All posts tagged: Protect

How conservation can protect the global helium supply

Published by skeptic

[ad_1] Conservation is vital for protecting the global helium supply, which supports essential sectors like healthcare, semiconductor manufacturing, and scientific research. Helium, a finite resource primarily derived from natural gas, escapes into space once released. Approximately 30% of the global helium supply is wasted on non-essential uses, worsening shortages. By implementing reclamation systems and adopting government policies that promote sustainability, industries can mitigate waste and conserve this valuable element. Innovation News Network explores further measures needed to secure helium for the future. Why helium is more than just party balloons Although helium is often associated with party balloons, its significance extends far beyond mere entertainment. This non-renewable resource is crucial for various critical applications, particularly in healthcare and technology. For instance, MRI scanners rely on helium to cool superconducting magnets, while the semiconductor industry depends on it for wafer cooling. With helium supply demand projected to increase over fivefold by 2035 due to technological advancements, the need for helium conservation becomes increasingly urgent. As supplies of helium face depletion, effective conservation strategies, including helium recycling …

National Biosecurity Centre to protect public from animal diseases

Published by skeptic

[ad_1] The UK’s ability to prevent a future pandemic has been significantly enhanced with the announcement of a £1bn investment in a new National Biosecurity Centre. This funding will deliver the next phase of a new National Biosecurity Centre – a cutting-edge scientific campus in Surrey that will serve as the UK’s foremost animal biosecurity facility. The investment is one part of the new National Security Strategy, which marks a change in UK’s approach to securing British interests whilst also creating jobs, wages, and growth as part of the Government’s Plan for Change. The growing threat of animal disease outbreaks Animal disease outbreaks represent a serious and increasing risk to public health, food security, and the UK economy. Approximately 60% of all known human infectious diseases are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans. Furthermore, approximately 75% of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals, making the fight against these diseases a matter of both human health and security. Without a strong and modernised biosecurity infrastructure, disease incursions could severely impact our farmers, …

Labour MPs Accuse UK Government Of Failing To Protect LGBT+ Citizens In Overseas Territories

Published by Sam

[ad_1] David Lammy was appointed foreign secretary after Labour won last year’s general election (Alamy) 3 min read18 June A group of new Labour MPs has accused the UK government of violating international law and “betraying” British values by failing to protect LGBT+ people in the British Overseas Territories. Sixteen Labour MPs have written a letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, seen by PoliticsHome, calling for “urgent” government leadership on the fundamental rights of LGBT+ British citizens in the British Overseas Territories. All of the MPs behind the letter were elected last year, except for Nadia Whittome and Kate Osborne, who were elected in 2019. The majority of the new MP signatories are openly LGBT+, and many of them have not previously spoken out publicly against the Labour government. The group of MPs, led by Macclesfield MP Tim Roca, said they believe the UK has a “legal and moral duty” to ensure that all its citizens, including those in the Overseas Territories, are afforded equal protection under the law. “Yet, the …

Can any nation protect against a Ukraine-style drone smuggling attack?

Published by skeptic

[ad_1] An image taken by a Ukrainian drone during Operation Spiderweb UPI/Alamy On 1 June, Ukraine stunned the world with an audacious attack against Russian airbases. Using cheap, small drones concealed inside trucks that had penetrated deep into Russian territory, Ukraine says it was able to hit dozens of nuclear-capable strategic bombers, taking out a reported $7 billion of military hardware. The drone-smuggling attack, codenamed Operation Spiderweb, was an incredible feat of military planning – but it also highlighted a vulnerability that has defence chiefs around the world concerned that their assets could be hit next. “The risk potentials of small drone attacks to US or UK air bases right now are 100 per cent,” says Robert Bunker at US consultancy firm C/O Futures. “You simply need a group with the intent and capability, which is a very low bar to overcome.” Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, says it used 117 first-person view drones for the attack, adapting them from racing quadcopters to carry a couple of kilograms of explosives each. The country produced around …

This New Scam-Checking App Is So Good That I Trust It to Protect My Parents

Published by skeptic

[ad_1] This week, my Mum messaged me asking if a message she’d received from a delivery service was real or not. Now, I’m lucky that she’s pretty savvy when it comes to spotting scams and knows what to look for. It’s just useful to have a son who’s the Security Editor for a leading tech website to check with. But obviously, not everyone has that opportunity—and that’s where Malwarebytes’ new Scam Guard AI chat can save the day. What Is Malwarebytes AI-Powered Scam Guard Chatbot? Malwarebytes Scam Guard is a free AI chatbot integrated into Malwarebytes Mobile Security, the security company’s free smartphone app. Download: Malwarebytes Mobile Security for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available) Scam Guard basically does what it says on the tin. It’s designed to provide an instant response on whether what you’re reading or an email that’s landed in your inbox is a scam. So, instead of having to figure out whether what you’re looking at is a scam that could pilfer your banking details, you can grab a screenshot or …

How to protect yourself from narcissists’ weapon of choice – passive aggression

Published by skeptic

[ad_1] Imagine asking a coworker to help you on a project, and although they agree, they suddenly “forget” whenever the deadline approaches. Or a friend saying “you look beautiful today, I barely recognised you,” after you show them your new haircut. Perhaps you know all too well the feeling of a parent or partner ignoring you following some perceived slight. On the surface this behaviour may seem relatively minor. But if it happens often, this could indicate a narcissist is using passive-aggressive behaviour to try and hurt you. To protect yourself, it helps to know where a narcissist is coming from. Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences. The term “narcissist” can refer to people with high levels of narcissism, not necessarily that they have a clinical diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder. There are generally two types: grandiose and vulnerable. Grandiose narcissists usually view themselves …

Bill to protect criticism of religion to come before Parliament

Published by skeptic

[ad_1] A bill to increase protections for the right to criticise religion is set to come before Parliament next week. Nick Timothy, a Conservative MP, will put a Freedom of Expression (Religion) Bill before the House of Commons next week in response to the conviction of Hamit Coskun for a religiously-aggravated public order offence on Monday. The bill, which is reportedly co-signed by 11 other MPs, would extend section 29J of the Public Order Act so that it covers Part 1 Section 4A and Section 5 of the act, which concern offences which cause harassment alarm and distress to others. Section 29J protects the right to criticise or express “antipathy, dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse of particular religions or the beliefs or practices of their adherents”, but it currently only applies to Part 3A of the act concerning stirring up hatred against people on the grounds of religion, belief of sexual orientation. Coskun was convicted under Part 1 section 5 of the act, which is not covered by Section 29J. Coskun was found guilty of …

Protect inclusive secular schooling, NSS urges council

Published by skeptic

[ad_1] The National Secular Society has urged Westminster City Council to protect inclusive schooling in the borough by halting a proposed amalgamation of three primary schools. The council is consulting on plans to amalgamate Barrow Hill Junior School, George Eliot Primary, and Robinsfield Infant School in response to declining pupil numbers in the borough. All three are community schools with no religious character. In response, the NSS warned against the amalgamation’s “significant reduction in places at secular, inclusive schools” which would put “children and families from nonreligious and minority religious backgrounds at a significant disadvantage”. The proposals would reduce capacity by 200 places at nonreligious schools. Christian faith schools are significantly overrepresented in the borough. Over half (55.1%) of primary school places in Westminster are at Christian faith schools, almost twice the national average (28.3%). But according to the 2021 Census, only 37.3% of Westminster’s population are Christian, a reduction of 7.3% from 2011. Conversely, the majority (53.4%) are not religious or belong to a different religion. Most of these religions or beliefs have seen …

how to protect yourself from sim-swap fraud

Published by skeptic

[ad_1] Our mobile phone numbers have become a de facto form of identification, but they can be hijacked for nefarious purposes. Just such an attack may have been involved in the recent very damaging cyber-attack on Marks & Spencer (M&S). The hack happened in April and forced M&S to stop taking online orders. It also caused disruption to some of its stores. The company has said that its online business could be disrupted into July and could result in an estimated £300m hit to profits. The M&S incident is being widely reported as an example of what is known as “sim swap”. It’s a form of fraud that is on the rise and understanding how to protect against it will help limit its impact. Our mobile numbers are unique and we have them for years. This means that users generally want to keep hold of their number when they change they phones, or lose them. When a user buys a new phone, or just a new sim card for a spare device they might have, …

6 Quick Tips That’ll Protect Your Data

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[ad_1] Ransomware attacks often make headlines, and the worst part is that they target regular people, not just big corporations. Cybercriminals evolve their tactics, but protection doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. These straightforward tips can help keep ransomware at bay. 6 Use a Reliable Antivirus Solution Miker Rivero/MakeUseOf/TippaPatt/Rawpixel/Shutterstock A reliable antivirus solution is your first defense against ransomware. While Windows Defender offers decent protection, third-party options from Bitdefender, Kaspersky, or Norton provide enhanced ransomware shields with real-time monitoring. The key is choosing software that actively scans for suspicious file behavior, not just known malware signatures. More importantly, keep your antivirus updated. Ransomware evolves daily, and outdated virus definitions leave you vulnerable to new threats. Most antivirus programs update automatically, but double-check those settings. If you’ve already realized you downloaded a virus, an up-to-date antivirus can still help contain the damage before ransomware encrypts your files. Despite these benefits, performance concerns shouldn’t deter you from using antivirus protection. Yes, some security software can slow down your system, but if your PC runs slow after …