In a startling revelation, the BBC data breach strikes British Broadcasting Corporation, compromising the personal information of over 25,000 current and former employees. The incident has raised serious concerns about data security within the organization and the wider implications for those affected.

What do we know about the BBC data breach so far?

The BBC data breach originated from a third-party data storage service used by the BBC’s pension scheme. While the exact details of how the breach occurred are still under investigation, it is clear that a large volume of sensitive data was accessed without authorization.

The compromised information includes names, dates of birth, National Insurance numbers (equivalent to Social Security numbers in the US), and potentially other personal details. This type of data is highly valuable to malicious actors and could be used for identity theft, fraud, or other harmful purposes.

BBC’s response and repercussions

According to The Guardian’s report, The company has acknowledged the BBC data breach and launched an internal investigation. They have also notified affected individuals and relevant authorities, as required by data protection regulations. Additionally, the organization has offered support services, including credit monitoring and identity theft protection, to those whose data was compromised.

BBC states:

“Please be reassured that we have responded quickly and that the source of the incident has been secured.

“We are working at pace with specialist teams internally and externally to understand how this happened and take appropriate action.

“As a precaution, we have also put in place additional security measures and continue to monitor the situation”.

The incident has drawn widespread criticism and raised questions about the BBC’s data security practices. It serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with storing sensitive information online, even when using trusted third-party services. The breach could also have significant financial and reputational consequences for the BBC, as they may face legal action and regulatory fines.

Are customers affected by the BBC data breach?

The BBC data breach specifically impacted current and former BBC employees. The compromised data was related to the BBC’s pension scheme, which would not involve customer information. However, other companies were also affected by the same vulnerability that led to the BBC breach, and in those cases, customer data may have been compromised.

It’s always a good practice for individuals to be vigilant about their personal information and monitor their accounts for any suspicious activity, regardless of whether they believe they’ve been directly affected by a specific data breach.

What employees can do?

For the BBC employees whose data was compromised, the immediate priority is to take steps to protect themselves from identity theft and fraud. This may include monitoring credit reports, freezing credit accounts, and reporting any suspicious activity to relevant authorities. It is also important to be vigilant about phishing scams, as hackers may try to exploit the situation to obtain further personal information.

The BBC has offered support services to affected individuals, and it is advisable to take advantage of these resources. Employees may also want to seek legal counsel to understand their rights and options in the aftermath of the breach.

The plague of our era

Data breaches have become increasingly common in recent years, affecting individuals, businesses, and even government agencies. The consequences can be far-reaching, causing financial loss, reputational damage, and emotional distress for those whose information is exposed.

While organizations are responsible for implementing robust security measures to protect data, individuals also have a role to play in safeguarding their personal information. This includes being cautious about sharing sensitive details online, using strong passwords, and regularly monitoring accounts for suspicious activity.

By learning from this incident and taking proactive steps to improve data security, organizations can better protect themselves and their stakeholders from the devastating consequences of data breaches.

Featured image credit: K. Mitch Hodge/Unsplash

How drones, sensors, and even Google Glass are making news better.

The Internet of Things is set to disrupt media like never before. Marketing and advertising will be reborn, understanding and reaching consumers with an unprecedented degree of precision. That is not, however, the only way media will be changing. The internet completely changed the way journalists could interact with data. They could find more information, reach more people, and uncover the truth faster. The IoT is already infiltrating the way journalists work, and it has happened so seamlessly that the world almost hasn’t noticed.

Drone and Sensor Journalism

Consumers are busy reading about drones. The increasingly popular technology has sparked incredible videos, intriguing stories, and debates on ethics. Yet, the role they are beginning to play in journalism is almost unnoticed. This is perhaps because the entire world is adapting to new technology, and it’s emergence in the journalistic industry seems natural. Thomas Hannen, Innovation Producer for the BBC’s Global Video Production Unit, told Wired his first thoughts on drone footage: “We were seeing these amazing videos appearing on the internet and I remember vividly saying to people, ‘Why doesn’t the BBC do this? It would be great’.” The results were quick, and the team now owns multiple haxacopters used to gather footage. Drones don’t just offer up pretty landscape shots, but important images that complete a story. All kinds of footage comes from drones—from images of the sunken Costa Concordia, to Nebraska’s intense drought in 2012. When the Donetsk Airport was devastated last year, drones were heavily relied on to find footage, and led many to at least one case study on the topic. Saverio Romeo, principal analyst at Beecham Research, paints an empowering image of IoT in media:

“Let’s take a journalist crew in war zones. Maybe, they want to use AR [augmented reality] smart glasses in their activities, maybe recording what they see, and send data to the studio. Maybe, they want to use drones and they want to monitor and control the drones, but are also able to take the data from the drone and real-time analyze that data. Here, things get a bit more IoT: different sources of data from different devices and sources.”

Understanding disaster areas, war zones, or simply vast landscape is made both easier and safer with the internet of things. In fact, this is the very reason the term “sensor journalism” is becoming more and more pervasive. Journalism is very intensive, and journalists can’t always do large-scale, powerful, evidence-based all on their own. The world moves at rapid speed and readers need truly up-to-date information and news. The ability of smart technology to constantly gather data means journalists can get their hands on reliable and current information. Sensor Journalism relies on data input from sensors to trigger and support stories. According to the O’Reilly Radar, the Spatial Information Design Lab At Columbia University partnered with the Associated Press to uncover the truth about air quality in Beijing. The Chinese government had been pressured to improve air quality in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. While they released some information on air quality, they did not provide raw data, and made it difficult for outsiders to see what was really happening. Using cellphone sensors, reporters and the Beijing Air Tracks Project measured air quality and got the story, themselves.

Finding and Telling Stories With Wearables

The image of futuristic reporters wearing Google Glass is almost so stereotypical it’s funny. “Glass journalism” seems incredibly awkward, as if a journalist is able to simultaneously interview and read a running list of text scrolling through their vision. That future is actually much more realistic than it seems. That’s why the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Journalism’s new Glass Journalism class has been covered by nearly every online news source around. The class explores how wearable devices will influence journalistic storytelling and news gathering. Glass and wearables in reporting will lead to better storytelling, as well as a slew of new apps and jobs. This is also why many see the future of reporting being intertwined with “citizen journalism.” The IoT enables individuals to be part of journalistic narratives, and to easily share unexpected stories on a very deep level. The “maker” nature of the IoT also means hacktivists and community will play a large role in the future of journalism. Hackers and makers can make open-source smart technology better, and get journalists (both full-time and “citizen”) better access to important data and stories.

Hype and Quandaries in the Internet of Media Things

The “internet of media things” is on the rise. It will enable new stories to be found, and be better told. However, as with any system that relies on data, there will major complications. Increased use of data tracking will inevitably lead to false conclusions. Mixing new, unstable technologies, with news sources that don’t yet know how to use them might lead to misreporting, or even manipulation. Third-party verification may become necessary—which will slow down the speedy stream of news. 2016 has also been termed the “year of the overdrone” in journalism. Directors may grab at anything technology will give them. Unnecessary imagery could lead to reporting that no one wants to see, or over reliance on its novelty. Drones and exploratory technology will, and already has, led to legal quandaries. Though connected tech can help journalists explore dangerous war zones, it also allows them into restricted areas. Many countries are struggling to create appropriate laws, and at least three unwitting BBC journalists were detained last year in Switzerland for using drones in no-fly zones.

The future is rife with narrative storytelling and technology, and it may happen quicker than readers expect. Robert Hernandez, the brain behind USC’s Glass Journalism class, puts it bluntly: “This is not sci-fi. It’s real stuff.”

image credit: Global Panorama

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BBC has launched an initiative across UK to spawn a digitally aware generation that would be more proficient in coding, programming and digital technology.

The initiative, entitled Make it Digital, intends to address the requirement of 1.4m digital jobs in the next five years. “BBC Make it Digital is hugely exciting and will shine a light on digital creativity like never before,” said  Jessica Cecil, the Controller of BBC Make it Digital. “We are proud to partner with an amazing range of fantastic organisations across the UK, which will open the doors to new opportunities in the future,” she added.

BBC has partnered with around 50 organisations, across the UK to amplify the vibrant digital industry.’ Partners include corporations like ARM, Barclays, BT, Google, Microsoft, Samsung and educational institutions and organisations like Apps for Good, British Computing Society, iDEA, Nesta, among many others.

Working with these organisations BBC has created what is called a ‘Micro Bit’ – a small programmable hardware device – to be provided to year 7 children (age 11-12) across UK, one million in total.

The Micro Bit will assist youngsters get acclimatized to more advanced products like Arduino, Galileo, Kano and Raspberry Pi. Still in the pipeline, the device is slated for an autumn release.

5,000 young unemployed people will be made part of the Make it Digital Traineeship to enhance their digital skills and essentially make them job ready.

“A wide-reaching season of Make it Digital content across TV, radio and online will showcase how Britain has helped shape the digital world, raise awareness among mainstream audiences on why digital matters, and inspire younger audiences to have a go and get creative with digital technologies,” reports a BBC news release.

Photo credit: Lars Plougmann / Foter / CC BY-SA