missing if you’ve never typed with a mechanical keyboard. Unlike the spongey membrane keyboards shipped with many computers, a mechanical keyboard has a much more tactile feel, making typing far more enjoyable and accurate. The new Keychron Q1 Pro is the company’s first mass-produced aluminum frame wireless keyboard. It’s a high-end keyboard that goes toe-to-toe with the premium bespoke models from brands like Mode . The Keychron Q series was the company's first-ever line of custom programmable mechanical keyboards and the new Q1 Pro can be fully customized using the QMK/VIA software and is available to buy as a barebones DIY kit or Keychron will build a Q1 for you for a little extra. The Q1 Pro is a great keyboard to type on. It’s a compact … [Read more...] about Keychron’s Q1 Pro Is The Brand’s First Full Aluminum Wireless Keyboard
These 3 startups are a window into the growing carbon capture economy
Despite a dip in carbon emissions during the pandemic, the U.S is still the world’s second largest emissions polluter. The country produced 5.6 billion metric tons of CO2 in 2022—that’s up around 1.5% from last year. So, while we continue to fall short on emissions reduction, climate-based companies are embracing carbon capture—taking carbon from the atmosphere and sequester in places where it can’t be released again—to help to bridge the gap. This week on Fast Company ’s World Changing Ideas podcast , we spoke to three, each with a unique way of monetizing the removal of emissions from the atmosphere. Brilliant Planet is harnessing the power of algae to de-acidify ocean water and sequester carbon in the process. “Algae are the source of all life on earth,” says CEO Adam Taylor. “They were the earliest photosynthesizers. They are what put the oxygen into the atmosphere; plants and trees came later.” The startup has patented a way to grow the salt-water algae … [Read more...] about These 3 startups are a window into the growing carbon capture economy
Can Tech Recover From Silicon Valley Bank’s Black Eye On Tech’s Reputation?
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin I have been chronicling the history of Silicon Valley for 42 years. During this time, I have seen Silicon Valley go through significant difficulties. Tech had a major slowdown in the late 1980s as PC demand paused as the Windows world transitioned from DOS to Windows. Then, it had another downturn during the Dot-Com boom and crash in 2001-2002. Thanks to a significant economic downturn in 2008 because of the housing crisis, tech demand declined again, and layoffs were rampant. The current looming economic crisis from the threat of a recession and over-hiring during the pandemic has dropped the demand for PCs. PC shipments were down 25% in the last quarter of 2022. Today, PC forecasters believe PC sales will decline again in 2023 and could be down at least 13%-15%. I wrote in Forbes a month ago and I shared how even after a severe economic crisis and shift in demand for tech, there has been a resurgence in tech … [Read more...] about Can Tech Recover From Silicon Valley Bank’s Black Eye On Tech’s Reputation?
New climate change report says world has slim window
A United Nations panel of top scientists warned that the world now has just a slim chance to prevent the worst of climate change’s future harms. T he Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says humanity must act fast and cut carbon pollution by almost two-thirds by 2035. The Paris climate agreement calls for nations to agree now on a climate action roadmap for the next 12 years. That’s why this official report was released now, calling for the world to cut 60% of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, compared to 2019, to stay under the warming limit set in the Paris Climate Agreement. United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said that rich countries should abandon coal, oil, and gas, as well as any new fossil fuel exploration by 2040. He called on them to step up action to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. Giving more leeway to developing nations, he still called for a goal of zero emissions by 2050, while previous reports and plans set that … [Read more...] about New climate change report says world has slim window