A hacking campaign launched from computers in China has targeted satellite operators, telecommunications companies and defense contractors, Symantec reports. The attacks could lead to disruptions in civilian and military services, the company warns.

Microsoft will likely only allow subscribers to access Office 365's online offerings, a move designed to encourage more widespread adoption, Gartner analysts predict. The new rule will likely take effect at the end of 2020, they say.

Bloomberg Government's Women in Smart Cities Forum on June 15 featured female governmental leaders discussing strategies for developing smarter cities. Panel sessions focused on the creation and maintenance of federal infrastructure, successes and challenges faced by smart cities across the nation and the use of data.

Matt Mills, chief commercial officer of Featurespace, compares preventing online fraud to a game of whack-a-mole, noting that there is no "one thing" that will prevent fraud. Fraud is 81% more likely to occur online than in person, and $12.2 billion in fraud works its way through call centers.

Ransomware attacks are on the rise in banks, and some institutions are taking action to thwart attacks, in part by investing in new technology. The key to bolstering protection from cyberattacks is to implement a variety of protocols, including the creation of IT-resilience plans, says Zerto's Gijsbert Janssen Van Doorn.

Keepsafe has added a new privacy-focused product to its lineup with the launch of a mobile web browser. The browser can be locked with a PIN when not in use, and private tabs offer an additional layer of privacy.

Blockchain can offer companies a number of benefits, though 80% of executives say they have no plans to incorporate the technology into their businesses in the near future, according to a Gartner study. Blockchain can help reduce operational overhead costs, improve transparency, analytics and verification, and even expedite cross-border transactions, writes Ralph Tkatchuk.

After data companies revealed customer locations, Verizon, AT&T and Sprint said they would selling consumer location information to LocationSmart and Zumigo. The moves come after reports surfaced that LocationSmart, a prison phone service provider, had created a website that enabled law enforcement to get access to customer information without court approval.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise-owned Aruba has unveiled a software-defined branch solution that utilizes SD-WAN, LAN and security to help branch offices manage security, WAN and Wi-Fi infrastructure. "Customers had to deal with a lot of complexity in terms of having to manage those domain areas as separate entities without any integration of tools that go along with that," says Lissa Hollinger of Aruba.

Sixty-two percent of HR managers attributed a growing skills gap as a main reason for companies to hire a more flexible workforce, such as freelance workers, temps and agency employees, according to a survey from Upwork. The majority of HR employees also recommended companies focus on "re-skilling" their current workers to keep them up-to-date with new practices.