News roundup January 2017

Further to this month’s cyber security update, Cisco published its 2017 Annual Cyber Security Report. Findings include a “resurgence of “classic” attack vectors, such as adware and email spam, the latter at levels not seen since 2010. Spam accounts for nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of email with eight to 10 percent cited as malicious. Global spam volume is rising, often spread by large and thriving botnets.” The costs to businesses of cyber attacks continue to be significant and the report also noted that in 2016 hacking became more “corporate”, with new attack methods modelling corporate hierarchies and exploiting cloud services.

Further to this month’s UK broadband update, the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) published its response to the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) call for evidence on extending fibre networks. The response supported the Government’s commitment to fibre and also acknowledged that a range of different technologies have a role to play in improving connectivity across the UK. The response also noted that “better access to public sector assets must not undermine competition from commercially funded assets” and flagged the problems wayleave complications pose for ISPA member companies.

Other news this month:

• The Children’s Commissioner called for more support for children to help them navigate the digital world safely and securely. The Growing Up Digital study found that terms and conditions of many online services used by children are often impenetrable. As an example Instagram’s terms were rewritten so as to be more comprehensible to teenagers; many of them shocked by what they had unwittingly signed up to upon reading the more accessible version. The Commissioner’s recommendations included ta digital ombudsman to mediate for children over removal of content,  more transparent corporate behaviour by social media companies and a broader digital citizenship programme in every school for children from 4-14.
• The 2017 CHILDWISE Monitor Report found that smartphones are now the default device for music, online access, gaming, video content and reading (after printed books) for young people. Children are now more likely to use their mobile phone to go online than for any other purpose, including texting or calling. Two thirds of children have their own touchscreen tablet at home (see also Ofcom’s 2016 Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes report).
• BBC News reported on the annual BETT show in London, highlighting the possibilities new technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, robots and drones can offer to teaching and learning.