December is here, and alongside online shopping and holiday music, the new month is bringing with it a whole new round of big tech headlines. From new tactics in cybercrime, to ambiguous privacy laws, it can seem like the IT world is getting darker by the minute. But with these stories, also come stories of innovation, emerging trends, and futuristic exploration. And luckily, we’ve searched through these headlines, getting you the tech news we know you want to read.

Oracle Database is one of the most popular business database servers. In fact, it topped the database popularity charts for a few years in a row, according to DB-Engines.com. Millions of companies store their most critical data – ERP, CRM, finance databases – in Oracle Database servers and systems.

If you don’t know what ransomware is, read on. You’re in danger of losing all of the files on your computer. Ransomware is a small piece of criminal software that highjacks your computer by encrypting your files, denying you access to them, and then demands online payment for their release. It’s one of the most shameless forms of cyber extortion, and in some cases, actual blackmail. The threat is very real. If you use email, browse websites, spend time on social networks, connect to local networks (at work, at home, or in public spaces), or use removable USB drives, whether on a desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet, you are always a click or two away from a ransomware infiltration. Don’t be a victim. Outsmart cyber-criminals with a few simple steps. It’s easy, but only if you know what to look for.

Only for a day, but what a day! Acronis invited Scuderia Toro Rosso’s Team Principal Franz Tost and driver Daniil Kvyat to visit Moscow and spend a day with fans, media, and students. If you weren’t there, here is a short summary of what you missed.