management

AppWizard
September 12, 2026
Ditching passwords for passkeys has become a more secure option, but these keys are often tied to a single device, posing challenges for cross-platform usage. Google has improved the process for Android users to share and transfer passkeys, allowing easier transitions between password management tools like 1Password and Bitwarden. Previously, transferring passkeys required creating new keys, but now users can move both passwords and passkeys through a secure mechanism within Android. This feature supports popular tools such as 1Password, Bitwarden, Google Password Manager, and Dashlane. Users can transfer passkeys to preferred mobile password managers, facilitating access across multiple devices. The transfer feature is valuable for migrating passkeys between applications, enhancing user experience and security as more individuals adopt passkeys.
Tech Optimizer
September 12, 2026
If you hold Microsoft 365 E5, you already have access to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, which provides enterprise-grade endpoint protection at no additional cost. For organizations without a dedicated security specialist, Sophos is recommended. CrowdStrike is suitable for those with a mature Security Operations Center (SOC) and sufficient budget. Other options include SentinelOne for mid-sized organizations needing automation, ESET for older hardware and virtual desktops, Avast Business for very small businesses without IT staff, VIPRE for budget-conscious organizations, and Expel for tool-agnostic managed detection and response. It is essential to assess your organization's current situation honestly when evaluating endpoint protection options. Antivirus and EDR are now essentially the same agent, and organizations should inquire about update staging processes and review independent tests for protection rates. Coverage for servers and Linux environments is often overlooked but crucial, as Linux servers are prime targets for ransomware. Key recommendations include: - Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for organizations already on Microsoft 365 E5. - Sophos for organizations with 25-500 staff relying on IT generalists. - CrowdStrike for enterprises with a well-funded security operations function. - SentinelOne for mid-sized organizations needing autonomous operation. - ESET for organizations with older hardware or virtual desktop infrastructure. - Avast Business for micro and small businesses. - VIPRE for budget-conscious organizations. - Expel for those seeking managed detection across various environments. During deployment, avoid running two real-time agents simultaneously, ensure prevention features are activated, and test on line-of-business applications first. Verify update staging and rollback procedures with vendors, and confirm whether Microsoft licensing covers your needs to avoid unnecessary purchases.
AppWizard
September 11, 2026
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned of a critical vulnerability in NetScaler, identified as CVE-2026-19490, with a CVSS score of 9.3, which has been exploited and affects all NetScaler ADC and Gateway appliances. Citrix has patched this vulnerability as of August 19. AdaptHealth reported a data breach affecting over 4.1 million individuals, compromising personal, health, and insurance information, but not Social Security numbers or financial data. A new strain of Android malware, MantaxOtax, attributed to Indonesian threat actors, combines ransomware and spyware, stealing sensitive information and affecting older Android versions. The Gigabud banking trojan has evolved to evade detection by installing a secondary app that hides the malicious application. CISA acting director Nick Andersen emphasized the need for swift adaptation to cybersecurity threats and highlighted staffing improvements within CISA. Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries experienced disruptions from a DDoS attack affecting payments to sellers, following claims of a cyber operation by Ukraine's military intelligence. McKesson faced a cyberattack exposing sensitive data of 6.4 million individuals, with the ShinyHunters group releasing this data after a failed extortion attempt. IDScan confirmed a data breach affecting 150 million individuals, resulting in the theft of personally identifiable information and government-issued documents.
BetaBeacon
September 11, 2026
Google's Pixel 11 series smartphones face challenges in gaming performance, particularly when running demanding Android games. The devices struggled to maintain high frame rates in games like Call of Duty, Asphalt Legends, and Genshin Impact. Heat management became a concern, affecting stability and overall gaming experience. Comparisons with other flagship devices like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Galaxy S26 Ultra showed significant differences in gaming performance, with Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors outperforming Google's Tensor G6 chip. The Pixel 11 series performed well in everyday tasks and lighter games but fell short in handling demanding graphics workloads.
Winsage
September 11, 2026
Many organizations still use legacy Windows activation scripts based on slmgr.vbs, which are integrated into deployment workflows and IT management tools. Microsoft is phasing out VBScript, which these automations rely on, leading to potential activation failures in newer Windows versions. Microsoft recommends transitioning to the OSLicense PowerShell module to replace slmgr.vbs functions. Organizations should identify dependencies on VBScript components and test replacement scripts before production deployment. Compatibility of OSLicense with various Windows releases must be confirmed, and organizations may need to invest time in testing, documentation, retraining, and fallback planning during the migration process. Proactive migration planning can ease the transition compared to delaying until VBScript is fully removed.
Tech Optimizer
September 11, 2026
Tom transitioned from image processing to database management, particularly contributing to the Postgres project. He was part of a group that created an open-source implementation of JPEG, leading to the development of libjpeg, where he served as the principal maintainer for about five years. NASA's Perseverance rover uses libjpeg, a fact discovered by Joe Conway through research. Tom noted that the widespread adoption of JPEG was due to its efficient compression and the availability of a free implementation, which aided its integration into early web browsers. His interest in Postgres was influenced by its liberal licensing model, similar to that of libjpeg. Tom's commitment to open-source projects stems from his passion for collaborative software development, which began during his graduate studies in the 1980s. His PhD focused on software architecture, shaping his approach to both image processing and database management.
Tech Optimizer
September 11, 2026
Lakebase Postgres employs a disaggregated storage model that enhances data management through efficient caching, utilizing an object store like S3 for backups. The caching operates on two layers: within distributed storage for optimizing write and read performance, and on the Postgres compute side for ultra-fast access to frequently accessed pages. Traditional Postgres caching involves shared buffers and the OS page cache, which leads to double buffering and inefficiencies. Lakebase Postgres addresses these issues by implementing a local file cache (LFC) and larger shared buffers, allowing for more effective memory utilization without the drawbacks of the OS page cache. The shared buffers are set to a maximum of 1 GB, while the LFC can utilize up to 75% of DRAM. The introduction of huge pages reduces memory management overhead and improves performance, resulting in significant throughput increases and reduced latency in production environments. Recent enhancements have shown up to 2× throughput improvements and substantial reductions in CPU usage. The focus is now on extending these benefits to autoscaling Postgres computes, with plans to implement dynamic shared buffers and autoscaling huge pages.
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