Technology

• 74% of parents are confident in school's cybersecurity measures
• But only 14% of schools provide mandatory cybersecurity training
• Cyberattacks are financially impacting schools, parents, and students

New research from Keeper Security highlights a worrying gap in the perception and reality of cybersecurity practices and teachings in schools across the world.

It found parents are overwhelmingly (74%) confident in their child’s school’s cybersecurity measures, but despite this, many schools are falling short of providing robust security education, with only 14% providing mandatory security awareness training, and 13% offering it optionally.

As a new generation of children inevitably enter online spaces, ensuring their information is safe whilst doing so should be something that we drill into them, but only 12% of students have access to dedicated cybersecurity resources.

Schools at risk

Interestingly, only 7% of parents report their child’s institution has been hacked, but research released earlier this year found 71% of UK secondary schools and 52% of primary schools identified breaches in the past year alone - so unless the UK is a particular outlier, there seems to be a worrying trend of overconfidence amongst parents.

Of the 7% which reported breaches, 32% suffered data theft as a result, as well as 16% having financial implications for the school, and even 14% financially impacting students or staff, proving just how serious a cybersecurity incident can be.

Cyberattacks on educational institutions can have devastating consequences, often facing huge pressure to continue to operate despite breaches, with many forced to pay huge ransoms despite their tight budgets.

“Schools play a pivotal role in educating and protecting students, but there is still a significant shortfall in cybersecurity readiness that must be addressed,” said Darren Guccione, CEO and Co-founder at Keeper Security.

“As digital tools increasingly become embedded in education, schools must prioritize cybersecurity education and provide resources to enable students to protect themselves from evolving online threats.”

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• Only one in three workers are confident in spotting cyber threats
• Many have experienced scams, fraud, phishing and deepfakes
• Workers aren’t getting the training they need to stay safe

Following the release of new information from Ofcom surrounding artificial intelligence and deepfakes, new research from Shark UK has revealed how this could be putting Britain’s small and medium businesses at increased risk of cyber threats.

The study found 86% of workers in UK SMBs are increasingly concerned about cyber breaches, but only a third say they’re confident in spotting such threats.

Sharp also found some workers believe their company does not take cybersecurity seriously enough.

AI and deepfakes are escalating cyberthreats

Nearly two in three (63%) workers believe they would be unable to spot a cybersecurity issue, despite increased concern compared with last year. Almost one-third are more worried this year than last that making a mistake at work could make them vulnerable to an attack.

The prevalence of cybersecurity attacks, aided by artificial intelligence which has made writing malicious code more accessible to lower-skilled attackers, has seen a rise in attacks on both businesses and individuals.

The Ofcom data reveals that one in three (34%) internet users have experienced scams, fraud and phishing, whereas even more (43%) have experienced a deepfake in the first half of 2024 alone.

Sharp UK Chief Operating Officer Mark Williams explained nine in 10 data breaches start with a phishing attack; he described workers as the “first line of defence.”

The company found that cybersecurity training from employers over the past two years has been minimal, with more than two in five (43%) workers not receiving any cybersecurity training in the past year.

Williams added: “It is the responsibility of SME leaders to implement a robust cybersecurity training programme which is provided and updated regularly. In doing so, they can maintain a high standard of security awareness across their workforce that can be regularly adapted according to needs.”

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• Samsung's The Premiere 8K projector is the first to get 8K certification
• But you still can't actually buy it
• We're expecting it to finally launch at CES 2025

Samsung's The Premiere 8K projector has just achieved a world-first: it's the very first 8K certified projector.

It's not the only 8K projector; far from it. But it's the first one to get a gold star from the 8K Association, aka 8KA.

The 8KA is the industry association for, you've guessed it, 8K technology. It previously set the performance spec for 8K TVs at the beginning of the decade, and Samsung was one of the first firms whose TVs were certified as meeting that spec. And now it's happening again with projectors.

So what does that actually mean?

Why you should care about Samsung's specs appeal

The 8KA specifications have been agreed by the organisation's technical committees, and those committees feature representatives from across the TV and projector industry: Samsung, of course, but also TCL, Panasonic, Intel, MediaTek, Hisense and others.

The specifications are set out in six categories. As you'd expect, display resolution is at the top: an 8K projector needs to deliver 8K, which is 7,680 x 4,320 pixels.

The standards also require 8K upscaling for lower-res media, set out requirements for brightness, contrast and color gamut, include HDR and also mandate certain sound standards. We don't yet know the detail of these specifications but they'll apply to any product that requires certification.

Although The Premiere was unveiled at CES last year, you still can't actually buy it. We're expecting it to become available at CES 2025, which is in January, with a price tab believed to be around five figures.

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A few simple fridge organisation tweaks can make a huge difference not just to your cooking repertoire, but to your lifestyle too. They can help you make better and more interesting food choices, and they can also help reduce your stress levels when you're looking for something quick and easy to eat for you, your family or your friends.

It can also help the planet, and your pocket. That's because around 19% of all food in the world is thrown away uneaten. Across Europe, a significant portion of food waste comes from households—often because we buy too much or forget what’s tucked away in the fridge, hidden behind other items.

(Image credit: TCL)

Is it time for a fridge upgrade? For many kitchens the answer is an enthusiastic yes, because if your fridge is working efficiently, organised smartly and suits your specific needs it can reduce food waste, save you money and encourage you to eat better too. If opening your fridge is more of a pain than a pleasure, TCL have some really smart ideas for every kind of kitchen and every kind of cook.

The technology of tasty

When you choose a TCL fridge you're benefiting from the technology of tasty: cutting-edge tech that doesn't just keep your cucumbers cool but can also keep food fresher for longer and cut down on food waste too.

(Image credit: TCL)

Say hello to the TCL Free Built-In refrigerator. Designed with a 90° opening door and stable recessed hinges, ensuring easy access even when positioned against a wall. TCL's innovative bottom heat dissipation system minimises the required side clearance from 10 cm to just 1 cm by enabling heat exchange at the base. Furthermore, the 4th generation microporous foaming agent reduces the insulation layer's thickness by 10%, maximising internal storage capacity.

(Image credit: TCL)

The TCL Free Built-In refrigerator seamlessly combines style and functionality with an XL capacity, perfect for busy families and cooking enthusiasts. Its spacious design keeps fresh food within easy reach, while customizable compartments adapt effortlessly to your grocery needs, making organization simple. The large-capacity drawer for easy access to ingredients of all sizes. Its smooth slide-out design ensures clear visibility, keeping everything from small spices to large items neatly stored and easily accessible.

Whether hosting a gathering or managing everyday essentials, this fridge’s smart storage solutions keep your kitchen organized and your food fresh, making life more efficient and enjoyable.

(Image credit: TCL)

There are two key features that do that in the TCL Free Built-In refrigerator: T-Fresh, and T-Temp. Now in its fourth generation, T-Fresh is industry-leading sterilisation that delivers comprehensive protection, preventing the formulation of 99.99%* of the bacteria that can make your food lose its freshness and eliminating unwanted odours too.

T-Temp is just as useful. It enables you to easily adjust the temperature for different kinds of food, with adjustable temperature settings of -3°C, -1°C, and 4°C, ensuring optimal storage conditions for a variety of foods.

While T-Fresh and T-Temp are the stars here, there's another clever bit of tech inside TCL's fridges: Pure Air. That's a smart air circulation system that effectively maintains a fresh and odour-free environment within your freezer.

The Cleverest Combi

The TCL Combi Fridge is designed to simplify and improve your every day. With flexible storage options including a bottle rack and shelf, flexible balcony and impressively large storage space, the Combi Fridge adapts effortlessly to your specific needs whether you're storing large items or want access to frequently used ingredients – or both.

(Image credit: TCL)

Like its Built-In sibling, the TCL Combi Fridge has TCL's clever T-Temp technology to keep your food fresher for longer by regulating temperature and humidity levels. And it can help with your utility bills too thanks to its environmentally friendly inverter technology, which makes it the smart choice for eco-conscious homes. And with a 10-year warranty** on its compressor, it delivers peace of mind too.

How can TCL help bring more order to your kitchen?

(Image credit: TCL)

If your existing fridge seems to be taking up loads of room without delivering lots of storage space inside it, the TCL Free Built-In refrigerator series will be a breath of air that's as fresh as the food inside it. That's because the Free Built-In Fridge Series is a clever addition to any kitchen. They're designed to fit seamlessly into any space, enhancing your kitchen's aesthetic appeal while maximising space efficiency too. They're made to suit your specific kitchen, and that means they can go wherever suits you: against the wall, next to a cabinet or freestanding.

The TCL Free Built-In refrigerator features a sleek, integrated design that seamlessly fits into your cabinetry, elevating your kitchen's aesthetic while optimising space efficiency. Its flush, built-in appearance creates a cohesive and clutter-free look that’s both functional and stylish. Designed for versatility, the Free Built-In design adapts effortlessly to various kitchen layouts—whether placed against a wall, beside a cabinet, freestanding, or fully integrated.

That's not all. The fridge compartments are customisable, enabling you to keep everything organised and making it all incredibly easy to access. And the brilliant large-capacity drawer can accommodate every kind of ingredient while making it super-easy to find everything from small spices to giant joints.

The customizable design of TCL's Free Built-In refrigerator offers unmatched convenience and practicality. Its ample capacity and flexible compartments prevent the frustration of cramming a large shop into a small space, making it easier to see and access everything—no more forgotten ingredients lurking at the back. This same thoughtful design extends to the TCL Combi Fridge, which features customizable compartments, reversible glass shelves, versatile racking, and flexible door balconies, making organization effortless. Plus, its Humidity Side Crisper keeps produce crisp and fresh, ensuring your lettuce stays crunchy and ready to enjoy.

(Image credit: TCL)

Whether you fancy the freestanding Combi Fridge or would prefer the flexibility of the TCL Free Built-In refrigerator series, TCL delivers exceptional cooling, massive storage space and all kinds of clever features to make every day easier. Click here to find out more about the technology of tasty.

* 99.99% from BV report. Tested bacteria represented were Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

***The inverter compressor's 10 years warranty need to be registered on TCL official website within 30 days of purchase.

Product models, capacities, and appearances are subject to the actual market availability in each region. For specific details, please refer to local retailers or the official website.

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