Petya computer virus infecting companies all over the world

Petya computer virus infecting companies all over the world Petya computer virus infecting companies all over the world A fast-moving, international computer virus called Petya is taking down corporate networks that run mainly on Microsoft Windows software. It has already hit most of the government applications of Ukraine as well as major companies in Europe including advertising agency WPP and law firm DLA Piper.What does Petya look like?Users logged into their computers only to see this come up on their screens.Where and what is Petya?The Petya virus is the second major international virus to hit computer networks in a month, following WannaCry. It has spread rapidly to U.S. companies, according to reports. We have confirmed U.S. cases of Petya ransomware outbreakhttps://t.co/SFjFE9yILX - Chris Bing (@Bing_Chris) June 27, 2017How does Petya work?The Petya virus is a kind of “ransomware,” which works like a technological mugging: hackers take over computers and demand payment to let them go.Petya has existed in one form or another since 2016  but it is spreading faster now. Computer viruses, just like biological ones, replicate and have “strains,” and it’s possible that Petya is a tougher strain of ransomware than previous viruses were.As The Verge describes it, the Petya virus takes over a computer and demands $300 in payment. The hackers require the payment in Bitcoin, and then demand that users email them proof of payment to the chosen Bitcoin “wallet.” Multiple outlets report that the virus has already earned a modest amount for the hackers: the blockchain records showed 20  transactions to the target wallet, totaling nearly  $5,000.Why is Petya such a big problem?The virus is a nightmare for companies because their network administrators have to s pend time figuring out how to get their computers back online while waiting for a fix, or “patch” from Microsoft. While many companies patched their accounts at the time of the WannaCry virus last month, clearly it wasn’t enough.Even at the time of WannaCry, not enough companies were prepared with patches. When writing about WannaCry, Wired wrote, “it appears that many companies have put off a patch despite the clear and potentially devastating threat of a similar ransomware spread. These systems apparently remain vulnerable even after Microsoft released multiple patches for legacy systems, like Windows XP, that the company no longer supports.”Can Petya be prevented or stopped?Unlike WannaCry, this strain of Petya reportedly  has no kill switch function, so it’s unclear if it can be stopped yet. Worse, malware analyst Vyacheslav Zakorzhevsky said  that this strain is a new ransomeware that security experts like him  haven’t encountered.Ukraine’s interior minister adv iser  told Reuters that  the Petya virus got into computer systems through  â€œphishing” emails that were written to trick employees into opening them. If that’s the case, be sensible. Don’t click on links and attachments or download files from suspicious senders. Never use public Wi-Fi for business and be wary of shortened links.To prevent Petya-like ransomware attacks in general, employees should have their automatic software updates on and should avoid using outdated operating systems. If you find yourself on an old Windows computer, you should immediately install Microsoft’s emergency patch MS17-010â€"reporting contributed by Heidi N. Moore

How to Use Your Smartphone to Search and Apply for Jobs

How to Use Your Smartphone to Search and Apply for Jobs How to Use Your Smartphone to Search and Apply for Jobs Your phone is a useful tool for job searching, and almost every job seeker is using a mobile device in some way for job hunting.  In 2015, Indeed reported that 50% of site traffic comes from mobile devices. In 2016, Snagajob reported  that  72 percent of hourly employee respondents use a mobile phone to find and apply for jobs. When to Use a Smartphone for Job Hunting Even though most people use their phone for some component of job hunting, mobile job searching doesnt always translate into mobile job applications.  Thats because the application process can be lengthy on a site that isnt designed for mobile job applications. There can be pages of information youll have to enter to apply. If you use a job board or job search engine, they may have a process in place where you can seamlessly apply. Otherwise, it can be simpler to keep track of the job and apply from your home computer. Even if you opt not to apply on your phone, and job seekers are three times more likely to apply for a job from a computer than a phone, you can still effectively use your smartphone for job hunting. There are many apps for iPhones, iPads and Android phones that make it easy to look for jobs, and there are other tools you can use to job hunt using your phone. Heres how to tap mobile to enhance and expedite your job search. Install Apps There are many job search apps available for smartphones and tablets. You can download apps that search for jobs by keyword and location, email job listings, keep track of your contacts, and even create a resume. For example, you can use the Beyond.com Search Jobs iPhone or Android App to search for jobs, save jobs, and email job listings so you can access them from your computer. Use a Job Site If you have an account on a job site like Monster or CareerBuilder, for example, you can apply with your existing application materials that you have uploaded from your computer. On CareerBuilder, you can apply to jobs via your phone using the CareerBuilder app, choose an option to only view jobs that you can apply to using your phone, and instantly apply with a resume already saved in the CareerBuilder database. Check for New Job Vacancies It only takes a few minutes to check for new job listings. Use your apps to check frequently, so you can get the latest listings as soon as they are posted. Use apps for job search engines like Indeed, SimplyHired, and LinkUp, to quickly  find job postings. Send Yourself Job Listings Its easy to email job postings to yourself, either using a function built into an app or by using the features built-in to your phone. Open the email on your computer, and youll have all the information you need to apply. Bookmark Job Postings and Websites You can bookmark job postings and websites to visit later on, copy to your home screen, or print a copy of the listing directly from your phone. Get Notifications and Alerts Depending on the job site youre using, you may be able to sign up for text or email notifications of new job postings. Most major job sites send  relevant job matches via email or social media instantaneously, daily, or weekly. Opt for instantaneously if you want to get your application in as soon as possible. Submit Email Applications If you email yourself a copy of your resume and save it in the inbox on your phone, you will be able to forward it to employers who request applications via email. Write your cover letter in the body of the email message. Set up a Signature on Your Phone If you set up a professional email signature on your phone, you will able to communicate readily with employers and networking contacts, and they will be able to get back in touch. Be Careful About Applying for Jobs From Your Phone Unless youre using a job site app, it can be easier to apply for jobs from a computer than it is from a phone because of the information youll need to enter into online job applications. Dont waste time trying to apply when its easier to wait until you can get to a computer to submit an application. How to Use Your Smartphone for Networking With LinkedIns mobile app, you can stay up to date with your network, update your profile, view and save recommended jobs, keep current with your groups, and learn about companies. How to Send a Thank-You Note With Your Mobile Device Its always a good idea to send a thank-you note after a job interview, and you wont have to wait until you do get back to your computer to do so. You can send an email thank-you letter or take advantage of the Felt app, which will send thank-you notes for you.

You Might Be a Conference Call Etiquette Offender If

You Might Be a Conference Call Etiquette Offender If … You Might Be a Conference Call Etiquette Offender If … Most of us participate in meetings via the phone at work all the time, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s got conference call etiquette down pat. Are you making these mistakes?   You may think you can get away with bad behavior on conference calls because no one can see you, but I’m here to set things straight. Here are some signs you might be a conference call etiquette offender: The host is already on slide 5 of the deck when you arrive. On many conference call systems, you hear a beep when someone joins. It’s amazing how distracting that little sound can be to participants. Plus, if you’re in the middle of talking, it can throw you off your train of thought. The moral of the story? Just dial in on time.       Everyone can hear your dog Marty barking. People don’t want to get an earful of what’s going on around you, whether it’s the barista frothing milk on your cappuccino or your cubemates gossiping. And then there are those loud/heavy breathers among us that always make things awkward. The mute button is your friend.   You’re eating a sandwich with one hand and checking email with the other. Normally I’d commend you for your agility, but multitasking rarely works on conference calls. To fully participate in the conversation, eliminate all potential distractions. There’s nothing worse than being called on and having no idea what someone’s talking about because you were busier focusing on your cold cuts than the discussion. You’re talking, but no one can hear you. Usually this happens when you forget to unmute yourself, but sound issues can also occur when you’re on a cell phone with spotty reception. Another of my favorites is the person who somehow brings an echo into the conversation when using their speaker or forgetting to turn off the sound on their computer.     You put the call on hold and prompt elevator music. Many phone systems are set up to play music when a line is put on hold. Not only is it hard for conference call attendees to talk over a Kenny G song, but you’ll really have to “face the music” when they figure out you’re the culprit. You won’t let anyone get a word in edgewise. It’s great if you’ve got tons of ideas you want to share, but don’t make it the [insert your name here] show. Leave room for others to weigh in. According to an OfficeTeam survey, workers said multiple people talking at the same time is the most distracting thing on conference calls. Since sometimes there are audio delays on the phone, pause a second before speaking so you don’t interrupt anyone.   No one even knows you’re on the line. Introduce yourself when joining a call and also when speaking. Otherwise, if they haven’t heard from you the whole time, everyone will be a little startled if you suddenly chime in.   Everything you have to say is totally irrelevant. Don’t be that guy or girl who talks just for the sake of talking. Going off on tangents wastes valuable time and raises eyebrows. Keep your comments on target! Check out the videos below to see how conference call etiquette mistakes can look in real life. What’s the most annoying behavior you’ve ever experienced on a conference call? Related Articles: 7 Tips for Running Effective Meetings Smile, You're On Camera! 7 Tips for Mastering Video Conference Etiquette

Randi Zuckerberg Works With Devry on Tech Industry -The Muse

Randi Zuckerberg Works With Devry on Tech Industry -The Muse Randi Zuckerberg Works With Devry on Tech Industry Recently, I chatted with Randi Zuckerberg, former director of market development at Facebook. Yes, she is Mark’s older sister, but her career has taken quite a few incredible turns since her time at the social media giant. To wit: Zuckerberg owns her own business now and is the editor-in-chief of Dot Complicated (which is also the name of her book), an “online community aimed at ‘untangling’ our modern, wired lives.” Zuckerberg broke from her hectic schedule to speak to me about the difference between soft (e.g., communication) and hard (e.g., coding) tech skills and about the importance of finding work in an atmosphere that suits you. You might not get to be so picky as to, say, choose an office with individual work stations as opposed to an open floor plan, but you should have a sense of the environment and culture that’ll work for you. As far as finding work-life balance? Well, that’s a work in progress for all of us, Zuckerberg acknowledges.

Survey This is the best city to buy a house in this year

Survey This is the best city to buy a house in this year Survey This is the best city to buy a house in this year New WalletHub research shows that  Frisco, Texas is the best city to buy a home in this year, with a “total score” of 75.06 out of 100.The company looked at 300 cities in terms of “affordability and economic environment,” as well as “real-estate market.” Then it examined them in terms of 22 other factors before giving each city a score out of 100. WalletHub used information from the U.S. Census Bureau, among many other sources.The 10 best cities overall to buy a home in this yearDid yours make the cut?1) Frisco, TX: total score of 75.062) McKinney, TX: total score of 74.63) Allen, TX: total score of 73.934) Santa Clara, CA: total score of 73.795) Durham, NC: total score of 72.456) Murfreesboro, TN: total score of 72.47) Richardson, TX: total score of 72.298) Seattle, WA: total score of 72.169) Bellevue, WA: total score of 72.1410) Denton, TX: total score of 71.98Furthermore, here are the top 5 cities in terms of each size category (“large cities,” “midsize cities” and “small cities”).Greatest big cities to buy a homeThe population of each is more than 300,000.1) Seattle, WA: total score of 72.162) Denver, CO: total score of 70.163) Fort Worth, TX: total score of 69.344) Aurora, CO: total score of 68.865) Colorado Springs, CO: total score of 68.12Greatest medium-sized cities to buy a homeThe population of each is 150,000 to 300,000.1) McKinney, TX: total score of 74.602) Durham, NC: total score of 72.453) Cary, NC: total score of 69.394) Fort Collins, CO: total score of 68.965) Boise, ID: total score of 68.95Greatest small cities to buy a homeThe population of each is less than 150,000.1) Frisco, TX: total score of 75.062) Allen, TX: total score of 73.933) Santa Clara, CA: total score of 73.794) Murfreesboro, TN: total score of 72.405) Richardson, TX: total score of 72.29How the cities compare to each otherThe infographic shows how they stack up:These are the signs of a good housing marketHoward Ways, AICP, Associate Professor and Program Director at Jefferson University, told WalletHub about the five biggest factors when taking a look at the best housing markets in a series of bullet points. He wrote: Population growth â€" Areas with a growing population will see an increased demand for housing. Rental vacancies â€" Low vacancies signal a competitive market and a pent up demand for new units. Median household income â€" High-income communities end to have a more disposable income to purchase the ancillary items related to housing â€" furniture, household appliances, etc. and to pay for private school tuition in areas where public school performance is an issue. Days on the market â€" Quicker sales means a competitive market and usually less available inventory. Amount of building permits issued â€" Predictor of things to come; more permits means more inventory coming online in the near future,” he told the site.

How to Use a QR Code on Your Resume

How to Use a QR Code on Your Resume How to Use a QR Code on Your Resume Youll find QR codes almost everywhere - in magazines and newspapers, on signs and posters, and even on billboards. Companies use them to promote their products and services and to direct consumers to websites where they can get more information. QR Codes on Resumes A new trend is for job seekers to include a QR code on their resume or business cards. Its not required, of course, but it can be a way to add a coolness factor to your resume and get your resume a second glance from a hiring manager. Having a QR code on your resume could help differentiate from the competition. Plus, if there is a particular online destination you want hiring managers to visit - like your online portfolio - its a good way to encourage a visit.   Reasons to Use a QR Code on Your Resume   Heres more on using QR codes on your resume or  business card  to stand out from the crowd with a QR code on your resume from James Alexander, Chief Executive Officer,  Vizibility, Inc. To Catch an Eye: QR codes are widely used on everything from movie posters to fast food placemats, but theyre still relatively novel on resumes. It can work in your favor, especially if youre applying for a job with a large pool of applicants. The QR code may help you attract the hiring managers attention, which is the crucial first step in getting hired.Botox for Your Resume: QR codes have a definite coolness factor, and their use instantly brands you as tech-savvy - as someone who embraces emerging technology. If youre an older job applicant, QR codes can help inoculate you  against age discrimination  by underscoring that youre open to innovation. Help Hiring Managers Find the Real You: Did you know that around 2,000 people on LinkedIn share a name with someone on the FBIs 10 Most Wanted List? It can lead to a serious case of mistaken identity since the vast majority of hiring managers conduct Google searches on job applicants. QR codes are a great way to direct hiring managers to a site containing relevant links that showcase your thought leadership, career accomplishments, online  portfolio or profile  on  professional sites like LinkedIn. A New Way to Look Good on the Small Screen: These days, more than half of all online searches originate from a mobile device. QR codes are designed to be scanned with a mobile device, and there are free and affordable services that can enable you to quickly and conveniently build a mobile mini-site to showcase your talents and achievements. QR codes can serve as a gateway to your mobile-optimized site.Check out Whos Checking You Out: With the right administrative tools, you can receive text or email alerts to monitor scans performed on your personal QR code, including the number of scans and geographical points of origin. It can help you gauge interest in your resume. Additionally, when a user scans a QR code, the URL is saved in the users mobile device, which can be an added advantage. Resume and Business Card There are a lot of perks to using a QR code. There are also some downsides. For one thing, many hiring managers may not be equipped to handle reading the QR code. In that case, it becomes a waste of valuable real estate. Also, hiring managers may expect to have your resume provide all the information needed on your work experience, and feel frustrated at the need to use the QR code to learn your full job history.   Plus, consider how people will be viewing your resume. If they are reviewing it as a hard copy, scanning the QR code is easy. But if they are opening the document on their smartphone, how can they scan the code? If youre sending your resume electronically, a link to your portfolio or LinkedIn page will be easier on readers.   Also, think through what information youll have at the destination of your QR code. What does your LinkedIn profile offer that your resume does not? Could you incorporate that information in your resume or cover letter? Whatever destination you use for your QR code, make sure it is providing professional information that will further your campaign. If people do take the time to scan your QR code only to wind up on a site full of typos and formatting errors, that wont help your candidacy.   Before investing the time to create a QR code, ask yourself if it will be advantageous to have it on your resume, and consider how the people viewing your resume - hiring managers and interviewers - are likely to react to it (this can vary, depending on your industry).

3D Footprint Grows with BAAM

3D Footprint Grows with BAAM 3D Footprint Grows with BAAM The rapid pace of development in advanced manufacturing is emanating from myriad laboratories and manufacturing plants, as researchers and professionals search for new products in industries ranging from biotechnology to aeronautics. As the range of applications becomes wider, development times are shrinking while equipment is growing larger. New 3D printers are getting big, and one now has a build volume of 8 feet x 20 feet x 6 feet. The printers developers, machine tool manufacturer Cincinnati Inc. and the Dept. of Energys Oak Ridge National Laboratory, builds on the original 6-foot x 13-foot x 3-foot Big Area Additive Manufacturing machine that prints up to a whopping rate of 10 pounds per hour of composite thermoplastic material. The second-generation machine improves on that: It can print at previously unheard-of rates of up to 100 pounds per hour, drawing on a new extrusion system developed by ORNL engineers. 3D printed Shelby Cobra. Image: Oak Ridge National Laboratory BAAM found fame in 2014 when it printed parts for custom-car startup Local Motors over 44 hours at the IMTS show in Chicago. It then followed by printing parts earlier this year for a Shelby Cobra. Most impressive, says Lonnie Love, group leader of ORNLs Automation, Robotics and Manufacturing Group, is engineers developed the Big Area technology over a span of only six months. ORNL signed a cooperative agreement with Cincinnati in March 2014, with the goal of printing a Local Motors Strati vehicle the coming September at the International Manufacturing Technology Show. We committed to printing a car with this technology before we had a system, says Love. Its a dramatic example of solving problems quickly. The feat is perhaps more impressive considering ORNL first began work on 3D printing in 2012 with polymer systems, says Love. ORNLs manufacturer demonstration facility is charged to develop new materials and processes, and then move technology to mainstream manufacturing. Love says a wide variety of end users, such as aeronautical firms, visit and work there, looking for an eventual end product. Researchers started with refining plastics used in 3D printing, which were problematic because of variable internal stresses. The first big breakthrough came in January 2013, with the introduction of carbon fiber to the raw plastics. It was a game-changer, says Love. Youve got these stresses. When you put carbon fiber in, all of that goes away. The next step was to find a company to build a printer capable of producing large objects. At the beginning of 2014, Cincinnati executives became interested. The firm already had developed high-speed gantry and laser-cutting systems, which dovetailed nicely with ORNLs preliminary work on large-scale 3D printers. Within three months Cincinnati developed the first gantry for a 3D printer, says Love. Oak Ridge had the concept to use plastics and large-scale extruders and mount on a gantry, says Rick Neff, Cincinnattis head of market development. We had been asking, How do we get involved in 3D printing? We make gantries. So it is a little like chocolate and peanut butter. Still, scaling up the technology involved some trial and error. Love notes that most 3D printers are fairly small machines that work slowly, growing parts at a rate of about one cubic inch per hour for a final product that if usually less than one cubic foot in volume. Feedstock plastics also cost between $50 to $100 per pound, expensive, he says. The first BAAM machine can pump out 10 pounds of material per hour and grow a product at rate of 250 cubic inches per hour. But we found that making bigger parts presented some problems, says Love. Its the Goldilocks effect. Love and his team found challenges in maintaining thermal control. There were distortion and slumping issues with smaller pieces that melted, and bonding problems between layers of large pieces. As the extruders nozzle lays down material, the greater distances the nozzle must pass over larger parts can allow the material to cool. That causes bonding problems when the next layer is applied. We had to find the sweet spot in the middle, and try to keep the energy intensity as low as possible, he says. The first time we printed car parts, the layers split like a deck of cards. The team now works with standard injection molding pellets heated to 210 degrees Celsius, at low pressures. Were not pushing at high pressure, theres not a lot heat and speeds are moderate, says Love. Now we can put a lot of material down very fast. Reduced material costs in the range of 3 cents to 10 cents per cubic inch also make printing in large volumes affordable, he emphasizes. Cincinnatis gantries can operate at very high speeds of up 200 inches per second, and researchers were tasked with developing an extruder capable of pushing large volume of materials precisely. When the project began, the gantry worked at about one inch per second, applying 10 pounds per hour of material through a 0.3-inch nozzle. At that rate, it would have taken over a week to print the parts for Local Motors Strati vehicle. Love says two weeks before they were scheduled to print the car parts, ORNL engineers perfected a new screw that pushed the flow rate to 40 pounds per hour, pushing the gantry speed to four inches per second, and cutting down the time to print the car to 44 hours. Researchers are now experimenting with different nozzle sizes and speeds. Local Motors has already announced it will leverage the technology and open two car printing facilities, one in Knoxville, TN, close to ORNL. Neff says Cincinnati has produced five machines so far, and sold three of them. But he believes the market for them is still forming. This is so revolutionary, he notes. When we were printing the [Local Motors] car at the IMTS show, people were looking at it and were wowed. But they werent saying, I have the perfect application for this. Neff believes the technology will be applicable for prototyping new car designs, but both he and Love think the greater impact will be in producing machine tools and industrial molds. The killer application is going to be in tooling, says Love. If you can make a mold in one day for $1,000, it will be a game changer for the manufacturer. Learn more about the issues and challenges associated with every step of the additive manufacturing lifecycle atAM3DConference and Expo. For Further Discussion We had to find the sweet spot in the middle, and try to keep the energy intensity as low as possible. The first time we printed car parts, the layers split like a deck of cards.Lonnie Love, Oak Ridge National Laboratory