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Google Chromebooks Are a Hit with Security Experts
When the team behind Google's Chrome OS software and Chromebooks set out to reinvent the laptop, it quickly zeroed in on security as an area where it could bring a fresh perspective. Some analysts say that Chromebooks have gained popularity through a combination of affordability and simple but effective security.
USB-C Explained: How to Get the Most from It (And Why It's Great)
USB-C is now part and parcel of most laptops, phones and tablets made today. Because the USB-C plug is symmetrical, it can be inserted either way, eliminating the frustrations of earlier USB ports and putting it on a par with Apple’s reversible Lightning plug. On many laptops and desktops, the USB-C specification also supports Intel’s Thunderbolt 3 data-transfer technology. A USB-C port equipped with Thunderbolt 3 can push data speeds to a theoretical limit of 40Gbps.
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Blockchain and Cryptocurrency May Soon Underpin Cloud Storage
The emerging blockchain-based distributed storage market could challenge traditional cloud storage services, such as Amazon AWS and Dropbox, for a cut of the cloud storage market. One analyst noted that "cold storage is one of most prime opportunities for blockchain right now. It's a $200 billion market."
Containers vs. Serverless Computing: Why to Go Serverless
Containers let developers deploy, replicate, move, and back up a workload even more quickly and easily than via the use of the more popular virtual machines. Yet some analysts think that “serverless” is more appealing than containers. Serverless refers to services like AWS Lambda that offer developers a way to focus on writing application logic rather than server infrastructure.
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4 in 10 US Millennials Find Paying with Cash 'Inconvenient,' Study Finds
New research from Capital One shows that only 4 in 10 (41 percent) of those surveyed said they carried cash regularly, while 1 in 4 (25 percent) said they rarely or never carry cash at all. The cashless trend is especially pronounced among millennials: Among that 18–25 age group, 34 percent rarely or never carry cash compared with 25 percent in the over-55 demographic.
FTR Solutions Offers Complimentary ATM Fraud Prevention Framework
FTR Solutions announced its release of the ATM Fraud Prevention Framework which is a freely available publication that brings together a comprehensive set of best practice and anti-fraud requirements with a suite of validation tests to assess fraud exposure at self-service devices. FTR Solutions said that it is providing the framework to the industry at no charge as a global crime prevention initiative.
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How Will the Smartphone of the Future Impact Banking?
The smartphone of the future will have “invisible innovations” including 5G connectivity, AI capabilities, machine-learning chips and processing power far beyond phones today. These devices will increasingly be used to authenticate access to physical and digital environments including homes, stores, information systems and all banking channels.
Overhauling the Mobile Account Opening Experience
With nearly 1 in 3 checking account applicants turning first to smartphones, mobile origination is a huge problem for the banking industry that is long overdue for a makeover. A combination of poor user experience, confusing fraud screening processes, and an inability in most cases to save and resume applications continue to force applicants offline, or to competitors. Javeline states that FIs must better integrate their product marketing content with mobile banking experiences, and provide clear support and guidance during the application—even when it means suggesting that the user come into a branch.
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Think of 'Insiders' When Drafting and Implementing Security Policies
Almost every organization has a range of vendors and vendor personnel on site at their facilities, rendering services on an ongoing basis. This article covers some ways that you can mitigate the risks that flow from vendor use of customer technology systems.
Only 26% of US Companies That Paid Ransomware Attackers Had Files Unlocked
Ransomware attacks continue to rise, and organizations that pay the hackers in hopes of unlocking their files often find themselves both out of luck and victims of future attacks, according to a new report from security firm SentinelOne. Some 45% of US companies hit with ransomware last year paid at least one ransom, according to the report. However, only 26% of those actually had their files unlocked afterwards. Further, organizations that paid the ransom were targeted and attacked again 73% of the time, the report found.
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People Are Going into Debt for Rewards Points and Miles: Survey
A recent survey revealed that nearly 40% of people with rewards credit cards also carry debt on those cards, negating some or all the benefits rewards cards provide. On average, the balance is often nearly enough to swamp any benefit the cardholder might receive rewards-wise from the card.
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Online Banking/E-Commerce/Website Design
Visa Gets Set for the Next Big EMV Phase - Making Contactless Transactions Routine
With the EMV conversion mostly behind it, the United States is ripe for another big change at the point of sale—adoption of tap-and-go payments, says Visa. With 96% of its payment volume now chip-based, Visa’s goal is to process 55% of its U.S. payment volume from contactless-enabled terminals by the end of the year.
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SpaceX Plan for Global Satellite Internet Service Approved by FCC
The FCC has put its weight behind a plan by aerospace manufacturer SpaceX to cover large swathes of the United States with broadband Internet through a large constellation of satellites.
Shedding Light on Broadband Performance for an Optimized SD-WAN
Broadband variability is a big problem for companies looking to shift to SD-WAN, and network professionals might wish they had a “broadband scorecard” to help them decide which type of broadband to use. ThousandEyes' says that they have a solution that can help by monitoring broadband performance which enables network professionals to make an educated decision before moving to a broadband-based SD-WAN.
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Apple's Business Chat Means One Day You Might Ask HomePod for a Loan
The author predicts that you won’t just be asking Siri to play songs or for the temperature; you will soon be asking it to conduct much more complex tasks, such as arranging loans and paying bills.
IBM Watson Comes to Contact Centers
Digital-only Australian bank UBank has teamed up with IBM to create a "hyper-personalised" AI-powered cognitive assistant for customer service employees. Called RoboBrain, the assistant relies on IBM's Watson to create a one stop, one screen tool for searching information at UBank. Staffers talking to customers on the phone or via LiveChat can type one of thousands of questions, in natural language, and get answers in a couple of seconds.
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