The widely used Google  reCaptcha V3 bot-detecting login system has come in for some criticism after two security researchers claimed that one of the ways that Google determines whether you’re a malicious user depends on whether you have a Google cookie installed on your browser, which could also mean that the privacy of your browsing habits may also be at risk in using the system. What Is reCaptcha V3? Google’s reCaptcha V3 is the latest version of Google’s bot-detecting login system, introduced last autumn, that can detect abusive traffic/malicious user-behaviour on your website without user friction i.e. without the need [...]

In contrast to the vision of a quieter, close-future utopia where vehicles pass noiselessly by, a new law means that from 2021, all new four-wheel electric cars will be required to include a noise emitting device so that pedestrians can hear the cars approaching. At low speeds, at least. Avas The EU rules on the inclusion of a noise that is emitted at low speeds to help safeguard pedestrians dates back to 2014 when MEPs agreed that new models of electric and hybrid vehicles would have to make a noise similar to a combustion engine by 2019 and that all [...]

The growing number of connected electronic devices in use in the UK has led to an inquiry by the cross-party Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) which will focus on reducing ‘e-waste’ (dumped devices) and creating a circular economy. Mostly As Landfill One of the most startling statistics which has led to the EAC inquiry is that 90% of the 44.7 million tonnes of e-waste produced worldwide in 2017 ends up in landfill, is incinerated, is illegally traded or is otherwise treated in a sub-standard way. Plastics & Precious Metals The need to do something now to prevent an even bigger future [...]

Stylish and engaging social media posts are an important part of marketing communications.  The Over app has the tools to help you to quickly and easily create stylish designs packed with photos, images and text, ready for Instagram, Facebook and other social sites, as well as for posters and flyers. Over has over 84,000 graphics, over 350 fonts, and over 500 customisable templates so that you can create posts to suit your requirements. To get ‘Over’, go to the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store.

An Amazon patent from 2015 appears to indicate that Amazon may consider 'surveillance as a service' using a swarm of its delivery drones armed with CCTV, as a monetising opportunity in the future. Patent The details in the patent foresee customers paying for a tiered service that employs the onboard cameras of Amazon’s delivery drones visiting users' homes in-between delivery routes and filming irregularities and potentially suspicious activities.  For example, the cameras could potentially be programmed to detect evidence of break-ins and lurkers on/near a property, and the onboard microphones could even be programmed to detect suspicious noises such as [...]

Some Deliveroo and Just Eat customers have reported that their accounts have been used to buy food that they didn’t order, but both companies deny a data breach. What Happened? Several Deliveroo customers are reported to have been sent an email from the company stating that the email address linked to their account had been changed, after which it was found that food had been ordered through their account by using credit which an unknown person had obtained by claiming refunds for previous orders. In the case of Just Eat, some customers also reported having their card details used to [...]

An investigation by the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) claims to have unearthed a widespread disinformation campaign aimed at influencing online conversations about several topics, that appears to originate in Russia. Facebook Accounts Sixteen suspected Russian fake accounts that were closed by in early May 2019 led researchers to an apparent campaign which stretched across 30 social networks and blogging platforms and used nine languages. The campaign appeared to be focused away from the main platforms such as Facebook and Twitter and was played out instead on blogging sites, subreddits, and online forums. Even though the scale of [...]

Hackers who shut down the municipal computers of Riviera Beach (a suburb of Palm Beach) in a ransomware attack have just earned themselves $600,000 (£475,000) when the local council decided they had no choice but to pay them. What Happened? An email containing a virus was opened by an employee.  The result was that the ransomware (malware) shut down Riviera Beach’s computer systems and encrypted the files.  This meant that the email system, the system that allowed 911 dispatchers to be able to enter calls into the computer, water pump stations, and staff pay systems were all seriously disrupted.  Staff [...]

Apple has announced a recall of some older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro units due to the fire risk posed by a tendency for the battery to overheat. Repair and Replace Free Apple is offering a recall and replacement program for units that were sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017 with the company offering to replace affected batteries, free of charge due to a potential battery fire risk. Service options for affected customers include finding an Apple Authorized Service Provider (through the online tool), making an appointment at an Apple Retail Store, or contacting Apple Support to arrange mail-in service via the [...]

If you’d like to be able to quickly write or edit a piece of content so that it can be easily used online without having to download or purchase HTML editors, try using a free, online HTML editor. For example, go to https://html5-editor.net/ Type or paste your text into the right-hand side window.  The HTML appears in the left-hand window.  Both are editable. You can, for example, select all the text in the right-hand window (click in the window, CTRL + A), select ‘Format’ (top bar), and select ‘Clear Formatting’.  This will clean up the code so that you can add [...]