Which browser gives the best battery life? The winner is a shocker

Most of the major browser vendors have recently engaged in a marketing war, touting the battery efficiency advantages of their respective browsers. Microsoft conducted tests showing Edge to be more efficient, then Google countered with its own tests showing Chrome’s efficiency, and Opera responded with its own assertions. Only Mozilla has refrained from opening fire with its own salvo of claims.

We wanted to see for ourselves if any browser stands out when it comes to squeezing the most life out of your notebook’s battery. We ran Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera through three tests to see which offers the best browser battery life.

How we tested

We conducted our tests on two notebooks, the HP Spectre x360 15 and the HP EliteBook x360 G2.

The Spectre x360 15 test machine was a 15.6-inch convertible 2-in-1 with a 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) resolution display, equipped with a seventh-generation Core i7-7500U CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB PCIe SSD. The EliteBook x360 G2 test machine was a 13.3-inch convertible 2-in-1 with a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution display, equipped with a seventh-generation Core i7-7600U, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB PCIe SSD.

These machines were both running the latest version of Windows 10 Creators Update edition, and brightness on both displays was set at 100 lux using a brightness calibration tool. Both machines were rebooted after each test and, as much as possible, background tasks were kept consistent throughout.

We wanted to see if any browser stands out when it comes to squeezing the most life out of your notebook.

The test environment was a home network with internet access serviced by a high-end Asus router, and extraneous network traffic during testing was minimized. Both machines were charged to 100 percent, the tests were run until the machines hibernated when the battery charge was exhausted. Care was taken during each test to ensure that no application or system errors interfered with test accuracy.

We tested Chrome 61, the latest version of Edge on Windows 10 Creators Update edition, Firefox 55, and Opera 48. No updates were performed on either the browsers or the machines while the tests were underway, and all browsers were at their default settings without any specific battery-saving features turned on.

Basemark results

Our first test used the battery test configuration of the Basemark browser benchmark. Basemark runs through a series of performance tests measuring a browser’s ability to use today’s complex web-based applications. The Basemark battery test configuration loops the performance benchmark and periodically pings the server to note the elapsed time, with a URL to check for total elapsed time.

On the Spectre x360 15, only 18 minutes separated the top-performing browser, Edge, from the worst-performing browser, Chrome. On the EliteBook x360 13, 25 minutes separated Opera 48, the best performer, from Chrome, again the worst performer.

Given that Basemark is a performance test and so focuses on speed rather than efficiency, we didn’t expect to see much difference in battery life between browsers. These results generally met our expectation, with no browser significantly performing better than the others. Still, Chrome consistently came last in this test, and that may matter if you find yourself trying to use the web on a laptop with a sliver of battery charge left over.

Netflix video streaming results

We used the default Netflix player in each browser to run through the first season of “Lost,” a title that is not available in 4K, and so wouldn’t affect Edge’s performance on the Spectre x360 (Edge can play 4K Netflix video on machines with seventh-generation Intel Core processors). We manually forwarded to the next video at the end of every other episode, to ensure that Netflix did not pause waiting for user input. We used the PassMark BatteryMon app to create a log file with 60-second updates, to indicate when the machine hibernated.

Our results in the Netflix test were consistent across both the Spectre x360 15 and the EliteBook x360 G2. Opera 48 and Edge were the two best performers, coming in within a few minutes of each other. Chrome came in second, and Firefox came in a distant third.

The most significant difference that we saw in our testing was between Edge and Firefox on the Spectre x360 15, where Edge lasted a full 100 minutes longer. On the EliteBook x360 G2, the greatest difference was between Opera and Firefox, with Opera lasting 80 minutes long on this machine.

These results are good news for Edge and Opera. Those browsers performed far better in this test than their competitors, and the difference is large enough that you’d notice it. Choosing Edge or Opera, instead of Firefox, would get you through an entire extra episode of your favorite show.

Web browsing script results

For this test, we used the Jitbit Macro Recorder tool to create a script that opened each browser to a specific web page, let the page load and run for a variable amount of time, closed the browser window with a delay to ensure that the browser was fully shut down, and then opened the browser to the next test page. We used many popular web pages for the test, and let the script repeat until the battery ran out. As with the Netflix test, we used the Batterymon app to note when the machine hibernated.

On the Spectre x360 15, Edge stood out as the top performer, lasting for 54 minutes longer than the worst performer, Firefox. Chrome and Opera were within seconds of each other. On the EliteBook x360 G2, however, Opera was the standout, lasting for 40 minutes longer than Firefox, with Edge coming in at only five minutes less than Opera.

Firefox was again the only consistently poor performer in this test, while Edge and Opera were again the best performers. However, most browsers came relatively close to each other. Firefox was again the biggest loser coming in 30 to 50 minutes behind the leaders.

The differences are real, though often not dramatic

Given the noise being made by browser developers over battery life advantages, we expected to see a more striking difference between the best and worst browsers. Our testing was admittedly non-scientific, but it was real-world enough that we expected to see significant differences if they existed. Our results weren’t dramatic. In general, most browsers were close to each other, and we’re not sure the differences would be noticeable outside of benchmarks.

Yet we do think there’s a winner – Edge. It won three of the six tests, and came in a very close second in two of the three tests it didn’t win. It also never came in last. Opera also won three of six tests, but it in noticeably behind Edge in two tests, while blowing out Microsoft’s browser just once. That, we think, puts it in second place.

Chrome did not perform poorly, but it didn’t do well, either. It didn’t win any of our tests, and it came in last twice. Our tests suggests you’re not giving up too much endurance by using Chrome, but also show that you can expect Google’s browser to kill you charge faster than most competitors.

Which brings us to Firefox. Our tests suggest Mozilla decided not to throw stones because it lives in a glass house. Its browser was last in four of six tests, and only came close to winning once. The Netflix tests were particularly significant. If you plan to marathon your favorite show, pick another browser.

These results put an interesting perspective on debates about the best web browsers. Chrome often gets the nod, and Firefox is also a fan favorite. We like to use both browsers at Digital Trends, and recommend Chrome as a first choice. If you need to squeeze every last minute of battery from your laptop, though, you should consider the alternatives.

Porsche’s $2,000 Passport subscription swaps cars on demand

Like the idea of Cadillac’s car subscription service, but feel its lineup is a little too… proletarian? If you live in Atlanta, you’re in luck. Porsche is launching a Passport service in the city that gives you “frequent” vehicle swaps, unlimited mileage and coverage for the essentials (insurance, registration, maintenance and taxes) for as many as 22 different cars through a mobile app. If you want to ferry the kids to school in a Cayenne but cut loose with a Cayman on the weekends, you just have to tap your phone screen. Think of it as Netflix for speed junkies.

Just be prepared to pay a lot for the privilege — and don’t count on getting access to every car in the Porsche stable. The $2,000 per month “entry” Launch plan gives you access to eight vehicles, including the Boxster, Cayman S, Cayenne and Macan S. If you want Passport’s full 22-car roster (including the 911 Carrera S and Panamera 4S), you’ll have to step up to the $3,000 Accelerate plan. And as you might guess, you’re not about to order a super-exotic like the 911 GT2 or customize a car to your exact specifications.

Passport kicks off in November. Porsche is treating the program as a pilot, so expansion to other regions is likely contingent on its early performance. Whether or not this is a good deal depends on how often you use the service and the models you choose. The most expensive lease for a stock Cayman S sits at about $1,200 a month, but that doesn’t cover secondary costs and still limits your yearly mileage. And of course, you can’t swap vehicles on-demand. This is for well-to-do drivers who are more interested in eliminating the headaches of luxury car ownership than they are developing an emotional attachment to the car of their dreams.

It’s not hard to see why Porsche would try the subscription model, at least. Like Netflix, this gives Porsche a way of ensuring a steady stream of revenue from customers regardless of how much they use the service. You’re paying the same amount whether you’re commuting to work or blasting down side roads. Also, Porsche is likely preparing for the possibility of declining car ownership. A sports car is already considered an indulgence, and that’s only going to become truer as ridesharing and self-driving cars take hold. A subscription like Passport could make it easier to drive sports cars only when you have the opportunity, rather than making you commit to a machine you might only drive a few months every year.

Source: Porsche

North Korean hackers allegedly stole South Korean and US war plans 

According to a report, North Korean hackers acquired military intel last year from South Korea that included a plan to ‘decapitate’ North Korean leadership. According to a South Korean lawmaker, the 235 GB of data were stolen from SK and contained detailed plans in collaboration with the US as well as contingencies and infrastructure information.

South Korean news service Yonhap reported that a lawmaking member of the country’s ruling political party claimed North Korea’s cyber infiltrators successfully acquired military documents. According to the service, the Pentagon didn’t confirm the nature of a breach as it is a matter of intelligence, but its spokesman Army Col. Rob Manning said: “I can assure you that we are confident in the security of our operations plans and our ability to deal with any threat from North Korea.”

The lawmaker, Rep. Rhee Cheol-hee, cited defense officials when claiming that North Korea stole 235 GB of data, 80 percent of which hasn’t been identified. But among the known documents stolen were contingency plans for South Korea’s special forces, reports to the country’s allies and ino on military facilities and power plants.

According to the BBC, the hack took place in September 2016; Back in May, South Korea noted that a large amount of data had been taken, and that North Korea may have been the culprit, but gave no details as to when the hack took place.

Whenever the hack occurred, its news comes at a fraught time. Weeks ago, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un stated that Trump’s incendiary tweets were equivalent to declarations of war on his country. Over a week ago, reports surfaced that the US had been participating in an extended campaign to cripple the North Korean spy department’s internet access by overwhelming it with traffic. The country may have found a way to mitigate that attack vector anyway by securing a second internet connection through Russia, leaving it potentially more able to spy and hack.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Yonhap

Third-party Twitter client Twitterrific is back on macOS

Twitterrific has been through quite a few iterations.The Iconfactory’s first third-party Twitter client originally launched for Mac then languished (thanks in part to Twitter’s user caps) while the company focused all its efforts on an iOS version. That was pretty sad for the company that originated the term “Tweet.” In February of this year, however, the developer took to Kickstarter to fund the development of an all-new macOS Twitter client. The project is now a reality: Twitterrific for macOS is available for $20 in the Mac App Store.

According to Iconfactory, “The app has been re-imagined from the ground up to be both fast and friendly, and is chock full of modern features that make Twitter fun to use.” Using Twitterrific promises to be an uncluttered experience, as the developer scrapes out ads, promoted tweets and “while you were away” updates. Tweets are shown in chronological order, and other people’s likes won’t be part of your stream, unlike the Twitter website or official app. Twitterrific for macOS supports Notification Center, plays nice with Mail, Messages and Facebook. Twitterrific still has its iconic multi-window layout that you can go full screen with, but also now has a new Media Viewer to let you browse multiple images and videos. Media can be detached to its own window, too.

The developer promises full accessibility for Twitterrific, too, which empowers users with disabilities to navigate their timeline, compose tweets and attach image descriptions using VoiceOver. These will be read to users along with the text via the same system. Twitterrific supports both light and dark visual themes, along with full support for font and type sizes. You can also decide whether to show media thumbnails in the timeline, minimize them or let them stay at the default large size. If you use the app on your iPhone, iPad or another Mac, Twitterrific will sync your feed reading position across devices.

And that’s not all. You can delete and edit your own tweets in the app itself, use Emoji in your messages, read tweet storms as a thread, and translate tweets into your own language. You can view user profiles and past tweets, likes and mentions, block and report spammers with a click and use keyboard shortcuts and commands to manage it all without a mouse.

Read more on WP Dev Shed

Intel created a superconducting test chip for quantum computing

Quantum computing is the next big technological revolution, and it’s coming sooner than you might think. IBM unveiled its own quantum processor this past May, scientists have been experimenting with silicon-laced diamonds (and basic silicon, too) as a quantum computing substrate, Google is already looking at cloud-based solutions and Microsoft is already creating a new coding language for the technology. Now Intel has taken another big step towards a quantum computing reality: the company has created a new superconducting chip using advanced material science and manufacturing techniques, and delivered it to Intel’s research partner in the Netherlands, QuTech.

According to Intel, the building blocks of quantum computing, qubits, are very fragile. They can only operate at extremely low temperatures (250 times colder than deep space) and must be packaged carefully to prevent data loss. Intel’s research groups in Oregon and Arizona have found a way to manufacture 17-quibit chips with an architecture that makes them more reliable at higher temperatures and reduced RF interference between each qubit. The chip can send and receive 10 to 100 times more signal than comparable wire-bonded chips and has an advanced design that allows for the techniques to be applied to larger quantum integrated circuits, which are much bigger than typical silicon chips.

“Our quantum research has progressed to the point where our partner QuTech is simulating quantum algorithm workloads, and Intel is fabricating new qubit test chips on a regular basis in our leading-edge manufacturing facilities,” said Intel Labs’ Dr. Michael Mayberry. “Intel’s expertise in fabrication, control electronics and architecture sets us apart and will serve us well as we venture into new computing paradigms, from neuromorphic to quantum computing.”

Source: Intel

Tech giants team with Anti-Defamation League to fight online hate

Internet giants like Facebook and Google have had to step up their fights against hate speech in recent months, but they only occasionally present a united front against bigotry. That might change after today, though. Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter are partnering with the Anti-Defamation League on a Cyberhate Problem-Solving Lab that aims to stem the tide of online hate. The ADL will offer policy considerations and an understanding of how internet hate develops, while the companies will focus on “technical solutions” that keep hateful behavior at bay.

This isn’t the first rodeo for either side. Past partnerships led to ADL creating a “best practices” guide for fighting hate in 2014. This effort is more involved, however. They’re hoping to develop technology that could block or remove hate, not just recommendations that the firms involved don’t have to adopt. Whatever comes out of the lab could have a tangible effect on how you experience the internet, whether it’s a reduction in harassment or fewer places for hate producers to hide.

Whether or not any measures will be effective is another matter. Hate speech purveyors tend to be slippery — they switch providers, accounts and tactics to get their message across when they’re blocked or kicked out. If there’s going to be a long-lasting solution, it’ll have to involve a comprehensive, flexible approach that gives hatemongers more than a temporary inconvenience.

Via: CNET

Source: Anti-Defamation League

Apple’s Mac Shipments Down in Q3 2017 Amid Continuing PC Market Decline

Amid an ongoing decline in worldwide PC shipments, Apple’s Mac shipments also experienced a decline in the third quarter of 2017 according to new PC shipping estimates shared this afternoon by Gartner. In Q3 2017, Apple shipped an estimated 4.6 million Macs worldwide, down from 4.89 million in the year-ago quarter, marking a 5.6 percent decline in growth.

Apple’s market share for the quarter comes in at 6.9 percent, down from 7 percent in the third quarter of 2016. Apple was ranked the number five worldwide PC vendor after HP, Lenovo, Dell, and Asus. Apple was also the number five worldwide PC vendor in 3Q 2016, but the company has dropped from number four since Q2 2017.

Gartner’s Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 3Q17 (Thousands of Units)
Aside from HP, all PC vendors saw a drop in shipments. HP shipped an estimated 14.6 million PCs during the quarter for 4.4 growth and 21.8 percent market share, while Lenovo shipped an estimated 14.4 million PCs for 21.4 percent market share. Dell shipped an estimated 10 million PCs for 15.2 percent market share, while Asus shipped 4.9 million PCs for 7.7 percent market share. Acer trailed after Apple with 4.3 million PCs shipped and 6.5 percent market share.

According to Gartner, ongoing DRAM shortages worsened during the third quarter of 2017, impacting sales and leading to an overall PC shipment decline of 3.6 percent. Worldwide PC shipments totaled 67 million across vendors, down from 69.5 million in Q3 2016, marking 12 consecutive quarters of declining PC shipments.

“The component price hike impacted the consumer PC market as most vendors generally pass the price hike on to consumers, rather than absorbing the cost themselves,” Ms. Kitagawa said. “We expect the DRAM shortage to continue to the end of 2018, but it will not be reflected in the final PC prices immediately.”

Apple’s U.S. numbers mirror its worldwide numbers. In the United States, Apple shipped an estimated 1.9 million Macs, a 7.6 percent decline from the 2 million shipped in Q3 2016.

Gartner’s Preliminary U.S. Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 3Q17 (Thousands of Units)
U.S. PC shipments totaled 14.7 million units during the quarter, down from 16.4 million for an overall decline of 10.3 percent. Apple was ranked the number three PC vendor in the United States with 12.8 percent market share. HP and Dell both beat out Apple with shipments of 4.7 and 3.8 million PCs, respectively.

Apple’s Market Share Trend: 1Q06–3Q17 (Gartner)
IDC also released its own shipment estimates this afternoon, noting a smaller 0.5 percent decline in overall worldwide PC shipments. IDC’s worldwide shipping estimates are quite a bit different than Gartner’s this quarter, with IDC estimating worldwide Mac shipments of 4.9 million, up slightly from 4.89 million in the year-ago quarter for a growth increase of 0.3 percent.

IDC ranks Apple as the number four PC vendor, above ASUS and below HP, Lenovo, and Dell. IDC and Gartner’s data often varies due to the different ways each firm makes its shipment calculations.

It’s important to note that data from Gartner and IDC is preliminary and the numbers can shift, sometimes dramatically and sometimes less so. Last year, for example, Gartner estimated shipments of 4.95 million Macs, but the actual number was 4.89 million.

Apple last refreshed its Mac notebook and iMac lineup in June of 2017, and the company has plans to release a new iMac Pro in December, which could lead to an uptick in shipments if it proves popular with pro users.

Tags: IDC, Gartner
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Google Disables Malfunctioning Home Mini Feature That Could Cause Non-Stop Recording

Google recently disabled a feature included in its upcoming Google Home Mini smart speaker after a reviewer found that it was causing the device to record conversations and sounds even when no “OK Google” prompt word was spoken.

As detailed by Android Police’s Artem Russakovskii, who received a Google Home Mini test unit last week, the device was malfunctioning due to an issue with the built-in touch panel designed to let Google Assistant be activated with a press instead of a voice command.

The Google Home Mini’s touch mechanism was registering phantom touch events, causing it to continually record audio, which is not supposed to happen. Russakovskii discovered the problem after finding thousands of recordings in the Assistant section his My Activity portal on the web, where Assistant queries are stored.

Google was alerted to the issue and collected his unit for testing, which led to the discovery of the faulty touch mechanism. The problem as described by Google:

We have learned of an issue impacting a small number of Google Home Minis that could cause the touch mechanism to behave incorrectly. We are rolling out a software update today that should address the issue.

To fix the malfunctioning touch panel, Google released a firmware update for all Google Home Mini devices disabling the feature allowing Google Assistant to be activated with a long press. Google told Russakovskii a longer-term fix is in the works, but in the meantime, the press to activate feature will not be available when the Google Home Mini launches.

In response, the updated software disables the long press to activate the Google Assistant feature. Once the Google Home Mini devices receive the updated software, all long press events (real or phantom) will be ignored and Google Assistant will not be invoked accidentally.

The company also let me know that they’re in the process of building a long-term fix, whatever it may be. It’s too early to say if they’re going to be able to deal with “phantom” touch events entirely in software or a recall for affected units will be in order.

When the issue was discovered, Google took it seriously and collected the faulty review unit within a matter of hours. An engineer worked over the weekend to figure out what was going on and the firmware update to remove the feature was available by Tuesday.

Introduced last week, the Google Home Mini speaker is priced at $49.99 and can be purchased from the Google website. Google Home Mini units are expected to begin shipping out to customers on October 18.

Tags: Google, Google Assistant, Google Home
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Three of the best cases for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8

We’re celebrating ten years of AndroidGuys with a ton of giveaways!

Before we jump into the review we wanted to say massive thanks to MobileFun for providing the cases for this review, which otherwise wouldn’t have been possible without their help. Make sure you go and vote for them in the WHAT Mobile Awards 2017 here.

The Galaxy Note 8 is one of the most impressive phones on the market – its design, inspired by the Galaxy S8, has spearheaded the market into a bezel-less design that is now being widely adopted as the standard amongst premium handsets. As nice as the design is, the all-glass makeup means it’s still fragile and slippery as heck so you’ll be wanting to slap a case on it to protect your $1000 investment. The market is saturated with cases – some good, some not so good – so we’ve got our hands on what we consider three of the best cases for the Note 8 on the market currently. This is obviously pre-tensed by being completely perceptual and your experience may vary, but we’re here to share our opinion. With that being said, let’s check out the first on offer.

Olixar Sentinel Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Case

The Olixar Sentinel is your typical TPU case by look but is designed for maximum durability. Its flexible carbon fibre design protects the Note 8 without adding any unnecessary bulk and also looks pretty good in the process. Olixar says that the inner patterns also help deflect shock force and aid heat dissipation.

The case provides a lot more grip for the Note 8, which is important given its such a physically big device that trying to operate it one hand is pretty much impossible without a case. While we didn’t drop test the case to confirm the protection factor, the feel of the case provides confidence that any impact or shock to the device will be absorbed by the case. The upper and lower edges are deeper than the screen to provide protection to the screen when placed face down on a surface or during a fall. All ports are accessible with the case on and the S-Pen is easily accessed.

While the case is visually very nice, some may not like the TPU feel of such a case. If you are used to the feel then you certainly won’t be disappointed. You can grab the Olixar Sentinel case here.

Olixar X-Duo Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Case – Carbon Fibre Gold

Another offering from Olixar is the X-Duo case that although TPU, doesn’t feel quite like the Sentinel thanks to its textured body and smooth metallic bumper. The inner flexible TPU case features shock-absorbing strength with a carbon fibre finish on the back. The inner patterns also help deflect shock force and aid heat dissipation. The X-Duo is also built to protect your device. I feel like the X-Duo would offer more protection than the Sentinel with the gold bumper.

While the added protection is welcomed, the X-Duo feels slightly more bulky than the Sentinel but this could be of preference to some. Again, all ports and S-Pen are easily accessible.

For maximum protection and added grip, the X-Duo is a great option but may not be the preference for those who like a minimal look. You can grab the Olixar X-Duo from here.

Official Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Alcantara Cover Case

The third case is by far my personal favorite. The Alcantara cover by Samsung offers relatively the same protection as the Olixar counterparts, and in some cases less protection when considering the cutout at the bottom of the case that exposes the entire underside of the device.

However, it’s not the protection that this case offers that stand out, it’s the feel. Made from Alcantara, the case offers an attractive solution for your Note 8. The case has a raised lip around the edges to provide protection when the display is face down on a surface. It is also extremely slim, adding next to no bulk to your device.

The buttons of the Note 8 are covered in Alcantara too so naturally feel better to the touch and the slippery design of the device is completely eliminated by the case.

While in my opinion the best case available currently for the Note 8, it is also quite expensive if the style is something that is important to you. Some may not like the feel of the material but the Alcantara design is something unique that is fantastic if you’re after something different. You can grab it here.

Again, big thanks to MobileFun that also has a number of other Note 8 cases that is sure to cater for what you’re looking for. Be sure to check out the full range here.

Accenture left four servers of sensitive data completely unprotected

UpGuard has yet again uncovered a trove of corporate data left unprotected, this time from major consulting and management firm Accenture. The data — contained on four cloud-based storage servers — were discovered by UpGuard Director of Cyber Risk Research Chris Vickery in mid-September and weren’t protected by a password. Anyone with the servers’ web addresses could download the stored information, which included decryption keys, passwords and customer info. And Accenture’s client list includes a number of large companies. On its website, Accenture says its clients “span the full range of industries around the world and include 94 of the Fortune Global 100 and more than three-quarters of the Fortune Global 500.”

UpGuard says that the information stored on the unprotected servers could have been used to attack Accenture itself as well as a number of its clients and Vickery told ZDNet that the data amounted to the “keys to the kingdom.” In a blog post about the exposure, UpGuard said, “Taken together, the significance of these exposed buckets is hard to overstate. In the hands of competent threat actors, these cloud servers, accessible to anyone stumbling across their URLs, could have exposed both Accenture and its thousands of top-flight corporate customers to malicious attacks that could have done an untold amount of financial damage.”

This data exposure is just the latest to be sniffed out by cybersecurity firm UpGuard. Other recent discoveries by the company include Election Systems & Software’s exposure of 1.8 million Chicago residents’ personal information, Deep Root Analytics’ leak of nearly 200 million US citizens’ data, the release of 14 million Verizon customers’ info by Nice Systems and exposure of classified intelligence data by a US defense contractor. In light of these repeated mishandlings of sensitive data, it’s becoming increasing clear that major companies need to take a serious look at their cybersecurity practices.

UpGuard quickly notified Accenture after discovering the exposed data and the company secured the servers soon thereafter. Accenture also said that UpGuard was the only non-authorized visitor to access the servers. Accenture told ZDNet, “We closed the exposure when the Amazon Web Services S3 issue was first reported. As we continue our forensic review we may learn more but, the email and password information in the database is more than two and a half years old and for Accenture users of a decommissioned system.”

Source: UpGuard