IT News Week 5 of Nov 2018 - Disk 2

For IT News Week 5 of Nov 2018, Western Union introduced online money transfer and mobile app is worth the attention.

For this week / last week, here are / were the biggest news:
  • Nov 30, 2018 - Microsoft pledges to transform communities and countries in ASEAN with digital skills development and jobs by 2020
  • Nov 30, 2018 - Kaspersky : 2018’s malicious crypto-mining fever powered by pirated software and content
  • Nov 29, 2018 - Sophos Introduces Lateral Movement Protection to XG Firewall to Stop Advancing Cyberattacks
  • Nov 28, 2018 - Sony Launches Life Space UX With the Glass Sound Speaker LSPX-S1
  • Nov 28, 2018 - LG Sets Out to Show that Disability Diversity in Tech is Good for Everyone
  • Nov 28, 2018 - Sydney - IDATE Report Highlights The Challenges Ahead In Connecting Everyone
Nov 30, 2018 - Microsoft pledges to transform communities and countries in ASEAN with digital skills development and jobs by 2020

Microsoft has pledged to provide 15,000 university students with internship opportunities, deliver digital skills training to 2.2 million SME employees, and to hire 8,500 digital workers by 2020 across ASEAN. The pledge was announced following the launch of the ASEAN Digital Skills Vision 2020 – an initiative that pledges to equip 20 million ASEAN workers with digital skills and opportunities in the next two years.



The ASEAN Digital Skills Vision 2020 was launched during the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2018 meeting in Vietnam, where concerns regarding talent shortages were highlighted:
  • The ASEAN workforce is expected to expand by 11,000 workers a day for the next 15 years
  • A global talent shortage amounting to US$8.5 trillion is expected, with countries like Indonesia to face a talent deficit of 18 million workers by 2030
  • The manufacturing industry is expected to be hit the hardest due to a mismatch between available skills and industry needs
By pledging its support, Microsoft aims to address the employment and skilling challenges brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, offering ASEAN citizens internship opportunities, training in digital skills and employment.

Sunny ParkDr. Jasmine Begum

Sunny Park, Assistant General Counsel and APAC Regional Director, Corporate, External and Legal Affairs, Microsoft Asia Pacific commented that she believed in a future where every young person has the skills, knowledge and opportunity to succeed.

Dr. Jasmine Begum, director, Legal, Government and Corporate Affairs for Microsoft Malaysia,said that the current trend is where technological developments are happening at an unprecedented pace, therefore, everybody must be up-skilled !

Nov 30, 2018 - Kaspersky : 2018’s malicious crypto-mining fever powered by pirated software and content

The global outbreak in malicious cryptocurrency mining that unfolded in 2018 saw the number of attacks increase by more than 83%, with over five million users attacked online in the first three quarters of the year, compared to 2.7 million over the same period in 2017.

The major driver behind the crypto gold rush was the installation and use of unlicensed software and content, according to Kaspersky Lab.

The analysis shows that neither cryptocurrency legislation nor the cost of power has a significant impact on the spread of malicious mining malware. However, the investigation of malware families reveals that they mainly infected devices by duping users into installing pirated software and unlicensed content.

To reduce the risk of infection with miners, consumers and businesses are advised to:
  • Always keep software updated on all the devices you use. To prevent miners from exploiting vulnerabilities, use tools that can automatically detect vulnerabilities and download and install patches.
  • For personal devices, use a reliable consumer security solution and remember to keep key features – such as System Watcher – switched on.
  • Don’t overlook less obvious targets, such as queue management systems, POS terminals, and even vending machines. As the miner that relied on the EternalBlue exploit shows, such equipment can also be hijacked to mine cryptocurrency.
  • Use application control to track malicious activity in legitimate applications. Specialized devices should be in Default Deny mode. Use dedicated security solution, such as Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business that includes these functions.
  • To protect the corporate environment, educate your employees and IT teams, keep sensitive data separate, and restrict access.
Nov 29, 2018 - Sophos Introduces Lateral Movement Protection to XG Firewall to Stop Advancing Cyberattacks

Sophos (LSE: SOPH), a global leader in network and endpoint security, today announced that its next-generation Sophos XG Firewall now includes lateral movement protection to prevent targeted, manual cyberattacks or exploits from infiltrating further into a compromised network.

The Sophos XG Firewall automatically interacts with Sophos’ endpoint products, including its new Intercept X Advanced with Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), to deliver this new layer of protection. These essential security anchors connect via the Security Heartbeat in Sophos’ Synchronised Security technology. This creates an intelligent solution that can proactively predict and protect against threats, detect and prevent further infection by automatically isolating machines, and remediate the infection. Security Heartbeat technology enables the automatic isolation of high-risk endpoints from other endpoints on the same broadcast domain or network segment.

Additional new and enhanced features in Sophos XG Firewall include:
  • Protection Enhancements
    • Deeper, broader IPS coverage with increased granularity in patterns
    • JavaScript cryptojacking protection
  • Sandstorm Sandboxing Enhancements
    • Intercept X integration to identify zero-day threats before they enter the network
    • Deep behavioural, network and memory analysis with machine learning, CryptoGuard, and exploit detection
  • Networking Enhancements
    • New Sophos Connect IPSec VPN client with support for Synchronised Security
  • Education Features
    • Chromebook client authentication support for user-based policy and reporting
    • User/group policy support for SafeSearch and YouTube restrictions
Nov 28, 2018 - Sony Launches Life Space UX With the Glass Sound Speaker LSPX-S1

Harmonising in perfect pitch with its interior surroundings, the Glass Sound Speaker LSPX-S1 fills rooms with pristine sound and crystalline illumination. The device gives the user complete control over every setting, enabling them to create vibrant, comfortable spaces for chatting, sharing meals, and spending quality time with friends and family. The tabletop Glass Sound Speaker emanates crystal-clear sound in all directions to enrich the sensory experience of familiar life spaces.
  • Designed to look like part of an everyday table setting, the Glass Sound Speaker LSPX-S1 blends effortlessly into the scene alongside tableware and cutlery
  • A creation that unlocks the potential of spaces to enrich everyday life with sound and warm illumination in new forms
  • Is now available at Sony Store KLCC, The Curve and authorized retailers in Malaysia

Sony Glass sound speaker LSPX-S1

Nov 28, 2018 - LG Sets Out to Show that Disability Diversity in Tech is Good for Everyone

LG Electronics partnered up with Rehabilitation International Korea (RI Korea) to host the 8th Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities, which took place in India from 9 – 11 November at The Ashok Hotel in New Delhi. The event, co-hosted by Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare and India’s Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment drew participation across 18 countries, including the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and Kyrgyzstan.

One of the criticisms of the technology industry is that by focusing primarily on products it has forgotten about people. Corporations need to show greater commitment to disability inclusion in product development as well as global development.

The IT Challenge was based on the philosophy that strengthens the technology skills in students with disabilities is a critical part of putting access to information and communication services on an equal basis with others.

Malaysian students have emerged first place winners in the e-Contents Challenge. They are Haris Ezani, Shahzan Ny bin Solihin, Noufah binti Abdullah Hajibilang and Mohammad Nizamudin bin Ismail. Securing first place in the e-Tool Challenge, under the individual category is Mohammad Nizamudin bin Ismail.

Nov 28, 2018 - Sydney - IDATE Report Highlights The Challenges Ahead In Connecting Everyone

The new Connecting Everyone report from French research company IDATE has revealed the real-world challenges in building universal Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) coverage, leaving a massive opportunity for ultra-fast Gfast and Fixed Wireless technology to deliver high-speed broadband.

Released at the IDATE DigiWorld Summit in Paris overnight, Connecting Everyone revealed that in the total serviceable global Fibre-to-the-Building (FTTB) and FTTH market of about 670 million premises that 60% of these – 402 million premises – are being served with FTTB technology.

Director of Marketing and Communications at NetComm, Els Baert, welcomed the findings of the IDATE report.

“Although initial goals of universal FTTH are admirable, many operators with a FTTH strategy find it very hard to take fibre all the way to the home, especially in Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs),” she said.

“By using Gfast, gigabit speeds are now possible in FTTB environments and by reverse powering the Gfast equipment, the installation and activation is much quicker.”

NetComm is already working with Australian operator NBN Co to deploy its Gfast enabled 8-port and 16-port DPUs onto the NBN Co Fibre-to-the-Curb (FTTC) network in Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs) and expects the first units to be delivered in the first half of 2019.

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