innovations
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Search and destroy
Businesses concerned about the amount
of confidential customer data they hold,
sometimes unwittingly, can reduce the risk of
embarrassing and costly data leaks by taking
advantage of new software from identity
protection specialists Ground Labs.
Initiated as part of a standard systems
maintenance routine, Data Recon ID retrieval
software searches online and offline storage
locations and analyses all types of file to find
and remove up to 80 different items of personal
data, from passport numbers and credit card
details to medical records.
During trials of the new software, 168 out
of 200 UK companies were found, unknowingly,
to be holding enough information to take
out a mortgage or substantial loan on behalf
of their customers. Ground Labs warns that
holding personal data in this way is a breach of
international compliance obligations.
Ground Labs European director Mohamed
Zouine said: “We’re looking at a significant
threat to UK consumers. In effect, our ‘digital
DNA’ is being stored online without consent.
These days, people are very aware of fraud –
many of us own paper shredders and are very
selective with our online profiles. Unfortunately,
we tend to forget all of the individual bits
of information we share with companies,
online and over the phone. Over time, this
accumulation of data can be used to commit
serious acts of identity theft.”
He added: “Thousands of UK organisations
are sitting on a data breach time bomb and the
effect of a serious attack will cripple reputations
and customer confidence. The best solution
is to restrict the damage of even the most
determined hacker. If sweeping for rogue data
is treated like routine virus scanning, the threat
to consumers and the opportunity for fraudsters
becomes far less significant.”
Airbags for e-commerce
Small businesses and home-based
e-commerce companies are the target for a
new on-demand void-fill packaging solution.
Wonderfil Wrap from Sealed Air consists of an
automatic inflator and two sizes of inflatable
bag with a one-way valve.
The system detects when an inflated wrap is
removed, automatically inflating the next wrap
in the cartridge. If required, users can also deflate
and reuse bags using a drinking straw.
Sealed Air European Product Manager Andy
Robinson said: “TheWonderfil Wrap provides
an effective, just-in-time solution for operators
producing a low-to-mid volume number of
packages per day. The best features of the
product are that it’s easy to use and requires
no training, allowing for a quicker and more
sustainable packaging operation.”
InPost expands parcel
locker network
InPost is expanding its network of
automated parcel lockers to include
London Underground stations and
Morrisons supermarkets.
Providing parcel companies and
consumers with a secure, flexible alternative to
home deliveries, InPost collection points have 47
individual lockers of varying sizes accessible at
any time of day or night. They are positioned in
well-lit locations and are constantly monitored
by live CCTV.
InPost installed its first London Underground
parcel lockers in the car park at Buckhurst Hill on
the Central Line and plans to extend its network
to 40 other stations by the end of June. Its first
Morrisons collection point is on Dewsbury Road
inWakefield. Morrisons operates more than 500
stores nationwide.
InPost entered the UK in April last year and
has already established 1,000 collection points.
It plans to expand its network to 1,500 locations
by the end of 2014.
Making connections
The Optoma ML750 LED projector weighs
380g and fits easily in the palm of one’s
hand. Despite its small size, it still delivers
WXGA resolution, 700 ANSI (LED) brightness
and incorporates a media player, native
office viewer and speaker. Perfect for PC-free
presentations, the projector has a built-
in memory, microSD card slot and USB
connection. Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL)
technology provides connectivity to a laptop,
PC, games console or Blu-ray player with
HDMI for viewing business files, photos, videos
or listening to music. An optional mini Wi-Fi
dongle enables wireless presentations.
Going to ground
Small businesses with a
taste for freshly ground
coffee might want to
invest in a Saeco Phedra
one-touch bean-to-coffee
machine fromWatermark
UK. Incorporating a 1kg
coffee bean container and
an integrated grinder, the
countertop machine dispenses eight drinks
selections, including black coffee, cappuccino,
latte, hot chocolate and chai tea. It can be
used with ground coffee as well as beans and
is available with a one-touch milk frothing
facility (the Phedra Cappuccino model). Prices
for the Saeco Phedra, which is designed to
handle an average of 150 cups per day, start at
£2,050 (ex VAT).
Mohamed Zouine,
European director,
Ground Labs
