Category: North Edinburgh News

Why being hacked can be good for your business

Businesses are taking cybersecurity more seriously than ever. In 2021, executives ramped up their cybersecurity spending in response to the explosion of cyber-attacks exploiting lockdown remote working.

Despite this, the frequency and severity of security breaches has only increased, with small to medium businesses in the UK subject to an astonishing average of 10,000 attempted cyber-attacks a day.

Successful attacks breach sensitive data, and recovery can result in severe financial losses, sometimes millions of pounds, for affected businesses.

So, what is going wrong?

Cybersecurity experts agree that one of the biggest issues is that businesses are not spending their security budgets in the right places.

Anthony Green, CTO of cybersecurity consultants FoxTech, works to prevent cyber-attacks, and helps companies who have experienced a security breach: ““What we are seeing is that usually, IT strategies fail when businesses don’t actually know what their weaknesses are – or indeed don’t realise they have any at all.

“Many companies believe their networks are secure because they have outsourced their IT or installed an anti-virus package. Unfortunately, this is like going on holiday and locking your front door, but leaving all your windows wide open – traditional security methods are not comprehensive, and hackers can easily find and exploit your remaining vulnerabilities.”

This is where ethical hacking, also known as penetration testing, comes in. Ethical hacking is when an accredited cybersecurity consultancy carries out a simulated cyber-attack against your computer system.

Penetration testers can identify exploitable flaws in bespoke software, carry out scenario testing to discover how incidents, such as a compromised DMZ host, impact on your security, and test your businesses’ response capabilities to attack or temporary vulnerability.

Anthony comments: “It’s impossible to take the right cybersecurity actions without knowing what your problems are. This is why penetration testing really is crucial. 

“Subjecting your IT infrastructure to ethical hacking by someone who isn’t going to steal your data is one of the best things you can do to prevent a real hacker gaining access. Initially, companies can find it hard to believe that hacking could ever be ethical, let alone good for their business – but it is the best way to find out exactly how vulnerable your business is to an attack.”

Once penetration testing has shown you where your weak spots are, and what methods hackers could use to exploit them, the next step is to fix, secure and block these paths to access.

Most companies’ current IT protection plans focus only on the last step – blocking access – without necessarily knowing exactly where that access is.

Any kind of vulnerability assessment like penetration testing provides an exciting opportunity to find out if your business and your data is properly protected from attack, and should be seen as an essential aspect of any good cybersecurity strategy.

UK Government urges pregnant women to Get Boosted Now

Pregnant women are being urged to Get Boosted Now in a new advertising campaign launched today over social media and radio

  • Pregnant women are being urged to Get Boosted Now in a New Year advertising drive launched today
  • New social media and radio assets highlight the risks of catching the virus and benefits of the vaccines to both mothers and their babies
  • Almost all pregnant women who were hospitalised or admitted to intensive care with COVID-19 were unvaccinated

Pregnant women who have not yet had their first, second, third or booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine are being urged to get their jab as soon as possible, as the government launches a new advertising campaign for the New Year.

The new campaign joins forces with the experts at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) to highlight the serious risks of catching COVID-19 and the benefits the vaccines bring to protecting both mothers and their babies.

Testimonies of pregnant women who have had the jab to keep themselves safe will be played out in adverts across social media and radio stations across the country from today [Monday January 10].

The new campaign urges pregnant women ‘don’t wait to take the vaccine’ and highlights the risks of COVID-19 to mother and baby, and the benefits of vaccination.

The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows COVID-19 vaccinations provide strong protection for pregnant women against the virus. It also shows the vaccines are safe for pregnant women, with similar birth outcomes for those who had the vaccine and those who had not.

DHSC Chief Scientific Adviser and Honorary Consultant Obstetrician Professor Lucy Chappell said: “Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is one of the most important things a pregnant woman can do this year to keep herself and her baby as safe from this virus as possible.

We have extensive evidence now to show that the vaccines are safe and that the risks posed by COVID-19 are far greater.

“If you haven’t had your COVID-19 vaccine, I would urge you to speak to your clinician or midwife if you have any questions or concerns, and book in your vaccine as soon as you can.”

Data from the UK Obstetric Surveillance System shows 96.3% of pregnant women admitted to hospital with COVID-19 symptoms between May and October 2021 were unvaccinated, a third of which (33%) requiring respiratory support. Around 1 in 5 women who are hospitalised with the virus need to be delivered preterm to help them recover and 1 in 5 of their babies need care in the neonatal unit.

The COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant women and have no impact on fertility, which has been made extremely clear by the government, its senior clinicians and a range of independent experts from stakeholder groups such as RCOG the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the British Fertility Society.

Since April 2021, around 84,000 pregnant women have received one dose and over 80,000 have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. In August 2021, only 22% of women who gave birth were vaccinated.  

Dr Edward Morris, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “We welcome this national campaign as an important way of amplifying the very clear message to pregnant women that vaccination provides the best protection for both them and their babies from COVID-19. We urge all pregnant women to get vaccinated as soon as possible, and to get boosted 3 months after the second dose.

We are very concerned that many pregnant women have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19 and we hope this campaign will help reassure them that vaccination is safe and effective. Pregnant women are more vulnerable of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 infection, and this can lead to an increased risk of giving birth prematurely, and stillbirth.

“Gill Walton, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), said: There is overwhelming evidence that the COVID vaccine is safe for pregnant women and for their babies – and that it’s the best way to keep them safe from harm. Sadly, there are too many pregnant women being admitted to hospital with COVID, and 96.3% of them haven’t been vaccinated.

“The consequences of COVID when you are pregnant are clear and potentially devastated, from increased possibility of premature birth and admission to intensive care to a heightened risk of stillbirth.

“We know that pregnant women want to do everything they can to protect their baby, which is why midwives want to reassure them that vaccination is the best thing they can do.”

Dr Jen Jardine, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, who is also seven months pregnant and has had her COVID-19 booster jab, said: “Both as a doctor and pregnant mother myself, we can now be very confident that the COVID-19 vaccinations provide the best possible protection for you and your unborn child against this virus.

“I would strongly call on all pregnant women like me, if you haven’t had the vaccine yet, to either speak to your GP or midwife if you still have questions and then book right away today.”

Waving goodbye to alcohol this January? Say hello to Heineken 0.0

And now the nation’s favourite alcohol free beer is available on draught too …

While we can’t predict exactly what the first month of 2022 will look like, we can be certain that plenty of people will be making positive lifestyle changes … enter Dry January.

For those who decide to go on the wagon for January, there’s no better-tasting alcohol-free beer to see them through than the nation’s favourite, Heineken 0.0. Regularly described as one of the best tasting beers on the market, alcohol or no alcohol, Heineken 0.0 bottles and cans (330ml) contain 69 calories providing a great choice for those looking to moderate.

Heineken 0.0 is made with the same quality ingredients as its alcoholic original, boasting the familiar and characteristic fruity notes of the 5% ABV Heineken Original, the only difference being that 0.0 is without the alcohol.

The non-alcoholic beverage is double brewed with a unique recipe and has its alcohol content carefully removed to enable and empower consumers with choice, and options, to be able to moderate as part of a balanced lifestyle, whilst being able to enjoy every beer moment. 

In addition, and what is a seminal moment for the British beer and pub industries, 2022 will see the rollout of Heineken 0.0 Draught, the first alcohol free draught beer to sit alongside regular beer taps in pubs utilising the existing cellar set up.

Heineken 0.0 Draught will be available in hundreds of UK pubs next year, and the development of the product has been a labour of love for the brewer. Since 2017 scores of beer experts from HEINEKEN innovation breweries in four countries have worked together under the stewardship of HEINEKEN Global Master Brewer Willem Van Waesberghe to bring Heineken 0.0 Draught to market. 

The Low and No beer category is growing at around 30 per cent year-on-year but the introduction of draught is expected to cause an explosion in value in the market – by 2025 it could be worth as much as £250 million.

Commenting on Heineken 0.0, Matt Saltzstein, Beer Unit Director said: “Heineken 0.0 allows people to enjoy a delicious beer on any occasion without ever having to compromise on flavour.

“For those that have committed to moderating their alcohol intake this January, or even going completely dry for the month, Heineken 0.0 means they can do so while still enjoying a refreshing and full-flavoured beer.

“In a month of saying no, alcohol-free Heineken 0.0 bottle and cans allows people to say yes.” 

Speaking on the launch of Heineken 0.0 Draught, Willem Van Waesberghe, said: “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here. Once again, we’re leading the way when it comes to innovating and moving the beer category forward.

“Without a doubt, the best way to enjoy a beer is a freshly poured pint in a pub and Heineken 0.0 Draught is going to play a big part in changing the way people drink.

“For me and my team, one of the primary areas of focus, as always, is taste. The Draught beer tastes great, it’s the distinctive famous Heineken flavour, and it has all the sensory aspects beer drinkers look for – a mouth-watering aroma, bright white head and lively carbonation”. 

Heineken 0.0% is available in a 4 and 12 pack of 330ml bottles, and a 6 pack of 330ml cans in major supermarkets and convenience stores.

Signed the pledge? The driest January the UK has ever seen

New data shows the UK’s driest cities

  • The Driest January the UK has ever seen, new data shows the UK’s driest cities
  • London Is set to be the driest city this January with an incredible 1,072,154 participants prepared to give up alcohol for the entire month.
  • The UK wants to go dry, new data has shown a 22% increase of people searching to go dry from the previous year
  • It is estimated up to six million people will attempt dry January this year which is 12.4% of the population, with the average household saving £98.74 if successful.

The UK is set for its driest January ever as new research reveals the average household will save £100 from not buying alcohol.

A study by kitchen experts Maxima Kitchen Equipment used ONS and Google data to look at which of our cities will be the ‘driest’ this January.

With 24% of the nation already considering themselves to be tee-total, new data shows that one in five of the UK population will attempt dry January and one in four will make an active attempt to cut down their alcohol consumption within the month, as Brits become increasingly health conscious.

London comes in first place with 1,072,154 people expected to go dry for the month – the highest number of participants in the whole of the UK.

The average bottle of wine from a supermarket in the capital is £8 and the average beer price is £1.90. Studies indicate that the average Brit consumes 18 units of alcohol per week, which equates to two bottles of wine, or six beers. Therefore if successful, the participants would save a combined total of £59,062,623, as well as each household saving £109 on average.

In second place is Leeds with an estimated total of 225,912 people set to give up alcohol this month. The city if successful will save an astonishing £12,226,724, based on an average bottle of wine from a supermarket costing £6.90 and an average beer price of £2.10. Each individual household will have saved on average £92.52 by the end of the month.

Birmingham takes third place with 128,521 participants going dry this January. The study found the city’s average price for a beer in the supermarket was £1.60 and the average bottle of wine was £6.75. This means an average household would save £94.84 and the city will save all together an incredible £5,960,529.

Reading came in 25th place with a total of 27,418 participants wanting to go dry. The average wine price came in at £7.12 and the average beer at £2.00. This means the city is set to save £1,442,943 from one month of not drinking.

Furthermore, each participating household would save £105 this month upon completion.

Top Ten Driest UK Cities

Estimated number of people that will attempt dry January

1 London 1,072,154.00

2 Leeds 225,912.00 

3 Birmingham 128,521.00 

4 Sheffield 87,394.00 

5 Glasgow  71,686.00 

6 Poole 61,119.00 

7 Edinburgh 59,118.00 

8 Liverpool 55,693.00 

9 Bristol 55,693.00 

10 Manchester 51,408.00 

A spokesperson for Maxima Kitchen Equipment said: “Lots of people spend months looking forward to Christmas, and the chance to indulge a little more than usual, in both food and drink, it’s a key part of the excitement.

“However, in January it’s becoming more and more popular to try and start the year with a health-conscious mindset whether it be going dry for the month or just trying to drink a little bit less than usual.”

The research was carried out by Maxima Kitchen Equipment, which has more than 40 years of experience in the supply and maintenance of professional kitchen equipment.

Foysol Choudhury: Scotland needs a Culture Recovery

Shadow Culture Minister Foysol Choudhury MSP has set out his vision for a culture recovery as the Holyrood Parliament returns next week.

Whilst welcoming the recent announcement from the Scottish Government on additional funding, Foysol Choudhury said that a number of small community culture groups across Scotland were still struggling to gain access to crucial sources of finance.  

Mr Choudhury also said that Scotland’s gets a big return for the small for a small investment and urges more investment in the sector.

Shadow Culture Minister Foysol Choudhury MSP said: ‘’Parliament returns after the Christmas break on Monday and there can be no doubt, as the omicron continues to spread, our Culture sector needs help more than ever.

“The arts and culture sector needs a long-term recovery plan that’ll respond and support the sector. It was one of the first to shut and will be among the last to fully open.

“People’s livelihoods have been decimated and too many have fallen through the cracks.

“Whilst the Government has announced funding which is welcomed, many are still facing barriers to gaining access to funding, particularly from our smaller, community cultural groups.

“We need to better recognise the role our cultural and creative industries have in contributing to our economy and society. Not many will know that just 0.2% of the Scottish budget is spent on culture. Scotland gets so much back for so little investment.

“We need protection for essential cultural, social infrastructure in our communities which includes our local museums, historical sites, libraries and archivist services.

“Scotland needs a genuine Culture recovery as we emerge from COVID-19 and as Shadow Culture Minister, I’ll hold the Government effectively and ensure Scotland’s culture sector not only recovers from the pandemic but truly prospers.

“When Scottish Culture prospers, Scotland prospers.’’

Humzah Yousaf: “We believe Omicron has not yet peaked”

‘Vaccination is vital’: Scots urged to get boosted as soon as possible

Anyone who has not yet received their booster or third dose is being urged to come forward now, to give the best possible protection against the Omicron variant.

That includes anyone who was unable to attend a vaccination clinic before the Hogmanay bells because of a COVID-19 infection, or if they were self-isolating.

People who are aged 18 and over can receive a booster 28 days after they tested positive or if it has been at least 12 weeks since their second dose.

Young people aged 12-17 can also attend for their second dose of the vaccine – many will have received an appointment but this group can also attend a drop-in clinic at a time and place convenient for them as long as 12 weeks have passed since their first jab.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “The recent acceleration of activity in response to the emerging threat of the Omicron variant has been a remarkable national endeavour and I can’t stress enough how grateful we are to all those involved.

“More than three million people have now received a booster or third dose, offering strengthened protection from the virus and reducing the risk of hospitalisation from the virus.

“However, we believe Omicron has not yet peaked, and the pressure being felt by the health and social care system is extremely high. So, to protect ourselves and the NHS at this critical time it is vital people complete the vaccination course for which they are eligible. It remains vital that everyone gets their booster vaccine when they are eligible.

“We know many people have been unable to attend appointments because of the virus, or due to self-isolation, so I urge anyone who has been unable to attend to rearrange it or go to a drop-in clinic.

“It is never too late to receive your booster – or a first or second dose – so please come forward as soon as possible, as there is plenty of capacity available.”

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nicola Steedman said: “Data shows you are significantly more likely to be admitted to hospital if you are unvaccinated.

“We now know that boosters provide the best possible protection against this variant of the virus. My clinical colleagues and I know the difference this will make – we see it in our hospitals and communities every day. Please get vaccinated.”

Find out more about the COVID-19 vaccination at NHS Inform

Missing Woman: Alice Byrne’s family appeals for information

One week on from when she was last seen in Portobello, the family of 28-year-old Alice Byrne yesterday issued an appeal urging anyone with information on her whereabouts to come forward.

Alice’s family said: “Alice has been missing for one week now and we are shocked and distressed by her disappearance. She always keeps in contact with us so we are extremely worried because we have not heard from her. We are desperate to know where she is.

“If Alice sees this, we want her to know how much we miss her. We just want her home safe and well.

“We urge anyone who has seen Alice, or who has any information at all that might help police find her to phone officers and pass on any information you have.

“We are very grateful for the support we have received during this upsetting time. We would like to thank everyone who has shared appeals to find her, the police for their professionalism and especially the local community for all the support they’ve given.”

Alice was last seen leaving a friend’s flat in Marlborough Street between 8am and 10am on Saturday, 1 January and from enquiries to date, officers believe that she potentially headed in the direction of the promenade and beach.

She is described as white, around 5ft 6ins in height and of medium build with short black hair. When she was last seen she was wearing a black top, black jeans ripped at the knees and white trainers.

Chief Inspector Kieran Dougal said yesterday: “It has now been one week since Alice was last seen and since then she has not made any contact with family or friends. As time passes we have become increasingly concerned for her wellbeing and safety.

“Since Alice was reported missing, extensive searches and enquiries have been carried out throughout primarily the Portobello area. These searches are ongoing and we continue to be assisted by specialist police resources including air support, police dogs, search officers and our Marine Unit.

“We continue to appeal to anyone who was in the Portobello area at that time who may have dash cam footage to check devices and call if you have any sightings of Alice. We are aware that the beach and Promenade area was busy on New Year’s morning so appeal to anyone to review photos and call if they have any information that may assist in tracing Alice. Officers have been speaking to local people and visiting local businesses in the area in case anyone remembers seeing Alice in the area.

“Naturally Alice’s friends and family are extremely concerned and we just want to trace her as soon as possible to ensure she is safe. Again, I would urge anyone who has seen Alice since Saturday, 1 January, or who has any information that may be relevant to our investigation to contact us as soon as possible.

“If Alice reads this appeal, please phone your family, friends or the police.”

Any information can be passed to police through 101 with reference 0647 of 2 January.

Green Flag: Top tips to protect your car this winter

The UK Met Office has issued a weather warning as frequent sleet, hail and snow showers are expected to cause some disruptions. The information service is advising residents to expect travel delays, power cuts, and icy patches on roads, pavements, and cycle paths.

For cars frozen windscreens are most prevalent during these times, and drivers are reminded that it is extremely important to properly clear the ice or frost from your car before starting their journeys.

Green Flag has provided some helpful dos and don’ts to prepare drivers for the icy temperatures this winter.

Mark Newberry, Commercial Director at Green Flag, said: “Hazards can come at us from all angles when we’re on the road, so it is even more important that we can see all around us in icy and challenging, wintery weather conditions.

“It takes less than ten minutes to clear the entire windscreen from ice, not forgetting your side windows and mirrors. It’s crucial that you can also be seen by other drivers – so remember to clear your lights from ice too, before you embark on your journey.

“Remember, never be tempted to leave your car running unattended to warm up the vehicle, as not only can you face a fine, but thieves thrive on cold weather and motorists leaving their cars unattended.

“Clearing your car of ice is not only an important safety check but it is also a legal requirement – that could make the difference between a safe journey and a crash – so please follow these simple steps.”

Green Flag’s Do’s and Don’ts for de-icing your car through winter:

  • Do use a scraper. The most effective way of de-icing car windows is still with a scraper. It’s always best to use one that’s designed for the job.
  • Do try a de-icer spray. If you don’t fancy using a scraper, you can also use de-icer sprays, which are a quick and easy way of getting the job done.
  • Do de-ice all of your windows. Never drive looking through a porthole scraped in the ice on your windscreen. Hazards come at us from all angles when we’re on the road. It’s important that we can see all around us, so make sure you clear the ice from the side windows as well as the entire windscreen.
  • Don’t pour boiling water over your windscreen. It will certainly be very effective at melting the ice, but it’s also a very effective way of causing your windscreen to crack. If you’ve got a small chip or some damage that you may not have noticed, the boiling water will get into it and the sudden expansion will turn that tiny chip into a rapidly spreading crack.

For further information, see Green Flag’s expert advice for tackling a frozen windscreen here:

https://www.greenflag.com/winter-driving/what-to-do-if-your-windscreen-is-frozen

Keep Scotland Beautiful welcomes marine litter consultation

KEEP Scotland Beautiful has welcomed the opening of a public consultation on an updated Marine Litter Strategy which will run until 22 March 2022.

KSB CEO Barry Fisher said: “We know that 80% of marine litter comes from land and that we need to tackle this problem upstream.  Our stats also highlight that 88% of people believe that litter is a problem nationally, while 70% believe it is an issue in their local area – this is unacceptable.

“For over 30 years we have taken action to reduce marine and coastal litter and played an important role in the development of Scotland’s first Marine Litter Strategy which was published in 2014.    

“The two consultations running from now until the Spring of 2022 give everyone a chance to have our say on litter – on land and at sea.  The next three months provide those frustrated by litter with a huge opportunity to have their voices heard.”

Through KSB’s award-winning Upstream Battle campaign on the Clyde and now active on the Tay the organisation has supported community Anchor Groups to collect data which helped them publish their first citizen science report in June 2020.  You can ‘meet’ KSB’s Anchor Groups, and find out more about what they are doing to tackle litter from source to sea on KSB’s campaign pages.

Keep Scotland Beautiful is committed, alongside partners such as the Marine Conservation Society, Fidra, Scottish Water, Nature Scot and Crown Estate Scotland, to improve the quality of our marine environments.

Since 2014 KSB has also:

  • Driven action through the Treasure Your River campaign on the Forth, and the My Beach Your Beach campaign at key bathing waters in Scotland;
  • Supported communities and businesses to Clean Up their local beaches and coastlines by providing free Clean Up Kits;
  • Audited sites across Scotland using our Local Environmental Audit and Management System in line with the Environment Protection Act and associated Code of Practice for Litter and Refuse;
  • Recognised beach managers and communities through Scotland’s Beach Award programme; and
  • Assisted the Scottish Government with the development and delivery of the updated Marine Litter Strategy.

The Scottish Government is concurrently seeking views on a range of measures to prevent litter and flytipping, optimise services, improve data and strengthen enforcement as part of a separate consultation on a new National Litter and Flytipping Strategy which runs until 31 March 2022.

Keep Scotland Beautiful looks forward to playing their part by supporting people across Scotland to have their voices heard and to make responses to the consultations over the coming months.  Find out more here.