Today, the first business model that comes to mind for Linux or open-source software is to offer paid business support. It wasn’t always that way. In Linux’s early days, companies such as Caldera, Red Hat, and SUSE still thought you could make money by selling Linux in a box to ordinary users. Before Red Hat figured this out, when it retired Red Hat Linux in favor of the commercial RHEL in 2003, Linuxcare had already emerged as the first important Linux support company in 1998....

1Password’s first foray into the digital wallet arena is an application programming interface, or API, called Save in 1Password, which integrates with Phantom wallet so that users can protect and trade their tokens, NFTs and collectibles built on the Solana blockchain. With Save in 1Password, the company said, digital wallet holders can now save all Phantom wallet credentials and keys to 1Password without the hassle of logging on or the threat of losing access forever....

Entry-level data scientists need to get acquainted with Microsoft Excel. If you’re already familiar with it, the one-hour “Excel Pro Tips: Data Visualization” course can take you way past regular charts into the program’s powerful data visualization tools. Then, you can dive deeper into four hours of lessons with “Microsoft Excel: Data Visualization with Charts & Graphs.” Similarly, data analysis requires a firm foundation in both statistics and probability theory....

The challenge for any creative material is to stand out among the almost endless competition. But with so many brands using boldly colorful graphics and highly polished text, there’s only so much you have left to work with. But now, you can get five years of unlimited access to five million customizable icons to make your content come alive with Noun Project. New users can get an Unlimited Individual Plan for $79....

A survey of 750 CIOs and other IT leaders by software company Pegasystems found confidence in tech teams was “on shaky ground” as organizations look to radically overhaul their IT functions. More than half (56%) of IT leaders surveyed said they were uncertain that their IT teams could bring about positive change in the department over the next five years, with almost one in five (17%) reporting either significant doubts or no confidence whatsoever....

With hybrid working now firmly established in many companies, technology that helps remote workers collaborate productively with office-based colleagues has become increasingly sought-after. According to Owl Labs, its products are used by over 100,000 organisations worldwide, including 84 in the Fortune 100. As with previous models, participants see a 360-degree panoramic view of the Meeting Owl-equipped room, plus up to three panels that dynamically zoom in on attendees who are speaking or moving....

The dismissal means the Office of Australian Information Commissioner’s (OAIC) lawsuit against Facebook, now Meta, can finally be heard in court after being stuck in court purgatory for almost two years. The lawsuit had been held up as Meta attempted to have the case thrown out through submissions that it does not conduct business nor collect personal information in Australia, which are requirements for an entity to be sued under the country’s privacy laws....

“The best business experiences meet people where they are already. More than one billion users connect to the business account across our messaging services every week,” Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said during the company’s Conversations conference. “They’re reaching out for help to find products and services and to buy anything from big ticket items to everyday goods. And today … we are opening WhatsApp to any business of any size around the world with WhatsApp Cloud API....

Gurman, who regularly covers Apple news, Facebook is planning to debut its first-ever smartwatch next year, though the timing is not fixed, writes Gurman, citing a single unnamed source. Writes Gurman, Gurman deems the watch, based on the image, to be akin to Apple’s Apple Watch in its industrial design. Apple plans to introduce three new smartwatches next year, writes Gurman, including Apple Watch Series 8, citing his previous reports....

The two new zero-day vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server – CVE-2022-41040 and CVE-2022-41082 – were detailed last week, with warnings that they could allow hackers to remotely gain access to internal services and execute remote code on networks. Now Microsoft has provided more information on how the vulnerabilities have already been used – in attacks that first started in August. In what’s described as a “small number of targeted attacks”, the CVE-2022-41040 and CVE-2022-41082 vulnerabilities were chained together to provide attackers with “hands-on-keyboard access”, which was used to perform Active Directory reconnaissance and to steal data....

Raspberry Robin malware has previously been seen installed with FakeUpdates malware, which has been linked to the Russian cyber-crime group EvilCorp. Raspberry Robin has also been used to deploy Lockbit ransomware, as well as IcedID, Bumblebee, and Truebot malware. Now, Microsoft has seen it being used to deploy Clop ransomware. Microsoft attributes Clop deployments connected with the use of Raspberry Robin to a group it tracks as DEV-0950. Its activities overlap with the advanced hacking groups tracked by FireEye as FIN11....

According to security firm Proofpoint, ever since Microsoft clamped down on Office macros, attackers have switched to using container files such as ISO and RAR attachments and Windows Shortcut (LNK) files. A key turning point in macro usage was in February, when Microsoft announced it would roll out a default block on internet-sourced Visual Basics for Applications (VBA) macros from April. That rollout plan was delayed until this week. “The most notable shift in campaign data is the emergence of LNK files; at least 10 tracked threat actors have begun using LNK files since February 2022....

Microsoft has been updating its core apps for Windows 11 with rounded edge windows. The visual refresh applies to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, according to Microsoft. It’s a preview feature for now and can be turned off or on using the Coming Soon feature in the respective apps. Microsoft’s design experts hope the redesign will make collaboration less painful. SEE: Windows 11: Here’s how to get Microsoft’s free operating system update “When it comes to the Microsoft legacy, Windows and Office have been twin heads....

The Dynamics 365 2022 Wave 1 plan includes information on updates for Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, Field Service, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Insights, Human Resources, Commerce, Fraud Protection, Business Central, Connected Spaces, Guides, Remote Assist, Customer Insights, Customer Voice, and Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Financial Services, Sustainability, and Nonprofit. Many of the features look to be incremental, with many mentions of the way data and AI are being enhanced to improve the base capabilities across the products....

Microsoft posted on September 21 a placeholder page for the event on microsoft.com/event (Thanks to The Walking Cat for the link.) On that page it simply says “Watch Live to See What’s Next” with a watercolor version of the Windows wallpaper screen. The event starts at 10 a.m. ET. Microsoft’s October 12 event is widely expected to be a launch pad for a number of refreshed Surface-branded products – but not for anything metaverse/AR/VR-related, as far as we Microsoft watchers have heard at this point....

The 2022 edition isn’t a major upgrade, primarily focusing on its new 11th generation Core i5 processor and enhanced security features for business users. However, the Surface Laptop Go 2’s lightweight and stylish design should appeal to those seeking an ultraportable laptop for general, daily use. It covers a lot of bases too, providing both consumer and business variants aimed at users ranging from budget-limited students to business travellers....

In that time, Microsoft has added features like the 49-person grid view to native and web apps, break out rooms and Together Mode, gradually extending the functionality that it offers to remote teams. The latest feature it’s bringing to Teams furthers its collaboration goal for hybrid work via third-party apps that tap its “share-to-stage” feature. The feature allows video call participants, rather than just the meeting host, to interact with content....

Also: The 25 most dangerous software vulnerabilities to watch out for The group was discovered to be using Exchange bugs to mine for cryptocurrency in May, two years after it first emerged. Notably, the group behind LemonDuck is taking advantage of high-profile security bugs by exploiting older vulnerabilities during periods where security teams are focussed on patching critical flaws, and even removing rival malware. “[LemonDuck] continues to use older vulnerabilities, which benefit the attackers at times when focus shifts to patching a popular vulnerability rather than investigating compromise,” the Microsoft 365 Defender Threat Intelligence Team note....

Beyond that, improvements in MIDI over Bluetooth have spurred a new generation of digital instruments offering new spins on familiar instruments as well as novel form factors; many have come to market via crowdfunding campaigns. These are allowing aspiring musicians to learn and more experienced songwriters and performers to create and perform anywhere. The keys In the 1980s, novel synthesizers such as the Casio VL-Tone VL-1 provided a (chintzy) keyboard you could carry in your backpack....

Mozilla just released Firefox 97.0.2, Firefox ESR 91.6.1, Firefox for Android 97.3.0, and Focus 97.3.0 with the security fixes. The bugs are also fixed in Thunderbird 91.6.2. Both CVE-2022-26485 and CVE-2022-26486 are critical use-after-free memory-related flaws. CVE-2022-26486 could also lead to an exploitable sandbox escape, according to Mozilla. SEE: Cybersecurity: Let’s get tactical (ZDNet special report) “Removing an XSLT parameter during processing could have led to an exploitable use-after-free. We have had reports of attacks in the wild abusing this flaw,” Mozilla explains....