As more and more individuals and companies are storing their data in the cloud, online attackers are focusing more of their efforts there, according to a report by Alert Logic. While the number of these attacks was four times higher in Europe than in the United States, people across the globe, especially business owners, need to be cognizant of the risk that storing applications and data in the cloud poses.
Click here to read the rest of the article by Tony Bradley for PCWorld.com.
PC manufacturers have long used software known as “bloatware” to keep the costs of computers down for consumers, but this additional software can drastically affect the speed and efficiency of your desktop or laptop. There are several ways to remove bloatware from your computer, including programs that find bloatware on your computer for you, uninstalling the software yourself, and reinstalling Windows to your PC to give yourself a clean slate.
Click here to read the rest of Chris Hoffman’s article for PCWorld.com.
Sales of desktop PCs in Western Europe saw a surge in the first quarter of 2014, due in large part to the end of Microsoft support for computers still using XP. HP, Lenovo and Acer hold the top three spots in terms of market share, though Acer’s share dropped. Worldwide, Lenovo, HP and Dell are the three most popular brands of PCs.
Click here to read the rest of the story by Mikael Ricknas for PCWorld.com.
With Microsoft ending support for XP early next week, many XP users may be looking for a new PC, and PC World has a few helpful hints for those in the market for a new computer. One of the most important things is to make sure your laptop gives you easy access for computer repair, as many laptops have begun to sacrifice repairability in favor of appearance. They suggest keeping an open mind to touchscreens, which have become more affordable in the last year, and make the case for choosing a PC with Windows 8.1, as recent upgrades to it will make it easier for XP users to convert to the new operating system.
Click here to read the rest of the article by Ian Paul for PCWorld.com.
Microsoft recently unveiled the beta version of its digital personal assistant for the Windows Phone, named Cortana, which is being voiced by Jen Taylor, who played the Cortana character of the same name in the Halo video game series. While still in the beginning stages of its usage, the early reviews of Cortana on the Windows Phone are promising, with hopes that it will be on par with Apple’s Siri and Google Now.
Click here to read the rest of Matt Hamblen’s article for ComputerWorld.com.
Despite being introduced all the way back in 2001, Microsoft XP is still the second-most used operating system in the world, with XP accounting for nearly 28 percent of worldwide computer users. While XP continues to be very popular, Microsoft will soon be ending its support of the operating system within the week. XP users may have to rely on computer repair companies even more now that Microsoft will not be offering a support system for it.
Click here to read the rest of Ian Paul’s post for PCWorld.com.
Google introduced GMail 10 years ago as something of a side project, but in that time it has become perhaps the most popular email service in the world. However, GMail is not without its issues. Among the improvements that PC Mag suggests include an easier way to switch between Google accounts online, getting rid of the email compose box, and better integration with Microsoft Outlook.
To read the rest of Chloe Albanesius’ article for PCMag.com, follow this link.
PCWorld gave the new Acer Predator AG3-605-UR39 gaming PC a solid review, proclaiming it one of the best mid-priced options out on the market this year. Though the exterior of the PC is pretty nondescript, the Predator’s components are impressive, allowing it to run high resolution games like Bioshock Ultimate and Battlefield 4 at relatively high speeds. The only issues that PCWorld takes with this model of the Predator are its lack of an SSD and its small power supply, which limits the number of inexpensive upgrades that can be made to the rig.
Click here to read the rest of Hayden Dingman’s review for PCWorld.com.
