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Here’s How Companies are Using AI, Machine Learning – Dice Insights

Companies widely expect that artificial intelligence (A.I.) and machine learning will fundamentally change their operations in coming years. To hear executives talk about it, apps will grow smarter, tech stacks will automatically adapt to vulnerabilities, and processes throughout organizations will become entirely automated.

Given the buzz around A.I., its easy for predictions to easily slip into the realm of the fantastical (In less than six months, well have cars that drive themselves! And apps that predict what a user wants before they want it!). Its worth taking a moment to see what companies areactuallydoing with A.I. at this juncture.

To that end, CompTIArecently asked 400 companiesabout their most common use-cases for A.I. Heres what they said:

The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation and changed how we work, Khali Henderson, Senior Partner at BuzzTheory and vice chair of CompTIAs Emerging Technology Community, wrote in a statement accompanying the data.We learnedsomewhat painfullythat traditional tech infrastructure doesnt provide the agility, scalability and resilience we now require. Going forward, organizations will invest in technologies and services that power digital work, automation and human-machine collaboration. Emerging technologies like AI and IoT will be a big part of that investment, which IDC pegs at $656 billion globally this year.

That predictive sales/lead scoring would top this list makes a lot of senseif companies are going to invest in A.I., theyre likely to start with a process that can provide a rapid return on investment (and generate a lot of cash).According to CompTIA, A.I. helps with more effective prioritization of sales prospects via lead scoring and provides detailed, real-time analytics. Its a similar story with CRM/service delivery optimization, where A.I. can help salespeople and technologists better identify potential customers and cross-selling opportunities.

Companies have spent years working on chatbots and digital assistants, hoping that automated systems can replace massive, human-powered call centers. So far, theyve had mixed results;the early generations of chatbotswere capable of conducting simple interactions with customers, but had a hard time with complex requests and the nuances of language. The emergence of more sophisticated systems likeGoogle Duplexpromises a future in which machines effectively chat with customers on a range of issuesprovided customers can trust interacting with software in place of a human being.

As A.I. and machine learning gradually evolve, opportunities to work with the technology will increase. While many technologists tend to equate artificial intelligence withcutting-edge projectssuch as self-driving cars, this CompTIA data makes it clear that companies first use of A.I. and machine learning will probably involve sales and customer service. Be prepared.

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Column: Simplifying live broadcast operations using AI and machine learning – NewscastStudio

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Artificial Intelligence and machine learning are seen as pillars of the next generation of technological advancement in broadcast media for a variety of reasons, including the ability to sift through mountains of data while identifying anomalies, spotting trends and alerting users to potential problems before they occur without the need for human intervention. With the more data they ingest these models improve over time, meaning the more ML models utilized across a variety of applications, the faster and more complex the insights derived from these tools become.

But to truly understand why machine learning provides enormous value for broadcasters, lets break it down into use cases and components within broadcast media where AI and ML can have the greatest impact.

Imagine a live sporting event stopsstreaming,or that framesstart dropping for no apparent reason.Viewers are noticing quality problems and starting to complain.Technicians are baffled and customers may have just missed the play of the year. Revenue therefore takes a hit and executives want to know what is to blame.

These are situations every broadcaster wants to avoid, and in these tense moments there is no time to lose viewers are flipping to otherservices andad revenue is being lost by the second. What went wrong? Who or what is to blame and how can we get this back up and running immediately, while mitigating this risk in the future? Modern broadcasters need to know before problems happen not be caught in a crisis trying to pick up the pieces after an incident.

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The promise of our interconnected world means video workflowsareinteracting, intertwining, and integrating in new ways every day, simultaneously increasing information sharing, agility and connectivity while producing increasingly complex challenges and issues to diagnose. As more on-prem and cloud resources are connected with equipment from different vendors, sources, and partner organizationsdistributing to new device types,thereisan enormous, ever-expanding number of log and telemetrydata produced.

As a result, broadcastengineers have more information than they can effectively process. They routinely silence frequent alerts and alarms because with too much data overload it can be impossible to tellwhat isimportant and what is not. This inevitably leaves teams overwhelmed and lacking insights.

Advanced analytics and ML can help with these problems by making sense of overwhelming quantities of data, allowing human operators to sift through insignificant clutter and to focus and understand where issues are likely to occur before failures are noticed. Advanced analytics provide media companies the unprecedented opportunity to leverage sophisticated event correlation, data aggregation, deep learning, and virtually limitless applications to improve broadcast workflows. The benefit is to be able to do more with less, to innovate faster than the competition and prepare for the future both by increasing your knowledge base and opening the potential for cost reduction and time savings, honing in on the crucial details behind the data that matters most to both their users and organization.

One of the biggest challenges facing broadcast operations engineers is to recognize when things are not working before the viewers experience is affected. In a perfect world operators and engineers want to predict outages and identify potential issues ahead of time. Machine learning models can be orchestrated to recognize the normal ranges based on hundreds to thousands of measurements beyond the ability of a human operator and alert the operator in real time when a stream anomaly occurs. While this process normally requires monitoring logs on dozens of machines and keeping track of the performance of network links between multiple locations and partners, using ML allows the system to identify patterns in large data sets and helps operators focus only on workflow anomalies dramatically reducing workload.

Anomaly detection works by building a predictive model of what the next measurements related to a stream will be for example, the round-trip time of packets on the network or the raw bitrate of the stream and then determining how different the expected value is from the next measurement. As a tool to sort through normal and abnormal streams, this can be essential, especially when managing hundreds or thousands of concurrent channels. One benefit of anomalous behavior identification would be enabling an operator to switch to a backup link that uses a different network link before a failure occurs.

Anomaly detection can also be a vital component of reducing needless false alarms and reducing time waste. Functionality such as customizable alerting preferences and aggregated health scores generated by threat-gauging data points assist operators to sift through and assimilate data trends so they can focus where they really need to. In addition, predictive and proactive alerting can be orders of magnitude less expensive and allow broadcasters to be able to identify the root causes of instability and failure faster and easier.

A major challenge to any analytics system is data collection. When you have a video workflow comprised of machines in disparate data centers running different operating systems and tools, it can be difficult to assimilate and standardize reliable, relevant data that can be used in any AI/ML system. While there are natural data aggregation points in most broadcast architectures for example if you are using a cloud operations and remote management platform or common protocol stack this is certainly not a given.

Although standards exist for how video data should be formatted and transmitted, few actually describe how machine data, network measurements, and other telemetry should be collected, transmitted and stored. Therefore it is essential to select a technology partner that sends data to a common aggregation point where it is parsed, normalized and put into a database while supporting multiple protocols to support a robust AI/ML solution.

Once you have a method for collecting real-time measurements from your video workflow, you can feed this data into a ML engine to detect patterns. From there you can train the system not only to understand normal operating behavior for anomaly detection, but also to recognize specific patterns leading up to video degradation events. With these patterns determined you can also identify common metadata related to degradation events across systems, allowing you to identify that the degradation event is related to a particular shared network segment.

For example, if a particular ISP in a particular region continues to experience latency or blackout issues, the system learns to pick up on warning signs ahead of time and notifies the engineer before an outage preventing issues proactively while simultaneously improving root cause identification within your entire ecosystem. Developers can also see that errors are more often observed using common encoder or network hardware settings. Unexpected changes in the structure of the video stream or the encoding quality might also be important signals of impending problems. By observing correlations, ML gives operators key insights into the causes of problems and how to solve them.

Predictive analytics, alerts and correlations are useful for automated failure prediction and alerting, but when all else fails, ML models can also be used to help operators concentrate on areas of concern following an outage, making retrospective analysis much easier and faster via root cause analysis.

With workflows that consist of dozens of machines and network segments, it is inherently difficult to know where to look for problems. However, ML models, as we have seen, provide trend identification and help visualize issues using data aggregation. Even relatively straightforward visualizations of how a stream deviates from the norm are incredibly valuable, whether in the form of historical charts, customizable reports or questions as simple as how a particular stream compares to a similar recent stream.

Leveraging AI and ML to improve operational efficiency and quality provides a powerful advantage while preparing broadcasters for the future of live content delivery over IP. Selecting the right vendor for system monitoring and orchestration that integrates AI and ML capabilities can help your organization make sense of the vast amounts of data being sent across the media supply chain and be a powerful differentiator.

As experiments to test hypotheses are essential to the traditional learning process, the same goes for ML models. Building, training, deploying, and updating ML models are inherently complex, meaning providers in cooperation with their users must continue to iterate, compare results, and adjust accordingly to understand the why behind the data, improving root cause analysis and the customer experience.

Machine learning presents an unprecedented opportunity for sophisticated event correlation, data aggregation, deep learning, and virtually unlimited applications across broadcast media operations as it evolves exponentially year to year. As models become more informed and interconnected, problem solving and resolution technology based on deep learning and AI will become increasingly essential tools. Broadcast organizations looking to prepare themselves for such a future would be wise to prepare for this eventuality by choosing the right vendor to integrate AI and ML enabled tools into their workflows.

Andrew leads Zixis Intelligent Data Platform initiative, bringing AI and ML to live broadcast operations. Before Zixi he led the video platform product team at Brightcove where he spent 6 years working with some of the largest broadcasters and media companies. Particular areas of interest include live streaming, analytics, ad integration, and video players. Andrew has an MBA from Babson College and a BA from Oberlin College.

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Machine Learning Operationalization Software Market Summary, Trends, Sizing Analysis and Forecast To 2027 – The AltcoinBeacon

Market Study Report adds Global Machine Learning Operationalization Software Market Research its online database. The report provides information on Industry Trends, Demand, Top Manufacturers, Countries, Material and Application.

The Machine Learning Operationalization Software market report offers a competitive advantage to companies operating in this business sphere through a holistic analysis of the present as well as future growth prospects. Informed by the views of industry experts and analysts, the report is compiled in an easily understandable manner that answers all doubts and queries of the client.

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The document highlights important facets including key growth stimulants and opportunities that will facilitate the revenue flow during the study duration. Moreover, it lists the challenges tacked by the industry alongside solutions to overcome them. Insights pertaining to the market share and growth rate estimates of the industry segments are included as well.

Apart from this, the report delves into the business scenario across various regional markets and profiles the established players in these geographies. Furthermore, it explicates the prevalent tactics employed by leading companies while simultaneously suggesting strategies for adapting to the industry changes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The key questions answered in the report:

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Key pointers from the TOC of the Machine Learning Operationalization Software market report:

Product gamut

Application scope

Regional outlook

Competitive landscape

In conclusion, the Machine Learning Operationalization Software market report systematically scrutinizes the industry through a multitude of segments to provide an broad view of this business domain. Additionally, it delineates the supply chain in terms of consumers, distributors, raw material, and equipment traders in this industry.

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Apple’s Machine Learning Research Team have Published a Paper on using Specialized Health Sensors in Future AirPods – Patently Apple

Apple began discussing integrating health sensors into future sports-oriented headphones in a patent application that was published back in April 2009 and filed in 2008. Apple's engineers noted at the time that "The sensor can also be other than (or in addition to) an activity sensor, such as a psychological or biometric sensors which could measure temperature, heartbeat, etc. of a user of the monitoring system." Fast forwarding to 2018, Apple decided to update their AirPods trademark by adding "wellness sensors" to its description, a telltale sign something was in-the-works. Then a series of patents surfaced in 2020-21 timeline covering health sensor for future AirPods (01,02&03). To top it all off, in June of this year, Apple's VP of Technology talked about health sensors on Apple Watch and possibly AirPods.

The latest development on this front came from Apple's Machine Learning (ML) Research team earlier this month in the form of a research paper. Apple notes, "In this paper, we take the first step towards developing a breathlessness measurement tool by estimating respiratory rate (RR) on exertion in a healthy population using audio from wearable headphones. Given this focus, such a capability also offers a cost-effective method to track cardiorespiratory fitness over time. While sensors such as thermistors, respiratory gauge transducers, and acoustic sensors provide the most accurate estimation of a persons breathing patterns, they are intrusive and may not be comfortable for everyday use. In contrast, wearable headphones are relatively economical, accessible, comfortable, and aesthetically acceptable."

Further into the paper, Apple clarifies: "All data was recorded using microphone-enabled, near-range headphones, specifically Apples AirPods. These particular wearables were selected because they are owned by millions and utilized in a wide array of contexts, from speaking on the phone to listening to music during exercise."

(Click on image to greatly Enlarge)

Below is a full copy of the research paper published by Apple's Machine Learning Research team in the form of a SCRBD document, courtesy of Patently Apple.

Machine Learning Team Paper on Respiratory Rates in Wearable Microphones by Jack Purcher on Scribd

While the paper doesn't discuss when these specialized sensors using machine learning techniques will be implemented in AirPods, it's clearly a positive development that Apple is well into the process of proving the value of adding such sensors to future AirPods.

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Leveraging 5G to Support Inference at the Edge – HPCwire

The hardware and infrastructure that enables AI, machine learning, and inference has consistently improved year after year. As high-performance processing, GPU-acceleration, and data storage have advanced, the performance available in the data center has become powerful enough to support machine learning and training workloads. Still, data bottleneck challenges continue to exist over WANs when teams look to implement AI workloads in real world, production environments.

With the advent of 5G wireless networks, deploying AI at the edge and managing the movement of crucial data between the edge and the data center is becoming more practical. When you consider the high-bandwidth and low-latency advantages of 5G paired with the improvements in processing power, high-speed storage, and embedded accelerators within edge devices, you see a pathway towards powerful, real-world inference applications.

Inference on the edge is a major opportunity for businesses to gain a competitive advantage and improve operational efficiencies. Examples of use cases for edge computing include autonomous vehicles; natural language processing; and computer vision.

While 5G is a critical advancement that makes these edge deployments possible, it also means there must be substantial changes to edge devices and data center infrastructure. Most inference deployments will need advanced computing power, expanded storage, and improved connectivity to handle demanding workloads, larger amounts of data, and faster transmission of data to and from the data center.

Even with improved speed and efficiency from 5G networking, businesses cannot rely on these networks to always operate at peak efficiency. As adoption continues and more edge devices are deployed, there may be variance in network strength, bandwidth, and load. Instead, they will require localized, low-latency computing resources for edge data processing and storage to meet their goals. This will limit the amount of data that must be transmitted to cloud or on-premises data centers for intensive compute tasks to improve performance and limit the risk of exceeding network bandwidth.

Real-World Artificial Intelligence at the Edge

Autonomous vehicles, just-in-time maintenance, and real-time image processing. These are some of the ways in which organizations hope to deploy AI technologies such as machine learning and deep learning at the edge.

Machine learning and deep learning rely on massive amounts of data that must be stored and processed. Leveraging these technologies at the edge requires a tiered processing system in which data is analyzed and processed to a point at the edge, then uploaded to a data center for further processing and training of algorithms and artificial neural networks (ANNs). Until 5G, WANs had not been powerful enough to support an effective multi-tiered processing system.

In a tiered system, edge devices can carry some of the burden of data processing. However, AI workflows will require support from more powerful compute resources to train algorithms, enable human oversight, and analyze data. To support this, the data center will require significant changes.

If your organization has been developing ANNs in the cloud or on a local cluster, moving to production inference on the edge has one notable red flag. You must consider the effect of this shift on the networking capabilities of your data center environment, both from the edge to the data center and between compute and storage within the system. This can have a ripple effect on things like power and cooling, which needs to be accounted for in system design.

Another consideration is the potential need for flexibility in workflows within the data center. With hundreds or thousands of edge devices producing and consuming data, supporting various applications and workloads from a single data center environment is key.

Some situations may require innovative technologies such as composable infrastructure to make it cost-effective. Composable infrastructure abstracts hardware resources from their physical location and manages them via software over the network fabric, so you can apply those assets where needed at any given time.

The data center is not the only area that requires significant consideration. As you plan to deploy inference devices on the edge, compute, storage, acceleration, and connectivity capabilities will play a major part in your success.

On the edge, supporting 5G connectivity in industrial mobile computing devices means rethinking many of the core pieces of their design, including RF antennas; power requirements; new hardware and firmware; new safety and regulatory testing; and cybersecurity tools.

New edge infrastructures will also need advanced security solutions to protect against the inherent risks of expanding your environment to thousands of decentralized devices. This means finding tools that eliminate redundant copies of data or resource silos, encrypt data in-flight and at rest, and consider the physical access risks of unmonitored nodes and embedded systems throughout the world.

Regardless of how we each approach adopting inference at the edge, it will inevitably become a central technology in the enterprise businesses of tomorrow.

It is critical for organizations considering edge computing to find technology partners that know how to work with 5G. A company that has experience deploying cutting-edge AI, HPC, and data analytics workloads is ideal for their understanding of emerging technologies, high-speed networking, and complex data management systems.

To learn more about how to prepare your data center for deploying inference at the edge speak with an expert at siliconmechanics.com/contact.

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Top 10 Best Internet Security Software – ConsumerSearch.com

With the adverse accrescent array of cyber threats, internet security suites have become a necessary tool for safeguarding your devices. It's vital to note that an antivirus (AV) software offers a mere level of protection for your system. On the other hand, an internet security software has multiple programs accessed by a single interface and are thus commonly referred to as suites. They can scan files and software, monitor internet activity, and perform vulnerability searches all by the click of a button. Cyberattacks have made some antivirus-type security solutions useless. There are major antivirus software offering a fitting protection system against malicious attacks like malware but become obsolete when faced with attacks from hackers.

An internet security software is a more superior tool when it comes to safeguarding your devices against phishing, spam, spyware, and phishing. But with tons of alternatives out there, where do you begin? Below are our top 10 best internet security software options for you to try depending on your needs.

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Best Internet Security Software 2021 | Top Ten Reviews

The best internet security software is a step above your average antivirus program, offering you complete peace of mind on your devices when youre browsing the web, using internet banking, or doing some online shopping. These programs combine premium security features like antivirus, firewalls, VPN access, identity theft protection and more into a single, easy to manage program that you just pay a single subscription fee for, taking the hassle out of internet security.

So what exactly comes with the best internet security software, and why is it worth the upgrade over the protection you get from the best antivirus software? Well, while an antivirus program offers you protection against one form of online threat, the top internet security programs cover you against almost everything. Viruses, malware, spyware, websites and advertisers snooping into your online activities - these can all be blocked by good security software. They can also help keep your kids safe online with parental controls and social media monitoring.

Most of the top-rated internet security software out there actually comes in several tiers, depending on what level of protection youre looking for. The entry-level tiers have all the protection that most people need, while the premium tiers offer things like bank transaction monitoring and identity theft protection. The higher tiers often come with support for a larger number of devices too, so theyre great for families.

Speaking of devices, these days its not enough to just protect your home computer and laptop. If youre browsing the web or using online banking apps on your smartphone, youll need that covered too. Fortunately, the best internet security software works on mobile devices too, so your phone and even your tablet can be protected.

MalwareMalware is a shortened name for malicious software. Its an overarching term used to describe computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, adware, spyware and any other form of software that can harm your devices or steal your data.

FirewallFirewalls are network security programs designed to monitor incoming and outgoing traffic on your devices, and to block malicious and unauthorized traffic. Most computers come with a built-in firewall these days, but the best internet security software will come with its own more powerful firewall.

VPNVPN is an abbreviation for virtual private network. Using a VPN, you can encrypt your network signal and bounce it off a server anywhere in the world. This means that websites and other software cant tell where your actual location is. This stops advertisers from targeting you with specific ads, but also stops hackers from getting into your network. You can also use a VPN to access region-locked content.

Bitdefender offers total online protection

Excellent malware detection

Tons of options

Includes a VPN

Some packages offer poor value compared to others

One of the big hitters when it comes to the best internet security software, Bitdefender lives up to the company's sterling reputation by providing an excellent selection of software for you to choose from.

Bitdefender Internet Security is what wed call the basic package and it comes with everything youd expect, but it only covers PCs. If you want to cover all your devices, youll want Bitdefender Total Security.

With Bitdefender youre protected from viruses, malware, ransomware and spyware, and theres a built-in firewall to keep cyber-intruders out of your system. When tested by the experts at AV Test and AV Comparatives, Bitdefender performed very well, blocking almost all of the viruses and malware tests programs that were set against it.

Alongside this standard protection theres also a suite of parental controls to keep your kids safe and away from the more unsavory parts of the internet. Theres also a VPN to let you stay anonymous or access geo-restricted content online, though usage is limited unless you go for the top package, Bitdefender Premium Security.

There are a ton of pricing options available, letting you choose which program you want, how many devices to cover and for how long.

Powerful and versatile, Norton's 360 range gets our top prize

Range of tiers for all needs

Excellent antivirus and malware protection

Easy to use

Multi-device coverage locked in more expensive tiers

Norton is one of the biggest names in town when it comes to antivirus protection and internet security, so it should be no surprise to see it at the top end of our list. Norton 360 offers several tiers of internet security software for users to consider, with each successive tier adding on extra layers of protection.

For the average user, Norton 360 Standard will more than suffice. It offers access to Nortons exceptional antivirus program, which covers you against viruses, malware, spyware, and ransomware. Theres also a firewall to keep hackers and other invaders out of your network when youre online and a VPN to keep your identity and location hidden when youre browsing and shopping online.

Later tiers bring in additional layers of defense including identity theft protection and financial coverage should you become the victim of identity fraud, while the top package offers coverage for unlimited devices and 401k monitoring to keep your retirement investments safe.

Most importantly, Norton 360s performance is second to none, with our antivirus experts finding that it blocked 100% of attacks sent against it in recent tests, while also having a negligible effect on your devices performance.

Kaspersky doesn't put a foot wrong, surpassing our already high expectations

Flawless antivirus protection

Flexible price options

Good range of extra features

Parental controls locked to premium option

Most of the antivirus and internet security software that we tested had excellent performance when it comes to blocking malware, but Kaspersky stands above the rest in this regard with a perfect score - not a single piece of malicious software made it through Kasperskys defenses during the expert testing from AV Test and AV Comparatives.

It really is hard to argue with those kinds of results, especially when you pair it up with Kasperskys flexible pricing model and great range of extra features. With annual prices for Kaspersky Internet Security starting as low as $39.99, it offers highly competitive costs without cutting corners on its offerings.

You get antivirus protection and a firewall that youd expect, alongside VPN access and an ad blocker to keep those pesky pop-ups and auto playing videos at bay. The only real mark against it is that a lot of the parental controls are locked behind the more pricey option, Kaspersky Total Security, but even this is very reasonably priced.

Avast's free offerings are second to none, but it struggles to justify the costs

Great antivirus capabilities

Decent range of extras

Heavy performance impact

Better offerings elsewhere

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. We love Avast because it makes us feel like pirates whenever we say it, but beyond that it also offers a compelling choice for those looking for free antivirus software. Sadly the premium internet security software that Avast offers, called Avast Premium Security, doesnt quite measure up to the rest of the competition.

You get the standard antivirus and firewall protection along with a nifty tool that lets you run suspicious apps and programs in a walled-off sandbox to test it before letting it loose on your computer, but the features set is a little anemic beyond that. VPN access is walled off behind Avast Ultimate, the most expensive option.

Theres a password manager, webcam protection, and file shredder, but thats about it. Parental controls are nowhere to be found, locked away in Avast Omni, a home internet security solution that requires the installation of a specific device.

McAfee's single program solution is great, but it falls short of its rivals

Single program eliminates confusion over product features

Great antivirus performance

Good range of extra features

Outdone by the competition

If youve been looking at the other options on this list and your eyes have started to glaze over at all the choices, then McAfee has a non nonsense, one-size-fits-all solution for you. McAfee Total Protection is the only internet security software that it offers and while there are a few pricing options depending on the number of devices you need to cover, the core software is the same.

McAfee performed well in recent tests of its antivirus and malware protection capabilities, blocking over 97% of attacks levied against it. Those are good numbers, but they do lag behind other options on the market.

The other issue is that some of the extra features that McAfee Total Protection offers are locked behind an auto-renewal paywall, so youll have to commit to McAfee long term if you want things like VPN access or identity theft protection. Considering none of the competition has this limitation, McAfee is a difficult sell. Not bad, but unless you really dont want the hassle of choosing between various options, wed say that there are better picks out there.

F-Secure Antivirus SAFE is a powerful solution from a big name that's got lots of experience with security online. As such you get a very powerful antivirus program at the heart of this package. That means protection from malware, spyware, phishing schemes and more.

Beyond that you also get multi-device coverage including support for iOS and Android. This even lets you remotely control your device so as to secure your data should you misplace your phone or have it stolen.

F-Secure SAFE is a light running system which means it's good for older machines too, since it can be fast to operate and won't put a strain on system processing resources.

A very powerful anti malware setup

Superb malware detection

Affordable pricing

Simple usability

Could be resource intensive

Trend Micro Antivirus Plus offers very powerful protection from its excellent antivirus software. This specializes in malware protection with anti spam, anti ransomware and anti phishing protection that stands out. The addition of a folder shield, to specifically protect certain folders, is a really nice touch.

Everything is very easy to use making this a good option for those that either want it simple or are new to this type of software. Either way protection is strong and the inclusion of a 30-day free trial makes it a great way to try out this type of cover.

Some cases of this offering false positives and being a little resource intensive have been reported but they weren't issues found in our testing experience.

A light build that's gentle on resources

Minimal system drag

Great protection

Flexible pricing

Lacks smartphone support

Lower tier doesn't offer extras

VIPRE Advanced Security is a very easy to use system that's not only easy to install and run but also treads lightly. By this we mean it doesn't use many system resources. This means it won't slow down your machine noticeably so you can run scans in the background without any sacrifice required to what you're doing.

Protection is strong with a powerful antivirus that offers great malware cover, spyware stopping and removal of any threats that are found. It even scans programs in use so that it can find any attacks the instant they arise.

While this is great for newbs, thanks to a simple interface, it also offers a depth of controls that make it useful for more seasoned security aficionados alike.

Very lightweight in a unique way

Very light on system resources

Extremely fast

Advanced features

No data from top labs

Webroot Secureanywhere may be at the bottom of the list but that's largely owing to its rather unique way of working. Unlike the others, this does all the thinking in the cloud, using an advanced AI brain. As such, threats are detected but only dealt with when that cloud brain decides it is a real threat. Then it can be removed and the system rolled back to adjust any changes the threat may have made.

While this novel way of working means there is very little strain on your system, taking up less than 2MB (compared to 700MB on most), it also makes it difficult to assess. As such the results from testing are mixed with some very impressive scores but also a few discrepancies which can't go unnoticed.

All that said, the company is confident it works and will be liked and so offers an impressive 70-day 100 percent money-back guarantee.

More than half of the programs we tested earned a malware protection score of 98 percent or higher. In general, the applications had the most trouble with completely blocking malicious sites. For example, some programs recognized and blocked a webpage with a virus download or phishing scheme on it but still allowed us to access other pages on the site. The best programs blocked the whole site, even the unaffected pages, so there was no chance of accidental infection.

After we have researched each program, we analyse results from several third-party testing labs, including AV-Comparatives and AV-Test, to see how well they perform over time in terms of virus protection and loss of computer resources. This lets us study long term trends in performance, rather then just how it handles a limited number of tests that we could throw at it during out review.

The biggest difference between basic antivirus software and an internet security suite is the number of extra protection tools included with the program. For example, Kaspersky Antivirus doesnt include a personal firewall or parental controls, but the more expensive Kaspersky Internet Securitydoes.

Typically, internet security programs build on the same engine used in the developers antivirus software, so the level of protection doesnt change with the more expensive internet security program.

One other difference between basic antivirus software and internet security suites is the number of user licenses you get. Most antivirus solutions come with a single license to protect one computer. Internet security suites, however, usually come with at least three licenses, and are sometimes compatible with mobile phones and tablets so you can protect multiple web-enabled devices at once.

Because internet security programs are a step up from basic antivirus software, they should include several additional malware protection and privacy tools typically a personal firewall, a password manager and a system vulnerability scanner. These tools give you added protection against hackers and identity thieves who try to sneak into your system by swiping passwords, piggybacking on your internet connection or exploiting out-of-date software.

We spoke with Mitch Stephens, a security consultant with Emagined Security. He suggests that keeping your system and program patches up to date is a good way to stay secure from online threats. Programs, such as ESET and Avast, use vulnerability detection scans to make sure the most recent software versions are installed on your computer, and if not, they provide you with a legitimate link to where you can download the latest updates. Without these patches, hackers and ransomware can take advantage of these weak points and use them to attack your computer.

Parental controls are also good to have. These tools allow you to limit the time your child is online as well as block inappropriate content. They are also good for blocking cyberbullies and predators. Kaspersky Internet Security includes internet filter categories that make it easy to quickly block harmful content, including vulgarity, profanity and violence.

The best internet security software comes with multiple licenses or a single license that can be used to protect multiple computers or mobile devices at once. Sometimes, the only difference between a top-rated security program and the best premium security suite is the number of licenses you get.

Internet security software costs about $80-$120 for a year subscription, though this varies wildly depending on who you choose and what tier you go for.. You can usually find deals that make the first year cheaper though. These programs are a step up from basic antivirus software, which costs less but typically doesnt include advanced tools like a firewall, safe banking features or a password manager.

Premium-grade software typically goes one step further to include all the security tools a developer has to offer. For example, Kaspersky Internet Security doesnt include a parental controls, but Kaspersky Total Security does. Because premium security solutions have more tools than internet security software and include additional user licenses, they typically cost more.

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2021 Best Free Internet Security Suites For Windows PC

There are hundreds of free antivirus software around, but a free Internet Security Suite is a rare find.

Antivirus vs. Internet Security Suite An antivirus software offers the basic security essential for your Windows PC. Whereas, an Internet Security Suite not only offers protection but is enhanced by a number of other useful tools that make your digital life comfortable.

How We Tested? We evaluated each free Internet Security software for ease of use, performance, and reliability on our test system running Windows 10. We then sourced the data from popular antivirus testing labs like AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, and SE Labs to come up with the top free Internet Security software list.

OS Compatibility Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.

Important! Most free security suites pester you to upgrade to their paid software, while some of them try getting you to install free toolbars or browser extensions. So, keep an eye out when youre downloading and installing these antivirus applications and avoid the unwanted toolbars and extensions.

With the ever-growing variety of threats out there, both in number and complexity, running a comprehensive Internet security suite on any computer is mandatory.

Do you prefer just a simple antivirus or a complete security suite? Let us know in the constructive comments below.

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Cyberspace and outer space are new frontiers for national security, according to an expert report – Space.com

This article was originally published atThe Conversation.The publication contributed the article to Space.com'sExpert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

What do cyberspace and outer space have in common? As we make clear in a newreportto the Department of Defence, both are new frontiers for national security that blur traditional ideas about borders,sovereigntyand defense strategy.

These "areas" are important elements of Australia's critical infrastructure and are vital to our ability to defend our nation and keep it secure. They also have a "dual use" character: both areas (and often even individual pieces of equipment) are used for both military and civilian purposes.

Related: Why satellites need cybersecurity just like you

Sovereignty is a legal and political concept. It generally refers to the authority of a country (nation state) to exercise control over matters within its jurisdiction including by passing laws and enforcing them.

Historically, this jurisdiction was based primarily on geography. However, cyberspace and outer space are not limited by borders in the same way as territorial spaces.

Sovereignty also includes the power to give up certain sovereign rights, such as when countries agree to limit their own actions so as to cooperate internationally on human rights and national security.

Read more:Star laws: what happens if you commit a crime in space?

Cyberspace and outer space enhance our defence and national security capabilities, but our increasing dependence on continuous access to both also makes us vulnerable. These domains can be a source of unity and vision for humanity, but they can also be a source of tension and discord and could easily be misused in the conduct of war.

The world's dependence on the internet has outpaced efforts at effective cybersecurity. For every "solution," another threat arises. This can create serious vulnerabilities for defense and national security.

There is a general understanding thatinternational law applies to cyber activities. However, the details of preciselyhoware not agreed. The debate generally concerns what military cyber activities are "acceptable" or "peaceful," and which are prohibited or might be considered acts of war.

For example, during peacetime, international law is largely silent on espionage. Nation-states can generally engage in cyber espionage without clearly violating their legal obligations to other countries.

However, it can be hard to tell the difference between a simple espionage cyber operation (which might be permitted) and one carried out to prepare for a more disruptive operation (which might count as an "attack"). Both involve unauthorized access to computer systems and networks within another nation-state, but working out who is responsible for such intrusions and their intentions can be an imprecise art.

Different countries have suggested various approaches to the problem.FranceandIransay any unauthorized penetration of their cyber systems "automatically" constitutes a violation of sovereignty, irrespective of the reason.

Others, such as theUnited KingdomandNew Zealand, say a cyber operation must be sufficiently disruptive or destructive to count as a violation of sovereignty principles. These might seem like legal niceties, but they matter they can determine how the impacted country might retaliate.

Outer space is no less challenging. The "militarization" and possible "weaponization" of space represent a significant defense and national security challenge for all countries.

Outer space, like the high seas, is often seen as a global commons: it belongs to everyone and is governed by international law. A key tenet of international space law is that space may not be appropriated, which would prevent plans such ascolonizingthe Moon or Mars.

The1967 Outer Space Treaty, ratified by almost every spacefaring country, provides that the Moon and other celestial bodies are to be used "exclusively for peaceful purposes." It also forbids the placement of weapons of mass destruction in outer space and the militarisation of celestial bodies.

The treaty also imposes international responsibilities and liabilities on the countries themselves even for transgressions carried out by a private entity. Everything revolves around the imperative to promote responsible behavior in space and minimize the possibility of conflict.

Read more:Giant leap for corporations? The Trump administration wants to mine resources in space, but is it legal?

Initially, there were different views as to whether the peaceful use of space meant that only "non-military" rather than "non-aggressive" activities were permissible. However, the reality is that outer space has been and continues to be used for terrestrial military activities.

The 1991 Gulf War is often referred to as thefirst "space war." The use of satellite technology undeniably represents an integral part of modern military strategy and armed conflict for Australia and many other countries.

The situation is made more complex by the increasing interest in possible futuremining in spaceand the potential rise ofspace tourism. There is also no clear international agreement about where to draw the line between sovereign airspace and outer space, or about what (and whose)criminal law applies in space.

At present, some 70-80 countries have some degree of sovereign space capability, including an ability to independently launch or operate their own satellites.

On the other hand, this means nearly two-thirds of the world's countries do not have any national space capability. They are completely dependent on others for access to space infrastructure and to space itself. Their ability to enjoy the benefits of space technology for development and well-being relies on strategic and geopolitical networks and understandings.

Even Australia, which is a sophisticated space participant, currently has relatively limited sovereign capability for space launches, Earth observation, GPS and other critical space activities.

However, it is not economically feasible for Australia to be wholly independent in every aspect of space. For this reason, Australia's twin policy of ensuring access to space through strategic alliances with selected spacefaring nations, while also developing further sovereign space capability in specific areas, is essential to Australia's defense and national security interests.

Addressing the intersection between cyberspace and outer space is vital for Australia's defense and national security policies. Both civilian and military actors participate in these domains, and the range of possible activities is rapidly developing.

We will need to understand the increasingly close intersection between cyberspace and outer space technologies to be in the best possible position to develop effective and integrated defense and national security strategies to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

This article is republished fromThe Conversationunder a Creative Commons license. Read theoriginal article.

Follow all of the Expert Voices issues and debates and become part of the discussion on Facebook and Twitter. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.

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Cybersecurity Risks In The USA – Security Insider Access Online – Security Insider Access Online

Cybersecurity has always been a concern for those with devices, but it is ever-growing and becoming increasingly difficult to combat. It seems as though new threats are popping up every day with the widespread use of technology today. With malware being an issue since the inception of internet usage, security risks will continue to be so long as we rely on connectivity in our world, whether by individual or business entities alike!

As scary as it sounds, there are common types of security risks that are preventable and identifiable. In this article, we are going to put the magnifying glass on these threats and how you can stop them before they get out of hand!

Malware is a common form of security threat that can be devastating. It has been around since the internets inception. It continues to remain persistent in todays digital world, with malware ranging from stealing information, denying access to programs, deleting files, and spreading itself on other systems.

Ive been hacked! When you log in to an account, a common conclusion is only to find your password changed and your details are lost. The reality is that a very talented third party managed to guess or steal your password and has since run amok with the information. It is far worse for businesses that could lose sensitive data due to this type of hack attack on their network infrastructure.

Eavesdropping is a type of third-party interference in which one party listens to information sent between another user and the host. The kind of data stolen varies based on the traffic but often includes logins or valuable personal information.

Phishing scams are outdated or old attack methods and rely on social engineering to achieve their goal. Typically, the target receives a message or email which requests sensitive data such as passwords. Sometimes, these phishing messages appear official with legitimate appearing addresses and media content that compels individuals to click links where they can accidentally give away their most intimate information.

Distributed Denial of Service is a method of attacking in which malicious parties target servers and overload them with user traffic. When a server cannot handle incoming requests, its host website shuts down or slows to unusable performance.

An XSS attack is when a third party targets a vulnerable website and injects dangerous code. These websites typically lack encryption, which makes them easy to target. When users access these sites, they are targeted with a payload that either disrupts standard services or steals their information (depending on what the attacker wants).

Zero-day vulnerabilities are a real danger that governments and businesses need to be aware of. These exploits can cause major damage in the form of lost data, ruined information systems, or financial losses by stealing sensitive information if theyre not dealt with quickly.

What are some cybersecurity risks?

Data breaches are a common cyber-attack that can lead to disastrous repercussions, such as decreased business success and increased risk of outside attacks. With global connectivity on the rise and cloud services being used increasingly often with poor security parameters, your company is at greater risk for this attack than ever before.

What is the biggest cybersecurity threat to the United States?

Nation-state hackers are the most serious in terms of the threats the U.S. faces.

Top 10 Cybersecurity Risks for Businesses

Are cookies a security risk?

Cookies are not harmful because they cannot infect computers with viruses or other malware. Cyberattacks enable access and then hijack your browsing sessions. Well, the danger lies in their ability to track the browsing history f the user.

Why are cyber attacks so dangerous?

Cyberattacks can cause needless military equipment failures, electrical blackouts, and about every national security secret, you could imagine. Theyll result in the theft of valuable, sensitive data like your medical records too-and if they succeed at all, thats been disruptive for phone networks or computer systems, making it unavailable to be able to access any information whatsoever!

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