Latest news with #ZDNet
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Tom's Guide
More than 184 million passwords exposed in massive data breach — Apple, Google, Microsoft and more
Cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler has just published a report about his discovery of a massive, unprotected online database of millions of sensitive pieces of data that were stored in a plain text file absent of any password requirement or encryption. According to ZDNet, the 184 million unique account credentials that Fowler found include usernames, passwords, emails and URLs for apps and websites like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, among others. Perhaps more concerning were the even more sensitive information in the database – specifically credentials for bank and financial account, health platforms and government portals. Fowler's analysis determined that this data has been captured by some type of infostealer, meaning the individuals exposed and the accounts involved will be vulnerable to a host of further scams and malicious behavior from threat actors such as phishing attacks. Fowler has said he doesn't know if this database was legitimately or maliciously created in the first place, because the hosting provider would not disclose the name of the owner, though they have removed it from public access. Fowler directly contacted people listed in the file, told them he was researching a data breach and confirmed that the information contained in the database was correct, valid account information. Additionally, he has said that while whomever owns the database is to blame for the incident, users who treat their email accounts like free cloud storage leave themselves open to security and privacy risks by having years worth of sensitive documents such as tax forms, medical records, contracts or passwords readily available to cybercriminals who are able to gain access to their email accounts. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. People who are involved in a security breach of this nature are subject to a variety of further threats, especially if they've reused the same password, used weak passwords, or have accounts in a position of government or other importance. Like Fowler, we recommend that you always use strong, unique passwords that include multiple upper and lower case characters as well as numbers and special characters, that you frequently change and update passwords and that you never reuse passwords. It's often easiest to use a password manager to keep all of your passwords private and safe, or if possible, use a biometric passkey. Whenever possible, enable two-factor or multi-factor authentication on your accounts. Keep a close eye on all your accounts, and if you feel like you've may have been or know you have been victim to a data breach, check your accounts on sites like HaveIBeenPwned or a password leak checker. You should also make sure that your antivirus software is set to regularly scan your computer; these scans can be set to run automatically when you're asleep or when you're otherwise not using your machine so that you won't be interrupted. Lastly, know the signs of phishing scams and social engineering attacks so you can watch out for them – you are always the last line of defense when it comes to malware, and threat actors will take all the information they have in order to try and trick you into clicking on a link or downloading an app or software that appears legitimate but is secretly malicious code. Never click on unexpected links, QR codes or attachments or links or attachments from unknown senders. Verify through independent means if someone contacts you asking you to download or click on something. Don't share personal information with people you don't know online, and clear out your accounts of old emails and photos that contain documents that may contain personal details and information.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Netflix is dropping support for older Amazon Fire TV Stick: See if you are affected
Netflix has announced that it will remove support for the first-generation Amazon Fire TV sticks next week. While the company did not explain why it is doing so, these older Fire TV devices may likely be unable to stream shows in high quality. According to ZDNet, Netflix has sent an email to affected users notifying them of the change and saying that the cutoff date for US users is June 3. In a statement to The Verge, Amazon spokesperson Jen Lurey Ridings said that 'Netflix will be discontinuing support for some first-generation Fire TV devices, which were introduced more than 10 years ago. Netflix remains available on all other Fire TV devices.' Netflix spokesperson also clarified only first generation models of the Fire TV, Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick with Voice Remote will be affected and that these device users 'may be eligible for a discount on a newer Fire TV Stick', at least in the US. If you haven't received the email and want to see if your Fire TV device is getting the axe, head over the the 'About' section in Settings> My Fire TV. For those wondering, the first-generation Fire TV devices were launched back in 2014, which is more than a decade ago. Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 600 chipset, these devices run on Fire OS 8 and come with 2GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. On its FAQ page, Netflix says that it ends support for some devices if it 'can no longer get necessary updates from its manufacturer or support new features'. If you are getting an error code R4, R12, or R25-1, it means that your device is no longer supported by Netflix or will be discontinued after a certain date. This isn't the first time Netflix has ended support for older devices. The company has made similar moves in the last few years, dropping support for old DVD players, Blu-ray players, video game consoles, TVs and even tablets.
The Verge
4 days ago
- The Verge
The oldest Fire TV devices are losing Netflix support soon
It's finally time to upgrade for many owners of the earliest Amazon Fire TV devices, as Netflix is ending support for them next month, reports German outlet Heise. The cutoff for US users is June 3rd, according to ZDNet, which writes that the company has been emailing those who would be affected by the change. Netflix is specifically ending support for the 1st-generation Fire TV streaming box and Fire TV Stick, as well as the 2016 Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote, ZDNet writes. If you didn't get the email but want to be certain whether your Fire TV device is one of those reportedly losing Netflix, the outlet writes that you can check the 'About' section under Settings > My Fire TV. According to Heise, Amazon is offering discounts on new Fire TV Sticks to those affected by the change. Amazon didn't immediately respond when The Verge reached out to ask whether that's true for US users, as well. In a FAQ added to a Netflix help page sometime in the last couple of months (March 15th is when it first showed up on The Internet Archive), the company says it may end support for devices that 'can no longer get necessary updates from its manufacturer or support new features.' The company also added new references to error codes R4, R12, and R25-1.
Forbes
11-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Business Tech News: Microsoft Is Pushing The Business Benefits Of AI
Here are five things in business tech news that happened this week in business tech news and how they affect your business. Did you miss them? Microsoft is emphasizing the benefits of custom AI solutions for businesses, highlighting enhanced decision-making, cost efficiency, and accelerated innovation. By integrating AI into platforms like Microsoft Copilot Studio, Azure OpenAI, and Dynamics 365, companies can develop tailored AI agents that automate complex tasks, leading to improved productivity and reduced operational costs. These custom AI tools are designed to be accessible, requiring minimal coding expertise, thus enabling a broader range of businesses to leverage AI capabilities. Microsoft's approach focuses on aligning AI solutions with specific business objectives, ensuring that AI implementations are both effective and sustainable. This strategy supports organizations in achieving faster innovation cycles and maintaining a competitive edge in their respective industries. (Source: ZDNet) Why this is important for your business: It's true but…be careful. AI features (and they're features right now) can be used to make your employees more productive and I strongly suggest getting them trained on all the latest that Microsoft or Google has to offer. But we're still a ways from relying on AI to automate our core processes. My advice is to use this time to clean up your data and get familiar with what AI can (potentially) due for your business so that you're ready to implement when the technology become more reliable. CrowdStrike's 2025 State of SMB Cybersecurity Report reveals a significant gap between cybersecurity awareness and actual protection among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). While 93% of SMBs acknowledge cybersecurity risks and 83% have plans in place, only 36% invest in new tools, and a mere 11% have adopted AI-powered defenses. Smaller businesses are particularly vulnerable; among those with fewer than 50 employees, only 47% have a security plan, and over half allocate less than 1% of their annual budget to cybersecurity. Cost concerns heavily influence decisions, with 67% prioritizing affordability over advanced threat protection. Additionally, 50% feel overwhelmed by the plethora of cybersecurity tools available, and nearly 70% rely on third-party guidance for purchasing decisions. Ransomware remains a top threat, especially for businesses with under 25 employees, where 29% reported such incidents in the past year. (Source: Business Wire) Why this is important for your business: Spoiler Alert: CrowdStrike offers tools to help address some of the concerns noted above. But they're not misleading people with these survey results. Cyber threats continue to be a disruptive and expensive part of running a business and these threats are only becoming more pervasive – and powerful – thanks to AI tools. Yes, you should be investing in a suite of cybersecurity products to protect your business. More important you should be getting continuous training because most cyber breaches are caused by employees. Aurora Innovation has launched the first commercial driverless trucking service in the U.S., operating Class 8 autonomous trucks between Dallas and Houston, Texas. These trucks, equipped with the Aurora Driver system, have completed over 1,200 miles without a human driver. The service, in partnership with Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor Lines, aims to address challenges in the trucking industry, such as driver shortages and high turnover rates. Aurora plans to expand its driverless operations to El Paso and Phoenix by the end of 2025. (Source: Aurora) Why this is important for your business: Autonomous vehicles for private use are still a ways to go, thanks to the complexities of city driving and the potential liabilities facing the companies developing these technologies. But autonomous trucks that can travel hundreds of miles of highways and then be taken over by humans for the last leg? That seems much more acceptable and my prediction is – given the enormous cost savings that can be achieved – the trucking industry will be the first to be disrupted by autonomous vehicles. Epicor has introduced new AI capabilities—Epicor Prism and Epicor Grow AI—aimed at enhancing productivity in supply chain industries. Unveiled at the Epicor Insights 2025 conference, these tools encompass over 200 use cases across functions like finance, production, and customer service. Epicor Prism offers a natural language interface, enabling employees to interact with ERP data efficiently. It facilitates quick information retrieval, decision-making, and automation of tasks, reportedly saving users significant time per query. For instance, the Knowledge Agent within Prism can reduce support time by up to 55 minutes per question. Epicor Grow AI provides predictive analytics by integrating data from various sources, including ERP and third-party systems. It assists in forecasting demand, optimizing inventory, and recommending related products during order entry, thereby improving sales and customer experience. (Source: Business Wire) Why this is important for your business: Epicor is very popular manufacturing and distribution ERP software that's used by both big and mid-sized enterprises. I attended this conference (and will write about it separately) and found their AI offerings to be exciting and consistent with what other good software companies are doing. Whether you're using Epicor or not, my advice is to find out what your software vendor is doing with AI and how it impact your business so that you can determine its ROI. Attending a conference like this is worthwhile (Disclaimer: Epicor is a client of my company. I have not been compensated to write this. This news information is publicly available) Talkdesk has launched the Utilities Experience Cloud, an AI-driven platform designed to enhance customer service for utility providers. This solution integrates contact centers with operational systems, enabling both self-service and live agent support across channels like voice, chat, and SMS. Leveraging agentic AI, it assists customers with issues such as outages, billing, and account management. The platform offers real-time integration with systems like CIS, OMS, and GIS, and includes pre-engineered workflows tailored to common utility inquiries. Virtual agents can be deployed with a single prompt, providing personalized interactions based on customer data. An intelligent outbound messaging feature allows proactive communication during events like storms or routine billing cycles. The no-code approach facilitates rapid implementation, reducing IT resource demands. Overall, the platform aims to streamline operations, improve customer satisfaction, and modernize the utility customer experience. (Source: ITBrief) Why this is important for your business: Talkdesk continues to introduce new products and services aimed at industry groups like utility providers. The features this product includes are important for those in that industry, yet have broader appeal to other industry groups as well. (Disclaimer: Talkdesk is a client of my company. I have not been compensated to write this. This news information is publicly available). Each week I round up five business tech news stories that impact your business (and mine) and explain why.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
OpenAI sued for copyright infringement by publisher Ziff Davis
Digital media publisher Ziff Davis sued OpenAI in Delaware federal court on Thursday, accusing the Microsoft-backed artificial-intelligence company of misusing its publications to train the model behind popular chatbot ChatGPT. Ziff Davis argues that OpenAI "intentionally and relentlessly" exploited copyrighted content for its AI systems, according to a copy of the lawsuit provided by the media company. "OpenAI seeks to move fast and break things on the assumption that the federal courts will not be able to effectively redress content owners' sometimes existential concerns before it is too late," the complaint said. The new lawsuit adds to a web of high-stakes copyright cases brought by news outlets, authors, visual artists and others against OpenAI and other technology companies for allegedly misusing thousands of copyrighted works to train their generative AI systems without permission. Ziff Davis' publications include tech news outlets ZDNet, PCMag, CNET and IGN and advice website Lifehacker. Other news publishers that have sued AI companies for copyright infringement include the New York Times and Dow Jones. OpenAI and other defendants, including Google and Meta Platforms, have argued that their AI systems make fair use of copyrighted material by studying it to learn to create new, transformative content. An OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday that its AI models "empower innovation, and are trained on publicly available data and grounded in fair use." A spokesperson for Ziff Davis declined to comment on the lawsuit.
