As the Minecraft team points out, social distancing is vital in a COVID-19 world. However, many people struggle with bring in lockdown and not seeing friends and loved ones. Many people have been left confused by the idea of social distancing and the new map aims to explain the situation. Called Blockdown Simulator, the map focuses on educating users about the impact of COVID-19, how it is burdening the health system, and how social distancing helps....

Boosts are Microsoft’s way of making money from the game. Each one contains a buff like increased attack damage, crafting speed, or max health, and can be purchased from the in-game store or obtained by scanning a $5 ‘Boost Mini’ figure with NFC. There are a total of 12 boosts, and each has three levels that can increase its power, duration, of both. Assumedly, these will be available through ‘blind boxes’, essentially a physical version of a loot box, like the other Minecraft Minis....

While this is clearly a major problem, the researchers say that the problem is not easy to exploit. NetCAT was discovered by researchers with VU Amsterdam, who say bad actors can locate encrypted passwords as users are typing them into a secure shell sessions (SSH). NetCAT (Network Cache Attack) comes from Intel’s performance technology Data-Direct I/O Technology (DDIO). This is a tool that is on by default in server-grade CPUs, such as Xeon family processors....

As mentioned, this is available to Windows 10 users who are also subscribers of Office 365. The hands-free diction support is currently available in nine languages. Note taking is much easier due to this feature, especially for users with accessibility issues. Diction allows notes to be taken only through voice. Editing is intuitive as it works in real-time without pausing the recording. To start using the feature in OneNote, simply select the Dictate icon and start talking....

The move follows reports that Microsoft and Google are working on an ARM version of Chrome. Microsoft Edge will also be pivoting to Chromium and is likely to make use of the same adjustments. The direct collaboration with Qualcomm is a plus for the browser and means more choice for the consumer. With the right optimization and its multi-core support, we could even see Firefox edge ahead of the competition for performance....

Tom’s Hardware picked up the story and saw it was also backed by Swift On Security in a tweet that said “according to a source at Microsoft, Windows 12 is already under development and it’s going to require two TMPs.” Of course, that was very much a joke and confirmed as such by Swift On Security. Even so, there is now a source that says Windows 12 is soon to hit development....

Will Dormann of Carnegie Mellon University’s CERT/CC says the Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) feature is not doing its job. He says the feature has been available since Windows 8.0 but does not work properly. ASLR is a defense that prevents code executed attacks on predictable memory locations on an operating system. It does this by literally randomizing program load addresses. The feature is a mainstay across Windows, Linux, Android, iOS and MacOS....

Researchers at the university are able to improve the wireless range and security of Wi-Fi. The team found that covering a 3D printed form with aluminium foil can improve range and protection. The project was published on Eurekalert and works when a reflector is placed on a Wi-Fi router antenna to shape the beam. Researchers say this improves range by stopping the connection passing through unwanted spaces. “With a simple investment of about $35 and specifying coverage requirements....

It follows a prediction by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in February, who stated that he expects such a device in the next 12 to 17 months. The company has also been on an ARM-based hiring spree, most notably acquiring leading processor designer Mike Filippo. For its part, Bloomberg says it has talked to ‘people familiar with the matter’. Those sources tell the publication at least one device will launch with an ARM chip in 2021, but that the plan is to slowly transition away from its reliance on Intel....

Of course, a light version of a smartphone usually means lowered specs and a reduced price. According to a GeekBench score for the Galaxy S10 Lite, the device does not seem to be performing well. Before continuing, it is worth reading to the end of the article because there is a caveat to the information presented by the benchmark. Firstly, the data seems to confirm the S10 Lite will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855, while there is 6GB of RAM....

The files have been awaited since last year when tools belonging to the NSA’s Equation Group were ‘lost’. So far Shadow Brokers has been releasing the tools in batches, including ones targeting vulnerabilities in Linux. The latest batch of Windows releases contains several top secret files, including documentation for JeepfleaMarket. The NSA allegedly used this program to collect data from at least nine banks internationally. Among other methods, the NSA seems to have use the tool to hack EastNets, a Dubai firm that oversees SWIFT transactions....

In terms of design, all iOS users will notice the elimination of the Pivot UI. Instead, a navigation bar allows quick access to chats, calls, highlights, camera, and contacts. It also brings notification badges in that new bar, as well as a notification screen and a bigger search bar. It also makes tweaks to the messaging experience, which is vital on mobile. Chat headers are much slimmer, allowing more text to fit on screen....

“The open-source nature of the Android OS makes it possible for manufacturers to ship custom versions of the OS along with a set of pre-installed apps, often for product differentiation,” said the researchers. “Some device vendors have recently come under scrutiny for potentially invasive private data collection practices and other potentially harmful or unwanted behavior of the preinstalled apps on their devices. Yet, the landscape of preinstalled software in Android has largely remained unexplored....

Thankfully, Windows 10 S isn’t an entirely new OS. It’s essentially Microsoft’s latest operating system with some features unchecked to aid performance and security on low-end hardware. As a result, you can disable Windows 10 S mode very and move from Windows 10s to 10 Pro for free. The process to disable S mode only takes a couple of minutes. However, it’s worth noting that this is a one-way toggle – once you switch out of S mode there’s no going back without a complete factory reinstall....

If you are unsure of how to plot out your hardware needs, or you need a refresher, read on for an overview of how you can achieve this efficiently. Scrutinize existing resources Hardware capacity planning is mostly about analyzing the setup you have at the moment and determining the extent to which it will be suitable for your needs over time. The first step is to take a closer look at the resources you have in place right now, so that you know what you are working with....

In other words, those still on Windows 10 1709 will need to upgrade immediately to continue receiving vital security updates. The exception is Windows 10 Enterprise and Education builds, which receive support until 14th of April 2020. Under that same philosophy, Education and Enterprise can expect an end to Windows 10 1607 servicing today. Home and Education users faced this change last year, after all. It’ll be joined by Windows Embedded POSReady 2009, which will receive its last security update....

Organizations must be aware of cutting-edge technology and best practices to compete, survive, and thrive. It applies to the critical competencies of the team in IT infrastructure, management, design, and implementation. CompTIA A+ certifications serve to upskill IT teams and increase their productivity. The CompTIA A+ certification is recognized internationally as a tried and true accreditation for an organization’s helpdesk team, training them for more advanced jobs. What Is CompTIA A+ Certification?...

The 300 SW Yamhill store told investigators of the apparent theft, who then watched the store. Police saw one of the accused enter the store and take a laptop on November 29. It’s suspected that another stole items 3 days prior, while the third is believed to have stolen multiple items across the month. The police have since made three arrests, the first suspect charged with two counts of first-degree theft and computer crime....

However, it’s worth presenting some alternate perspectives and the philosophy behind the purchase. Soon-to-be GitHub CEO Nat Friedman took to Reddit to assuage developer’s concerns about the acquisition, and he did so with considerable grace. A key talking point since the purchase has been GitHub’s ability to be independent under Microsoft’s wing. Users are somewhat expecting they’ll have to use their Microsoft account to log into GitHub, but Friedman says that isn’t the case....

In today’s world businesses more and more often use outsourcing for their projects. And it’s no wonder. Outsourcing is so popular due to the fact that it allows expanding opportunities for business. In this article, we will focus on such a form of collaboration as a dedicated software development team. We will describe who can use it, describe its advantages, and the steps needed for hiring a professional development team....