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
21 Nov 2024
BianLian cyber gang drops encryption-based ransomware
The Australian and American cyber authorities have published updated intelligence on the BianLian ransomware gang, which has undergone a rapid evolution in tactics Continue Reading
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News
21 Nov 2024
Microsoft slaps down Egyptian-run rent-a-phish operation
Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit has conducted a successful takedown of almost 250 malicious websites used in the cyber criminal ONNX phishing-as-a-service operation Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2021
Consumers say supermarkets among best at social engagement
Many types of business have improved their online interactions with consumers as a result of the pandemic, with consumers claiming supermarkets are among the most engaging Continue Reading
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Opinion
02 Dec 2021
Security Think Tank: Think people, processes and systems
Security learning is a career-long process, so as 2021 draws to a close, participants in the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank sum up the most important cyber lessons they’ve taken away from the past 12 months Continue Reading
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News
01 Dec 2021
Unesco member states adopt AI ethics recommendation
The non-binding recommendation seeks to define a common set of values and principles to guide the development of ethical AI globally Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 Dec 2021
A ‘whole of society’ approach to cyber may be on the horizon
Nominet Cyber managing director David Carroll reflects on the NCSC’s latest annual review amid 2021’s fast-evolving threat landscape Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Dec 2021
Swedish researchers are patiently developing a useful quantum computer
By 2028, the Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology in Sweden expects to have a useful quantum computer Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2021
MI6 will ‘open up’ to tech firms to innovate faster than adversaries, says chief Richard Moore
MI6 will use investment fund to back tech companies to develop long-term technologies that will help it to keep pace with China and Russia Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2021
HP patches bugs in over 150 printer models
More than 150 HP multifunction printers are at risk of compromise through a series of newly disclosed vulnerabilities, one of them wormable Continue Reading
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News
29 Nov 2021
Three latest trends and developments around the Mitre ATT&CK framework
Framework is set to receive important updates to help organisations and businesses evolve their cyber security. Learn more about what it offers Continue Reading
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News
25 Nov 2021
Government must prove its plans to police encryption work, says ex-cyber security chief
Ciaran Martin, the former UK cyber security chief, says the government must explain how it can access encrypted communications without damaging cyber security and weakening privacy Continue Reading
- 24 Nov 2021
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News
24 Nov 2021
Consumer cyber bill to protect mobiles, smart devices
Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill will reinforce protections for consumer devices and mandate improvements to default security settings Continue Reading
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News
23 Nov 2021
Schrems accuses Irish DPC of trying to block publication of Facebook documents
Austrian lawyer Max Schrems has filed a complaint after the Irish data protection commissioner put his privacy organisation under pressure to sign a non-disclosure agreement Continue Reading
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News
22 Nov 2021
Upcoming holidays prompt ransomware warning from authorities
Ransomware gangs know how calendars work, and may target their attacks around major holidays to take advantage of more people being off work, according to a new alert Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2021
Sky ECC provided free cryptophones to a Canadian police force
Internal emails disclosed in a US court show how Sky Global supplied sample encrypted phones to a Canadian police force before its phone users became subject to an international police investigation Continue Reading
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News
15 Nov 2021
UK government proposes new rules for digital supply chain security
Proposals could see IT service providers legally required to adhere to the NCSC’s Cyber Assessment Framework, among other things Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Nov 2021
Social value not yet fully embedded in procurement practices
Social value procurement rules are designed to diversify the public sector’s supplier base while providing society with wider collective benefits, but are yet to be fully introduced Continue Reading
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News
11 Nov 2021
Lloyd v Google Supreme Court verdict brings end to privacy class actions against big tech in UK
A ruling by the Supreme Court has left it financially unviable for individuals to bring class actions in the UK against big tech companies for privacy breaches Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Nov 2021
Digital surveillance of remote workers may increase enterprise risk
From productivity tools to security threats, we explore how digital surveillance is forcing remote workers towards shadow IT Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Nov 2021
How to manage endpoint security in a hybrid work environment
The future of the workplace is clearly hybrid, but this has untold implications around endpoint security. How can businesses overcome these? Continue Reading
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News
07 Nov 2021
Technology spending reaches record levels, fuelling jobs boom
Spending on IT has reached its highest levels for a decade but a shortage of skilled IT professionals could dampen growth Continue Reading
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News
05 Nov 2021
Mining deaths lawsuit against major tech companies dismissed
A legal case against five major US technology companies accused of knowingly benefiting from human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been dismissed, but victims plan to appeal Continue Reading
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News
05 Nov 2021
Digital secretary calls for permanent online safety committee
Digital secretary commits to establishing ongoing oversight of the Online Safety Bill and its implementation, and suggests the grace period on criminal liability for tech company execs should be shortened from two years to a maximum of six months once it’s enacted Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2021
Facebook self-imposes facial recognition moratorium
Facebook and Meta have committed to halting their use of facial recognition technology and deleting the biometric data of more than a billion people by the end of 2021, but will retain the underlying algorithms and software for potential use in future products Continue Reading
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Opinion
03 Nov 2021
Security Think Tank: SASE – marketing buzz or the future of security?
SASE architectures promise to prevent multiple types of cyber attacks, but deciding whether SASE is right for your organisation will require understanding whether SASE is a fit for your use cases in IT Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2021
Electronic waste excluded from COP26 agenda
Data sanitation industry group calls on UK government to add electronic waste to the climate summit’s agenda Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2021
MPs and Lords grill Facebook over online safety efforts
Facebook answers British lawmakers’ questions about the social media giant’s efforts to ensure the safety of its users, as part of legislative security of the government's proposed online safety bill Continue Reading
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News
29 Oct 2021
Facebook rebrands to Meta amid continuing controversies
Facebook has changed its corporate name to Meta to support its work on the next generation of “social technologies”, but concerns around trust and privacy persist Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2021
LightBasin hackers breach 13 telcos in two years
Hackers have obtained an undisclosed volume of subscriber information and call metadata in a sustained campaign against telecommunications firms Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2021
What does Saudi Arabia’s autonomous vehicle agenda mean to the rest of the world?
If all goes according to plan, within a few years, one million people will live in Saudi Arabia’s ‘city of the future’ – and every one of them will depend on a fleet of self-driving cars Continue Reading
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News
15 Oct 2021
Global IT outsourcing sees record spending and no sign of slowing
Cloud services are being taken up by enterprises rapidly as they accelerate digital transformations Continue Reading
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News
14 Oct 2021
Apple scheme to detect child abuse creates serious privacy and security risks, say scientists
Apple’s plan to automatically scan photos to detect child abuse would unduly risk the privacy and security of law-abiding citizens and could open up the way to surveillance, say the world’s top cryptographic experts Continue Reading
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News
07 Oct 2021
HCL Benelux telco partnership targets SME and government
Indian IT service provider signs partnership that will see it modernise the core technology of Proximus to offer its services through Continue Reading
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News
07 Oct 2021
Twitch data breach investigations continue
Investigations are ongoing into a 125GB data breach that hit livestreaming platform Twitch, apparently the work of hacktivists Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2021
US lawmakers propose ransomware reporting rules
Former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren lends her support to a bill that would require corporate ransomware victims to disclose more information about their attacks to the authorities Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2021
Gaming service Twitch hacked, data leaked
Users of livestreaming platform Twitch may be at risk after a 125GB torrent of data was leaked Continue Reading
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News
01 Oct 2021
Norway and IoT: A match made in heaven
Norway is becoming a centre of internet of things innovation as tech developers look for answers to some of the country's unique challenges Continue Reading
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Definition
01 Oct 2021
subcarrier
A subcarrier is a secondary modulated signal frequency modulated into the main frequency (the carrier) to provide an additional channel of transmission. Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2021
Dedicated number for victims of fraud launched amid national security threat
Consumers that suspect they are being targeted by fraudsters can call 159 to be directly linked to their bank, as part of a 12-month pilot Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2021
Dutch IT firm transforms HR policy built on lessons from pandemic
Software firm rips up human resources rule book and replaces it with a hybrid working policy Continue Reading
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News
23 Sep 2021
Fresh alert over Conti ransomware surge
Conti ransomware crew appears increasingly active, prompting fresh warnings from the US authorities Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2021
AI cannot be regulated by technical measures alone
The regulation of artificial intelligence must address the power of tech companies, as technical measures alone will not be enough to prevent the harms caused by AI-driven technologies, says report Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2021
BlackMatter gang ramps up attacks on multiple victims
A wave of new BlackMatter ransomware attacks is hitting organisations around the world, even as the US authorities mull new sanctions on ransom payment infrastructure Continue Reading
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News
16 Sep 2021
Bitdefender launches free REvil ransomware decryptor
Working alongside law enforcement partners, Bitdefender has developed and released a tool to help REvil victims recover their data for free Continue Reading
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News
15 Sep 2021
UN human rights chief calls for moratorium on AI technologies
High commissioner’s call for a moratorium on the use of AI systems that pose a serious risk to human rights is accompanied by a UN report on the negative human rights impacts associated with the technology Continue Reading
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News
15 Sep 2021
Tech Nation announces second cohort for Net Zero accelerator
The Net Zero programme from Tech Nation aims to help tech startups and scaleups realise their potential to reduce global emissions Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2021
Smishing attacks up sevenfold in six months
Scam text messages are reaching pandemic proportions, thanks in part to the pandemic Continue Reading
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News
09 Sep 2021
UK GDPR faces changes under planned reforms
DCMS is launching a major consultation on proposed changes to the UK’s data protection regime, under which several key elements of the GDPR are likely to change Continue Reading
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News
02 Sep 2021
WhatsApp fined €225m over GDPR breaches
Irish data protection watchdog has issued one of the largest GDPR fines to date against Facebook-owned WhatsApp Continue Reading
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News
02 Sep 2021
Twitter tests auto-block feature for accounts at risk of abuse
Latest Twitter feature automatically blocks abusive users, and is intended to help victims regain control of their experience on the platform Continue Reading
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News
01 Sep 2021
University of Sunderland applies technology through robot dog
Students will apply technologies such as artificial intelligence to robotic dog as part of their learning Continue Reading
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News
01 Sep 2021
Tech sector spends nearly €100m a year lobbying the EU
Study on technology firms’ lobbying efforts in the European Union shows the sector spends more than any other in trying to influence policies and legislation Continue Reading
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News
27 Aug 2021
Are proposed data protection changes a threat to UK citizens’ privacy?
Though changes are as-yet undefined pending an upcoming consultation, concerns are already being expressed over the government’s plan to liberalise data protection laws in the service of innovation and growth Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2021
Tech giants commit to Biden's cyber security action plan
Some of the world’s most prominent tech giants have made a series of commitments to enhance the US’ national cyber security posture following a high-profile meeting with president Biden Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2021
Government unveils post-Brexit data flow proposals
The government will pursue data partnerships with countries including Australia, South Korea and the US as part of a post-Brexit data regime that may also see substantial changes to the UK’s data protection law Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2021
NZ privacy lead John Edwards named new information commissioner
DCMS has named John Edwards, currently New Zealand privacy commissioner, to succeed Elizabeth Denham as UK information commissioner Continue Reading
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News
25 Aug 2021
UK loses £1.3bn to fraud and cyber crime so far this year
New figures from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau show a threefold spike in reported financial losses to fraud and cyber crime in the first six months of 2021 Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2021
Half of MS Exchange servers at risk in ProxyShell debacle
Up to 50% of MS Exchange users in the UK are exposed to three vulnerabilities that are now being actively exploited Continue Reading
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News
20 Aug 2021
Swedish IT industry braced for China’s response to Huawei 5G ban
Swedish IT and communications equipment suppliers fear economic backlash from China following Huawei ban Continue Reading
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News
16 Aug 2021
ICO consults public on personal data in employment practices
The ICO has launched a public consultation on employers’ use of personal data to help it provide practical guidance for both businesses and workers Continue Reading
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News
13 Aug 2021
UN special rapporteurs call for surveillance tech moratorium
In the wake of revelations about NSO Groups Pegasus spyware, a number of special rapporteurs from the United Nations are re-igniting calls for a global moratorium on the sale and transfer of surveillance technologies Continue Reading
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News
12 Aug 2021
ICO consults on new international data transfer agreement
Information Commissioner’s Office to consult on its draft international data transfer agreement and guidance, which will replace standard contractual clauses to protect personal data during overseas transfers Continue Reading
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News
10 Aug 2021
Ransomware demands and payments hit new records
Ransomware groups continue to intensify their operations as ransom demands and payments increase alongside use of “quadruple extortion” tactics during first half of 2021 Continue Reading
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News
10 Aug 2021
Dutch lead the way in protecting themselves against internet risks
Dutch citizens come top in a study on awareness of internet risks in Europe, which showed major differences across the continent Continue Reading
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News
06 Aug 2021
Apple unveils plans to scan US iPhones for child sex abuse images
Apple will introduce child sexual abuse material detection for US users later this year, but some experts are worried that the technology could be repurposed to scan phones for other kinds of content Continue Reading
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News
05 Aug 2021
Cloud misconfiguration a growing cause of security incidents
Rapid cloud adoption during the pandemic has increased the attack surface and heightened the risk of misconfiguring services, leaving organisations more vulnerable to cyber attacks Continue Reading
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News
28 Jul 2021
COP26 cyber resource hub launched for Glasgow businesses
New digital information hub for Glasgow business to help organisations keep secure both physically and online ahead of major climate change summit Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Jul 2021
Security Think Tank: Consider cyber policies and procedures as you welcome employees back
With Covid-19 restrictions easing, offices are welcoming back remote workers this summer, bringing with them their notebooks and mobiles, and creating an endpoint management headache for CISOs. What do security teams need to account for to protect their returning office workers? Continue Reading
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News
27 Jul 2021
TikTok sets up cyber security hub in Dublin
Dublin-based cyber centre will oversee the security of TikTok’s users across Europe Continue Reading
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Opinion
26 Jul 2021
Government-led innovation can help cyber startups find a market
There are many reasons why early-stage cyber startups often struggle to get off the ground, but government-backed programmes can help them find a path Continue Reading
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News
23 Jul 2021
Kaseya obtains universal ransomware decryptor
Kaseya says it obtained a ransomware decryptor key from a trusted third party, but there is no word on whether a ransom was paid Continue Reading
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News
22 Jul 2021
Plans to address legal but harmful content ‘threaten free speech’
House of Lords report criticises the government’s forthcoming Online Safety Bill for imposing duty of care on tech platforms to deal with ‘legal but harmful’ content, which it says threatens freedom of expression online Continue Reading
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News
22 Jul 2021
UK government publishes full Innovation Strategy
Strategy aims to put the UK at the global forefront of science, research and innovation Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2021
More than half of European IT outsourcing spending will soon be on cloud services
Cloud services will soon be the largest part of the IT services market in Europe, as enterprises invest in them as part of their Covid-19 recovery strategies Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2021
Multiple Microsoft bugs being actively exploited
Microsoft’s July Patch Tuesday update fixes 117 vulnerabilities, 13 rated as critical and four already being actively exploited Continue Reading
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News
13 Jul 2021
Russia tightens pressure on global IT companies
Russian authorities will force certain IT companies with customers in Russia to open local offices Continue Reading
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News
08 Jul 2021
Kaseya apologises for extended downtime after ransom attack
CEO of Kaseya apologises after pushing back the restoration of the firm’s VSA service following a REvil ransomware attack Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Jul 2021
Security Think Tank: Reopening is an opportunity to reassess wider security posture
With Covid-19 restrictions easing, offices are welcoming back remote workers this summer, bringing with them their notebooks and mobiles, and creating an endpoint management headache for CISOs. What do security teams need to account for to protect their returning office workers? Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2021
Opportunists seen targeting Kaseya REvil victims
Malwarebytes researchers highlight new spam campaign targeting businesses impacted by the ongoing Kaseya REvil ransomware incident Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2021
Cyber insurance costs up by a third
The frequency and severity of ransomware attacks is a leading factor behind a substantial increase in the cost of obtaining cyber security insurance Continue Reading
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News
05 Jul 2021
REvil crew wants $70m in Kaseya ransomware heist
Two days after one of the largest ransomware attacks in history by the REvil/Sodinokibi gang, the security community is assessing its next moves, while over 1,000 victims remain in limbo Continue Reading
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News
02 Jul 2021
Should I be worried about PrintNightmare?
The accidental publication of proof of concept code for a Windows vulnerability, and the reclassification of said bug from low to critical severity, has the cyber community concerned. Is it right to be? Continue Reading
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News
01 Jul 2021
UK government issues “safety by design” guidance for tech firms
The guidance is designed to help technology companies embed safer design for users into their services in anticipation of the Online Safety Bill becoming law Continue Reading
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News
01 Jul 2021
US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency launches ransomware assessment tool
Newly launched service will help US organisations understand how prepared they are to deal with a ransomware attack Continue Reading
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News
30 Jun 2021
LinkedIn denies exposure of 700 million user records is a data breach
Data relating to 700 million users of the LinkedIn networking platform has appeared for sale, but the firm says it is the victim of data scraping, not a security breach Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2021
New Nobelium attacks a reminder to attend to cyber basics
A new campaign from the same threat group that broke into SolarWinds serves as a reminder that cyber crime gangs will try to exploit any avenue they can, even if technically unsophisticated Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2021
UK Cyber Security Council launches inaugural initiatives
Security association seeks to determine terms of reference for committees to oversee standards and ethics, and qualifications and careers in the cyber sector Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2021
Insurers unprepared for challenges of underwriting ransomware
RUSI think tank calls for an industry-wide reset amid intense challenges for providers of cyber security insurance Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2021
UK’s FCA bans crypto exchange Binance as crackdown spreads
Ban on Binance Markets comes amid a wider global crackdown on the largely unregulated global market for cryptocurrencies and related assets. Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2021
CMA to probe Amazon and Google over fake reviews
The CMA has opened an investigation into Amazon and Google over possible breaches of consumer protection law Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2021
Google hands third-party cookies a stay of execution
Google’s proposed Privacy Sandbox initiative – which will see third-party cookies phased out in the Chrome web browser – has been pushed back to 2023 Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2021
Online Safety Bill unfit for purpose, says new campaign group
Campaign group set up to oppose Online Safety Bill says the duty of care is too simplistic, cedes too much power to US corporations and will, in practice, privilege the speech of journalists or politicians Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2021
Vodafone confirms European datacentres will be powered by 100% green energy by July 2021
Telco giant claims it is on course to hit an important milestone in its latest sustainability push, with its entire European operations set to be 100% renewably powered by 1 July Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2021
Make ransomware payments illegal, say 79% of cyber pros
Report produced for MSSP Talion claims overwhelming support for the criminalisation of ransomware payments Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2021
ICO issues guidance on facial recognition in public spaces
Information commissioner’s concern over the problematic use of facial recognition in public spaces has prompted her to publish official guidance on its deployment, while civil society calls for an outright ban Continue Reading
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News
17 Jun 2021
Cyber crooks target Amazon Prime users ahead of retail bonanza
A surge in malicious domain registrations ahead of Amazon Prime Day indicates cyber criminals have set their sights on exploiting vulnerable shoppers Continue Reading
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News
16 Jun 2021
Axiata doubles down on Google Cloud
The regional telecoms group plans to use Google Cloud’s compute, storage and networking services across the six telcos under its fold Continue Reading
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News
16 Jun 2021
Tech sector trade union campaigns to protect workers’ privacy
A UK-based trade union for technology workers and others employed by tech companies is organising around the issue of worker’s privacy and workplace monitoring Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2021
CMA secures commitments from Google on future of cookies
The Competition and Markets Authority is opening a consultation on commitments offered to it by Google to ensure its Privacy Sandbox proposals do not harm digital advertising markets Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2021
UK promises tougher line on cyber crime
Speaking ahead of the G7 Summit, foreign secretary Dominic Raab says the UK is ready to take on cyber criminals and other malicious actors wherever they may be Continue Reading
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News
10 Jun 2021
Risk data shows UK energy sector most vulnerable to cyber attack
New report compiled by insurance firm Hiscox reveals the state of cyber preparedness in the UK and beyond Continue Reading
