Personal data protection is more important than ever. The dark web is a secret part of the internet that is very dangerous because it is often used for illegal things like selling personal information. Because the dark web is decentralised…

Websites store and use user data in many ways, usually to personalise content, show ads, and make the user experience better. This can include everything from basic data like the type of browser and IP address to more private data like names…

In today’s fast-moving world, everyone wants to work smarter, not harder. The involvement of AI tools will help you do just that. They can make your work easier and faster. Here are 10 AI tools that can boost productivity in your office. What…

Here are 10 ways to customize your desktop and make your computer experience more unique. Changing your desktop lets you organize your area well, which makes it easier to get to files and programs you use often. There are many ways to change…

Mobile applications have become an integral part of our lives. We use them to browse the internet, network, communicate, and much more. But they open us up to risks caused by fraudsters who may steal information or damage our phones. According…

Device storage decides how many applications, photos, and files you can retain on your device. When you run out of storage, it can affect your productivity and device performance. But finding the right storage amount isn’t always easy. We…

Malware is bad software that can hurt your computer or phone. It can also make your device run slow and steal your info. Here is how you can spot hidden malware on your devices. What is Malware? The word “malware” is short for “malicious…

Ransomware has now become a big problem for many people and businesses. It can lock up your files and make you pay money to get them back. This article will show some steps you can take to protect yourself and your business, and what you can…

The UK government has reportedly ordered Apple to grant it access to encrypted data stored in iCloud by users worldwide, a move that has sparked fierce debate over privacy, security, and government surveillance. IPA The demand, issued…

A recent study by the University of Birmingham has revealed that banning smartphones during school hours does not necessarily lead to improved mental health or academic performance among students.   The SMART Schools Study  The…

At a time when China’s “DeepSeek” chatbot has jolted the AI industry (having developed incredibly quickly and on a shoestring budget), we take a look at the US “Stargate Project,” a $500 billion initiative aimed at cementing the United…

John Lewis has unveiled a groundbreaking AI tool to verify the age of customers purchasing knives online, marking a shift in how retailers address legal requirements for the sale of bladed items. According to the AI provider, their AI (which…

Use Edge’s built-in translation feature to quickly translate text into English directly in the web page you're looking at, without having to copy it to another tool. Here's how: Highlight Text on a Web Page: Select the text you want…

With rollable laptops (featuring extendable screens) set to become the latest breakthrough in portable computing, we look at what they are and the unique benefits they offer. From Basic Clamshell To Rollable For decades, it seems laptops…

In a UK-first, researchers have achieved a significant milestone in the journey towards sustainable energy by producing fusion-ready steel on an industrial scale. NEURONE Producing RAFM In a UK-first, the NEURONE (Neutron Irradiation…

In this Tech Insight, we look at what Azure Foundry is, the challenges it addresses, its key features and benefits, and its role for businesses hoping to embrace the AI revolution. What Is Azure Foundry? Azure Foundry is Microsoft’s…

Apple Inc. is reportedly facing a lawsuit from employee Amar Bhakta, who alleges the company unlawfully monitors employees’ personal devices and iCloud accounts. Filed in California state court, the lawsuit claims Apple mandates employees…

Amazon has announced the launch of a U.S. beta of its new Haul Store, an online shopping experience designed to rival low-cost e-commerce giants Temu and Shein.  Products at $20 or Less  The Haul platform is to be integrated…

London-based cybersecurity innovator Surf Security has launched a beta version of its pioneering deepfake detection tool, integrated into its Enterprise Zero-Trust Browser®. Deepwater Dubbed the ‘Surf Deepwater’, this tool promises…

Sticky Notes in Windows allows you to jot down reminders, ideas, or to-do lists and keep them open on your desktop for quick reference. Here's how to Use Sticky Notes: Open Sticky Notes Press Win + S, type Sticky Notes, and open the…

A Russian court has fined Google over two undecillion rubles (a 36-digit figure, i.e. a sum that’s greater than the world’s total GDP) for removing Russia’s state media channels from YouTube.  Two Undecillion Rubles… And Growing!  As…

Microsoft has announced that it is building its first data centres made with superstrong ultra-lightweight wood in a bid to slash the use of steel and concrete, which are among the most significant sources of carbon emissions.  The Need…

With many tech giants now using ‘open’ as in ‘open source’ as a marketing term, we look at what the issues around this are, why it needs to be discouraged, and how this can be achieved. What is Open Source? To understand the question…

Apple is set to release a new wave of AI-powered features in its upcoming iOS 18.2 update, with a focus on enhancing Siri and other key apps through advanced intelligence tools.  The new “Apple Intelligence” features will be available…

Two Harvard students have developed a program which (when used with Meta’s smart glasses) can identify people without their knowledge, thereby highlighting a potentially serious privacy risk.  Why?  In their report about their…

What happens to data gathered as part of Ryanair’s extra ID verification requirement (from customers who don’t book directly through its website), has led to an inquiry being launched by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC).  Why…

The Virtual Keyboard can be a lifesaver if your physical keyboard is malfunctioning or unavailable, allowing you to type directly on the screen with your mouse or touchscreen. Here's how to access it: To Enable the Virtual Keyboard: Press…

In response to changes in the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (which came into force in March), WhatsApp users will soon be able to send messages from WhatsApp to people using other messaging apps, e.g. Messenger, Telegram, and Signal.  What…

Cambridge-based startup ‘Pact’ has raised £9 million in (seed round) funding to expand its factory space and scale-up production of its “world-first” biomaterial – a skin made from collagen that’s a convincing alternative…

CEO and founder of messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, was recently arrested in France over allegations that Telegram facilitates illegal activities, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and the distribution of child sexual abuse…

As highlighted recently by the Wall Street Journal, the range of AI-driven features in Apple’s latest iPhones could transform how enterprises operate, provided company data is protected and businesses understand how best to use these new…

In this feature article we explore how e-waste is currently disposed of, what happens to it afterwards, plus various initiatives and strategies aimed at reducing the ever-increasing pile of discarded electronics.  What Is E-Waste?  Electronic…

Mobile network provider EE has launched a smartphone age guidance initiative in which it advises that children under 11 should only use non-smart devices with limited capabilities.  Children With Smartphones  EE says its new…

If you frequently connect your computer to wireless displays or audio devices, the Windows key + K shortcut provides a quick way to access these connections without navigating through multiple menus. Here's how: Open Connect Menu - Press…

AI-driven automated dental technology company Perceptive has announced the completion of the world’s first fully automated dental procedure on a human using its robotic dentistry system.  Perceptive  Boston-based Perceptive…

New research has concluded that floating solar panels could have the potential to meet the entire electricity needs of certain countries.  Helping To Decarbonise National Economies  The findings of the research (from Bangor…

In this insight, we look at how a recently developed ‘World Cybercrime Index’ appears to show the globe’s key cybercrime hotspots by ranking the most significant sources of cybercrime at a national level.  Three Years To Develop  The…

Following concerns about AI companies scraping data from the web to train their AI models, Apple has sought to present itself as being a better and more ethical AI provider by highlighting how the training and development of its AI models have…

Following 8.5 million Microsoft devices being hit by a faulty software update from CrowdStrike causing global chaos, we look at what happened, how, and why.  The Worst Cyber Event In History  The scale of effects of the disruption…

Swiss app company Proton has introduced ‘Proton Scribe,’ an AI-powered private writing assistant that writes and proofreads emails for you.  Why?  Proton says that with most of us sending emails daily, finding the right…

When Google closes its URL Shortener service next year, this could leave many web pages with ‘link rot’ (a 404 error page where the shortened link once worked). Here we look at how you can find and fix link rot in your web pages, maintain…

Researchers, led by scientists at UCL and University Medical Center Goettingen, Germany, have developed an AI-enhanced blood test that can predict Parkinson’s in at-risk patients up to seven years before the onset of symptoms.  What…

Massachusetts-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) research scientists, in partnership with bioplastic manufacturing company Eastman, have reported developing a new a prototype bioplastic straw that degrades even faster than paper.   The…

In this Tech Insight, we look at why, as reliance on cloud services like Microsoft 365 grows, ensuring robust data backup has become a critical component of business security and continuity, then we look at some best practices for your 365…

Apple’s macOS Sequoia, the latest version of its OS for Macs and the successor to macOS Sonoma, has been given a range of new features including a new Passwords app, redesigned Reader view in Safari with machine learning integration, upgrades…

Following a recent AWS survey showing that data-driven SMBs who also adopt AI more quickly and make better use of it are financially outperforming their peers, we look at ways your business could do the same.  The Key Findings Of The…

Following the success of their partnership last year, Google has announced that it has acquired Cameyo, thereby enabling virtualised Windows apps to be integrated into ChromeOS.  Why?  Google says that its research (such as…

Quick Access in Windows File Explorer allows you to pin frequently used folders and files, making them easily accessible. Customising Quick Access can save you time when navigating to commonly used locations. Here's how to do it : Open…

After an Ofcom investigation that found BT didn’t give clear and simple information to customers who signed up to deal with its subsidiaries EE and Plusnet, BT has been told it must refund early exit fees and let existing affected customers…

Finish company Enifer is bringing back a protein made from fungus (a microprotein) that was first developed and used in the 1970s for animal feed but could now work as a sustainable protein source for the human diet.  Pekilo ®  Enifer’s…

With Raspberry Pi Ltd considering an Initial Public Offering, we look at what this kind of computer is, its value in promoting computer literacy, and what similar alternatives there are.  Raspberry Pi  Raspberry Pi, the most…

Apple says it has worked with Google to create an industry specification that can alert users across both iOS and Android if a Bluetooth tracking device is being used to track them (also known as Bluetooth Stalking).  The new capability,…

International omnichannel retailer of technology products and services, Currys, has selected Accenture and Microsoft to deliver the core cloud technology infrastructure that will enable it to leverage the latest generative AI technologies.  Accenture?  Accenture…

The UK’s first national security operations centre (SOC) known as CymruSOC, has launched in Wales to protect the country’s local authorities and fire and rescue services from cyber-attacks.  SOC  The Welsh government…

Windows Security provides a comprehensive overview of your device's health and security, including storage capacity, battery life, and apps and software that may affect your device's performance. Here's how to use it: Go to Settings >…

In a recent BBC World Service interview, Head of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart, claimed that tens of millions of people in countries where WhatsApp has been banned continue to use it.  Where Is WhatsApp Banned And Why?  WhatsApp is…

Scientists at Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University have published details of the discovery of a new material that can absorb carbon faster than trees, giving hope to efforts to tackle the climate crisis.  Can Absorb The Most Potent…

The Home Office has announced that in an attempt to tackle the issue of drug dealers, fraudsters and terrorists using crypto to hide and raise money, it’s giving new powers to the police. Over £1 Billion In Illegal Crypto Transactions  With…

It’s been reported (Bloomberg) that Apple is (back) in discussions with OpenAI about potentially using OpenAI’s generative AI technology to power some new features being introduced in the iPhone later this year.  Although Apple…

LinkedIn is testing a ‘Premium Company Page’ subscription service for SMEs which includes AI-produced content and tools to grow follower counts, as well as other features to raise the profiles of subscribers.  What Is It?  LinkedIn…

Previously available on desktop, mobile and Fire TV, Amazon has now extended the reach of its “Amazon Live” FAST free ad-supported, interactive TV “shoppable” channel by launching it on Prime Video and Freevee, for US customers.  What…

If you frequently copy and paste various items, Windows Clipboard History is an invaluable tool that saves multiple clipboard items for later use, allowing you to access a history of copied text, images, or files. Here's how to use it: Press…

Following an initial report on AI Foundation Models (FMs) last year, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has expressed “real concerns” about it and is investigating the dominance of a small number of big tech firms at the centre…

Following a decade of research, it’s thought that the recent decoding of the complex genome of sugarcane could pave the way for advanced breeding techniques, more agricultural sustainability, and perhaps for developing a cost-effective…

In this insight, we look at what ‘digital mindfulness’ is, how it could help you and your business, and what challenges there are to introducing it.  The ‘Digital Stress’ Problem  Although the digital age has revolutionised…

As part of its compliance with EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules, Apple has announced a change in its App Store rules to allow emulators for retro console games globally. The change allows an option for downloading the titles, but Apple…

As part of a deal to resolve a class action lawsuit in the US dating back to 2020, Google has said it will delete the incognito mode search data of millions of users.  What Lawsuit?  In June 2020 in the US, three Californians…

Amazon’s (Luxembourg-based) Polish e-commerce site, Amazon.pl (Amazon EU SARL) has been fined by Poland’s competition and consumer protection watchdog following customer complaints that their orders were being mysteriously cancelled.  Massive…

Trying to find and insert particular symbols or special characters into something like a Word document can often be awkward and time-consuming, but Windows provides a quick-access character map for these symbols and characters to streamline…

It’s been reported that Glassdoor (the website that allows current employees to anonymously review their employer) posted users’ real names to their profiles without their consent.  What Is Glassdoor?  By allowing users…

French data centre company, Data4, says its new project will create a world-first way of reusing data centre heat and captured CO2 to grow algae which can then be used to power other data centres and create bioproducts.  Why?  The…

In this third and final part of our series of ‘DMARC Diligence’ insights, we explore the detailed process of DMARC deployment, its monitoring, optimisation, and preparing businesses for future email security challenges.  Last…

Following a class action lawsuit led by Norfolk County Council over the effect of an alleged cover-up by Apple’s boss about iPhone demand in China, Apple has agreed to pay £385m to settle the lawsuit.  The lawsuit related to…

A recent US congressional vote means that TikTok and its parent company’s alleged ties with the Chinese Communist Party must be severed within six months or the popular TikTok app must be sold, thereby banning it in the US.  The Vote…

With the famously volatile Bitcoin cryptocurrency briefly hitting a new all-time high value of $69,000 recently, we look at the reasons why this happened and what could happen next.  Why?  This latest surge in the value of Bitcoin…

Renaming multiple files one by one can be tedious and time-consuming. Windows File Explorer offers a simple way to batch rename files, which can be especially useful for organising documents, photos, or project files efficiently. Here's how…

Microsoft has announced that its Windows 11 Copilot AI companion (that’s been embedded into 365’s popular apps) has received an upgrade in the form of new plugins and skills.  Builds On The AI Key  Microsoft says that the new…

Tata Group’s global battery business ‘Agratas’ has confirmed previous announcements that it will invest £4bn in a brownfield site near Bridgwater in Somerset to make it the UK’s biggest electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facility.  Somerset…

In this tech-insight, we look at what e-signatures are, their benefits plus some of the main e-signature providers, as well as what to consider when choosing an e-signature service.  Popularity of E-signatures  The initial growth…

Apple says it’s rolling out an update to its iMessage texting platform that can defend against future encryption-breaking technologies such as decryption by quantum computers.  Apple says its PQ3 “groundbreaking post-quantum…

After the Amazon-owned ‘Ring’ video doorbell company’s recent major subscription price hike across its range caused anger and made the news, we look at what customers have said and if there’s a way to beat the price hike.  Ouch!  Ring…

Google’s new “Talk to a Live Representative” feature will call a business for you, wait on hold for you, and call you when a human representative is available.  Being Tested  Similar to Google Pixel’s existing “Hold…

If you want to develop a comprehensive guide on your brand's voice and writing style to ensure consistency across all company communications, you can use ChatGPT to help you. Here's how:  Open ChatGPT and input a description of the…

The US The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that robo-calls using AI-generated voices are now illegal. What Are Robocalls And Why Make Them Illegal? A robo-call is a call made using voice cloning technology with an…

Stanford researchers have discovered a simple way to boost the range of lithium metal batteries to twice the range of conventional lithium-ion batteries which could provide a massive boost to the EV market.  Lithium-Ion Batteries  Rechargeable…

With more companies using AI to screen CVs and candidates’ body language during interviews, we look at what this could mean for today’s job applicants.  Widely Used  IBM research from November last year shows that 4 out of 10…

Apple has launched its $3,500 (starting price) Pro Vision Virtual Reality (VR) headset in the US with Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, appearing at its Fifth Avenue New York store to mark the significance of the occasion. The Pro Vision VR Headset…

With newly expanded Google and Yahoo guidelines for high-volume emailers coming into force from the 1st of February, we look at what needs to be done to comply.  Why? As Google says about the reason for the new guidelines: “we’ll…

Included in a recent major update to Google’s Gmail on Android (for now), a new feature can help users to declutter and remove annoying spam from their inbox.  Select All Option  The new feature (currently being rolled out) enables…

If you’re involved in an email conversation in Microsoft Outlook and you want a fast and easy way to introduce other colleagues to certain parts of your message without having to start a new conversation, here’s how:  In the body…

Work has started on Google’s first UK data centre which will cost $1 billion (£790m), will add to Google’s 27 data centres worldwide, and will support its move into AI.  Crucial Compute Capacity  The data centre is being built…

A new AI tool called GNoME from Google’s DeepMind artificial intelligence lab has reportedly discovered and contributed nearly 380,000 new compounds to the Materials Project, the open-access database founded at the Department of Energy’s…

Following the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last week, we take a look at some of the more novel and fun gadgets (and claims from the show) and what lessons businesses can take away from this year’s event.  CES  The…

Worries about smartphone demand have been blamed for Microsoft’s stock market value ending a trading session higher than Apple’s last week for the first time since 2021.  How Much?  Microsoft adding 1 per cent to its stock value…

The ‘Add-Ins’ link on the menu (top-right) in Microsoft Word in Office 365 enables you to use many useful apps and tools directly within Word, including ChatGPT. Here’s how it works:  Open a Word document and click on ‘Add-Ins’…

With January 1 being ‘Public Domain Day’, we look at what ‘public domain’ actually means in relation to works of literature, music, art, and science.  Public Domain Day  New Year’s Day each year is called ‘Public Domain…

Following a US case dating back to 2017 which led to Apple admitting that it has deliberately slowed down some older models of iPhones (throttling), a settlement for compensation payments to affected iPhone owners has been reached.  After…

It’s been reported that The New York Times has sued OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging that they used millions of its articles without permission to help train chatbots.  The First  It’s understood that the New York Times (NYT)…

Amazon has announced that from 5 February 2024, its Amazon Prime Video customers in the UK and Germany will see “limited” ads unless they pay £2.99 per month to remove them.  Why?  Amazon says that in view of the fact it won’t…

If there are websites that you use regularly, pinning tabs is a way to save time, stay organised, and get right to the websites you need every time you open your Google Chrome browser. Here’s how it works: Open Chrome and type in the…