Biometric security software is becoming increasingly popular, whether its fingerprint, voice, or facial recognition tools. As the tech becomes mainstream, attackers are searching ways to exploit biometric security. Kaspersky looked at computers that fall within its telemetry, essentially machines with Kaspersky security software running that also support biometric security. It found 37 percent of these PCs were targeted by malware attacks during the third quarter. Among the attack methods were spyware and remote access trojans (RATs), which attacked 5....

Lapsus published a screenshot on Telegram before quickly deleting it. Some users were able to grab a screenshot, showing that the group is claiming access to Microsoft DevOps resources. It seems the threat actors purposely pulled the post quickly knowing people would screenshot it. The image was accompanied with the message “deleted for now will reports later.” In the Lapsus post, the group provides the following list of DevOps resources it claims to have breached:...

IVAS will leverage location data from soldiers over a tactical range to provide visualizations of where other soldiers in a squadron are. This will be valuable in low-visibility situations such as in smoke, sandstorms, or jungle. The deal states Microsoft must provide 120,000 IVAS equipped HoloLens 2 devices. Testing has been ongoing since late 2021 and Microsoft is now preparing for feedback from the US Army. A memo discovered by Business Insider shows the company isn’t too optimistic about the results....

“How would you like to reinstall Windows? > Cloud download: Download Windows. >Reset locally: Reinstall my existing Windows operation system.” According to WalkingCat, this test can be seen in the BootUX, or the menu you see when looking at the OS’ advanced boot options. At this point, how exactly the system would work is unclear. Assumedly, cloud download installs the latest version from Microsoft’s servers, while local re-install the current OS....

The circular device was first reported by 9to5Mac in June, but is now backed up by code. Codenamed B389, the tags will send users notifications if they get too far from a regular belonging, such as backpack or wallet. The internal iOS13 app for Find My contains an items tab, with strings suggesting users can force the item to chime until they find it. You’ll also be able to set Safe Locations, such as your home, and be notified if the item leaves it....

As a result, home secretary Amber Rudd called for a lessening of encryption in WhatsApp, which attacker Khalid Masood used before the attack. However, Facebook isn’t the only tech company that has come under fire over the events. Media outlets like the Sun criticized Microsoft after chief legal officer Brad Smith told ITV “we will not help any government, including our own, hack or attack any customer anywhere.” Publications quickly took the statement out of context, with claims that Microsoft did not comply with Rudd’s demands....

According to Microsoft, users with McAfee may experience significant slowdown or unresponsiveness when booting or restarting their PC. The issue appears to be with changes to Windows’ Client Server Runtime Subsystem, which McAfee says “introduced a potential deadlock” with its Endpoint Security. McAfee has released a proof-of-concept fix while it investigates. The issue is present on McAfee Security ENS 10.x, Host IPS 8.0, and VirusScanEnterprise 8.8. Though Microsoft blocked the update for users of Sophos, Avira, and ArcaBit, it’s yet to announce similar measures for McAfee....

Only 16 percent of the attacks were pushed to personal email accounts. State-backed attacks are an increasing problem, according to Microsoft. As many as 1,600 personal Microsoft Account holders have been affected in recent months. Microsoft says Iran, North Korea, and Russia are the main originators of state-sponsored hacks. “We have seen extensive activity from the actors we call Holmium and Mercury operating from Iran, Thallium operating from North Korea, and two actors operating from Russia we call Yttrium and Strontium,” explains Tom Burt, corporate vice president for customer security and trust at Microsoft....

Back in May 2013, Microsoft announced the Halo TV series alongside the Xbox One console. At the event, Microsoft revealed that Steven Spielberg would be the lead creative partner. However, as a result of several setbacks, we have heard little about the Halo live-action TV show since May 2013. In summer 2014, the Xbox Entertainment Studios closed down after a massive round of layoffs. Despite that, 343 Industries continued work on the project which apparently remains on track....

When looking at Windows 10 growth, it is a two-sided tale. On the one hand, the platform has grown consistently and solidly over the years. On the other hand, the decade old Windows 7 has remained the most used version for enterprise. We have been expecting that to swing in the coming years. Microsoft will end support for Windows 7 in 2020. Organizations will be forced to update or risk having their software network lacking security patches....

One of the most interesting aspects of that page was a suggesting Android apps would also work on Xbox. In a statement to Windows Central, Microsoft has now said Windows Subsystem for Android does not support Xbox consoles. Coming This Year Unlike Your Phone, that allows you to stream your Android phone to PC, app support will not rely on another device. Apps will be downloadable and usable directly within Windows without a third-party emulator....

Let’s start there. Microsoft 365 users now have a workspace the allows security professionals to access compliance risks within their organizations. Called the Compliance Manager tool, the feature provides the ability to track regulatory changes. The service offers a score reflecting organizational compliance. Microsoft has also introduced new Information Protection abilities to enhance security. Designed to protect data, the new features can classify content from Office applications. Microsoft 365 will label content as “Non-Business”, “General”, and “Highly Confidential”, and other types....

“BlackBerry has always led the market with new and innovative ways to protect corporate data on mobile devices,” said Carl Wiese, president of Global Sales at BlackBerry in a press release. “We saw a need for a hyper-secure way for our joint customers to use native Office 365 mobile apps. BlackBerry Enterprise BRIDGE addresses this need and is a great example of how BlackBerry and Microsoft continue to securely enable workforces to be highly productive in today’s connected world....

Microsoft announced Teams back in November as part of Office 365 and has been available as a preview since then. The Redmond giant describes Teams as a “hub for teamwork” which offers an enhanced meeting experience. The app is available on Windows, Android, iOS, Mac, while there is also a web application. Microsoft Teams features Skype video and audio calls, Office 365 integration (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files), OneDrive support and much more....

In a blog post, Microsoft says it will build two new Azure datacenters in the Arizona towns of El Mirage and Goodyear. Both campuses will be developed and built in collaboration with First Solar and will operate on solar power. First Solar is currently building its Sun Streams 2 photovoltaic solar plant in Maricopa County. The 150-megawatt plant will be operational in 2021 and will provide solar powered renewable energy to the two Azure data locations....

“Users can make outgoing Skype voice and video calls, accept incoming Skype calls, and even make SkypeOut calls to most phone numbers around the world,” said Microsoft corporate vice president Gaurav Sareen. To do so, users can say, “Alexa, call ___ on Skype”, and “Alexa, answer.” This will work regardless of the platform the user is calling from, be it PC, mobile, or Xbox. Continuing the Friendship Though the feature experienced several delays, it’s now available in preview form, letting Cortana users access Alexa’s significant skill set....

Now the company has announced that the highly-anticipated mail feature will begin rolling out to all Mail and Calendar users over the next few weeks, along with several more updates. Focused Inbox finally arriving Microsoft has been testing the Focused Inbox feature with some Windows Insiders in the past couple of months. Now it’s time for the feature to reach the public and help users manage their emails. Focused Inbox is a major feature in Outlook which helps users focus on the important stuff while keeping the less important emails in a section easily accessible....

At the company’s Ignite Australia, Director of Program Management for Operating System Fundamentals and Product Owner of the Insider Program, Bill Karagounis said that WIP4Biz’s major goal is to “make Insider systems and capabilities more friendly and easier to fit into your business environments.” Microsoft’s WIP4Biz vision WIP4Biz will be a broad-ranging extension of the existing Windows Insiders Program. It will include engagement through dedicated forums, blogs, and events; regular surveys with IT Pros; and extensive documentation to support those organizations deploying Insider builds....

In an announcement this week, Microsoft said the solution fits into a world where organizations are increasingly embracing the cloud. Azure Backup for SQL Server Virtual Machines allows simple backup in the cloud. Microsoft describes it as an enterprise-grade service that allows backup solutions with zero-infrastructure demand. Among the benefits of using Azure Backup for SQL Server Virtual Machines are: Pricing Azure Backup for SQL Server is a monthly subscription addition to Azure designed for enterprise customers that want to shift SQL loads to Azure VMs....

Thanks to a UI tweak, the search results page is easier to navigate and makes it easier for Bing users to find what they are looking for. Microsoft has made three improvements overall: New Recipes Experience Microsoft’s new recipes search tools for Bing includes new search abilities to provide more engaging information. Making the results visually rich but also informative was Microsoft’s goal. Now users can see details such as calories and reviews directly in the search:...