All posts by Paul Stradling

News

Tech Tip – Mark Up And Annotate Any Portion Of Your Screen With This Keyboard Shortcut

If you’d like to be able to mark up, annotate and share screenshots, here’s a fast and easy keyboard shortcut that lets you do just that.

– Hold down Win + Shift + S and select (click and drag the square) to select a screenshot of the area to annotate.

– Click on “Select here to markup and share the image”.

– With the image now open in the ‘Snip & Sketch’ app, use the pen tools to annotate the image.

– Once your image is annotated, click on ‘save’ or ‘share’ (top right), or on the three dots for the ‘print’ option.

News

Sustainability: Most Consumers Aiming For Environmentally Friendly Christmas Due To ‘COP26 Effect’

A recently published World Wildlife Fund (WWF) poll shows that nearly two-thirds of UK adults who celebrate Christmas intend to be more environmentally with their choices this year, with one-third citing recent news about the climate and nature crisis as the reason.

Driven By The ‘COP26’ Effect

The results of the poll, commissioned with Opinium Research, showed that what the WWF named the “COP26 effect” (the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference in Glasgow) has been a major driver in 64 per cent of UK adults looking to have greener Christmas than last year.

7 Out Of 10 Young People

The WWF poll results shows that the idea is particularly popular among the young with 7 in 10 of those aged 18 to 34 who celebrate Christmas saying that they intend to have a more environmentally friendly Christmas. The poll also revealed that the ‘COP26 effect’ of green issues being highlighted on the world stage was a driver for half of them making this decision.

How?

Some of the other important stats from the poll reveal just how people intend to have a more environmentally friendly Christmas.  For example:

– 38 per cent of respondents intend to choose Christmas gifts with less packaging.

– 30 per cent intend to use energy-saving LED lights on their Christmas trees.

– 30 per cent intend to purchase FSC certified, recyclable wrapping paper and Christmas cards.

Chartered Institute of Marketing Poll

The results of the WWF poll echoed those of a Chartered Institute of Marketing poll just days earlier.  The CIM poll of 2,000 adults, also carried out by Opinium, showed that more than half of UK adults (53 per cent) who celebrate Christmas think that doing so in a more environmentally friendly way is more important this year than last year. The CIM poll also showed that almost half of respondents (45 per cent) are willing to spend a bit more to have an environmentally friendly Christmas. This figure was 60 per cent among 18- to 34-year-olds and this extra willingness among the young was also a feature of the WWF poll.

Greater Transparency and Less Packaging

The CIM poll also revealed that most consumers are concerned that companies use too much packaging (82 per cent), and most consumers (two-thirds) would prefer companies to be more transparent about the impact Christmas products and services have on the environment.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation?

These polls appear to show that whether it is purely the effect of COP26, or a combination of things strengthened by an increased focus during and because of the pandemic, environmental issues are now being valued much more highly by consumers, even at a time where degrees of care-free excess has ruled in past. Young people who, arguably, have most to worry about with climate change and are more in touch with each other globally than ever before are, understandably, leading the charge in terms of prioritising the environment, even at Christmas.  Businesses and organisations should, therefore, take note that investing in greener products and reducing the amount and type of packaging (particularly reducing non-recyclable/ non-biodegradable packaging) and telling consumers about it could be rewarded by more sales and more favourable perceptions among target customers. Environmentally friendly products and packaging could, as the polls have indicated be a source of competitive advantage and differentiation (people are even prepared to pay more for it) that is valued at Christmas and beyond.

News

Featured Article : Christmas Cons

In this article, we take a look at some of the latest known online scams so that you can avoid falling foul of cybercriminals this Christmas.

Christmas – A Great Opportunity For Scammers

The extra spending at many different online shops, often for large amounts, and the requirement for delivery before the big day makes Christmas the ideal time for scammers to play with and exploit the fears of shoppers. For example, Action Fraud figures show that 28,049 shoppers were conned out of their money when shopping online over the Christmas period last year.

A Different Approach

Today’s attackers would much rather log in than hack in and are, therefore, favouring the types of scams that fool their victims into giving-up their information, rather than going through the complicated and time-consuming process of hacking in the ‘hard way’. Also, whereas in previous years criminals have used stolen card details to make payments, now they are trying to trick customers into authorising a payment to an account which they control.

Here are some examples of the most popular Christmas cons this year.

Parcel Delivery Scams

This type of scam became super-popular during the pandemic lockdowns when more people started to order more of their goods online and is designed to extract/steal personal details. Christmas is THE time of year for parcels thereby making it the ideal time of year to operate this most popular of ‘smishing’ scams.

This particular type of smishing scam works in the following ways:

– The attacker sends a text/SMS message purporting to be from a reputable company, in this case, the Royal Mail or a parcel delivery company/courier service e.g., DPD, FedEx, or Hermes. The message states that (for example) either a parcel delivery has been missed and delivery needs to be re-scheduled, or there is an ‘outstanding shipping fee’ that needs to be covered before the parcel can be delivered.

– The recipient, who may be expecting a parcel delivery or several (and doesn’t know when) is fooled into clicking on the link in the text message. This either sends the attacker personal information (credit card number or password) or downloads a malicious program/malware to the victim’s phone or other device. The malware can be used for snooping on the user’s personal data or sending sensitive data silently to an attacker-controlled server.

Fake Charity Appeals

These scams take advantage of strong emotional responses and the desire to help those less fortunate or in need at Christmas. Action Fraud data shows that £1.6m of the public’s money was lost to online charity fraud over the past year. These scams work in the following way:

– Victims are contacted by email by scammers using a legitimate charity’s name and appealing for a donation.

– Clicking on a link to donate can direct victims to a bogus/phishing page to extract their money and/or can download malware.

Gift Card and E-Card Scams

Gift card scams involve the scammer sending the victim an email, pretending to be from a friend asking to buy gift cards for them.  The idea of the scam is to obtain the code on the card to spend the money.

Also, scammers send e-cards that are infected with viruses/malware e.g., ransomware. A healthy dose of suspicion coupled with good, up-to-date anti-virus protection can help reduce the risk posed by these types of scams.

Fake Websites

With so many people shopping for presents online, often at shops that are unfamiliar to them, these scams can be convincing and can catch consumers out. Scammers set up fake websites offering gifts and services that don’t exist. They are designed to steal personal details and money. It is worth noting that secure website addresses start with ‘https’ and display a locked padlock (although some cybercriminals are now able to add secure certificates to their websites). Sticking to known websites and a good degree of caution and scrutiny are, therefore, advisable to be extra-safe.

Shopping Scams

Most shoppers have an idea of how much their favourite brands and sought-after presents are likely to cost. If products advertised online (shops, platforms, or in emails) appear very cheap, it could be that they are counterfeit goods being sold in shopping scams. Counterfeit goods are likely to be sub-standard and potentially dangerous. It is likely to be a case of “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”.

The Bank Scam

This common money scam is operated throughout the year but is likely to be particularly effective at Christmas when people purchase more items from a wider range of sellers. This scam, which is designed to steal all the victim’s savings from a bank account, works in the following way:

– A fraudster may call, send a text, or email, claiming to be from the victim’s bank reporting suspicious activity on their account e.g., a fraudulent or unrecognised transaction. The tone is urgent and serious, designed to cause fear, thereby prompting an emotional reaction before any critical thought can take place.

– The victim is urged to click on a link in an email to a report. This is used to extract personal details. The victim is urged to move their money quickly to a bogus ‘safe account’, supposedly set-up by the bank. In fact, it is an account set-up/used by the fraudster. Once transferred, the victim’s money is moved immediately.

Refund Scams

Refund scams/windfall scams are designed to use a strong emotional response and the lure of fast, easy money to trick victims into parting with their personal details and leaving themselves open to more attacks. Refund scams work in the following way:

– The victim is contacted (e.g. by recorded phone message, SMS, or email) by scammers pretending to be from legitimate companies or agencies (e.g. the victim’s broadband provider, bank, or HMRC).

– The victim is informed that a refund is waiting for them, and they are instructed to click on a link to claim it (or call a number, which is a phone operated by scammers).

– Clicking on the link downloads malware onto the victim’s phone or computer, which can be used to steal personal information, act as a gateway for further attacks, and/or slow down the device.

The Free Christmas Hamper Scam

As recently reported in the Birmingham Mail (from a warning by budgeting website Family Money) the Christmas hamper scam is designed to obtain a victim’s personal details i.e., full name and home addresses. These details can then be used to appear more legitimate in a follow-up attack at a later date which focuses on extracting financial information which could enable the scammers to empty a victim’s bank account.  The scam works in the following way.

– Scammers call or email the victim claiming to be from a legitimate, reputable company using personal information to make it seem genuine.

– The victim is informed that they have won a Christmas hamper and their full name, address, and phone number (if emailed) are required for delivery.

– Once details are submitted, no hamper is delivered but the personal details are kept/sold-on and used for future scams.

The WhatsApp “Hello Mum and Dad” Scam

Action Fraud has reported that this scam has led to victims losing £48,356 from this scam on 25 different occasions between August and October, and Santander has reported a 532 per cent increase in this scam between August and November 2021. The scam works in the following way:

– Scammers posing as the victim’s children text their parents a different number on WhatsApp, claiming that they have lost or damaged their phone.

– The scammer asks for money to either pay for a new device or pay an urgent bill.

IT Support Scams

These scams are operated all year but can be particularly effective at Christmas when people are more likely to need their computer for online shopping or communicating with family members. This scam typically works in the following way:

– Scammers call or email the victim claiming to be working in a support role at a well-known tech company (e.g. Microsoft) or broadband provider.

– The victim is told that there is something wrong with their computer that needs fixing.

– The victim is directed to a fake website and instructed to click on a link and/or even asked for payment to fix the fault. Clicking on the link can download malware.

Covid19 Scams

With Covid dominating the Christmas landscape again this year, Covid scams are likely to be used. An example of how this kind of scam works is:

– Scammers pretending to be from a local council or NHS or working as a contact tracer call the victim and tell them they’ve been identified as a contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19.

– The victim is then asked personal questions and perhaps even financial details.

Other Scams

There are many other popular scams in operation not just at Christmas but throughout the year including phone scams, romance scams, and numerous phishing and smishing scams.

How To Avoid Being Scammed This Christmas

Some of the ways to avoid the Christmas scams include:

– Be very wary of any message asking you for sensitive information.

– If you receive a message, don’t click the link and certainly don’t hand over personal details or payment information.

– Never click on any links inside a message, especially if it’s one you weren’t expecting, and don’t transfer any money to anyone you have merely just spoken to or received an email from.

– Stay alert, don’t allow yourself to be pressured, trust your instincts, and if something seems to be too good to be true or too out of the ordinary, then it probably is.

– Check the details of an email sender or on a website claiming to be legitimate for tell-tale signs of possible scams. For example, is the email address spurious, does the logo on the website look slightly off, are there spelling mistakes or is the wording strange?

– Remember that banks never use unsolicited calls to ask for personal details, pressure you to give information, or tell you to move your money to a safe account. If you receive a call out of the blue from your bank, hang up and if you would like to call them back to check, call the phone number on the back of your debit or credit card, using a different phone line.

– Remember that organisations like HMRC never send notifications by email about tax rebates or refunds, ask for personal or financial information in text messages, or use ‘WhatsApp’ to contact customers about a tax refund. They also do not use social media to offer a tax rebate or to request personal or financial information (a Twitter scam used this recently).

– If you receive obvious scam texts, forward and report them to 7726. This is a free service that looks into fighting scams. If you receive any kind of suspicious message, report it to Action Fraud either ( https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/reporting-fraud-and-cyber-crime) by calling 0300 123 2040.

– Action Fraud has launched a national campaign called ‘Take Five To Stop Fraud’ that is offering straightforward and impartial advice to help everyone protect themselves from preventable financial fraud this Christmas. See: https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

The threat ecosystem has evolved again over this year towards scams based very much on human error (e.g. smishing and phishing), plus businesses have also been targeted with more (sophisticated) ransomware and business email compromise (BEC) attacks. This threat evolution indicates that businesses may want to explore a more people-centric approach to cybersecurity to reduce today’s risks and, if they haven’t done so already, adopt a ‘zero trust’ approach to their cyber security. For businesses selling online, it’s a case of re-assuring customers as much as possible through signs of compliance, logos, social proof (testimonials), communication (social and website) and more. As consumers, we all need to be vigilant and maintain a healthy suspicion of anything out of the ordinary, trust our instincts and stick to our normal security practices (i.e. not click on links in unsolicited emails and not responding to or being pressured by unsolicited callers). Reporting scam attempts is also important to help protect everyone.

News

Tech News : ‘Anti 5G’ Radiation-Emitting Jewellery Banned

A recent study has led to a warning from the Dutch authorities to anti-5G merchandise wearers that a list of ‘negative ion’ jewellery items should not be worn because they emit ionizing radiation.

What Is Negative-Ion Jewellery?

Negative ion jewellery describes jewellery items (e.g. bracelets and pendants) which have a small quantity of ion-generating minerals in their make-up. It is claimed by the manufacturers (and vendors) that these items, if worn, can improve the body’s immune system, create a better ‘balance’, and deliver other health benefits.

Warning

The Dutch Authority for Nuclear Safety and Regulation Protection has published a warning online to owners of a list of negative ion jewellery items, advising them to stop wearing them. The Authority states that “A study commissioned by the ANVS and carried out by the Netherlands’ National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has revealed that these specific products emit ionizing radiation.”  It goes on to say that “Exposure to ionizing radiation can cause adverse health effects” and “due to the potential health risk they pose, these consumer products containing radioactive materials are therefore prohibited by law.”  Owners of these products have, therefore, been advised that “To avoid any risk the ANVS calls on owners of such items not to wear them from now on.”

List of Ten Products

The ANVS study identified a list of 10 products that emit ionizing radiation which could be harmful to the wearer. The items are:

– Energy Armor:  sleep mask, black and white necklace, and black super bracelet.

– Magnetix: ‘Fit & Slim’ silicone bracelet XL, necklace with negative ions of skin-friendly silicons, ‘Smiley Kids’ bracelet with negative ions, and ‘Sport Boost’ bracelet with negative ions.

– Quantum: pendant and the ‘Basic Nero’ bracelet.

Stop Selling

The Dutch Authority for Nuclear Safety and Regulation Protection has also reported that companies attempting to sell these products will now be in violation of the Nuclear Energy Act and that the ANVS is informing sellers that to stop selling them immediately.

The Anti-5G Connection

The anti-5G movement really came to prominence at the beginning of the pandemic where conspiracy theorists made a link between 5G and the virus, resulting in arson attacks (e.g., in Derby) on 5G masts/transmitters. There is also a market for anti-5G products based on the idea that they offer personal protection from any harmful effects of 5G. These products include jewellery and even a (£399) USB key that claimed to provide protection before attracting the attention of Trading Standards back in May 2020.

There is no evidence that 5G is harmful and The World Health Organization (WHO) says that 5G mobile networks are safe.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

It is, of course, ironic that the kinds of products favoured by those who believe they can protect them from 5G harm and/or have other health benefits in fact emit potentially dangerous radiation. This is of course bad news for many sellers and manufacturers of these products whose sales will inevitably suffer. In reality, some of these products only emit low levels of radiation which would only really pose a danger to health if worn for a prolonged period (e.g., 24 hours), according to the quite stringent limit for skin radiation exposure that applies in the Netherlands. The story does, however, highlight how 5G, the Covid vaccination program, and other recent health and technology events have challenges in tackling the misinformation/disinformation, conspiracy theories, scams, and online markets that feed on widespread fear in an increasingly connected, online/digital society facing new and invisible challenges that most people have to rely upon experts to understand (e.g. viruses and mobile technology).

News

Tech News : Google : ‘No Jab, No Job’

CNBC recently reported that it had viewed a Google memo, circulated to employees, that they would lose pay, and eventually be sacked if they didn’t comply with the company’s Covid-19 vaccination policy.

Until Dec 3 To Declare Status, And Until Jan 18 To Comply

According to CNBC, the document circulated by Google’s leadership warned employees that they had until Dec 3 2021 to declare their vaccination status and to upload the documentation showing proof, or to apply for any medical or religious exemption. Google informed its employees back in July that it would require vaccinations for those returning to its offices following working from home during the lockdowns and the recent memo reportedly gives employees until Jan 18 2022 to comply with the company’s vaccination policy or enter measures that could lead to being sacked.

Leave, Unpaid Leave, Then Employment Termination

The document is also alleged to have said that failure to comply with vaccination mandated for those people employed and working in its US offices (i.e. needing to be vaccinated) would result firstly in “paid administrative leave” for 30 days followed by “unpaid personal leave” for up to six months. Failure to comply after these leave periods would allegedly result in the person’s employment being terminated.

Options?

It has been reported that those Google employees who really don’t want to get vaccinated may be able to get roles at companies that don’t conflict with the executive order and are able to request exemptions for religious beliefs or medical conditions.

Opposition at Google

The ‘no jab, no job’ executive order/vaccine mandate from Google has reportedly been opposed by several hundred employees who have circulated their own manifesto.

Not The Only Big Company To Do So

Following the Biden Administration’s request for U.S. companies with 100 or more workers to ensure their employees are fully vaccinated or regularly tested for Covid-19 by Jan 4, Google is certainly not the only one to take action.  For example, JP Morgan has recently sent a memo to staff asking those who are unvaccinated to take up the offer of a jab and asking any eligible employees to get a booster jab. Vaccination is also reported to have been made a requirement for US tech companies Uber and Facebook.

Criticism

The Biden Administration’s request for vaccinations and testing in bigger US companies and Google’s recent memo have been met with some criticism. For example, Republicans have criticised the move as infringing on the freedom of workers and putting extra demands on businesses. The manifesto from Google’s employees who object to the mandate has said that it is a sign of a “coercive” leadership at the company, looks like the antithesis of inclusion, and violates the company’s principles of inclusiveness. The manifesto also criticises Google for having/keeping a record of employees’ vaccination status which could be regarded as personal/private medical information.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

In the U.S., tens of millions of people remain unvaccinated and possibly unwilling to take up the jab of their own free will. With the virus still present and spreading, with companies wanting many workers to return to offices (not necessarily full-time), and with the Biden administration wanting to drive the vaccination forward, especially in big companies, this has resulted in the delicate situation that Google finds itself in.  This situation may also be particularly awkward for Google as it is reported to be trying to target the health-care industry for cloud business. Here in the UK, although there has been a much larger proportional take-up of the vaccine, and employment rights have required employers to be more careful, legislation was passed in June making Covid vaccinations compulsory for all care home staff. As more variants emerge and governments try to protect their health systems, populations, and economies, it is likely that vaccinations will be required for more employment, leisure/entertainment, and travel situations.

News

Tech Insight : What Is ‘Surveillance for Hire’?

After Meta (Facebook) recently reported alerting 50,000 people that it believed were being targeted by “surveillance-for-hire” entities, we take a look are who these entities are and what they do.

Meta’s Report

Following months of investigation, Meta recently informed 50,000 people that they were being targeted by seven “surveillance-for-hire” entities / “cyber mercenaries” who were targeting people in over 100 countries on behalf of their clients. It has been reported that Meta has issued cease-and-desist warnings against six of the seven entities it identified. The seventh is known to be in China but couldn’t be identified.

What Does “Surveillance-For-Hire” Mean?

The surveillance-for-hire industry consists of companies that use a combination of social engineering and technology to monitor and gather information about (and sometimes from) individuals for their clients. In the case of Meta’s investigation, these companies are described as entities that use “intrusive software tools and surveillance services indiscriminately to any customer — regardless of who they target, or the human rights abuses they might enable”. Surveillance-for-hire companies claim to use their surveillance services to tackle criminals and terrorists but, offer their services to many government and non-government groups that otherwise wouldn’t have these capabilities as well as private individuals, law firms, businesses, politicians and even law enforcement agencies. Meta’s investigation also claims that these surveillance companies also target journalists, dissidents, critics of authoritarian regimes, families of opposition and human rights activists.

Examples

Examples of surveillance-for-hire companies/cyber mercenaries include:

– Black Cube. Although it recently described itself as simply a “litigation support firm”, it is one of the companies identified recently by Meta. Black Cube was formed by former Israeli intelligence agency Mossad veterans. Meta suggested that Black Cube used fictitious personas to contact targets and obtain email addresses for phishing attacks (which Black Cube denies). Black Cube has previously made the news following reports by the New Yorker in 2017 that it was used by Harvey Weinstein to surveil reporters covering allegations about his assaults.

– NSO. Meta identified this company as being behind Pegasus spyware (software used to enable surveillance) that it sued in 2019 (and Apple has also sued).

– Cognyte. Based in Israel, Meta says that Cognyte sells access to its platform which enables managing fake accounts across social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and VKontakte (VK), and other websites to social-engineer people and collect data.

– Bluehawk CI. Based in Israel with offices in the UK and the US, Meta says that Bluehawk sells a range of surveillance-for-hire activities including social engineering, gathering of litigation-related intelligence about people, and managing fake accounts to trick them into installing malware. Meta alleges that the fake accounts pose as journalists working for media organizations like La Stampa (Italy) and Fox News (US) to trick targets into giving an on-camera interview.

– Cobwebs Technologies. Founded in Israel with offices in the United States, Meta says that Cobwebs Technologies sells access to its platform that enables reconnaissance across the internet, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, Flickr, public websites and “dark web” sites. Meta also claims that the accounts used by Cobwebs customers also engage in social engineering to join closed communities and forums and trick people into revealing personal information.

Issues

Some of the issues raised by Meta’s recent investigation that has shone a light on the entities in the surveillance-for-hire industry include:

– Their services are indiscriminately sold to anyone willing to pay, including known bad actors.

– They work across many platforms and national boundaries.

– Their capabilities are used by both nation-states and private enterprises. This means that they lower the barrier to entry for anyone willing to pay.

– It is often impossible for targets to know they are being surveilled across the internet.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

The scale of this industry identified in Meta’s report indicates that this dark surveillance is widespread. The fact that there are many different companies who sell their services indiscriminately operating in secrecy means that it is hard to trace activity back to the client. Also, with these entities working across multiple platforms and national boundaries, a collective effort from platforms, policymakers, and civil society, as well public discussion about the use of surveillance-for-hire technology, greater transparency and oversight are now needed to help protect people. Also, as suggested by Meta, industry collaboration as well as more governance and regulator-led conversations about the ethics of these companies could help top protect their targets.

News

Security Stop-Press : Payroll System Provider For Sainsbury’s Hit By Ransomware Attack

It has been reported that Kronos, the payroll system provider for Sainsbury’s and many other big UK businesses was recently hit by a ransomware attack which affected its Private Cloud. For Sainsbury’s this meant the loss of a week’s worth of data for its 150,000 UK employees although it is understood that this hasn’t affected their Christmas pay. It has been reported that Kronos, a UKG company, has confirmed that some of its services are likely to be offline for several weeks as a result of the attack.

News

Tech Tip – Organise Your Chrome Bookmarks With Folders

If you’d like an easy way to organise all your Google Chrome browser bookmarks, try putting them in folders.  Here’s how:

To create a bookmark folder:

– On your computer, open Chrome.

– Top right, click on the 3 dots, then ‘Bookmarks’ and ‘Bookmark manager’.

– Top right, click on the 3 dots and ‘Add new folder’.

OR

– If you use the bookmarks bar, right-click the bookmarks bar and click on ‘Add Folder’.

To add your bookmarks to the folders:

– Top right, click on the 3 dots, then ‘Bookmarks’ and ‘Bookmark manager’.

– Drag a bookmark up or down or drag a bookmark into a folder on the left. Also, you can copy and paste bookmarks in the order you want.

– If you use the bookmarks bar, you can drag your bookmarks into the order you want.

News

Sustainability : 97% Cost Reduction For Lithium Batteries

With a recent study finding that the costs of producing lithium-ion battery technologies have fallen by about 97 per cent since their commercialisation three decades ago, we look at the reasons why, and the possible implications.

What Is A Lithium-Ion Battery?

A lithium-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery. The lithium ions in it move from the negative electrode through an electrolyte to the positive electrode during discharge, and back again when charging. Lithium-ion batteries have the advantages of being made small and yet having a relatively high ‘energy density’, a lower self-discharge rate than other battery types and are a low-maintenance battery. This makes them ideal for providing portable electricity and powering many of our favourite electronic business gadgets (e.g. mobile phones, laptops, and tablets). They are also now helping to enable the electrification of cars and buses and are beginning to support the integration of renewable energy resources into the electricity grid.

Cost Decline – Study In March

A previous study in March this year found that since their introduction in 1991, the cost of lithium-ion batteries had fallen at a comparable rate to that of solar photovoltaic panels. This rate of cost decrease for solar panels was thought to be exceptional, but the story of lithium-ion batteries has proved this to be wrong.

New Study – The Reasons For The Rapid Decline in Costs

The latest study, the results of which are published in the Journal Energy and Environmental Science (Micah Ziegler, Juhyun Song PhD, Jessika Trancik) show a 97 per cent reduction in the cost of lithium-ion technologies over the last three decades. The authors of the report suggest that the main reasons for the substantial cost reduction include:

– Greater efforts to increase charge density between the late 1990s and early 2010s (38 per cent cost reduction).

– Reductions in cathode materials prices (18 per cent of the cost reduction).

– Changes in non-material costs (14 per cent of the cost decline).

– A large reduction in costly public and private research and development, which accounted for the majority of the observed cost reduction. Most of the R&D contribution can be attributed to advancements in chemistry and materials science.

– Learning-by-doing, and economies of scale.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation?

This massive reduction in the cost of lithium-ion battery technologies, mainly brought about by a reduction in R&D costs, has certainly benefitted organisations in terms of powering the various, ever-more compact devices used daily for work on the go. The cost reduction has also helped the growth of sales of electric vehicles and the general ongoing electrification of transportation.

In terms of the environment, reduced costs associated with electrochemical energy storage technologies may be helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing lithium-ion battery usage in stationary applications, helping to compensate for the intermittent supply of clean energy like solar and wind. This is enabling the growth of renewable energy technologies.  Cheaper electrochemical energy storage technologies (like lithium-ion batteries), therefore, is a factor that’s playing an increasingly important role in helping to tackle climate-change and move other green technologies forward.

News

Tech News : Teams App Blocked Emergency Call

It was recently discovered that a bug in the Pixel 3 phone meant that users who had the Teams app installed (even though they weren’t logged in) couldn’t call the US emergency 911 number.

What Happened?

A Reddit user reported that they had needed to call an ambulance for their grandmother who appeared to be having a stroke. The user dialled 911 just by typing and calling on their pixel 3 phone, only to find that the phone “got stuck” after one ring. The user reported that they were unable to do anything other than click through apps with an emergency phone call running in the background. Consequently, they were unable to tell the person on the other end which apartment they were in, or what the emergency was. The user also reported that the fault meant that there was no response from emergency vehicles, no evidence that 911 had been called (from a phone log perspective) and the user’s Verizon phone log showed no evidence that a 911 call had been made.

Google Confirmed The Fault Was Related To Teams App

Google later answered the user’s post on Reddit, saying that it had determined that the issue was caused by unintended interaction between the Microsoft Teams app and the underlying Android operating system, specifically for those running Android 10 or above. Google said that it expected a Microsoft Teams app update to be rolled out soon, and that it would also be providing an Android platform update on January 4. Google has also advised Pixel phone users to keep an eye out for Teams app updates and to ensure they are running the latest version.

What To Do

Google suggests that in order to avoid falling victim to the fault in the meantime, users with Microsoft Teams installed on any Android device running Android 10 and above could take the following steps:

– Check whether you are running Android 10 or above. Those not running Android 10 or above will not be impacted by the issue.

– Check to make sure that you are signed-in to your Teams app because the issue only occurs if the user is not signed in.

– Those who have the Microsoft Teams app downloaded, but are not signed in, should uninstall, and reinstall the app. This will address the problem in the interim, however a Microsoft Teams app update will also be required to fully resolve the issue.

– Keep an eye out for an update to the Microsoft Teams app, and ensure it is applied as soon as available.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

This story illustrates how the simple act of being able to make a phone call (on what is primarily a phone) can be prevented by aspects of the other tech and apps that are installed. It raises particular concerns because it relates to stopping an important 911 call. The positive aspects of the story are that the fault was brought to light and has been taken very seriously and acted upon quickly by both Microsoft and Google. This is good news for users and created a positive angle for what was potentially a very damaging story for Google and Microsoft. It also shows the value of thoroughly testing apps and the value of maintaining updates.