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‘Zombie' smart devices in your home could pose cybersecurity risk

‘Zombie' smart devices in your home could pose cybersecurity risk

Times18-05-2025

Are you absolutely certain that your toaster isn't mining bitcoin? Will your very expensive smart TV one day suddenly become a dumb TV? And might your wifi-enabled birdfeeder be feeding back more than just pictures of birds?
For every person in Britain, there are an estimated dozen or more internet-connected devices, from smart speakers to fridges. But soon some of us will have one fewer after Google withdrew support for its Nest smart thermostats.
Experts said that the devices going offline were a reminder not only that they were not really 'owned' by us in the conventional sense but also that, as they got old and lost security support, many could be potential security threats.
Andrew Laughlin, from Which?, said that Google's announcement was

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Lincoln City's new shirt honours mathematician George Boole
Lincoln City's new shirt honours mathematician George Boole

BBC News

time18 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Lincoln City's new shirt honours mathematician George Boole

Lincoln City's new home kit honours a Victorian mathematician whose work is in every computer and Boole, who was born in the city in 1815, invented Boolean logic - a system that is regarded as the foundation for computer a tribute to the pioneering mathematician, binary code spelling out We Are Imps will feature on the football club's shirt for the upcoming chief growth and innovation officer Jason Futers said: "We wanted to celebrate George, his life and contribution to the world, by bringing it into the design of the home kit." In 1849, the shoemaker's son was appointed chair of mathematics at Queen's College in Cork in the Republic of Ireland. Four years later, he secured his place in the history books after publishing the Laws of Thought, a book containing a description of practical concepts for an algebra of former teacher, who founded two schools, is commemorated throughout his home city. He is featured on a window inside the city's cathedral known as the teaching window and there is also a plaque on his Pottergate house. There is also a mention on an obelisk to city greats in St Mark's Shopping Centre and a large bronze statue outside Lincoln railway station."He created a logical framework called Boolean logic, that is literally the foundation for binary code, which is itself the foundation for computer programming," Mr Futers added."You can't underestimate the importance of Boole in modern society." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Business live: Starmer pledges extra £1bn to boost UK tech power
Business live: Starmer pledges extra £1bn to boost UK tech power

Times

time20 minutes ago

  • Times

Business live: Starmer pledges extra £1bn to boost UK tech power

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Princess Beatrice-backed start-up community OPUS lands $2m funding boost
Princess Beatrice-backed start-up community OPUS lands $2m funding boost

Sky News

timean hour ago

  • Sky News

Princess Beatrice-backed start-up community OPUS lands $2m funding boost

A for-profit social enterprise which counts HRH Princess Beatrice among its directors will this week announce a funding boost and the appointment of one of Silicon Valley's most prominent figures to its board. Sky News has learnt that OPUS, a membership community which aims to cultivate a new wave of British entrepreneurs, is to unveil a $2m injection of capital from a syndicate of angel investors and family offices. It will also announce that Marc Porat, co-founder of General Magic - the company credited with inventing the early technologies behind the smartphone - is to become a director of the company. OPUS has drawn a membership of nearly 1,000 technology company founders since it was established with the aim of helping their projects during the embryonic stages of building their businesses. "Anything anyone has ever achieved has been due to the support and actions of others," Sam Tidswell-Norrish, chair of OPUS, said in a statement. "That's what OPUS is built on - the power of the collective. "This raise is a signal of intent: that OPUS and its investors are deeply committed to backing the founders of tomorrow." The company has a physical presence in central London, and is establishing a dual-base in South Africa. Its new funding will be deployed to help founders through the use of artificial intelligence in areas such as fundraising, recruitment, product development and operations. Among OPUS's other backers are Miguel McKelvey, the WeWork co-founder, and Imtiaz Patel, former boss of MultiChoice Group. "OPUS's mission deeply resonates with my own journey," said Mr Porat "The early stages of building are always the most challenging - even for the most talented, experienced and well[1]connected founder. "Community and friendships unlock opportunity, and being able to contribute towards a platform that leverages technology to scale that value to early-stage founders is exceptionally exciting." OPUS will also announce this week that Ken Donald, a former executive at British fintech Snoop, is to become its co-managing director, alongside Kerry Fennell.

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