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Edinburgh Reporter
21 hours ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Spam Checker: Why It Matters and How It Protects Business Communication
Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, and spam remains one of the most common entry points for attacks. From phishing emails to spoofed numbers and fraudulent messages, spam can undermine communication security, damage brand trust, and expose a business to legal risks. A spam checker provides a practical way to detect and block these threats before they reach the end user. What Is a Spam Checker and How Does It Secure Business Communication A spam checker is a security tool that analyzes communication channels to detect and filter out unwanted or malicious content. It applies a combination of algorithms, real-time blacklists, and behavior-based analysis to assess message legitimacy. Effective systems operate across multiple platforms, including email, SMS, VoIP, and others. Key mechanisms include: Signature and pattern detection; Reputation scoring of sender domains and IPs; Inspection of links and attachments; Protocol checks (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) for email authentication. By identifying suspicious signals, the spam checker prevents malicious content from entering the company's communication flow. Identifying Key Spam Threats That Target Businesses Spam in today's world covers a lot more than advertising messages. Examples of common threats that impact the business are: Phishing emails attempt to obtain credentials or payment details. Fake sender identities are used in email and SMS spoofing. Attachments containing malware or ransomware; Robocalls and unsolicited VoIP traffic are disrupting operations. SMS-based social engineering is known as smishing. Data losses, disruption of services or reputational damage could occur after only one incidence. How Businesses Benefit from Proactive Spam Filtering The use of a professional spam checker is able to provide operational and security benefits right away: Stronger data protection : Prevent data leaks and malware infections. : Prevent data leaks and malware infections. Brand reputation management : Keep your domains, numbers, and sender IDs from being blacklisted. : Keep your domains, numbers, and sender IDs from being blacklisted. Better deliverability : Ensure legitimate messages aren't mistaken for spam. : Ensure legitimate messages aren't mistaken for spam. Regulatory compliance : Meet GDPR, HIPAA, and other global data protection standards. : Meet GDPR, HIPAA, and other global data protection standards. Lower support burden: Reduce the volume of user-reported spam issues. The presence of safe communication infrastructure promotes trust, security of intellectual property and enhanced productivity of everyday working. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Key Features to Look for in a Spam Checker Tool Choosing the right spam filtering tool involves more than just spam detection. Look for these essential features: Real-time filtering powered by global threat intelligence. Multi-layer security on email, SMS, VOIP and internal chat services. Whitelist and blacklist custom rule creation. Advanced trend monitoring, warning threats, and effect analysis. CRM and communication platform integrations for unified workflows. Multipurpose support and localization options of global operations. These features allow your team to stay protected without interrupting how they work. How to Choose the Right Spam Checker for Your Company The best spam checker is one that fits your business model, scales with your growth, and adapts to evolving threats. When comparing providers, the questions to consider are: Which of these communication methods should be secured (email, VoIP, SMS or all of them)? Does the tool allow you to maintain your compliance and security? Does it support your CRM, cloud PBX or contact center? Does it have multilingual filtering of international groups and customers? Does it have access to support, upties, and threat intelligence? DID Global spam checker is enterprise level spam filter technology, that offers scalable security, high levels of integration and is completely transparency based, where you can avoid fraud, client protection and business continuity in every world market. Final Thought: Stay Ahead of Spam Before It Damages Your Brand Spam attacks are not only disruptive, but dangerous. With the rise of digitalization and globalization of communications, data protection of key communication channels happens to be non-negotiable. The proper spam checker investment will guarantee your customers only what they deserve: safely, reliably and according to your conditions. Source: DID Global Like this: Like Related
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Lawless digital dreams
The writer is a lawyer who deals with legal corporate and commercial matters. He tweets @H_Rohila What good is a digital revolution if the law never arrives? Pakistan speaks with urgency about building a technology-driven economy. It sets ambitious export targets, hosts tech summits, and courts foreign investment. Yet behind this narrative lies a stark and uncomfortable truth: the legal and institutional infrastructure needed to sustain digital growth is fragmented, outdated, or in some cases, absent entirely. That absence is not abstract. It has measurable consequences. The technology sector has shown promise. IT exports have crossed three billion dollars in just ten months. The government hopes to triple that figure within five years. Startups are emerging with confidence. Venture capital interest, though cautious, is returning. Global companies are evaluating opportunities. On paper, it all looks like momentum. But that momentum is fragile. Multinationals are not just hesitating. They are leaving. Microsoft has quietly relocated its regional operations to jurisdictions with clearer regulatory regimes. Uber has exited. Careem is discontinuing its ride hailing services. These decisions are not anecdotal. They reflect systemic discomfort with Pakistan's regulatory climate: unclear licensing frameworks, inconsistent policy enforcement, foreign exchange restrictions, and delays that outlast business cycles. Regulatory opacity has become an operational risk. When the system does work, it feels like a favour rather than a norm. The entry of Starlink into Pakistan is being cited as a breakthrough. But even that required direct intervention by the Prime Minister's Office. The project was approved through cooperation between PTA, SECP and SUPARCO. These permissions were granted under the National Satellite Policy 2023 and the Space Activities Rules 2024. It worked. But the lesson here is not just about success. It is about how much political capital is needed to make the system function. Personal data protection remains another glaring void. After years of public consultation and multiple bill drafts, Pakistan still lacks a comprehensive data protection law. As a result, citizens' data is collected, shared, and sometimes misused without recourse. Businesses operate in a grey zone. There are no statutory rights, no oversight authority, and no clear obligations. Contrast this with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). That law grants enforceable rights to data subjects, creates independent data protection authorities, and imposes steep penalties for noncompliance. Even India, often a regulatory peer, enacted the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, marking a clear move toward rights based governance of data. Pakistan, by comparison, has made little progress. The delay is no longer technical or procedural. It is political. Legal inertia also undermines the constitutionally mandated principle of lawful executive discretion. The Supreme Court has held that even in matters of national security, executive action must be grounded in valid legal authority. Surveillance, data collection and algorithmic profiling in Pakistan occur without this foundation. That alone should worry us. Artificial Intelligence is no longer theoretical. Banks are using it to score credit. Employers rely on it for screening applicants. Government agencies experiment with predictive surveillance. And yet, there is no regulatory framework governing AI use. No law demands algorithmic transparency. No tribunal hears complaints about machine made decisions. No requirement exists for public agencies to explain how these tools are used or why. This legal silence has human consequences. A qualified applicant may be rejected due to a flawed algorithm. A facial recognition tool may misidentify a protester. A credit scoring system may entrench bias. Without legislative guardrails, these systems operate without scrutiny or remedy. The global contrast is stark. The EU AI Act, passed in 2024, categorises AI systems based on risk and imposes obligations accordingly. In the United States, federal agencies have issued AI risk management frameworks that prioritise civil liberties. Pakistan, meanwhile, has not even initiated a public consultation process. The legal vacuum is complete. Then there is intellectual property. It is an area rapidly destabilised by generative AI. Tools can now produce music, images, film scripts and software code. But Pakistan's Copyright Ordinance, 1962 offers no guidance on authorship, originality or infringement in AI generated content. The law predates digital technology. It is silent on questions now central to creative economies. Compare this with the position in the United States, where the Copyright Office has clarified that purely AI generated works are not protectable unless there is substantial human input. That principle may evolve, but at least there is one. In Pakistan, the absence of legislative debate leaves creators, platforms and investors in legal limbo. Reform is overdue. The Copyright Board, empowered under the Ordinance, must be reconstituted with expertise in digital innovation. The legislature must define "authorship" and "originality" in light of evolving technologies. Without it, innovation will migrate elsewhere. Even the judiciary, which should lead in defending constitutional rights and settling digital disputes, remains underprepared. Some high courts experimented with video link hearings during Covid-19. But most courts still rely on paper files, face logistical backlogs, and operate without digital case management systems. This is not just a matter of convenience. It affects access to justice. Legal challenges involving cryptocurrency fraud, data privacy breaches or AI based discrimination require fast, informed adjudication. Judges need training. Courts need infrastructure. And citizens need a system that understands the complexity of digital disputes. Other jurisdictions have shown what is possible. Singapore's judiciary is fully digitised. Kenya and Romania have introduced hybrid models with remote proceedings and online document submission. These are not tech utopias. Just examples of what political will can achieve. What, then, must be done? Parliament must enact a strong and enforceable data protection law, overseen by an independent data authority. It must initiate AI legislation that mandates transparency, accountability and redress. The Copyright Ordinance must be modernised to reflect 21st century realities. Courts must be digitised as part of a coordinated national justice reform programme. Most importantly, digital governance must be coherent. It cannot be cobbled together through ministerial memos or ad hoc taskforces. The federal cabinet, judiciary, regulators and provincial assemblies must align on a national legal roadmap.
The Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- The Wire
InCorp Advisory, an Ascentium Company, strengthens Digital & Cyber Risk Practice with acquisition of Ken & Co.
This strategic expansion positions InCorp India as a Premier Cybersecurity and Risk Advisory with AI-enabled Assurance, Cybersecurity, and Data Privacy Compliance Services MUMBAI, India, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- InCorp Advisory, an Ascentium Company (InCorp India) and one of India's leading corporate services providers, has strategically acquired Ken & Co., a specialised Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) consulting firm. This acquisition strengthens its position as a premier global cybersecurity and risk advisory partner serving multinational corporations and global outsourcing operations. This acquisition also enhances InCorp India's capabilities to provide turnkey Enterprise Risk Management solutions for fast growing companies. Ken & Co. brings deep expertise in critical regulatory and global service areas, including Regulatory Cybersecurity Compliance (including CSCRF), IT Audit & Assurance, Data Privacy Advisory (including GDPR and DPDP Act), SOC Advisory Services, Cross-Border Cybersecurity Assessments and Cyber maturity assessments with penetration testing capabilities. "Our acquisition of Ken & Co. aligns with InCorp India's vision to deliver future-ready risk, compliance, and assurance services," said Manish Modi, CEO for InCorp Advisory, an Ascentium Company (InCorp India). "It strengthens our portfolio amid rising cybersecurity and regulatory demands, deepens our GRC practice, and expands our footprint in India." CA Narasimhan Elangovan, founder of Ken & Co. and a recognized expert in digital assurance and data privacy, will join InCorp India's leadership team to lead the Cybersecurity Practice. His expertise in regulatory cybersecurity frameworks, data privacy, and global outsourcing assurance will be instrumental in expanding InCorp India's international digital risk consulting capabilities. In the recent past, InCorp India has been strategically strengthening its service portfolio through selective acquisitions of specialised professional services firms that align with its long-term growth strategy. By integrating niche firms with proven track records, such as Ken & Co., InCorp India continues to build a multidisciplinary platform positioned for the evolving regulatory and digital landscape. About InCorp Advisory InCorp Advisory, an Ascentium Company (InCorp India) offers services across strategy, consulting, compliance, taxation, sustainability, risk, and outsourcing for clients around the world. InCorp India operates from offices in Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi, and GIFT City in India. As part of Ascentium, a global business services platform with more than 2,300 professionals across 44 cities in 22 markets spanning Asia-Pacific (APAC), the Middle East, the Americas, and Europe, supporting over 50,000 client entities, InCorp is expanding opportunities for our clients and partners by offering access to new markets and an even broader range of corporate services, finance and accounting, HR services, as well as fiduciary and trust services. About Ken & Co. Ken & Co. is a boutique consulting firm based in Bengaluru, specialising in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) with a strong emphasis on technology-driven assurance. Ken & Co. has delivered value to clients through digital audits, privacy and cybersecurity services, and data-driven compliance strategies. Photo: Logo: (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.).
Time Business News
2 days ago
- Health
- Time Business News
The Role of Blockchain in Securing Healthcare Data
Blockchain is an emerging powerful technology that allows the secure exchange of data. It also enables quick data access, which helps improve the quality of care. Moreover, the healthcare systems around the globe are currently facing challenges such as data security and regulatory compliance. Here, blockchain can be pretty helpful for healthcare systems. If you're interested, read this blog to the end to learn more about its role in the healthcare sector. However, first, let's explain what blockchain is. What is Blockchain Technology? Blockchain technology is a digital system for storing and verifying information in a secure and immutable manner. It utilizes cryptography to construct a digital ledger, or a decentralized database of transactions. Recording all types of digital assets and making them transparent, so that anyone present in the network can view these transactions. The most significant advantage of this technology is that anyone in this network can view transactions, and recorded transactions cannot be altered without the permission or proper consensus of all networks. In brief, blockchain technology enables secure transactions between stakeholders without the need for third-party intermediaries, thereby reducing the risk of fraud and data breaches. How can Blockchain Technology Help Healthcare? The healthcare ecosystem is complex, and a smooth exchange of data is required for data-driven decision-making. Indeed, blockchain holds the potential to save healthcare data from risks such as breach or data leakage. Let us outline the key advantages of this technology in healthcare software development. ⦁ It presents an opportunity for a secure and unified network where medical records are accessible only to authorized personnel.⦁ Smart contracts can help maintain HIPAA or GDPR compliance.⦁ Through private keys, patients can be given control over their records. ⦁ Every medical event can be recorded as a transaction in the chain, which creates a tamper-proof audit trail. Blockchain, with its real-world implementation, has positioned itself as a key technology in making healthcare systems more efficient and safer. It's no longer just a theoretical concept, but a lucrative technology that serves the healthcare system well. Role of Blockchain Technology in Securing Healthcare Data Blockchain adds an extra layer of security by offering decentralised, incorruptible, and transparent records of patient data. ⦁ Data Security & Privacy It offers a decentralized and immutable architecture that supports robust data protection. This is vital for healthcare systems to secure patient records, which contain crucial details such as treatment plans, diagnostic results, and patient history. Furthermore, blockchain technology eliminates single points of failure and provides end-to-end encryption. This also allows patients to secure access to their data using private keys, ensuring data privacy and compliance with data regulations (e.g., HIPAA and GDPR). Additionally, it accurately detects mistakes in medical history while facilitating the safe storage and management of transactions and data. ⦁ Interoperability Interoperability refers to the secure exchange of data between systems, and in the context of data security, it remains a pressing challenge in healthcare. However, with smart contracts, the blockchain technology ensures authorized access to data. This helps doctors access the latest and most detailed information about patients, which is particularly helpful in emergency cases where doctors need to make informed decisions or create personalized treatment plans. All in all, the blockchain technology ensures a continuous and accessible record of a patient's medical history. Any healthcare software development company can develop solutions that facilitate the smooth exchange of information, such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs). The addition of blockchain can strengthen existing security measures. ⦁ Monitoring Outbreaks Blockchain can help track outbreaks and diseases by gathering real-time data from labs, hospitals, and clinics. Conventional data collection systems are slow, resulting in delayed responses and data silos. But this technology allows the real-time sharing of healthcare records, reports, and patient outcomes. Moreover, the data stored is time-stamped, which allows the precise tracking of disease progression, enabling researchers and public officials to make swift decisions, especially during outbreaks. This technology also reduces the likelihood of misinformation, enabling more effective coordination of information between healthcare bodies and authorities. ⦁ Supply Chain Management The healthcare supply chain management can be complex due to security concerns and inefficiencies. However, blockchain technology, with its end-to-end tracking capabilities, can help patients and doctors ensure the authenticity of data. Furthermore, smart contracts can also automate inventory checks to prevent over- or under-stocking, verify shipping conditions, and issue alerts in case of anomalies. This helps reduce waste, prevent fraud, and enhance patient safety, especially during drug shortages or pandemics. ⦁ Fraud Prevention With smart contracts, the billing system can be automated once the specified conditions are met, thereby reducing the likelihood of delays or errors. Moreover, blockchain technology simplifies the billing and claims process by processing real-time records. Additionally, due to immutable records, the chances of fraudulent billing are zero, and all stakeholders (insurers and regulatory agencies) can verify records at any time. Any healthcare software development company can help you include blockchain technology in healthcare solutions to enhance fraud prevention. ⦁ Automation of Insurance Claims The insurance claims can be automated with the help of blockchain technology. Through smart contracts, the submission, validation, and approval can be streamlined. For instance, when a patient receives care, the blockchain updates the records and starts the claim processing automatically. This minimizes the chances of human error and disputes between insurers and providers. It also shows claim status to patients, improving transparency. ⦁ Secure Data Transactions The smart contracts enforce security protocols that ensure that medical data is shared only under predefined conditions. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access. ⦁ Decentralization In contrast to centralized databases, which are vulnerable to cyberattacks, the blockchain distributes data across multiple nodes, making it harder for hackers to infiltrate the system. Additionally, the data once recorded into the blockchain system cannot be changed or deleted. ⦁ Management of Personal Health Records Blockchain enables individuals to manage their healthcare data independently through decentralized Personal Health Record (PHR) systems. Here, patients can submit and control access to their health data, ranging from lab results, treatment plans, medication details, and wearable device statistics. This leads to putting patients in the center, enabling transparency and engagement. Moreover, this technology also eliminates the need for centralized data silos which decreases the administrative overhead and increases security. ⦁ Credential Verification Blockchain technology can also track the qualifications and experience of medical professionals. The trusted hospitals can record staff credentials on the blockchain, making it faster and easier for healthcare companies to verify the backgrounds of healthcare professionals. This helps hospitals in efficiently hiring staff with verified credentials and offers them a chance to earn by sharing credible data. ⦁ Remote Monitoring Blockchain can act as a secure ledger for the real-time information received via wearables. This ensures that remote monitoring data is both uneditable and accessible to patients and providers. It also contributes to data privacy and generates alerts (via smart contracts) in the event of a breach. Conclusion Blockchain technology in healthcare software development has proved to be vital due to its immense potential in providing security, transparency, and patient control. It can also help manage patient records, prevent fraud, and track the supply chain of drugs. In a nutshell, we can say that this technology is transforming healthcare for the better. Helping healthcare providers and patients gain quick and secure access to data without any third-party involvement. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Can you really delete your digital past? Here's how the UK's right to be forgotten works
Cancel culture thrives on the idea that the internet never forgets - but is that really true? Many don't know about one UK law that exists that grants the right to be forgotten Old comments on Twitter or Facebook posts have the ability to haunt you long after they went live but one UK law gives you the right to have them erased. Yet many don't know it exists, here's what you need to know about the right to be forgotten. Bringing up old tweets and posts has become somewhat routine whenever someone steps into the spotlight. The result of these airings of old posts has left many with damaged reputations, lost jobs, or derailed opportunities - no matter how long ago the mistake was made. We all have things we'd rather leave in the past, but the phrase 'the internet never forgets' makes it feel impossible. Yet under UK law, you actually might have more control over your online history than you think. Here's how the Right to Be Forgotten works, and what it means in practice. What is the Right to Be Forgotten? The Right to Be Forgotten, also known as the Right to Erasure, is a data protection law that allows individuals to request the removal of their personal data from search engines and online platforms. Introduced in 2014 and strengthened under GDPR, it can apply to anything from old news articles and blogs to social media posts that are no longer relevant. Who can request it and when? Anyone can make a request, either directly or through a parent, guardian or legal representative. It applies when the data is no longer needed for its original purpose, when consent for its use has been withdrawn, when the individual objects to its use and the objection is upheld, if the data was processed unlawfully, or when erasure is required by law. Can everything be deleted? Not every request will succeed. Organisations can refuse if the data is needed to comply with legal obligations such as tax or financial records, if keeping it serves a clear public interest or if the data has been anonymised and cannot be linked back to you, or if it is needed to defend legal claims or protect free speech. How to apply for the Right to Be Forgotten To start applying for the right to be forgotten, you should identify the specific URLs you want removed and the search terms that lead to them, which is usually your name. Prepare a clear justification explaining why the information is outdated, irrelevant or no longer in the public interest, and include proof of identity and any supporting documents. Search engines like Google have online forms for submitting requests, but you can also contact them by email or post. Why it matters in the age of cancel culture Cancel culture thrives on the idea that the internet never forgets, with old posts - sometimes written in someone's teenage years resurfacing and sparking public backlash and even job losses. For those who've grown, apologised and moved on, the Right to Be Forgotten acknowledges that there are times when it's no longer fair to keep mistakes in the public eye. Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
