Microsoft unbundles Teams from Office 365 to avoid EU fine
Microsoft has managed to avoid a hefty fine or other sanctions after the European Commission accepted the company’s proposal for unbundling Teams from Office 365 and Microsoft 365.
A complaint from Slack a few years ago started the European legal wheels turning as Microsoft was accused of anti-competitive behavior once again. The European Commission agreed that the company had “granti[ed] Teams an undue competitive advantage in terms of distribution”, but now accepts Microsoft’s unbundling proposal.
Linux Foundation warns Europe risks falling behind without stronger open source strategy
The Linux Foundation has released the 2025 World of Open Source Europe Report, describing open source as a strategic advantage for Europe but warning that a lack of cohesive strategy, leadership buy-in, and policy alignment could hold the continent back. The report, presented at the Open Source Summit Europe, draws on insights from more than 300 IT leaders.
The report found that open source is not just widely adopted but has become essential to Europe’s digital sovereignty. Despite this, the study warns that without deeper investment, stronger executive commitment, and policy frameworks that encourage innovation, Europe risks falling short of its potential to lead in global open innovation.
European manufacturers face critical vulnerabilities
The manufacturing industry is the most targeted industry for cyberattacks and this has has now been the case for four consecutive years.
A new study from KnowBe4 shows that this combined with the manufacturing sector’s expanding digital footprint is putting operations, intellectual property, and economic resilience at risk from critical vulnerabilities.
Microsoft is making huge changes to Windows 10 and 11, cutting out nagging to use Edge... for some
There can be few Windows users who have not been frustrated by notifications suggesting that they use Microsoft Edge as their browser. Microsoft’s heavy-handed promotion of its own web browser has been the source of annoyance, frustration and lawsuits for some time.
Now the company is relenting, making sweeping changes across Windows 10 and Windows 11 that will stop some of the pestering to use Edge, and also make it easier to change default browsers. More than this, it is making changes to Windows Search, the Microsoft Store and many other apps... but not for everyone, and not because it wants to.
Could cyberattacks leave Europe in the dark?
A new report highlights how growing reliance on digital technologies across Europe, combined with geopolitical tensions and sophisticated threat actors, is creating a perfect storm that could put energy stability at risk and lead to the lights going out.
The study from security awareness training platform KnowBe4 shows the average number of cyberattacks against utilities more than doubled between 2020 and 2022. Specifically across Europe, cyber threats to the energy sector have surged, driven by an epidemic of under-reporting and lack of detection, with recent attacks disrupting operations, compromising sensitive data, and highlighting the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity measures.
The European Commission wants Elon Musk to reveal the secrets of the X recommendation algorithm (don’t we all?)
Elon Musk -- or his company, X, at least -- has been given until mid-February to provide the European Commission with details of how its recommendation algorithm works.
The request is part of a wider investigation by the EC to ensure that X is complying with the Digital Services Act (DSA). Many would be interested to learn something about how the recommendation system of this and other social media platforms works, and the Commission has further demands as well.
Social media upstart Mastodon is transitioning into a non-profit organization
X and Bluesky rival Mastodon has announced plans to transition into a non-profit organization. The decentralized social network is looking to further differentiate it from the competition, and the latest move “affirm[s] the intent that Mastodon should not be owned or controlled by a single individual”.
Precise details of how the change will work are yet to be finalized, but there will be a new, dedicated European not-for-profit entity.
Europe's move toward cybersecurity sovereignty [Q&A]
Governments around the world are increasingly legislating for cybersecurity and privacy. But regions often have differing views on how this should be achieved.
We spoke to Christian Have, CTO of Logpoint, to get insight into how US surveillance laws could serve as a catalyst for Europe to take greater control over its data, pushing forward the concept of digital sovereignty.
Pro-Russian hacktivists target Europe
A new report shows that 96 percent of attacks conducted by a leading pro-Russian hacktivist group targeted Europe this year, with attackers focusing on influencing public perception and trust over direct technical disruptions.
Based on research and data from more than 135,000 security events in 160 countries, the Security Navigator report from Orange Cyberdefense also reveals that hacktivists were responsible for 23 percent of cyberattacks that directly targeted OT and 46 percent of these attacks resulted in a 'manipulation of control.'
Big spend on enterprise AI doesn't always deliver big returns
New research from Digitate reveals that while 92 percent of European organisations have implemented AI and automation, many lack a strategic approach to maximise the impact.
The study, based on a survey of 900 IT decision-makers in enterprises across Europe, finds that organisations have invested on average, €103.4M ($108M) in AI and automation over the last two years, with over half (59 percent) spending up to €295M ($309M). These investments have yielded significant returns, with 86 percent of organizations reporting a ROI averaging €154.7M ($162.4M).
European Commission says Bluesky is breaking European rules
Social media darling Bluesky is wooing users and drawing many away from X. But while the platform is enjoying a meteoric rise in popularity, the European Commission is unimpressed with its failure to disclose information.
The commission points out that all social media platforms operating within the European Union must clearly publish key pieces of information, including how many EU users there are. Bluesky does not do this, nor reveal where the company is legally established.
Google is making YouTube and other services delightfully free of political ads... in Europe
The nature of modern-day politics means that parties of all colors, all leanings, spend millions on advertising -- it is something that was painfully apparent during the run-up to the US presidential election. Technology firms and social media platforms are under a lot of pressure to take steps to prevent election interference, and to increase transparency.
This is something that has been playing out in Europe with regulation on Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) due to come into force in the EU. With concerns about the, “operational challenges and legal uncertainties” this could lead to, Google has announced that it will not only will stop serving political advertising in the European Union, but will do so before the TTPA comes into force.
Compliance with NIS2 comes at a cost
With the EU's NIS2 directive now starting to roll out, aiming to achieve a high level of cybersecurity across member states, a new survey commissioned by Veeam shows the significant impact implementation is having on businesses.
The study, carried out by Censuswide, reveals that while 68 percent of companies report receiving the necessary additional budget for NIS2 compliance, 20 percent identify budget as being a significant barrier to achieving compliance.
Public sector and infrastructure come under attack as malicious web requests rise
The number of malicious web requests rose by 53.2 percent in the first half of 2024, compared to the same period last year according to a new study.
The report from German cybersecurity company Myra finds that for the first quarter of 2024, the number of malicious requests on websites, online portals and web APIs increased by 29.8 percent compared to 2023. In the second quarter, the growth was even more pronounced at 80 percent.
How organizations can master incident reporting obligations under NIS2
The new NIS2 directive is designed to strengthen the cyber resilience of over 160,000 companies that operate in the EU -- either directly or indirectly. Coming into force by 17th October, NIS2 regulations will outline how these essential entities can combat increasingly sophisticated and frequent cyber attacks.
Notwithstanding delays in the implementation of local legislation, the NIS2 directive provides an indication of the compliance obligations affecting those organizations which fall within the scope of the new rules. Ultimately, NIS2 aims to reduce inconsistencies in cyber security resilience by being the “single source of truth” for regulatory bodies to oversee how organizations implement increasingly stringent cybersecurity frameworks. As we have seen in recent weeks, these are crucial, especially during large-scale cybersecurity incidents or crises.
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