February 2024 - The Software Bureau

Are we any closer to UK data protection laws?

#data, #databreach, #datasecurity, #hacking, #infosec, Analytics and data science, Data Hygiene, GDPR, Industry

Are we any closer to UK data protection laws?

By Martin|2024-02-27T07:30:25+00:00February 27th, 2024|

Ummmm – in a word, no…. Last week Secretary of State Michelle Donelan brought the Data Protection and Digital Information (DPDI) Bill back into the House of Commons to secure an extension. Its expiration has now been extended by 280 days, setting a new deadline of December 12, 2024. This extension was critical; without it, the bill faced lapsing on March 8, 12 months after its initial presentation. Following a second reading before Christmas, the DPDI Bill will now make its way through the House of Lords. However, the timeframe for this phase remains a subject of much speculation among political and data circles – particularly with an election looming. One of the more formidable tasks confronting the Lords is [...]

Print – the comeback kid!

By Martin|2024-02-19T05:45:21+00:00February 19th, 2024|

In a time where the digital realm dominates our daily lives, print is making a strong come-back A new report from Sopro reveals that consumers are increasingly favouring print over digital, particularly for marketing communications. This is highlighted by a significant decline in the effectiveness of email-only campaigns and a doubled preference for postal communications among consumers over the past year. The study, which analysed over 75.2 million emails and gathered insights from more than 350 sales and marketing professionals, found a 22% drop in the success rates of email-only activities in 2023 compared to the previous year. That said, the majority of shoppers (67%) still welcome email contact, but it suggests that its impact is waning. Conversely, the preference [...]

The Curious Case of AI-Generated Data Hacking: A Cautionary Tale

By Martin|2024-02-05T09:30:28+00:00February 5th, 2024|

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, a bizarre new trend has emerged, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. Picture this: a hacking forum on a quiet Sunday, buzzing with the advertisement of a stolen data cache from Europcar. The claim? Over 48 million customers' personal information up for sale. The twist? The data might just be a figment of artificial intelligence's imagination, specifically conjured up by ChatGPT. Europcar's response was swift, with spokesperson Vincent Vevaud debunking the claim after a meticulous examination. The inconsistencies were glaring: The purported number of records didn't match Europcar's database. Sample data was likely AI-generated, featuring non-existent addresses, mismatched ZIP codes, and bizarre email domains. None of the email addresses were found in Europcar's [...]