by Elissa Redmiles of University of Maryland | May 16, 2017 | Security, Software, Uncategorized |
The global ransomware attack called “WannaCry,” which began last week and continues today, could have been avoided, or at least made much less serious, if people (and companies) kept their computer software up to date. The attack’s spread demonstrates how hundreds of thousands of computers in more than 150 countries are running outdated software that leaves them vulnerable. The victims include Britain’s National Health Service, logistics giant FedEx, Spanish telecom powerhouse Telefonica and even the Russian Interior Ministry.
by New York Times | May 10, 2017 | Internet, Social Media, Uncategorized, Venture Capital |
Mark Kearns, 38, a web designer and gamer from Chicago, stumbled upon a new video game called Star Citizen while online in late 2013. The game, which was in development, promised to revive the spaceflight simulation genre with a sprawling universe for players to explore.
by GigaOm | May 9, 2017 | Uncategorized |
While most IT security professionals are well aware of the nature of cyber threats, many lack the predictive insights to pre-emptively do anything about new threats. Addressing that issue usually means turning to vendors who have proven expertise in the infosec domain.
by Steven S. Clark | May 1, 2017 | Biotech, Commentary, Entrepreneurs, Uncategorized |
Have you ever seen your nieces or nephews or a high school friend after a ten year hiatus? You are amazed at how much they have changed. You wonder when did they grow up? It seemingly happened overnight and that is slightly disconcerting.
Time and absence can play that trick on science too. In April 2008, I reported in these “pages” on the Stem cell frontier on display at Promega. In that conference, UW Scientist, Jamie Thomson, gave an update on his recent discovery on how to turn fully differentiated, mature cells into new stem cells that could, via biological magic, turn into any different mature tissue cell type.
by Alec Nadeau of George Washington University, Frank J. Cilluffo of George Washington University, Rob Wainwright of University of Exeter | Apr 26, 2017 | Uncategorized |
Cybercriminals use sophisticated technology to rake in millions of dollars in scammed and stolen money across the globe, and cost their victims millions more to clean up the messes they leave behind. When police try to break up these online rings, they find a whole set of obstacles that are different from crimefighting in the physical world. Cybersecurity researchers Frank Cilluffo and Alec Nadeau, along with Europol Director Rob Wainwright, reviewed the multinational effort to take down a massive cybercrime network. What they learned is both surprising and immediately useful.
by Jon Collins for GigaOm | Apr 21, 2017 | Uncategorized |
A couple of weeks ago I met with the email management and security vendor Retarus. While I was unfamiliar with the company (and it had a reasonably standard portfolio, I thought at first glance), my interest was piqued because it was German, and the country is very particular about such questions as personal data, privacy and so on.
by eWeek | Apr 7, 2017 | Security, Uncategorized |
While most of tax scams have been aimed at individual taxpayers, there are some new scams aimed at businesses that will try to approach your employees.
It was a fairly typical Wednesday afternoon, meaning that I was trying to decide what I’d write about for the second column of the week, when the phone rang. A recorded voice on the other end said that the calling organization could prevent criminal charges and collection activities because of my business’ tax problems. All I had to do was press 1.
by Tom Still | Mar 31, 2017 | Commentary, Economy, Manufacturing, Uncategorized |
When President Trump took office in January, the White House web site rolled out a goal consistent with his campaign pledges on the economy.
“To get the economy back on track, President Trump has outlined a bold plan to create 25 million new American jobs in the next decade and return to 4 percent annual economic growth,” reads a portion of the page on “Bringing Back Jobs and Growth.”
There’s nothing wrong with ambitious goals: Elected officials often set them to challenge their colleagues, competitors and citizens alike.
by New York Times | Mar 23, 2017 | Uncategorized |
The big banks and Silicon Valley are waging an escalating battle over your personal financial data, including the amount you spent on dinner last week and how much you are paying for your mortgage. Technology start-ups like Mint and Betterment have been building services that pull together your bank account and credit card records — after you supply the passwords.
by Washington Post | Mar 23, 2017 | Uncategorized |
Senate lawmakers voted Thursday to repeal a historic set of rules aimed at protecting consumers’ online data from their own Internet providers, in a move that could make it easier for broadband companies to sell and share their customers’ usage information for advertising purposes.
