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Gamers have a lot to look forward to in 2015, and Microsoft hopes to blend its upcoming Windows 10 operating system with the Xbox One, so gamers don't have to be tied to a specific platform. Xbox chief Phil Spencer understands there may be some bumps in the road along the way, but feels gamers will benefit from the expected "symbiotic" relationship between the Xbox One and Windows 10.

" So I look at the opportunity to make Windows gaming and Xbox gaming kind of symbiotic with one another," Spencer said during a recent press conference. "And try to grow the number of people that are connected and the amount of content that's available on both platforms - [I feel is] a huge opportunity. I don't feel that there's some kind of financial motivation for me to keep things off of PC."

Microsoft wants to generate Xbox One sales, and hopes integrating Windows 10 into the overall gaming experience could help.

It appears the serial ports of automated tank gauges (ATGs) of almost 5,300 gas stations and fuel depots in the United States are vulnerable because they aren't password protected. ATGs are used to more accurately track fuel tank inventory levels, raise alarms, track fuel deliveries, and conduct leak tests - but people with access to the interfaces could cause problems, according to the Rapid7 Security Street blog.

It doesn't look like there have been any incidents of actual breaches, but shows the importance of password protecting connected technologies. ATGs can be accessed via serial port, plug-in serial port, TCP/IP circuit board, and fax/modem.

Rapid7 was made aware of the issue by Jack Chadowitz, founder of the Kachoolie security firm, and started investing ATG vulnerabilities since Jan. 9.

Despite previous reports claiming the Lizard Squad was hacked, which would be a public relations nightmare for the hacker group, it appears the list could have just been distributed. Members of the group were sharing the list with trusted contacts, plotting attacks against specific accounts that piqued their interest. Seems a trusted source received the list and decided to publicly release it, according to an unnamed Lizard Squad member.

"We've got a fairly good idea who handed it over to Krebs & co. though," a supposed Lizard Squad spokesman told Forbes. "I didn't look into it much but from what I heard there were some pretty well known Twitter users in there for example and gamers. There were some interesting people who signed up... and considering most users were stupid enough to reuse their passwords..."

The Lizard Squad still seems mainly interested in attacking gaming-related services and servers, and while several members have been arrested, continue to pose a threat.

After news reports revealed a 32-year-old Taiwanese man died after an epic three-day gaming session, many people said he was foolish and should have known better. However, experts are speaking out to discuss the topic, due to increased headlines and more people suffering from these types of incidents. Prolonged gaming sessions can lead to health and psychological problems, including repetitive strain injuries all the way to visual hallucinations.

"For me, addiction boils down to constant reinforcement, or put more simply, being constantly rewarded while playing the game," said Mark Griffiths, chartered psychologist and director of the International Gaming Research Unit at Nottingham Trent University, in an editorial posted on CNN.

He also explained the rewards that gamers can receive from continuous gaming.

The European Space Agency (ESA) and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have announced a partnership to launch a robotic space mission that will lift off by 2021. Both programs will share proposals and development duties equally, as each proposal must be signed by a lead investigator from Europe and in China.

Proposals are due in March, peer review begins in April, and mission selection is scheduled to occur before the end of the year.

"The goal of the present Call is to define a scientific space mission to be implemented by ESA and CAS as a cooperative endeavor between the European and Chinese scientific communities," the ESA recently said in a statement. "The mission selected as an outcome of the present Joint Call will follow a collaborative approach through all the phases: study, definition, implementation, operations and scientific exploitation."

Google Android and Apple iOS users are likely familiar with having just about any app available to them, but Microsoft Phone and BlackBerry users have a significantly smaller number of apps to choose from. However, that's something BlackBerry CEO John Chen wants to hopefully change in the future, as the effort to boost BlackBerry sales continues.

Chen believes these "app neutrality" laws could help even the playing field, despite Android and iOS clearly leading the mobile market.

"Unlike BlackBerry, which allows iPhone users to download and use our BBM service, Apple does not allow BlackBerry or Android users to download Apple's iMessage messaging service," Chen recently stated in an open letter. "Netflix, which has forcefully advocated for carrier neutrality, has discriminated against BlackBerry customers by refusing to make its streaming movie service available to them."

Thirty-two percent of users who share an Internet-enabled device, such as smartphones or tablets, with relatives, colleagues or friends don't take precautions to protect their information, according to a survey from Kaspersky Lab and B2B International.

Many people use PCs, smartphones, tablets and other devices with at least one other person, with one in three users saying they share devices - but don't have proper security protocols in place while sharing technology.

"Sharing a computer or smartphone increases the risk of malware infection, data loss or account theft, so it is important to take precautions," said Elena Kharchenko, Head of Consumer Product Management at Kaspersky Lab. "Always keep backup compies of important files; delete information that should not fall into the wrong hands, especially by disabling form autofill; try to control user access rights on the device - and most importantly - use programs that provide protection against cyber threats."

In an effort to help take bitcoins mainstream, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss want to create a regulated bitcoin exchange, a "Nasdaq of bitcoin" that is insured by the FDIC. The current state of bitcoin is relatively unstable, and despite businesses accepting bitcoin payments, hackers have taken interest in finding ways to steal the popular cryptocurrency - not to mention the continued slide in bitcoin value.

The so-called Gemini exchange would be self-funded by the Winklevoss brothers, as they look to create an infrastructure designed to receive federal support. "Right now we have to build the infrastructure," said Tyler Winklevoss, in a statement published by the New York Times. "You have to walk before you run."

Between Mt. Gox "losing" bitcoins, and bitstamp being hacked with $5 million worth of bitcoins stolen, having a federally-insured offering could help win over potential consumers and investors.

Attention on cyberattacks typically tends to focus on data breaches, but nonprofit groups likely face a higher risk of ransomware attacks. These types of attacks typically begin with a phishing attempt that gets an employee to unknowingly install custom malware designed to encrypt files - and hold critical data for ransom, or the files will be left permanently compromised.

As nonprofits are adjusting efforts to reach fundraising goals, people donating to these groups expect a certain level of security while contributing money - and a ransomware attack can be extremely detrimental.

"In 2015, the number of unique cybersecurity threats has surpassed the 300 million mark, growing at a steady rate of almost 40,000 new threats a day," said Catalin Cosoi, global security strategist of Bitdefender. "But it's not only the sheer number of malware that poses an immediate risk to nonprofits across the United States. Some of these viruses now specialize in extorting businesses by encrypting data and then asking for money in return... for the decryption key."

Augmented reality has recently shown great promise for consumer and commercial use, but there is an overlooked industry that could help spur additional interest: medical research. Software and hardware designers hope that offering custom solutions to certain verticals will help accelerate the familiarity of augmented reality as something more than a niche consumer offering.

Technologies such as the Eyes-On Glass gives nurses and doctors the unique view of a vascular anatomy, leading to more comfortable medical care for patients. However, there are a number of other options presenting great potential solutions that can be used in the near future:

"In two to five years, the definition of augmented reality is going to extend," said Helen Papagiannis, augmented reality specialist, in a statement to Daily Dot. "We're not going to be calling it augmented reality anymore, it really will just be reality. It will be a combination of artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, all coming together."

High-profile cyberattacks and data breaches in 2014 indicated the serious need for improved security efforts, but 2015 could be even worse, noted Cisco CEO John Chambers. Data breaches sometimes take months to detect, and improving security remains a difficult process that causes headaches for business leaders and IT staff.

Of specific concern is the growing number of connected devices now access the Internet, with cybercriminals interested in exploiting these products.

"There is no data center or network in the world that hasn't been hacked," said Chambers, speaking to CNBC during the World Economic Forum. "If you watched the number of attacks, they're going up exponentially this year, this year's going to be much worse than last year."

Sony will delay releasing its third quarter earnings report because of Sony Pictures continuing to struggle with repair of its crippled computer systems. Company officials want to release Sony's earnings report on March 31, and have asked regulators for additional time to get its IT situation sorted.

It will take until early February until SPE systems are fully restored and operational because of the "amount of destruction and disruption that occurred, and the care necessary to avoid further damage by prematurely restarting functions," according to Sony.

Despite The Interview bringing it close to $50 million from the box office, online rentals and sales, it has been a constant headache for the film studio. During CES, Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai said current and former employees suffered "one of the most vicious and malicious" cyberattacks to target a company - and applauded them for their continued resolve.

The release of the iPhone 6 garnered a lot of attention in 2014. There were more than 1 million tweets about the iPhone 6 after its launch event, of which 17 thousand were about the camera and 22 thousand were about its larger size, reports Forbes using Spredfast data. However, once the Bend Gate scandal hit, it received 26,000 mentions on Twitter that morning.

Although the iPhone was talked to death this past year, it may not be the best present for the techie in your life. But by putting all your eggs in the iPhone basket, you may be missing the opportunity to get your tech enthusiast a more unique gift. So, before you click on that buy button, consider these less conventional, but practical alternatives to the iPhone 6.

If a 3D printer sounds like a wildly extravagant gift, think about the endless possibilities that this emerging technology makes possible. Also consider this: Independent consulting firm Wohlers Associates estimates that sales of 3D printing products and services could hit $6 billion worldwide by 2017. For a small business owner, a 3D printer can enhance your product offerings or it could be the impetus for a fresh business idea. If your special someone is holding off on a big idea because of manufacturing costs, noodle on the 3D printer. Not sure where to start? Check out the printers offered by Solidoodl, which are gaining momentum because of its surprisingly affordable models.

The doomsday clock, the metaphoric symbol which represents how close the world is to life-ending catastrophe has been upgraded by two minutes, now resting just three minutes to midnight.

According to CBS News, the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists made the adjustment overnight to reflect concerns about the world's huge stockpile of nuclear weapons and concerns regarding climate change. This is the first adjustment to the clock since 2012, when it was set to 11.55PM.

The latest the Doomsday Clock has ever been set was in 1953, at 11.58PM when the United States announced the first test of the destructive hydrogen bomb. The current time is set at a precarious one minute from that.

Companies suffered relentless cyberattacks and data breaches in 2014, and that trend is expected to continue in 2015. Business leaders need to streamline their efforts to improve cybersecurity protocols to prevent outside breaches, along with defending accidental and intentional insider threats posed by employees.

"Because of the multitude and sophistication of both internal and external attack vectors, cybersecurity is perhaps the most daunting operational challenge facing organizations today," said JF Roy, CTO of TIBCO LogLogic, in a statement to TweakTown.

As companies and government departments scramble to fix potential security problems, they are throwing money at the problem - but that can be a futile effort if they don't understand why these incidents occurred in the past.

Often very under-appreciated, the Leatherman is an absolute life-saver if you're a worker in IT and sometimes need to pull apart desktop systems, clean laptops or complete general computer repairs and servicing. Much easier than carrying around various screwdrivers and small scissors in your pocket, a Leatherman is an often-overlooked life saver.

The Leatherman Tread fits 25 different tooling options into the one bracelet - providing users with Phillips and Flathead screwdrivers, a cutting hook, a bottle opener and more. Set for release around the end of Q1 2015, this product will set you back about $150 from retail stores for the silver metal edition, or $200 for the black-issue.

Expensive, yes - but do you know how long a Leatherman will last? If you're not happy with wearing this on your wrist for day to day activities, there's no harm storing it in your pocket - however you might see it getting snagged on things.

Fans of the Game of Thrones game from Telltale Games should get excited, as the second episode of the six-part adventure game series is coming to Android devices on February 5.

The second episode is dubbed "The Lost Lords" with Telltale teasing fans of the series with a brand new trailer. The summary of the storyline for The Lost Lords should also have fans pumped: "House Forrester is in disarray. Their liege lord and his heir are dead, and Ironrath is occupied by Whitehill soldiers. The survival of the family depends upon those who are left. Placed at King's Landing, the epicenter of intrigue, Mira Forrester must weigh her loyalty to Margaery Tyrell against the needs of her family, while choosing how to play the political games of Tyrion Lannister. One misstep could spell doom for Mira and her entire family".

The summary continues: "To the far north, Gared Tuttle finds that the wall and its crows hold little love for a squire from the Wolfswood, but finds kinship in the bastard son of Ned Stark. Gared must prove worthy of becoming a ranger in order to carry out the mission given him; one that is vital to the future of those he serves. To the east, Asher Forrester, the exiled son, is called back to Westeros to aid his family, but how can one man help when the Boltons rule the north with an iron fist? Meanwhile, an unexpected source of hope returns to the Forresters, but Ironrath is no place for the weak".

Barrett Brown, a writer and activist linked to the Anonymous hacker group, has been sentenced to five years in prison for sharing stolen data and threatening an FBI agent. Brown pleaded guilty to obstructing the execution of a search warrant, accessory to an unauthorized access of a protected computer and making Internet threats.

Brown's tweets and posted YouTube videos helped generate unwanted attention by federal investigators, and the 33-year-old was blamed for sharing data stolen from the Stratfor private defense contractor. He originally could have faced more than 100 years if convicted - and after time served in custody already - must serve three more years.

"If I criticize the government for breaking the law, but then break the law myself in an effort to reveal their wrongdoing, I should expect to be punished just as I've called for the criminals at government-linked firms to be punished," Brown said before he was sentenced. "When we start fighting crime by any means necessary, we become guilty of the same hypocrisy as law enforcement agencies throughout the history that break the rules to get the villains, and so become villains themselves."

Just how much did Apple's CEO make last year? Well, according to a newly released SEC filing, Tim Cook made $9.22 million last year. Breaking these figures down, we have a salary of $1.7 million, and non-equity incentive compensation of $6.7 million. This is close to double the $4.3 million in compensation he raked in across 2013.

Cook didn't make that much when it came to other staff, with Apple's latest hire, Angela Ahrendts, securing herself a very nice $73 million in cash and stock over 2014. This included a $400,000 salary, $500,000 bonus and $70 million in stock. Ahrendts joined Apple in May of 2014, after making $37 million at Burberry.

These wages can be watered down thanks to the huge $182.8 billion in sales that Apple generated over 2014, with $38.5 billion in net income for fiscal 2014. This is a new record for the company, and during its latest forecast, Apple expects to make between $63.5 billion and $66.5 billion for Q1 2015.

The last 15 years has been an interesting ride for DreamWorks animation, with the highs of 'Shrek' and 'Madagascar' offset by recent losses such as 'Rise of the Guardians' ($86m) and 'Turbo' ($13m). According to the Hollywood Reporter, the studio has now cutback on productions to two a year and slashed staff levels by nearly 5000, representing nearly 20% of the workforce in order to cut costs and get back into the black.

The company has also announced its release slate for the next few years, which balances between sequels and original productions. 2016 will see 'Kung Fu Panda 3' and 'Trolls', with 'Boss Baby' and 'The Croods 2' coming in 2017 and 'The Larrikins' and How to Train Your Dragon 3' in 2018.

Dreamworks has only one release for 2015; 'Home' which features the voices of Rihanna, Jim Parsons, Jennifer Lopez and Steve Martin coming in March.