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‘They hit you hard’: How DarkSide became powerhouse of ransomware attacks

Where once criminals had to play psychological games to trick people into handing over bank passwords and have the technical know-how to siphon money out of secure personal accounts, now virtually anyone can obtain ransomware off the shelf and load it into a compromised computer system using tricks picked up from YouTube tutorials or with the help of groups like DarkSide.

“Any doofus can be a cybercriminal now,” said Sergei A. Pavlovich, a former hacker who served 10 years in prison in his native Belarus for cybercrimes. “The intellectual barrier to entry has gotten extremely low.”

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World now likely to hit watershed 1.5 °C rise in next five years, warns UN weather agency

“These are more than just statistics”, said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. “Increasing temperatures mean more melting ice, higher sea levels, more heatwaves and other extreme weather, and greater impacts on food security, health, the environment and sustainable development,” he said.

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How long do Covid-19 vaccine protections last? Science can’t say for sure

The gap in knowledge and testing raises the prospect of heightened anxiety in the coming months for vaccine recipients wondering if they’re still protected — anxiety that could curb willingness to venture out in public. That in turn could put a renewed drag on the global economic recovery.
Scientists are racing to figure out the so-called correlates of protection against Covid; in other words, which test results assure immunity.

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Insurance for safeguarding employee value:Lloyd’s report

COVID-19 has exacerbated many of the risks involving human capital value. With the pandemic impacting the entire workforce globally, and many organisations still operating under a remote working model, the value of employees in achieving productivity is vital for business continuity. It is becoming increasingly apparent that talent attraction and retention, and employee wellbeing are not just intrinsically linked, they also have a direct impact on business performance.

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World Insurance Report 2021: Insurers must blend physical and digital distribution models in a post-pandemic era

AI-based analytical tools and a 360-degree view of customers is essential for a customized customer-experience. The most successful insurers will win and retain customers by reinventing their operating ecosystem to support a ‘phygital’ model based on a mix of physical presence and digital engagement.

“Insurers have an opportunity to convert digital traffic to sales by focusing on a hyper-personalized virtual experience,” said Anirban Bose, CEO of Capgemini’s Financial Services and Group Executive Board Member.

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