Welcome to our latest round-up of news from the technology and hosting world. Here’s what we’ve discovered this month.
Downranking Warning
Back button hijacking, where websites keep visitors on-site when they click the back button to leave, is to be penalised by Google. The trick, which works by interfering with browser histories, has become increasingly common online, making it harder for users to return to their previous page. From June 15, Google says sites that employ this technique may be downranked or removed from search results altogether.
The move is part of a new Google policy that seeks to improve website quality, make site behaviour more reliable and simplify navigation for users. As a result, the search engine will target sites that add fake pages to browsing histories in order to keep users on-site or to display unsolicited ads.
Google has advised website owners to disable any back button hijacking tactics before the June 15 deadline.
Maritime Drones
The government is investing £50 million in the South West’s defence industry to speed up the development of maritime drones, with Plymouth leading the way.
The funding is part of a plan to help surface and underwater drone developers get their products to market faster. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) says the investment will give companies better access to testing facilities, innovation labs near the water, and other important resources.
Plymouth, home to the National Centre for Marine Autonomy, has several companies developing unmanned maritime technology, including Helsing, which has just opened a factory for unmanned submarine gliders.
Besides the £50 million investment, the government is also setting up a new organisation that will help start-ups and marine businesses test their drone systems. In addition, colleges and universities will introduce a range of new defence-related courses in fields such as engineering, advanced manufacturing and technology. The investment is expected to create hundreds of jobs and improve the region’s role in the UK’s defence innovation.
Open-Source Sovereignty
A new report from the Open Rights Group (ORG) has revealed that the UK relies too much on American tech companies and needs to become more independent when it comes to digital technology.
The group recommends that UK organisations use more open-source software to avoid vendor lock-in, improve how different systems work together, and give greater control over key digital services. It also warned that depending on foreign tech companies raises concerns about security, monitoring, and long-term costs.
It says that recent issues with major US cloud providers, rising costs for public projects, and concerns over data being stored outside the UK highlight the risks that come with dependence on foreign technology.
The findings also suggest that the UK may be falling behind the EU and other countries that are already investing in local options for cloud services, artificial intelligence, and tools to help public sector collaboration. The ORG is calling for a change in digital policy, which would see new rules for using public money, better competition regulations, and improved in-house technical skills.
Mac Security Risks
According to Jamf’s recent Security 360 Report, more than half of organisations have at least one Apple Mac computer using an outdated operating system.
This report, which looked at over 150,000 Mac computers, revealed serious security issues with both the operating systems and the applications they run. It found that 53% of companies had computers with very outdated software, while 95% of the apps examined had at least one medium-level security problem. Of these apps, 62% requested risky permissions and 21% engaged in activities that could compromise user privacy.
One in four organisations reported that at least one user clicked on a phishing link, and 18% mentioned users connected to unsafe public networks. With regard to macOS security, the report found that 44% of devices encountered malicious network traffic, and 26% of companies faced cryptojacking. The most common type of attack came from Trojans, with vulnerable applications found on 73% of the Mac devices reviewed.
New UK Supercomputer
The government is to spend £45 million on a new supercomputer. Called Sunrise, it is designed to help with nuclear fusion research and will be based at the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s Culham Campus in Oxfordshire, which is within the country’s first AI Growth Zone.
Built with AMD processors and enhanced by Dell systems, Sunrise is expected to start operating in June. The highly advanced machine, which will run at 1.4 MW and handle up to 6.76 Exaflops of AI-driven simulations, will assist researchers in creating detailed virtual models of complex fusion systems. This will make it possible for scientists to conduct more tests and improvements digitally rather than through expensive physical experiments.
Sunrise will help address some of the key challenges in fusion research, such as controlling plasma turbulence, developing new materials, and producing tritium fuel. It will also assist with broader clean energy research and contribute to achieving net zero carbon emissions.
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