Tag Archives: compromising

Louis Vuitton Reports Cyberattack Compromising UK Customer Data | Cybercrime

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Louis Vuitton has announced that data from some of its UK customers has been compromised, making it the latest retailer to fall victim to cyber hackers.

The prestigious brand, part of the French luxury conglomerate LVMH, reported that an unauthorized third party gained access to the UK operations system, retrieving personal information such as names, contact information, and purchase histories.

Last week, Louis Vuitton informed customers that its South Korean business was experiencing similar cyber incidents and reassured them that financial data, including bank information, remained secure.

“Currently, there is no evidence of misuse of your data; however, you may encounter phishing attempts, fraud attempts, or unauthorized use of your information,” the email stated.

The company has reported the breach to the appropriate authorities, including the intelligence committee.

As reported by Bloomberg, the hack occurred on July 2nd and marked the third breach of the LVMH system within the past three months.

In addition to the incidents involving Louis Vuitton, LVMH’s second-largest fashion brand, Christian Dior Couture, disclosed in May that hackers also had access to customer data.

On Thursday, four individuals were arrested in connection with a cyberattack involving Marks & Spencer, The Co-op, and Harrods.

Those arrested included a 17-year-old British male from the West Midlands, a 19-year-old Latvian male also from the West Midlands, a 19-year-old British male from London, and a 20-year-old British female from Staffordshire.

M&S was the initial target of this wave of attacks back in April, which led to the online store’s closure for nearly seven weeks. The Co-op was similarly attacked that month, forcing a shutdown of several IT systems.

Harrods reported being targeted on May 1, which resulted in restricted internet access across its website following attempts to gain unauthorized entry to the system.

The chairman of M&S, Archie Norman, stated that days after the arrests, two other large UK companies had also experienced unreported cyberattacks in recent months.

Louis Vuitton has been contacted for further comments.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Study finds new weight loss drug decreases appetite without compromising muscle mass

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Researchers have identified a new drug similar to Ozempic that aids in weight loss without causing muscle loss. This drug, known as NK2R, works by suppressing appetite and boosting calorie burning. According to scientists, it has been successful in promoting weight loss while avoiding negative side effects such as nausea. The team of 47 researchers believe that NK2R could be a valuable option for individuals who have not seen results with other weight loss treatments.

Associate Professor Zach Gerhart-Hines, a metabolic researcher at the University of Copenhagen and co-author of the study, noted that their drug, unlike Ozempic, did not trigger nausea and also resulted in muscle relief rather than muscle loss. The drug targets specific neural circuits in the brain and affects blood sugar, weight, and cholesterol levels.

While Ozempic mimics the hormone GLP-1 to reduce hunger, NK2R works differently by targeting a molecule naturally present in the body’s cells called NK2R. When tested on overweight mice, the drug led to weight loss and decreased food intake.

However, some health experts are cautious about the effects of this treatment on humans, as it is currently based on animal studies. Dr. Adam Collins, an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Surrey, expressed skepticism about the research’s applicability to humans.

Clinical trials of NK2R in humans are scheduled to begin within the next two years.

About our experts:

Dr. Zach Gerhart-Hines is an associate professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, focusing on diet, circadian clocks, and metabolism.

Dr. Adam Collins is an Associate Professor at the University of Surrey with expertise in weight loss, metabolism, and nutrition.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Is the influence of digital technologies on voters compromising democracy?

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A monster looms, threatening our democracy. The monster comes in many forms, from online misinformation networks and deepfakes, to social media bots and psychological microtargeting that uses our personal data to customize political messages to our interests, attitudes and demographics.

Considering that roughly half of the world's population will go to the polls in 2024, democracy may seem to be in good health. But many worry that it is being undermined by powerful new digital technologies that can target individuals, manipulate voters, and influence elections. Fears about digital influence stem in part from the novelty of the technology. We're still so new to the online age that no one fully understands what's going on, much less what's coming. Every new technology is unfamiliar, and it can sometimes feel like the rules of the game are being rewritten. But are these concerns justified?

We are one of a growing number of researchers with expertise in political science and psychology who are trying to drag these monsters out of the shadows. Our research aims to shed light on how new technologies are being used, by whom, and how effective they are as tools of propaganda. By carefully defining the concept of digital manipulation, we can better understand than ever the threat it poses to democracy. While some lobbying groups loudly warn about its dangers, our research points to more surprising conclusions. Moreover, our findings can help society better prepare to confront digital demons, by telling us exactly what we should worry about and what are just ghosts of our imagination.

In the UK in 2010…

Source: www.newscientist.com