Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Facebook challenges Twitch with exclusive esports streaming deal
Facebook has announced a new exclusive streaming deal with ESL – one of the world's biggest esports leagues.
As ESL's main broadcast partner, Facebook will stream Dota 2 and Counter Strike: Global Offensive competitions from ESL One, as well as its dedicated CS:GO Pro League.
The streaming action starts right now with ESL One Genting 2018. The tournament runs from January 23-38, with Dota 2 players competing for a US$400,000 prize pool.
“For years ESL has used Facebook to nurture its global community while broadening the audience for esports competition to millions of fans worldwide,” said Leo Olebe, global director of Facebook Games Partnerships at ESL.
“Having two of ESL’s most adored properties for CS:GO and Dota 2 streaming exclusively on Facebook is the next step in our efforts to delight the passionate esports community on Facebook."
Streaming in VR
The Facebook deal also introduces the possibility of virtual reality streaming for ESL's tournaments – a move that could give it an edge over the two biggest names in esports streaming: Twitch and YouTube Gaming.
"The ability to now watch esports in 1080p and in VR underscores our commitment to adding more ways for fans to watch and connect with each other around the esports content they love most," said Olebe.
In March, Facebook Live made the jump from mobile devices to the desktop, letting users stream video directly from PCs and laptops. It was a natural move towards game streaming, but until now it's been an exclusively amateur affair.
The ESL deal makes Facebook a serious contender for the attention of esports fans, and it'll be interesting to see if other professional leagues follow suit.
Via The Verge
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Wine 3.0 lets you run Windows programs on Android
Wine (also known as Wine Is Not an Emulator) is a popular piece of software that allows people to run Windows programs on other operating systems, particularly Linux and macOS, and it is now available for Android as well.
CodeWeavers, the company behind Wine, released a commercial version of Wine for Android, named CrossOver in 2016.
However, it remained in an early alpha testing stage, and was never fully released.
However, Wine 3.0, is now available, and it can be installed via an APK file onto Android systems, with the app running a full-screen Windows display – including the Start menu – when the app is opened.
Remember, it’s not an emulator
The APK file, which can be downloaded from the Wine HQ website, needs to be installed as an unknown source, rather than getting it from the Google Play Store. Check out our guide on how to install APK files for more information on how to do that.
At the moment the app supports audio and basic graphics, but not Direct3D, which many programs, especially games, need to use. However, Direct3D 10 and 11 support will hopefully be coming later this year.
So, Wine on Android is a bit limited at the moment, but it’s early days. As the name is keen to remind you, Wine is not an emulator, just a compatibility layer, so for the best results you’ll want to use an Android device with an x86 Intel processor (such as a tablet or Chromebook).
If your Android device uses an ARM processor (pretty much all smartphones do), then Wine uses the open source emulator QEMU.
This adds a layer of complexity, but for now it’s an impressive feat to get Windows programs running on Android devices, and users can look forward to future versions that add new features and iron out the kinks.
- Check out our list of the best Chromebooks of 2018
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Windows 10 set to improve privacy by revealing what data it collects about you
In a move that will certainly please privacy-conscious users, it seems that Microsoft is about to introduce the ability to view and delete the telemetry data that Windows 10 collects, according to new options that have popped up in the operating system’s latest preview builds.
There has long been controversy about Windows 10’s treatment of the user’s privacy, and one of the thorniest aspects has been what ‘diagnostic’ data the OS collects from the user’s PC to send back to Microsoft’s servers for analysis.
Last April, after taking what seemed like endless heat on the issue, Microsoft clarified what personal data Windows 10 collects on a basic level (the minimum amount of telemetry data you can elect to send).
But as Ghacks spotted, the most recent preview builds of Windows 10 (released this month and last month) have a pair of new options at the bottom of the Diagnostics & Feedback screen: ‘Diagnostic data viewer’ and ‘Delete diagnostic data’.
At the moment, these are merely placeholders which don’t function or do anything when clicked, but hopefully they will be live for those testing Windows 10 soon enough.
As a result, it’s not clear exactly what their function is at this point, but it seems obvious enough: the former should allow the user to fully view all the diagnostic data being collected on their system, and the latter should facilitate its deletion.
The devil’s in the data
Being able to view a full list (presumably it will be a full list, anyway) of collected diagnostic data yourself – as opposed to the previously published generic list of the basic level of data which is hoovered up – is a commendable step towards greater overall transparency, and a definite privacy boon.
As to what deletion of the diagnostic data entails, that’s something we’ll only know when Microsoft fully fleshes out these features. Assuming these options are actually realized, of course; there’s no guarantee that they’ll make it to the finished version of Windows 10.
However, it seems unlikely that you’ll be able to use deletion to flush out any data before it’s sent to Microsoft, as the company maintains it needs basic telemetry data in order to keep Windows secure (and to troubleshoot things like wonky updates, helping to spot problems early and take relevant action).
One thing is clear, though – it’s definitely a good sign that Microsoft isn’t finished working on making Windows 10 seem a more palatable proposition in terms of the user’s privacy.
- Some of the best laptops of 2018 run Windows 10
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Monday, January 22, 2018
Top 5 Linux server distros of 2018
As a free and open source operating system, Linux is the ideal candidate for setting up your own server. The community of developers behind each Linux distribution (distro) regularly review the source code of their chosen OS to make sure it's free of bugs.
When it comes to servers, the emphasis should obviously be on stability. While upgrades are a good thing on the face of it, they have the potential to interfere with the smooth running of your server.
We’ve highlighted some of our favourite Linux server distros in this article, including operating systems that offer long term support, stability, and ideally a fast setup process.
- These are the best Linux training providers and online courses in 2017
- 10 of the best Linux distros for privacy fiends and security buffs
- 10 best Linux distros: which one is right for you?
- What's the best Linux distro for beginners?
- How to choose the best Linux distro for laptops
- 10 of the most popular lightweight Linux distros
Debian is over 20-years-old and in part owes that longevity to the emphasis placed on producing a stable operating system. This is crucial if you want to set up a server as updates can sometimes clash badly with existing software, as we’ve already mentioned.
There are three branches of Debian, named 'Unstable', 'Testing' and 'Stable'. To become part of the Stable current release, packages must have been reviewed for several months as part of the Testing release. This results in a much more reliable system – but don't expect Debian to incorporate much 'bleeding edge' software as a result.
You can get started with Debian using a minimal Network Boot image which is less than 30MB in size.
While Ubuntu is best known for bringing desktop Linux to the masses, its Server variant is also extremely competitive. Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu has developed LTS (Long Term Support) versions of Ubuntu Server, which like the desktop flavour can be updated up to five years after the date of release, saving you the trouble of upgrading your server repeatedly.
If you're intent on building your own cloud platform, you can also download Ubuntu Cloud Server. Canonical claims that over 55% of OpenStack clouds already run on Ubuntu. For a fee, Canonical will even set up a managed cloud for you using BootStack.
OpenSUSE (formerly SUSE Linux) is a Linux distro specifically designed for developers and system admins wishing to run their own server. The easy-to-use installer can be configured to use 'Text Mode' rather than install a desktop environment to get your server up and running.
OpenSUSE will automatically download the minimum required packages for you, meaning only essential software is installed. The YaST Control Center allows you to configure network settings, such as setting up a static IP for your server. You can also use the built in Zypper package manager to download and install essential server software such as postfix.
Fedora is a community developed operating system based on the commercial Linux distro Red Hat. Fedora Server is a special implementation of the OS, allowing you to deploy and manage your server using the Rolekit tool. The operating system also includes a powerful PostgreSQL Database Server.
Fedora Server also includes FreeIPA, enabling you to manage authentication credentials, access control information and perform auditing from one central location.
You can download the full 2.3GB ISO image of Fedora Server using the link below. The same page contains a link to a minimal 511MB NetInstall Image from Fedora's Other Downloads section for a faster barebones setup.
Like Fedora, CentOS is a community developed distribution of Linux, originally based on the commercial OS Red Hat Enterprise Linux. In light of this, the developers behind CentOS 7 have promised to provide full updates for the OS until the end of 2020, with maintenance updates until the end of June 2024 – which should save the trouble of performing a full upgrade on your server in the near future.
You can avoid unnecessary packages by installing the 'minimal' ISO from the CentOS website, which at 792MB can fit onto a 90 minute CD-R. If you're eager to get started, the site also offers preconfigured AWS instances and Docker images.
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The best security apps and antivirus for Android in 2018
Android is the most widely-used operating system in the world, and that means having the best security apps and antivirus tools for Android installed on your device is essential, as Google's OS is often targeted by malware due to its popularity.
Whatever software you use with your Android phone or tablet, you’d be wise to have an antivirus or a security app installed on your device. In this article, we’re going to highlight 10 of the best antivirus tools for Android in 2018.
Many of them do much more than run automatic scans, and they’ll actively try to prevent malicious web pages and files from being opened or downloaded in the first place.
- We’ve also looked at the best secure messaging apps
- Shopping for business or professionals? Then why not check out our listing of best business antivirus packages
- Check out the best antivirus software in 2018
AVL is a former winner of the AV-Test (a well-respected independent antivirus testing outfit) award for best protection of mobile devices. Its features include not only an antivirus database (of course) but a scanner capable of detecting any kind of executable file making its way onto your device.
Other handy features include a call blocker to prevent malicious numbers from contacting you, as well as an anti-phishing feature to stop harmful websites from loading in the first place. The app is also designed to be light on resources, which is always handy when you’re struggling for battery life.
Antivirus giant Avast has used its considerable skills to create an app which goes above and beyond a mundane scanner. Extra features in the free version include a call blocker, firewall and even an anti-theft measure allowing you to remotely lock or wipe your Android device if it goes missing.
The app used to be paid but is now free, supported by ads. You can pay a small monthly or yearly premium to remove these. Another very useful premium feature is ‘in-app locking’ whereby your device will ask for a PIN before opening certain apps. This prevents malware from launching apps such as internet banking automatically.
Bitdefender is a big name in the security community, and its free antivirus program is extremely lightweight. In fact, it doesn’t run in the background which frees up system resources, although this does mean you have to schedule scans or run them manually to be safe. This said, any new apps downloaded to your device are automatically scanned.
Another advantage of this app is that it’s ready to go as soon as it is installed – no additional configuration is required.
If you require extra security, sign up for a free 14-day trial of Bitdefender Mobile Security. This includes the basic antivirus as well as real-time protection for the Chrome browser and anti-theft features.
McAfee is another well-known name when it comes to antivirus software for the PC, and this Android app doesn’t disappoint. Besides the antivirus scanner itself, free features include tracking a lost device as well as locking and wiping it remotely. If your device is stolen, the app can even take a picture of the thief…
Other features include the ability to scan apps to check if they leak sensitive information, and lock them if necessary. McAfee will also block access to potentially malicious websites, as well as allow you to keep a blacklist of nuisance callers and texters.
The paid Premium version of the app allows you to remove ads and receive phone support.
Kaspersky has a reputation up there with the big players like Bitdefender. The free version of its security app has some impressive features, and it’s very good at picking up on malware, with a detection rate of 99.9% according to AV-Test’s trials from last November.
Kaspersky Antivirus & Security will also try to block any malicious sites or links before you click through to them, preventing an infection from happening in the first place.
On downloading the app you’ll be given a free 30-day trial of Kaspersky Internet Security (it costs $14.95 a year thereafter – £9.99, or around AU$20). The premium version of the app has extra security features such as call and text filtering.
Sophos’ free antivirus app has previously won the AV-Test award for best protection in 2015. Unlike other free scanners, Sophos doesn’t contain any adverts. It does, however, block websites with potentially spammy or illegal content.
Apps are scanned for malware or otherwise harmful content as they are installed and Sophos alerts you if they might leak any sensitive information. The antivirus scanner can be scheduled to scan files and folders periodically, and the malware database itself is updated daily.
The app also includes a handy QR code scanner which can be used to set up secure Wi-Fi connections. There’s also an authenticator that can generate one-time passwords for two-factor authentication.
This free app from Norton was able to detect 100% of all Android malware when benchmarked by AV-Test a few months ago. The scanner is powered by Norton Mobile Insight and can detect viruses inside apps and files, then remove them automatically.
Other useful security features include the ability to lock your phone via an SMS message, or if the SIM card is removed. You can also choose to remotely lock your device if it goes missing (or have it locked after 10 unsuccessful attempts to enter the passcode).
The app comes with a 30-day trial of Norton Mobile Security which boasts extra features such as SafeWeb filtering that blocks malicious websites.
Trend Micro’s effort not only scans new apps for malware, but prevents newly installed apps from accessing other programs, which can be useful for device admins and parents.
There’s also a built-in privacy scanner for Facebook which warns you if your profile settings are displaying sensitive personal information.
The free version includes a 7-day trial of premium features. These include a malware blocker which is capable of scanning apps before they are even installed to pre-emptively avoid any potential infection. There are also utilities for safe surfing, as well as call and text filtering.
This security app from South Korean AhnLab is not as famous as the others on this list, but nonetheless has very high detection rates for Android malware according to AV-Test (99.6%) and runs well even on older Android devices. Indeed, it has a built-in booster to help speed up your phone’s performance.
The app comes with a free 10-day trial of the anti-malware features which proactively search for vulnerabilities and warn you if apps could potentially leak sensitive personal information.
Other handy privacy features include a hidden gallery for personal photos and a privacy cleaner to securely clear your browsing history. Anti-theft measures include an alarm which kicks in if the device is reported lost or the SIM card is replaced. You can also remotely track, lock and wipe your device.
Avira’s mobile offering will not only scan files you download and content on your phone’s memory, but it can also scan external storage such as your SD card. Applications are rated using a privacy scale to help you easily decide how much they can be trusted with your data.
The integrated ‘Identity Safeguard’ regularly checks if the email addresses in your contacts list have been involved in any major data breaches. The app is controlled by a web-based management portal, which is extremely useful if you want to set up a common policy over multiple Android devices.
The premium version includes better support, automatic blocking of malicious websites, and more frequent updates.
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