Security News

Personalize your Windows 10 desktop with these three apps
2021-02-13 19:40

Using Windows 10 apps, you get an almost limitless number of ways to customize and personalize the operating system to meet your requirements. In this article, we highlight three apps that you can download for free that allow you to customize the appearance of the Windows 10 Desktop, Search and flyouts.

Just 2020 things: Miscreants hit remote desktops 700% harder as world's IT teams try to support locked-down staff
2021-02-09 14:26

Online criminals have increasingly targeted Remote Desktop Protocol connections over the past year, according to infosec biz ESET. During calendar 2020, ESET recorded what it said was a 768 per cent increase in attack attempts on RDP, a key Windows feature for remote working, during the course of the year. Roman Kováč, ESET's chief research officer, said in a statement: "RDP security is not to be underestimated especially due to ransomware, which is commonly deployed through RDP exploits, and, with its increasingly aggressive tactics, poses a great risk to both private and public sectors."

Windows Remote Desktop servers now used to amplify DDoS attacks
2021-01-21 14:18

Windows Remote Desktop Protocol servers are now being abused by DDoS-for-hire services to amplify Distributed Denial of Service attacks. The Microsoft RDP service is a built-in Windows service running on TCP/3389 and/or UDP/3389 that enables authenticated remote virtual desktop infrastructure access to Windows servers and workstations.

DDoS booters use Windows Remote Desktop servers to amplify attacks
2021-01-21 14:18

Windows Remote Desktop Protocol servers are now being abused by DDoS-for-hire services to amplify Distributed Denial of Service attacks. The Microsoft RDP service is a built-in Windows service running on TCP/3389 and/or UDP/3389 that enables authenticated remote virtual desktop infrastructure access to Windows servers and workstations.

How to use Mozilla's VPN service across mobile and desktop platforms
2020-11-19 18:20

Mozilla now offers a VPN service that protects Windows and mobile devices, and soon your Linux and macOS desktops. Jack Wallen shows you how to use the new offering.

SAD DNS cache poisoning: A temporarily fix for Linux servers and desktops
2020-11-13 15:51

Jack Wallen walks you through the process of putting in place a temporary fix against SAD DNS for your Linux servers and desktops. There's a new DNS cache poisoning threat in town and it goes by the name of Side-channel AttackeD DNS. This new attack works like so: SAD DNS makes it possible for hackers to reroute traffic destined to a specific domain to a server under their control.

Now-patched Ubuntu desktop vulnerability allows privilege escalation
2020-11-11 13:44

GitHub security researcher Kevin Backhouse found bugs in Ubuntu 20.04 which enabled any desktop user to get root access. Backhouse discovered two separate issues, one by accident, which together enable the privilege escalation.

Ubuntu's Gnome desktop could be tricked into giving root access
2020-11-10 11:41

A vulnerability in GNOME Display Manager could allow a standard user to create accounts with increased privileges, giving a local attacker a path to run code with administrator permissions. The process involves running a few simple commands in the terminal and modifying general system settings that do not require increased rights.

Avaya redesigns its Avaya Vantage desktop device to improve the home-office experience
2020-11-09 01:30

Avaya announced a redesign of its Avaya Vantage desktop device to significantly improve the home-office experience. The Avaya Vantage and Avaya Spaces are central to Avaya's Composable Home Office Solutions strategy - which is driven by the Avaya OneCloud framework and leverages the capabilities of Avaya OneCloud UCaaS, CCaaS and CPaaS. This new approach empowers businesses with the capability to compose personalized home office experiences for their employees and customer service agents.

1Password for Linux desktop app now available in beta
2020-10-22 15:17

The popular password manager 1Password is now available for Linux users in beta version. Pegged for an official release in early 2021, the Linux release for 1Password - which has been used by Windows and Mac users for years - offers a "Full-featured desktop app" where users can securely manage and store passwords and other important credentials, such as credit card information.