TECH - itbusinessdirect

In 2017, 17% of startups have a female founders

April 20, 2017April 21, 2017

The percentage of startups that have at least one female founder was flat in the first quarter of 2017. From 2009 to 2012, the percent of venture-funded companies with women founders increased by nearly 8 percent; however, the percentage of women-founded venture-backed companies has plateaued at approximately 17 percent since 2012. And as we look at Q1 2017 data, that percent doesn’t appear to have changed. For those who are keeping track, that’s nearly five years with no percentage growth in women-founded venture-backed startups. The absolute number of companies (along…

Microsoft to allow Logins Without Password

April 20, 2017April 21, 2017

Building technology that is both secure and easy to use is a tricky proposition. Microsoft is trying to make strides by giving customers a way to sign into their Microsoft accounts with smartphones—but without having to enter passwords. As explained in a Microsoft blog post on Tuesday, customers must have either the Android or iOS version of the Microsoft Authenticator app on their smartphones, then enter their usernames as usual. Then, instead of keying in a password, they’ll receive notifications on their phones. Tapping the “Approve” notification unlocks the phone.…

BankBot trojan hits Google Play

April 20, 2017April 21, 2017

A trojan virus that affects Android devices leaked online in January. This was the BankBot, a banking malware which disguised itself as a harmless program and able to avoid Google’s security scans. Weeks after the attack, the malware found its way to Google Play Store. What makes this vicious banking Trojan threatening is that it was able to find a way of hiding in apps using a variety of names on Play Store. On is Funny Videos 2017 and the other is the HappyTimes Videos, with the latter discovered just…

Artificial intelligence could be the key to cyber security

April 18, 2017April 18, 2017 Dianne Jacobs

In a constantly evolving digital threat landscape, where firewalls and antiviruses are considered tools of antiquity, companies are looking to more technologically advanced means of protecting crucial data. Experts point out the cyber-threat landscape has drastically changed and that criminals are now using more artificial intelligence technologies to launch sophisticated attacks. Even a few years ago, launching a distributed denial of service attack to take down a website, defacing webpages and stealing credit card details were considered major instances of cyber-attacks. Today, anything from medical records to airline miles data…

IOT and cybersecurity: tomorrow’s threats today

April 18, 2017April 21, 2017

A growing number of devices and appliances are now getting connected to a network, and to each other, to provide additional, enhanced features. We are beginning to see some of this potential being realised and the number of connected devices is growing fast. Cisco predicts that 50 billion new devices will be connected to the internet by 2020. Additionally, IoT connected cars are able to monitor and adapt to both internal performance quality and external environment, allowing modern cars to provide a new level of safety that was before unattainable.…

The barrier to cloud security isn’t the technology

April 13, 2017 Dianne Jacobs

Cloud computing has been around long enough that IT leaders should be facing its weaknesses and well as its strengths. Competent cloud security technology is available, and most IT organizations’ cloud teams are good at finding and using it. But cloud IT doesn’t exist in a vacuum, so having the right approach and technology alone won’t secure cloud operations. To achieve solid cloud security, departments across IT need to come together, both those that focus on legacy and those that focus on cloud computing.While security remains the top barrier to…

Technology will revolutionise the retail experience

April 13, 2017April 21, 2017

New technology is being developed everyday.The technological challenges involved in retailing include the planning of strategies to produce efficiency, effectiveness, advantage and profitability. How resources fit these strategies, the people involved etc. ultimately decide the successful implementation of technology. Tech has evolved into cheaper, more accessible applications. Many businesses across different sectors are being transformed by technology and its advancements ranging from improving productivity through increased efficiency and personalising promotional offers based on the increased surge of data generated from a variety of sources. Shoppers experience is now set to…

IT Security remains a Top Concern for Tech Startups

April 13, 2017 Dianne Jacobs

The increase in the amount of data breaches and cyber attacks have resulted in a rise in the number of conversations surrounding IT security for small businesses. While the resulting conversation is an important one, all too often small businesses simply don’t have the time to research and understand the onslaught of technological solutions that are available to them. This widespread lack of education is growing as cybersecurity solutions continue to be developed and released at unprecedented levels. With these challenges in mind, the increase in IT security conversations has…

HP rises again to be the world’s top PC maker as Lenovo slips

April 12, 2017April 21, 2017

Lenovo has surpassed HP as the world’s top PC maker in terms of shipments in 2013. However, there are good news for HP, which edged Lenovo to regain the title of world top’s PC maker, according to IDC. Worldwide PC shipments totaled 60.3 million units in the first quarter of 2017, growing by just 0.6 percent compared to the same quarter the previous year. IDC previously forecast a decline of 1.8 percent in PC shipments, so the positive growth was a sign the PC market is recovering. Quarterly PC shipments…