Are you looking to upgrade your PC to Windows 11? If so, be careful about where you get your download. While Windows 11 has promised some significant (and much-needed) security improvements, some unexpected risks have also been accompanied. One of these risks that have been disguised is a major malware attack as a Windows 11 upgrade. With a better understanding of this fake Windows update virus and how to protect yourself, you can avoid falling victim to malware. More About the Fake Windows Update This supposed Windows 11 update appears to come from a legitimate Microsoft website, though if you look closely at the URL, the first "red flag" is that the web address is not a direct Windows URL. From there, unsuspecting users who have not noticed the faulty web address may click on the "download now" button and end up with a 1.5MB ZIP file that contains a

Ransomware attacks are a very real threat across the web. Individuals, small businesses, and large corporations alike have all fallen victim to these attacks – with ransom payouts often reaching six figures or more. However, even though instances of ransomware may be on the rise, experts are hopeful that we've collectively made it through the worst phase of these attacks. Government Bodies Stepping in to Make a Difference One of the biggest problems with ransomware attacks is that victims often see no other option besides paying the ransom to get their information back. Unfortunately, doing this only perpetuates the problem because attackers see these victims as easy targets that can be taken advantage of time and time again. Likewise, the decryption codes provided by hackers upon the payment of a ransom cannot always be trusted. Fortunately, government bodies such as the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the United States

Across the field of higher education, security threats run rampant. This is especially true as more schools than ever are relying on virtual/online platforms. Within the last couple of years especially, attacks on schools and other educational institutions have significantly increased. This is especially true regarding phishing attacks carried out against school faculty, administration, and students. University Phishing Attacks on the Rise The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a consumer alert in April of 2021 after an increase in phishing attacks aimed at college students was discovered. Specifically, scammers have been emailing students and claiming to have important information about their tax refunds. These emails contain a link that, when clicked, asks for personal information that includes full names, Social Security numbers, birthdates, and even driver's license numbers. This information, if provided, is then used by hackers to steal identities. In some cases, personal information from students is being sold

If you even remotely follow what's going on in the tech world, you've probably heard the term "Web3" thrown around at least a few times by now. However, if you're still not grasping what the concept means, you're not alone. The idea of a Web3 world can feel very abstract – which makes sense because it hasn't come to fruition yet. Still, the concept of Web3 as it exists now has the potential to seriously shake up the way we use the internet, so having at least a basic understanding of it is a good idea. What is Web3, Anyway? Currently, most would agree that we're living in the era of Web 2.0. Also known as the era of centralization, this phase of the internet is defined by the massive sharing of information and mass communication across the web. Likewise, in a Web 2.0 world, much of what we do

Over the years, computer storage technology has come a long way. And it's a good thing because the amount of data we generate regularly has also grown exponentially. At one time, being able to store even a kilobyte of data was considered to be an enormous feat. Today, storage systems are capable of handling gigabytes, terabytes, and even more. Still, if you're trying to choose the storage amount that best suits your needs, all these different terms can get confusing. By understanding file sizes and types of bytes, you can make more confident decisions when it comes to your own byte hosting needs. Gigabytes vs. Terabytes Two of the most commonly used storage terms today include "gigabyte" and "terabyte." So, what's the difference between the two? It's pretty drastic, actually. A gigabyte refers to 1,000 megabytes of memory – or one million bytes (the standard unit of memory). A terabyte,

Sadly, there is no shortage of security threats lurking around the web. In fact, with new threats emerging seemingly daily, it can be challenging to keep up. One of the latest security risks to be aware of is the password spraying attack. This type of attack has become increasingly common in recent years – to the point that the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued advisories on this threat in 2022. What is Password Spraying? Specifically, a password spraying attack is a type of brute force attack involving picking one potential password and logging in across numerous accounts. This allows the attacker to try common passwords (such as default passwords often issued by third-party applications and programs) on an endless number of accounts without getting "locked out" for multiple failed login attempts. In a password spraying attack, one password may be used to access multiple accounts before the attacker

When it comes to web hosting, there are many options to choose from these days. Cloud servers and shared servers have become a popular hosting solution for those who need a cost-effective platform and don't mind sharing resources with other users. Meanwhile, self-hosting remains a possibility – though high up-front costs and ongoing maintenance needs make this a less desirable option. Meanwhile, dedicated hosting on bare metal servers has remained a steady and sensible option for those who need greater reliability and speed. Bare metal servers have come a long way over the years, and the future of these physical servers remains promising. The Evolution of Bare Metal Servers What exactly is a bare metal server? In simplest terms, a bare metal server is a physical server with no software or hypervisor. It is made up of processors, storage, and memory. Compared to cloud-based or virtual hosting plans, bare metal

Internet of Things (IoT) devices seem to be everywhere you look these days. In your own home, you'll find them in the form of your smart doorbell, digital assistant (Amazon Alexa or Google Home), and other small devices that are connected to your Wi-Fi network. IoT devices can make our lives easier in many ways, but with the rise of IoT botnet attacks, they're also complicating our digital security, creating significant vulnerabilities. What Is an IoT Botnet? An IoT botnet attack refers to a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack that is carried out using an army of compromised IoT devices. All too often, IoT devices have weak security settings; users of these devices don't take the proper precautions to protect these accounts because they figure, "Who's going to hack into my smart speaker?" Unfortunately, when a large number of IoT devices are compromised, they can be pooled together to

It's no secret that there has been a major shortage in random access memory (RAM) chips and other computer parts since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This scarcity, however, has bred some impressive innovations across the industry. In fact, researchers at the University of California Riverside (UCR) have recently announced the development of the first pneumatic RAM chip. This new technology could have significant implications for technology – not just now but also in the future. More About the Pneumatic RAM Chip To understand how a pneumatic RAM chip works, it is first important to know how a "traditional" RAM chip operates. The main difference is that the pneumatic chip utilizes air rather than relying on transistors and electricity to create binary gates like a traditional RAM chip. According to a TechSpot article, a pneumatic CPU "interprets the presence of atmospheric pressure in microfluidic valves as a true value

Windows 11, which launched in June of 2021, boasts a number of upgrades compared to Windows 10. Perhaps what sets Windows 11 apart from its predecessor the most is its advanced security features. Currently, Windows 11 is available as a free upgrade for Windows users; however, not all computers have the system requirements needed to install the upgraded operating system (OS). The good news? Even if you can't (or don't want to) upgrade to Windows 11, you can still take advantage of many of its security features while using Windows 10. New Windows Security Features So, what are some of the most notable new security features you'll find on Windows 11? First, there's the addition of virtualization-based security (VBS) and hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI). This feature minimizes operating system vulnerabilities by creating and isolating memory regions from the OS itself. Another new security tool worth noting in Windows 11 is