Start your year with a massive security flaw
While New Zealand holidayed in the sun (or torrential rain, depending) the IT world has suffered something of a quake with the discovery that almost all computers (using the widest possible definition of "computer") suffer from not one but two major security flaws that could expose private data to the world.
Major tech skills report released by Digital Skills Forum
The Digital Skills Forum, made up of IT Professionals NZ and other leading tech bodies and core government agencies, today released the most comprehensive report on skills in New Zealand's tech sector in a generation.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the report found a significant mismatch between demand for skills from industry and supply within the market - in short, a significant and growing skills shortage. However for the first time this shortage has now been quantified, and detailed research has identified the areas of greatest demand.
The future: coming, ready or not
What a year it's been. Bitcoin, net neutrality, the return of the content wars, the change of government, ransomware, the mother of all hacks (parts one, two, three and probably a few more), copyright issues, telcos buying and selling themselves and plenty more.
We were woken by a test of the emergency civil defence alert, we were lulled to sleep by Apple's new product launches (hint: more of the same only slightly taller/clearer/faster). We welcomed the MBIE report that said ICT and digital tech is now worth $10 billion a year, and we farewelled PowerbyProxie, bought by the Americans (well, Apple) for an Undisclosed Sum (rumoured to be north of $40 million).
Internationally we've seen laptops banned from aircraft (well, not all aircraft, just from certain countries. Well not from certain countries but from certain cities. Well, not even from them but oh well, the threat has passed now), and ratbags from around the world attack both networks and companies in New Zealand and the newly-minted CERT NZ was able to give us a proper accounting of it for the first time.
And so we enter that phase of the year called "the silly season" where Christmas parties slowly give way to the brownout period and we're all supposed to head to the beach to recharge.
I can't wait, especially if the weather stays like this.
So barring sudden, urgent news that needs to be covered, we'll see you in The Future. Next year will be radically different but very similar to this I am sure, but whether we like it or not it's on its way.
Stay safe, switch off your phones, hug your families and we'll see you again in 2018.
CERT quarterly report - ransomware down but beware fake invoices
The latest quarterly report from government cyber-safety agency CERT NZ shows over $1.1 million was lost to scammers in 390 reported incidences.
More than half of those reports came from individual…
Brislen on Tech
New minsters are setting up shop in Wellington. So what do they need to know? Also, InternetNZ's long and winding journey and... Brislen like you've never seen him before. Well, for 15 years anyway.
Copyright law reform
It's been a decade since the Copyright Act 1994 (the Act) was last updated, and during this time, we have seen so much change - New Zealand's technology and media sectors have both blossomed and we ar…
Taxing internet shopping - a tax problem looking for a technology solution
As Christmas approaches, plenty of shoppers are taking to the internet to make purchases, some will be buying goods from New Zealand, while others will be buying items from further afield.
There …
Brislen on Tech
In which Sky fires a broadside at the telco industry (and the consumer)... Apple drops the ball security wise... and New Zealand's retail arm: is it getting into the swing of things yet?
Got Root?
Apple computer users are being urged to update their operating system after Apple discovered an easy to exploit security hole in macOS 10.13 (High Sierra).
Sky fires broadside in war on piracy
Sky TV has asked local ISPs to block access to certain websites it claims are breaching copyright laws by offering customers access to content that Sky has the rights for.
Local telcos have been as…
Be alert (your country needs lerts)
Zombies beware - the Civil Defence Emergency Mobile Alert System has been tested and, a few niggles aside, will now give us all a head start should the worst happen.
