Australian banks investigated by competition watchdog for closing bitcoin company accounts October 19, 2015 Australian banks have been closing bitcoin bank accounts – now they’re getting probed by the country’s competition watchdog who is getting on the case. Some 17 bitcoin companies received letters in September saying that their accounts were getting shut down, in what the companies themselves called a “crackdown” from the country’s banks. The Australian Competition [...]
Back to the Future 2 Day October 21, 2015: Five technologies and predictions that came true in reality – and what’s next? October 19, 2015 For over a hundred years, science fiction films have paved the way for society to dream about the potential of technology. From Fritz Lang’s Metropolis through to Star Trek, the Terminator and beyond, the silver screen has long been a canvas for our wildest dreams about what the future might hold. The geeks amongst you [...]
The spy who liked me: Facebook alerts users to snooping by governments October 19, 2015 Facebook is increasing its security measures with a new alert which tells users when their account is the target of spying by government authorities. In a post on Facebook, the company's head of security Alex Stamos said "we will notify you if we believe your account has been targeted or compromised by an attacker suspected of working on behalf of [...]
One in five cyber crime victims believe hackers targeted them specifically October 19, 2015 Cyber crime: It’s getting personal. One in five victims of cyber attacks think they were targeted specifically by hackers, as new figures show that Britons are becoming more cautious online. Some two in five victims lost money, according to a survey from non-profit organisation Get Safe Online. And we’re not talking small change, either. Over [...]
Every London technology and science business mapped in one epic intereactive October 19, 2015 An epic new map detailing every single science and technology company in London sheds light on the booming sectors which now count more than 90,000 businesses and over 700,000 employees with a combined turnover of £153bn. The most in-depth map to date of the capital’s technology businesses reveals Westminster, the City, Camden and Hackney are home [...]
US, UK and Europe: How much stolen credit card details are worth depending on where you live October 17, 2015 Stolen data isn't immune to the laws of supply and demand. Intel Security's The Hidden Data Economy report found that the price of stolen credit card details, the most well-known type of stolen data which is bought and sold, varies depending on how it's packaged, priced as well as sold in the dark market. A basic offering [...]
Think iPhones are expensive? An Apple 1 computer is being auctioned by Christie’s for £500,000 October 16, 2015 One of the first ever Apple computers is going up for sale at London auction house Christie's – and it's expected to raise as much as £500,000. Christie's said the rare Apple 1 computer is one of only about 50 in existence. Hand-made by Steves Jobs and Wozniak in their garage, only 200 were ever made. It's no wonder, then, that [...]
Adobe confirms security hole in Flash Player which leaves users exposed to hackers October 16, 2015 As if Adobe Flash wasn’t already struggling enough. A massive security flaw has just been confirmed, which could leave all Flash users exposed to hackers crashing their computers, or even taking control over them. Adobe has confirmed the “critical” vulnerability, which apparently affects all versions of Flash Player, whether on Windows, Mac or Linux. The [...]
The government just made it easier to hire foreign tech talent with a new “tech nation” visa scheme October 16, 2015 The government is making it easier for the UK's growing technology industry to hire talent from outside the European Union by creating a new "tech nation" visa scheme. There are four key components to the new scheme: a fast-track route that will enable rapidly-growing companies easier access to the right candidates when it is most needed [...]
Antibiotic resistance: It’s farm animals that we should really be worried about October 16, 2015 We all know antibiotic resistance is on the rise and humans are set to suffer, but less understood is the huge role farm animals play in spreading the problem. In the US, agriculture accounts for almost 80 per cent of all antibiotic use, and most of the drugs used on farm animals are also used [...]