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Popular collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Slack and Google may be required to implement end-to-end encryption and interoperability if used by US federal agencies. Legislation put forward by US Senator Ron Wyden, titled as the Secure and Interoperable Government Collaboration Technology Act is looking to boost security for such tools following a number of high-profile recent incidents. Federal agencies don’t seem to use a single standard collaboration tool between them, making it necessary that when inter-agency communication does happen, it should be fully secure. Communication is key If written into law - which would most likely happen in 2025 due to the upcoming elections - the bill would require each collaboration tool used by federal agencies to be assessed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in order to understand how they can interoperate securely. Email accounts linked to several agencies have been cracked by Russian hackers exploiting a chain of vulnerabilities linked to Microsoft corporate email accounts, and other government agencies have succumbed to a cascade of Ivanti VPN vulnerabilities that resulted in data exfiltration and persistent system access affecting businesses and government departments alike. Speaking on the proposal, Wyden said, “My bill will secure the US government's communications from foreign hackers, while protecting taxpayer wallets. Vendor lock-in, bundling, and other anticompetitive practices result in the government spending vast sums of money on insecure software.” “It's time to break the chokehold of big tech companies like Microsoft on government software, set high cybersecurity standards and reap the many benefits of a competitive market,” he concluded. Once signed into law, federal agencies would have up to four years to ensure their collaboration software meets the standards and requirements set by NIST, so while it isn’t an immediate fix to some of the security issues the federal government is experiencing, it's certainly a step in the right direction. Via The Register More from TechRadar Pro This is the best DDoS protection softwareThe cyber landscape in 2024: AI, cyber attacks and disinformationHere is our guide to the best endpoint protection software View the full article

Being cut off or having to hang up on important work calls when on the move could be a thing of the past thanks to a new Google Meet feature. The video conferencing service has announced a new tool that will allow users to transfer between a call on a mobile device to a laptop (or vice versa) with just a click. The new "Switch here" function should prove incredibly useful for those on the move, for example if you are heading into the office, but are running late for a call, so have to start it on your phone, before switching to your PC or laptop when you get to your desk. Switch here "In today's world, getting our work done can happen from many locations, across many devices," the company noted in a Google Workspace Updates blog announcing the news. "Beginning today, you can smoothly transfer between devices while on a Google Meet call without hanging up and rejoining." The Switch here option will be displayed when joining a meeting on a laptop or PC, allowing users to switch the call from a mobile device without losing or disrupting the conversation. (Image credit: Google) Once transferred, a notification will appear on the first device noting, “Call switched to another device”, meaning there's no need to manually rejoin or even hang up on the initial call. Google Meet promises "seamless" switching between devices, but in real life this may depend on network strength and the actual computing capabilities of your devices, but we're keen to try it out. The function will be available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google accounts, across Google Meet on Android and iOS mobile devices. It is rolling out now, with no admin action required. The launch is the latest tweak to Google Meet as the company looks to make it more engaging and interactive for users. Recently, the platfom announced it would bringing its "Companion Mode” second screen tool to the Meet app for Android and iOS devices, offering a quick way to participate in meetings without opening a laptop, and giving more flexibility to the way users work and meet. More from TechRadar Pro We've also rounded up the best productivity tools around right nowThese are the best free office software choices we've foundThose company-wide Google Meet calls might just get a bit less painful View the full article