Twitter drafts a deepfake policy that would label and warn, but not always remove, manipulated media

Twitter last month said it was introducing a new policy to help fight deepfakes and other “manipulated media” that involve photos, videos or audio that’s been significantly altered to change its original meaning or purpose, or those that make it seem like something happened that actually did not. Today, Twitter is sharing a draft of its new policy and opening it up for public input before it goes live.

The policy is meant to address the growing problem with deepfakes on today’s internet.

Deepfakes have proliferated thanks to advances made in artificial intelligence that have made it easier to produce convincing fake videos, audio and other digital content. Anyone with a computer and internet connection can now create this sort of fake media. The technology can be dangerous when used as propaganda, or to make someone believe something is real which is not. In politics, deepfakes can be used to undermine a candidate’s reputation, by making them say and do things they never said or did.

A deepfake of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg went viral earlier this year, after Facebook refused to pull down a doctored video that showed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stumbling over her words was tweeted by Trump.

In early October, two members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Mark Warner (D-VA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), called on major tech companies to develop a plan to combat deepfakes on their platforms. The senators asked 11 tech companies — including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Reddit and LinkedIn — to come up with a plan to develop industry standards for “sharing, removing, archiving, and confronting the sharing of synthetic content as soon as possible.”

Twitter later in the month announced its plans to seek public feedback on the policy. Meanwhile, Amazon joined up with Facebook and Microsoft to support the DeepFake Detection challenge (DFDC), which aims to develop new approaches to detect manipulated media.

Today, Twitter is detailing a draft of its deepfakes policy. The company says that when it sees synthetic or manipulated media that’s intentionally trying to mislead or confuse people it will:

• place a notice next to Tweets that share synthetic or manipulated media;
• warn people before they share or like Tweets with synthetic or manipulated media; or
• add a link – for example, to a news article or Twitter Moment – so that people can read more about why various sources believe the media is synthetic or manipulated.

Twitter says if a deepfake could threaten someone’s physical safety or lead to serious harm, it may also remove it.

The company is accepting feedback by way of a survey as well as on Twitter itself, by way of the #TwitterPolicyFeedback hashtag.

The survey asks questions like whether altered photos and videos should be removed entirely, have warning labels, or not be removed at all. And it asks whether certain actions are acceptable, like hiding tweets or alerting people if they’re about to share a deepfake. It also asks when it should remove a tweet with misleading media. The policy Twitter created says tweets will be removed if the tweet threatens someone’s physical safety, but will otherwise be labeled. The survey suggests some other times a tweet could be pulled — like if it threatens someone’s mental health, privacy, dignity, property and more.

The survey takes five minutes to complete and is available in English, Japanese, Portuguese, Arabic, Hindi and Spanish.

What isn’t clear, however, is how Twitter will be able to detect the deepfakes published on its platform, given that detection techniques aren’t perfect and often lag behind the newer and more advanced creation methods. On this front, Twitter invites those who want to partner with it on detection solutions to fill out a form.

Twitter is accepting feedback on its deepfakes policy from now until Wednesday, November 27 at 11:59 p.m. GMT. At that time, it will review the feedback received and make adjustments to the policy, as needed. The policy will then be incorporated into Twitter’s Rules with a 30-day notice before the change goes live.

 

Read Full Article

Hope and justice for women who've survived ISIS | Rabiaa El Garani

Hope and justice for women who've survived ISIS | Rabiaa El Garani

Human rights protector Rabiaa El Garani shares the challenging, heartbreaking story of sexual violence committed against Yazidi women and girls in Iraq by ISIS -- and her work seeking justice for the survivors. "These victims have been through unimaginable pain. But with a little help, they show how resilient they are," she says. "It is an honor to bear witness; it is a privilege to seek justice." (This talk contains mature content.)

Click the above link to download the TED talk.

6 Tips for Windows 7 End of Life and Support

Windows 7 end of life draws near. The now-decade old operating system is biting the dust. There are several reasons you might need or want to keep using Windows 7. However, once Microsoft ends Windows 7 support, the operating system will become vulnerable.

Here are six tips for braving Windows 7 end of life, and how to move forward.

1. What Does Windows 7 End of Life Mean?

Windows 7 end of life is as it sounds. Microsoft is switching off all support for Windows 7. After January 14, 2020, all technical assistance and security updates from Windows Update will cease. The Windows 7 EOL also means that all security updates will stop, too.

Windows 7 is an aging, vulnerable operating system. Without Microsoft’s constant updating and security patches, Windows 7 will become an even more vulnerable operating system.

The end of Windows 7 support is a cause for concern for anyone running the fading operating system.

However, it isn’t the end of Windows 7 if you have enough money. Windows 7 Pro and Enterprise have the option to pay $350 to keep Windows 7 alive for three years.

The Microsoft Extended Security Updates program will run until 2023. The program isn’t for everyone, though. Only businesses, professional organizations, and mission-critical computers can apply for the Extended Security Updates program.

When that period ends, those companies must have made provisions to upgrade to Windows 10 (or otherwise).

2. When Is Windows 7 End of Life?

Microsoft announced Windows 7 end of life date a long way back, having “made a commitment to provide 10 years of product support” when it was released way back 2009.

Windows 7 end of life is on January 14, 2020.

3. Can I Keep Using Windows 7?

Of course, you can. Windows 7 won’t suddenly stop working overnight. The Windows 7 EOL date is the specific date support ends. Microsoft cannot force you to stop using Windows 7 remotely.

As above, Windows 7 will no longer receive updates, including security patches. There is another consideration, too. The programs you use on Windows 7 will also stop receiving updates to fix bugs and security holes. Like Windows 7 itself, those programs will continue to work (unless a critical bug appears), but you won’t receive the latest versions.

For many Windows 7 users, the software is a primary reason for persisting with the operating system. The difficulty in finding like-for-like replacements for certain software types is why Microsoft is offering businesses the opportunity to remain on Windows 7 for a little while longer.

Home users do not have the same grace period. Furthermore, there are suitable replacements for most Windows 7 software on Windows 10.

4. Can I Remove the Windows 7 End of Support Notification?

On March 19, 2019, Microsoft released Windows 7 Update KB4493132. The significance of KB4493132 is that it introduces notifications about Windows 7 end of support to the desktop of those users.

Users remaining with Windows 7 have two options to turn off the end of life notifications.

1. When the Windows 7 end of life notification box appears, select the Do not remind me again option. The notifications will switch off. If you close the box without selecting the “do not remind me again” option, notifications will continue.
2. Find and uninstall the KB4493132 update. You will find the list of updates at Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Installed Updates. Browse the list until you find KB4493132, then right-click and select Uninstall.

5. Can I Upgrade to Windows 10 for Free?

Note: If you are considering upgrading to Windows 10, please read section “Should I Back Up Important Files on Windows 7?” below.

The official free Windows 10 upgrade period ended on July 29, 2016. Since then, thousands of users have claimed a free Windows 10 upgrade, from Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. Many systems that never installed the Get Windows 10 program, who then decided to upgrade long-past the end of the official program found their upgraded system fully licensed.

The process isn’t guaranteed. I’m making no claims that you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free. But, if you haven’t tried upgrading, it could be worthwhile.

1. Head to the Windows 10 Download page.
2. Select Download tool now.
3. Open the tool and select Upgrade this PC now.
4. Follow the instructions.

Once the Windows 10 upgrade completes, press Windows Key + I, then head to Settings > About and check your Windows license status under Windows Specifications.

If you find that the process has not resulted in a full license, you can roll back to Windows 7.

Windows 10 Minimum Specifications

There is another consideration to make before upgrading to Windows 10: minimum specifications. Windows 10 minimum specifications are:

• Processor:1GHz or faster processor.
• RAM: 1GB for 32-bit or 2GB for 64-bit.
• Hard disk space: 16GB for 32-bit, or 20GB for 64-bit.
• Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later.
• Display:800×600 resolution.

Those are the minimum specs, but your Windows 10 experience will have all sorts of issues. Microsoft designed Windows 10 to run on a huge range of hardware. But the more power you have, the better your experience is. And while a 1GHz processor and 1GB RAM is okay for Windows 7, it won’t cut the mustard for Windows 10.

6. Should I Back Up Important Files on Windows 7?

A regular system backup should always be a part of your personal security routine. A back up is one of the easiest methods to recover your data from unexpected events like a system crash.

With regards to Windows 7, increasing your back up frequency is a great idea. After the Windows 7 end of life date, security updates will cease. Any vulnerabilities found after that date will remain unpatched. If your Windows 7 is vulnerable, your data is at risk. Backing up more frequently mitigates some of the risks, at least, partially.

Check out the easiest and safest ways to back up your files on Windows 7.

If you’re considering upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 10, back up your files before upgrading. The Windows 10 upgrade process takes care of your files. But you wouldn’t want anything untoward to happen!

Windows 7 End of Support Is Coming

The end of Windows 7 is firmly on the horizon. It is better to prepare now for Windows 7 end of life, rather than start scrambling when January 2020 arrives.

If you think it is time to jump ship, check out the best ways to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 before 2020 hits.

Read the full article: 6 Tips for Windows 7 End of Life and Support

Read Full Article

The 9 Best Gaming Smartphones in 2019

Smartphone games are becoming more sophisticated and graphically complex than ever. But while most phones can play most games, you need a smartphone with great specs to properly handle top titles like Call of Duty or Fortnite.

So if you want to buy the best gaming phone for 2019, let’s take a look at your options.

What to Look for in a Gaming Phone

When you’re looking for the best gaming smartphone, there are a few key specs you need to keep an eye out for. You don’t need all of them, but the more you have, the better your phone will perform.

• Fast CPU and GPU: you want a flagship-level processor, ideally something in the Snapdragon 8xx range or similar.
• Cooling system: a phone’s CPU normally slows down once it starts to get too hot. Liquid cooling, or some other special cooling system, will help control the temperature and keep it running faster for longer.
• Big battery: a large battery, starting at around 4000mAh, is a must. Fast charging is also good to have.
• Lots of RAM and storage: Android phones will ideally have at least 6GB of RAM for gaming, if not more, plus as much storage as possible to keep your games on.
• Fast refresh screen: most phone screens have a 60Hz refresh rate, meaning they refresh 60 times every second. Some gaming phones are 90Hz, or even 120Hz, and can produce smoother, more fluid animations.

1. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

We’ll start with the iPhone 11 Pro Max. It is, by almost any measure, the most powerful smartphone you can buy. And iOS is still the best platform for smartphone gaming. Although all the main AAA titles are available on Android, iOS still has the best indie titles.

All the iPhone 11 models have the same core specs, but we’d recommend the 11 Pro Max for gaming because it’s the only one of the three to combine the largest screen with the longest battery life. In truth, though, they’re all great games machines.

2. Razer Phone 2

Razer Phone 2 Razer Phone 2 Buy Now On Amazon $399.99

When you’re looking for the best Android phone for gaming, why not start with one of the best-known gaming hardware brands. From a company renowned for its gaming laptops, the Razer Phone 2 is a pretty compelling gaming phone.

What it lacks in style—the large bezels give it a slightly dated look—it more than makes up for in power and performance. It’s got a fast processor, a large 4000mAh battery, dual Dolby Surround Sound speakers, and a vapor chamber cooling system to stop it overheating.

But best of all is the 120Hz display for a super-smooth gaming experience. The device came out in late 2018, and subsequent price cuts make it an absolute bargain.

3. Red Magic 3

Red Magic 3 Red Magic 3 Buy Now On Amazon $550.00

The Red Magic 3 is one of the top gaming phones you can buy right now. Manufacturer ZTE describes it as delivering “Esports grade” performance. The standout feature is a fan assisted liquid cooling system that enables the processor to run at a faster clock speed for longer.

You also get up to 12GB of RAM, a massive 5000mAh battery, and a 6.65-inch HDR display with a 90Hz refresh rate. And if that’s not enough, the device also has capacitive shoulder triggers for some of the most ergonomic gaming you’ll find on a phone.

4. Asus ROG Phone 2

Asus ROG Phone 2 Asus ROG Phone 2 Buy Now On Amazon $646.00

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a phone with better specifications than the Asus ROG Phone 2. It crams in the cutting-edge Snapdragon 855 Plus CPU, a 120Hz AMOLED HDR display, twin front-facing speakers, and up to 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

It’s all backed up with a mammoth 6000mAh battery with 30W fast charging that can take you to 40 percent in just half an hour. The only downside is the aesthetic design—it is not a phone for the style-conscious. The ROG 2 is big, has a rugged looking design, and weighs over half a pound.

5. Black Shark 2 Pro

With its two rear LED lighting strips, the Black Shark 2 Pro from Xiaomi looks more like a gaming phone than any other. It isn’t all gimmicks, though, as it has the specs to match. There’s the Snapdragon 855 Plus processor, super-fast UFS 3.0 storage, liquid cooling, and your choice of 8GB or 12GB of RAM.

Most impressive is the gaming-optimized display. The low latency allows for faster in-game responses, while the high sensitivity—it recognizes movements as short as 0.3mm—gives you incredible levels of precision. Best of all, it’s pressure-sensitive. You can use different actions within your games simply by pressing the screen harder.

6. OnePlus 7 Pro

OnePlus 7 Pro OnePlus 7 Pro Buy Now On Amazon $867.21

You don’t need a dedicated gaming phone to get great gaming performance. The OnePlus 7 Pro has most of what you’re looking for in a sleeker, more stylish package.

This includes a flagship Snapdragon 855 processor, up to 8GB of RAM, a 90Hz QHD display, dual stereo speakers, and a 4000mAh battery with the unique Warp Charge 30 system. As well as charging the phone rapidly, it doesn’t get hot if you keep it plugged in while gaming.

Also, check out the OnePlus 7T Pro, with a slightly upgraded processor. It’s available in the UK and other parts of the world, but not the US.

7. Honor Play

Honor Play Honor Play Buy Now On Amazon $329.99

Gaming doesn’t have to be off-limits if you’re on a budget, thanks to the Honor Play. This device may come at an affordable price, but it packs in the high-end Kirin 970 processor and up to 6GB of RAM, along with the GPU Turbo feature that’s tuned for high frame rates and low power consumption.

There are a few compromises, inevitably. There’s only a single speaker, and storage is limited to 64GB—although there is a microSD slot. But while the battery looks small at 3750mAh, users suggest it holds up pretty well.

8. Samsung Galaxy S10

Samsung Galaxy S10 Samsung Galaxy S10 Buy Now On Amazon $899.00

The Samsung Galaxy S10 excels as a gaming smartphone. There’s an innovative cooling system and the S10 is optimized for games built with the Unity engine. The phone has stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos sound, and a GPU that’s over a third faster than on the Galaxy S9 just a year earlier.

With up to 12GB of RAM, it’ll handle the most cutting edge games for several years to come. And all that’s on top of the other great stuff the S10 has to offer; fast performance, an incredible camera, and a long battery life with fast charging too.

9. Pocophone F1

Pocophone F1 Pocophone F1 Buy Now On Amazon $287.70

You can play games on cell phones of any kind, but the better the specs, the better your experience will be. The Pocophone F1 is the cheapest way to get your hands on a true flagship. Despite its lower mid-range price, the F1 doesn’t skimp on the specs.

It has a top-end Snapdragon 845 CPU, with up to 8GB of RAM, up to 256GB of storage, and stereo speakers. The 4000mAh battery, with fast charging, will keep you playing for a long time. It even has a liquid cooling system to prevent heat from becoming a problem.

On the downside, it is plastic and does have larger bezels than you might prefer. But these aesthetic issues can’t detract from the sheer power under the hood.

The Best Smartphone for Gaming

All of these devices rank among the best smartphones for gaming this year. Whether you’re a serious player or just prefer casual games, they’ll all serve you well.

If you have other priorities, like how long-lasting a phone is, check out our picks of the Android phones with best battery life.

Read the full article: The 9 Best Gaming Smartphones in 2019

Read Full Article

8 Reasons to Stop Buying Games on Steam

Steam is the largest digital distribution service for PC games. So if you’re a PC gamer it’s likely that you own games on Steam. But is it really the best way to buy games? Here are some reasons to stop buying games on Steam.

1. DRM Means You Don’t Own Anything

Steam is a form of digital rights management (DRM), which is a method to protect against piracy. When you launch a game, Steam launches with it, ensuring you can benefit from platform features like achievements, cloud saves, and trading cards (how to get Steam trading cards).

The good thing is that the DRM is optional. Developers can disable it and allow their games to launch without Steam running. However, many don’t.

For those that don’t, that game is tied to your Steam account. So, if Steam closes down or your account gets banned, you’ll no longer have access to the games you bought. Which means that, in essence, you are merely renting a license to a game.

2. You Can’t Resell Your Steam Games

Image Credit: JJBers/Flickr

Once you buy a game on Steam, there’s no way to sell it on. While you can get a refund under certain conditions, you can’t list it on any marketplace. The game is tied to your account.

That’s different to a game that you buy physically, for example (providing you don’t have to redeem a key to activate the game.) They can easily be sold on eBay, traded in, or donated to a thrift store.

However, a French court ruled that Steam users do have a right to resell their games. That’s something that hasn’t come in to practice yet as Valve is appealing the decision.

3. Steam Games Rarely Come With Bonus Goodies

Playing the game you buy is of course the main draw, but it’s always nice to receive some extras for free. Sadly, you rarely get any bonus goodies when you buy a game on Steam.

If you buy direct through the developer, or on another storefront like GOG, you often get downloadable treats like art books, soundtracks, wallpapers, and more.

It harks back to the days when you would get physical bonuses with your games, like a cloth map or figurine.

4. Valve Takes a Huge Cut From Developers

Image Credit: Marco Verch/Flickr

Making video games is difficult. Turning a profit on them? That’s even tougher. As standard, Valve takes a 30 percent cut of the revenue of all Steam purchases. That percentage reduces on a sliding scale when certain revenue targets are reached, but most developers will never get to that point.

Some developers don’t think Valve deserve such a large chunk of the pie, but Steam’s ubiquity makes it hard to argue. It’s where many consumers automatically go to buy games, so not having a game listed on Steam is risky.

If you want to support a developer then you should stop buying games on Steam. Instead, your best approach is to buy games directly from developers, if possible. Alternatively, the Epic Store only takes a 12 percent cut, while Humble Bundle lets you choose how much of the purchase price goes to the developer.

5. Steam Isn’t Always the Cheapest Option

Steam always has sales. There are daily sales and also the big seasonal ones around events like Halloween and Christmas. But even then it’s not necessarily the cheapest place to buy games.

Gaming is an expensive hobby at the best of times, so there’s no point spending more than you need to. Especially when the end product is exactly the same wherever you buy it (things like pre-order bonuses aside.)

Check out our recommendations for the best sites for video game deals. Some websites even provide your purchase as a Steam code, meaning there’s literally no difference in the product except the price.

6. You Are Tied Into the Steam Ecosystem

Some people like owning all of their games on Steam and being tied into the Steam ecosystem. Perhaps it’s the collector in them coming out, or it’s just what all of their friends use.

The problem with this comes when you want to buy something outside of Steam.

Let’s say you buy a game through Steam and the developer later releases DLC. You have no choice but to buy that DLC through Steam, even if it’s cheaper elsewhere, because there’s no way to link the two purchases together otherwise.

7. You Don’t Get a Physical Box

Image Credit: Sergey Galyonkin/Flickr

Video games used to come in big cardboard boxes, with great artwork perfect for display. That changed with the introduction of CDs and DVDs, but there’s still something satisfying about seeing a shelf lined with your favorite games.

While it’s much quicker to browse and search your collection on Steam, it’s not quite the same. Visitors to your home aren’t going to strike up a conversation about your Steam library like they might if they saw a line of physical game boxes.

There was something special about poring over a game’s manual on your way home from the shop too. That’s an experience lost, although, to be frank, it does cut down on paper and plastic waste.

8. The Steam Store Is Full of Trash

Steam is home to tens of thousands of games. The number of games on the store has skyrocketed in recent years, in part thanks to Valve’s lack of curation.

Unlike when you walk into your local store, where the stock has been carefully chosen, the Steam store plays host to everything. While it’s good that the barrier to entry is low, it means there’s a lot of trash and low-effort games to wade through.

For instance, 4,000 of the games on the store are classed as Early Access, which means development isn’t finished. And there’s no guarantee that these games will ever be properly finished.

Why should it be on the consumer to separate the wheat from the chaff?

The Best PC Game Launchers

Despite all of these reasons to stop buying games on Steam, it definitely still has its place. The problem is, Steam has such a hold on the market that it’s difficult for competitors to enter and shake things up.

If you own lots of games across different platforms and want to organize them, you need a game launcher. To get you started, take a look at our list of the best PC game launchers.

Read the full article: 8 Reasons to Stop Buying Games on Steam

Read Full Article

5 Anti-Spam Filters for Microsoft Outlook That Raise Your Protection

Microsoft Outlook is one of the most popular email clients in the world. Despite the popularity, Outlook’s integrated spam filtering doesn’t catch much. As spammers use increasingly novel methods to skirt the default Outlook spam blocker, your inbox can come under attack from all manner of spam emails.

If your Outlook inbox is under spam-siege, check out the top anti-spam tools for Outlook.

1. SpamBully

SpamBully takes the crown as the top-rated spam filter for Microsoft Outlook. It is a premium spam filter, but it delivers excellent results straight out of the box as it purges inboxes and keeps them clean.

SpamBully works with Outlook, Office 365, Office 2019, Office 2016, and older Office versions.

SpamBully brings an extensive range of spam filtering and blocking to Outlook. It learns how you use your email, making sure that only the good email passes to your inbox even as it removes spam automatically without you constantly updating your block list.

One of SpamBully’s best features is the option to “punish” the spammer. You can return spam mail automatically to the sender so that it doesn’t clog your inbox. It also reports the sender to the server it came from. The idea is to increase the cost of sending spam.

Another interesting feature is the email password for unfamiliar senders. If the address looks suspicious or spoofed, you can request the sender to enter a password before the email enters your inbox. A spammer isn’t going to take the time to enter individual passwords for each spam email.

If you are unsure about malicious email, why not try Google’s phishing email quiz? It teaches you how to spot and avoid phishing emails and other malicious email types.

A 1-year SpamBully subscription comes in at $29.95.

Download: SpamBully for Windows (Free Trial)

2. MailWasher Free and Pro

MailWasher is an Outlook spam filter that receives excellent reviews. MailWasher comes in two flavors: Free and Pro. The free version works with a single email account, and you cannot block incoming mail based upon country of origin.

Those limitations aside, MailWasher Free offers much of the same features as the Premium version.

MailWasher uses an automated learning system to figure out what is spam in your inbox and what it should leave intact. It has extensive filtering, which it uses in conjunction with customizable blacklists. The MailWasher interface is easy to use, allowing you to sort through spam emails rapidly. The auto-account detection works well, too.

A 1-year MailWasher Pro license will set you back $39.95, and a lifetime license comes in at $100. MailWasher is also available for iOS and Android.

Download: MailWasher Free for Windows (Free)

3. SPAMfighter

SPAMfighter is an award-winning free spam filter for Microsoft Outlook. SPAMfighter is a Microsoft Gold Partner, too, working closely to deliver a great spam filter.

Once installed, SPAMfighter protects all the accounts on your PC (including Outlook Express and Mozilla Thunderbird). When you receive an email, SPAMfighter checks it automatically. If it is spam, it heads straight to your spam folder.

If SPAMfighter misses a spam email, you can update the SPAMfighter definitions with a single click. The updated definition will eventually filter through to all other SPAMfighter users.

Handily, SPAMfighter creates whitelists automatically, and you can also filter emails using the language list.

Download: SPAMfighter for Windows 10 (Free for home users)

4. Spamihilator

Spamihilator takes the prize for the best spam filter name. It isn’t just an amusing name, though. Spamihilator is a useful free anti-spam tool for Outlook that will keep your inbox clear. Once installed, Spamihilator sits between Outlook and your network connection, catching spam before it hits your inbox.

Spamihilator hasn’t received an update in a while, but it is still a great free tool. The “Training Area” feature lets you mark specific emails for future filtering, teaching the program to remove messages with similar content. Spamihilator becomes better the more you use the filters.

There is a setup wizard that appears automatically after installation. The wizard is fine if you have a POP3 email account. However, if you use IMAP, you need to enter your email configuration within the Spamihilator settings.

If you are unsure about what email type you use, here are the differences between IMAP and POP3.

Unlike most other spam filters, Spamihilator offers a portable installer. A portable installer works directly from a USB flash drive, meaning you can use it to clean up spam on a different computer without installing. You can find the portable installers on the Spamihilator download page.

Download: Spamihilator for Windows 32-bit | Windows 64-bit (Both Free)

5. Spam Reader

Spam Reader scans your inbox with impressive speed after installation. No sooner had I opened Outlook, Spam Reader reported back over 8,000 spam messages. It had scanned my existing spam box, but also caught a lot of spam lurking in my inbox. Spam Reader nestles in your Outlook toolbar, as per the above image.

Aside from rapid scanning speed, Spam Reader tracks and analyses your inbox to understand your usage.

In this, it uses a “Sure/Not Sure” method to deal with potential spam. Marking messages Not Sure keeps false negatives from deletion before you have had a chance to check manually. Over time, Spam Reader learns that those false negatives should head straight to your inbox.

There are two Spam Reader versions: Free and Pro. The features are exactly the same. But after 30-days, the free version adds a small message to your outgoing emails. If that is not something you want, the Pro version comes in at $39.95 for a lifetime license with minor upgrades, or $59.50 for a lifetime license with major upgrades.

Download: Spam Reader for Windows (Free)

What Is the Best Outlook Spam Filter?

The default Outlook spam filter doesn’t cut out enough spam. Spam is big business, and Microsoft is losing the war.

Spam varies between inboxes, of course. If your email has found its way onto a spam list, you will receive more spam than most. Data breaches are extremely common, unfortunately, so your email address could well be in the hands of the spammers.

The best Outlook spam filter is SpamBully. It catches almost every bit of incoming spam and learns about your inbox and usage habits quickly. SpamBully does come with a price tag. But for the sake of keeping your Outlook inbox free of time-consuming and potentially malicious spam, it is a worthwhile investment.

If you want to power-up your Outlook inbox, check out these Microsoft Outlook add-ins for a better email experience.

Read the full article: 5 Anti-Spam Filters for Microsoft Outlook That Raise Your Protection

Read Full Article

5 Reasons Why Macs Are Less Likely to Get Malware Than Windows

The common wisdom states that Macs aren’t as susceptible to viruses as Windows PCs are. But why is this, exactly?

Of course, no system is flawless when it comes to security. It’s possible to get malware on a Mac just like any other computer. And while user habits definitely play a role, you’ll be glad to know your Mac is naturally protected from most threats. Let’s look at the ways macOS is built to resist viruses and other malware.

What Is Malware?

We often use the terms “malware” and “virus” interchangeably, but they refer to different types of attacks.

A proper computer virus damages your software by slowing it down, filling up the hard drive, or deleting important files. Viruses are hard to get rid of because they replicate themselves inside your operating system.

These days, most computers do a pretty good job of protecting against traditional viruses, but there are hosts of other software threats lurking in the shadows. The term malware refers to any malicious software, including:

• Adware: Malicious programs that spawn advertisements
• Spyware: Monitors your computer use and reports it to some entity
• Worms: Malware that spreads to other computers over a network
• Trojan horses: Dangerous programs that masquerade as useful ones
• Computer viruses

What Protects a Mac From Malware Infections?

You might have heard the claim that viruses don’t affect Macs. This isn’t true, as Macs can certainly get viruses. But we’ve all come across someone who’s used a Mac without antivirus software for years and never had a problem. You’ll struggle to find the same story from a Windows user.

There are a lot of factors at play here. Windows has made tremendous progress in terms of security in recent years, but macOS still benefits from unique advantages that make it less likely to get malware in the first place.

1. Apple Built macOS Using the Unix Platform

Image Credit: welcomia/Depositphotos

When Microsoft developed Windows, it built the OS upon its own unique software platform called MS-DOS. In contrast, Apple developed macOS (or Mac OS X at the time) using Unix, an open-source platform that had already been in use for years.

Unix is renowned for its stability and security features, many of which aren’t present in MS-DOS. Windows hasn’t used MS-DOS as its basis since Windows XP, but many parts of its security and architecture today are left over from those old days.

Meanwhile, Unix is open-source and has been used by a range of different companies in the development of macOS, Linux, the PlayStation 4, and even the firmware for gadgets like your router.

There are lots of people looking to fix vulnerabilities in Unix so they can make their own products more secure. Your Mac benefits from this group effort, whereas Windows PCs are solely dependent on Microsoft’s architecture.

2. Gatekeeper Scans New Apps to Ensure They’re Safe

If you’ve ever downloaded an app from outside the Mac App Store, you may have discovered you can’t open it after the download completes. This is due to a macOS security feature called Gatekeeper.

When you download new apps, Gatekeeper quarantines them and uses XProtect to scan the code for malware. If it finds any, Gatekeeper alerts you of the risk and doesn’t let you open the app. You can bypass Gatekeeper by holding Control and clicking an app, but you run the risk of infecting your Mac when you do so.

Even if the XProtect scan comes back clean, Gatekeeper might reject your app if it doesn’t trust the developer. By default, your Mac only lets you install apps from the Mac App Store or “identified developers.” This allows apps like Dropbox, Evernote, or Microsoft Office while blocking lesser-known developers. This is an example of Apple’s infamous “walled garden” approach.

3. macOS Separates Apps With Sandboxes

macOS makes use of sandboxing to limit what apps can do. This is the practice of a software provider putting up virtual barriers around third-party apps to keep them from accessing other apps or system files on your machine.

It’s one of the reasons a Mac is less flexible than a Windows PC, but these restrictions come with the payoff of tightened security. Third-party applications have limited access to core system files, making it difficult for malware to cause serious damage if it gets past Gatekeeper.

Since macOS Catalina, Mac apps need to request permission for each part of the system they want to access. This includes categories like Files and Folders, Screen Recording, Camera, Photos, and more.

Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy to see what is and isn’t allowed; you can revoke access for anything you’re unsure about.

4. SIP Provides an Added Layer of Protection

The OS hides important system files on your Mac so you can’t accidentally damage or move them. But it also guards important files behind a hidden defense, called System Integrity Protection (SIP).

SIP (present on OS X El Capitan and newer) stops you or anyone else from editing the system files on your Mac, which are often a prime target for malware. This makes it trickier for malware to infiltrate your operating system and compromise the security or performance of your Mac.

Just like Gatekeeper, you can bypass SIP if you need to. But most reputable developers design their apps to work alongside SIP, so you shouldn’t need to. See our full explanation on System Integrity Protection for more details.

5. There Are Still Far Fewer Macs Than Windows Computers

Image Credit: mishoo/Depositphotos

Although it doesn’t seem like a great defense, particularly since it’s outside of Apple’s control, your Mac is also protected by the fact that there are more Windows computers in the world than Macs. In fact, there are a lot more.

A virus designed to damage Windows doesn’t work against Macs. So criminal developers need to choose which platform they want to target. Since Windows is vastly more popular than macOS, it makes more sense to create Windows malware and attack a larger number of people.

This is exactly what happens. Fewer malware threats exist for the Mac because there’s far less to gain for people who create them. This principle, however flawed, is known as security through obscurity.

Do What You Can to Keep Your Mac Safe

The weakest link of any security system is the user. Your Mac does a great job at keeping malware away, but you can help it by exercising common sense as well. For example:

• Keep your Mac up-to-date to benefit from the latest security patches.
• Avoid opening email attachments or links from unknown senders.
• Don’t bypass security features to install apps from untrustworthy sources.

For additional protection, you might also consider installing antivirus software. There are lots of bad options out there, so take a look at the best free antivirus software for your Mac to make sure you install something reputable.

Read the full article: 5 Reasons Why Macs Are Less Likely to Get Malware Than Windows

Read Full Article