Terminating Support For Windows 10 May Help The Struggling PC Market But Will Come At A Huge Environmental Cost

The end of Windows 10 support was announced by software giant Microsoft and the news was taken with joy. After all, the current PC market needed all the help it could get, considering its ongoing struggle.

The decision meant millions of computers would no longer be given a second life. And in return, we’re seeing staggering figures that cause many to be transformed into dumps inside landfills. The latter is a huge issue as far as the environment is concerned.

The news gave rise to a refresh cycle for clients but ending support could have so many useful PCs ending inside the dump. The PC market continues to stabilize as we talk. And that was expected considering how promising the latest Windows 11 was. It’s a new start and a great one, experts feel. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees as climate activists are having their say on the subject.

A staggering 57% of all partners are hoping for the end of the support shown by Windows 10 to impact users' plans for a revamp, as early as next year. So in the span of the next two years, we’re going to witness every one in three computers getting a replacement.

The firm’s enticing capabilities mean users can no longer make plans for amendments and refurbishment and then go about reselling them. All such PCs can’t get support from Windows 11.

Seeing the tech giant’s decision worsening the already huge e-waste issue is definitely a matter that’s being talked about. It proves how OS vendors have such an integral role in society and assists in giving rise to more IT models.

Toward the end of 2023, it wouldn’t be wrong to add how so many challenges have arisen for computers. But seeing Microsoft take the step to help the struggle was a reason to celebrate as the hope of optimism arose.

Critics estimate that the computer market will go back to its growth figures of 8% by next year as so many clients attempt to refresh their computers during the era of the pandemic while innovative AI offerings keep popping up.

There is also much talk about the decision and how it ensures growth to get back to normal levels that once stood at 8%. Seeing customers refreshing the figure for PCs during the pandemic period means paving the way for new technology too, which in case you didn’t know is AI.

But not everything that glitters is gold right now. Millions of devices don’t have the needed hardware updates for the new OS. This halts channels from carrying out a refurbishment of the viable computers to get a second chance.

Close to 240 million computers will end up in the dump as soon as support for Windows 10 comes to a halt, as per Canalys.

The incompatibility factor would mean by October 2025, one-fifth of all devices would be trashed, and that would give rise to a significant amount of waste, close to 240 million computers. When you fold all of these up together, you would get an approximate height of 600km that reaches for the moon and that’s massive!

While many agree that landfills have always been dominated by e-waste, companies have been called out to make wiser decisions to limit this outcome.

That is why people recommend recycling parts when and if possible. However, the biggest drawback here is the incompatibility which causes a massive drop in value for both reselling and refurbishing.

Therefore, a lot of discussion has to do with the fact that there’s a big responsibility on the shoulders of vendors who can in the future maximize the lifespan of products galore. This can be done by focusing more on repairing, making parts durable, and ensuring their recycling ability is at an all-time high.

Similarly, ensuring they’re safe and can be used for as long as possible is the goal and must be promoted even more now as we speak.

However, right now, the current situation is such that no rules are in place to make the change happen. Yes, the EU is paving the way to forcing vendors to give out more updates after launch but more needs to be done on this front, considering how massive e-waste problems have become.

Read next: Google’s Holiday Gift For Users Includes Major Upgrades And New Features On Chrome
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Google’s Holiday Gift For Users Includes Major Upgrades And New Features On Chrome

Right before the holiday season kickstarts, Google has opted to give its users a treat.

This includes some major upgrades on Chrome as well as innovative features to play with while browsing. Moreover, the largest change has to do with the browser’s new Safety Check endeavor which is designed to ensure safety and privacy to the highest degree across websites.

The latest blog post from the search engine giant mentioned how there will be a background Safety Check running through automated means, whenever Chrome is used. Therefore, users will receive notifications on this front, especially in cases when a passcode is saved on Chrome and may have been breached.

In the same way, any harmful extensions would also be discussed that would serve as serious threats. If you are not making use of the newest Chrome version or if a particular page needs your undivided attention, that again would be taken into consideration.

The alerts would pop up across the Chrome menu so if any attention is needed, users can respond to it immediately. The safety check across Chrome is also designed to cut out permission so specific features may be used on a page including microphone access or locating a particular area that probably wasn’t visited in a really long time.

In situations where the user has not visited a site in a long time, yet continues to get alerts from there frequently, they’ll also be informed about that through Chrome.

Other changes are for the Memory Saver feature where more tabs are included regarding how much memory continues to be utilized and any savings that occur in cases when it’s not active.

Google has also made it simpler for users to highlight which pages they feel should remain active at all times. This way, you don’t have to constantly remind or bookmark such situations where an active status is mandatory.

Last but not least, the search engine giant added several changes for tag groups that force users to include a long list of tabs in one particular location so that it’s more organized and less chaotic. The latter is a feature that the company thinks can be useful for those using Chrome on several devices through a single account.

The features are all set to arrive on users’ desktops in the next couple of weeks. Moreover, you can save these tab groups for easier access on a host of other devices having desktops too. This gives users Chrome users the chance to carefully select any project’s support apps or programs.

Google says it hopes it can include some more innovative and useful rollouts, in addition to this handy list. The tentative date would be during the start of 2023, making use of the company’s latest and much talked about AI Gemini model. While the latter has had its own controversies, there are still a lot of hopes attached to it with more software updates coming soon.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

A Content Creator Accused Google of Stealing their Content and Google Responded Quickly

In a surprising turn of events, a publisher accused Google of stealing its content. The publisher came to X to discuss that Google was using their content in the search result, including all the photos, without mentioning the original owner of the content. But Google didn’t sit silent on this issue and came forward with its own response. The owner of the original content showed details about instances where Google was using their content, especially in branded and site searches. Even if the users search “Mexico Travel Tips' ', Google was showing results that were exact copy of original content, including stolen photos. The publisher was angry and asked Google about all the legal measures and how stealing someone's content is categorized as competition.

Like how is it legal for Google to just essentially create entire blog posts from creators' content and images?

I literally have a law degree from the top law school in the world, and even I can't figure it out!

Fair use does NOT apply if you're using the content to compete…

— Nate Hake (@natejhake) December 20, 2023

Danny Sullivan, Google's SearchLiaison, responded to all these allegations with an explanation of the situation. Sullivan acknowledged the problem faced by the publisher of the original content creator and assured him that he would tell the Google team about his feedback so they can start sorting out this problem. He also mentioned that when the creator’s content comes up in the result, a link is also added there which takes users to the original webpage. He also said that he personally dislikes the preview-to-click feature that makes a picture only if the user clicks on it and helps users decide if an image is relevant to their search query.

Hey Nate, this got flagged to my attention. I'll pass along the feedback to the team. Pretty sure this isn't a new feature. Elsewhere in the thread, you talk about it being an AI answer, and I'm pretty sure that's not the case, either. It's a way to refine an initial query and… pic.twitter.com/rO2dyaISbT

— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) December 20, 2023

I appreciate your thoughts and concerns. I do. The intention overall is to make search better, which includes ensuring people do indeed continue to the open web -- because we know for us to thrive, the open web needs to thrive. But I can also appreciate that this might not seem…

— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) December 20, 2023

Sullivan also said that he understands the importance of supporting content creators, especially on Google, and ensured that he will work hard to make content more thriving on open web. He promised that he will share all the problems and concerns with the search team of Google and they will review how the features of Google can help the users feel supported. He said that your content ranking on Google’s top results is also a form of google supporting content creators. This whole discussion on X was a great example for people about fair use of their legal rights and also highlighted the feelings of publishers when Google uses their content.

Photo: DIW-AI-gen

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Adopting CNAPP in Your Organization: Step by Step

What Is Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP)?

CNAPP, which stands for Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform, is a security platform specifically designed to protect cloud-native applications throughout their lifecycle. It’s a comprehensive solution that covers multiple security aspects such as workload protection, application control, and vulnerability management.

Image created with AI

While traditional security strategies struggle to keep pace with rapid development cycles and dynamic computing environments, CNAPP is designed with the cloud in mind. It understands the unique challenges and opportunities presented by cloud-native applications and leverages this insight to provide exceptional protection. It’s not just about reacting to threats, but proactively mitigating potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

CNAPP is widely recognized as the way forward for organizations that are serious about securing their cloud-native applications.

Benefits of Adopting CNAPP in Your Organization

Comprehensive Security Coverage

Traditional security strategies often involve a patchwork of disparate tools and processes, each addressing a different aspect of security. This can lead to gaps in coverage, leaving the organization vulnerable to attacks. With CNAPP, this issue is effectively addressed.

CNAPP provides an all-encompassing security solution designed to protect every aspect of your cloud-native applications. It covers everything from container security to serverless function protection, and from workload security to vulnerability management and protection against identity threats. This holistic approach minimizes the risk of attacks slipping through the cracks, providing your organization with a robust line of defense against even the most sophisticated threats.

Enhanced Visibility and Control

With traditional security solutions, getting a clear, real-time picture of your security posture can be challenging. You may have to juggle multiple dashboards and reports, and even then, you may not have all the information you need.

CNAPP provides a centralized dashboard that gives you a complete, real-time view of your security posture. This includes detailed insights into the security status of your cloud-native applications, as well as alerts for any potential threats or vulnerabilities. This level of visibility is invaluable in enabling you to quickly identify and respond to potential issues before they can escalate.

CNAPP also offers improved control over your security operations. With its policy-based approach, you can define your organization's security policies and ensure they are consistently enforced across your entire application portfolio. This makes it easier to maintain a strong security posture and reduces the risk of non-compliance.

Improved Compliance Management

CNAPP not only helps you enforce your organization's security policies but also assists in maintaining compliance with various regulatory standards. It provides features like automated compliance checks and detailed compliance reporting, making it easier to demonstrate your compliance to auditors and regulators.

By adopting CNAPP, you can simplify your compliance management processes and reduce the risk of non-compliance. This not only saves you time and resources but also helps protect your organization's reputation and bottom line.

Implementing CNAPP in Your Organization: Step by Step

Evaluating Current Security Posture

Before adopting CNAPP, it is imperative to assess your organization's current security posture. This evaluation should encompass all facets of your existing infrastructure, scrutinizing its strengths, vulnerabilities, and areas for improvement. It is also essential to understand the potential risks that could lead to data breaches.

This evaluation will help you gauge the level of protection your organization currently has and identify any gaps that need to be filled. Taking a proactive approach to security will help you stay ahead of cybersecurity threats. When you are fully aware of your organization's security strengths and weaknesses, you will be better equipped to make informed decisions about adopting CNAPP.

Vendor Evaluation and Selection Process

Once you have a clear understanding of your security needs, the next step is selecting a suitable CNAPP vendor. As with any procurement process, it's important to conduct a thorough evaluation of potential vendors, focusing on their credibility, experience, and the efficacy of their product.

Consider the vendor's reputation in the market, their previous work, client testimonials, and any industry awards or recognitions they might have received. Additionally, compare the features and functionality of their CNAPP solution with your organization's specific requirements.

Preparing Your Cloud Environment

Preparing your cloud environment for CNAPP implementation is a key step. This includes creating a robust and scalable cloud infrastructure that can support the CNAPP solution. Ensure that your cloud provider offers comprehensive security features and complies with industry-standard security protocols. Remember that CNAPP cannot replace the cloud provider’s native security measures.

It's also crucial to develop an effective cloud governance model. This includes defining roles and responsibilities, setting up security policies, and establishing a process for monitoring and managing your cloud resources. A well-structured cloud environment will provide a solid foundation for your CNAPP solution.

Installing and Configuring the CNAPP Solution

After preparing your cloud environment, the next step is installing and configuring the CNAPP solution. This involves setting up the necessary software components and integrating them with your existing infrastructure. Ensure that the CNAPP solution is configured according to your organization's specific needs and security requirements.

It's also important to conduct comprehensive testing after the CNAPP solution is installed. These tests will help you confirm that the CNAPP solution is working as expected and that it provides the desired level of protection.

Integrating CNAPP with Existing Security Tools and Platforms

To maximize the benefits of CNAPP, it's essential to integrate it with your existing security tools and platforms. This includes your antivirus software, intrusion detection system, firewall, and other security solutions. By integrating CNAPP with these tools, you can create a unified and robust infrastructure that offers a holistic view of your organization's security posture.

Setting Up Policies and Controls

Policies and controls define how the CNAPP solution should operate and help manage access to your organization's data and resources. They play a crucial role in ensuring that your organization's security posture remains strong and that your data remains protected.

When setting up policies and controls, consider your organization's specific needs and potential security risks. Also, ensure that these policies and controls are clearly communicated to all stakeholders.

Training IT and Security Teams on CNAPP

The final step in adopting CNAPP in your organization is training your IT and security teams. This training should cover the key features and functionality of the CNAPP solution, as well as best practices for using it. This will enable your team to effectively manage and leverage the CNAPP solution, further strengthening your organization's security posture.

In conclusion, adopting CNAPP in your organization involves a series of steps, from evaluating your current security posture to training your IT and security teams. By carefully planning and executing each step, you can ensure a smooth and effective CNAPP implementation. This will help you enhance your organization's security infrastructure, stay ahead of cybersecurity threats, and protect your valuable data and resources.
by Gilad David Maayan via Digital Information World

Soon, You'll Be Able to Receive PayPal Payments from US Businesses with Payoneer. Good News For Freelancers Where PayPal Is Not Available!

Exciting news for all the freelancers residing in countries where PayPal doesn’t work as the payment system is going to be accessible soon in those countries (such as Bangladesh, Ghana, Iraq and Pakistan). Many people worry when a company or any other business residing in the USA asks them to provide their PayPal account or invoice so they can send them the payment. But in many countries, PayPal is not available. Many freelancers use Payoneer instead of PayPal, as PayPal account has more benefits as you can easily receive payments from US businesses.

When you open the Payoneer product update page, and under the heading "Feature Spotlight: Paypal for Payoneer — Up Your Payment Power with Paypal for Payoneer", there is a news floating around that soon PayPal will work through Payoneer in the countries where PayPal isn’t available. This means that users will send the payment request to their client residing in the USA through Payoneer and the client will be able to send the payment through his PayPal account. Plus, PayPal rates are going to be more reasonable than Payoneer. The receiver will receive the payment in his Payoneer account.

In Payoneer words: "You’ll soon be able to delight your US clients with even more flexibility with an upcoming PayPal payment method. All you need to do is send them the bill, and they can choose PayPal from their payment options."

If you have a Payoneer account, check your email as you might have also received this exciting news about PayPal payments in your inbox.

There are also some important updates to the Payoneer account. Payoneer has announced that it is going to upgrade their services and introduce new features. Payoneer has also improved its mobile card transactions and soon they can also be done through biometric verification. This will provide security to your payments and you will experience less safety issues. Users of Payoneer will also be able to pay up to 500 Payoneer accounts in one click. You can also allow the contributor role to a person and he will be able to perform transaction payments on your behalf (may someone who is good at accounts). Users will also be able to schedule their payments for the future. In addition to Payoneer supporting the PayPal payment method, all these updates will bring a nice touch to Payoneer, allowing freelancers to reach wider business globally.

Read next: Top 10 Things that You Need to Do with Your Tech Devices this New Year
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Google Agrees To $700 Million Payout And Minor Concessions To Play Store After Illegal Monopoly Accusations

Search engine giant Google was in the hot seat last week after a jury ruled against the company and declared it guilty of illegal monopoly behavior at the Play Store.

This particular anti-trust lawsuit granted victory to its accusers Epic Games but they were not the sole party fighting this case. A combination of 50 attorney generals united and settled a similar case three months back.

Now, we’re seeing Google agree upon handing down results linked to $700 million in payout and some minor concessions being made too. This has to do with how the Play Store works across the US.

Moreover, the largest change of them all is reportedly tied to Google allowing developers to take some of its customers linked to the Play Store for a few years, in case the settlement is finalized.

This particular settlement features a staggering 68-page summary of what all it entails but we’ve generated a summary regarding it for you below.

As a whole, $700 million would be the total payment made by the tech giant which is nearly 3 weeks of operating profits generated solely through the app store. Out of this, $629,000 would be released to those who may have paid extra for the company’s apps or any purchases done online through Google Play, minus the great figure of taxes, fees of lawyers, and more.

Furthermore, $70 million of the total goes to those American states and would be used for purposes outlined by their Attorney Generals. And then $1 million is used for administration settlements.

For a staggering 7 years, we will see the company enable Android so that it can install apps from other parties involved through Mobile Devices. This is other than the usual Google Play. On the other hand, for 5 years, we’ll see the company enable developers to give alternatives for billing systems through the app via a feature dubbed Choice Billing.

Then for another 5 years, we’ll see Google take a back seat as developers can offer any price they seem as a fit for clients picking Google Play and its respective Billing option. This is just many of the clauses outlined and it’s a huge setback for the Android maker for obvious reasons.

While it might sound like a huge deal and a lot to compromise on Google’s part, critics agree that the amendments are not coming slowly and will ultimately result in a unique Google App Store landscape that most of us are rarely accustomed to. When you look at the way Google has been working in the last decade, this new picture is very different from that. However, it’s important to mention that not all of the changes are real concessions, and let’s not forget how they come attached with expiration dates. Hence, it’s not everlasting. Meanwhile, a lot of the changes outlined are linked to the company’s User Choice Billing endeavor which was dubbed fake in the past as proven by Google.

As confirmed by Google, the spokesperson added how the participants from the Choice Billing are given discounted rates of 4% from what Google charges users via its respective payment offerings. This will not change due to this settlement. The company found out how developers were losing out on funds when users opted for 4%. At the same time, the search engine giant claims firms such as Spotify were getting a free ride while billing others in the industry.

The most important thing here is linked to the search engine giant preventing company developers from adding links to their respective websites so users would attain discounted rates. Today, Google does not need to give developers the chance to add links that take users outside the app outlined via the Google Play store for making purchasing decisions.

It’s going to be interesting to figure out how Apple will enable links via buttons to other modes of payments as that’s yet to be discussed.

Meanwhile, as far as this particular settlement is concerned, the American states will request the judge to give out a final settlement by the first week of February. This is the same person in charge of overlooking the Epic Games versus Google endeavor.

Read next: Apple Races Against Time To Alter Its Smartwatch Algorithms After New Feature Accused Of Patient Infringement And May Result In Ban
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Apple Races Against Time To Alter Its Smartwatch Algorithms After New Feature Accused Of Patient Infringement And May Result In Ban

Tech giant Apple is racing against time to make some swift changes to its smartphone watches.

The iPhone maker is trying to devise a rescue mission to help prevent a complete ban on its smartwatches after an interesting feature was called out linked to its algorithms. This had to do with the measurement of the patient’s blood oxygen levels that could come under patient infringement.

Therefore, the Cupertino firm is not planning on taking any risks in this regard and hopes that its quick software amendments could potentially save it from a potential US ban. This is why the firm’s engineers are busy at work after the allegations arose from Masimo Corp in this regard.

They are now just so busy in terms of adjusting technology used to evaluate the levels of oxygen saturation and put it out as client data as per sources familiar with the matter.

So as one can imagine, it’s definitely one type of engineering effort that has high stakes linked to it, very different from what we’ve seen the company take part in the past. But it’s not the first time that the company’s offerings have been barred in certain nations regarding legal issues.

However, if such a ban does arise regarding this matter, it’s definitely not a small one as it would hit the company massively. After all, smartwatches are a huge seller and one of the organization’s main means to make money on its own soil where it resides.

Did we mention how it’s the holiday season and anything of this nature could affect sales massively and end up dramatically hitting profits as the year comes to a close.

Thanks to a veto conducted by the White House at the last moment, a ban may take effect by the ITC on Christmas, reports have gone on to add.

Now it’s up to Masimo as to how it plans on tackling the situation. It might enter into a deal with the iPhone maker in this debate but on most occasions, that’s not the route it takes or likes to take.

Meanwhile, both firms are showing no possibility of making any kind of deal of that sort on the matter so far. But at the moment, the Cupertino company is making swift and due efforts to modify the technology while attempting to win over favors alongside regulators.

When and if such bans hold true, the iPhone maker also has backup plans in place to provide options on a legal basis as well as the technical front.

It has already started to make amendments in its leading stores for the change. This entails new signs generated to leading retail firms marketing Apple Watch without any display of images from the Ultra 2 and the Series 9. Both the former and the latter are included in the ban, in case you did not know. However, the firm’s lower-end range for devices is still going to be up for grabs to customers, it added.

We would see the company halting sales of the barred smartwatches online by Thursday and then witness it pulling them out as in-store offerings by next week, presumably one day before Christmas.

It’s been a tough pill for Apple to swallow as the firm’s shares are down by nearly 1% during the start of the week as stocks did not change during pre-market trading the next day, where it remained at $196. Meanwhile, shares for Masimo went up by 3.2% during the week’s start.

Masimo just rolled out a press statement on the effective ban for smartwatches by Apple as it feels this is proof of how even some of the world’s most successful tech companies need to follow the law or be ready to witness penalization if they cannot.

The word has spread in Apple that there is a strong belief that changes done to software could do enough to save the organization from a thorough ban and we would soon see it back in stores very soon.

What is interesting is how the debate coming from users is more linked to the hardware than the software so let’s see how Apple really does get to the bottom of it.

Photo: DIW - AIgen

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