IBM marks 30 years of PC, by saying goodbye?

Dr. Mark Dean, one of the engineers who worked on the original personal computer, believes that PCs are no longer the leading edge of computing. No single device has taken the PC's place, he said, instead it has been replaced by the socially-mediated innovation it has fostered.

He made the claim in a blog post commemorating 30 years since the launch of the first IBM personal computer. They may have not been the first to produce a personal computer, but the 5150 launched on the 12^th August 1981, did set the standard of design around which many desktops have been built.

Dr. Dean, does still believe that PC’s will be “much-used” in the future, but are no longer the force of innovation that they once were.  Revealing that even he has overhauled the use of his PC and his primary computer was now a tablet.  The powerful changes, originally initiated by the PC are just getting started as we work in a more efficient way, driven by changes in society.  These are undoubtedly exciting times in the world of new technology.

Hackers Hit Italian Soil

Data hacks so far this year have been rife, and it seems that hackers are not tiring, as attention moves towards Italian shores. 

Hackers have started to release the 8Gbs worth of secret files stolen from an Italian cybercrime unit.  The documents were allegedly taken from the network of the Italian CNAIPIC which oversees the country's critical IT infrastructure.  The attack is thought to be in retaliation for arrests of Italian members of Anonymous.

Among the documents taken, there is information about a number of Government offices from Australia and the US.  Preview images also shared by Anonymous reveal the management structure of CNAIPIC, pictures of staff, and a long list of all the documents that have been taken.  CNAIPIC are yet to comment on the matter.

The importance of rigid data security is becoming a pressing issue for all sorts of business, and rightly so.  If you have any questions regarding your data network, contact the experts for a free evaluation.

If you use your smartphone in the same way that you use your laptop or PC, ensure that you have sufficient security on it.  A common misconception is that it comes with the phone.  This is not the case.  Take advantage of our free trial to see what your missing.

84% of Businesses in UK have had Security Breach in last year

In our upcoming June podcast, we highlight the recent press focus surrounding major data security breaches.  The sort of news that has raised questions like; if a 19year old can hack the CIA’s network, what chance do the rest of us have?

It seems concerns are well founded, according to a report sponsored by networking firm Juniper Networks. 1,406 IT and IT security practitioners were surveyed by independent research firm Ponemon Institute.

From which, the research states, a considerable 84 % of businesses in the UK, France and Germany have suffered at least one security breach in the last year.

In addition:

31 % of respondents said that there had been a significant rise in the frequency of cyber attacks in the same period.

76 % added that the attacks themselves had become more severe, or harder to detect and prevent.

The survey also revealed that mobile devices like laptops and smartphones were most at risk.

34 % of respondents said that security breaches occurred as a result of insecure laptops.

29 % said that mobile devices were to blame.

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Hackers Running Rampant

Security firm McAfee has compiled a report that reveals that hackers have been running rampant through the networks of at least five oil and gas firms since 2009.

The report details a combination of con tricks, computer vulnerabilities and weak security controls that enabled the unnamed multinational firms to succumb to sustained attacks.  In a long-running campaign, the hackers methodically worked to penetrate the computer networks of these firms and stole secrets relating to oil exploration and bidding contracts.  

Related article:  The Rising Threat of Telephone Fraud