IT for telecoms and internet organisations
Telecoms is one of the largest business sectors, and communications providers often have large IT budgets and are early adopters of new technologies. Our news and analysis of this important industry looks at how telecommunications firms, ISPs and other internet companies are using IT, and the regulatory issues that affect the services they provide.
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News
20 Dec 2024
Top 10 data and ethics stories of 2024
Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 data and ethics stories of 2024 Continue Reading
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News
19 Dec 2024
LockBit ransomware gang teases February 2025 return
An individual associated with the LockBit ransomware gang has broken cover to tease details of a new phase of the cyber criminal operation's activity, which they claim is set to begin in February 2025 Continue Reading
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News
26 Sep 2019
Instagram and WhatsApp – the new tools of social media propaganda
Facebook and Twitter have been cast as the villains of the piece, but social media disinformation and propaganda are evolving in new and alarming directions, say Oxford University researchers Continue Reading
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News
24 Sep 2019
Google pushes back on scale of YouTube phishing threat
Millions of YouTubers may be at risk after some high-profile influencers reported their accounts were compromised in an apparent phishing attack, but the platform’s owner, Google, is not so sure Continue Reading
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News
20 Sep 2019
Enterprises can hire software robots at the push of a button
IPsoft is beta testing a marketplace where businesses can look at what software robots are available and interview them about their suitability to take roles Continue Reading
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News
18 Sep 2019
Facebook automatically generates pages for Islamic State and Al-Qaeda
Facebook algorithms have auto-generated hundreds of Facebook pages for the Islamic State, Al-Qaeda and Ansar al-Sharia, according to a whistleblower Continue Reading
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News
18 Sep 2019
Emotet phishing botnet returns from summer vacation
The Emotet phishing trojan-turned-botnet is back in action after a three-and-a-half month break, say threat researchers Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2019
Rural connectivity struggling to keep up with demand
The digital divide between urban and rural areas of the UK is continuing, with broadband and mobile network roll-outs struggling to keep pace with demand Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2019
Full-fibre within reach of 2.5 million homes and businesses
Access to full-fibre broadband is approaching 10% of properties in the UK Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2019
Smart meter roll-out delayed to 2024
The government has been forced to put the planned completion date for its Smart Meter Programme back from the end of next year to 2024 Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 Sep 2019
The five software testing techniques every software developer should know about
Five simple testing techniques that will help developers test their software systematically, thoroughly and quickly Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2019
Ecuador citizens’ data breach holds lessons for enterprises
What caused the mass breach of Ecuadorian citizens’ data, and what can businesses learn from it? Continue Reading
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News
17 Sep 2019
US lawmakers demand internal Facebook, Google, Apple and Amazon documents in antitrust probe
US lawmakers have given big tech companies a deadline to disclose a wide range of documents as the House Judiciary Committee’s bipartisan investigation into competition gathers pace Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2019
Ditch hoodies and hackers to encourage diverse security recruitment
The cyber security industry needs to address a systemic image problem if it is to succeed in recruiting more diverse teams Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2019
When AIs go to war: Autonomous cyber weapons ‘inevitable’
CISOs must start thinking about how to engage with intelligent, adaptive, non-human attackers, says Trend Micro’s Rik Ferguson Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2019
Industry opposition to no-deal Brexit hardens, says TechUK
A survey of TechUK members has found that 71% believe a no-deal Brexit at the end of October will negatively affect them in spite of their preparations Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2019
Government seeks views on post-Brexit security alignment
The government has called for views on its proposals to align the UK’s post-Brexit cyber security policy to that of the European Union Continue Reading
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Blog Post
12 Sep 2019
A Cybercommunity Safety Partnership to address On-line Harms and Abuse
We need voluntary co-operation to join up cybercommunity safety across silo boundaries without waiting for governments, regulators and lobbyists Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2019
5G takes off at Gatwick Airport
Vodafone’s 5G network goes live in airport’s South Terminal Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2019
Mirai descendants dominate IoT threat environment
Attacks leveraging compromised IoT devices are growing in size, scale and frequency, report security experts at F-Secure and Trend Micro, with Mirai-related botnets a major source of trouble Continue Reading
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News
11 Sep 2019
GDPR non-compliance worse than feared
Over half of UK businesses do not yet appear to be fully GDPR-compliant, and many have de-prioritised their compliance efforts Continue Reading
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News
10 Sep 2019
BT gears up to take on rogue drones
BT’s Enterprise unit is offering customers an anti-drone security solution to protect their physical sites from intrusion Continue Reading
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Opinion
10 Sep 2019
Is there substance in Boris Johnson’s full-fibre broadband vision?
The new prime minister made a bold promise to roll out full-fibre broadband across the country by 2025 – but it’s a challenging task that requires serious investment and planning Continue Reading
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News
09 Sep 2019
Social engineering a factor in virtually all cyber attacks, report claims
Almost every single cyber attack will, at some stage, require a human to be tricked into doing something, according to research by Proofpoint Continue Reading
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News
09 Sep 2019
Loyal Dutch IT professionals not being rewarded enough, survey shows
Companies warned they could lose loyal IT staff because salary rises do not match those on offer from rival employers Continue Reading
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News
06 Sep 2019
Telenor collaborates with Norwegian education providers on digitisation
Educational institutions in Norway are working with telecoms supplier Telenor to help businesses better understand technology Continue Reading
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News
05 Sep 2019
Tide Foundation aims to boost password security
While passwordless security remains just out of reach, a non-profit organisation has developed a mechanism that it says makes passwords exponentially more difficult to crack Continue Reading
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News
05 Sep 2019
Latest Facebook security lapse exposes millions to account hijack
18 million UK users are among the more than 400 million at risk of account hijacking after phone numbers linked to their Facebook accounts were found in an open online database Continue Reading
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News
04 Sep 2019
Check Point warns of Android phishing attacks
Researchers at Check Point have identified a security flaw in Android-based smartphones that exposes vulnerable users to phishing attacks Continue Reading
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Opinion
04 Sep 2019
Businesses need to keep investing in tech and hope to avoid a no-deal Brexit
A no-deal Brexit could have serious consequences for the UK tech sector and skills base, making it more difficult to recruit technology specialists and hire freelancers Continue Reading
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News
02 Sep 2019
UK organisations join quantum comms pilot
Four UK companies are taking part in a pilot project to build the most secure communication infrastructure in Europe Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Aug 2019
Building a 5G city: Bristol’s valuable lessons for the UK’s digital future
West of England Combined Authority is taking part in DCMS’s 5G Testbeds and Trials programme, exploring applications for tourism and entertainment. We find out how it is applying its learnings to life in Bristol and Bath Continue Reading
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News
27 Aug 2019
Government to ease planning laws for mobile networks
Westminster is seeking input on four key proposals to make it easier to build and operate 5G mobile networks Continue Reading
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News
23 Aug 2019
IR35 reforms: HMRC defends off-payroll rules guidance against "woeful" IPSE jibes
HMRC promises there are more preparatory materials in the pipeline to help the private sector prepare for the April 2020 IR35 rules, after IPSE brands its current guidance "woeful" Continue Reading
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News
22 Aug 2019
A helping hand from the Nordics in the eye of the GDPR storm
Nordic IT companies are well suited to supporting enterprises in their data protection projects, even though openness is more natural to them Continue Reading
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News
22 Aug 2019
5G testbed brings Li-Fi broadband to Orkney
A number of homes on the remote island of Graemsay in the Orkneys are testing so-called Li-Fi technology as a broadband delivery mechanism Continue Reading
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News
20 Aug 2019
Sky launches first ultrafast broadband products
Ultrafast full-fibre broadband products are 12 times faster than Sky’s previous fastest offering and will be immediately within reach of two million homes Continue Reading
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News
20 Aug 2019
Huawei to US: Ban violates free market principles
Huawei has hit back at the US government’s latest moves to restrict its activities Continue Reading
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News
20 Aug 2019
Buyers think SD-WAN is too expensive and complicated
Building and maintaining an SD-WAN is perceived as a complicated endeavour, and the industry’s messages are not getting through, says a new report Continue Reading
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News
19 Aug 2019
US extends temporary stay on Huawei ban
American network operators given extra wiggle room to wean themselves off Huawei’s hardware Continue Reading
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News
18 Aug 2019
Three launches UK’s third 5G network
Mobile operator Three has switched on its 5G service, but for now it will only be available as a home broadband service Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Aug 2019
Private 5G networks: Are they the right choice for you?
The concept of dedicated private mobile networks for large enterprises is not a new one, but with the advent of ultrafast 5G networks, they are starting to attract more interest Continue Reading
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News
15 Aug 2019
Cisco frozen out of China as Trump’s trade war rages on
Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins reveals the firm is being edged out of the Chinese market Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Aug 2019
What 5G applications will transform your business?
The UK’s mobile network operators have started work on their 5G roll-outs, but what applications are most likely to gain enterprise traction for the new standard? Continue Reading
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News
13 Aug 2019
Vodafone switches on 5G in Ireland
The first 5G sites in Ireland have gone live in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford Continue Reading
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News
13 Aug 2019
RootMetrics ranks EE top on 4G service performance, quality
EE once again emerges as the top 4G network performer in RootMetrics’ latest semi-annual, UK-wide survey Continue Reading
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News
12 Aug 2019
Phishing top security threat to business
A new Telefónica security service for business shows that phishing is the most-blocked threat and smaller businesses are a popular attack target in the first two months of deployment Continue Reading
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News
09 Aug 2019
Huawei mobile IoT OS ready to plug Android gap
Huawei is positioning its microkernel-based, distributed HarmonyOS mobile operating system as a true competitor to both Android and iOS Continue Reading
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News
09 Aug 2019
Whistleblowers: James Glenn’s battle with Cisco opens new front on cyber security
James Glenn, a 42-year-old security specialist, fought a 10-year legal battle with Cisco after blowing the whistle on serious security flaws. He lost his job, but has no regrets Continue Reading
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News
08 Aug 2019
Cyber criminals hijacking legitimate website comms
Criminals are exploiting firms’ use of online feedback methods to distribute spam and phishing emails, security researchers warn Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Aug 2019
UK businesses deserve a 5G networked nation
The tech sector needs to coalesce around a unified, positive vision of 5G to establish a proper business case for ultrafast, low latency mobile Continue Reading
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News
08 Aug 2019
Openreach starts roll-out of dark fibre product
Openreach is soft-launching a wholesale dark fibre product in eastern England ahead of a wider national roll-out Continue Reading
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News
05 Aug 2019
Boris Johnson has 12 months to reform broadband policy, says industry
Broadband sector advocates warn prime minister that the clock is ticking if he wants to be serious about achieving 100% full-fibre broadband coverage in six years Continue Reading
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News
02 Aug 2019
BT chief urges PM to act decisively on broadband
BT’s new chief executive Philip Jansen says he is ready to help meet Boris Johnson’s broadband roll-out goals, but warns the cost will be high Continue Reading
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News
31 Jul 2019
Cisco pays $8.6m after whistleblower discloses security flaws in video surveillance system
James Glenn, a video surveillance expert working for a Cisco reseller in Denmark, alerted Cisco to security faults and stands to gain a share of a multimillion-dollar settlement with the US government Continue Reading
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News
31 Jul 2019
Scottish tax holiday tempts Openreach
Openreach has announced 36 new locations in line for its expanding full-fibre broadband network build, with Scotland a particular focus after the announcement of additional rates relief Continue Reading
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News
31 Jul 2019
Middle East businesses welcome Amazon Web Services region launch
Bahrain AWS region, with three datacentres, links Middle East to AWS's global network and will help to accelerate digital transformation Continue Reading
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News
31 Jul 2019
5G mobile networks transformative for health and social care, says TechUK
A new report produced by TechUK and the Liverpool 5G testbed shows how 5G can be used effectively in the NHS, and offers recommendations to government Continue Reading
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News
30 Jul 2019
Huawei ‘galvanised’ by Trump ban
Huawei has found itself caught in the crossfire of the US president’s trade war with China, but chairman Liang Hua says the firm is rising to the challenge Continue Reading
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News
25 Jul 2019
Virgin Media pledges gigabit broadband without full-fibre
Cable TV operator is betting that improvements to the Docsis standard will enable it to offer gigabit broadband without full-fibre Continue Reading
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News
25 Jul 2019
Ofcom must do more to help operators invest in 5G
Telefónica UK boss Mark Evans warns that Ofcom is prioritising action on behalf of consumers to the exclusion of enabling the telecoms and mobile industry to grow Continue Reading
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News
25 Jul 2019
Facebook shrugs off $5bn fine, reports strong quarter
Investors responded positively after social networking firm reported better-than-expected second-quarter results after budgeting for FTC fine, but the company faces a further antitrust investigation Continue Reading
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News
22 Jul 2019
Openreach to slash wholesale fibre prices from September
Wholesale price cuts of almost 40% will help Openreach’s CSP customers grow their full-fibre customer bases, and generate a better return on their investment Continue Reading
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News
22 Jul 2019
Ofcom brings in new protections for mobile users
New rules around how mobile contracts are sold should give end-users a fairer deal Continue Reading
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News
18 Jul 2019
Free tool reveals the true cost of ‘free’ online services
New data discovery portal developed by Finnish security firm F-Secure helps to uncover what Facebook, Amazon, Google and other tech giants know about consumers Continue Reading
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News
18 Jul 2019
Digital minister Margot James quits after Brexit vote
James voted against the government in an attempt to stop the next Prime Minister from suspending Parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2019
UK launches 5G security inquiry
The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy is to probe the UK government’s approach to telecoms technology as a national security issue Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2019
Billion-dollar privacy penalties put CEOs on notice
Facebook’s potential $5bn settlement with the FTC follows notifications of planned GDPR fines for British Airways and Marriott International, underlining the importance of data stewardship Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2019
No technical grounds to ban Huawei, DCMS told
Science and Technology Committee tells Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport that there are no technical grounds for it to exclude Huawei Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2019
Organisations turn to AI in race against cyber attackers
Businesses are racing to automate their defences as hackers and nation states launch increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks Continue Reading
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News
12 Jul 2019
SD-WAN in play: How software-defined solves core business challenges
For foodservice business HMSHost International and chemical products firm Element Solutions, both customers of networking supplier Aryaka, software-defined wide area networking technology is proving its mettle when it comes to solving core business challenges. Find out how. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Jul 2019
Securing your mobile estate – best practice for CIOs
The prevalence of mobile devices in every part of daily life is shaping how enterprises make choices about software and network infrastructure, but how do businesses go about securing these vast new endpoint estates? Continue Reading
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News
10 Jul 2019
Max Schrems not calling for SCCs to be invalidated
The privacy activist at the centre of legal battle against Facebook is not calling for all standard contractual clauses to be invalidated, according to his non-profit privacy organisation Continue Reading
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Opinion
10 Jul 2019
Security Think Tank: Changing the GDPR focus to business benefit
What strategies can information security professionals use to shift focus from General Data Protection Regulation fines to enabling business gains and success, changing the way data is used, and aligning data privacy with business purpose? Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Jul 2019
Data protection: How privacy can be a benefit, not a burden
With the growing number of data breaches, consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about how their data is used. Organisations can take advantage of this trend by treating data protection and user privacy as product features Continue Reading
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News
09 Jul 2019
European Court hears case on EU-US data transfers
Facebook could be forced to rethink its legal position regarding transfers of data of EU citizens to the US, as the CJEU considers the validity of standard contractual clauses that many businesses rely on Continue Reading
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News
08 Jul 2019
Buckinghamshire village pools broadband vouchers to fund full-fibre dig
The village Lillingstone Lovell in Buckinghamshire is helping to fund an Openreach broadband network dig using vouchers pooled through the government’s Rural Gigabit Connectivity scheme Continue Reading
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News
04 Jul 2019
Security and privacy key to smart buildings and cities
Security and privacy capabilities are essential for stakeholders if they are to realise the benefits of smart buildings and cities, says expert whitepaper Continue Reading
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News
04 Jul 2019
Implementing IoT – overcoming barriers to commercial adoption
Tim Wright from the Institute of Telecoms Professionals reports from a recent seminar exploring questions around the barriers to commercial, at-scale adoption of the internet of things, and how to overcome them Continue Reading
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News
03 Jul 2019
BT and Openreach told to be more transparent over split
Ofcom’s latest monitoring report on the changing relationship between BT and Openreach finds room for improvement, but is mostly positive Continue Reading
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News
02 Jul 2019
CPS faces legal ruling over refusal to disclose emails with US on WikiLeaks and Assange extradition
A court will decide whether the Crown Prosecution Service can refuse to neither confirm nor deny the existence of correspondence with US on investigations into Julian Assange and WikiLeaks Continue Reading
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News
02 Jul 2019
Orvibo data leak puts security spotlight on IoT back end
The security of devices that make up the internet of things (IoT) is a top concern for many in the industry, but leaks from an IoT database highlights the importance of back-end security too Continue Reading
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News
01 Jul 2019
Symantec gearing up for future cyber security
Symantec is focusing on enabling businesses to secure data in the cloud after a string of acquisitions, but it also has its eye on the future, which will be all about empowering people, says CTO Hugh Thompson Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Jul 2019
How to get the basics of mobile device management right the first time
When adopting mobile device management, there are often fears around implementation and whether or not the strategy is even required Continue Reading
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News
01 Jul 2019
Ofcom to make switching mobile operators easier
The often fraught process of switching mobile network operators will become easier for end-users as new Ofcom regulations come into force Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jun 2019
Exploring UCaaS: The main benefits for enterprises
Getting unified communications-as-a-service right can mean more agility, higher productivity, and cost control Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2019
Ofcom gets go-ahead for new Openreach access model
Following referral to the European Commission, Ofcom is pressing ahead with a new regulatory model governing more open access to Openreach’s ducts, poles and dark fibre Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2019
Apple design chief Jony Ive confirms company departure after nearly 30 years
After nearly 30 years of shaping the aesthetic of Apple products, the firm's chief design officer, Jony Ive, is leaving the company Continue Reading
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News
27 Jun 2019
Isles of Scilly among first UK locations to get 5G
The Isles of Scilly are to be included in Vodafone’s 5G network roll-out from day one, with the aim of supporting local community organisations Continue Reading
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News
27 Jun 2019
Aerohive adds cloud and edge network features to Extreme portfolio
Software-defined network specialist Extreme Networks has bought Aerohive to extend its capabilities in critical areas for future networks Continue Reading
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News
26 Jun 2019
Fido Alliance announces new standards
Fido Alliance announces new identity verification and IoT initiatives to expand the reach and impact of Fido authentication, which seeks to eliminate the world’s dependence on password-based security Continue Reading
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News
26 Jun 2019
Six arrested over €24m cryptocurrency theft
Police have arrested six people in the UK and the Netherlands in connection with the theft of cryptocurrency worth €24m Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2019
APT attack on telcos highlights need for comprehensive defence
A global cyber attack against multiple telecommunications firms underlines need for comprehensive approach to cyber defence, say researchers and industry commentators Continue Reading
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News
21 Jun 2019
Nominations open for UK’s security unsung heroes
The Security Serious cyber awareness campaign has opened nominations for the fourth annual cyber security Unsung Heroes awards Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Jun 2019
Disaster planning: How to expect the unexpected
Focusing too much on specific disasters rather than considering an organisation’s data protection, network security and process requirements, can lead to unpredicted vulnerabilities Continue Reading
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News
20 Jun 2019
Most mobile apps vulnerable to malware
iOS and Android apps equally vulnerable to being exploited remotely by malware, report reveals Continue Reading
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News
19 Jun 2019
Looming private sector IR35 reforms prompts calls for gig economy-focused tax system overhaul
The growth of the gig-based economy has exposed weaknesses in the UK tax system – exacerbated by the IR35 reforms – that mean an overhaul is needed, panel claims Continue Reading
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News
19 Jun 2019
Telcos hail progress improvements in meeting UK full-fibre broadband deployment targets
Senior management from Openreach, TalkTalk and Three use Connected Britain keynote to share insights on how full-fibre broadband deployment is progressing across the country Continue Reading
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News
19 Jun 2019
Luxembourg tech startups get premium connections
Luxembourg is at the centre of a continent with ambitious plans to develop a thriving tech industry, but what makes it different? Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2019
Openreach trials will speed up broadband upgrade
Tests to focus on process of migrating households and businesses to fibre to the premise and voice over IP Continue Reading
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News
17 Jun 2019
HMRC urged to delay April 2020 extension of IR35 rules to private sector by 'at least' 12 months
An analysis of the responses HMRC has reportedly received to its consultation on extending the IR35 tax avoidance reforms to the private sector suggests the tax agency is coming under pressure to put its plans on hold for at least 12 months Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2019
How digital transformation underpins Three’s 5G ambitions
At Three, the smallest of the UK’s four mobile network operators, a transformative attitude to underlying IT is helping the firm mount a serious challenge to its rivals when it comes to 5G roll-out Continue Reading