The Conversation Archives

Security flaws in Microsoft’s Exchange software reveals key issues in Australia’s cybersecurity approach

Carsten Rudolph - March 15, 2021 3 MIN READ

On March 2, 2021, Microsoft published information about four critical vulnerabilities in its widely used Exchange email server software that are being actively exploited. It also released security updates for all versions of Exchange back to 2010. Microsoft has told cybersecurity expert Brian Krebs it was notified of the vulnerabilities in “early January”. The Australian… Read more »

Other tech

3 medical innovations developed due to Covid-19 that will outlast the pandemic

The Conversation - March 14, 2021 5 MIN READ

A number of technologies and tools got a chance to prove themselves for the first time in the context of COVID-19. Three researchers working in gene-based vaccines, wearable diagnostics and drug discovery explain how their work rose to the challenge of the pandemic, and their hopes that each technology is now poised to continue making… Read more »

Other tech

Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley: how science will drive a new Australian manufacturing boom

Cathy Foley - March 12, 2021 3 MIN READ

It’s early days in my tenure as Australia’s Chief Scientist but I have already been struck by how central science is to the national policy agenda. I knew this as an observer, but since I took up the post it has become clear how many initiatives are looking to science to lead the way. As… Read more »

Business

Australians are increasingly taking a break from social media, except for millennials

Roger Patulny - March 11, 2021 4 MIN READ

A recent nationally representative survey has shown Australians are willing and able to pull the plug on social media. But it turns out the generation you were born in, as well as your level of education, will likely have a bearing on whether you do. This is important, as recent events have set the precedent… Read more »

Topic

Australian women are (rightly) angry. And now they need a plan

Michelle Arrow - March 8, 2021 5 MIN READ

Australian women have been most effective, politically, when they have harnessed their collective rage and turned it into action. They need to do it again now. Like many Australians, I was delighted when activist Grace Tame was named the 2021 Australian of the Year. Tame is a powerful advocate for survivors of child sexual abuse,… Read more »

Cryptocurrency

Thanks to Bitcoin, I stand to make $200 million more than Elon Musk in 2021

John Hawkins - March 5, 2021 4 MIN READ

Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, recently announced his company had bought US$1.5 billion (almost A$2 billion) of Bitcoin. The announcement led to a flurry of enthusiasm and a quick surge in price for the controversial cryptocurrency. This price bump has been good news for Musk in the short term. At one point, Tesla’s… Read more »

Other tech

How blockchain is changing art auctions as Christies sells its first digital-only work

Denise Thwaites - March 3, 2021 5 MIN READ

Since May 2007, US-based digital artist Mike Winkelmann (who goes by the name Beeple) has posted a new artwork online every day. He posted the 5,000th one in January, and has now packaged them into an enormous digital collage titled Everydays: The First 5000 Days, which was auctioned online by Christie’s on February 25. The… Read more »

Cyber security

How to make your work colleagues cyber-safe without being the office grouch

The Conversation - March 1, 2021 4 MIN READ

Business etiquette has one golden rule: treat others with respect and care. The same is true for encouraging cyber safety at work, on everything from password security to keeping valuable information like tax file numbers safe. But how can you encourage cyber-safe behaviour at work without becoming the office grouch? The trick, as it often… Read more »

Global tech

Facebook is now beyond the control of governments around the world

Peter Martin - February 24, 2021 4 MIN READ

What’s the difference between Google and Facebook? One difference is that last week Google agreed to pay Australian news outlets for their content in the face of a threat of government action to force it to. Facebook did not, temporarily removing Australian news sources from its feeds, a decision it only reversed after winning a… Read more »

Business

The chances of catching coronavirus from surfaces are low, so let’s save the time and money on ‘hygiene theatre’

Hassan Vally - February 23, 2021 4 MIN READ

A lot has happened over the past year, so you can be forgiven for not having a clear memory of what some of the major concerns were at the beginning of the pandemic. However, if you think back to the beginning of the pandemic, one of the major concerns was the role that surfaces played… Read more »

Other tech

Here’s where to look for trusted information now that Facebook News is gone

Lisa Given - February 19, 2021 3 MIN READ

Information is everywhere, right? Well, here in Australia, we now have one less source of news information at our fingertips. Yesterday, Facebook banned Australian users from posting news links, and sharing or viewing Australian and international news content. This will have a far-reaching impact on many organisations and groups. For the public – people of… Read more »

Global tech

Had enough of Facebook? Here’s how to give your social media a Spring clean

David Tuffley - February 18, 2021 4 MIN READ

In denying news content to its Australian users, Facebook is arguably overplaying its hand, behaving as a big company that thinks it can intimidate governments. If it keeps doing this, it will ultimately lose customers, and that’s the last thing Facebook wants. Perhaps you’re already considering breaking up with Facebook, whether in reaction to the… Read more »

Politics

Google and Facebook want to have it both ways on the value of news

Tim Dwyer - February 18, 2021 4 MIN READ

Executives from Google and Facebook recently told a Senate committee they are prepared to take drastic action if Australia’s news media bargaining code, which would force the internet giants to pay news publishers for linking to their sites, comes into force. Google would have “no real choice” but to cut Australian users off entirely from… Read more »

Data

Artificial intelligence is learning how to manipulate human behaviour

Jon Whittle - February 12, 2021 3 MIN READ

Artificial intelligence (AI) is learning more about how to work with (and on) humans. A recent study has shown how AI can learn to identify vulnerabilities in human habits and behaviours and use them to influence human decision-making. It may seem cliched to say AI is transforming every aspect of the way we live and… Read more »

Funding

5 ways to check a listed tech company is an ethical investment

The Conversation - February 11, 2021 4 MIN READ

These days people trading on the stock market want more than just a strong financial return. They’re increasingly opting for investments that will also have a positive societal impact. The coronavirus pandemic showed us even established tech companies can suffer downturns in the short term. Apple, a tech behemoth, was left reeling when Chinese manufacturing… Read more »