Tag Archive for: Choose

Cybersecurity labeling for smart devices aims to help people choose those less vulnerable to hacking

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WASHINGTON — The Biden administration and major consumer technology players on Tuesday launched an effort to put a nationwide cybersecurity certification and labeling program in place to help consumers choose smart devices that are less vulnerable to hacking.

Officials likened the new U.S. Cyber Trust Mark initiative — to be overseen by the Federal Communications Commission, with industry participation voluntary — to the Energy Star program, which rates appliances’ energy efficiency.

“It will allow Americans to confidently identify which internet- and Bluetooth-connected devices are cybersecure,” deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger told reporters in a pre-announcement briefing.

Amazon, Best Buy, Google, LG Electronics USA, Logitech and Samsung are among industry participants.

Devices including baby monitors, home security cameras, fitness trackers, TVs, refrigerators and smart climate control systems that meet the U.S. government’s cybersecurity requirements will bear the “Cyber Trust” label, a shield logo, as early as next year, officials said.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the mark will give consumers “peace of mind” and benefit manufacturers, whose products would need to adhere to criteria set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to qualify.

The FCC was launching a rule-making process to set the standards and seek public comment. Besides carrying logos, participating devices would have QR codes that could be scanned for updated security information.

In a statement, the Consumer Technology Association said consumers could expect to see certification-ready products at the industry’s annual January show, CES 2024, once the FCC adopts final rules. A senior Biden administration official said it was expected that products that qualify for the logo would undergo an annual re-certification.

The director of technology policy at Consumer Reports, Justin Brookman, welcomed the White House proposal but cautioned in a statement that “a long road remains” to its effective adoption.

“Our hope is that this label will ignite a healthy sense of competition in the marketplace, compelling manufacturers to safeguard both the security and…

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8 Differences To Know Before You Choose

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Wired vs. Wireless Security Cameras

Photo: istockphoto.com

As security systems become easier to manage with mobile apps and are a more deeply integrated part of a smart-home system, more and more people are choosing to be involved in the selection of security equipment that is installed in their homes, regardless of whether they have hired a professional that knows how to install security cameras or selected from the increasing number of DIY security options. One question that often arises during the selection of equipment is whether wired or wireless security cameras are the better option.

Before getting into the pros and cons of each type of camera, it’s a good idea for customers to understand what to look for in a home security system and clarify what their options are. Wired security camera systems are connected by either coaxial cable or CAT5 or CAT6 cables to a recording device, and are powered through this cable. This makes sense—they’re called “wired” because a wire connects the device to the recorder. Wireless security camera systems use a home’s Wi-Fi service or cellular service to send video and recordings to a cloud or recording device, hence their name. However, wireless cameras do still require power to function. Some are battery-powered and therefore truly wireless, but most are connected to either a power outlet with a power cord or to a solar charging device, also with a cord. Thus, most wireless cameras are not completely wireless—but they do connect wirelessly to the video storage device.

So when it comes to comparing wired versus wireless security cameras, which one is the better choice? The answer depends on the circumstances and priorities of the home’s residents in terms of quality versus convenience.

1. Wired security cameras are typically designed for professional installation, which may come with an additional cost.

Wired vs. Wireless Security Cameras

Photo: istockphoto.com

Wired security cameras do not usually require an electrical plug because they draw their power from the cable that connects them to the recording device. For most users this is a huge plus, since it means the cameras don’t have to be near a power source. They do, however, need physical wiring to connect to the digital video recorder that will…

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5 reasons to choose cyber security as a career option

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Here are five strong reasons to choose cybersecurity as a career option.

India Today Web Desk

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 2, 2023 12:13 IST

5 reasons to choose cyber security as a career option

5 reasons to choose cyber security as a career option

By India Today Web Desk: India is positioned to become a global leader in terms of data, technology, digitisation, and inclusion. The government has been at the forefront of driving technology-led initiatives through flagship programs like Startup India, Digital India, etc. to foster a favourable business environment for existing and new businesses to become global unicorns. However, Indian authorities agree that the country is facing increasing cyber threats. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN), the national cybersecurity watchdog, noted a 51% increase in the number of ransomware attacks, including on critical infrastructure, from the year before. Therefore, it is now the best time to encourage Indian students to choose cybersecurity as a career option to introduce young talent at the gates of Indian cybersecurity and strengthen its global stance in that particular sphere.

Here are five strong reasons to choose cybersecurity as a career option:

  1. AN EVERLASTING TREND:

One of the primary reasons why students should consider making a career in the field of cyber security is because today across the globe everything is on the internet from banking to government, everything that is there and everything that matters is there, and there is no stepping down, rather it is safe to say that the use case of internet and cyber intel will only go up in the future and with it will grow the need for human resource in cyber security.

  1. A SECURE FUTURE AGAINST AUTOMATION & AI:

We are all familiar with the buzz of how growing advancements in the field of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation is causing the eradication of the human labour force from various sectors. However, this threat is not there in the domain of cyber security because it requires constant human intervention and check-ups along with building new frameworks and firewalls; this as of today is not efficiently possible by AI or ML alone.

  1. DEMAND ACROSS VARIED SECTORS:

Given how internet and software integration has touched all industries,…

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How to Choose a VPN – Forbes Advisor Australia

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With plenty of global VPNs available to the Australian market, how can you choose which is best for you? VPN providers offer various features, so it is best to consider what you need from the network and what cost you are willing to pay.

As Neel Baggam, a cyber security engineer for Deloitte explains, some of the most crucial factors to consider when comparing VPNs are to “read the privacy policy to understand what kind of logs and data the vendor collects from the user, and how it is stored”.

Baggam also recommends making sure the VPN provider has a fast network speed and an extensive server network. Here’s what that all means, along with additional VPN features to consider.

Related: Nord VPN Review

Number of servers and locations

The number of servers and locations a VPN has can affect the overall quality of the network. If it has a large number of servers, this means all of the VPN providers’ users will be spread out across those servers. With a smaller number of users on each server, this allows for better connection speeds and stable performance.

Additionally, a higher number of servers across various locations allows users to switch between preferred locations. This can enhance the security of your connection, as it makes it harder for third parties to track your data if the server you are accessing websites with is based in Australia one day, but connecting from the UK the next day.

Simultaneous connections

VPN providers offering a varying number of simultaneous connections. This means that you, your family or your business are able to connect to the same network at the same time across various devices.

Even while connected to the same network simultaneously, the individual user’s data will not be shared between devices. It is most common for a VPN provider to offer around five simultaneous connections, although some offer more.

Connection and download speeds

“Anytime you go online, speed is important. Nobody wants to deal with loading pages, long downloads, buffering streams, or lagging video games,” writes VPN.com founder Michael Gargiulo.

Using a VPN, however, has shown to slow the average internet experience by 10-20%–a difference which would…

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