Privacy and data protection
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News
15 Mar 2024
London Mayor’s Office reprimanded over data breach
The London Mayor’s Office has been reprimanded by the ICO after an internal error exposed the data of people who had made complaints against the Metropolitan Police Continue Reading
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News
14 Mar 2024
Questions raised over NHS deletion of thousands of emails during whistleblower tribunal
NHS doctor Chris Day has won the right to challenge a tribunal ruling that found no procedural unfairness when an NHS trust deleted thousands of emails. The case that raises wider questions about the use of electronic evidence Continue Reading
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News
25 Apr 2023
How non-fungible tokens can be used to manage health data
Non-fungible tokens will give patients more ownership and control over their health data and improve its transparency in healthcare research, according to SingHealth clinicians Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2023
Most IT staff uncomfortable deploying surveillance tech at work
The IT teams responsible for deploying and running digital surveillance in workplaces say they are uncomfortable with “extremely common” practice of spying on colleagues, research finds Continue Reading
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Opinion
24 Apr 2023
Could your employees’ use of ChatGPT put you in breach of GDPR?
Following Italy's run-in with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, legal expert Richard Forrest emphasises the necessity for additional scrutiny while using AI tools in a work environment, and practical guidance on doing so safely Continue Reading
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News
21 Apr 2023
UK biometrics watchdog questions police cloud deployments
The UK biometrics commissioner has warned that policing and justice bodies must be able to demonstrate ‘immediately and unequivocally’ that their cloud deployments are lawful Continue Reading
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News
21 Apr 2023
CyberUK 23: New advice on smart city security issued
The NCSC and key allies have drawn up new guidance to help communities balance the cyber security risks involved with creating smart cities Continue Reading
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News
21 Apr 2023
Prototype cyber tech has revolutionary potential
The so-called CHERI protection model developed at the University of Cambridge is showing great promise for future cyber security technologies Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2023
Online Safety Bill could pose risk to encryption technology used by Ukraine
CEO of encrypted messaging service Element says Online Safety Bill could pose a risk to the encrypted comms systems used by Ukraine Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2023
UK Emergency Alert Test sparks cyber fraud warning
Fraudsters and scammers are likely to use the upcoming test of the UK's new mobile Emergency Alert system as bait in their attacks, while misinformation and conspiracy theories spread Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2023
Capita customer data was stolen in March ransomware attack
Capita says it has uncovered evidence of data exfiltration from a small proportion of its server estate following a cyber attack at the end of March Continue Reading
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Blog Post
20 Apr 2023
Are tech vendors pulling their weight on fixing fragmented IT?
Many organisations have silo’d data and fragmented IT systems, but how much of this is due to the actions of IT vendors? Do vendors too often chase a quick buck, selling point solutions that don’t ... Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
CyberUK 23: Ukraine offers masterclass in withstanding cyber war
Russian cyber activity has seen an unprecedented evolution in scale and pace over the past year, but Ukraine’s resilience has enabled it to mount a masterful response, says the NCSC Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
Surrey and Sussex police spared fines after recording 200,000 phone calls without people’s knowledge
Police forces escape potential £1m fines following change of policy by ICO to protect the finances of public sector bodies Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
CyberUK 23: NCSC launches Cyber Advisor service for SMEs
The UK’s NCSC has launched an industry assurance scheme designed to address the needs of SMEs, and is calling for potential advisors to step up and help out Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
CyberUK 23: NCSC CEO calls for collaboration and warns against complacency
NCSC boss Lindy Cameron kicked off the annual CyberUK conference in Belfast with a plea for collaboration and a warning against complacency Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
Global finance firms take part in NATO cyber attack simulation
Global financial services organisations take part in NATO annual event which simulates cyber attacks on critical infrastructure Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2023
IT Priorities 2023: Cloud and disaster recovery top storage and backup plans
Cloud storage still the biggest project planned in data storage in 2023, with disaster recovery the most important area in data protection cited by TechTarget/Computer Weekly survey respondents Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2023
CyberUK 23: NCSC conference centres cyber collaboration
The NCSC’s annual CyberUK conference gets underway in Belfast this week, with collaboration and cooperation high on the agenda Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2023
Tech companies and NGOs urge rewrite of Online Safety Bill to protect encrypted comms
The Online Safety Bill faces amendments in the House of Lords amid concerns that it could weaken the security of end-to-end encrypted communications for UK citizens Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2023
UK presses on with post-Brexit data protection reform
The revised version of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill has had its second reading in Parliament as the government presses on with post-Brexit changes, but critics remain sceptical that the EU will be convinced to maintain the UK's data adequacy agreement Continue Reading
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News
17 Apr 2023
Restaurants hit by IT problems after BlackCat attack on supplier NCR
Ransomware attack on systems of payments giant causing service outages for restaurants around the world Continue Reading
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News
13 Apr 2023
UK joins key allies to launch secure-by-design guidelines
The UK has joined international partners in sharing new advice to help technology companies embed security into the product design and development process Continue Reading
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News
13 Apr 2023
Three charged over banking fraud for hire website
UK authorities have charged three men in connection with the operation of a website that sold social engineering tools to cyber fraudsters Continue Reading
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News
13 Apr 2023
Italy to lift ChatGPT ban subject to new data protection controls
Italian regulator will lift its ban on OpenAI’s ChatGPT subject to a strict new data protection regime Continue Reading
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Opinion
13 Apr 2023
With cyber attacks on the rise, businesses should prepare for quantum hacks now
Advances in quantum computing have brought the world is on the cusp of a technological revolution, but it is not without risk. Find out why you should start to prepare for post-quantum cryotography today. Continue Reading
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News
12 Apr 2023
UK police double down on ‘improved’ facial recognition
The Met and South Wales Police have doubled down on their use of facial recognition technology after research found improved accuracy in their algorithms when using certain settings, but civil society groups maintain that the tech will still be used in a discriminatory fashion Continue Reading
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News
12 Apr 2023
Okta integrates with Singapore’s national digital ID system
The integration with Singpass will let Okta customers authenticate consumers using Singapore’s national digital ID system and is expected to expand the company’s reach in regulated industries Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2023
Anne Keast-Butler named as new director of GCHQ
The government has appointed current MI5 deputy director general Anne Keast-Butler to head signals and cyber agency GCHQ Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2023
KFC, Pizza Hut data stolen in January ransomware attack
Yum!, the parent organisation behind KFC and Pizza Hut in the UK, has disclosed that employee data was accessed and exfiltrated in a January 2023 ransomware attack Continue Reading
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Opinion
11 Apr 2023
Security Think Tank: Adopt a coherent framework for ID first security
With IAM central to enabling appropriate access to cloud-based services, identity first security is becoming a key trend for IAM in the cloud. Continue Reading
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News
06 Apr 2023
IBM's Nataraj Nagaratnam on the cyber challenges facing cloud services
Governments are introducing increasingly prescriptive data protection policies, but with organisations becoming ever more reliant on multiple cloud service platforms for essential business needs, how can they ensure they meet regulatory requirements? Continue Reading
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News
06 Apr 2023
Clop ransomware booms in March as Fortra zero-day pays off for gang
Backed by the threat actor tracked variously as Gold Tahoe and TA505, the Clop ransomware operation hit new ‘heights’ of activity last month, according to researchers Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2023
Cops bust Genesis cyber crime marketplace
Multinational Operation Cookie Monster takes down Genesis Market, a crucial source of compromised data used by criminals for fraud and other cyber attacks Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2023
Italy’s ChatGPT ban: Sober precaution or chilling overreaction?
Italy’s data protection authority issued a temporary ban on ChatGPT citing data protection concerns and alleged breaches of the GDPR. Is this a reasonable precaution, or a chilling restriction on personal freedoms? Continue Reading
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News
04 Apr 2023
TikTok fined in UK over unlawful use of children’s data
The ICO has fined TikTok £12.7m for breaches of data protection law, including unlawfully collecting data on children under 13 Continue Reading
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News
04 Apr 2023
National Cyber Force carrying out daily hacking operations to disrupt hostile threats
Government discloses details about the National Cyber Force’s disruption activities against terrorists, organised criminals and nation states – and names first NCF chief as James Babbage Continue Reading
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E-Zine
04 Apr 2023
Revitalising UK digital government
In this week’s Computer Weekly, as the UK plummets down the international rankings for digital government, can its £400m identity system revitalise the UK’s digital strategy? We examine the container management platforms from the big six storage suppliers. And we look at the challenges of achieving IT sustainability while continuing to drive digital innovation. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
03 Apr 2023
Australia’s media and telecoms sector saw most data breaches in 2022
The media and telecoms industry accounted for the bulk of stolen credentials in Australia in 2022, underscoring the need to shore up the country’s cyber security posture Continue Reading
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News
31 Mar 2023
Mounting Russian disinformation campaign targeting Arab world
Researchers have found evidence of a broad Russian disinformation campaign targeting Arabic-speakers in the Middle East and North Africa Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Mar 2023
Use backup encryption to protect data from would-be thieves
Encryption is a powerful tool to keep sensitive data out of the wrong hands. To ensure recoverability after a disruption, data backup encryption is vital. Continue Reading
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News
30 Mar 2023
NHS Highland rapped over data breach affecting HIV patients
NHS Highland inadvertently exposed the personal data of individuals likely to be accessing HIV services in a lapse of email hygiene Continue Reading
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Opinion
30 Mar 2023
Preventing artificial deception in the age of AI
The proposals contained in Westminster’s AI whitepaper are a good start, but more creative thinking and investment will be required to achieve a truly pro-innovation regulatory environment Continue Reading
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News
29 Mar 2023
UK government publishes AI whitepaper
Artificial intelligence whitepaper outlines UK government’s proposals to regulate the technology, which are based around creating an agile, “pro-innovation” framework Continue Reading
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News
29 Mar 2023
How organisations can weaponise data privacy
Organisations should turn data privacy into a competitive advantage and look beyond regulatory compliance to build a privacy programme that aligns with business targets, says Gartner Continue Reading
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News
29 Mar 2023
Generative AI presents opportunities and challenges to UK schools
Generative AI and LLMs hold great potential for use in the classroom, but the privacy and security implications of its use must be carefully considered, says the Department for Education Continue Reading
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28 Mar 2023
UK TikTok ban gives us all cause to consider social media security
The UK government’s ban on TikTok should give organisations cause to look into what information social media platforms are collecting on us, and what they are using it for. Continue Reading
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E-Zine
28 Mar 2023
Is TikTok really a security threat to your business?
In this week’s Computer Weekly, with the UK government becoming the latest administration to ban TikTok, we ask whether the controversial social media app is really a security threat to enterprises. Technology guru Bruce Schneier tells us about the need to take back control of AI and the personal data it relies on. And we look at how firms are trying – and failing – to make AI work for online content moderation. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
28 Mar 2023
Ransomware attacks up 45% in February, LockBit responsible
NCC Group says it observed a surge in ransomware attacks in February, with LockBit, BlackCat and BianLian all highly active Continue Reading
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News
27 Mar 2023
France latest to ban TikTok on government devices
Following bans in the UK and US, France has moved to enact restrictions on TikTok, and other social media apps, on government devices Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Mar 2023
Use zero-trust data management to better protect backups
Backup admins looking to protect data from bad actors can implement a zero-trust strategy for added protection. However, the method is not without its downsides. Continue Reading
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News
22 Mar 2023
Why Veeam thinks ransomware warranty payouts are unlikely
Veeam Data Platform v12 offers a financial guarantee to customers that can’t restore after ransomware attacks, but the backup supplier is convinced it won’t be making many payouts Continue Reading
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News
22 Mar 2023
Government launches seven-year NHS cyber strategy
The new Cyber Security Strategy for Health and Adult Social Care lays out a plan for promoting cyber resilience in the sector by 2030 to protect services and patients alike Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2023
Nordics move towards common cyber defence strategy
Nordic countries agree to work together to improve their cyber defences amid increasing threat Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2023
How Mimecast thinks differently about email security
Mimecast CEO Peter Bauer believes the company’s comprehensive approach towards email security has enabled it to remain relevant to customers for two decades Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2023
Hitachi Energy emerges as victim of Clop gang’s Fortra attack
The power and energy division of Japanese conglomerate Hitachi has disclosed that it has fallen victim to a Clop cyber attack, but insists customer data is safe Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2023
Ransomware gangs harass victims to ‘bypass’ backups
Analysis reveals how cyber criminal gangs are turning to extensive, targeted harassment campaigns to force victims to pay up, even if their backups are in good order Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2023
NCSC launches cyber check-up tools for SMEs
The NCSC has launched two new security services aimed at SMEs that lack the resources to address cyber issues, and may underestimate their vulnerability to attack Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2023
NatWest announces ID service for its customers
The identities of NatWest customers engaging with businesses online can be confirmed by the bank's ID service in seconds Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2023
BBC cracks down on TikTok after review
The BBC is asking staff not to install TikTok on corporate-owned devices without a justified business purpose, although its use will still be allowed to share media content with its audiences Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2023
UK TikTok ban gives us all cause to consider social media security
The UK government’s ban on TikTok should give all organisations cause to look into what information social media platforms are collecting on us, and what they are using it for Continue Reading
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News
16 Mar 2023
TikTok banned on UK government devices
The UK government has followed in the footsteps of its US and European counterparts and banned the use of Chinese social media app TikTok on official devices Continue Reading
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News
16 Mar 2023
Rubrik customer, partner data exposed in possible Clop attack
Rubrik was supposedly compromised by the Clop ransomware gang via a zero-day vulnerability in a managed file transfer software package it uses Continue Reading
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News
15 Mar 2023
Chinese Silkloader cyber attack tool falls into Russian hands
A loader tool used by Chinese cyber criminals seems to have been enthusiastically taken up in recent weeks by Russian ransomware operators Continue Reading
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News
14 Mar 2023
NatWest introduces limits on crypto trading to prevent fraud
UK bank says its retail customers will benefit from daily and monthly limits on the amount they can pay into cryptocurrency exchanges Continue Reading
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News
14 Mar 2023
NCSC warns over AI language models but rejects cyber alarmism
The UK's NCSC has issued advice for those using the technology underpinning AI tools such as ChatGPT, but says some of the security doomsday scenarios being proposed right now are not necessarily realistic Continue Reading
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News
14 Mar 2023
AI interview: Elke Schwarz, professor of political theory
Elke Schwarz speaks with Computer Weekly about the ethics of military artificial intelligence and the dangers of allowing governments and corporations to push forward without oversight or scrutiny Continue Reading
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News
13 Mar 2023
MI5 to oversee new National Protective Security Authority
The new National Protective Security Authority will address various national security threats including state-sponsored cyber espionage against UK targets Continue Reading
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News
10 Mar 2023
Technology minister Michelle Donelan defends data reforms
Secretary of state Michelle Donelan has defended the government’s new data reforms as providing certainty for businesses while simultaneously retaining high standards of data protection, but industry figures are having mixed reactions Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2023
UK government introduces revised data reform bill to Parliament
Designed in close collaboration with technology businesses, the UK government is re-introducing an updated version of its Data Protection and Digital Information Bill to Parliament, which civil society groups say upends key safeguards Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2023
How ForgeRock is tackling identity management
ForgeRock CEO Fran Rosch has set the identity and access management software supplier on a path to deliver a frictionless identity experience without compromising security or privacy Continue Reading
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News
07 Mar 2023
Nine in 10 enterprises fell victim to successful phishing in 2022
Egress annual email security risk report breaks down impacts of email-based phishing attacks and data loss, and the effect these can have on organisations in terms of staff retention and morale Continue Reading
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News
07 Mar 2023
Taking back control: Could a distributed model breed a better AI?
AI tools such as ChatGPT are trained on datasets scraped from the web, but you don’t have much say if your data is used. Technologist Bruce Schneier says it’s time to give control of AI training data back to the people Continue Reading
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Podcast
06 Mar 2023
Podcast: 2023 compliance and storage outlook
Geopolitical instability casts its shadow as organisations must think about cyber attacks, data location and what to do if things change quickly. We talk to Mathieu Gorge, CEO of Vigitrust Continue Reading
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News
03 Mar 2023
White House unveils National Cybersecurity Strategy
The strategy will focus on ensuring closer collaboration on cyber security between government and industry, while giving software and other tech companies a bigger role in combatting threats due to their resources and expertise Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2023
AI interview: Michael Osborne, professor of machine learning
Artificial intelligence researcher speaks with Computer Weekly about the implications of a market-driven AI arms race and the overwhelming dominance of the private sector over the technology Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2023
Uber introduces dynamic pricing algorithm in London
The dynamic pricing algorithm will allow Uber to set variable pay and pricing levels, but drivers are concerned about how their personal data will be used and the impact the algorithm will have on their livelihoods Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2023
WH Smith staff data accessed in cyber attack
The retailer has said that customer data has not been affected by the incident as it is held in different systems, and that investigations into the attack are ongoing Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2023
Salt Labs identifies OAuth security flaw within Booking.com
Security flaw in Booking.com OAuth implementation could be used to launch account takeovers, but researchers discovered and flagged the issue before it could be exploited in the wild Continue Reading
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News
01 Mar 2023
Data breaches in Australia on the rise, says OAIC
Cyber security incidents were the cause of most data breaches, which rose by 26% in the second half of 2022, according to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner Continue Reading
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News
24 Feb 2023
UK police have ‘culture of retention’ around biometric data
A culture of retention around biometric data in UK policing is damaging public trust, says UK biometrics commissioner, who is calling for clear regulation to govern police use of biometric technologies Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2023
Researchers find new bug ‘class’ in Apple devices
A group of vulnerabilities in Apple products that stem from the ForcedEntry exploit used by spyware firm NSO constitutes a whole new class of bug, say researchers at Trellix Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2023
Institute for Government cautions government to draw right lessons from pandemic
The Institute for Government has published a policy document warning government not to draw wrong lessons from data sharing during pandemic Continue Reading
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News
20 Feb 2023
Singapore organisations struggle to operationalise threat intelligence
Organisations in the city-state were satisfied with the quality of their threat intelligence, but they struggled to operationalise the information due to talent shortages and other challenges Continue Reading
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News
20 Feb 2023
Twitter 2FA changes bring more risks than benefits
Twitter’s approach to nudging users away from insecure SMS-based 2FA is being questioned over its logic Continue Reading
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News
16 Feb 2023
Mock crime prediction tool profiles MEPs as potential criminals
Developed by Fair Trials, the example crime prediction tool uses the same information as police systems to assess the likelihood of someone committing a crime in the future 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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Definition
16 Feb 2023
E-Sign Act (Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act)
The E-Sign Act (Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act) is a U.S. federal law that specifies that, in the United States, the use of an electronic signature (e-signature) is as legally valid as a traditional signature written in ink on paper. Continue Reading
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News
16 Feb 2023
How to tame the identity sprawl
Organisations should find a comprehensive way to gain full visibility into their digital identities and leverage automation to tame the identify sprawl Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2023
Royal Mail refused to pay £66m LockBit ransom demand, logs reveal
Leaked chat logs reveal Royal Mail has supposedly refused to pay a £66m ransom demand from the LockBit ransomware gang Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2023
UK authorities clamp down on illegal crypto ATMs
The Financial Conduct Authority and West Yorkshire Police have disrupted a number of illegal crypto ATMs Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2023
Researcher exposes crypto scam network exploiting YouTube
A massive network of fake YouTube videos promoted by automated sock puppet accounts is reeling in hundreds of cryptocurrency enthusiasts and persuading them to hand over their money, WithSecure researchers found 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
Russian spear phishing campaign escalates efforts toward critical UK, US and European targets
Russian hacking group Seaborgium refines its tactics in a continuation of attacks against targets including not-for-profit organisations with geopolitical affiliations Continue Reading
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News
13 Feb 2023
Investigatory Powers Act: Home Office proposes rethink of safeguards on bulk data collection
David Anderson KC will review the safeguards on intelligence service and police use of bulk datasets following a Home Office assessment that they are 'disproportionate'. Continue Reading
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News
13 Feb 2023
Police tech needs clear legal rules, says biometrics regulator
Police use of artificial intelligence and facial recognition needs to be controlled by strict rules and mechanisms to ensure public trust Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Feb 2023
Cyber security training: How to be as secure as is practicably possible
If you cannot secure all the people all the time, how should a business approach cyber security training and awareness programmes? Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2023
Social media platform Reddit breached in phishing attack
An unspecified threat actor obtained access to internal documents, code and business systems at Reddit after stealing employee credentials in a phishing attack Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2023
How Check Point is keeping pace with the cyber security landscape
Check Point Software CEO Gil Shwed talks up the company’s growth areas, its approach to cloud security and the impact of generative AI on cyber security Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2023
Russian hacking group Seaborgium targets SNP MP Stewart McDonald
Scottish National Party MP Stewart McDonald says his personal emails have been hacked by a group linked to the Russian state in a targeted phishing attack Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2023
Prolific social media fraudster jailed for three years
Ramzan Abubakarov of Hendon will serve three-year prison sentence after using Telegram to coordinate series of frauds which netted almost £2m Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2023
Campaigners lament lack of movement on Computer Misuse Act reform
Westminster has opened a new consultation on proposed reforms to the Computer Misuse Act of 1990, but campaigners who want the law changed to protect cyber professionals have been left disappointed Continue Reading