Centennial Industry News 2008

Skype drops license appeal
12th May 2008
Skype has dropped its appeal against a conviction of failing to comply with a general public license (GPL).

Bad business processes behind most losses
9th May 2008
Bad business processes are behind most data losses, rather that malicious attacks, according to businesses.

Microsoft steps up campaign against illegal Vista
9th May 2008
Microsoft has increased its anti-piracy efforts lately, now cracking down on illegal copies of Vista.

Law suit may affect software license rules
8th May 2008
A current law suit may affect the way customers can use software, regarding licensing laws.

HSBC loses 159,000 customers' account details
8th May 2008
HSBC has admitted to losing the data on 159,000 accounts from a Hong Kong branch of its bank, but says the information is securely protected.

Microsoft combats illegal software
8th May 2008
Microsoft is to take legal action against eight software dealers across the world due to alleged illegal sales of unlicensed products.

Government fights off data loss fears on ID cards
7th May 2008
The government has been warned that it must deal with the threat of data loss through its identity card scheme before it goes ahead with it.

Open source software needs strict governance
7th May 2008
Open source software requires strict governance as it often "flies under the radar" in many IT firms, according to one expert.

Investigation launched into loss of 6,000 patients' details
7th May 2008
An investigation is being launched after nine USB sticks were lost containing patient information in public hospitals in Hong Kong.

Open source developers be wary of IP risks
7th May 2008
With the rise in open source software comes increased intellectual property (IP) risks, as developers borrow code from other projects.

Microsoft signs new license deal
6th May 2008
Microsoft has signed a new license deal with car manufacturers to incorporate its voice-command software into the vehicles.

Compliance one of "seven deadly sins" of security
2nd May 2008
The 'seven deadly sins of security' have been highlighted and compliance is fifth on the list, according to security expert.

Over 600 HMRC staff accessed unauthorised data
2nd May 2008
Over 600 staff at HM Revenues & Customs (HMRC) have accessed sensitive data with no authorisation, over the past three years.

'Managing virtualisation' is difficult for IT managers
2nd May 2008
Companies are reporting that managing virtualisation is proving difficult for them, according to a new poll.

Government's data breaches cause distrust
1st May 2008
The government's recent data breaches have caused public distrust, according to an industry body.

Adobe drops license fee for Flash
1st May 2008
Adobe has dropped the license fee for its Flash technology, to display video and audio content on the internet.

Information commissioner warns of data loss
30th April 2008
The information commissioner has displayed his concern about the rising levels of personal data being lost in the country.

Software based solution not always the only option
30th April 2008
Appliance-based remote support is as good as the software-based variety, according to one expert.

House of Lords backs making data loss illegal
30th April 2008
The House of Lords has backed a move by the government to make recklessly losing data illegal.

Compliance 'not easy for businesses'
30th April 2008
One expert has warned that it is not easy for some companies to be vigilant on software usage and compliance.

Manage invisible threats to maintain compliance
30th April 2008
The biggest challenge for companies is the "invisible" threats in managing data, according to one expert.

Microsoft denies software flaw caused attack
29th April 2008
Microsoft has hit back at claims that defects in its software led to the recent hacking of 500,000 websites.

HP update threatens data leak
29th April 2008
A flaw has been discovered in a tool that is responsible for checking and downloading updates for software and drivers.

University warns of data breach, following internet attack
29th April 2008
A university in American is warning current and former students that their social security numbers may have been breached, after a hack on the institution's website.

Security spending to increase to over £5.3bn
28th April 2008
The amount spent on security software is set to rise this year by 11.2 per cent, with revenue for the sector reaching over $10.5 billion (£5.3 billion) worldwide.

University loses over 2m medical records
28th April 2008
The University of Miami has recently announced that six tapes from its medical school were stolen, losing more than two million medical records.

Boots loses 27,000 customers' details
28th April 2008
The names, addresses and bank details of 27,000 customers of Boots' Dental Plan have gone missing, after a back-up tape was stolen.

Microsoft reveals web-based software
25th April 2008
Microsoft has revealed a new web-based software system, which is a data storage and software system rolled into one.

FSA slams banks' data loss
25th April 2008
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has slammed banks for not doing enough to protect their customers from identity thieves.

Gates 'disagrees' with GPL
24th April 2008
Bill Gates has announced that he "disagrees" with the GNU General Public License, which is a widely used free software license.

Sun to make Java completely open source
24th April 2008
Sun Microsystems is looking to remove the final restrictions on Java to make it completely open-source.

Lord blames targets for HMRC data loss
24th April 2008
The data loss by HM Revenues & Customs (HMRC) last year has been blamed on excessive targets, according to a member of the House of Lords.

MPs make data loss illegal
24th April 2008
MPs have backed a move in parliament to make it an illegal offence for a worker to "recklessly" disclose anyone's data.

Software maintenance fees rise
23rd April 2008
The software maintenance market is booming, as a number of vendors announce increases to already steep fees.

Maintaining compliance in a virtualised world
23rd April 2008
IT professionals are advised to implement a range of measures in order to ensure that they maintain compliance ‘in a virtualised world’.

Government highlights data loss rises
23rd April 2008
Most UK businesses are failing to encrypt important data, despite incidents of hacking increasing, a new government report warns.

Security experts growing and protecting reputation
23rd April 2008
Security experts are most concerned about protecting their company's reputation, with the industry set to rise dramatically in the next four years.

Companies urged to consider data protection options
22nd April 2008
Some existing data protection products no longer meet the changing requirements of many organisations, according to one expert.

SPLA 'offers benefits'
22nd April 2008
The Microsoft Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA) can provide significant benefits, according to the company's lead marketing manager of hosting solutions.

Irish bank info stolen
22nd April 2008
The Irish data protection commissioner has claimed that information from Bank of Ireland customers has been stolen.

Companies and government not protecting customers
22nd April 2008
Companies and the government are not protecting their customers' data according to a new survey.

Microsoft and Novell increase union in China
22nd April 2008
Microsoft and Novell have announced they are to increase their partnership in the open source market in China.

Software development process is "flawed"
22nd April 2008
One software developer has said he believes the current development process is "flawed" and businesses need to change their approach.

Future of the software market is predicted
22nd April 2008
The research company Forrester has predicted three ways in which the software industry will look in the future.

Microsoft to launch subscription software service
21st April 2008
Microsoft has launched a downloadable version of its Office suite to give customers more options about how to pay, the company said.

Patents in software industry 'need changing'
18th April 2008
Software industry experts are calling for changes to the latest GPL version 3 license to protect software patents.

Phishing scam leads to data loss
18th April 2008
A sophisticated new phishing scam has led to major data loss by targeting top executives in the United States.

Open source census launched
17th April 2008
This week saw the launch of the Open Source Census, whereby software firm OpenLogic has developed a special license for gathering open-source software (OSS) information around the world.

Compuware shares rise after earnings release
17th April 2008
Software company Compuware showed higher than expected earnings for the fiscal 2008 fourth quarter.

Apple 'reputation' at stake with license breach
17th April 2008
Recent license breaches by computer developers trying to copy the Apple experience has left one user explaining why it is so important for Apple to keep its namesake.

London councils admit data loss
17th April 2008
Thirteen London council have admitted to losing personal data or wrongly revealing it, according to the BBC.

Mac desktop clone breach of license
16th April 2008
Psystar has begun marketing an imitation Apple computer that it says will run Mac OS X Leopard and is callied the 'Open Computer: The Smart Alternative to an Apple', according to MacWorld.com.

Data loss harms reputation, as well as finances
15th April 2008
Data loss will not only harm the financial side of a company, but will also affect the reputation of the firm.

DLP "important weapon" for businesses
15th April 2008
Data loss protection (DLP) is becoming "the most important weapon" for a business' protection, according to one source.

Impact of virtualisation as yet unknown
14th April 2008
Virtualisation is set to make the biggest difference to the software licensing industry until 2012, according to Gartner.

IT managers unaware of flash disk risk
14th April 2008
IT managers are unaware of the risk that employees using their personal flash drives presents to the company, according to a new study.

New systems to reduce data loss
11th April 2008
The National Insurance (NI) executive is to buy thousands of "ultra-secure" computers after a series of data losses occurred.

Mobile users 'should be more security aware'
11th April 2008
Mobile phone users should be more aware of security when using their device, as there is a possibility of virus risk, according to an expert.

Data loss bosses to be jailed
10th April 2008
Up to 25 per cent of professionals in the internet security industry believe prison is a just punishment for loss of data, a recent survey has revealed.

State faces large bill for unlicensed software
10th April 2008
A US state is paying $921,000 (£585,000) to a software company because it forgot to renew the license to use their product.

Linux use to grow to £25bn by 2011
10th April 2008
The use of Linux is set to grow over the coming years, with revenues of the operating system set to top $49 billion (£25 billion) in the next few years.

Open source to be used by most businesses
9th April 2008
Open source will be used by most businesses in a few years time, according to a research firm.

Will gateway DLP work?
8th April 2008
A large proportion of data lost by companies is due to information being incorrectly sent over messaging systems or by not encrypting data.

Microsoft to pay licence tax in India
8th April 2008
Microsoft is liable to pay tax on its licences in India, according to a ruling from a tax authority.

Over 127 million records lost
7th April 2008
Last year potentially over 127 million records were lost, compared to 2006's figures of 20 million people.

HSBC loses 370,000 customers' details
7th April 2008
The banking corporation HSBC has lost a disc containing 370,000 customers' details.

Companies should 'think carefully' after data loss
4th April 2008
Companies which lose personal data should think carefully before informing customer or employees.

Microsoft opens up to open sourcing
3rd April 2008
Microsoft has changed its view on open sourcing and is now encouraging use of the software.

Staff not trained on data handling
3rd April 2008
Staff are not being trained in how to handle personal data, despite 96 per cent of organisations saying they hold customer or patient information.

Virtualisation has compliance issues for IT bosses
2nd April 2008
Virtualisation is showing some key signs of becoming increasingly adopted by IT companies, but firms should consider the impact it will have on security and compliance.

Rewards up to $1m for pirate software tip-offs
2nd April 2008
An industry body is offering people rewards from $500 (£252) to $10,000 for tip-offs relating to software piracy.

IT bosses could get cheaper license deals
1st April 2008
IT executives could negotiate better software license prices following Oracle's recent earnings announcement, according to one expert.

IT managers 'not planning cut back this year'
1st April 2008
Despite current economic fears in the UK, IT managers are not planning to cut back their spending on software this year.

Hackers access CVs on website
1st April 2008
Hackers managed to access CVs submitted onto an Irish job website, gaining personal details about applicants.

Open source is future of licensing industry
31st March 2008
Open source software is the future of the industry, offering more flexibility, value for money and freedom, according to a new study.

Sony BMG has 'pirate software license'
31st March 2008
A small software company has carried out a raid on Sony BMG and found it is using a pirated license for software.

Business investigated by BSA for pirate software
31st March 2008
A business in Huddersfield is being investigated by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) for alleged piracy.

Information needs to be secured at data level
28th March 2008
A leading security expert has said that information loss is set to increase if companies do not secure it at data level.

75,000 patients' details released
28th March 2008
A dental health maintenance organisation (HMO) has released the details of 75,000 patients on the internet, in the US.

Oracle results affect rest of market
28th March 2008
The release of Oracle's third quarter results has raised concerns in the software market.

Encryption should be adopted by more firms
27th March 2008
Data encryption should be implemented more by companies after recent high profile data loss cases and success stories of encryption, according to a source.

Data protection is becoming more important
27th March 2008
Protecting data is becoming more important to people, according to the results of a new survey.

Dislike of US fuels open source industry
27th March 2008
Open source software take up has been fuelled by other countries' dislike of America, according to an expert.

Apple criticised for Safari update
27th March 2008
Apple has come under fire for trying to get Windows users to install its web browser, Safari, through its update service.

Oracle sees drop in shares after low software sales
27th March 2008
Despite Oracle reporting a 30 per cent boost in profits, shares prices dropped after it was revealed that the company did not meet expected figures on software and licensing sales.

Dislike of US fuels open source industry
26th March 2008
Open source software take up has been fuelled by other countries' dislike of America, according to an expert.

Sellers on eBay sued for counterfeit software
26th March 2008
eBay sellers are being sued by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) for selling counterfeit software.

Data loss scandals 'not outsourcing firms fault'
26th March 2008
Recent data loss scandals in both the government and the private sector are being blamed on outsourcing, but one expert has defended the industry.

No drop in software prices, despite scrap of VAT
26th March 2008
There has been no drop in software prices despite a cut in the VAT charged on them.

Software compliance awareness increases
25th March 2008
Awareness of software compliance issues are increasing in UK businesses, with more companies adopting programmes.

Licensing market moving towards open source
25th March 2008
The software licensing market is moving away from the standard closed source form and towards open source technology.

Data management systems should be used to cut costs
25th March 2008
With tightening economic climates IT managers should implement data management systems to reduce costs.

Business servers offer disaster recovery options for small firms
20th March 2008
Statistics show that 80 per cent of small businesses that suffer a fire or flood on their premises go bankrupt within a year, and one of the main reasons is the catastrophic loss of data such an incident can bring about.

Gartner recommends measures to cut IT costs
20th March 2008
The prevailing economic gloom is leading many businesses to consider tightening their IT spending, and data management discipline is one area where opportunities for savings are considerable.

Application hardening removes economic incentives for piracy
20th March 2008
The massive scale of software piracy worldwide is leading to the development of a secondary security industry within the legitimate software field, known as "application hardening".

Small firms' IT options grow
20th March 2008
Small businesses are missing out on the potential benefits of new technology because many are bewildered by the range of options available to them.

Software company accesses small business market
20th March 2008
A software company has created a new model to access the small and medium enterprise market.

£15m payout in licence costs
19th March 2008
£15m payout in licence costs

Should a data breach response plan include insurance?
19th March 2008
Companies are being urged to construct a response plan in case of the occurrence of a data breach, but opinion is split on whether this plan should include insurance.

Most business computers at risk from attack
19th March 2008
Many businesses are leaving their computer systems at risk by not managing end-point security, according to a new report.

Businesses should 'check threat from insider'
18th March 2008
Companies should protect themselves against the threat from an insider according to a consulting expert.

10,000 students' details accessed in hack attack
18th March 2008
Harvard's computer database has been hacked into, putting thousands of applicants' details at risk.

Open XML may present risk to developers
18th March 2008
Microsoft's Open XML format may present a risk to free and open-source software developers.

Complaint lodged that 'licenses are unfair'
18th March 2008
The National Consumer Council (NCC) has filed a complaint saying that software licenses are tipped in favour of the manufacturer.

Microsoft licenses Adobe programmes for mobiles
18th March 2008
Microsoft has licensed Adobe's Flash Lite and Reader software for use on mobile phones.

Centennial is finalist in CODiE awards
17th March 2008
Centennial has been announced as one of the finalists in the annual CODiE awards.

Centennial launches new versions of key products
17th March 2008
Centennial has launched new versions of its Licence Manager and Software Asset Management (SAM) Suite.

Advice for best encryption practices
14th March 2008
Following the Data Protection Summit held in California advice such as securing all platforms with encryption have recommended.

Government data losses may be at risk of human rights breach
14th March 2008
A human rights committee has warned that the government's data loss show it has failed to take data protection "sufficiently seriously".

Complexity of licences causes confusion in firms
13th March 2008
The complexity of the software licensing market can lead to confusion amongst IT staff as they are not trained to read the intricate licences.

Large take up of Apple's new software development kit
13th March 2008
Apple says more than 100,000 developers have downloaded the new Software Development Kit (SDK) for the iPhone in its first four days.

BlackBerry investor escapes patent licence fees
12th March 2008
A high ruling has said that the company behind the BlackBerry devices will not have to pay patent licence fees to a rival software company.

Virtualisation presents new compliance issues
12th March 2008
Virtualisation is set to be here to stay but companies need to make sure they adopt the new technology properly and understand the policies involved, says one company.

Server 2008 free to current licence holders
11th March 2008
Microsoft is to launch a new version of its Windows server 2003, but current licence holders will be offered a free upgrade.

Licence resellers find loophole to continue in business
11th March 2008
Software licence resellers have found a loophole in Microsoft's guidelines, meaning they can continue in business.

SAM importance increases in businesses
10th March 2008
The importance of Software Asset Management (SAM) is increasing as companies become more reliant on software, says an expert.

Software piracy reduction 'could save money and jobs'
10th March 2008
A reduction in the software piracy rate in India could make the industry over $3.1 billion (£1.5 billion) and create over 44,000 jobs.

Apple's software license move welcomed
7th March 2008
Apple has announced that external developers will be able to work on its iPhone for the first time, via a new software development kit (SDK).

HP aids software management
7th March 2008
Hewlett Packard (HP) and Transitive Corporation have announced a distribution agreement under which HP and its partners will become certified resellers for Transitive's virtualisation software.

IT departments urged to consider vulnerabilities
7th March 2008
The loss of a laptop can compromise an organisation's intellectual property, put it in breach of data protection laws, and generate massive bad publicity – as the government has found to its cost in recent months in the light of a series of scandals regarding lost identity data.

Disk encryption awareness increasing
6th March 2008
Recent high-profile security breaches have made an impression on IT professionals, with a new survey showing large numbers displaying an increased interest in data encryption and other questions of network security.

Licensing issues with open source software highlighted
6th March 2008
Companies using open source software may be at risk of committing unwitting breaches of intellectual property rights, one expert has claimed this week.

Software managers unconcerned with functionality
6th March 2008
A new survey has found that software businesses' constant efforts to upgrade functionality in their services may be vain, because only a small minority of business users regard it as a key driver in realising value.

Expert highlights software licensing issues
5th March 2008
Microsoft's licensing arrangements for business software can make it much more expensive to deploy than it may first appear, one business has claimed.

New product aimed at minimising data loss
5th March 2008
A new product has been demonstrated at the CeBIT electronics show in Hanover, Germany, which offers instant backing-up of data stored on vulnerable laptops.

IBM adds to software portfolio
5th March 2008
IT giant IBM has this week announced a range of new services aimed at helping employers to get the most out of their staff via social networking.

Companies could save thousands through license management
4th March 2008
Efficient software license management could help businesses to make significant cost savings, according to one expert.

Virtualisation is 'the future' of software management
4th March 2008
An expert has suggested that application virtualisation is expected to become key to the way software is managed by organisations.

Microsoft hints at software as a service priority
4th March 2008
Microsoft's chief financial officer has indicated plans to shift its business model towards the greater provision of "software as a service" in the coming years.

Microsoft expands online offering
3rd March 2008
Microsoft has announced that it is to extend its online product range for businesses with the launch of new software plus services.

More companies "experimenting" with social software
3rd March 2008
A new study has found that social software is becoming increasingly popular among some businesses.

Virtual software licence market should be changed
29th February 2008
Companies should protest against the high costs of software licensing and for a change to the virtual server licensing market, says one expert.

More firms 'are adopting IT governance'
29th February 2008
A report has shown that 34 per cent of businesses are addressing IT governance issues within their company.

EC fines Microsoft £690 million for non-compliance
29th February 2008
The European Commission (EC) has charged Microsoft an 899 million euros (£690 million) fine for non-compliance with the commission's previous anti-trust decision.

Anti-piracy agencies to crack down on illegal software
29th February 2008
A number of software anti-piracy agencies are increasing their drive to crack down on illegal copies of programmes.

Bosses face prison for unlicensed software
29th February 2008
Irish company bosses could face a prison sentence of five years if their firm is found to have unlicensed software.

Privacy commissioner rules 'encryption is a must'
28th February 2008
A privacy commissioner has warned government departments to increase security procedures when moving data between departments following Britain's recent data losses.

IBTS didn't breach protection laws
28th February 2008
It has been ruled that the loss of a laptop containing 171,000 details on Irish blood donors did not breach data protection rules.

Almost 9,000 companies' server log-in details for sale
28th February 2008
Details of 8,700 companies' server log in information have been found for sale on a website, a security company has found.

Criminals look for new areas to attack
27th February 2008
An expert has stated that phishing technology is shifting to new targets, meaning people and business will have to be aware of attacks.

Data breach law expanded in California
27th February 2008
California has expanded its data breach laws to include medical information and insurance details.

Growth of encryption technologies 'key for global businesses'
27th February 2008
It has been claimed that encryption technologies are playing an increasingly important role in companies and government's globally.

'Over 90 per cent have anti-virus software in UK'
26th February 2008
Over 90 per cent of people in the UK are now putting anti-virus software on their computers – and the figure is even higher for small businesses, according to Get Safe Online.

Most UK firms not prepared for data loss
26th February 2008
A study has found that three quarters of UK businesses have no contingency plans for data loss.

Federal agencies 'ignoring data security guidelines'
26th February 2008
US federal agencies are still not doing enough to safeguard personal information, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

'Taxpayer could be left with £625m bill from HMRC loss'
25th February 2008
The HM Revenue and Custom's (HMRC's) loss of 25 million child benefit claimants details could cost taxpayers over £600 million.

House of Lords look into internet security
25th February 2008
The government's failure to address internet security issues has led to a House of Lords committee to look at the issue again, reports Silicon.com.

Data breaches have cost companies up to £3.8m
25th February 2008
A data breach costs a company on average £47 for each record lost, amounting to an average loss of £1.4 million.

Government database security risks 'will not be eliminated'
25th February 2008
The government has been warned that the proposed £224 million children's database will never be completely secure.

Data loss victims 'targeted by criminals'
25th February 2008
Criminals have launched an attack on victims of the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) data loss.

Data loss incidents may still grow, says expert
22nd February 2008
An expert has said that the current level of data loss may be "the tip of the iceberg" and that the scale of the problem is "worrying".

'Anti-virus software should be installed as a minimum'
22nd February 2008
Businesses should do a risk analysis and at the minimum have installed anti-virus and anti-spyware software installed to protect themselves, according to an IT expert.

Trust brings in encryption methods following data loss
21st February 2008
An NHS Trust has brought in encryption methods following the theft of a laptop containing 5,000 patients' details in one of its hospitals.

Lack of encryption means company breaches protection act
21st February 2008
A financial services company who lost 14,000 peoples' details has been found to be in breach of the Data Protection Act (DPA).

Two-thirds of Irish companies 'have no data loss plans'
21st February 2008
Two-third of Irish companies do not have a disaster recovery plan despite most having multiple locations throughout the country, according to a new study.

Government admits to 200 missing devices
20th February 2008
The government has admitted that it has lost 200 more mobile phones, PDAs and laptops since 2001, reports a computing website.

Laptop launched which protects data by wiping hard disk
20th February 2008
A laptop protection programme has been launched which can delete the contents of its hard drive if it is stolen or moved.

4,000 DNA details lost by prosecution service
20th February 2008
A disc containing details of 4,000 serious offenders on the run from the Netherlands was lost by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and only found one year later.

'MP calls for investigation into benefit detail losses'
19th February 2008
An MP has called for an inquiry into how the details of hundreds of housing benefit claimants ended up in a derelict building occupied by squatters, reports a source.

3,000 personal details 'posted on the internet'
19th February 2008
Around 3,000 Texas University employees, past and present, have had their personal details posted on the internet for three weeks, reports a source.

Internet-based software 'can save businesses money'
18th February 2008
Software which can be accessed via the internet and paid for on a per-month-per-use basis can save businesses a lot of money, says an expert.

'In-house data storage leads to more breaches'
18th February 2008
Data regulations meaning that companies have to store so much data in-house could mean that data breaches are more likely, says an expert.

ICO: No more data breaches than before
18th February 2008
The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) has said there has not been an increase in the number of data loss cases, just that more people are admitting to them.

Over 5,000 patients' details on stolen laptop
15th February 2008
A laptop with more than 5,000 patients' records has been stolen from a Midlands hospital, reports a source.

Bosses 'should face prison for data loss'
15th February 2008
Top bosses of companies who lose data should face a prison sentence or be fired, according to a new poll.

Businesses can 'protect themselves against data loss'
14th February 2008
With most data being stored electronically as well as being printed an expert debates which way is safer for companies, reports a newspaper.

School children's database 'should be scrapped'
14th February 2008
Plans by the government to put a database of all British school children online should be scrapped, say critics.

USB devices and mobile phones should be encrypted
14th February 2008
Many USB devices are developing in technology, becoming smaller with larger capacities, but most are still not encrypted, reports a computing magazine.

Employees are unaware of 'how to handle data'
13th February 2008
Employees in Britain are not aware of how to protect data, or store it properly, but public sector workers are better than their private counterparts, according to a new study.

Small businesses could face ruin with data loss
13th February 2008
Experts have warned that not protecting a small business against data loss could mean it faces ruin, reports a source.

14,000 families sign up for compensation
12th February 2008
A total of 14,000 people have signed up to a website which claims it can help them get compensation for lost data in government bungles.

Packs to help victims of data losses 'will have little success'
12th February 2008
People being offered packs to help claim for compensation from data loss disasters are being warned that they are unlikely to receive any money, reports a source.

Data losses turn people against ID cards
11th February 2008
British people are more sceptical about the introduction of ID cards after the recent succession of losses of data by the government.

Data breaches 'top security trend list for 2007'
11th February 2008
The rise in data breaches has been included in the top ten security trends in 2007, according to a computing website.

Data encryption 'not always safe'
8th February 2008
Data encryption could make a firm more vulnerable, according to one panel of security experts.

Data systems 'always prone to human error'
8th February 2008
Organisations' data systems will never be foolproof, but that still need to be as good as they can, according to experts.

Govt 'should learn from local authorities' over data security
8th February 2008
Central government departments should consider looking at local government groups for ideas on how to improve their data security, according to the Parliamentary IT Committee (Pitcom).

Firms 'neglecting' IT governance
7th February 2008
Only 12 per cent of companies take technology risk seriously enough to operate board-level oversight of their IT resources, new research has indicated.

NHS in data privacy storm
7th February 2008
Following a string of recent high profile data losses from departments across the government, it has been revealed that the NHS has lost 4,147 NHS computer 'smartcards'.

Investment banks security scrutinised
7th February 2008
The security systems of the world's top investment banks has come under the spotlight, after it emerged that Algorithmics, a risk management specialist providing services for nine of the top ten investment banks, supplied risk systems to Societe Generale.

Remote workers 'putting IT systems at risk'
6th February 2008
Increasing numbers of employees are now taking advantage new technologies to work remotely, but Cisco has warned that many still pose a security risk to firms.

Flybe launches new data security system
6th February 2008
International airline Flybe has installed a new network monitoring and security tool to help allow it to comply with data security legislation.

High spam levels continue in January
6th February 2008
Internet spammers have continued the level of their attacks on PCs in January, with figures almost identical to those in December.

HMRC slammed over 'fragile' software, loses billions
5th February 2008
Billions of pounds are lost each year due to a "fragile" tax credits computer system at Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), according to reports.

US politician pushes for tougher data breach laws
5th February 2008
Consumers are entitled to a "clear, informative notification letter" if security of their personal information is breached, a US senator has said.

Government 'should take more interest in security'
5th February 2008
Recent high profile losses of sensitive information will prompt the government to pay closer attention to protecting data, says a leading data security analyst.

Expert offers fraud fighting tips
4th February 2008
Asset management and IT auditing can play a key role in helping organisations minimise fraud, it has been suggested.

Privacy issues 'put business reputation at stake'
4th February 2008
Businesses face significant challenges when trying to ensure that the customer data they hold on their networks is kept as private as possible, a senior lawyer has commented.

Retailers 'lacking data security systems'
1st February 2008
Retailers are being warned to review their IT security processes after it emerged that many firms with databases containing personal details had no protection system in place.

Data loss 'can have immeasurable impact'
1st February 2008
The damage a data security breach can inflict on a business has been highlighted by technology publication TMC.net.

New software releases 'signal need for upgrade'
31st January 2008
Upcoming software releases from Microsoft will mean that many firms will have to start considering how they will upgrade their computer systems, it has been suggested.

Lack of IT oversight 'costs millions'
31st January 2008
Millions of dollars have been wasted by the US state of Wisconsin as a result of ineffective monitoring of IT projects, it has been reported.

Audit 'uncovers lost equipment and unsecured data'
31st January 2008
A US university has lost track of millions of dollars worth of technology, it has been reported

Europeans 'doubt safety of their data'
31st January 2008
The importance of keeping the personal information of members of the public safe has been highlighted by a European Union (EU) official as new research reveals that many people do not feel their data is secure.

Expert recommends 'IT slim down'
31st January 2008
Businesses have been urged to take a look at exactly what is on their network in order to slim down their IT systems.

Information expert calls for new data protection law
31st January 2008
New laws should be passed to make breaches of personal information a crime, according to a new paper.

Warning over personal data storage devices
30th January 2008
Small storage devices represent great security risks for companies, a business and IT analyst has warned.

Managing software 'still a headache for businesses'
30th January 2008
Managing company software and licensing is too complex, a new survey by research firm Forrester has found.

Anti-piracy efforts profitable for Microsoft
29th January 2008
A crackdown on people operating unlicensed software helped Microsoft increase its second quarter revenues last year, according to reports.

Australian official calls for security risk assessment
29th January 2008
Government agencies and businesses in Australia are being urged to examine their data encryption arrangements in the wake of several recent information security breaches in the UK, according to reports.

Councillor 'horrified' over information security standards
29th January 2008
A councillor in Somerset has called for the way in which the personal details of residents are held to be overhauled after it emerged that the information could be downloaded or copied by people working for the local authority.

Expert highlights usefulness of security tools
29th January 2008
An overly-aggressive crackdown on data movement sparked by recent security scandals would be "sad" when firms have a range of ways to help them keep information safe, it has been suggested.

Inventory of applications 'helpful to CIOs'
28th January 2008
Chief information officers (CIO) should make sure that they know what applications are in use on their firm's network in order to make long-term plans for the future, it has been suggested.

NHS Trust installs asset management software
28th January 2008
Health bosses in Yorkshire have installed new software on their computer network designed to help them keep a record of all their assets, it has been announced.

Information security spending 'a form of insurance'
28th January 2008
Financial firms in the US have highlighted the importance of taking steps to ensure that sensitive data is kept secure at all times.

Security policies 'help minimise risk'
28th January 2008
Having comprehensive IT security policies in place can help firms reduce the risks posed by threats from both inside and outside their organisation, it has been suggested.

Court details 'lost in the post'
25th January 2008
The government has admitted that four CD-Roms containing information relating to court cases have gone missing in the post.

Patient data loss reported in Manchester
25th January 2008
Health officials in Manchester have admitted that a USB drive containing the personal details of 340 people in Manchester was lost for months without anybody noticing.

Information security 'key for growth'
24th January 2008
Making information security a priority can be helpful to firms who wish to grow their business, experts have suggested.

Workers 'need to be reminded about security'
24th January 2008
Businesses have been urged to ensure they educate their staff about how to protect company technology.

Expert highlights USB port protection strategies
23rd January 2008
Businesses who want to limit the information security risks posed by removable storage devices have been offered advice by a technology writer.

Global IT spending 'to increase in 2008'
23rd January 2008
Businesses around the world are set to increase the amount of money they spend on information technology this year, new research has revealed.

Job hunters' data 'needs to be protected'
22nd January 2008
Legal experts have warned businesses to ensure that they store the details of people applying for job vacancies securely.

Internal security risks 'growing'
22nd January 2008
Businesses who fail to ensure they have rigorous internal security measures in place to protect their critical data from going missing are making the risk of data loss worse, it has been suggested.

Experts highlight benefits of Sam policies
21st January 2008
The importance of firms ensuring that they have comprehensive software asset management (Sam) arrangements in place has been highlighted by experts in the US.

Stockport PCT loses data on 4,000 patients
21st January 2008
Health authorities in Stockport have revealed that a USB drive containing the personal details of 4,000 patients has been lost.

Centennial launches Sam school
18th January 2008
Guidance in the best ways to use software asset management (Sam) tools is being offered by vendor Centennial Software though a Sam Academy aimed at resellers and end-users.

Security 'should remain central to IT growth'
18th January 2008
Companies have been urged to keep data security in mind as they follow the current trend of increasing their IT use.

Carphone Warehouse cautioned over data mishandling
18th January 2008
Mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse has been criticised by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for allegedly breaching the Data Protection Act.

DVA staff to receive data security training
18th January 2008
Employees at a Northern Ireland government agency which suffered a significant data breach are all to receive security training in a bid to improve protection in the future.

Software management 'can cut risks and loss'
18th January 2008
Tools which give IT departments an overview of which applications are used by employees can help firms avoid fines for expired software licences, it has been suggested.

Data loss apologies rack up multi-million-pound postage fees
17th January 2008
Wishing to display its contrition in the aftermath of the Revenue and Customs (HMRC) data leak, the government covered the cost of sending apology letters to the 25 million affected Britons.

Sam sales 'on the up'
17th January 2008
Sales of automatic software asset management (Sam) systems have increased substantially in the past year, according to a new survey.

British firms looking to increase IT skills
16th January 2008
Firms in the UK are planning to increase their quota of IT experts, according to reports.

Islington council reviews data storage processes
16th January 2008
Council chiefs in the borough of Islington, north London are reviewing the way they store data in a bid to avoid a debacle similar to the recent national data loss scandals.

UK visas get tougher security checks
15th January 2008
A new visa system for the UK is to come into practice from the end of the month, featuring biometric tests to tighten up data security.

Lack of employee compliance 'risking data security'
15th January 2008
Companies are risking being left open to a data security breach due to their employees not following guidelines, a new survey suggests.

Data loss fears 'continuing'
14th January 2008
Firms are still to come to terms with the recent increased scrutiny of data security procedures following high-profile breaches, new research suggests.

Business continuity 'is now affordable for SMBs'
11th January 2008
Systems designed to get a business back up and running after a disaster such as a massive data loss are now within reach of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), it has been suggested.

Data protection plans 'should look at worst case scenario'
11th January 2008
Companies enacting measures to protect their data from leaking into the public sphere have been advised that they often miss a major area of disaster planning.

Application testing 'risks data loss'
10th January 2008
Many corporations are running the risk of losing sensitive customer data because of the lax security measures put in place during application testing.

Cyber criminals 'broaden their reach'
10th January 2008
Online criminal networks are broadening their reach by using ever more sophisticated methods of attack, one leading consumer group has warned.

Corporate data security 'being ignored'
10th January 2008
A new survey has suggested that nearly half of all corporations are ignoring the risks posed by privacy breaches and data leakage.

Protecting against data loss requires 'good housekeeping'
9th January 2008
Firms have been advised to keep close control over their computer networks in order to avoid a disastrous data loss that could destroy their business.

Lib Dems: 2007 was 'worst ever year' for data security
9th January 2008
The Liberal Democrats have called into question the ability of the government to handle personal data after research showed some 37 million records were lost last year.

Government 'should tip data security balance in favour of consumers'
9th January 2008
The public should be given greater protection from data loss incidents by increasing the security requirements for companies, it has been suggested.

Encryption 'should be habitual'
9th January 2008
UK firms have been advised to make encryption of their records a regular practice to protect against data breaches.

Full data back-ups 'becoming less necessary'?
8th January 2008
Misplaced CDs, lost laptops or computer viruses can all potentially lead to the loss of vital data, but companies have been advised that back-ups will lessen the blow.

MPs predict 'more data loss cases to come'
8th January 2008
A report from the Commons justice committee has cast doubt on the government's explanation that human error was to blame for last year's child benefit scandal and suggested more cases could occur.

Clarkson shoots himself in foot with ID stunt
7th January 2008
Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has lost £500 to fraudsters after claiming in the Sun that the child benefit data loss furore was "a palaver about nothing" and publishing his bank account details.

Teachers 'put pupils at risk with data copying'
7th January 2008
Teachers have been accused of risking their pupils' personal information by copying sensitive data to CDs and memory sticks, which they then take out of school.

GP records go live despite NHS data loss
7th January 2008
Although the NHS has admitted to losing hundreds of thousands of patient records, the data held by GPs has been made available to hospital staff for the first time.

Data loss proposals 'too little, too late'?
4th January 2008
Suggestions from MPs that data breaches should result in criminal prosecutions of those responsible have split experts in the industry.

Anti-hacker legislation toughened up
4th January 2008
Improvements to measures for protecting data systems from hackers have been outlined to UK prosecutors.

Public sector IT 'remaining strong' despite data losses
4th January 2008
Although faith in public service IT systems has been rocked by data breaches over the past few months, experts have predicted that the market will remain strong.

UK councils plan security spending
4th January 2008
Councils across Britain are planning to improve their security measures after being gripped by fears of suffering a data loss scandal.

Data loss 'should result in criminal proceedings'
3rd January 2008
Reckless or repeated loss of data should be made a criminal offence, according to a group of MPs reviewing the recent spate of security breaches.

'Significant data loss changes' predicted for firms in 2008
3rd January 2008
Security experts have predicted that companies are to take measures to protect themselves against data loss over the next year.

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