IT news in your industry sector

UK voter data hacked in cyber attack on election watchdog

An unknown threat actor who attacked the UK’s Electoral Commission had access to data on millions of UK voters for over a year, the watchdog has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Workplace monitoring needs worker consent, says select committee

Employers looking to monitor their employees through connected devices should only to so with the consent of those affected due to negative impacts such surveillance can have on work intensification and mental health Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Ethics as a process of reflection and deliberation

In the first of three essays, Marc Steen outlines a three-step process for how organisations can practically integrate ethics into their IT projects and how different ethical perspectives can inform tech development Continue Reading

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• Marc Steen, TNO

NHS trust suspends two governors as whistleblower email dispute continues

Governors at an NHS trust have been suspended after asking questions about emails used to bring a General Medical Council investigation against a whistleblower Continue Reading

By

• Tommy Greene

HPE’s Alletra MP marries storage to cloud and software-defined choices

HPE’s Alletra was launched in April with an architecture that ties in with GreenLake consumption purchasing, SaaS configuration and addition of software-defined storage services Continue Reading

By

• Yann Serra, LeMagIT
• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Rise in fraudsters spoofing the websites of leading UK banks

Despite safeguards to protect customers from scams, UK retail banks are still seeing high volumes of fake phishing websites exploiting their brands, and the problem seems to be increasing in scope and scale Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Biden’s SBOM mandate a ‘shot heard around the world’, report says

Two years and three months after Joe Biden mandated new standards in supply chain security, over 40% of UK respondents to a survey say they have implemented new SBOM policies in direct response Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Scottish NHS trust ducks fine after staff shared patient data via WhatsApp

NHS Lanarkshire has been issued a formal reprimand by the ICO after staff members used WhatsApp to share patients’ personal data with one another Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Plexal takes on new cohort for cyber security leadership scheme

Six more cyber security startup founders have been selected to take part in Plexal’s latest Cyber Runway Ignite programme, which is designed to help them develop their leadership skills Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UK government recruits panel to focus on semiconductors

A panel of experts is being recruited as part of the government's national semiconductor strategy to ensure the UK’s chip sector can grow Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Ivanti MDM users told to patch against two dangerous flaws

Users of Ivanti’s mobile device management platform have been warned to act now to patch two vulnerabilities that were chained by a threat actor in a series of cyber attacks on the Norwegian government Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Wirral Council set to deploy Microsoft Fabric data platform

The platform, which is being developed in collaboration with Simpson Associates, will be used to aid decision-making and improve operations Continue Reading

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• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Cubbit offers cut-price cloud with DS3 distributed storage

Cubbit’s DS3 offers cloud at up to 20% the cost of the main providers via on-premise software that builds a cloud with other users and targets unstructured data use cases such as backup Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Vast Data Platform aims at storage everywhere for AI/ML workloads

Vast Data to offer storage with data lake and warehouse functionality built in natively, in anticipation of a huge surge in AI/ML workloads and a need for ever-larger data stores Continue Reading

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• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Going passwordless in online shopping

GUEST BLOG: In the contributed blog post, Ian Lowe, head of industry solutions, EMEA at Okta, explains why passwords can cause such an issues for people shopping online, and how technology can help ... Continue Reading

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• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Large language models harnessed for education

Large language models are being used to teach, support and assess students, enhancing education rather than impairing it Continue Reading

By

• SA Mathieson

G-Cloud 13 suppliers claim framework extension is making it ‘commercially unviable’ to sell through

Government procurement chiefs at the Crown Commercial Service are under fire for extending the life of the G-Cloud 13 framework and preventing suppliers from upping their prices as inflation bites Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Chief data officer interview: Neema Raphael, Goldman Sachs

After two decades at Goldman Sachs, Neema Raphael tells Computer Weekly about his tech journey at one of the world’s biggest banks Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Lancaster Uni lends cyber support to nuclear decommissioning body

Lancaster University’s cyber team has joined with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to help support and protect its 300-year mission, while enhancing its own capabilities in the process Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Scottish university hit by Rhysida ransomware gang

Data allegedly stolen from the University of Western Scotland has been put up for sale on the dark web by a ransomware gang going by the name Rhysida Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Post Office tried to convince independent IT witness that he was wrong about Horizon

‘Delusional’ Post Office tried to influence an expert witness and get him to change his view about IT evidence which was detrimental to its case against a subpostmaster Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

NATO countries must coordinate their cyber forces to combat the Russian threat  

The top item on the agenda at the Vilnius NATO Summit this month was the revamping the alliance’s defences. Continue Reading

By

• CEO of SimSpace and former military officer at US Cyber Command

Cyber attack on IT supplier hits two major ambulance trusts

Ambulance trusts serving millions across southern England have been hamstrung for the past week after a cyber attack took down their hosted patient records system Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

CCRC refers two more subpostmaster convictions for appeal

Two more subpostmaster convictions referred to appeal court by the Criminal Cases Review Commission Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Tetra radio users’ comms may have been exposed for years

A number of flaws in the encryption algorithms used in the secure Tetra radio communications standard have potentially left users exposed to snooping Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Mayor of London announces startup funding

Seven technology startups working on the Mayor of London’s Poverty Prevention Challenge will receive up to £50,000 each to further develop their proposals, designed to help alleviate the cost-of-living crisis for the capital’s most vulnerable Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Small satellite testing gets funding boost

A new facility has been established as part of the government’s £200m funding for Earth Observation Continue Reading

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• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Getting comfortable with data

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we talk to ‘Data Bob’ – the head of IT at furniture retailer DFS – about building trust in data. The vulnerabilities in MOVEit software continue to attract new victims – we assess the impact of the widespread breaches. And we find out how online investigators are trawling social media to gather evidence of war crimes. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

CIO interview: Sean Green, University of East Anglia

In his role as director of digital and data at the University of East Anglia, Sean Green provides high-performance computing to researchers and manages the diverse needs of a campus with the characteristics of a small town, all while finding the time to study one of his passions Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

CunoFS brings Posix file access to S3 object storage capacity

Developed out of data compression tools for genomics, PetaGene gateways allow application servers Posix-based file access to the deep data stores of S3 object capacity Continue Reading

By

• Yann Serra, LeMagIT
• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Privacy and participation – technologies to open data for innovation

The Open Data Institute has launched Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) and participatory data programmes. The ODI’s Calum Inverarity explains why they matter Continue Reading

By

• Calum Inverarity

Tribunal investigates complaint that journalists’ phones were unlawfully monitored

The Investigatory Powers Tribunal has agreed to investigate complaints by Northern Ireland investigative journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey that they were unlawfully placed under surveillance Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Transforming the financial system's plumbing

Executive heading up the Bank of England’s core system replacement project says the financial services sector plumbing is getting the attention it deserves. Continue Reading

By

• Victoria Cleland

Bank of England’s project to replace ‘beating heart’ is foundation for continuous development

The Bank of England has reached a major milestone in its core system replacement programme, with next landmark in sight Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Podcast: Sizing data storage for AI/ML workloads

Artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads come with I/O profiles of different shapes and sizes. We talk to Curtis Anderson of Panasas about how best to procure and size storage for them Continue Reading

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• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Generative AI: Automating storage and backup management

We look at how generative artificial intelligence is being deployed to automate monitoring of repetitive tasks and report on enterprise storage and backup, but also the limits to its implementation Continue Reading

By

• Stephen Pritchard

The problem with ‘secure’ messaging

Secure instant messaging is becoming a norm for business communications but it raises three important security and compliance questions   Continue Reading

By

• Andersen Cheng, Executive Chairman, Post-Quantum  

What the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act means for UK industry

For years, many network-connected devices have lacked adequate security, putting their users and others at risk of cyber attacks. The UK’s PSTI Act aims to prevent this by mandating minimum security requirements, but what impact will this have on industry? Continue Reading

By

• Peter Ray Allison

Artificial intelligence creates 40,000 new roles at Accenture

Accenture plans to hire thousands of AI experts as part of a $3bn investment. Continue Reading

Government boosts protection for encryption in Online Safety Bill but civil society groups concerned

House of Lords adopts amendment to require Ofcom to commission a report before requiring technology companies to scan encrypted messages, but drops proposals for judicial oversight Continue Reading

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• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Electronic Trade Documents Act receives royal assent

Digital trade documents are to be accorded the same status in law as paper ones under a law implemented to help reduce paper waste and speed up the UK’s foreign trade Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Online Safety Bill screening measures amount to ‘prior restraint’

The Open Rights Group is calling on Parliament to reform the Online Safety Bill, on the basis that its content-screening measures would amount to “prior restraint” on freedom of expression Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Interview: Richard Corbridge, CDIO, DWP

Only 13 weeks into his new role, the Department for Work and Pensions’ CDIO speaks to Computer Weekly about plans for artificial intelligence, data modernisation and how to complete a business plan in record time Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

How the DSMA balances security and privacy with press freedom

In a world of information sharing and 24-hour news cycles, the Defence and Security Media Advisory committee have to balance national security and data privacy with freedom of the press Continue Reading

By

• Peter Ray Allison

BBC outsources IT to India’s Tata Consultancy Services

TCS continues to build its UK public sector business, with the BBC its latest customer Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Support for smaller businesses in AI revolution

Not a single day goes by without someone, somewhere talking about the pros or cons of artificial intelligence. Earlier this week, Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, took to the stage at the company’s ... Continue Reading

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• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

AI and data experts to be brought into government through secondment programme

The government has announced plans for a secondment programme designed to bring digital experts into government departments Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

‘Significant gaps’ in UK AI regulation, says Ada Lovelace Institute

UK government’s plans to diffuse regulatory responsibility for AI among existing regulators will mean the tech is “only partially regulated”, while its data reforms will undercut already-limited existing protections, says Ada Lovelace Institute Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

NATO membership to drive Nordic cyber security sector growth

The Nordic cyber security sector will see increasing demand as Finland and Sweden joint NATO Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

Computer Weekly: Soaring ahead with data at Rolls-Royce

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we find out how aerospace giant Rolls-Royce is using data science, machine learning and internet of things to improve its competitive advantage. We examine the benefits and best practices in software-defined storage. And we analyse calls for a review of laws around the use of computer evidence prompted by the Post Office IT scandal. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Post Office inquiry must examine rule on IT evidence if miscarriages of justice are to be avoided

 Continue Reading

Subpostmaster compensation deadline will be missed, warns public inquiry chair

Subpostmasters that successfully sued the Post Office and exposed the Horizon scandal are at the ‘back of the queue’ and won’t receive compensation by current deadline Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

The essential role of PETs in unlocking the trillion dollar SaaS market

Ahead of the Eyes-Off Data Summit in Dublin, Jack Fitzsimons of Oblivious AI explains why so-called Privacy Enhancing Technologies or PETs may hold the key to unlocking the full potential of SaaS in the enterprise Continue Reading

By

• Jack Fitzsimons, Oblivious AI

Police Scotland use cloud for biometric data despite clear risks

Police Scotland confirms it has stored significant volumes of biometric data on a cloud-based digital evidence sharing system despite major ongoing data protection concerns, bringing into question the effectiveness of the current regulatory approach and the overall legality of using hyperscale public cloud technologies in a policing context Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UCLH uses machine learning to cope with emergency beds demand

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has deployed a machine learning tool which uses real-time data to predict how many emergency beds will be needed Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Civil society groups call on EU to put human rights at centre of AI Act

Dozens of civil society groups are calling on EU institutions to prioritise people and human rights in AI legislation as secretive negotiations begin Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

MPs launch inquiry into government use of data

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee is to investigate the possibility of reforming the way government collects and analyses data, and whether the UK census could be scrapped Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

CaixaBank adds hundreds more IT professionals to support digital transformation

CaixaBank is recruiting 200 more IT professionals in Spain to support its ongoing digital transformation Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Digital public services ‘riddled’ with problems, says TUC

The UK’s increasingly digitised public services are plagued by design, governance and workplace issues that are undermining the government’s stated goal of improving efficiency, but can be alleviated by giving public sector workers a greater say in how new technologies are being developed, deployed and controlled Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Forensic Institute provides Hansken viewing method for Dutch lawyers

Dutch lawyers can now view crypto communication in criminal cases from their own workplace via digital search engine Hansken. Previously, this had to be done at an external location Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Ofcom’s online safety preparedness efforts hobbled by government

Despite Ofcom’s progress so far, UK government changes to the scope and timetable of the Online Safety Bill are hobbling the ability of the regulator to successfully prepare for the new regime Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Cozy Bear lures victims with used BMW 5 Series

A recent Cozy Bear campaign saw the Russian APT group pivot to exploiting an advert for a used car as it targeted diplomatic missions in Kyiv Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Whistleblower contacts NatWest customers affected by a decade-old data breach

Former worker says contacting the people affected by the data breach is her last resort after the bank and regulators appear satisfied that the sensitive data file is safe stored under her bed Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

EU formally grants data adequacy to US

The European Commission has formally granted the US data adequacy, allowing companies and organisations to freely transfer personal data across the Atlantic via the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. But privacy activist Max Schrems has already committed to legally challenging the decision Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Malicious URL volumes soar as cyber criminals pull on Threads

Malicious actors have been quick to exploit the buzz around Meta’s newly launched Threads platform, with thousands of new suspicious domains registered exploiting its branding Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Horizon inquiry adjourned as Post Office disclosure failures threaten to ‘derail’ proceedings

Statutory public inquiry into Post Office Horizon scandal adjourned because of Post Office disclosure failures, ‘retraumatising’ victims of a scandal that destroyed the lives of thousands of people Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Peer calls for every Post Office prosecution to be reviewed

Post Office prosecutions should be reviewed in light of damning evidence laid bare by statutory public inquiry into Horizon scandal, says peer James Arbuthnot Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Met Office bids to make climate data more accessible with Esri

The Met Office is offering a new data portal, built on Esri’s geographic information systems technology, to enable users to understand local and national impacts of climate change Continue Reading

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• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

Post Office inquiry must examine rule on IT evidence if miscarriages of justice are to be avoided

Public inquiry must examine role of court rules around use of computer evidence that enabled Post Office to prosecute innocent people Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

House of Lords launches an investigation into generative AI

The government wants the UK to lead AI regulation, but technology is developing at a breakneck pace Continue Reading

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• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Biometrics watchdog calls for public space surveillance review

The biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner is calling for a review of public space surveillance to gain a clearer picture about the proliferation of Chinese surveillance technology across the public sector, but warns against applying double standards on companies just because they are from China Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Privacy campaigners call for UK data adequacy to be revoked

The European Commission should revoke the UK’s data adequacy if its Data Protection and Digital Information Bill passes, which campaigners argue ‘flies in the face’ of the decision Continue Reading

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• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Former Fujitsu IT chief evidence postponed after late Post Office disclosure

Post Office has disrupted Horizon inquiry schedule through late disclosure of ‘significant’ evidence as key IT witness evidence is postponed Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Meta’s Threads hits app stores, but no EU launch in sight

Meta’s Twitter competitor makes its debut and signs up millions of users in just 12 hours, but concerns over compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act have sunk a pan-European launch for now Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Public inquiry hears how Post Office security withheld evidence from people it suspected of theft

The Post Office told investigators to include potential evidence in reports to their own lawyers, but not the subpostmasters they suspected of theft Continue Reading

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• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Germany: European Court of Justice hears arguments on lawfulness of EncroChat cryptophone evidence

The European Court of Justice will decide whether the collection and sharing of data intercepted by law enforcement from EncroChat crypto phone network is compatible with European law Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

HSBC explores quantum-safe comms to AWS edge

Banking group HSBC is looking at how to secure transactions and the benefits of quantum computing in finance Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

UK public increasingly concerned over NHS data sovereignty

Amid security concerns and AI advances, a majority of the British public still trusts the NHS to store and analyse their health data, but would prefer it remains domiciled in the UK Continue Reading

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• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

EU judgment sinks Meta’s argument for targeted ads

The EU Court of Justice has issued a significant judgment against Meta, ruling that national anti-trust bodies can investigate GDPR breaches, disrupting the platform’s entire basis for carrying out targeted advertising Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

‘Political lethargy’ to blame for digital exclusion, says Lords

A House of Lords report about digital exclusion across the UK has blamed slow and undedicated government intervention for the extent of digital exclusion Continue Reading

By

• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Scotland’s Techscaler programme joins forces with CivTech

The partnership between the scaler programme and the innovation accelerator means CivTech alumni companies will be offered Techscaler membership and gain access to its technology hubs, education initiatives and support Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Coping with the ongoing chip crisis in the UK

China has imposed export restrictions on key semiconductor compounds, so how will the UK's National Semiconductor Strategy cope? Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

How data is beating heart disease

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we find out how a new data strategy is helping the British Heart Foundation to raise money and support medical research. We examine the benefits of using AI in advanced malware detection. And we reveal why the Information Commissioner is under fire for weak responses to serious data breaches. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

CDO interview: Mary O’Callaghan, director of technology engagement, British Heart Foundation

 Continue Reading

BlackCat gang claims cyber attack on Barts NHS Trust

Investigations continue into a claim by the ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware gang that it has stolen 7TB of data from Barts NHS Trust in London Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

BBVA launches tech job portal as it continues to add talent

Spanish bank BBVA ramps up its tech recruitment strategy with new online portal and target of 2,600 more people Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

CDO interview: Robert Michael, group head of data, DFS

‘Data Bob’ is transforming data strategy at furniture retailer DFS, aiming to build a digital twin of the company to improve business modelling – but his first task is to make sure people can trust data Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels

Deutsche Bank completes migration of millions of Postbank customers

Deutsche Bank has completed the migration of 12 million Postbank customers to its banking platform Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

PAC slams HMCTS justice system transformation programme

HMCTS has consistently underestimated the scale and complexity of the reforms, and criticises the programme, which only has £120m of its £1.3bn budget left with only just over half of projects completed, MPs say Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Driving synergies in digital healthcare

As group CIO of API Holdings, Chandresh Dedhia has been driving synergies across a spectrum of digital healthcare businesses to create operational efficiency and other business outcomes Continue Reading

By

• Pratima Harigunani

AI can never be given control over combat decisions, Lords told

Artificial intelligence is technically incapable of distinguishing between the complex contextual factors of combat situations, and will likely never be able to, according to legal and software experts Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

SGN pens IT service desk outsourcing deal

Utility company SGN renews its internal IT services managed services contract with new supplier Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

NHS data stolen in Manchester Uni ransomware attack

The ransomware gang behind the cyber attack on the University of Manchester appears to have got its hands on an NHS dataset being used by the university for research purposes Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

NHS has potential to get digital transformation right

NHS must address digital skills gap in its workforce, demonstrate the value of the NHS App and address the digital maturity gap in organisations if it wants to succeed, MPs say Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

NHS England signs five-year Microsoft 365 contract

Hot on the heels of its earlier deployment of Microsoft Teams, NHS England is now going all-in on the rest of the software giant’s online productivity tools Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Datacentre Editor

Has mobile become the battleground for banking?

Head of Insights at data.ai discusses the unstoppable freight train that is the mobile banking revolution Continue Reading

By

• Lexi Sydow

Brits are using healthcare apps without proper checks

As mobile health app acceptance increases, people are taking risks by using them without any advice from their medical professionals, finds survey Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

NHS to launch Digital Health Check

The NHS Digital Health Check will be rolled out from spring 2024, and allow patients to do certain tests and get advice from their homes Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

The Finnish Food Authority uses AI to accelerate research

Researchers have reduced the time taken to get critical insights into potential public health crises and address issues in real-time, through artificial intelligence Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Software-defined storage: What’s available from key players

What’s available in software-defined storage from the big storage players, software-defined storage specialists, and SDS options focused on cloud, virtualisation and containers Continue Reading

By

• Stephen Pritchard