Industry voice: 2014 - The year of the hacker?

The dramatic increase in the number of security attacks and the sophistication of the cyber criminals masterminding them means there is a critical need for businesses to take a more radical approach to their information security.
2013 saw a surge in high-profile security attacks and data breaches – with the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft and Apple all suffering at the hands of cyber criminals.
Indeed, research commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills last year found that 93 per cent of large businesses in the UK suffered a computer security breach in the previous 12 months, while 87 per cent of small businesses also suffered attacks.
This should be a massive cause for concern for any security professional, but the more worrying problem is that 70 per cent of these security breaches often go undetected for between two and 12 months. Furthermore, attackers typically sit in a network for three to four months before they extract data – by which time, they may know the systems better than even the company itself.

Raising awareness

With this in mind, it is absolutely vital that companies rigorously test their systems and closely monitor their networks. A large percentage of data breaches can be avoided through improved education of employees, users and customers yet less than one per cent of security budgets goes on education.
Using ethical hackers and network testing experts will help companies to discover existing flaws within their systems, while also detecting human-made errors.

Ethical hacking

This ethical hacking approach helps businesses gain invaluable insight into security holes that may exist in their defences today.
Penetration tests and network security testing can simulate threats from both internal and external sources to identify flaws exposed through internet gateways, servers and firewalls, and evaluate the security behaviour of interactive websites and web applications.
Many businesses may look at the names involved in high-profile attacks and the staggering stats surrounding the growing rate of cybercrime and think 'if those guys are getting hacked, then it's inevitable that we will too.' But the good news is that this doesn't have to be the case.
To get a head start in minimising the impact of cybercrime it is imperative that businesses test their systems from the perspective of the hacker.
With the number of threats increasing by the day and the sophistication of hacker's methods, it is more critical than ever that organisations take a different approach to protecting their users, their systems and their data.

• Simon Godfrey is Sales Director, Security Practice at MTI with over 15 years experience in the EMEA security market helping organisations implement effective information security, risk and compliance programmes.

Industry voice: Protecting the future of the internet

In 2013 the issue of Internet privacy was thrown into the spotlight, with the revelations that some governments have actively sanctioned certain spy agencies to intercept user data. These actions clearly go against the internet's founding principles of openness and freedom.
These principles are part of why and how the Internet has grown into an incredible tool that continually changes lives and connects people around the world.
It's difficult to imagine how many of the last 30 years' worth of achievements in education, health, art and science would have been possible without the Internet to support innovation and share knowledge.
It's natural that the Internet community has railed against the government sponsored intrusion. Indeed, some of the world's biggest technology companies have spoken on the need to protect the privacy of Internet users – Apple, Microsoft and Google are just some of the companies supporting the Global Government Surveillance Reform group.
They are calling on governments around the world to tackle this issue and reform current policies that leave the privacy of Internet users at risk from data monitoring.

Protecting your own privacy

Although privacy on the Internet is proving to be a challenging issue, there are some things people can do to protect themselves.
While it's true that individual citizens have limited resources, it is worthwhile for everyone to invest a little time to encrypt their data. This would mean that the resources required to monitor all citizens would increase exponentially and make the task of examining all Internet traffic far more difficult.
Think of it in this way: if everyone in the world drove around in armoured cars, a lot of effort would have to be spent breaking into each and every car, without any guarantee of there being anything inside worth taking.
Similarly, if everybody encrypts their data, it would help to deter others from the effort involved in monitoring and decrypting it. Of course, the ideal solution is still that the monitoring of user data itself ceases immediately.
It would be terrible if people were afraid to use the Internet because they thought their privacy would be violated.
After all, privacy should be cherished and respected. It's even counted as a fundamental human right in many countries. Over the last 30 years, society has benefitted immeasurably from the Internet, which has helped break down barriers and bring people closer together.
We should never lose sight of the Internet's founding principles and ideals, and push stakeholders at every level to respect them. The Internet needs to continue to operate with as much freedom as possible to help increase innovation. Without trust and cooperation, the Internet simply cannot function, and that would be detrimental to our global society.

• Axel Pawlik is the Managing Director of the RIPE Network Coordination Centre (RIPE NCC). He has worked in the Internet industry for over 28 years.

Sponsored: How to migrate your files to Windows 8

After the purchase of a new Windows 8 PC, your thoughts will immediately turn to migrating files and folders from your existing system. Windows 8 offers a host of additional features that build on the capabilities of Windows 7 or XP, including the new File History feature that offers incremental backups on local volumes or to SkyDrive.
Also available within Windows 8 is the ability to view all popular file formats, from PDF to VHD and ISO, the latter two being disc images that can be mounted directly in the operating system. Of course, before you can take advantage of all these new features you first need to transfer your files.

Easy migration

Migrating files to Windows 8 is efficient and secure with the use of the Windows Easy Transfer utility, coupled with the Dell USB Easy Transfer Cable. If you are migrating your files from Windows XP and do not have the Easy Transfer utility installed, simply download it from Microsoft. The utility should already be available on Windows 7 PCs.
Follow these steps to migrate your files to Windows 8:

1. Connect your Windows 7 or XP machine to your new Windows 8 PC with the USB Easy Transfer Cable.
2. Choose Browse Files from the pop-up screen that appears on both PCs.
3. Locate the Files/Folders that you wish to transfer in the Browse Files window, then click and drag onto the desktop of the PC.
4. Click the Folder Sync button on the main menu window on both PCs.
5. Note: The PC that is clicked first will be the PC that the next steps will be completed on.
6. Click Add Task.
7. Choose the folder that you wish to sync and the destination.
8. Sync folders between both PCs.
9. Click on Sync this Task.
10. After the transfer has been completed, you should see two options: 'See what was transferred' will display a report detailing the files and folders that have been successfully beamed to the new PC. Also, you will see an option to see a list of the applications you might want to install on your new system. This is handy when deciding which applications you want to continue using.
11. Click the Close button to exit the Windows Easy Transfer utility.
12. Disconnect the USB cable from both PCs.

Other transfer uses

With the Dell USB Easy Transfer Cable, you can also transfer data when using Outlook, and it will use this application on your new Windows 8 PC. In addition, remote share can also be set up using the utility.
It's also possible to use the Windows Easy Transfer utility with an external hard drive to migrate your files to your new Windows 8 machine. The steps you need to take can be read on the Dell community page.
Note that only your files and folders can be migrated using these methods. Applications such as Microsoft Office can't be moved from one PC to another. A new installation of these applications has to be performed on the new system. Here, services such as Dell's ChangeBASE and Dell KACE K2000 Deployment Appliance can help business users make a seamless transition to Windows 8.

We Don’t Need Microsoft Office for the iPad

We Don’t Need Microsoft Office for the iPad is a post by Warner Crocker from Gotta Be Mobile.
The more things change, the more they remain the same. Being on a small odyssey I’ve been disconnected from things the last week or so. Turns out there really wasn’t much news of consequence in the mobile world during that period. As a matter of fact, it turns out that some are sort of stuck on a topic that deserves to just fade away. That topic? Microsoft Office on the iPad. We’ve seen Microsoft prognosticator extraordinaire Mary Jo Foley say Microsoft Office for the iPad is alive and coming sooner than we might think. We’ve also heard that Microsoft may be revisiting whether or not it should appear on other Tablets. Apparently Microsoft wants to be thoughtful about this.

I don’t think much thought is required. In my view the entire topic deserves to die. We just don’t need a Microsoft Office version for the iPad, for Android, or for any Tablet outside of those that run Microsoft’s operating system. It is just not necessary. Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure some still think having Microsoft Office on an iPad will be the bee’s knees. But like that outdated cliché, Microsoft Office on an iPad is yesterday’s news. And if you’re waiting for it to make your iPad experience complete, I hope someday you can find real meaning in your life.
Let’s look at this from a couple of perspectives. First, there are plenty of Microsoft Office alternatives that exist for the iPad. Goodness gracious, most even go out of their way to offer compatibility with the ubiquitous Microsoft Office formatting! If you’re really intent on document creation on an iPad the only thing holding you back is your fear of typing without Microsoft Office. I won’t bother to list the Microsoft Office alternatives here, because even that’s old news. Do a search. Heck, even a Bing search turns up plenty of lists with those alternatives.
And let’s be real here. Why do you want Microsoft Office on an iPad? So you can work at home on your own time when you could be doing other things in your life? I know, we’re mobile. We need to be able to work anywhere and anytime. Hang that up, or hang up the job that demands that of you. And what about at your office? Why use Microsoft Office on an iPad, (that may well be yours and not your company’s), when you can use the company computers? Do you really think some corporation is going to outfit employees with iPads with Microsoft Office installed the way they do real computers? Not likely.
And let’s talk about the iPad UX and Office for a second. The iPad is a one window device. If you’re working on one document I’m sure it will do just fine. (All those alternatives do.) But if you’re looking at working between several Office products I’m sure that one window approach will drive you a bit batty before you get that document created. Using an iPad for  simple document creation and editing is easy enough. I’ve done it many times using several alternatives. But for heavy duty work it would be akin to the difference between living in a fully furnished home and camping. Sure you can cook, eat, sleep, relieve yourself, etc… in both circumstances. But I think when we go camping we choose to do so to test our capabilities outside of the conveniences that make the necessities of life, well, you know efficient and easier. There may be some primal instinct that drives us to prove that we can rub two sticks together to start a fire, or squat in the bushes to take a dump. But stall surfing just isn’t the same in the wild.
And then there’s this puzzler about Microsoft. Back in the dark ages when Bill Gates was still CEO he couldn’t convince the Office folk to create a touch friendly version. Steve Ballmer couldn’t either. So, somehow folks are thinking the new guy will be able to reverse that trend?  Perhaps. But I don’t see it.
I’d even argue that Microsoft should keep Office all to themselves and only make it available for systems that run Windows. To sell Windows based hardware they need some sort of differentiator beyond pretty Tiles. You know the ones that they are now going to let business users hide if they don’t like them. Hmm? And for all of those who insist that every new product by every company must kill or replace something else, at least we’d have some real competition to talk about.
Microsoft may indeed create an Office product for the iPad, and it probably should follow the Office 365 model. Office 365 seems to be doing well. But then, Microsoft couldn’t come up with a version of that for its own Tablets that were launched over a year ago. And they certainly had enough lead time to do so, had they wanted to.
Does Apple need Microsoft to create Office for the iPad? Yeah, those sales of iPads have done so poorly without it, haven’t they. The iPad is doing just fine without Microsoft Office and will continue to do so. Even if Apple comes out with a rumored iPad Pro, it won’t need Microsoft Office. We’re talking a different breed of Pros here. You’ve seen the commercials. Anybody getting misty-eyed and all emotional over someone creating a table and exporting some data from Excel into Microsoft Word? Didn’t think so.
For those who think that the love affair with Tablets is over and that Tablets are just lying around and not being used, I don’t think those users are saying to themselves “Gee, if only I had Microsoft Office for the iPad I’d use my iPad more.” Not said by anyone. Ever.
Look, if and when Microsoft decides to market a version of Office for the iPad, it will sell lots of copies. I’m sure I’ll buy one of those myself. But like many Apps I will guarantee you that it will sit on many iPads and never be opened with any regularity. Two years ago, even one year ago, that may have been different. But that day has passed and if there was a need for it that need has passed too.
For an industry that thrives and celebrates innovation, I’m amazed at how we’re tied to past ways of doing things. It’s not like there is any romantic or emotional tie to a word processor. Netbooks blew apart the myth that all computers needed to be heavy duty work machines for everybody. Tablets continue that trend. I don’t want to criticize anyone who still needs to be chained to the drudgery of Office type work. But ask those poor souls if they’d give that up if it didn’t mean a paycheck. I’m guessing you’d hear more yeas than nays.
Microsoft’s Office suite of Apps is not just a standard, it is actually very good, if bloated, software. The folks wishing and waiting for it to appear in a version for the iPad are like a dog that chases cars. What is the dog going to do with the car if he actually catches the damn thing?

Code Indicates Even More Exciting Features Coming in Windows Phone 8.1

Code Indicates Even More Exciting Features Coming in Windows Phone 8.1 is a post by Travis Pope from Gotta Be Mobile.
The ability to add backgrounds to a Start Screen, encrypt email and set installed apps to update themselves automatically, were all revealed as features potentially on their way to Windows Phone 8 users in the form of Windows Phone 8.1. That’s the update that’s expected to come later this year.
To be clear, developers Jeremy Sinclar and Jesse Leskinen were able to put together a bulleted list of potential Windows Phone features by examining the code of the Windows Phone 8.1 SDK that Microsoft made available to developers last week, according to WPCentral. It’s for this reason that no one can actually guarantee that these features are on the way.
That being said, if even half of the features included in this list make it to Windows Phone then users are in for a treat.

Potential features include the ability for users to install applications to an SD Card, a new Voice Narrator that’ll assist the vision impaired, data-syncing between apps of the some type on Windows and Windows Phone and automated app back-ups so that users never lose their saved games. It’s possible that Microsoft may add the ability for Windows Phones to collect membership card information and ticket information similar to Passbook on the iPhone and iPad.
Code examined by the two developers also indicate that Microsoft could borrow a few features from its Windows Phone 8.1 operating system. Among the features included in the list is Quiet Hours. A few of the same name allows Windows 8.1 device owners to silence any notifications coming from their apps during a set amount of time.
A few exciting features in the list also focus on sharing the software innovations that Nokia has added to its Windows Phones with owners of devices from all manufacturers. For example, the list includes Double Tap to Wake. Many high-end Lumia Windows Phones allow users to double tap their screen and instantly wake them up. The list also includes something called Double Tap to Power Off. In theory, that feature would allow users to lock their device by tapping on the screen twice. That’s not a feature that we’ve seen on any Windows Phones yet.
Rounding out the list of features are:

• Action Center, notifications for social networking.
• The ability for mobile carriers to control how much data a device is consuming using Data Sense.
• The option to change the default messaging app to something besides Windows Phone’s default Messages app.
• Open and create Office Documents protected by a password.
• The ability to enlarge Windows Phone 8’s Start Screen to fit more tiles on the screen.

These potential features already join a pretty extensive list of features developers have been able to abstract from the update. Many of those features were showcased in a video last week.
Microsoft is expected to share more information about Windows Phone 8.1 during a press event during Mobile World Congress next week. It isn’t expected to officially detail everything about Windows Phone 8.1 until its BUILD 2014 even in April.

How To Always Get Walking Directions on iOS Maps

How To Always Get Walking Directions on iOS Maps is a post by Kevin Purcell from Gotta Be Mobile.
The Maps app in iOS 7 on iPhone or iPad defaults to giving directions for drivers, but many people who don’t drive or who live in large cities where they almost always walk, will prefer walking directions. We’ll show users how to change the Maps app to offer walking directions on iOS maps by default.
What’s the difference? In many spots users can walk places where they can’t drive and vice versa. For example, someone could go down a walkway that connects two streets in a big city but they can’t drive that route. There might also be a road that doesn’t allow pedestrians due to safety concerns. In this case, the app won’t offer that road as part of the directions.

Changing to Walking Directions by Default

Before opening Maps, fire up the Settings app. Slide the screen down till the Maps app shows in the Settings list. It’s in the fourth section of the list.

Tap on the Maps app. Slide the screen down to the last section with two options. By default a check mark shows up next to Driving. Tap on Walking and from then on the app will default to Walking directions.

Walking and Driving Directions Give Different Results

We did a test to see how this affects directions. Getting from the 42nd Street Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, NY to Rockefeller Center, about 12 blocks away, offers two different sets of directions based on walking or driving mode.
Notice that the driving directions take a person one of three possible ways seen below, none of which matches the walking directions shown in the second image below.

The walking directions take a straight shot down 42nd Street and another straight shot down 5th Ave as shown below. That’s because walking this route works better on foot, while driving one of the above possible routes works best in a car.

Other Maps App Settings

Notice in the Settings of the iPhone Maps app that users can change a few other things. The top section in the Maps settings lets users pick the volume of the voice the app uses to announce direction. It ranges from No Voice to Loud. There’s also an option for miles or kilometers. Finally, users can set labels to always show in English, even if the person’s travelling internationally.

iPad 2: Is It Still Worth Buying?

iPad 2: Is It Still Worth Buying? is a post by Craig Lloyd from Gotta Be Mobile.
The iPad 2 is coming up on its three-year anniversary next month, and Apple is actually still actively selling the legacy tablet in its store, but rumor has it that the company is thinking about finally giving it the boot at some point this year, officially discontinuing it in order to make room for another entry-level iPad.
It certainly seems that Apple wants the older tablet on the way out, as well as a handful of retailers who are trying to get rid of iPad 2 inventory. Walmart, for instance, is discounting the iPad 2 by knocking off $100 and marking it at $299, which is really good price for an iPad, even if it’s three years old.

However, the original iPad mini costs the same $299, and just $100 will get you the even more impressive iPad mini with Retina display, which is rocking way better internals and the obvious high-resolution display. However, for those that want a full-size iPad without spending an arm and a leg will probably consider the iPad 2, but should they? Let’s look at some pros and cons.

The iPad 2 Is Cheap

If you want to buy an iPad on the cheap, the iPad 2 is about the cheapest you can go and still get a fairly good experience. The $299 sale at Walmart is about the best price you’ll get for a brand-new model, while used versions sell for a little over $200 on eBay or Craigslist. You can’t really get any better than that for a full-sized iPad.
Otherwise, Apple sells the iPad 2 for $399 regularly, which is the same price as the iPad mini with Retina display. One comes with a larger display, but the other comes with improved performance, which brings us to our second point.

The iPad 2 Is Slow

The iPad 2 is a great for everyday usage, like checking email, browsing the web, reading, etc., but if you’re wanting to do any mobile gaming or something that requires a lot of processing power, don’t count on the iPad 2 to deliver the performance that you might need.

We’ve talked with several iPad users who are still rocking the iPad 2 (most of whom are casual users) and they’re having no problems with the performance of the tablet, even running the new iOS 7. So simple tasks can still very much be initiated on the iPad 2, making the tablet a good and cheap solution for everyday consumers, but for those wanting a little power, you might want to look at newer models.

It’s Great if You Still Rely on 30-Pin

Consumers were genuinely upset when Apple introduced a new connector on the iPhone when it launched the iPhone 5 back in September 2012. This meant that users would eventually need to replace their crop of 30-pin connectors. However, there are still some folks stuck in the legacy days, whether they still have an older iPhone or an iPod, some people just may not want to part with their 30-pin cables just yet.

This makes the iPad 2 a great choice for those kind of users, and if they just need a cheap tablet without all of the performance gimmicks, then it’s a win-win situation. Of course, eventually, Apple users will need to succumb to the fact that one day they’ll need to finally upgrade to the new Lightning connector, but luddites like to ride it out until the very end, usually.

Don’t Expect Future Software Updates

Perhaps one of the biggest downsides of getting the iPad 2 now is that you probably won’t see any future support for the tablet from Apple. iOS 7 is probably the last iOS version that iPad 2 users will get. Granted, iOS 7.1 may still be headed to the older slate, but we can pretty much guarantee that iOS 8 won’t make it.

Although, we are glad to see iOS 7 on the iPad 2, since it’s the first complete overhaul of iOS that Apple has done. Considering that iOS 8 will most likely only be an update including a few new features, the progress from iOS 7 to iOS 8 probably won’t be as dramatic as was the progression from iOS 6 to iOS 7. Still, for those who are wanting the latest software updates and features will most likely want to get a newer model.

How to Change Clock to 24 Hour on Android

How to Change Clock to 24 Hour on Android is a post by Cory Gunther from Gotta Be Mobile.
Changing options and settings in Android is extremely easy once you figure out the general steps required, and changing the display clock format or type is one more we’re always being asked about.
Whether you’re used to getting up at 0600 hours and head to sleep around 2200, or would rather have your smartphone set to military time (24-hour clock) it’s only a few steps away on our Android smartphones and tablets in settings. A lot of people also call this travelers time, which does away with AM/PM and has users going from 0100 to 2400 instead. Read on for instructions to quickly change this.

Settings on our Android smartphones are very easy and laid out in a simple fashion. Usually heading to the settings tab and scrolling through each one you’ll find what you need. However, if you’d like to quickly know how to change your clock to military time, or for some reason your Galaxy S3 switched to a 24 hour clock and you have no clue why, here’s how to switch this setting.

Instructions

You’ll start by heading into settings on your smartphone or tablet which is either in the application tray usually as a gear-shaped settings icon, or it’s also in the notification pulldown shade. Once you’re in settings, which can look slightly different from each manufacturer, you’ll scroll down to the Date & time settings. This may be in a “device” or “system” tab on Galaxy devices.

Settings > scroll to Date & time > and simply tap the “Use 24-hour format” option in the settings menu.
Once selected (as shown at the top of the page) your phone or tablet will instantly switch over to the 24 hour clock without a reboot or anything. You’ll go from 9:30 AM to 09:30, or 2 PM will be 1400. Of course this settings menu is also where you’d uncheck 24-hour format if for some reason your smartphone is showing a 24 hour clock, and you’d rather it be regular instead.

This same settings menu is home to tons of other date & time related options too, if you’d like. You can set the phone to automatically choose the date and time based on your phones location and network connection, which is helpful for auto-switching while traveling. And there is usually an option to choose the date format for those who’d rather have the day come before the month, or vise versa.

This is one of those simple settings that many users just don’t take the time to look for, but is readily available once you take a look. Change the settings as you’d like and enjoy.

What Satya Nadella Will Do Differently than Steve Ballmer

The news came out last February 4 as he addressed the employees as the new CEO in the presence of outgoing officer, Steve Ballmer and company founder Bill Gates. The event took place in their office in Redmond, Washington.
Nadella said in his first announcement as CEO  that he has his mind focused on “mobile-first “ and “cloud-first” projects.  He has his efforts directed towards getting at par with the company’s tight rival’s Amazon, Apple and Google. Microsoft’s primary business plan at the moment includes continuing to provide efficient Internet software and services, plus to create a growing ecosystem for its cloud and mobile devices.
“We need to be able to pick the unique contribution that we want to make. That’s where our heritage of having been the productivity company … is what we want to get focused on,” Nadella said.
Bill gates, on the other hand, will now play the role as Nadella’s close adviser as the former takes on a more hands-on position. Gates will put his mind on developing new products and technology, and will remain as part of the company’s board.
It would be remembered that Nadella pioneered Microsoft’s distant server applications where the company’s customers can subscribe to cloud centers for data management.  Also in the bag is the new CEOs task to close the $7.3 billion acquisition negotiation with Nokia. Analysts also predict that with Nadella as CEO, they see Microsoft merging Windows RT OS and Windows Phone in the near future in developing lightweight tablets.
In a unanimous decision led by Chairman John Thompson, other candidates that surfaced for the position included former Skype head Tony Bates, Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner and CEO Alan Mulally.
For his track record, Nadella has been named as one of the key persons in fast-growing and most-profitable server and tools businesses. In fact, he led Office server and tools company its 20 billion dollar annual revenue in just three years. Microsoft people hope that Nadella can do the same and maintain the company’s momentum in the cloud business, and all this for a targeted $18 million pay package and a $21.8 million stock award.
Currently, Azure and the Office 365 software subscription have been driving the revenue for Microsoft as it doubled the customers in the early quarter of this year.
“Our industry does not respect tradition – it only respects innovation. The opportunity ahead for Microsoft is vast, but to seize it, we must move faster, focus and continue to transform. I see a big part of my job as accelerating our ability to bring innovative products to our customers more quickly,” Nadella said.

Aakash 4 to be available in market for Rs 3,999 soon: Kapil Sibal

 Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal today said low-cost tablet PC Aakash 4 will be available in the market in around one and a half months for Rs 3,999. 

"Aakash 4 will be available in the market in one or one and a half months. Its a modern tablet and will be available for around Rs 3,999," Sibal said here. 

He added the Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGSD) has already floated the tenders for the tablet. 

The tablet comes with a 7-inch scratch resistant capacitative touch screen, Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G and 4G connectivity, 4GB internal storage, external memory card slot with storage capacity of up to 32 GB, front camera, etc. 

The Aakash project was Sibal's brainchild when he was the HRD Minister. The idea was to provide low-cost computing device at subsidised rate to students to enable them access Internet for educational purposes. 

He also said the government will soon move ahead on the proposal of merging state-run BSNL and MTNL. 

The merger of the companies is part of DoT's plan for the revival of the public sector telecom units. 

The government has already decided on pension issues plaguing both the public sector units along with refund for wireless broadband spectrum worth more than Rs 11,000 crore to MTNL and BSNL.