IT news in your industry sector

Educational publisher Pearson fined for data breach cover-up

Securities and Exchange Commission says publisher misled its investors over the extent of a 2018 data breach Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

NAB partners AWS, global banks on open finance

Australia’s NAB teams up with three other banks and AWS to run an open global finance challenge that will see participating teams prototype new digital banking services Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Nearly half of retailers hit by ransomware in 2020

In the face of increasingly prevalent and sophisticated ransomware attacks, retail organisations need to develop alternative ways of restoring lost or encrypted data, as paying the ransom does not guarantee its return in almost a third of cases Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Hospitals see cyber security investment as a low priority

Almost half of hospitals have experienced an IT shutdown as a result of a cyber attack in the past six months, but just over one in 10 hospital executives see cyber security investment as a high priority Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

NCSC for Startups initiative launched with Plexal

National Cyber Security Centre and Plexal will support startups to develop products to address the government’s cyber security priorities Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Regulatory complexity hinders cloud adoption by financial services firms, Google study finds

Business leaders within the financial services space reveal details of what is holding up cloud adoption within their industry in latest Google poll Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Social care digital revolution could lead to £127m in benefits

Analysis of NHS Digital’s social care programme shows new ways of working could reduce hospital admissions and visits to GPs, and improve people’s quality of life Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

CW Benelux: Netherlands sees increase in the number of women opting for an ICT career

The IT skills gap in the Netherlands could be about to narrow as more women take up jobs in the sector. Figures from last year revealed that the number of female ICT professionals grew by 6.5%, while the number of male ICT professionals increased by only 1.7%. Read more about it in this issue. Also find out why more openness about ransomware attacks in the Dutch business community could be the first step to defeating a growing problem. Continue Reading

LGA goes live with Digital Pathfinders Programme

Programme offers £20,000 in funding to councils that come up with ‘pioneering solutions’ for cyber security, digital inclusion and connectivity Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Singapore’s NUHS kicks off holomedicine research

Singapore neurosurgeons are testing the use of Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 mixed reality headset to locate brain tumours with higher precision and improve patient safety Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

US wins bid to widen grounds of appeal in Julian Assange extradition case

The US government accused medical expert professor Michael Kopelman of misleading the court by failing to disclose details of Assange’s relationship  Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Hacker makes off with $600m in world’s largest crypto-heist

Despite bagging $600m worth of cryptocurrency in what has been described as the biggest decentralised finance hack, the hacker has already started returning the funds Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Four more subpostmasters set to have convictions overturned

A further four subpostmasters are set to have their wrongful convictions overturned in the latest development in the Post Office Horizon scandal Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Global fintech investments reach new heights

The global financial technology industry is emerging from the pandemic-triggered slowdown with record levels of investment to fuel further growth Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Banks could be blocked from closing branches through FCA legislation

UK financial services regulator the Financial Conduct Authority considers legislation that could block some bank branch closures to ensure citizens have easy access to cash Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Third of finance firms accelerate use of artificial intelligence to detect money laundering

Financial services firms are stepping up their use of artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to fight increasing money laundering activity Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

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

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Researchers uncover database with 126 million unsecured records

Business-to-business marketing firm OneMoreLead was storing tens of millions of records in an unsecured database, exposing at least 63 million people to fraud, identify theft and phishing campaigns Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Possible ransomware attack hits Italian vaccine booking system

It is still unclear who is behind the attack that caused Covid-19 vaccine bookings in Lazio, Italy, to grind to a halt, as despite masses of files being encrypted no specific ransom demands have been made for the decryptor Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Healthcare providers to deliver 765 million teleconsultations globally by 2025

Research reveals patients will use remote consultation services 3.6 times per year on average, but need for mobile devices and connectivity will limit uptake of telehealth services to developed regions Continue Reading

By

• Joe O’Halloran, Computer Weekly

Startups provide TfL with AI and simulation to keep London moving

Transport for London has awarded contracts to two startups to deliver new technology to support the capital’s road network Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Why the government’s Innovation Strategy must not become a missed opportunity

The UK has a problem with R&D spending, but the new government plan to address this leaves too many important decisions unresolved Continue Reading

By

• Julian David, TechUK

CIO interview: Michael Voegele, CDIO, Philip Morris International

Tobacco giant’s CDIO is helping to transform the company’s business model through smart use of technology Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels

11 areas will trial digital identity scheme for residential property sector

MyIdentity scheme will allow estate agents, conveyancers, solicitors and mortgage providers across 11 locations to trial the use of digital identity to speed up and make home buying more secure Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Nine security flaws found in critical hospital infrastructure

The ‘PwnedPiper’ vulnerabilities identified in systems used by 80% of US hospitals could be used to launch ransomware attacks Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

BCS: more diverse workforce key to UK AI ethics global leadership

BCS report says the UK can take an international lead in AI ethics if it cultivates a more diverse workforce, including people from non-STEM backgrounds Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Civil Service Data Challenge announces longlist of ideas to improve data use

Dragons’ Den-style Civil Service competition to elicit ideas to improve data use in government has whittled a list of 200 down to eight. Four will be chosen in December for delivery Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

M&S launches initiative to hire software engineers

Supermarket and department store M&S has launched an initiative designed to help it find software engineering talent Continue Reading

By

• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Six Isle of Wight schools hit by ransomware attack

Authorities are still working to manage the fallout from the attack, which has already forced at least one school to delay the start of the new term in September Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Leading venture capital firms are failing to protect human rights

Venture capital firms and high-profile tech accelerators are not conducting human rights due diligence on their investments, which means they cannot be sure the companies they invest in are not causing, or contributing to, human rights abuses Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Fred IT replaces paper prescriptions with QR codes

Fred IT’s eRX Script Exchange is now used by 21,000 doctors and 95% of Australian pharmacies, delivering more than 11 million digital prescriptions by July 2021 Continue Reading

By

• Stephen Withers

Disaster recovery for SMEs: Five key areas to consider

We look at key disaster recovery considerations for SMEs, including why backup is not enough, how to create a disaster recovery plan, best-practice DR testing and DR as a service Continue Reading

By

• Stephen Pritchard

UK MoD turns to hackers to help secure digital assets

Hackers given direct access to internal Ministry of Defence systems to identify and report security vulnerabilities Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Panasas’s 10x saving bumps NetApp from HPC storage deployment

University of Wollongong got 1.2PB for the cost of 100TB for HPC storage in its cryo-imaging institute. Scale-out NAS maker Panasas also brought life sciences expertise to bear Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Intel hails data analytics-powered GB Olympics swimming success

Intel has claimed its part in the GB swimming team’s Olympics success, with the analysis of ‘data pools’ and the use of its servers and workstations Continue Reading

By

• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

DWP IR35 bill, women in tech – Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast

In this episode of the Computer Weekly Downtime Upload, Caroline Donnelly, Clare McDonald and Brian McKenna speak about the DWP’s IR35 tax bill, the Most Influential Women in UK Technology, and company culture Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK
• Clare McDonald, Business Editor
• Brian McKenna, Enterprise Applications Editor

HMRC will shut down Chief system by end of March 2023

From 31 March 2023, the Customs Declaration Service will become the only operating UK customs platform when HMRC turns off the legacy Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight system Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Executive interview: Chris McShane, MD, Halfords Mobile Experts

Cycling and motoring retailer Halfords has developed its own service management software, which it is now taking to market Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Government updates isolation criteria in Covid-19 app

NHS Covid-19 app adjusted to reduce the number of people receiving self-isolation alerts Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

IR35 reforms: TUC demand for government ban on umbrella companies raises eyebrows

The Trades Union Congress has raised eyebrows within the contracting community by calling for a ban on umbrella companies to help stamp out malpractice Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Government publishes second version of digital identity trust framework

The second iteration of the framework, still in alpha version, sets out how organisations can become certified digital identity service providers Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Building supply chain resilience with cloud ERP

Vallen Asia’s cloud enterprise resource planning system has enabled it to scale its operations across the region and made its supply chain operations more resilient amid the pandemic Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Government opens up SME digital support programme for suppliers

Help to Grow: Digital scheme aims to help small businesses access productivity-enhancing software, and suppliers are now encouraged to register as approved suppliers Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

HMRC hits Home Office with £33.5m bill over ‘careless’ application of IR35 rules

The Home Office is the latest ministerial department to be hit with a multimillion-pound tax demand from HMRC after errors were discovered in its implementation of the IR35 rules Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Investigatory Powers Tribunal finds UK spy agencies unlawfully collected personal data

Campaign groups Privacy International and Liberty are gearing up to bring further legal action after a court found that UK spy agencies unlawfully collected phone and internet records Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Almost half unaware of GP data-sharing plans

Around half of adults in England – approximately 20 million people – remain unaware of the scope of the NHS GPDPR programme, prompting calls for a public education campaign Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Thousands wrongly given criminal convictions after computer error

HM Courts and Tribunals Service report reveals that computer error wrongly assigned guilty pleas to more than 5,000 defendants Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

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

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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

By

• Simon Backwell

ICO ends its involvement in dispute between NatWest Bank and data breach whistleblower

The Information Commissioner’s Office has ended its involvement in a dispute between a data breach whistleblower and NatWest bank Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Running a virtual hackathon

DWP Digital recently organised a virtual hackathon. We find out how it went, and the key takeaways Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Gaming could reduce the gamble for users of online finance

Financial gaming platform designed to educate the increasing number of amateur traders Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Solent NHS Trust takes self-service route for sexual health

NHS trust deploys an integrated sexual health self-service system, digitally triaging patients and aiming to drive proactive intervention Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Digital manufacturing industry gets £53m government funding boost

Money will be used to create five digital manufacturing research centres, a digital supply chain innovation hub and to fund 37 industry projects Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

TikTok sets up cyber security hub in Dublin

Dublin-based cyber centre will oversee the security of TikTok’s users across Europe Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Welsh media industry gets £22.2m innovation funding package

As part of plans to make the UK a global innovation hub by 2035, as set out in its innovation strategy, the UK government is pumping £22.2m into the media.cymru programme Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Are we getting cyber security skills all wrong?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, the chair of the new UK Cyber Security Council tells us how she plans to fundamentally reimagine what working in IT security means. Our latest buyer’s guide examines ERP modernisation and its role in digital transformation. And we take an in-depth look at the first preview version of Windows 11. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Legacy IT issues impacted government decision-making during Covid-19, says PAC

The government’s ability to make well-informed decisions during the pandemic has been ‘hampered’ by data and legacy IT issues, Public Accounts Committee report finds Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

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

By

• Saj Huq, Plexal

DWP hit with £87.9m tax bill by HMRC over 'historic' IR35 status contractor assessment errors

The Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) annual accounts highlight the challenges the public sector body has faced with implementing the IR35 reforms since they came into force in the public sector in April 2017 Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

TfL under fire for relying on Uber facial-verification data in licensing decisions

TfL is facing numerous legal appeals from Uber drivers as a result of its decisions to revoke their private licences on the basis of mistaken information from Uber’s systems Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

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

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

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

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UK government publishes full Innovation Strategy

Strategy aims to put the UK at the global forefront of science, research and innovation Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

DNA storage promises 10 million times storage capacity boost

A datacentre that fits in the palm of your hand? However, right now, DNA storage is an expensive chemical process that researchers are trying to make a practical proposal Continue Reading

By

• Stephen Pritchard

Government to fund interim compensation of up to £100,000 for each wrongly convicted subpostmaster

The government will pay interim compensation within weeks to subpostmasters who were wrongly convicted of crimes due to computer errors Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

IR35: Government sets out plan to rid contractor market of non-compliant umbrellas and loan schemes

In the wake of a consultation earlier this year, the government has drawn up a package of measures it intends to take to help protect contractors from non-compliant umbrella companies and loan scheme promoters Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

All my exes avoid Texas

Jeff Bezos has taken his rocket ship, New Shepherd, for its first ride. A ragtag team of Bezos, his brother, wee Wally Funk and the teenage son of a Dutch financier left Earth for 10 minutes and 10 ... Continue Reading

By

• Ryan Priest

Interview: Sarah Wilkinson, former CEO, NHS Digital

In her exit interview with Computer Weekly, NHS Digital’s former CEO Sarah Wilkinson talks about the organisation’s transformation over the past few years, the Covid-19 pandemic, bureaucracy challenges and big wins Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Covid-19 creates opportunity to digitally transform justice system, says TechUK

The pandemic has accelerated the use of digital in the UK justice system but challenges remain, leaving it ripe for reform with data at its heart, says industry body Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Lords Covid-19 Committee disappointed in government engagement

Committee is so disappointed in the government’s lack of engagement with its inquiry into the digital impact of the pandemic that it has published a separate report criticising it Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

New thinking and systems required to tackle online fraud in retail

Online fraud is a growing problem for retail, but are merchants doing enough to update systems and how should they change their actions to address it? Continue Reading

By

• Ben Sillitoe

Infosys to open German operation focused on automotive sector

Infosys is establishing a centre in Germany that will focus on supporting customers in the German automotive sector Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Government officials lack experience to lead digital transformation, says NAO

The government needs to reskill senior decision makers and give tech leaders more influence if digital business change projects are to succeed Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

France’s Macron among alleged Pegasus targets

Data relating to devices used by French president Emmanuel Macron and the head of the World Health Organization, among others, has been uncovered in a dataset linked to government use of spyware Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Research and development investment programme launches in UK

A government-backed investment programme designed to direct more capital towards research and development-intensive technology firms has opened for applications Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Government shares vision for digitised energy system as it pursues net-zero emissions target

Strategy is geared towards readying the UK energy system for the transition from fossil fuels to renewable power through digital transformation Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Uber drivers face real-terms pay cut after service fee hike

Unionised Uber drivers have condemned the ride-hailing firm for ‘cynically’ framing its UK service fee rise as a way of improving equality among drivers, rather than a pay cut Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Nordic banks join forces to compete with fintechs

Collaboration will be key for traditional Nordic banks to retain business amid intense competition from tech companies Continue Reading

By

• Gerard O'Dwyer

NHS Digital tightens rules for GPDPR data scrape

The proposed collection of patient data held by GPs will now only commence when three key criteria have been fulfilled, says NHS Digital Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Volvo: Our friends in software

We speak to Volvo’s head of software platform about the company’s strategy to build a software-defined car Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Ripe for change – mixing digital innovation with traditional winemaking

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we find out how global winemaker Concha y Toro uses the latest tech to enhance 150-year old traditional processes. Pharma giant GSK explains how an API strategy is changing its business model. And we talk to retailers using video technology to bridge the gap between in-store and online selling. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Government launches consultation on plans for UK digital identity market

DCMS wants stakeholders to offer their views on proposals for a new governance regime and expanding access to government-held datasets for identity verification Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Is tech team remuneration opening up a new form of cyber risk?

Failing to reward cyber security staff in line with increases for other members of the tech team could open up new risks to organisations Continue Reading

By

• Bev White, Nash Squared

HMRC CEO claims email querying legal basis for loan charge ‘overplayed’ at committee hearing

HMRC CEO Jim Harra continues to downplay significance of email questioning legal basis of the loan charge during a grilling by the Economic Affairs Committee Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

A dozen more subpostmaster prosecutions quashed in Horizon scandal

Twelve more former subpostmasters have had wrongful convictions for financial crimes overturned in the Court of Appeal Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Chelsea and Westminster NHS launches acute Covid app

The app aims to work as a one-stop Covid-19 information and resource shop for doctors and nurses working with coronavirus patients Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Storage-as-a-service: Consumption models from the big six

We look at the big six storage makers’ consumption model offers, which allow customers to pay for on-prem hardware and cloud storage capacity on a pay-per-use basis, within limits Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Privacy Shield: One year on and companies are still grappling for answers

Activist lawyer Max Schrems and Eduardo Ustaran, partner at Hogan Lovells, look for common ground in a problem with no easy answers Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Briefing: Cloud storage performance metrics

We look at some of the key storage performance metrics that determine what your applications will get from cloud storage, plus cloud essentials that are beyond simple measurement Continue Reading

By

• Stephen Pritchard

UK government publishes skills-focused anti-disinformation plan

Online Media Literacy Strategy aims to train teachers and care-givers in understanding disinformation so they can help others in safely navigating the internet Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

UK workforce needs reskilling for net-zero transition

Green Jobs Taskforce report looks at how the UK’s workforce can be skilled up to support the transition to net zero Continue Reading

By

• Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Data & ethics editor

Fintech sector continues to attract investment as Revolut hits $33bn valuation

Revolut has become the most valuable financial technology firm in the UK after its latest round of investment, with plans for a ‘superapp’ Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

CIO interview: Sylvain Filippi, managing director and CTO, Envision Virgin Racing

The motorsport company’s managing director and chief technology officer wants to use data and technology to prove benefits of electric vehicles and win “in the right way” Continue Reading

By

• Mark Samuels