IT for retail and logistics

Consider governance, coordination and risk to secure supply chain

A recent ISACA study found myriad factors that give good reason to be concerned about supply chain security. Cyber adviser Brian Fletcher recommends three areas to zero in on Continue Reading

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• Brian Fletcher

Office 365 loophole may give ransomware an easy shot at your files

Researchers at Proofpoint have discovered potentially dangerous Microsoft Office 365 functionality that they believe may give ransomware a clear shot at files stored on SharePoint and OneDrive Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Security Think Tank: Best practices for boosting supply chain security

In a highly connected world, managing the supply chain landscape requires an adaptation of the ‘traditional’ approach to managing cyber risk Continue Reading

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• Carl Nightingale

Patch Tuesday dogged by concerns over Microsoft vulnerability response

The last Patch Tuesday in its current form is overshadowed by persistent concerns about how Microsoft deals with vulnerability disclosure Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Security Think Tank: Basic steps to secure your supply chain

When it comes to supply chain security, there are some core things you should be doing – but remember, the devil is in the detail Continue Reading

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• Petra Wenham

MS Azure Synapse vulnerability fixed after six-month slog

Microsoft patched a critical Azure Synapse vulnerability twice, but each time the researcher who discovered it was able to bypass it with ease, leading to a lengthy saga Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Retail’s IT talent search intensifies

Retailers from different sectors are on the hunt to fill similar IT job roles, but are all finding different ways to source the sought-after talent Continue Reading

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• Ben Sillitoe

Former CEO explains how Dreams went from nightmare to fantasy

In 2013, Mike Logue joined Dreams after it had been saved from administration – he explains how data and communication rebuilt the business Continue Reading

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• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Security Think Tank: Don’t trust the weakest link? Don’t trust any link

Your security model shouldn’t fall apart just because a part of your business, or a partner, has weak security. This is why information-centric security is a must Continue Reading

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• Tim Holman, 2-sec

Snake Keylogger climbing malware charts, says Check Point

Cyber criminals behind Snake Keylogger campaigns have been switching up their tactics in the past few weeks, say researchers Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Researchers find eight CVEs in single building access system

A series of eight vulnerabilities in Carrier LenelS2 building access panels could enable malicious actors to obtain physical access to their targets Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Government wrong to pass the buck on computer evidence reform

IT expert James Christie tells Computer Weekly why he is disappointed that the government has no plans to change the rules on the use of computer evidence in court Continue Reading

By

• James Christie

More wrongful convictions quashed in Post Office IT scandal

Two more Post Office Horizon scandal victims have had their wrongful convictions overturned Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Naivety of computer evidence leaves door ajar for more miscarriages of justice

Barrister Paul Marshall explains why the government’s lack of action on reforming the legal rules around computer evidence, which presume it is correct, mean the Post Office Horizon scandal could be the tip of a miscarriages of justice iceberg Continue Reading

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• Paul Marshall

Swedish entrepreneurs capture the world’s attention with eye-tracking technology

A growing number of killer apps are driving the uptake of eye-tracking systems – and Sweden is positioned to play a leading role Continue Reading

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• Pat Brans, Pat Brans Associates/Grenoble Ecole de Management

ProxyLogon, ProxyShell may have driven increase in dwell times

The median network intruder dwell time was up 36% to 15 days last year, thanks to massive exploitation of the ProxyLogon and ProxyShell vulnerabilities by IABs, according to new Sophos data Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

CDO interview: Matthew Lawson, chief digital officer, Ribble Cycles

The 125-year-old bicycle manufacturer is transforming its business with digital innovations such as live streaming and online personalisation Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels

Using technology to reinvent shopping

Technology is becoming an important part of the shopping experience at home, in stores and in-between, so how are retailers using tech to advance the store experience? Continue Reading

Using technology to reinvent shopping

In this week’s Computer Weekly, after the pandemic led to a boom in e-commerce, we look at how retailers are turning to tech to revitalise their stores. We examine the issues around using algorithmic automation to manage employees. And we find out how data science is supporting drug discovery at Novartis. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

CIO interview: Emma Frost, director of innovation, London Legacy Development Corporation

The former Olympic Park in London has become a hotbed – and a testbed – for data and technology innovation that could have a wider benefit for the urban environments in which we live Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels

Mobile digital transformation – from fast to deep

The first half of 2022 has been a busy time, with much happening in the mobile industry. We consider what the rest of year might hold Continue Reading

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• Dario Betti, Mobile Ecosystem Forum

Trial and error – why the law on computer evidence must change

In this week’s Computer Weekly, the Post Office IT scandal highlighted the problem with computer evidence – we examine the need for legal reform. We assess the nuclear option for sustainable datacentre power. And we find out how IT experts can improve their soft skills and boost their career prospects as a result. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Government has no plans to review court rules on computer evidence

The UK government has been accused of ‘passing the buck’ and ‘not knowing what it is talking about’ after stating that it has no plans to review court rules on computer evidence. Continue Reading

UAE residents think 3D printing will have the most positive impact on society

People in the UAE believe next-generation technologies such as 3D printing and artificial intelligence will become widespread in the country Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Strong internal foundations are key to withstanding external threats

The modern-day abundance of platforms, apps and IT tools presents malicious actors with a web of interconnection that is easily exploited to move rapidly through the network to compromise critical assets. Security teams need to understand these attack pathways better in order to fight back Continue Reading

By

• Steve Forbes

Amazon shareholders vote down audit of warehouse work conditions

Shareholders reject proposal calling for an independent audit of Amazon’s working conditions during the company’s annual general meeting Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Two-thirds of UK organisations defrauded since start of pandemic

Nearly two out of three UK companies say they have experienced some form of fraud or economic crime in the past two years, according to a report Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Dutch companies struggle to fill tech jobs

There are plenty of IT job vacancies in the Netherlands, but a shortage of IT professionals Continue Reading

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• Pat Brans, Pat Brans Associates/Grenoble Ecole de Management

The barristers that broke their backs to break the Post Office’s shield of lies

Computer Weekly spoke to the barristers at Henderson Chambers that fought the Post Office in the High Court to expose the widest miscarriage of justice in UK history Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Ransomware volumes grew faster than ever in 2021

Verizon’s annual DBIR assessment of the security landscape highlights an unprecedented boom in ransomware volumes, to the surprise of nobody Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Set innovation free and make great ideas a reality

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we look at Gartner’s call to innovate – and innovation across retail, the circular economy and the automotive sector. We talk to Verastar’s CTO about customer engagement in its small business services. And we examine how poor data quality is frustrating corporate desires to be data driven. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Government has no plans to review controversial court rules on computer evidence

Government accused of ‘passing the buck’ and ‘not knowing what it is talking about’ after stating it has no plans to review court rules on computer evidence Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Deliveroo accused of ‘soft union busting’ with GMB deal

Smaller grassroots unions have criticised Deliveroo and GMB for making a “hollow” deal that will ultimately undermine workers’ self-organising efforts Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Security Think Tank: To follow a path, you need a good map

The modern-day abundance of platforms, apps and IT tools presents malicious actors with a web of interconnection that is easily exploited to move rapidly through the network to compromise critical assets. Security teams need to understand these attack pathways better in order to fight back Continue Reading

By

• Petra Wenham

Mastercard biometric programme will allow payment authentication by smile

Mastercard is inviting banks and merchants to join a programme to set standards for biometric payments technology Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Post Office scandal victim calls for government’s role in silencing victims to be investigated

Victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal in Scotland raise further questions about Post Office and government conduct Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

(ISC)² to train 100,000 cyber pros in UK

Security association (ISC)² unveils ambitious UK training programme Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Controversial Post Office IT system to be replaced by 2025

Work is ongoing by the Post Office to replace the controversial Horizon retail and accounting system used in nearly 12,000 branches Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Amazon shareholders to vote on audit of working conditions

Amazon shareholders will vote on whether the company has to conduct an independent audit on the working conditions and treatment of its warehouse workers, following the e-commerce giant’s unsuccessful attempt to dismiss the proposal Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Fashion tech investment grew 66% during pandemic

As the pandemic caused an increase in online shopping, fashion businesses began investing in technology to help them match customer demand Continue Reading

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• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

CyberUK 22: Five Eyes focuses on MSP security

The western intelligence community has set out practical steps IT service providers and their customers can take to protect themselves Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Cyber accreditation body Crest forges new training partnerships

Crest says partnerships with Hack The Box and Immersive Labs will enhance its members’ defensive and offensive security skills Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Microsoft fixes three zero-days on May Patch Tuesday

It’s the second-to-last Patch Tuesday as we know it, and Microsoft has fixed a total of 75 bugs, including three zero-days Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

CCRC to contact 88 more former subpostmasters with potentially wrongful convictions

The Criminal Cases Review Commission is to contact 88 more potentially wrongfully convicted Post Office workers Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

CyberUK 22: Cyber leaders affirm UK’s whole-of-society strategy

On the opening day of CyberUK 2022, GCHQ director Jeremy Fleming and NCSC CEO Lindy Cameron have spoken of their commitment to the government’s ambition for a whole-of-society cyber strategy Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Post Office scandal inquiry chair brings forward urgent compensation hearings

The chair of the Post Office Horizon scandal inquiry has brought forward hearings about compensation as victims warn that at this rate “people will die” before they get anything Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

CyberUK 22: NCSC refreshes cloud security guidance

The National Cyber Security Centre is revising its cloud guidance as increasing uptake of potentially vulnerable cloud services puts more organisations at risk of compromise Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

European retailers see embedded finance as a revenue builder

Retailers and e-commerce businesses are working with tech suppliers to embed financial products and services in their customer offerings Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

How low energy warehouse robotics and automation are making supply chains more sustainable

In this guest post, James Smith, UK managing director of order fulfillment warehouse robot maker AutoStore Systems, explains how automation can bring sustainability benefits to warehouses and ... Continue Reading

The spies who hack you – the growing threat of spyware

In this week’s Computer Weekly, after 10 Downing Street was hit by a spyware attack, fears about targeted mobile phone hacks are increasing. Our salary survey highlights the diversity challenge in IT, with men’s support for women in IT declining. And we look at how datacentre heat reuse can help reduce carbon emissions. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Post Office scandal victims in Scotland to tell their stories, raising questions of law

Inquiry into Post Office scandal moves to Scotland, with differences in English and Scottish law raising further serious questions about subpostmaster prosecutions Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

John Lewis to hire more than 150 tech workers

As the retail group continues its drive to digitise, the John Lewis Partnership is aiming to hire more than 150 tech workers Continue Reading

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• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Swedish digital entrepreneur interview: Haider Abdo

Consumer demands changed during Covid-19 and Swedish entrepreneur Haider Abdo has used this as a platform to take niche startup to the next level in the retail sector Continue Reading

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• Matthew Staff

Prepare for smart robot revolution

While industrial robots are well established, smart robots are being deployed across retail and logistics – but much of the tech is still nascent Continue Reading

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• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Judicial intervention 'inevitable' as Post Office compensation valuation falls short

Lawyer negotiating compensation for victims of Post Office scandal says the two sides are 'poles apart' on valuations Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Post Office scandal CEO could be stripped of CBE

Honours Forfeiture Committee to review Paula Vennells’ CBE in the light of Post Office scandal Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Boots accelerates its digital accessibility journey

Boots is working with website accessibility software provider Recite Me to make its website more user-friendly and improve the customer experience Continue Reading

A prescription for digital accessibility at Boots

In this week’s Computer Weekly, millions of people have difficulties when using websites – we find out how Boots is making its e-commerce offering fully accessible. Our new buyer’s guide examines communications as a service. And we talk to Trainline’s CTO about how the rail app provider survived and thrived post-pandemic. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

net price

The net price is the value at which a product or service is sold after all taxes and other costs are added and all discounts subtracted. Continue Reading

By

• Katie Terrell Hanna

Electric vehicle transition comes with uneven costs

Governments, car makers and tech companies are promoting electric vehicles, but are they considering the uneven social and environmental costs from extracting the critical minerals needed to make batteries? Continue Reading

By

• Patrick Elliot

Ransomware recovery costs dwarf actual ransoms

The cost of recovering from a ransomware attack far outweighs the ransoms now being demanded by cyber criminals, according to recent data Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Sanders calls on Biden to cut off federal contracts with Amazon

In an open letter, senator Bernie Sanders urges the US president to fulfil a campaign promise to stop union-busting companies from winning federal government contracts Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Log4Shell, ProxyLogon, ProxyShell among most exploited bugs of 2021

These 15 CVEs were the most commonly exploited last year, and if you haven’t mitigated against them, now is the time Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Ransomware victims paying out when they don’t need to

Sophos’s annual State of Ransomware report shows dramatic increases in the impact of ransomware attacks, but also finds many organisations are paying ransoms when they don’t need to Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Government digital ignorance puts Dutch economy at risk

In this interview, Michiel Steltman, managing director of Digital Infrastructure Netherlands, tells Computer Weekly why the Dutch digital economy is at risk due to a lack of knowledge and understanding at government level Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Police question former Fujitsu worker again in Post Office scandal perjury investigation

Police have interviewed a former Fujitsu employee for the third time in the investigation into potential perjury during trials of wrongfully convicted subpostmasters Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

BCS passes defiant Ukrainian tech industry message to its members

BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, has passed on a message from Ukrainian IT suppliers that the country is open for, and in need of, business Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Emotet tests new tricks to thwart enhanced security

The operators of the Emotet botnet seem to be trying to find a way to get around recent changes made by Microsoft to better protect its users Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

How the e-commerce boom is transforming store tech

GUEST BLOG: In this contributed blog post, VP of strategy at Aptos, Nikki Baird, explains the ways in which e-commerce is transforming in-store tech and disrupting point of sale (POS).  Here are ... Continue Reading

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• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Post Office scandal victims still waiting for compensation a year after convictions overturned

Former subpostmasters at the centre of one of biggest miscarriage of justice in modern history are still waiting for compensation a year after their wrongful convictions were overturned Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Asda adopts Workday as part of digital transformation

As Asda undergoes a digital transformation as part of its separation from Walmart, the supermarket has adopted Workday to manage its 140,000 employees Continue Reading

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• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Tech to account for over half of regulatory compliance spending

By 2026, regtech will account for more than half of the money that businesses spend on compliance with regulations Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

More Scottish subpostmaster conviction reviews expected as part of Post Office scandal

The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission expects more subpostmasters with potential wrongful convictions to come forward Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

How Veeam helped grocery chain Franprix escape its backup hell

French supermarket chain had backup windows that ran well into the next working day and restoring deleted files could take days. It chose Veeam in a contest with Cohesity Continue Reading

By

• Yann Serra, LeMagIT
• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

WatchGuard firewall users urged to patch Cyclops Blink vulnerability

The US authorities have seen fit to add the WatchGuard vulnerability used by Sandworm to build the Cyclops Blink botnet to its list of must-patch vulnerabilities Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Microsoft patches two zero-days, 10 critical bugs

Patch Tuesday is here once again. This month, security teams must fix two privilege escalation zero-days in the Windows Common Log File System Driver and the Windows User Profile Service Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Using technology to reinvent stores

Technology is becoming an important part of the shopping experience at home, in stores and in-between, so how are retailers using technology to advance the store experience? Continue Reading

By

• Glynn Davis

Disney combines digital, data and creativity to win advertising opportunities

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we talk to the executive vice-president for client and brand solutions at Disney Advertising Sales about how it is using data to subserve story-telling excellence. We delve into how rising energy costs negatively impacted the UK arm of Sungard Availability Services. And we look at the role of infrastructure as code in edge datacentres. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

As Inflation Rages On, Retailers Turn to AI and Dynamic Pricing

GUEST BLOG: In this contributed blog post, Matt Pavich, senior director of retail innovation, Revionics, talks about how AI-driven dynamic pricing decisions can assist in a retailer’s ability to ... Continue Reading

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• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Mastercard opens European tech hub in Dublin

Mastercard is doubling its technology workforce in Dublin through a new European tech hub in the Irish capital Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Amazon workers defeat company to form first US union

Amazon warehouse workers in Staten Island, New York, have successfully formed the first union at the company, with organisers pledging to help their colleagues across the US do the same Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

European IT and BPO outsourcing off to strong start

European IT and business process outsourcing services continue to increase rapidly, with cloud-based services now more than half of the total Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Dubai’s fledgling drone programme gets another nudge

 Continue Reading

Discount retailer The Works hit by cyber attack

A small number of The Works’ bricks-and-mortar stores were forced to close amid a cyber attack of an undisclosed nature Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Triple-threat Borat malware no joke for victims

Unlike its namesake, the newly discovered Borat malware won’t raise a smile for IT security pros Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Saudi Arabian ICT sector hits $32.1bn after strong pandemic response

The Saudi Arabian IT and communications sector is recovering strongly from the Covid-19 pandemic Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Police use of AI needs overhaul to prevent abuse

In this week’s Computer Weekly, a House of Lords inquiry calls for a rethink on how police forces use AI technologies – we examine the issues. Our new buyer’s guide looks into edge datacentres. And the EU and US agree a new data protection deal to replace Privacy Shield, but will it stand up to scrutiny? Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Fujitsu bags £430m government contracts despite rising cost of Post Office Horizon scandal

Fujitsu has won two huge government IT contracts, worth over £400m, while taxpayers face footing the massive bill for the Post Office scandal caused by its software Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Environmental campaigners halt Meta datacentre construction in the Netherlands

Datacentre being built to serve ‘metaverse’ worlds would consume nearly half as much energy as all other datacentres in the country Continue Reading

By

• Mark Ballard

Four moves to ‘checkmate’ critical assets thanks to lax cloud security

Malicious actors can compromise 94% of critical assets within four steps of the initial breach point, according to a report Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Compensation goal finally in sight for 555 Post Office scandal victims

The subpostmaster campaign group which exposed the Post Office Horizon scandal could be close to achieving the objective it was established for, with fair compensation for its members in sight Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Why diversity in AI remains a challenge and how to fix it

With artificial intelligence set for a global economic explosion, its development must put diversity at its core to avoid discriminating systems Continue Reading

By

• Shawn Tan

One-third of UK firms suffer a cyber attack every week

New statistics from the annual DCMS Cyber security breaches survey reveal the extent and frequency with which UK organisations are being attacked by malicious actors Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Boots accelerates its digital accessibility journey

Boots is working with website accessibility software provider Recite Me to make its website more user-friendly and improve the customer experience Continue Reading

By

• Ben Sillitoe

Recruitment risks: Avoiding the dangers of fraudulent candidates

Tech companies are seeing an increase in fraudulent job applications, with associated impacts on risk and cyber security. So how can organisations protect themselves from fraudulent applicants while ensuring they recruit the best talent? Continue Reading

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• Peter Ray Allison

NCSC: Not necessarily wise to ditch Kaspersky

UK’s National Cyber Security Centre issues refreshed guidance on organisations’ usage of technology and services of Russian origin, but stops short of advising users to expunge all Russian products from their IT estates Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Wave of Log4j-linked attacks targeting VMware Horizon

Sophos issues a new warning to organisations that have so far failed to patch their VMware Horizon servers against Log4Shell Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Most big businesses are taking up banking as a service

API-based banking services allow corporate customers to offer financial services without the need for heavy tech development or regulatory approval Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Industry clouds are all the rage, but are they driven by marketing or customer need?

Industry clouds – cloud applications designed for specific sectors – are fashionable staples of supplier marketing, but are they what corporate IT is demanding? Continue Reading

By

• Marc Ambasna-Jones

CW Innovation Awards: Tracking cargo on the road

Through Geodis APAC’s One Road platform, supply chain companies have received fewer enquiries on cargo locations and improved on-time performance using roads as an alternative way to move cargo Continue Reading

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• Edwin Yapp