The new Ragnarok ransomware is able in some cases to bypass Windows Defender to infect Citrix ADC servers, even those recently patched. The list of countries in which it will not encrypt files suggests that the developers are based in Russia or Eastern Europe.

Atari is tapping into the public's affinity for video gaming with plans to open a series of gaming-themed hotels, saying the first one will break ground in Phoenix this year. The hotels, which will include virtual and augmented reality experiences and esports events, are also planned for seven other US cities, including Las Vegas, Seattle, San Francisco and Chicago.

ZDNet's Chris Matyszczyk set out to determine which search engine was more effective by testing Google and Bing with a few queries, including the straight-to-the-point "Is Bing better than Google?" He found that Bing's results were sometimes more dated and Google's sometimes more neutral, but ultimately, neither search engine came out as the clear winner.

Cisco is enhancing its application monitoring capabilities with a feature for AppDynamics called Experience Journey Map, which lets users and service providers map the performance of critical business applications using data science algorithms. The company has also introduced its Hyperflex platform for developers working on containerized applications.

People with type 2 diabetes who used a weight-loss mobile app lost more weight than those not using apps, a study in the journal Obesity showed. "Notably, apart from the reduction in body weight, our meta-analysis provided further evidence that mobile app interventions could lower waist circumference and decrease fat mass as well as the percentage of body fat," researchers wrote.

The England and Wales High Court has ordered Bitfinex, a bitcoin exchange, to freeze an account with $860,000 believed to be part of the ransom in a cyberattack and to disclose the owner of the account. The insurer of the business targeted in the attack paid $950,000 in ransom, but $90,000 of that amount was converted to cash and is untraceable.

Today is Data Privacy Day, notes Steve Andriole, a business technology professor at Villanova University, who writes that the "shocking thing about the obvious and growing loss of privacy is how unconcerned everyone is." For an in-depth look at "surveillance capitalism," he recommends The New York Times' extensive reporting project on smartphone tracking and its implications for individuals and for the nation.

E-learning is an engaging way to teach employees about cybersecurity because of its accessibility and the depth of information it provides, writes Juliette Peters. E-learning can include videos stored in the cloud for easy updates, messaging apps that alert employees to potential breaches and subscriptions to online learning sites.

The Maryland Senate is considering legislation that would criminalize possession of ransomware, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Accessing computers, servers, databases and software without authorization also would be illegal, though critics say the bill needs stronger exemptions for researchers.

Voice assistants have streamlined tasks in smart homes more than automation has because they make device set-up easy, CNET's David Priest writes. Noting that kitchen automation is advancing rapidly, he expresses hope that device-makers will become "less concerned with optimizing how we live than redefining it."