iPhonestencil

Vanish Mode For Messenger and Instagram Chats

Only a week after its WhatsApp announcement for the “disappearing messages” feature, Facebook has announced “Vanish Mode” for Messenger and Instagram to allow the sending of messages that disappear automatically. Privacy and Secrecy Facebook…
Retail covidpexels

Retail Adapting To Pandemic Christmas and Beyond

With the UK facing different rules and lockdowns, there’s evidence that retailers are trying to overcome their significant challenges by becoming more agile and adapting where possible. High Street Decline Prior to the pandemic, those…

Tech Tips – Sending Delayed Emails

In Microsoft Outlook you can delay the delivery of an individual message or you can use rules to delay the delivery of all messages by having them held in the Outbox for a specified time after you click Send.  Here’s…
WhatsApppexels

WhatsApp Launches Self-Destruct Messages

From the end of November, Facebook’s WhatsApp users will have the option to automatically delete chats between the sender and recipient after 7 days. Disappearing Messages The new “disappearing messages” feature is not going to…
confused userpexels

Scammer Accidentally Calls Cyber-Crime Squad

A hapless scammer pretending to be from a broadband network got more than he bargained for when he accidentally called (and tried to work his scam) on the cyber-crime squad of an Australian police force. Claimed To Be From Broadband Network The…
covid anxiety
,

Language Used Reveals Societal Pandemic Anxiety

An AI study of the language used on social media platform Reddit has revealed increasing levels of anxiety since the beginning of the pandemic. Study The study, by MIT and Harvard University researchers, sought to leverage natural language…
BYODpexels
,

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

In this article, we look at why bring your own device (BYOD) is still popular and we look at some of the risks businesses face by allowing BYOD. BYOD BYOD has been around since 2004 and essentially allows employees to bring in their personally…

Tech Tips – Jump Lists

In Windows 10, if you would like to return quickly and easily to a location that you have recently visited, the ‘Jump List’ feature in the taskbar can help. Here’s how it works: Jump list works for browsers, folders, and other programs…
covid coughpexels
,

AI COVID Cough Detector

MIT research has used an AI model trained on cough sounds to detect an early stage COVID cough. Identifies Cough Pattern Those who catch COVID-19 but remain largely or completely asymptomatic (and therefore do not get a test) are proving…
web site hackedstencil
,

How Do You Know If Your Website Has Been Hacked?

Hacking of websites, as well as devices and accounts, is all too common and this article looks at some of the tell-tale signs that your website may have been hacked, and what to do about it. Signs The kinds of signs that alert website…
home workerpexels
,

Huge Demand for Employee Monitoring Software

The move to home working has prompted more businesses to invest in more digital, online staff-monitoring tools to help with transparency and productivity. Home Working Working at home because of the pandemic has led to companies wanting…
email
,

Disposable Email Addresses For Office 365 Users

Microsoft is making its plus addressing, custom email feature available to all Office 365 users by adding it to Exchange Online. What Is Plus Addressing? Plus addressing allows a user to create their own custom, disposable return email…

Tech Tips – Cloud Download PC Reset

If you are using Windows 10 and you need to do a clean install on a PC/reset a PC, Microsoft’s ‘Cloud Download’ feature as part of the new Windows update makes it easy. This feature means that there is no need to gather files from…

Tech Tips – Windows Switch

If you like to save time while you are working with Windows 10, here is a tip to help you quickly and easily open up windows from your taskbar using ‘Windows Switch’: Hold down the Windows key + 1 and this opens the first item that’s…
,

Password Security and The Road Ahead

The fact that websites continue to be hacked and passwords are frequently stolen (and that a computer recently set a record by guessing 100 billion passwords per second) calls in to question how passwords can still be used safely and what lies…
,

Sanctions Hurt Huawei

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd.’s 9.9 per cent revenue increase in its figures for the first three quarters of 2020 shows a significant slowing in growth compared to the 24.4 per cent increase for the corresponding period of 2019. Impact Financial…
,

PayPal To Support Cryptocurrencies

It has been reported that US-based payments giant PayPal is ready to allow its users to buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin BTC and other cryptocurrencies. Millions of Merchants The decision by PayPal will also mean that 26 million merchants…

Which? Reveals Truth About EV Battery Life

A recent (Which?) survey of 1,016 electric vehicle (EV) owners has revealed that worries about battery degradation should not be an issue for potential EV buyers. The Survey The survey by consumer champion Which? was conducted from December…
microsoft keystencil
,

AI Image Captioning Gives More Accurate Descriptions Than Humans

Microsoft has announced that in tests, its new, AI-based, automatic image captioning technology is better than humans at describing photos and images. Part of Azure AI The new automatic image captioning model is available via Microsoft’s…
google phonepexels
,

‘Hum to Search’ Songfinder

Google has introduced a new feature to its search that enables it to identify a song that a user hums or whistles. What’s This Song? Serving the same basic purpose a the Shazam app, for example, users can now ask the Google app, Google…
Woman using LaptopPexels
,

Desktop Screen Recording Software

Recording your screen can be useful for training, marketing and communications and there are many different free and paid-for services available for recording desktop activity. This article takes a brief look at several different examples. Recording…
tech used for abusestencil
,

Tech Increasing Domestic Abuse

With domestic abuse on the rise, particularly since the pandemic lockdowns, we look at some of the chilling ways that smart devices and other technology are being used as a tool by abusers. Rise In Reports A BBC Panorama and Women’s…

Tech Tips – Using New Privacy Controls on Amazon Echo

If you have an Amazon Echo smart speaker at home or in the office (which could be both if you are working at home) here’s how to protect your privacy using the newly introduced privacy controls. Amazon’s smart speakers take voice recordings…
online paymentpexel

Learning From the WisePay Attack

In the wake of the recent attack on the WisePay website which saw some parents unwittingly making school payments to cyber-criminals, we look at how to spot whether personal data may have been compromised and how to protect personal information…
online meetingpexel
,

New ‘Breakout Rooms’ For Google Meet Users

Users of the Google Meet, Enterprise for Education video-communication service (formerly part of G Suite) will soon be able to divide meeting participants into Breakout Rooms. Greater Engagement The feature, which started its gradual…
youtubepexels
,

Buy Products Directly From YouTube

It has been reported that YouTube (owned by Google) is testing a feature that will enable viewers of YouTube videos to directly purchase products that they see featured in the video they are watching. Back in 2015 The idea was originally…
H and M recyclingH&M

Recycling Your Jumper

Swedish clothing retailer, H&M, in conjunction with the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) has introduced the first jumper-cycling machine to one of its Stockholm stores. Environmental Impact Reducing the…

Tech Tips – Tracking Prevention With Microsoft Edge

If you use the Windows 10 Microsoft Edge browser and you’d like to improve your security and privacy by blocking potentially harmful trackers, here’s how: In Microsoft Edge, select Settings and more  > Settings  > Privacy and services.Set…
whatapppexels
,

Are You Being Tracked By WhatsApp Apps?

A recent Business Insider Report has highlighted how third-party apps may be exposing some data and details of the activity of WhatsApp users. WhatsApp – Known For Encryption Facebook-owned WhatsApp is known for its end-to-end encryption. …
doctor onlinepexels

Most People Happy With Virtual Doctors’ Appointments

A recent survey from Visionable has shown that 73 per cent of people are happy with the idea of having video consultations with their GP. Pandemic Strengthens View The survey, which originally took into account the views of 1500 people…
facial authenticationpexels
, ,

Facial Recognition, Facial Authentication and the Future

Facial Recognition and facial authentication sound similar but there are distinct differences and this article takes a broad a look at how both are playing more of a role in our lives going forward. So firstly, what's the difference? Facial…
google logo

Google To Pay Publishers $1 Billion

Alphabet Inc.’s CEO, Sundar Pichai has said that Google will pay $1 billion to publishers globally for their news over the next three years. Fight The fight to get Google to pay publishers for content has raged for years and there was…

Tech Tips – Reading Articles That Are Behind Paywalls

If you find an article that you’d really like to read but it’s behind a paywall and you don’t want to sign-up to the online publication just to read one thing, here’s how to read the whole article: Go to https://outline.com/ Copy…
UberStencil

Uber Reclaims London Licence

A year after Transport for London (TfL) stopped ride-hailing service Uber’s London operating licence over safety concerns, an appeal has led to the company being granted a further 18-month licence. What Happened? Back in November 2019,…
TestAndTrace
, ,

Privacy Campaigners Challenge Government Over Test and Trace

Privacy campaign groups Big Brother Watch and The Open Rights Group have voiced their concerns that there is a lack of clarity from the government about how the data of users of the new NHS contact tracing app will be protected. Concerns The…
pexels

Cybersecurity Top of List for Digital Transformation

A recent survey appears to have shown that changes brought by the pandemic have meant that IT buyers from companies working on digital transformation now value cybersecurity the most. Survey The survey, conducted among IT business leaders…
laptop userpexels

The Challenge of User Access Permissions

Employees being given too much access to privileged, sensitive company data can put an organisation in danger.  In this article, we explore the issues around this subject and how businesses can minimise the risk. Survey In a recent…

Tech Tips – Matching Displays

If you need to use 2 or more monitors to help you to get more things done and multi-task, here are some tips for making sure those monitor displays match up.If the monitors are the same make/model Windows may be able to automatically extend…
fibre opticpexels

Whole Village’s Broadband Stopped By an Old TV

An anonymous person living in the village of Aberhosan, Powys, was found to have caused broadband outages for the whole village for the last 18 months every time they switched on their old television. Investigation An exhaustive investigation…
kids using internetpexels
,

Tech Giants Requested To Cease Kids Ads

In an open letter to Google, Facebook, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft, MPs, academics, and campaigners have asked the big tech companies to stop targeting children with personalised advertising. Global Action Plan The letter has been published…
parent and kids onlinepexels
,

Tips & Tools To Keep Kids Safe Online

The online environment can be a dangerous as well as a fun place for young people so here are some tips and tools to help keep kids safe online. The Risks Children face many risks online including seeing/watching things they shouldn’t,…
Worldpexels

Zero-Emission, Hydrogen-Powered Commercial Aircraft by 2035 Says Airbus

Airbus has announced that a zero-emission, hydrogen-fuelled commercial aircraft could be a reality by 2035. Targets The dramatic drop in air pollution levels during the global pandemic lockdown reminded many people of the pressing need…

Tech Tips – Optimise Working Space With Snap Assist

If you are using Windows 10 and you want to multi-task and make the most of your single screen Snap Assist enables you to split your screen between two open windows.  Here’s how: Hold down the Windows key on the keyboard and use the…
alexapexels

Voice-Control Your Printer

Amazon has announced its new ‘Printing With Alexa’ service that allows owners of Echo devices to operate their printer using voice commands. Print What? Printing With Alexa allows the simple “Alexa, print….” followed by what…
laptop in parkpexels

Amazon Review Fraud

An FT investigation appears to have uncovered an estimated 20,000 Amazon reviews where the reviewers were suspected of being paid to give a five-star rating. Reviews The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK estimates that…
influencerpexels

Influencers Paid To Promote Test and Trace

In a bid to raise awareness of responsible behaviour concerning COVID-19 among the younger age groups, the UK government is reported to be paying freelance social media influencers and reality TV stars to promote test and trace. Test and…
Earth from spacepexels
, ,

Just What Is The Internet of Things?

With a vast and growing number of business, industry, consumer and civic IoT (internet of things) devices and systems now being used, we look at their advantages, the threats to the IoT and how we move forward in a way that maximises the benefits…

Tech Tips – Sync Sticky Notes Across Devices

If you are using Windows 10 and need some simple, handy reminders about work, appointments, calls and more, synced across all your devices and other apps, Microsoft’s Sticky Notes app can help. Here’s how it works: Open the Sticky Notes…
fake news
,

Ensure What You See Is Real

With the internet and particularly social media awash with pictures, videos, news, and other content which may not be all that it seems, here is a guide to spotting fake news and content. Misinformation There are a number of sources and…
laptop users
, ,

Virtual London Tech Week

The successful move to virtual presentations for London Tech Week Connects, back in June, inspired September’s London Tech Week to go ahead as a fully virtual event. In June, when the country was still locked-down due to the pandemic,…
ready for brexit

Brexit Border IT Systems Behind Schedule

A leaked government memo reportedly suggests that critical IT systems needed to avoid border disruption post-Brexit are behind schedule, raising the threat of border chaos for hauliers. Memo After Meeting The memo, reported by Bloomberg,…
The End
,

Microsoft Ending Support For Flash

Microsoft has announced that it is ending support for the Adobe Flash Player on Microsoft Edge (new and legacy) and Internet Explorer 11 at the end of 2020. Flash Initially released in 1996, Adobe Flash Player is software for using content…

Tech Tips – Space and Speed

On your PC, if you would like to be able to monitor how much space your apps are taking up and keep your machine running quickly by getting rid of the ones you do not need, here’s how: To check how much space your apps are using go to…
WatchGuard T80WatchGuard
,

Making Your Router Secure

With your router in charge of all incoming and outgoing Internet traffic and controlling the Wi-Fi network for your devices, it makes sense to make it as secure as possible. Routers Your router is the device that connects your computer…
BrainPexels
,

Elon Musk Demonstrates ‘Neuralink’ Using Live Pigs

Tesla-founder and SpaceX boss Elon Musk gave an update on the progress of his Neuralink project using live pigs with the device implanted. What Is Neuralink? The Neuralink idea is to create an implantable device that can act as an interface…
Amazon DroneAmazon

Delivery Drones Get Go Ahead

Amazon’s Prime Air drone parcel delivery service has been approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to test autonomous delivery drones. Prime Air Amazon Prime Air completed its first fully autonomous drone delivery…
video callprexels
,

Zoom Zooms Thanks to Covid

Zoom Video Communications Inc has raised its annual revenue forecast by more than 30 per cent as it converts many of its vast free user base to paid subscriptions. Pandemic Growth Zoom’s video conferencing platform received a huge boost…

Tech Tips – Turn Your Phone/iPad Into A HD Webcam

Whilst availability of peripheral-hardware for remote-working may be less of an issue now that it was a just a couple of short months ago (when Covid-19 took off and caused a shortage of equipment) remember that if you are struggling for a…
virus

What Are UVC Wands and Do They Work?

In the fight against COVID-19 (and as made famous by U.S. President Trump’s comments about UV light) UVC wands may kill viruses and pathogens, but are they really a safe or effective tool in the fight against COVID-19? What Are UVC Wands? UVC…
dating scam
,

Lockdown Love Scams

Details emerged this week of a scam whereby a man claiming to be on a top-secret military mission contacted a lady on a dating site and encouraged her to switch to an encrypted message service in order to steal money and personal details. Hooked In…
smartwatch
,

Can Wearable Devices Spot Early Symptoms of COVID?

As wearable devices such as fitness wristbands and watches track signs such as body temperature, could they be used to help detect the early signs of COVID-19 infection and thereby help public health responses? Testing There are now many…
cash
,

Record Broadband Compensation Pay-Outs

Ofcom's annual report shows that a record-breaking £20.7m in compensation was paid to broadband customers under the new automatic compensation scheme in the last six months of 2019. The Automatic Compensation Scheme Back in November…

Tech Tips – One-Click Fix For Accessibility

If you are using Word (or any Office app) in Windows 10, there is a one-click way to make sure that your messages and documents can be read by people of all abilities.  Here’s how: With your chosen document open click on ‘Review’…
Office workers in masks

Back To Work ! (at the office)

For those whose workplace would normally be the office, going 'back to work' after remote working during the pandemic has its own challenges, so here is a brief reminder and checklist for moving back to the office to work. New Rules To Protect…
clolud

Toyota To Upload Driver’s Data To Amazon

Toyota will use Amazon’s (AWS) cloud services for a Mobility Services Platform that will upload data from Toyota cars globally that could be used for monetised services. Data Gathering From Fleet Toyota’s platform in Amazon’s cloud…
Fake News
,

AI-Faked Photos and Videos Concerns

Social media analytics company Graphika has reported identifying images of faces for social media profiles that appear to have been faked using machine learning for the purpose of China-based anti-U.S. government campaigns. Graphika Detects Graphika,…
credit card
,

Ritz Roasted

Some diners with bookings at the Ritz Hotel were reportedly targeted by phone scammers who posed as hotel staff to steal credit card details. What Happened? The ID spoofing attack involved the fraudsters pretending to be hotel staff,…

Tech Tips – Use The Timeline

If you’re using Windows 10 and you need to quickly find a document that you’ve worked on in the past using the Timeline can help you to find it and start working where you left off. To find files using the timeline: Either select…
Home Workerpexels
,

Remote Working and Office 365

Remote working during the pandemic has made businesses look more closely at what IT tools are best for the job.  Here is a look at what Microsoft’s Office 365 has to offer. Remote Working ONS figures show that 53 per cent of those…
Phone Girlsprexels

Trump Terminates TikTok

The Trump administration’s next high-profile target in its Chinese trade-war is the hugely popular video-sharing mobile app TikTok, which has been slapped with a 45-day ban in the U.S. from 20 September 2020. Executive Orders Chinese…
Tokyo
,

No More Laptops From Toshiba

Tokyo-based Toshiba Corporation has announced that it has now transferred the remaining 19.9 per cent of its outstanding shares in its PC business (re-branded as Dynabook Inc.) to Sharp Corporation. Helped By Foxconn Back in June 2018,…
Offices

Starling … an Example of Challenger Bank Boosted During Pandemic

A statement to investors from Anne Boden, CEO of Starling, gives an example of how and why starter banks and Fintech have seen a rise in popularity over the period of the pandemic. Starling Starling is a London-based, digital, mobile-only…

Tech Tips – Translate Text On The Fly

If you are using Word in Windows 10 and you would like a really fast and easy way to translate text into another language and include it in your document, here’s how. Highlight the text in your Word document that you would like to translate.Right-mouse…
Reports

Try Using Microsoft ‘Surveys’ Function

With surveys, quizzes and polls providing some valuable insights that can be used for marketing and content creation, we look at and compare the survey solutions that Microsoft and others offer. Surveys, Quizzes and Polls Surveys, quizzes…
Sorry were closedprexels

Apple Wants Rent Cuts With UK Landlords

It has been reported that due to the effects of the pandemic on the UK high street, even tech giant Apple is trying to negotiate a 50 per cent rent cut with its retail landlords. Reports The reports, which appeared in the UK’s Sunday…
Australia
, ,

The Start of Google and Facebook Paying For News Content?

At a time when smaller news outlets have been forced to close and big tech companies dominate distribution, the Australian Government may make the likes of Google and Facebook pay for their news content. What’s The Problem? The pandemic…
Robot
,

AI, Data Protection & The ICO

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published guidelines to help clarify how data protection principles apply to AI projects. The Document The guidance document (now a pdf available online on the ICO website) was produced…

Tech Tips – Dictation

If you’d like to give your hands a rest, if you need to quickly capture notes, or even if you’d like to take an easy written record of the information given in a phone call, try using the dictation feature in Windows 10.  Here’s…
Ammerican building
,

Antitrust and Big Tech

With U.S. Congress members grilling the bosses of the big tech companies this week with a view to deciding if their companies have become too big and powerful, in this article we take a look at the Antitrust laws and issues. Antitrust Laws In…
woman wearing face mask
,

Face Masks Beat Facial Recognition

New research has shown that even the most advanced facial recognition algorithms can only identify as little as 50 per cent of faces when masks are worn. Test Although necessary in the pandemic, mask-wearing appears to be posing a serious…
remote worker
,

Remote Working Means Public Cloud and DaaS Spend Increase

Gartner has forecast continued spending on the public cloud and particularly desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) through 2020, fuelled by remote working during the pandemic. Growth The Gartner market watcher’s global public cloud services market…
Fresh Fruit

Free Delivery of Amazon Groceries

Amazon is now taking on the supermarkets and Ocado in the UK with free grocery deliveries from its Amazon Fresh service. Amazon Fresh The Amazon Fresh grocery service enables Amazon Prime customers, firstly in London and parts of the…

Tech Tips – Getting Organised Using Microsoft Edge

If you are using Microsoft Edge in Windows 10, here’s a way that you can organise multiple browser tabs that you need to have open for a job or project into a ‘Collection’ that you can easily access later. To make a ‘Collection’…

1,000% More Gold In E-Waste Than Gold-Ore

With 50 million tonnes of electronic waste produced each year and enterprises having policies in place for its disposal, there is still the problem in many countries of too much of it ending up in landfill or being informally disposed of. What…
GDPR

Test and Trace Breaks GDPR Say Campaigners

The Open Rights Group (ORG) has said that England’s COVID-19 Test and Trace programme is in breach of GDPR. Test and Trace The COVID-19 test and trace system requires people to share personal data such as their name and date of birth,…
,

Celebrity Twitter Accounts Hacked For Bitcoin

Twitter accounts of celebrities including Barack Obama and Bill Gates were hacked and used to operate a scam, asking people to donate bitcoin. What Happened? Hackers used the tools that were normally only available to Twitter staff to…
,

Lockdown Has Promoted Digital Learning Among Adults

Research by techUK with Ipsos MORI and Cisco has revealed that almost 60 per cent of UK adults are interested in developing their digital skills following lockdown. A Thirst For More The research has revealed that, following the experience…

Tech Tips – How To Lock Your Screen

If you’re using Windows 10 and you’d like to prevent others from seeing what you’re working on, if you need to walk away from your device, here’s a quick and easy way to lock your screen: Press the Windows logo key + L.Or, if you’re…
iPhone
,

LinkedIn Sued Over Clipboard-Reading Allegations

An Apple iPhone user in the U.S. has sued LinkedIn over allegations that its app was reading the contents of an Apple device user’s clipboard without their knowledge. Spying Complaint The complainant, Adam Bauer, alleges that LinkedIn’s…
london phone box

UK Rejects Huawei Equipment For 5G Infrastructure

The UK government has gone back on its original decision to use some Huawei equipment in non-core parts of the UK’s 5G network and has opted to remove all Huawei kit by 2027. The Waiting Is Over For the last couple of weeks, Huawei,…
keyboard

Free Cybersecurity Testing Module For Remote Workers

A new penetration testing module as part of the National Cyber Security Centre’s Exercise in a Box toolkit will help remote workers of SME’s to improve their cybersecurity. The free cybersecurity testing module for remote workers is the…
mobile user

Digital Addiction

Digital Addiction 'Digital addiction' is a controversial term that is used to broadly describe sets of compulsive behaviour which relate to the use of digital technology mobile phones, social media, and the Internet. It is thought that…

Tech Tips – Slide To Shutdown

If you’d like to create a fast, easy, and decorative way to shut down your Windows 10 PC, creating a ‘slide to shutdown’ shortcut allows you to simply pull down an on-screen picture blind to turn off your PC.  Here’s how to set…
Huawiei
,

Huawei – A Ban in the Balance

North America has already banned US companies from working with Huawei so with that in mind and with a decision by the UK about Huawei’s involvement in the country’s 5G infrastructure due very soon, we take a closer look at the issues involved. 5G The…
twitter
,

Twitter to Replace “Master”, “Slave” and “Blacklist”

Twitter has announced that it will be replacing programming language terms such as “master”, “slave” and “blacklist” with more inclusive ones. Programming Language Those familiar with programming language and email terms will…
Euros
, , ,

Police Crack Encrypted Network To Reach Crime Gangs

An international law enforcement operation has led to the cracking of the EncroChat Android phone network and the arrest of criminal gangs. The Network The France-based EncroChat network, which was discovered by the French National…
,

Competing Against Huawei

President Trump’s administration is reported to have met with major US communications networking companies in a bid to address the need for improved competition with Huawei globally. Huawei Issues Many of the issues and incidents that…

Tech Tips – Open A Link In A New Browser Tab With Just One Click

If you would like to know how to save time and easily open a link in an online document in its own new browser tab using one just click, here’s how: If you are browsing an online document that has a link in it, click the ‘middle’ button…
Facebook

Why Big Brands Are Boycotting Social Media

Large, mainly U.S.-based companies (many of which are household names) have said that they will be boycotting Facebook and Instagram in terms of paid advertising in July over concerns about the moderation of content and hate speech on the platforms. “Stop…
Microsoft Edge

New Edge Browser To All Windows 10 Users

The new, improved version of Microsoft’s Edge browser has been launched in an update to all Windows 10 users in a move that will give Google’s Chrome some competition. Available To Millions of Users In being made available via update…
woman watching tv

New “Watch Party” Feature For Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime subscribers can be part of 100-viewer "Watch Party" groups and enjoy access to thousands of movies and films as well as chat between group members. Watch Party The Watch Party feature, which is similar to that of Netflix,…
frustrated userpexels

New Windows File Recovery Tool Resurrects Deleted Files

Microsoft’s own Windows File Recovery tool allows users to use a command line app to resurrect or restore a variety of file-types that may have been mistakenly deleted, formatted, or have become corrupt. File Recovery Microsoft’s…

Tech Tips – How To Keep Your Wi-Fi Connection Secure

A good, secure Wi-Fi connection is often the backbone of many peoples' day-to-day online business and is a key-component of data security, so, here are a few tips for making sure that your wireless connection is secure: Make sure that your…
sport and smartphone
,

Medical Apps For Smart Devices

The global pandemic and news about tracking apps have put health and technology in the spotlight.  With this in mind, here are some examples of medical apps for smart devices and smart health products that involve a link between smart…
Black Lives Matter

Big Tech Supporting Black-Owned Businesses

Big companies such as Google, Facebook and Netflix have committed to considerable financial support for black-owned businesses as Black Lives Matter gains momentum. Google In the wake of the killing of George Floyd by U.S. police, followed…
messy room
,

Microsoft Adds Custom Backgrounds and Live Captions in Teams

Microsoft has added custom backgrounds and live captions to Teams in its latest move in the battle between video conferencing and collaborative working online platforms. New Features in Teams Following on from its original announcement…

Tech Tips – How To Create Start Menu Folders

Windows 10 users can help users to get organised with their current work by creating named Start menu folders that have a group of relevant live app Tiles in them.  Here’s how to create your Start menu folders: Click on the Start…
protestorspexels
,

Facial Recognition Backlash

The recent killing of George Floyd by U.S. police appears to have been the catalyst for a backlash by tech companies such as Amazon and Microsoft who are banning the police from using facial recognition software until more regulations are in…
contactless paymentpexels

COVID-19 Advances Move To Cashless Society

A survey has shown how the need for most people to pay using a contactless card in shops, digital/ mobile and online means for purchases during lockdown may have sped up the move towards a cashless future. Survey The survey of 2,000 people,…
amazon echopexels
, ,

Voice and Contactless Technologies For a Safer Workplace

With businesses looking to ensure COVID-safe working conditions, the use of voice and contactless interfaces could help provide safer ways of carrying out daily work tasks. Report A recent report by 451 Research states that technology…
Natwest cardpexel

NatWest’s Extra Layer of Behavioural Biometrics Security

In partnership with Visa, NatWest has added an invisible layer of behavioural biometrics as part of an authentication process that will enable compliance with a new EU regulation. Which Regulation? The Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) regulation,…

Tech Tips – Save Time With Aero Shake

If you’ve got a screen full of windows open on Windows 10 and you need to unclutter your screen so you can concentrate on just the one you’re working on, the old ‘Aero Shake’ trick still works and can save time. Here is how to use…

Tech Tips – How to Have Better Video Chats

If you would like to improve your video conference calls in terms of how things look, sound and operate, here are a few tips: Consider using a webcam rather than the built-in laptop cam.  It may be better quality (picture and sound) plus…
car charging
,

Electric Vehicles, Batteries & Renewables

7 million electric vehicles are already on the world’s roads and it is predicated that 31 per cent of the overall car fleet will be electric by 2040 (i.e. 58% of all vehicles sold). How these vehicles are powered by (or can store) renewable…
Covid mask
,

COVID Alerts From Google Maps

Google Maps is now issuing COVID-19 related alerts to those looking for public transport directions in cities, looking for medical facilities and testing centres, and for those crossing borders. New Alerts Google has announced on its…
Secirity Camera
,

Facial Recognition, Photo Identity and Privacy Protection

With phone cameras, surveillance cameras with facial recognition seemingly everywhere and the world entering a new phase of social change, many people are looking at how they can take simple steps to retain and protect their privacy rights. Faces Enshrined…
Lilium Air TaxiImages and videos are free to use but should be credited to Lilium and only used in their original form. https://lilium.com/

Vertical Take-Off Air Taxi

German vertical take-off air taxi start-up company Lilium has just received a major funding boost from Baillie Gifford, the second-biggest shareholder in Tesla. Additional Funding Lilium had already raised $340 million, $240 million…

Tech Tips – How To Stop Background Apps

Here’s how to stop background apps from running in the background on Windows 10 as they can use up more of your battery power and data. Go to: Settings > Privacy > Background apps.To stop all from running, toggle ‘Let apps run…
cookies

What Are Cookies And What Do They Do?

Cookies perform functions and provide information that helps website users, businesses, publishers, and advertisers. This article looks at what cookies are, what they do, and the legislation that affects how they are used. What Are Cookies? Cookies…
Man with laptop and phone
,

Beware of Fake Contact Tracer Messages

Just as you thought that cybercriminals had exploited every aspect of the pandemic, there are now warnings to beware of fake contact tracer messages. Contact Tracing in the UK Here in the UK, NHS contact tracers are now contacting…
Google device
,

Google Store Takes Down App That Removes Chinese Software

Google has removed an app from its Play Store that was designed to help users to detect and delete apps that were made in China. More Than 1 Million Downloads The Remove China Apps, which is reported to have been downloaded by more than…
Facebook

How To Bulk-Delete or Hide Old Facebook Posts

We show you how to bulk-delete or hide old Facebook posts based on a variety of filters, using Facebook's new ‘Manage Activity’ tool. Change With so many subscribing to Facebook over the last 15 years it is likely that over time,…

Tech Tips – How To Change The Background In Zoom

Here is how to change the background in Zoom to something that is a little more interesting than an overcrowded bookshelf: In the Zoom app, click your profile (at the top right), and then click Settings.  On the left-hand menu, click…
mobile phone
,

What Is Vishing? And How to Guard Against It

‘Vishing’, or ‘phishing over the phone’ is on the rise and in this article, we look at what vishing is, and the techniques used. We show examples and explain how to guard against it. What Is Vishing? The word Vishing is a combination…
Woman with Mask and phone
,

NHS App For An “Immunity Passport”

The idea of using facial recognition for Covid-19 "immunity passports" has been suggested by Andrew Bud, chief executive of iProov. The company behind the NHS app. App The NHS app system is for Android and iOS and not to be confused with…
Switch and cables

eBay Port Scanning Causes Alarm

Reports that eBay has been running port scans against the computers of visitors to the platform have caused alarm over potential security issues. Port Scans Port scanning is something that many people associate with cyberattacks…
Internet Speed
,

Internet Speed Record

Researchers from Australia’s Monash, Swinburne, and RMIT universities claim to have set a new Internet speed record of 44.2 Tbps. Fibre Connection The claim, which is featured in the ‘Nature Communications’ journal (https://www.nature.com/)…

Tech Tips – 3 Ways to help speed up your Windows 10 PC

In this week's edition of Tech Tips we look at 3 different ways to help you to speed up your Windows 10 PC: 1. Change Power Settings If you are using a power saver plan, you can change your power settings to “Higher Performance” or…
silver-iphone-angry-facefreestocks
,

Does My Phone Have A Virus?

Have you have ever wondered "does my phone have a virus?", if so read on. This article looks at how to tell if your phone has a virus, what to do if you think it has, and how to protect your phone. Phones are essentially powerful mobile computers…
alternative-auto-automobile-batteryMike
,

Fuel Engine Car Sales Fall Faster Than Electric Cars

Fuel engine car sales fall faster then electric cars as Bloomberg NEF (BNEF) forecasts that sales of combustion engine cars will drop 23 per cent in 2020. Compared with worldwide electric car registrations being set to fall by only 18 per…
new-home-keys-in-door PhotoMix
,

Virtual Restart For Housing Market

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick, recently announced a virtual restart for the housing market. Furthermore, technology such as virtual viewings looks set to play an important part. Hard…
woman-wearing-face-maskAnna Shvets
,

Are Masks A Challenge To Facial Recognition Technology?

As questions about the continued use of potentially unreliable and unregulated live facial recognition (LFR) technology continue. Masks used to protect against the spread of coronavirus may be presenting a further challenge to the technology. Questions…

Tech Tips – On-Demand OneDrive

This week we show you how to access all your OneDrive files without having to download them and use storage space on your Windows device. We also display how it is possible to have certain files and folders available on-demand locally on your…
,

How ‘Dark Mode’ Can Help

If you’ve heard about (or already use) ‘dark mode’ for apps and devices but don’t know much about it, here’s a look at why it has been introduced, whether it delivers real benefits, and how to turn on dark mode in different operating…

Robotic Dog Maintains Social Distancing in Singapore

A robotic dog maintains social distancing in a trial in a park in Singapore. The robot called SPOT warns visitors to observe social distancing measures. Sign The 2-week trial in Singapore’s Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park is a collaboration…
Scam Warnings For Remote Workers
,

Scam Warnings For Remote Workers

More scam warnings for Zoom, Teams and Meet users as reports show hackers still use domains related to popular collaborative platforms to target remote workers with phishing scams during lockdown. Domains Almost as soon as the lockdown…
,

Virgin Media and O2 Merging To Compete Against BT

Virgin Media and O2 are merging to compete against BT in a £31 billion deal. The aim is to create an entertainment and telecoms company that can provide some serious competition to telecoms giant BT. Mobile & Broadband O2, owned…
,

How Tech is Helping Reduce Lockdown Stress and Mental Health Problems

A state of lockdown has increased our reliance on technology to help us meet our needs and to reduce our stress.  Here are some of the many ways that technology has helped us to look after our mental health in these challenging times. Apps…
, ,

Apple and Google Ban Location Tracking in Contact Tracing App

Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc (Google) have both announced that they will not use GPS location tracking as part of the COVID-19 contact tracing app that they are jointly developing. Contact Tracing Apps With contact-tracing and testing believed…
,

Businesses Get Extra Time To Meet New Secure Payment Processing Rules

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has given UK businesses an extra 6 months to reach compliance with the new Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) rules for secure payment processing. What Are the SCA Secure Payment Processing Rules? The…
GMA Logo
, ,

Facial Recognition and Super Computers Help in COVID-19 Fight

Technology is playing an important role in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic with adapted facial recognition cameras and super-computers now joining the battle to help beat the virus. Adapted Facial Recognition Facial recognition camera…
GMA Logo
,

Google Meet ‘Free For Everyone’

Google has entered the video conferencing market fight with the likes of Zoom and Facebook Messenger as it announces that its ‘Google Meet’ premium video conferencing service will soon be free for everyone. Google Meet Google Meet…
GMA Logo
,

UK Contact Tracing App In A Couple Of Weeks

Matthew Gould, Chief Executive of the National Health Service’s technology group NHSX has announced that a COVID-19 contact-tracing app for the UK could be ready “in the next couple of weeks”. Bluetooth, Short-Range Most countries…
GMA Logo
,

Robot Food Deliveries in Milton Keynes During Lockdown

Delivery robots from U.S.-based company Starship Technologies have come into their own during the lockdown as a way of delivering food to the residents and workers of Milton Keynes. First Commercial Deployment in the UK The autonomous…
phone recycling
, ,

How To Securely Dispose of Old Phones, PC’s and Laptops

When our PCs, laptops, phones, and other devices need to be replaced, disposing of them in a way that does not pose a data security risk is especially important. Here are some tips on how to dispose of devices securely. Backup Before…
GMA Logo
,

Laptops For Online Lessons at Home

Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, has announced that the UK’s Department for Education will be providing disadvantaged children across England with a supply of laptops and tablets to help them study at home during the coronavirus outbreak. Those…
GMA Logo
, ,

Google Blocks 18 Million Coronavirus Scam Emails Per Day

Google is reported to have been blocking 100 million phishing emails per day and 18 million email scams relating specifically to coronavirus. Millions of Scams and Spam Messages Daily On its Cloud blog on 16th April, Google reported that…
GMA Logo
,

Amazon Can Own Deliveroo Because of Pandemic

After the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) worries last May, the CMA has now announced that Amazon can invest in food distribution company Deliveroo. Last May Last May, Amazon was a leading investor in a funding round of $575…
GMA Logo
,

The Incredible 5G and COVID-19 Conspiracy Theory

Last week it was David Icke and this week it’s TV presenter Eamonn Holmes who’s given media momentum to the conspiracy theory that suggests a link between the emergence of COVID-19 and the use of 5G.  What’s going on, why, and how? The…
GMA Logo

Amazon Sacks Employees Who Questioned Pandemic Safety Measures

Amazon is reported to have sacked three employees, two of whom had recently made public statements questioning Amazon’s pandemic safety measures and one who had tried to organise better working conditions. User Experience Designers The…
GMA Logo

Google’s Drone-Deliveries Boosted By Pandemic

The value of drone delivery services appears to have been realised now that the world’s population centres are in lockdown, with Alphabet’s (Google’s) drone deliveries doubling in test areas in the U.S. and Australia. What Drone Delivery…
GMA Logo

Make Your Own Adverts With YouTube’s Free Video Builder Tool

YouTube has launched YouTube Video Builder, a free tool that enables businesses to easily make short video adverts. Easy To Use The new free (beta) Video Builder tool enables users to create video animations from static elements such…
GMA Logo
,

Coronavirus Tracking

Following recent Wall Street Journal reports that phone data from tech companies and data providers is being used to track the movements of Americans in order to better understand the spread of COVID-19, here’s a look at how data and apps…
GMA Logo
,

Facebook Launches Desktop Messenger

Search terms relating to popular collaborative working tools such as ‘Zoom’ (the most searched for), GoToMeeting, WebEx, Slack and Microsoft Teams have also seen huge search volumes in Google in recent weeks. Facebook has launched a…
GMA Logo

YouTube Bans 5G and COVID-19 Link Conspiracy Videos

After a recent live-streamed interview with David Icke linked the introduction of 5G technology to the emergence of the COVID-19 the pandemic, Google’s YouTube has now banned all 5G conspiracy videos. 5G Theory Far-Fetched Mr Icke’s…
GMA Logo
,

Data Reveals Business Worries About Remote Working Challenges

London-based security company Redscan has reported that recent Google searches reveal how businesses are focused on how they can adapt to the security and technology challenges posed by remote working. Not Prepared This does appear to…
GMA Logo
,

Maintaining Security on Employee Exit

When employees leave (or are asked to leave) or retire from businesses and organisations, those entities still have a legal responsibility to ensure that security levels are maintained with regards to data security. Laws For Data The…
GMA Logo
,

Research Indicates Zoom Is Being Targeted By Cybercriminals

With many people working from home due to coronavirus, research by Check Point indicates that cybercriminals may be targeting the video conferencing app ‘Zoom’. Domains Cybersecurity company ‘Check Point’ reports witnessing a…
GMA Logo

Google Warns Against Disabling Websites During Lockdown

Google has warned businesses that are tempted to disable or temporarily close their online business website during the coronavirus outbreak not to do so, as this could have a lasting, detrimental effect on its (SEO) search engine rankings. Why…
GMA Logo
,

Data Caps Removed During Pandemic

The UK government has announced that the UK’s big ISP’s are removing caps on data for fixed-line broadband during the coronavirus pandemic. Fixed-Line Broadband The joint announcement by the companies, government and Ofcom will affect…
GMA Logo
, , ,

Microsoft Teams User Numbers Up By 12 Million In A Week

Microsoft’s collaborative working platform ‘Teams’ is reported to have seen a massive 12 million user boost in one week as a result of remote-working through the coronavirus outbreak, and through Microsoft making the platform generally…
GMA Logo

Viruses Killed By Robots

Robots armed with UV-C ultraviolet light beams that can effectively disinfect surfaces in a hospital room in 10-20 minutes are helping in the fight against COVID-19. UVD Robots, Denmark The robots, which are reported to have been shipped…
GMA Logo

Facebook Video Quality Reduced To Cope With Demand

Facebook and Instagram have reduced the quality of videos shared on their platforms in Europe as demand for streaming has increased due to self-isolation. Lower Bitrate, Looks Similar The announcement by Facebook that a lowering of the…
GMA Logo
,

Cybercriminals Hijacking Netflix and Other Streaming Accounts

It has been reported that the surge in the use of streaming music and video services has been accompanied by a surge in the number of user accounts being taken over by cybercriminals. Entertainment During Isolation Self-isolation and…
GMA Logo

Maintaining Security During The COVID-19 Health Crisis

The current global health crisis may bring many different IT security challenges to businesses and organisations and this article highlights some of the ways that you can prepare to keep IT security covered as best you can at this difficult…
GMA Logo

Cybercriminals Take Advantage of Covid-19 Outbreak With Phishing Emails

Some cybercriminals have already taken advantage of the fear surrounding the Covid-19 outbreak by sending out phishing emails that promise cures, seek donations, or heighten panic in order to extract personal data and money. Phishing For…
GMA Logo

Surge In Demand For Teleconference Apps and Platforms That Enable Home Working

The need for people to work from home during the Covid-19 outbreak is reported to have led to a huge increase in the downloads of business teleconferencing apps and in the use of popular cloud-based services like G Suite. Surge In Downloads Downloads…
GMA Logo

Apple Announces The Closure Of All Stores Outside China Until March 27

Apple has announced that due to the global spread of COVID-19, it will be closing all of its retail stores outside of Greater China until March 27. Flexible Working A statement on the Apple website (Newsroom) highlighted how Apple is…
GMA Logo

Coronavirus Outbreak: Remote Working

With the number of countries and cities on lockdown increasing daily more and more organisations are looking to remote working solutions to keep working during the current pandemic.  The nature of many tech industry jobs means that working…
GMA Logo
,

How Much Does Google Know About You?

To have access to Google’s many features and services, as with other platforms, we need to give some personal information and then sign-in, but have you ever wondered just how much information Google keeps about you and your activities? Google This…
GMA Logo

Survey Reveals IR35 Tax Reforms Legal Action Risk For Private Sector Companies

A survey by ContractorCalculator has revealed that many private sector companies may be at risk of legal action through misinterpreting the new IR35 tax reforms. What Is IR35? The IR35 tax reform legislation, set to be introduced this…
GMA Logo
,

Facebook Sued Down-Under For £266bn Over Cambridge Analytica Data Sharing Scandal

Six years after the personal data of 87 million users was harvested and later shared without user consent with Cambridge Analytica, Australia’s privacy watchdog is suing Facebook for an incredible £266bn over the harvested data of its citizens. What…
GMA Logo
,

Billions Of Devices At Risk Due To Wi-Fi Chip Vulnerability

A security threat to devices, Wi-Fi access points (APs), and routers that comes from the Kr00k Wi-Fi chip vulnerability could affect billions according to security researchers. Kr00k The existence of Kr00k, also known by the catchy name…
GMA Logo

Coronavirus Affecting Tech Shares

Coronavirus is firstly a threat to public health but the impact of the virus hitting the Chinese economy (a centre for tech goods), the threat of widescale illness among workers, the effects of measures to contain the virus and other factors…
GMA Logo
,

Gigabit, Ultrafast Broadband For One Million Households In The West Midlands

Virgin Media has announced that in the UK’s largest gigabit switch-on to date, it is launching its next-generation Gig1 Fibre Broadband services for 1 million+ homes in Birmingham, Coventry and surrounding areas across the West Midlands. Speed Virgin…
GMA Logo
,

AI Skills Course Available

A free, basic AI skills course, funded by Finland’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (MEAE), is being made available to citizens across the EU’s 27 member states.  Success in Finland The decision by the Finnish government…
Security Newsletter

IT Security Updates issue 23

Redcar Council Victim Of Major Ransomware Cyber Attack A Northern England Borough Council has been reduced to using pen and paper to deliver key services. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has struggled to counter a Ransomware attack…
GMA Logo

5G Explained

5G (fifth generation) is essentially the next step up and the replacement for your current 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) connection.  The main benefits that this new generation of mobile broadband should bring are faster upload and download…
GMA Logo
,

Dentist’s Legal Challenges To Anonymity of Negative Google Reviewer

ABC News in Australia has reported how a Melbourne dentist has convinced a Federal Court Judge to order tech giant Google to produce identifying information about a person who posted a damaging negative review about the dentist on Google’s…
GMA Logo
, ,

Google Indexing Makes WhatsApp Group Links Visible

A journalist has reported on Twitter that WhatsApp groups may not be as secure as users think because the "Invite to Group via Link" feature allows groups to be indexed by Google, thereby making them available across the Internet. Links…
GMA Logo
, ,

Worries About Huawei Persist

Security fears about Huawei products being used in the new 5G networks are still being expressed by the Trump administration, while Google has clarified its position on the matter. What’s So Bad About Huawei? Back in July 2018, …
GMA Logo

AI, Supercomputers … and Storms Dennis & Ciara

The disruption and damage caused by weather events affect businesses across the UK but having the benefit of early and detailed insights provided a by a new supercomputer system could enable businesses, organisations, agencies, local authorities…
GMA Logo

Google In Talks About Paying Publishers For News Content

It has been reported that Google is in talks with publishers with a view to buying in premium news content for its own news services to improve its relationship with EU publishers, and to combat fake news. Expanding The Google News Initiative Reports…
GMA Logo

‘Runet’ Test – Russia Unplugs Itself From The Internet

A little later than its original planned date of April 1st 2019, a recent test-run has seen Russia successfully ‘unplug’ itself from the Internet and prove that it can create its own state-controlled Intranet. Successfully Creating The…
GMA Logo
,

UK Job Candidates Favour Tech-Savvy Companies

New research conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Tableau Software has revealed that half of UK job candidates would reject a job offer from a company that offered no digital and data potential. Training The research results, which…
GMA Logo
,

Combatting Fake News

The spread of misinformation/disinformation/fake news by a variety of media including digital and printed stories and deepfake videos is a growing threat in what has been described as out ‘post-truth era’, and many people, organisations…
GMA Logo

Apple Fined £21M For Slowing Old iPhones

The French competition and fraud watchdog DGCCRF has fined tech giant Apple €25 million (£21 million) for slowing down some old iPhones and not telling people how to fix the problem. What Happened? Back in 2017, some iPhone users were…
GMA Logo

Growth in Threats To Apple Compared To Windows Machines

In a trend that appears contrary to popular perceptions, the latest Malwarebytes (annual) State of malware report has revealed that the growth in attacks on Apple endpoints is outpacing the threats targeting Windows machines. 11…
GMA Logo

Amazon Offering Custom ‘Brand Voice’ to Replace Default Alexa Voice

Amazon’s AWS is offering a new ‘Brand Voice’ capability to companies which enables them to create their own custom voice for Alexa that replaces the default voice with one that reflects their “persona”, such as the voice of Colonel…
GMA Logo

Innovations/Gamechangers to Expect in 2020

This is the time of year for looking ahead to how technology could be affecting business and hopefully, enhancing our lives over the coming year and here is a selection of just some of the possible game-changing technological innovations that…
GMA Logo

Tracking For People Who Lose Things

Google Assistant is now supporting Tile’s Bluetooth tracker which means that Tile customers can use a simple voice command to enlist the help of Google Assistant in finding their lost keys, wallet, TV remote control and more. What Is Tile? Tile…
GMA Logo
,

WhatsApp Ceases Support For More Old Phone Operating Systems

WhatsApp has announced that its messaging app will no longer work on outdated operating systems, which is a change that could affect millions of smartphone users. Android versions 2.3.7 and Older, iOS 8 and Older The change, which took…
GMA Logo

Business Leaders Lack Vital Digital Skills Says OU Survey

The Open University’s new ‘Leading in a Digital Age’ report highlights a link between improved business performance and leaders who are equipped, through technology training, to manage digital change. Investing In Digital Skills Training The…
GMA Logo
,

Want A Walkie-Talkie? Now You Can Use Your Phone and MS Teams

Microsoft has announced that it is introducing a “push-to-talk experience” to its ‘Teams’ collaborative platform that turns employee or company-owned smartphones and tablets into walkie-talkies. No Crosstalk or Eavesdropping The…
GMA Logo

Proposed New UK Law To Cover IoT Security

The UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), has announced that it will soon be preparing new legislation to enforce new standards that will protect users of IoT devices from known hacking and spying risks. IoT…
GMA Logo

Life After End-of-Life For Windows 7 Updates

Pressure from die-hard and disgruntled Windows 7 users may have been a factor in Microsoft issuing a second update to its old Windows 7 Operating System, only two weeks after the official end-of-life date of Wednesday 14 January. (Almost)…
GMA Logo
, , ,

Police Images of Serious Offenders Reportedly Shared With Private Landlord For Facial Recognition Trial

There have been calls for government intervention after it was alleged that South Yorkshire Police shared its images of serious offenders with a private landlord (Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield) as part of a live facial recognition…
GMA Logo
,

Avast Anti-Virus Is To Close Subsidiary Jumpshot After Browsing Data Selling Privacy Concerns

Avast, the Anti-virus company, has announced that it will not be providing any more data to, and will be commencing “a wind down” of its subsidiary Jumpshot Inc after a report that it was selling supposedly anonymised data to advertiser…
GMA Logo

Eating Lunch At Your Desk Brings Health Risks

Recent research by BUPA has highlighted how many UK workers don’t take a proper lunch break each day and end up risking their health and happiness and reducing their productivity by eating at their desks. The Number The research, which…
GMA Logo
, ,

EU Considers Ban on Facial Recognition

It has been reported that the European Commission is considering a ban on the use of facial recognition in public spaces for up to five years while new regulations for its use are put in place. Document The reports of a possible…
GMA Logo

£100m Fines Across Europe In The First 18 Months of GDPR

It has been reported that since the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force in May 2018, £100m of data protection fines have been imposed on companies and organisations across Europe. The Picture In The UK The…
GMA Logo

Email Security (Part 2)

Following on from last weeks’s featured article about email security (part 1), in part 2 we focus on many of the email security and threat predictions for this year and for the near, foreseeable future. Looking Forward In part 1 of…
GMA Logo
,

Glimpse of the Future of Tech at CES Expo Show

Last week, at the giant CES expo in Las Vegas, the latest technology from around the world is on display, and here are just a few of the glimpses into the future that are being demonstrated there, with regards to business-tech. Cyberlink…
GMA Logo
,

AI Better at Breast Cancer Detection Than Doctors

Researchers at Good Health have created an AI program which, in tests, has proven to be more accurate at detecting and diagnosing breast cancer than expert human radiologists. Trained The AI software, which was developed by…
GMA Logo

Blue Light Thinking Wrong Suggests Research

New research results from the University of Manchester suggest that the popularly accepted wisdom that the sharp blue light emitted by our smartphones and laptops is harmful to our health and disruptive to our sleep may be wrong. Blue…
GMA Logo
,

Email Security (Part 1)

In this week's featured article, which is the first of two parts on what is a huge subject for businesses to tackle, we take a look at some of the important issues of email security and how businesses can try to strengthen this crucial area…
GMA Logo
, ,

New Phishing Tracker For Office 365

Microsoft is launching a new "campaign views" tool in Office 365 that is designed to offer greater protection from phishing attacks by enabling businesses to be able to spot the pattern of a phishing campaign over individual messages. Context…
GMA Logo

Real-time Phishing Protection Now Available in Chrome

Google has announced real-time phishing protection with the help of improvements to 'Safe Browsing' which allow Chrome to check each new site you visit against a safe list stored on your computer and with Google, so that Chrome can issue an…
GMA Logo
,

New Google ‘Interpreter’ : Real-Time Translator For Your Mobile

Google has announced the roll out of its "interpreter mode" real-time translator on Assistant-enabled Android and iOS phones worldwide. A Back and Forth Conversation Google says that interpreter mode means that you can now use your mobile…
GMA Logo

Businesses Not Prepared For IR35 Tax Reforms

A poll by recruitment firm Hays appears to show a lack of awareness about preparedness for next year’s new IR35 tax reforms for medium-to-larger private sector organisations. What Is IR35? The IR35 tax reform legislation, set to be…
GMA Logo

ICO Warns Police on Facial Recognition

In a recent blog post, Elizabeth Denham, the UK’s Information Commissioner, has said that the police need to slow down and justify their use of live facial recognition technology (LFR) in order to maintain the right balance in reducing our…

Microsoft migrates 150,000 mailboxes to Exchange Online

Before releasing Office 365 to the public, Microsoft recognized the advantage--to both users and the company--of migrating to Exchange Online. Exchange Online offers the ability to access email from anywhere on any device and much more. Exchange…
GMA Logo
,

Google’s Chrome To Block Mixed Content Pages Without HTTPS

Google has announced that in a series of steps starting in Chrome 79, all mixed content will gradually be blocked by default. What Is Mixed Content? Mixed content refers to the insecure http:// sub-resources that load into https://…
GMA Logo

AI and Facial Analysis Job Interviews

Reports of the first job interviews conducted in the UK using Artificial Intelligence and facial analysis technology have been met with mixed reactions. The Software The AI and facial analysis technology used for the interviews comes…
GMA Logo

Email Signature Legally Binding For Lawyer

A recent ruling by the High Court that an email containing an automated signature is legally binding proved costly to the lawyer who sent such an email on behalf of his client that included the wrong price for a land sale. £25,000 Below The…
GMA Logo
,

Windows Virtual Desktop Generally Available Now

Microsoft has announced that its Windows Virtual Desktop is now generally available worldwide on Azure and will include Windows 7 free Extended Security Updates for up to three years. Windows Virtual Desktop Windows Virtual Desktop from…
GMA Logo
,

Worldwide Rollout of ‘Personal Vault’ OneDrive Security Features

Microsoft has announced that the ‘Personal Vault’ security features for its OneDrive storage service are now available worldwide on all OneDrive consumer accounts.  What Is Personal Vault? Personal Vault is a protected area in…
GMA Logo
,

Police Auction Hacker’s £240,000 of Cryptocurrency

The £240,000 of cryptocurrency confiscated from a teenager who was jailed for hacking ISP TalkTalk has been auctioned by police with the proceeds going towards fighting crime. TalkTalk Hack Elliott Gunton, (now 19) was jailed for 20…
GMA Logo

London Gets 10 Million New Landline Numbers

Telecoms regulator Ofcom has announced the introduction of 10 million new 0204 landline numbers for London in a move to keep up with a growing demand fuelled by Broadband connections. Running Out There are only 500,000 of the 30 million…
Security Newsletter

IT Security Updates issue 20

The latest news from the sector sees two major flaws highlighted by cyber security professionals with major implications for enterprise-level IT patch management cycles, BioStar 2 users face uncertainty over flaw and more ... South Korean…
GMA Logo
,

Four-Year Lifespan For Self-Driving Cars

As large car manufacturers seek to reinvent themselves as ‘mobility companies’ in an effort to compete for global leadership in the growing autonomous driving sector, a Ford Executive has predicted that self-driving cars will only…
GMA Logo

No Leather, Jeans, Hard Surfaces, Other Credit Cards or Magnets – Warning for Apple Card

Just as the new ‘Apple Card’ is launched in the US, Apple has listed several surfaces and materials that could damage and discolour the coated titanium card – including denim and leather. Apple Card The newly launched (in the US)…
GMA Logo

Video Labelling Causes Problems

Google has already been criticised by some for not calling out China over disinformation about Hong Kong, but despite disabling 210 YouTube channels with suspected Chinese state links, Google’s new move to label Hong Kong YouTube videos hasn’t…
GMA Logo

Audible’s ‘Captions’ Subtitles Feature Attracts Lawsuit From Publishers

The Amazon-owned producer of spoken audio entertainment ‘Audible’ is facing a lawsuit from the Association of American Publishers (AAP) on the grounds that its new “Audible Captions” speech-to-text subtitles feature may violate copyright…
GMA Logo
,

Grammar Correction Capabilities For Gmail and G Suite

Google has announced that it is rolling out new real-time, AI-powered spelling and grammar correction capabilities for G Suite users and personal Gmail accounts. Real-Time, As-You-Type The real-time, as-you-type spelling autocorrection…
GMA award 2017
, ,

GMA win Trusted Advisor of the Year Award

  GMA are delighted to be selected by intY as the winner of "Trusted Advisor of the Year 2017" Thanks for our colleagues at intY for giving GMA this award at their ceremony in London at "The Brewery", near the Barbican centre, on 27th Sept…
3CX Phone systems
, ,

GMA Awarded 3CX Platinum Partner

Gregory Micallef Associates are proud to announce that we have been awarded an elite Platinum Partner status by 3CX. An industry-leading provider of innovative soft-ware based phone systems. GMA is the only 3CX Platinum Partner in the London…
Celebrating 25 Years
,

GMA Celebrates 25 Years!

  It is quite hard to imagine our world without GMA in it, but 25 years ago GMA didn’t exist. In the IT world of 1992 the market was just blossoming. The most dominant introduction around this time was the World Wide Web. Around this…