Month: October 2023
Canada joins list of nations to ban Kaspersky and WeChat from government devices
Privacy concerns surrounding the instant messaging service and antivirus software have prompted the Canadian government to take action.
Kaspersky and WeChat have been banned from Canadian government devices due to security concerns – although both companies think other motives are at play.
This isn’t the first time both apps have been prohibited on the North American continent, as they were previously banned on US government devices too.
Kaspersky, a well-known antivirus software suite, and WeChat, an instant messaging service, are rumored to have connections to Russia and China respectively, hence the decision from yet another western power to throw them out of official circles.
“An unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security”
In a statement released by the Treasury Board of Canada, both applications “present an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security,” due to their potential affiliations with governments that may seek to compromise the security of Canada and its allies.
Both WeChat and Kaspersky responded to the ban by blaming geopolitical tensions and ideology as its basis, rather than due to any security concerns. Kaspersky issued a statement saying, “there has been no evidence or due process to otherwise justify these actions,” adding that the decision is merely “a response to the geopolitical climate rather than a comprehensive evaluation of the integrity of Kaspersky’s products and services.”
Similarly, at a press briefing, WeChat spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, “we hope that the Canadian side will discard ideological prejudices, abide by the principles of market economy and provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises.”
In 2017, Kaspersky was banned from use on government devices in the US due to concerns surrounding the antivirus manufacturers links to Moscow. It has also been “confirmed as malicious” by the European Union and was banned from use within its infrastructure in 2018.
The Canadian Treasury Board further stated that, “the decision to remove and block the WeChat and the Kaspersky applications was made to ensure that government of Canada networks and data remain secure and protected and are in line with the approach of our international partners.”
Via Reuters
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Apple unveils new M3 chips and M3-powered iMacs
Apple today announced major updates to its chips, its next-generation M3 chips, along with new M3-powered 24-inch iMacs. The new
The post Apple unveils new M3 chips and M3-powered iMacs appeared first on ReadWrite.
Apple today announced major updates to its chips, its next-generation M3 chips, along with new M3-powered 24-inch iMacs. The new releases demonstrate Apple’s continued rapid pace of innovation as it transitions its Macs to its own custom silicon.
The M3 chips are Apple’s first built on the cutting-edge 3nm process node, packing even more transistors into a tight space for increased performance and power efficiency. The M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max represent sizable upgrades over Apple’s previous M-series chips. No M3 Ultra has been announced as of yet.
The standard M3 chip offers an 8-core CPU with up to a 10-core GPU, delivering up to 35% faster CPU performance and up to 65% faster graphics versus the M1. The high-end M3 Max packs up to a 40-core GPU and 16-core CPU, providing up to 80% faster CPU performance and 50% faster graphics over the M1 Max.
The three chips feature upgrades in engine performance and memory support
All three new chips also feature upgraded neural engine performance, boosted unified memory support up to 128GB, and new capabilities like hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading for vastly improved graphics. Complementing the new M3 chips, Apple also unveiled M3-powered 24-inch iMacs. The new all-in-one desktops leverage the performance gains of the M3 to deliver up to 2x faster performance over previous M1 iMacs.
The new iMacs feature the same ultra-thin design in seven colors, along with a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display. With the M3’s advanced media engine, the new iMacs can handle creative workloads like editing high-resolution photos and multiple 4K video streams.
For customers upgrading from older Intel iMacs, Apple promises up to 4x faster performance over a 21.5-inch model and up to 2.5x over popular 27-inch configurations. The company is clearly aiming to convince remaining Intel users to make the switch to Apple silicon.
Both the M3 chips and new 24-inch iMacs demonstrate Apple’s relentless focus on bringing its custom silicon to more Macs and pushing the envelope on performance. The company is promising massive gains for both everyday users and creative professionals.
Apple is now taking orders for the new M3 iMacs, with availability starting November 7. The M3 chips will also power the newly announced MacBook Pros and Mac minis. With even more Macs transitioning to Apple silicon this fall, the company is firmly committed to completing its two-year transition away from Intel.
Featured Image Credit: Junior Teixeira; Pexels; Thank you!
The post Apple unveils new M3 chips and M3-powered iMacs appeared first on ReadWrite.
Best Cheap Home Security Cameras for 2023 – CNET
These budget-friendly security cameras will help you monitor and protect your home inside and out.
These budget-friendly security cameras will help you monitor and protect your home inside and out.
Apple Releases New Firmware for AirTags
Apple today released a new firmware update designed for the AirTag item trackers. The firmware features a build number of 2A61, up from the 2A36 firmware that came out last December.
It has been nearly a year since Apple updated the firmware on the AirTags, and there is no word yet on what might be included in the update.
Today’s firmware release will be rolling out on a staggered basis. One percent of users will get the update today, and then it will expand to 10 percent of users on November 7. On November 14, an additional 25 percent of users will see the update, and then it will be available to all on November 28.
It is not possible to force an AirTag update, as it’s something that’s done over-the-air through a connected iPhone. To make sure the update happens, you can put your AirTag in range of your iPhone, but you have to wait for the firmware to roll out to your device. You can check your current AirTag firmware version through the Find My app, with instructions available in our how to.Tag: AirTagsRelated Forum: AirTagsThis article, “Apple Releases New Firmware for AirTags” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple today released a new firmware update designed for the AirTag item trackers. The firmware features a build number of 2A61, up from the 2A36 firmware that came out last December.
It has been nearly a year since Apple updated the firmware on the AirTags, and there is no word yet on what might be included in the update.
Today’s firmware release will be rolling out on a staggered basis. One percent of users will get the update today, and then it will expand to 10 percent of users on November 7. On November 14, an additional 25 percent of users will see the update, and then it will be available to all on November 28.
It is not possible to force an AirTag update, as it’s something that’s done over-the-air through a connected iPhone. To make sure the update happens, you can put your AirTag in range of your iPhone, but you have to wait for the firmware to roll out to your device. You can check your current AirTag firmware version through the Find My app, with instructions available in our how to.
This article, “Apple Releases New Firmware for AirTags” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
You Can Grab Samsung’s Versatile M8 Smart Monitor for $300 Off – CNET
Samsung’s M8 smart monitor can function both as a monitor and as a TV, so this is a great deal if you need something that versatile
Samsung’s M8 smart monitor can function both as a monitor and as a TV, so this is a great deal if you need something that versatile