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A new malware campaign has been exploiting the updating mechanism of the eScan antivirus software to distribute backdoors and cryptocurrency miners like XMRig through a long-standing threat codenamed GuptiMiner targeting large corporate networks. Cybersecurity firm Avast said the activity is the work of a threat actor with possible connections to a North Korean hacking group dubbed Newsroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/[email protected]

A new ongoing malware campaign has been observed distributing three different stealers, such as CryptBot, LummaC2, and Rhadamanthys hosted on Content Delivery Network (CDN) cache domains since at least February 2024. Cisco Talos has attributed the activity with moderate confidence to a threat actor tracked as CoralRaider, a suspected Vietnamese-origin

A new ongoing malware campaign has been observed distributing three different stealers, such as CryptBot, LummaC2, and Rhadamanthys hosted on Content Delivery Network (CDN) cache domains since at least February 2024. Cisco Talos has attributed the activity with moderate confidence to a threat actor tracked as CoralRaider, a suspected Vietnamese-origin Newsroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/[email protected]

What is iCloud Drive?

In the simplest terms, iCloud Drive is Apple’s cross-platform cloud storage system that allows users to sync and store files, photos, videos, calendar events, contacts and other important data. iCloud Drive has been around since 2014, and while the platform is much more robust that it was in the early days, sometimes devices that rely on it don’t sync properly.

What is iCloud sync?

iCloud sync allows all of your devices to access the same updated data (or photos, videos, contacts, etc.), regardless of device. It’s usually reliable, but sometimes you’ll find content fails to sync between devices in the few seconds it should take. If this seems to be happening to you, these simple tricks can help get things running smoothly again.

Is iCloud sync on by default?

Yes, iCloud should be syncing your data automatically. But if there are some things you don’t want synced across devices, you can specify what gets shared via iCloud in System Settings (macOS) and Settings (iOS). You can even turn it off completely if for some reason you don’t want your data to sync.

Is everything up-to-date?

First, check to make sure you are running the latest version of macOS on your Mac, iOS on your iPad or iPhone, or Windows on a PC.

Check that iCloud is working

It also makes sense to double-check that iCloud services are working correctly before running through any other changes. You can visit Apple’s System Status page to make sure things are indeed up and running.

One of the first things to do is check Apple’s system status page for any outages.

Make sure you are properly logged in

Step two is to ensure you are logged into iCloud using the same Apple ID on all your devices. Go to icloud.com, login with your Apple ID and then tap iCloud Settings (either the gear-shaped box icon or by selecting it in the drop-down menu underneath your name at the top right of the iCloud browser window).

In the next window, you should see your storage space status and a row called My Devices. Are all the devices you want to sync included on the list? If not, it is possible they are not using the same Apple ID. (You can do quite a lot of useful things through iCloud’s online service).

Check dates and time

Next, check all the devices that should be syncing. You must ensure these are configured to set time and date automatically and have iCloud Drive/Documents & Data enabled. Follow these steps:

iOS: Settings>Apple ID>iCloud>iCloud Drive. Toggle to On

Mac: System Preferences>iCloud>ensure all the iCloud services you want to sync are checked.

Make sure iCloud is enabled for specific apps

If you have a particularly balky app that isn’t syncing as it should, you’ll want to check System Settings (in macOS) or Settings (in iOS). Click on your Apple ID account, scroll down to iCloud, and check there to see which apps are using iCloud. If your iCloud access for the app isn’t on, you’ll want to enable it. If it’s there, toggle iCloud access off, then on again to (hopefully) get things in sync again.

Check that cellular access is enabled

If everything is syncing okay while you’re using Wi-Fi networks, but you run into problems while on a cellular network, you’ll want to make sure cellular access is turned on. You can check this in Settings (in iOS); scroll down to Cellular and check to make sure it’s enabled for the apps you use. Also, scroll all the way down to make sure iCloud Drive is enabled over cellular.

Force Sync

Once you know your system(s) are set up correctly, you can use this simple trick to force iCloud Contacts and Calendars to sync:

To refresh your iCloud Calendars, launch the app on your iOS device and tap the “Calendars” button at the bottom of the page. When you get to the next page just tap and hold your finger on the screen and drag the list down until the activity icon appears and release the page. The activity icon will spin briefly, and you should find iCloud has synced your calendars for you.

This also works with Contacts. Launch the app and select “Groups” on the All Contacts page. Once you are in Groups, just tap and hold your finger and drag the page down as you did for Calendars. The activity icon will appear, and your Contacts will be synced.

Log out of iCloud and log in again

If you regularly experience sync problems with your iOS device(s) and you know your network is stable, then you should try logging out of your iCloud account on your iOS device or Mac, then log back in.

IMPORTANT: Before doing this, be certain to follow Apple’s extensive instructions to back up your iCloud data.

Sometimes, logging out of iCloud and then logging back in will clear up syncing problems.

Jonny Evans

At icloud.com you can see all of your devices in one place.

To log out, go to iCloud Settings/System Preferences and click Sign Out. You’ll have to respond to a series of prompts before this completes.

Restart your device, return to iCloud’s controls and sign back in. (Please make certain to use the same email address for your Apple ID across all your systems.)

Now you should re-enable all the iCloud features you want to use.

This process usually solves any sync problems you may have, though you may find it necessary to repeat this sequence on all your devices.

Restart your device(s)

If problems persist then close and restart the relevant iCloud-enabled app: Contacts or Calendar, for example. Double-click the Home button (or swipe up to about halfway up the screen and hold for a second or so on iPhone X), swipe through your active apps and swipe up to close the app. (You can long press the app icon and then tap the X that appears on iPhone X.) Return to the Home screen and wait a few moments before launching the app again.

Another approach that sometimes works is to turn off iCloud Contacts and turn it on again. Go to Settings>Apple ID>iCloud, then turn off Contacts.  Unless you have a copy of your contacts stored elsewhere, you should then choose Keep on My iPhone/iPad.

Wait a few moments and turn Contacts on again in Settings.

Reset your device(s)

Never underestimate the power of a hard reset to resolve many iOS problems. To achieve a hard reset on iOS devices simply hold down the Power and Home buttons until the device turns off and the Apple logo appears. The device will restart and system processes will be refreshed, which sometimes fixes iCloud sync problems.

Google+? If you use social media and happen to be a Google+ user, why not join AppleHolic’s Kool Aid Corner community and join the conversation as we pursue the spirit of the New Model Apple?

Got a story? Drop me a line via Twitter or in comments below and let me know. I’d like it if you chose to follow me on Twitter so I can let you know when fresh items are published here first on Computerworld.

Apple, Cloud Storage, iCloud

Toxic work environments and a lack of internal upward mobility are adding to employee dissatisfaction, and many workers believe a primary cause of the problem stems from the behavior of their managers, according to a new study by career development and outplacement firm Intoo.

The survey, conducted in partnership with research firm Workplace Intelligence, also found Gen Z employees are engaging more in “AI Career Coaching” and claim to get their best career advice from ChatGPT. Around 47% of Gen Zers say they get better advice from a chatbot than from their manager. More broadly, 77% of employees and 79% of human resource leaders said they’d experienced at least one characteristic of a toxic workplace in their jobs.

Lydia Frank, vice president of marketing at Chronus, a career development platform, said because Gen Zers were the first generation to grow up with the internet as a part of daily life, they’are accustomed to everything being a click away. “Which is why we’ve seen them heavily adopt and make use of generative AI for everything and anything. Career advice is no exception,” she said.

“Often, Gen Zers are turning to ChatGPT for career advice because they are not satisfied with their current company’s learning and development programs or lack the professional networks earlier generations were able to build when hybrid workplaces were the exception, not the rule,” she said. “We’re seeing a lot of Gen Zers that lack mentorship — especially when working remotely — which is why they’re either trying to learn a new skill or navigate a workplace situation through consulting ChatGPT,” Frank said.

Poor treatment at work and a lack of career advancement have also led to a growing number of workers to actively seeking employment elsewhere, according to the Intoo survey of 800 employees and 800 human resource leaders. The survey data, collected between Nov. 19 and Dec. 2, 2023, was originally published in February, then updated and re-released Tuesday. 

The survey focused on what makes a workplace toxic and what would create a positive work environment that leads to greater job satisfaction, better performance, and higher retention.

The top factor contributing to toxic workplaces is managers showing favoritism towards certain employees, according to 46% of employees surveyed by Intoo and Workplace Intelligence. And 42% cited managers or leaders who ignore employee feedback as contributing to poor work environments.

Adding to the problem: bad advice from managers, according to the survey data. More than a third (39%) of workers said they’d received bad career advice from managers. In fact, employees said they get better career advice from their friends and family (62%), Google (44%), social media (36%), and genAI (34% overall) than they get from their boss.

According to Intoo’s survey, 63% of respondents felt their employer cares more about productivity than career development, and 54% said they feel completely on their own at their organization when it comes to career development. Forty-four percent said their employer does not value their career development.

In tandem with those sentiments, HR leaders in the survey predict that 25% of employees (and 44% of Gen Z employees) are likely to quit their jobs within the next six months due to a lack of support for career development.

Career path confusion

A separate workplace study done by recruitment and outplacement firm LHH found that nearly half of 30,000 full-time employees in 27 countries (46%) want to change careers — but don’t know which path to take. And 72% of workers contemplate future plans — such as their next job, reskilling, and upskilling — at least once a quarter.

A majority of workers (86%) are confident that they could find a new job within six months up, from 61% in 2022, whether it’s through their own networks (74%), independent job search (71%), or a staffing agency (68%), according to the LHH survey. But nearly half (46%) don’t feel their managers would support them in moving to another role within the organization.

Additionally, 47% are keeping up to date with open job opportunities, yet not applying for them, according to LHH data. However, another 18% are actively applying for jobs and 19% indicated they’re interviewing with prospective employers. Only 8% are looking for new opportunities internal to their company.

Among other big takeaway from LHH’s report? Organizations need to invest in their employees in order to attract skilled talent, especially from tech. “Workers in tech are the most confident that their skills can transfer to another industry or to another role within the tech field,” the report said.

The broader sense of unease is shared across geographies and industries, especially in Australia (65%), China (62%), Turkey (59%), and the US (57%), where workers feel strongest that external factors affect their careers more than they do themselves. In these countries, employees are less likely to quit for salary reasons than because they want to start their own businesses, showing they want to feel empowered.

Many younger employees make career decisions based on their values and want to be able to drive change within their organizations, but feel powerless to do that, according to a recent survey by Deloitte. Over half of respondents (58% of Gen Zs and 55% of millennials) say their organization currently seeks input from employees and incorporates their feedback, but roughly a third (32% of Gen Zs and 35% of millennials) say decisions are still made from the top and employee feedback is not often acted upon.

Careers, IT Leadership, Technology Industry

Researchers have identified a dependency confusion vulnerability impacting an archived Apache project called Cordova App Harness. Dependency confusion attacks take place owing to the fact that package managers check the public repositories before private registries, thus allowing a threat actor to publish a malicious package with the same name to a public package repository. This&

Researchers have identified a dependency confusion vulnerability impacting an archived Apache project called Cordova App Harness. Dependency confusion attacks take place owing to the fact that package managers check the public repositories before private registries, thus allowing a threat actor to publish a malicious package with the same name to a public package repository. This&Newsroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/[email protected]

At its Adobe Max event in London, Adobe on Tuesday unveiled its latest Firefly Image generative AI (genAI) model, promising greater realism and improved controls over generated outputs. The next-generation Firefly model will also be integrated into Photoshop, with several new features coming to the image editor later this year. 

Adobe Firefly is a set of generative AI models used to create and modify content such as photographic style images, illustrations, and fonts. (A Firefly video-generation model is coming to the Premier Pro video editing tool later this year, with a music-generation algorithm also in the works.) It’s accessible as a standalone app, as well as being integrated into Adobe’s Creative Cloud application suite. 

More than a year since launch, Firefly’s Image model is now on its third iteration. Firefly Image 3 improves on the second iteration, which launched at last October, in several ways, said Adobe. 

The company highlighted improvements to image quality, particularly for images that feature people. That means more photo-realistic outputs, better lighting and subject positioning, and a wider variety of expressions. Another quality improvement is involves rendering straight lines and structures that help with image coherence.

Adobe Firefly generated image of an artist in studio.

Adobe

The latest model includes the Structure Reference feature that Adobe announced last month; it lets users apply the structure of a reference image to provide more accurate outputs. The same goes for Style Reference, which helps create a consistent image style.

Users can also expect a broader range of output styles for illustrations, photographic art, and vector art for iconography. Firefly Image 3 will have a better understanding of user prompts, too, Adobe said, more accurately reflecting longer and more complex inputs than the previous versions.

“Firefly Image 3 is a considerable level up from the already high-performing Firefly Image 2 model,” said Matt Arcaro, IDC research director for computer vision and AI, with notable improvements to image quality and coherence with user prompts. 

Firefly Image 3 also gives users greater control over images produce by the AI model, said Liz Miller, vice president and principal analyst at Constellation Research. “If Firefly Image 1 and 2 focused on the ability to generate, Firefly Image 3 is about focusing and controlling generative AI models to extract the idea in a creator’s mind onto the initial canvas,” she said.

Adobe is one of numerous tech firms that offer genAI image models, including  Canva, Midjourney, OpenAI, Stability AI, and others. IDC predicts that global spending on genAI tools (including software and infrastructure) will reach $143 billion in 2027, up from $16 billion in 2023. 

“Firefly Image 3 may be in beta, but feels less experimental compared to some of Adobe’s rivals,” said Miller. The latest Firefly model is more photo realistic and addresses some of the problems creators have experienced with generative AI tools around structure, she said – producing images of arms with two hands, for instance. 

Firefly Image 3 is available now in beta via the Firefly web app.  

New Firefly features in Photoshop

Another strong point for Adobe’s generative AI capabilities is integration across its products, said Arcaro. “Adobe is all-in on bringing genAI capabilities to users across its product portfolio,” he said. 

Adobe said the Firefly Image model and new genAI features will arrive for Photoshop later this year, building on Generative Fill (the mostly quickly adopted feature in ever in Photoshop, according to Adobe) and the Generative Expand tools added to Photoshop a year ago.  

The idea is to improve workflow when accessing genAI features in Photoshop. 

For example, Reference Image lets users tailor Generative Fill images to a particular style by uploading a reference document. This lets users guide the Firefly’s outputs more accurately and saves time typing out text prompts to create a desired image. 

Adobe Firefly makes it easier to manipulate and use reference images with genAI.

Adobe

Another feature, Generate Image, lets users create entire images from scratch in Photoshop documents using text prompts. The intention is to make the image editor more accessible to users of any skill level, said Adobe. The Generate Image tool provides options for content type, effects, and allows users to upload a reference image. 

Generate Background makes it easier to replace or create background visuals in an image using natural language prompts. While it’s already possible to generate background images in Photoshop, the new feature is more streamlined and requires fewer clicks, Adobe said.

Generate Background allows users to create background visuals  using natural language prompts.

Adobe

Generate Similar provides variations of objects within an image from which users can select, such as the amount or type of fruit in a fruit bowl, allowing for greater fine tuning of results. 

Generate Similar using Firefly offers variations of objects within an image.

Adobe

Finally, Enhance Detail lets users increase the sharpness and clarity of generated images.

The features are available in the beta Photoshop app — a separate application that  showcases new capabilities — before general availabilty later this year, said Adobe. It will be possible to run the AI processing either on Adobe’s servers or locally on a user’s device, with cloud computation the default. 

“These tools are all about efficiency and shifting monotonous work off a creator’s plate,” said Miller. Getting from a brief to a sketch to a draft can be a painful, time-consuming, and costly process, she said.

“The traditional pace of creation takes a toll, especially when the language of creativity can get lost in translation…,” Miller said. “With these tools native in Photoshop, creators can ideate and iterate quickly, collaborating on color tones, shape and structure in a rapid flow.”

Adobe Systems, Generative AI, Productivity Software

In the high-stakes world of cybersecurity, the battleground has shifted. Supply chain attacks have emerged as a potent threat, exploiting the intricate web of interconnected systems and third-party dependencies to breach even the most formidable defenses. But what if you could turn the tables and proactively hunt these threats before they wreak havoc? We invite you to join us for an

In the high-stakes world of cybersecurity, the battleground has shifted. Supply chain attacks have emerged as a potent threat, exploiting the intricate web of interconnected systems and third-party dependencies to breach even the most formidable defenses. But what if you could turn the tables and proactively hunt these threats before they wreak havoc? We invite you to join us for an The Hacker Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/[email protected]

AlmaLinux 9.4 beta has been released and provides compelling reasons to consider it for desktop usage. While AlmaLinux is primarily known as a reliable server operating system, it can also function effectively as a desktop OS. Security, stability, and long-term support are key advantages of choosing AlmaLinux 9.4 beta as your desktop OS.

European Police Chiefs said that the complementary partnership between law enforcement agencies and the technology industry is at risk due to end-to-end encryption (E2EE). They called on the industry and governments to take urgent action to ensure public safety across social media platforms. "Privacy measures currently being rolled out, such as end-to-end encryption, will stop tech companies

European Police Chiefs said that the complementary partnership between law enforcement agencies and the technology industry is at risk due to end-to-end encryption (E2EE). They called on the industry and governments to take urgent action to ensure public safety across social media platforms. "Privacy measures currently being rolled out, such as end-to-end encryption, will stop tech companies Newsroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/[email protected]

Cybersecurity breaches can be devastating for both individuals and businesses alike. While many people tend to focus on understanding how and why they were targeted by such breaches, there's a larger, more pressing question: What is the true financial impact of a cyberattack? According to research by Cybersecurity Ventures, the global cost of cybercrime is projected to reach

Cybersecurity breaches can be devastating for both individuals and businesses alike. While many people tend to focus on understanding how and why they were targeted by such breaches, there's a larger, more pressing question: What is the true financial impact of a cyberattack? According to research by Cybersecurity Ventures, the global cost of cybercrime is projected to reach The Hacker Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/[email protected]

German authorities said they have issued arrest warrants against three citizens on suspicion of spying for China. The full names of the defendants were not disclosed by the Office of the Federal Prosecutor (aka Generalbundesanwalt), but it includes Herwig F., Ina F., and Thomas R. "The suspects are strongly suspected of working for a Chinese secret service since an unspecified

German authorities said they have issued arrest warrants against three citizens on suspicion of spying for China. The full names of the defendants were not disclosed by the Office of the Federal Prosecutor (aka Generalbundesanwalt), but it includes Herwig F., Ina F., and Thomas R. "The suspects are strongly suspected of working for a Chinese secret service since an unspecified Newsroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/[email protected]

While the employee benefits of the AI PC are intriguing, they may not be enough to convince IT buyers to go all in just yet, according to a Forrester report.

Despite the enthusiasm generated by PC vendors and chipmakers at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show, where advanced AI-driven functionalities were prominently featured, enterprises are expected to adopt a more measured approach over the next year, Forrester said in the report.

The Promise of AI PCs

AI PCs are designed to enhance enterprise users’ productivity, cost efficiency, and security. By processing sophisticated AI applications locally, these PCs reduce reliance on costly and often slower cloud services. This could be especially beneficial in sectors such as finance and healthcare, where operations heavily depend on data processing and where data privacy and security are of the utmost importance.

The ability to process data locally on an AI PC minimizes the risk of breaches and helps enterprises comply with stringent regulatory requirements.

Challenges in adoption

Despite the benefits, the adoption of AI PCs among enterprises is fraught with challenges. “CIOs face several barriers when considering AI-powered PCs, including the high costs, difficulty in demonstrating how user benefits translate into business outcomes, and the availability of AI chips and device compatibility issues,” said Andrew Hewitt, Principal Analyst at Forrester Research.

CIOs feel they are struggling to show a return on investment in AI PCs. Limited business use cases for enterprises make it challenging to justify the use of these powerful machines, which are mostly restricted to niches like “gaming or content creation,” said Abhishek Gupta, Dish TV’s CIO.

“AI PCs are still very new with only a handful of options available across brands and at a premium price. The higher prices of AI PCs along with lack of enough use cases, is stopping CIOs from the adoption of AI PCs,” Gupta said.

“Businesses should look beyond impressive hardware specifications—they need genuine, measurable returns on investment,” said Ankush Sabharwal, CEO of CoRover.ai, a human-centric conversational and generative AI platform. “There is no denying that AI platforms are advancing rapidly, and this progress is paving the way for practical, problem-solving AI applications that go beyond mere gimmicks. We already have the necessary technology; the focus now should be on developing AI applications that are tailored for specific devices and industries rather than adopting generic, one-size-fits-all solutions.”

Future projections and enterprise readiness

Enterprise readiness to adopt AI PCs often coincides with major OS updates to avoid compatibility issues. Forrester’s 2023 data shows that over half of infrastructure hardware technology decision-makers report that 50% or fewer of the company-issued PCs run on Windows 11. This suggests a broader hesitation towards rapid technological upgrades.

Windows 10’s anticipated end-of-life in October 2025 is expected to coincide with the increased adoption of AI PCs. “Enterprises will likely align their hardware upgrades with the new capabilities offered by the latest operating systems, which will be optimized for NPU technology,” Hewitt said.

Hewitt has predicted a tripling of AI platform budgets in 2024 to accommodate the burgeoning demand for AI applications. This budget expansion is anticipated to catalyze the adoption of AI PCs, especially as enterprise workloads continue to depend on cloud services, which are expected to become more costly. This presents a compelling case for the increased use of AI PCs in digital workplaces.

The next 18 months are crucial for AI PCs, according to CoRover.ai’s Sabharwal. “Instead of just purchasing hardware, shifting the focus towards utilizing AI to address industry-specific challenges is essential. For instance, Small LLMs can be trained to operate efficiently on AI PCs. Startups, particularly cloud-native ones, are the pioneers in adopting this technology. “As chip technology progresses and costs decrease, we anticipate a tipping point where investing in AI-based PCs will become justified.”

Upcoming chipsets with higher processing capabilities will drive further interest in AI PCs across data-intensive sectors such as manufacturing and high-tech, Hewitt said. “Industries that blend creative work with data science are prime candidates for early adoption,” he noted.

Impact on cloud services

As AI PC adoption potentially reduces reliance on cloud computing, cloud providers may have to adjust their pricing models. Hewitt suggests a likely shift towards a hybrid model where some processing will continue in the cloud while other tasks move to local AI PCs. This adjustment would balance cost concerns with enhanced security and privacy benefits.

Despite the potential and capabilities demonstrated by AI PCs, 2024 is shaping up to be a year of gradual exploration and tentative adoption by enterprises. As AI technology continues to evolve and more tailored applications become available, the pace of adoption is expected to accelerate, making AI PCs an integral part of enterprise technology ecosystems in the near future. This cautious but steady approach reflects the enterprise’s strategic planning in integrating cutting-edge technologies into its operations.

Windows PCs

The U.S. Department of State on Monday said it's taking steps to impose visa restrictions on 13 individuals who are allegedly involved in the development and sale of commercial spyware or who are immediately family members of those involved in such businesses. "These individuals have facilitated or derived financial benefit from the misuse of this technology, which

The U.S. Department of State on Monday said it's taking steps to impose visa restrictions on 13 individuals who are allegedly involved in the development and sale of commercial spyware or who are immediately family members of those involved in such businesses. "These individuals have facilitated or derived financial benefit from the misuse of this technology, which Newsroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/[email protected]