Could .scot Be Coming?

By Digital Trends Staff Published October 25, 2009

Could .scot Be Coming?

Since there seem to be domains for almost everything on the horizon, why not a .scot? The SNP, Scotland’s governing party, seems to see it as a possibility, and is preparing an application to create the domain.

In a study, the Office of the Chief Researcher found that 58% of Scots organizations and institutions wanted a top level domain name, the Guardian reports, with 48% feeling .scot was a good idea. Among international social and interest groups, 82% were in favor of the move.

Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond, said:

Recommended Videos

“The time is ripe for the worldwide family of Scots to have their own domain, reflecting an online community defined by a shared commitment to Scottish identity, culture and economic promotion.”

“It is not only for Scots who live in Scotland but for our extensive diaspora and it will be particularly appropriate for a bid to be made during the 2009 Year of Homecoming.”

Digital Trends Staff

Digital Trends has a simple mission: to help readers easily understand how tech affects the way they live. We are your…

Web

What Comes Next: How tech helps restaurants and stores open safely

what comes next episode 3 business owner reopening a restaurant while wearing facemask

In our new series “What Comes Next,” Riley Winn takes a look beyond the current state of COVID-19 at the steps businesses are taking as we move into the next phase of reopening. On this episode, Winn looks into how restaurants and stores will be using different technologies to reopen during the pandemic.

Reducing contact points between humans goes a long way in reducing the spread of viruses, and there are several new technologies based on robotics and automation that may be springing up in a restaurant or store near you. “Maki makes sushi-making robots that not only speed up preparation, but also reduces the human interaction,” Riley notes. “And robots aren’t just making sushi, they’re making coffee too.” In South Korea, cafes are using robotic baristas, and even robot servers to bring food out to the diners' table.

Web

Climate change could collide with coronavirus to create a summer from hell

climate change coronavirus summer energy demand hothouse social 200604

With the mercury set to soar to unprecedented levels in 2020, climate experts fear that record-high temperatures will make lingering coronavirus restrictions far more challenging.

Scientists are increasingly concerned that the combination of global warming, a deepening economic crisis, and pandemic lockdowns could make for a long and sweltering season.

News

‘A staggering problem’: Working from home could lead to massive data leaks

man working from home

The corporate security situation right now is like trying to quickly assemble a shelter during a rainstorm, experts say: Even if you get something set up, you're still likely to have some water leaking through.
Everyone working from home, plus a reported increase in attempted cyberattacks means security systems straining under these unique conditions are especially vulnerable to massive hacks and data breaches -- which could be underway right now and may not be reported about for another six months.
“I’m terrified about it” said Ben Goodman, senior vice president of global business and corporate development at ForgeRock. “A lot of users are being thrust into a work from home environment, and they’re not at all used to this.”

It takes a lot to make sure users are properly implementing security best practices, he told Digital Trends -- practices that most companies didn't train for before employees were forced to work remotely.
“I think we’re going to have an unprecedented number of breaches being announced following the pandemic,” said Kayne McGladrey, member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
“The amount of risk is at an all-time high,” agreed Chris Hertz, chief revenue officer for the cybersecurity company DivvyCloud. “If I were a cybersecurity professional, I would not be sleeping right now. It’s a staggering problem.”
An annual survey from DivvyCloud reported that 49% of respondents who use the public cloud in their jobs said “their developers and engineers at times ignore or circumvent cloud security and compliance policies.”
In addition, cyberattacks are on the rise, a trend that was already happening before the pandemic, and now has dramatically increased, said Hertz. 2018 and 2019 saw a record number of ransomware attacks that totaled $5 trillion in damages.
“Right now is one of the most critical periods for IT security professionals that we’ve had in last decades,” Hertz told Digital Trends. “As one of my colleagues says, we’ve planned for hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, but not for a pandemic that would send literally everyone home for six to 12 months. That was never the framework we’re thinking of.”