IT for utilities and energy
Utility firms and energy companies rely on IT to support their often highly complex operations. The industry is being forced by politial and customer pressure to be greener and technology is central to achieving greater energy efficiency, through major initiatives such as smart meters. Our stories about energy and utility firms examine how IT is helping to enable change and improvement in these companies.
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Feature
07 Sep 2023
Interview: Ashish Gupta, head of EMEA, HCLTech
It’s not just enterprises that changed their operating models during and after Covid, but also the suppliers that took them on the journey, HCLTech Europe’s head explains Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2023
Reduced spending on cloud services weighs European IT services market down
Reduced spending on cloud services in the EMEA region meant a year-on-year drop in total IT and BPO services spend Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2023
Dutch cyber security professionals experience stress akin to soldiers in war zone, claims expert
Cyber attacks are taking a heavy toll on Dutch IT professionals, with over a third reporting that their mental health suffers as a result Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2023
Half of cyber leaders to switch jobs by 2025, citing stress
A substantial number of cyber security leaders are plotting their great escape, saying the industry is leaving them too stressed to go on, according to a study Continue Reading
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Opinion
21 Feb 2023
Cyber security training: Insights for future professionals
Future cyber security professionals need soft skills as well as technical ones, says security educator Sudeep Subramanian Continue Reading
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Opinion
16 Feb 2023
Security Think Tank: New trends and drivers in cyber security training
Self-paced, interactive, bite-sized learning is becoming the optimum path for cyber security training in the workplace, says John Tolbert of KuppingerCole Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2023
Multi-purpose malwares can use more than 20 MITRE ATT&CK TTPs
Report warns of the development of increasingly sophisticated, multi-purpose malwares, and calls on defenders to play close attention to the MITRE ATT&CK framework to ward them off Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2023
Microsoft fixes three zero-days in February update
February’s Patch Tuesday update contains fixes for three previously unpublicised zero-days in Microsoft Office, Windows Graphics Component and Windows Common Log File System Driver Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2023
Vidar, nJRAT re-emerge as prominent malware threats in January
Trojans and infostealers once again dominate the list of most commonly observed threats, according to Check Point’s latest telemetry Continue Reading
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Opinion
14 Feb 2023
How to protect your business from fraud during a recession
This winter, the chilly winds of a global recession have fraudsters turning up the heat. PJ Rohall of SEON Fraud Fighters shares some guidance on how to bundle up against fraud Continue Reading
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News
13 Feb 2023
KPMG launches metaverse and digital twin hub in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Arabian government’s commitment to investing in metaverse technology has attracted a KPMG centre of excellence to its shores Continue Reading
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News
13 Feb 2023
Security buyers lack insight into threats, attackers, report finds
The majority of cyber security purchasing decisions are made without proper insight into the attackers organisations are facing, according to a Mandiant report Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Feb 2023
Security Think Tank: Poor training is worse than no training at all
Bad security training is a betrayal of users, a security risk, and ultimately a waste of money, but there are some reasons to be optimistic about the future, say Mike Gillespie and Ellie Hurst of Advent IM Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2023
Rakuten targets big edge deployments with Symworld Cloud
Japanese giant Rakuten bought Kubernetes management platform Robin.io and put it in 50,000-plus telco antennas. Now it aims Symworld Cloud at enterprise edge deployments Continue Reading
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News
06 Feb 2023
The Security Interviews: How to overcome data protection compliance challenges
Complying with the vast swathe of data protection legislation around the world is complex, especially for smaller organisations without the necessary expertise. Could the compliance process be simplified, and if so, how? Continue Reading
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Opinion
03 Feb 2023
Security Think Tank: In 2023, we need a new way to cultivate better habits
Regular, small adjustments to behaviour offer a better way to keep employees on track and cultivate a corporate culture of cyber awareness, writes Elastic’s Mandy Andress Continue Reading
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Opinion
02 Feb 2023
Security Think Tank: Getting the training and development mix right
Rob Dartnall, CEO at SecAlliance and chair of Crest’s UK Council, describes the need for formal, varied and continuous development in the cyber security sector Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2023
North Korea’s Lazarus gang exposes itself in opsec failure
WithSecure researchers linked a campaign of cyber attacks targeting medical research and energy firms to North Korea’s infamous Lazarus APT after a group member accidentally screwed up Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2023
Cloud security top risk to enterprises in 2023, says study
A PwC study finds senior executives expect cyber attacks on cloud services to increase significantly this year Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2023
UK Cyber Council and ISACA launch audit, assurance programme
The UK Cyber Security Council has teamed up with ISACA to partner on a new audit and assurance programme for security pros Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2023
Hive ransomware gang taken down after FBI hacks back
The FBI hacked into Hive’s servers, stole its decryption keys and then took down its servers in a major action that has successfully disrupted a prolific and dangerous ransomware operation Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2023
Boards struggle to resolve cyber risk in digital supply chains
Accelerated digitisation of supply chains is introducing more cyber risk for which many organisations seem unprepared, according to the BSI’s annual report on supply chain risk Continue Reading
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News
24 Jan 2023
UK insurers need to up their game on cyber gaps, says PRA
Gaps and limitations in how insurers respond to cyber risk need to be addressed, according to the Bank of England regulator, the Prudential Regulation Authority Continue Reading
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News
24 Jan 2023
SSRF attacks hit 100,000 businesses globally since November
There has been a dramatic increase in attacks exploiting the ProxyNotShell/OWASSRF exploit chains to target Microsoft Exchange servers Continue Reading
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News
24 Jan 2023
Fake online contest makes Yahoo! most phished brand of Q4 2022
Yahoo! was the most frequently phished brand during the last three months of 2022, according to a report Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Jan 2023
ohm
The ohm is the standard unit of electrical resistance in the International System of Units (SI). Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2023
Crest throws support behind CyberUp CMA reform campaign
Cyber accreditation association Crest International has lent its support to the CyberUp campaign for reform to the Computer Misuse Act of 1990 Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2023
Royal Mail promises ‘workarounds’ to restore services after ransomware attack
Royal Mail CEO Simon Thompson apologises to customers whose businesses are being disrupted by a ransomware attack and promises a ‘workaround’ will be in place in the near future Continue Reading
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News
13 Jan 2023
LockBit cartel suspected of Royal Mail cyber attack
The still-developing cyber incident at Royal Mail may be the work of the infamous LockBit ransomware operation Continue Reading
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News
11 Jan 2023
Microsoft fixes EoP zero-day on January Patch Tuesday
On the first Patch Tuesday of 2023, Microsoft fixed an elevation of privilege vulnerability in Windows Advanced Local Procedure Call, which has been actively exploited in the wild and may be co-opted into ransomware campaigns Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2023
Insurer Beazley introduces catastrophe bond to ease cyber risk
Insurance company Beazley says that its $45m cyber catastrophe bond will help to protect its balance sheet and enable it to offer more cyber insurance cover Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Dec 2022
Cyber security professionals share their biggest lessons of 2022
In the run-up to 2023, cyber security professionals are taking the time to reflect on the past few months and share their biggest lessons of 2022 Continue Reading
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News
29 Dec 2022
Top 10 Nordic IT stories of 2022
Here are Computer Weekly's top 10 Nordic IT articles of 2022 Continue Reading
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Opinion
29 Dec 2022
How does red teaming test the ultimate limits of cyber security?
An expert ethical hacker reveals how he goes about carrying out a red team exercise Continue Reading
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News
22 Dec 2022
Top 10 cyber security stories of 2022
The war in Ukraine loomed large over the cyber security news agenda, but 2022 also saw growing awareness of open source security, discussion around cyber insurance, and more besides Continue Reading
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News
22 Dec 2022
Top 10 cyber crime stories of 2022
Cyber crime continued to hit the headlines in 2022, with impactful cyber attacks abounding, digitally enabled fraud ever more widespread and plenty of ransomware incidents Continue Reading
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News
20 Dec 2022
Four-day working week set to stay at Atom bank
Challenger bank Atom has formalised a four-day working week policy after a successful trial Continue Reading
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Opinion
19 Dec 2022
Security Think Tank: 2022 brought plenty of learning opportunities in cyber
At the end of another busy 12 months, Turnkey Consulting’s Andrew Morris sums up some of the most important takeaways for cyber pros Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Dec 2022
Top 10 storage and backup customer stories of 2022
Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 storage and backup customer stories of 2022 Continue Reading
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News
14 Dec 2022
Advanced Azov data wiper likely to become active threat
Check Point deep dives into an emergent data wiper strain known as Azov, which is making waves with hundreds of new samples being submitted to VirusTotal daily Continue Reading
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News
14 Dec 2022
Ethical hackers flex their muscles in 2022
Ethical hackers working through HackerOne programmes found 21% more vulnerabilities in 2022 than in 2021 Continue Reading
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News
14 Dec 2022
Microsoft fixes two zero-days in final Patch Tuesday of 2022
December’s Patch Tuesday is typically a light month for Microsoft, and this year proved no exception, but there are still several critical issues worth addressing, and two zero-days for defenders to pore over Continue Reading
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News
13 Dec 2022
EU issues draft data adequacy decision in favour of US
The European Commission has concluded that the United States does ensure an adequate level of protection for personal data transferred from the European Union and will now launch the process towards the adoption of an adequacy decision Continue Reading
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News
13 Dec 2022
The nature of the CISO role will be in flux in 2023
As cyber risk outpaces organisational defences, and cyber attacks and breaches cause more and more damage, the nature of the CISO role is entering a state of flux, according to a report Continue Reading
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Opinion
12 Dec 2022
Security Think Tank: Embrace prioritisation, people, imperfections
Security and IT professionals should try to make peace with their imperfections in 2023, says Nominet CISO Paul Lewis Continue Reading
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News
09 Dec 2022
Iranian APT seen exploiting GitHub repository as C2 mechanism
A subgroup of the Iran-linked Cobalt Mirage APT group has been caught taking advantage of the GitHub open source project as a means to operate its latest custom malware Continue Reading
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Opinion
09 Dec 2022
Security Think Tank: 2022 changed how we thought about resilience
Increasing cyber resilience is at the heart of the people-processes-technology triangle, and 2022 saw shifts in all three of these aspects, says PA Consulting’s Sharon Shochat Continue Reading
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News
08 Dec 2022
Consumers to get new protections against dodgy apps
Government’s new code of practice will impose new privacy and security measures on app store operators and developers Continue Reading
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News
08 Dec 2022
Apple to tap third party for physical security keys
Apple is launching a number of new security protections, including the addition of third-party-provided hardware security keys Continue Reading
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News
07 Dec 2022
Google, MS, Oracle vulnerabilities make November ’22 a big month for patching
Vulnerabilities affecting the likes of Google, Microsoft and Oracle proved particularly troublesome in November Continue Reading
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Opinion
07 Dec 2022
Security Think Tank: As cyber pros, we need to articulate our needs better
There is always a lot to learn about security, but one of the most important lessons may not relate to technology at all, says Petra Wenham Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2022
Industrial IoT focus of next NCSC startup challenge
The NCSC for Startups programme is looking for innovative ideas to encrypt and secure the industrial internet of things Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2022
Don’t become an unwitting tool in Russia’s cyber war
Researchers have turned up evidence that enterprise networks are being co-opted by Russian threat actors to launch attacks against targets in Ukraine. How can you avoid becoming an unwitting tool in a state-backed attack? Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 Dec 2022
Ransomware: Is there hope beyond the overhyped?
Up-and-coming cyber concepts attack surface management and security mesh architectures seem to hold some promise in tackling ransomware, but they are a little way off maturity Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2022
South Staffs Water customer data leaked after ransomware attack
Personal data of water utility’s direct debit customers exposed on the dark web following a Clop ransomware attack Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2022
Latest LockBit ransomware versions have wormable capabilities
Sophos researchers have reverse-engineered the Lockbit 3.0 ransomware, shedding new light on its evolving capabilities and firming up links with BlackMatter Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2022
NIS regulations to be extended to cover MSPs
The UK government is moving ahead with plans to update the Network and Information Systems regulations to bring outsourcers and MSPs into scope Continue Reading
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Opinion
30 Nov 2022
Think technology, process, human risk to manage ransomware
Effective ransomware handling boils down to three core areas – technology, process and human risk Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Nov 2022
How gamifying cyber training can improve your defences
Security training is the cornerstone of any cyber defence strategy. With ever-escalating online threats, it is now more important than ever that this training is an engaging experience Continue Reading
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News
25 Nov 2022
Data management, backup becoming the CISO's responsibility
More and more CISOs are taking on responsibility for wider data management strategies, and this trend looks set to grow next year Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Nov 2022
Indefinite storage: What it is and why you might need it
Indefinite storage addresses the issue that archived data may need to be kept well beyond the lifespan of the technology it was written for Continue Reading
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Opinion
24 Nov 2022
Your staff are the frontline in your ransomware fight
As part of a solid cyber defence plan, the CISO must make sure that the frontline within the organisation is prepared for an attack, says Theodore Wiggins of Airbus Protect Continue Reading
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News
22 Nov 2022
Ducktail spins new tales to hijack Facebook Business accounts
The increasingly active Ducktail cyber crime operation is refining its operations, seeking new methods to compromise its victims’ Facebook Business accounts Continue Reading
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News
22 Nov 2022
Killnet DDoS hacktivists target Royal Family and others
Russia-aligned hacktivists targeted multiple UK websites, including those of the Royal Family, in a new campaign of DDoS attacks Continue Reading
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News
22 Nov 2022
C-suite mystified by cyber security jargon
Malware, supply chain attack, zero-day, IoC, TTP and Mitre ATT&CK are just some of the everyday terms that security pros use that risk making the world of cyber incomprehensible to outsiders Continue Reading
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News
21 Nov 2022
EDF UK deploys Riverbed’s Alluvio Aternity to tackle IT issues
Monitoring software links into ServiceNow and PowerShell scripts are being used to automate remediation Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2022
Is Elon Musk’s Twitter safe, and should you stop using it?
With a litany of security and compliance issues exposed and in many cases caused by Elon Musk’s takeover of social media platform Twitter, some may be asking if it’s still safe or appropriate to use Continue Reading
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News
17 Nov 2022
Brexit deregulation will make UK next Silicon Valley, vows Hunt
Chancellor vows to revolutionise how the IT industry is regulated to spur competition, investment and innovation in a technological ‘Big Bang’ Continue Reading
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News
17 Nov 2022
Another Log4Shell warning after Iranian attack on US government
The breach of a US federal body by an Iranian threat actor exploiting the Adobe Log4j Log4Shell vulnerability has prompted a fresh flurry of patching Continue Reading
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News
16 Nov 2022
Global network fragmentation a source of increasing risk
Risk consultancy’s report says the weaponisation of cyber space and geopolitical clashes herald a breakdown of global networks into distinct regional or national architectures Continue Reading
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Opinion
16 Nov 2022
Security Think Tank: Ransomware defences: An extended to-do list
Strategies to extend ransomware protection beyond backups and intrusion detection must centre dark web monitoring, among other things Continue Reading
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Opinion
14 Nov 2022
Security Think Tank: Let’s be transparent about ransomware
Greater transparency regarding ransomware attacks, including details about attack methods used and what kinds of assets were compromised, would likely help the community prevent future attacks Continue Reading
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Opinion
11 Nov 2022
Cyber insurance: The good, the bad and the ugly
Most cyber insurance contracts are innately flawed because they exclude losses arising from state-backed cyber attacks, and this will make proper attribution even more important in the future, says Cisco Talos’ Martin Lee Continue Reading
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News
11 Nov 2022
Volume of self-reported breaches to ICO jumps 30%
The number of self-reported breaches to the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office soared by nearly 30% in the 12 months to 30 June 2022 Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Nov 2022
An encouraging new conversation around sustainable IT, says Nordic CIO
What started as a whisper a decade ago has become distinctly audible chatter among IT leaders sharing best practices on how to protect the environment Continue Reading
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Opinion
11 Nov 2022
Security Think Tank: To stop ransomware, preparation is the best medicine
You can’t ‘stop’ ransomware, but you can do a lot to keep yourself from becoming ensnared when it strikes Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2022
Microsoft serves smorgasbord of six zero-days
November’s Patch Tuesday fixes significantly fewer vulnerabilities of late, but includes six actively-exploited zero-days, three of them of critical severity Continue Reading
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Opinion
09 Nov 2022
Security Think Tank: Anti-ransomware strategies should be as easy as ABC
When developing and implementing ransomware protection strategies, the importance of paying thorough attention to security measures you might consider elementary cannot be understated Continue Reading
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News
07 Nov 2022
UK climate tech startup investment doubles in 2022
Climate technology investment has nearly doubled in the UK over the past year and is growing globally, but questions remain over how to scale capacity and whether the necessary change will occur in time to prevent climate catastrophe Continue Reading
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Opinion
07 Nov 2022
To fight ransomware, we must treat digital infrastructure as critical
Ransomware defence is failing because we don’t view our digital infrastructure in the same way as our physical infrastructure, argues Elastic’s Mandy Andress Continue Reading
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News
04 Nov 2022
Microsoft: Nation-state cyber attacks became increasingly destructive in 2022
The willingness of nation-state actors to conduct destructive cyber attacks is a source of grave concern, as Microsoft’s latest annual Digital Defence Report lays bare Continue Reading
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Opinion
04 Nov 2022
Security Think Tank: Ransomware and CISOs’ balancing act
Ransomware has the potential to cause irreversible business damage, so CISOs should consider not only protection but also response and recovery Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2022
Microsoft pledges $100m in new IT support for Ukraine
Microsoft will continue to offer free-of-charge technology support to Ukraine for the foreseeable future Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2022
UK spent £6.4m on secret cyber package for Ukraine
Westminster has revealed for the first time the existence of a previously top-secret security programme that has been helping Ukraine fend off Russian cyber attacks Continue Reading
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Opinion
02 Nov 2022
Security Think Tank: Know your networks, know your suppliers
To combat the ransomware scourge, we must work harder to monitor and learn from the increasingly complex threat environment, keep a closer eye on supply chains, and share our insights Continue Reading
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Definition
01 Nov 2022
biotechnology (biotech)
Biotechnology is the use of biology to develop new products, methods and organisms intended to improve human health and society. Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2022
A third of UK cyber leaders want to quit, report says
Nearly a third of UK security leaders are considering leaving their current role, and more than half are struggling to keep on top of their workload Continue Reading
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News
31 Oct 2022
Prepare today for potentially high-impact OpenSSL bug
OpenSSL trailed a critical vulnerability patch last week, which will be only the second such flaw ever found in the open source encryption project. Unfortunately, the first was Heartbleed Continue Reading
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Opinion
31 Oct 2022
Security Think Tank: Container security: why so different?
Done well, container security can be a model for securing the enterprise, and businesses that focus their teams on solving it can help accelerate positive change in other areas Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Oct 2022
How has container security changed since 2020, and have we taken it too far?
While containers are now one of the most popular ways to deploy applications, it is fair to say that the adoption and implementation of security best practice to govern their use has not kept up Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2022
LinkedIn adds new features to safeguard user privacy, security
Social media platform is adding a number of features and systems designed to protect legitimate users from inauthentic profiles and activity Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Oct 2022
Finnish researchers lay the groundwork for flying drones
A large, sparsely populated country, Finland is preparing for a future where it could rely on flying drone technology Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2022
Apple patches new iPhone zero-day
Apple’s latest patch fixes yet another zero-day, as security issues keep surfacing in its mobile products Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2022
Apple puts pressure on manufacturing partners to decarbonise their operations through yearly audits
Consumer electronics giant wants its global supply chain partners to follow its lead on becoming a carbon-neutral company Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2022
Digital-first businesses more willing to accept some fraud
Companies founded in the past 20 years appear more willing to accept higher levels of fraudulent activity during the customer onboarding process, according to a report Continue Reading
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News
24 Oct 2022
Half of staff might quit after a cyber attack, report says
Findings from a survey of CISOs, IT leaders and staffers reveal how experiencing a cyber incident may take a larger-than-thought toll on employee retention Continue Reading
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News
21 Oct 2022
Ukrainian and UK IT sectors to deepen collaboration, partnerships
BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, and the IT Ukraine Association have signed an MoU to deepen collaboration between the UK and Ukrainian IT sectors, and champion new partnerships and growth opportunities Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2022
Cyber professional shortfall hits 3.4 million
Shortage of cyber security professionals continues to grow and shows no signs of abating, says report Continue Reading
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News
19 Oct 2022
Treat cyber crime as a ‘strategic threat’, UK businesses told
The government’s new National Cyber Advisory Board aims to help elevate cyber discussion and spur action in the business community Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2022
Subpostmaster federation failed its members when they needed it most
A dereliction of duty saw subpostmaster federation ignore its members when IT problems hit and allowed the Post Office destroy their lives Continue Reading
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News
14 Oct 2022
Office 365 email encryption flaw could pose risk to user privacy
A vulnerability in Microsoft Office 365 Message Encryption could leave the contents of emails dangerously exposed, but with no fix coming it’s up to users to decide how at risk they are Continue Reading
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News
12 Oct 2022
NCSC urges organisations to secure supply chains
NCSC’s latest guidance package centres supply chain security, helping medium to large organisations assess and mitigate cyber risks from suppliers Continue Reading