Archive for February 2021
Featured Article: Emotnet: A Million Bucks per Incident
In the light of a reported recent victory by Europol in trying to stop the particularly dangerous Emotet malware, we look at what it is, how it is spread, and how to try and guard against it. What Is Emotet? Emotet is a computer malware program, believed to be Russian in origin, that was originally…
Read MoreGoogle’s Record Advertising and Cloud Sales Due To Pandemic
Alphabet Inc’s (Google’s) quarterly sales for its advertising and cloud businesses exceeded expectations to hit record levels, helped by the pandemic driving retail and clients online. Figures Google’s advertising business, which includes YouTube, made up 81 per cent of Alphabet’s record $56.9 billion in quarterly sales (fourth quarter). This represented a massive 23 per cent…
Read MoreAmazon AI Cameras Prompt “Mobile Surveillance” Privacy Row
The fact that Amazon has started using AI-powered cameras in delivery vans that constantly record footage of drivers has led to accusations of mobile corporate surveillance. Cameras The Driveri combined video recording and AI cameras have been introduced to the cab of Amazon delivery vans to record drivers with the stated intention of helping to…
Read More‘Custom Neural Voice’ Available From Microsoft
Microsoft has announced the general availability of a one-of-a-kind customised, synthetic voice for brands, generated using Custom Neural Voice, the Text-to-Speech (TTS) feature of Speech in Azure Cognitive Services. What Is It? The Custom Neural Voice from Microsoft uses deep neural networks and a powerful base model built with speech data from many different speakers to…
Read MoreTech Tip – PDFs From Almost Anything
PDFs are really useful files for sharing and printing and one good thing about Windows 10 is that it enables you to make a pdf out of almost anything. Here’s how: – From any Windows 10 app, use the Print command. – In the Print dialogue box, select Microsoft Print to PDF as the destination…
Read MoreFeatured Article: ‘Robinhood’ … What’s all this fuss about ‘Robinhood’?
In the light of the recent controversy over GameStop shares, we take a look at the growing trend for casual, amateur investing and how the Robinhood app has enabled this. Robinhood Robinhood is a free-trading app that lets any investor trade stocks, options, exchange-traded funds, and cryptocurrency without paying commissions or fees. Robinhood is paid by “market…
Read MoreGrindr in Norway Fined £8.5M
The LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr in Norway was issued an £8.5m penalty for the alleged sharing of users’ sensitive personal data with third-party advertisers without obtaining appropriate consent. Complaint The fine is the result of a legal complaint by the Norwegian Consumer Council (Forbrukerrådet) last year, where it expressed concern that users of the app…
Read MoreContactless Payment Limit Could Be Raised to £100
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has asked the UK Treasury to consider increasing the maximum contactless payment to £100. Changing Payment Behaviour The move away from handling cash due to its potential infection-passing risk, and the lockdowns making consumers less likely to visit ATMs or town centres have led to a move away from cash…
Read MorePoorest People Excluded By Broadband Prices
A survey by Citizens Advice has found that more than one in six people are struggling to afford their broadband during the third lockdown and that poorer people are locked out altogether. Certain Groups Worst Hit Citizens Advice, which also conducted a similar survey during the first lockdown, found that the groups struggling most with…
Read MoreTech Tip – Colour Filters
If you’re having trouble seeing what’s on the screen, Windows 10 allows you to apply a colour filter which changes the screen’s colour palette and can help you distinguish between things that differ only by colour. Here’s how to use it: – Select Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Color filters. – Switch…
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