Tag: #internet

Will Web3 Crush the Internet as We Know It, Leaving Big Tech in the Dust?

Web3 may be comparatively new in the digital space, but every big tech firm is moving towards adopting and developing Web3 products and services.

The introduction of Web3 has brought about a paradigm shift in how users interact with other projects on the internet. Web3 outperforms every traditional client-server product and embraces blockchain technology, decentralization, and digital currencies. It aims to foster transparency, eliminate all possible intermediaries in different sectors, and, most importantly, empower individuals.

People worldwide have made several considerations after witnessing the hype around Web3 and widespread adoption. Web3 has decentralized applications or dApps that exist and run on blockchain networks, indicating no central organization or individual controlling it. Although there has been a concern about scalability, it is believed that technological advancements will allow Web3 to fulfill its full potential to allow users to use and exchange digital services and products without the bank’s or government’s involvement.

Understand The World of Web3

Simply put, Web 3.0 or Web3 is the next-gen decentralized web. It is a considerable upgrade from Web 2.0 or Web2, the current version of the internet. The underlying principle of Web3 revolves around cutting-edge technology and decentralized networks like smart contracts, decentralized finance (DeFi), and Blockchain. Web3 is revolutionary and distinct as it emphasizes user sovereignty and decentralization. Previous year, the world of Web3 gaming experienced a phenomenal surge, witnessing a remarkable 94.17% upsurge in its transaction count.

Compared to the previous version, Web3 guarantees a decentralized web that gives complete control and ownership to the users over their information. In addition to this, it also allows direct peer-to-peer interactions without requiring any intermediaries, thanks to smart contracts and blockchain networks.

Web3 Vs. Big Techs 

There are many concerns about who accesses or controls users’ personal information. Big tech firms have been criticized for abusing users’ personal information and their huge online influence due to market dominance. Web3 aims to reclaim this dominance and power of the big tech companies. Web2 relies on systems and services owned by Big Tech, which raises more concerns over vulnerability and system controls. When several Meta-powered platforms saw a global outage in 2021 that got disrupted by the centralization of their service, many people shifted to the adoption of Web3 in 2023.

With this, activities and data get hosted on the network of computers through blockchain rather than corporate service. It will also allow internet activities represented by crypto platforms and wallets hosted through digital applications, or dApps, running on the blockchain.

Essential Features of Web3 and Why the Hype is Believable? 

  • Single-sign-on Anonymity: Web3 has a single-sign-on anonymous feature that enables a username and authentication methodology for all websites and accounts instead of individual logins. Web3-powered logins will not require users to relinquish their sensitive personal information control. Single-sign-on anonymity is quite different from the current Facebook or Google single-sign-on that provides access to client data until they revoke the access. In addition, the transactions made on blockchain are public, showing that anyone can view their assets and data assigned to their given wallet. Transparency is one of the reasons why crypto and blockchain wallets are anonymous. At the same time, they can be identified by a simple wallet address unless the users choose to assign their personal information to the wallet.
  • Individual ownership and tokenization: Activities performed on the blockchain network are rewarded by NFT (non-fungible token) or cryptocurrency tokens. This is done to incentivize the participation of its users and, at the same time, distribute ownership to them.
  • Self-governing: There is also a distribution of decision-making power. Blockchain technology relies on the network to verify the activities via consensus without central authority. However, systems like DAO or decentralized autonomous organizations are developed to democratize the power of decision-making based on the quality or volume of the investments made by users into a decentralized app or site.

Comparison of between Web3 Projects of Big Techs

As we move into the world of decentralized Web3 platforms, it is interesting to witness how tech giants are taking unique approaches to harness their potential.

Starting with Facebook (currently known as Meta), the platform is making waves with the Metaverse concept. The VR-based immersive social experience is well-aligned with the principles of peer-to-peer interactions and decentralization of Web3. The main objective is to create a digital universe to redefine how people interact online. The potential of the Meta project is vast in terms of digital economies and social connectivity.

Next, another internet search giant, Google, is utilizing all its strength in cloud computing and data processing for Web3 initiatives. They are focusing more on developing a solid infrastructure for Web3 apps, helping developers to deploy and build blockchain networks via Google Cloud. The approach is expected to accelerate Web3 adoption across different sectors.

Coming to Microsoft, which is leveraging its strength in cloud and software services for its new Web3 journey. The Blockchain-as-a-service BaaS of the company offers blockchain service, allowing businesses to manage, govern, and build a consortium blockchain network. It also aims to smoothen the process of developing Web3 apps, thereby reducing every technical barrier to adoption.

Another long-time leader, IBM, consistently focuses on creating an enterprise-grade solution. The IBM blockchain-based platform is specially designed to offer an efficient and secure way for businesses to implement the blockchain network and enhance trust and transparency. According to a recent article on www.cryptonewsz.com, Cronos Labs and Protocol Labs have teamed up in a partnership to collectively drive the widespread adoption of Web3 technology.

The competition between these big tech firms is all set to accelerate the adoption and development of Web3 technologies and spur innovation. The digital landscape will most likely be redefined as these blockchain-based projects evolve, making Web3 a brand-new internet standard.

Conclusion

Wrapping up, we have already witnessed how Web3, along with its user-centric decentralized model, is all set to make the next evolution online. Big tech giants such as Google, Meta, IBM, and Microsoft are heavily investing in the Web3 space with unique approaches, including creating Metaverse or revolutionizing data security and privacy. All these companies are racing to Web3 and creating fantastic projects, leveraging cutting-edge technology to bring the advantages of Web3 to its users worldwide. Although there are considerable challenges, including regulatory hurdles and technical complexities, the opportunities that Web3 presents are potentially transformative and vast.

The Evolution of Radio: From Morse Code to Digital Communication

Radio has played a pivotal role in communication technology, shaping how we connect and interact with the world around us. From its humble beginnings as a means to transmit Morse code messages, it’s evolved into a highly powerful tool. In this article, we trace its development from the early experiments of inventors to the advent of modern digital communication systems.

Morse Code

This communication system uses a series of dots and dashes to represent letters, numbers, and punctuation marks. It was developed in the early 1830s by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail, as a method of transmitting messages using telegraph wires. The system was simple and efficient to use. Radio operators used it to send messages across vast distances, especially during times of war or emergencies. Morse code was particularly useful because it could be easily understood – even with poor signal quality.

With the advancement of technology and the invention of more sophisticated communication systems, morse code gradually became obsolete. These days people research the price of 2-way dispatch radios that can be used for fleet management. They feature GPS employee tracking, on-device recording, and emergency SOS buttons.

Marconi And The Invention Of Wireless Telegraphy

Guglielmo Marconi was born in Italy in 1874, and he developed an interest in science and technology from an early age. He was particularly captivated by the concept of using electromagnetic waves to transmit messages over long distances. Marconi’s experiments and inventions led to the development of practical wireless telegraphy systems. As a young man, he successfully sent his first wireless signal over a distance of one mile. This achievement laid the foundation for further advancements in radio communication.

His most notable feat involved transmitting the letter “S” across the Atlantic Ocean – from Cornwall, England to Newfoundland, Canada. This marked a monumental milestone in global communication history. It firmly established Marconi as one of the leading figures in wireless telegraphy.

The Invention Of The Radio

Samuel Morse’s telegraph laid the foundation for wireless communication technologies. Building upon this achievement, he made groundbreaking advancements that enabled long-distance transmissions. These ultimately lead to the establishment of commercial radio broadcasting.

Over time, more scientists and inventors contributed their expertise to radio technology. It evolved from using vacuum tubes to transistors and eventually microchips. Radios became smaller and more portable, while offering enhanced audio quality.

The Rise Of AM And FM Broadcasting

AM (amplitude modulation) and FM (frequency modulation) became popular methods of radio broadcasting in the early 20th century. AM broadcasting uses changes in amplitude to carry sound signals, and it gained popularity due to its long-range capabilities. It allowed stations to transmit signals over vast distances, reaching remote locations and connecting people across different regions. This widespread coverage made AM radio an essential medium for news dissemination, entertainment, and cultural exchange.

FM broadcasting emerged as a more refined alternative to AM. It uses changes in frequency instead of amplitude to encode sound signals. FM provided clearer audio quality with reduced noise interference. This improvement made FM suitable for music broadcasts. This created a new era for radio that focused on entertainment, rather than solely informational content. The introduction of stereo sound further enhanced the listening experience and solidified FM’s place as the preferred platform for music lovers.

The Digital Revolution

This has transformed various forms of communication, including the evolution of radio from analog to digital. Digital communication relies on binary code, which breaks down information into a series of ones and zeros. This method allows for more efficient transmission and clearer reception, compared to analog signals.

By converting analog waves into digital data, radio transmission became more reliable and resistant to interference. Furthermore, digital technology enabled the development of new features such as HD Radio and satellite radio. These offer listeners enhanced audio quality and a wider range of stations.

Streaming Services And Internet Radio

The world has seen the rise of platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora. Users can now access an extensive library of music from a wide range of genres. These services offer convenience and portability, plus personalized recommendations based on individual preferences.

In addition to music streaming, internet radio has gained popularity as well. Platforms like iHeartRadio and TuneIn allow users to listen to live broadcasts from global radio stations. This means that listeners are no longer limited by geographical restrictions.

As you can see, the evolution of radio has been persistent and impressive. In turn, it offers more possibilities than ever before. From the early days of Morse code, it’s now developed into a global phenomenon that continues to advance.

6 Cybersecurity Challenges in Internet-based Business Communication

Internet-based business communication is crucial to the smooth running of today’s businesses, necessitating stringent security protocols. Businesses must be aware of the danger posed by cybercriminals if they wish to protect their data, maintain their customers’ confidence, and prevent catastrophes. 

This article will discuss and offer solutions to six of the most prevalent cybersecurity issues related to conducting business communications over the Internet.

Data breaches

Data breaches pose a significant risk to business communication of all sizes. Threatening parties seek opportunities through communication channels to exploit vulnerabilities and gain illicit access to sensitive data. Implementing stringent security measures to reduce the likelihood of data intrusions must be a top priority for organizations. 

Utilizing robust encryption protocols, implementing multi-factor authentication, executing regular vulnerability assessments, availing services from trusted wireless equipment providers (https://connectedsolutionsgroup.com/), and actively monitoring network traffic are all components of network security.

Phishing attacks

Phishing attacks continue to be a prevalent threat in internet-based business communication. Cybercriminals employ sophisticated techniques to deceive employees into divulging confidential information or performing malicious actions. 

Organizations should educate their staff on recognizing phishing attempts, implement email filters and spam detection systems, and adopt strong password policies to combat phishing attacks. Regular training and awareness programs are crucial to instilling a security-conscious culture within the organization.

Malware infections

Malware, including viruses, ransomware, and spyware, poses a significant risk to internet-based business communication. These malicious software programs can infiltrate systems, disrupt operations, and compromise sensitive data. 

To protect against malware infections, it is essential to employ robust antivirus software, regularly update systems and applications, and practice safe online communication habits. Additionally, implementing a comprehensive backup strategy ensures swift recovery during an attack.

Insider threats

While external threats often receive more attention, organizations must not overlook the potential risks posed by insider threats. Disgruntled employees, accidental data leaks, or compromised credentials can lead to significant breaches. 

Implementing strict access controls, conducting thorough background checks, and regularly monitoring employee activities are crucial to mitigating insider threats. Additionally, fostering a positive work environment and promoting open communication can help create a sense of loyalty and reduce the likelihood of internal breaches.

Cloud security

Securing cloud environments becomes paramount as businesses increasingly rely on cloud-based communication and data storage solutions. Organizations must carefully select reputable cloud service providers that prioritize robust security measures. It includes implementing encryption, maintaining data backups, enforcing access controls, and conducting regular security audits. 

Employing a defense-in-depth approach combining multiple layers of security controls further enhances cloud security and safeguards against unauthorized access.

Mobile device vulnerabilities

With the proliferation of mobile devices in the workplace, securing business communication on these devices is crucial. Mobile devices can be easily lost, stolen, or compromised, potentially exposing sensitive information. 

To mitigate mobile device vulnerabilities, businesses should enforce strong device encryption, require passcodes or biometric authentication, and implement remote wiping capabilities in case of loss or theft. Regularly updating mobile operating systems and applications is vital to address known security vulnerabilities.

Final thoughts

It is imperative to stay informed about emerging threats, continually update security measures, and foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness among employees. Remember, cybersecurity is an ongoing process that requires constant adaptation and vigilance. Prioritizing robust security measures will safeguard your business, enhance customer trust, and differentiate you from competitors.

The GAA rolls out an anti-Bullying and Internet Safety Programme to 100 GAA clubs in 2022 in partnership with Google

The GAA, in partnership with Google, has launched its anti-bullying and internet safety programme to over 100 participating clubs from the GAA, Ladies Football and Camogie Associations in Ireland and Britain, targeted at the 9 – 12 years age group.

As part of the Gaelic Games, Give Respect – Get Respect initiative, this programme incorporates Google’s Be Internet Legends initiative, an existing free, online safety education programme for primary-age children helping them to become safe and confident explorers of the online world. The programme helps children bring the respect and values they learn on the field into their online interactions encompassing learnings and activities in the areas of anti-bullying, developing positive behaviour and staying safe online.

This programme mirrors the Give Respect – Get Respect initiative which promotes respecting fellow players, coaches, referees, opponents and officials; playing fair; treating others equally; setting an example; and creating an environment where children feel confident and comfortable to talk to a coach or adult if they have a concern.

Speaking at the launch the GAA President Larry McCarthy welcomed the involvement of the Gaelic Games Give Respect – Get Respect initiative in this programme. He said:

“This is an ideal opportunity to raise awareness around the need for young players to show respect for referees, fellow players, coaches and opponents, both on and off the field of play.

“It is the Association’s intention to further develop the ‘Respect Initiative’ over the period of our recently launched Strategic Plan and this Anti-Bullying and Internet Safety Programme will be supported and closely monitored.”

Speaking in Croke Park at the launch, Shane Nolan, Director, New Business Sales, EMEA, Google Ireland, said:

“At Google Ireland, we recognise the responsibility that we have as a company to protect and support the users of our products. We need to play our part in ensuring that the internet is an accessible resource to all and that it’s used in a positive way.  We are delighted to build upon our already successful partnership with the GAA to deliver the Be Internet Legends programme to even more clubs and children across the country. Google Ireland is committed to helping empower young people to act wisely, responsibly and safely all the while remaining confident explorers of the online world.”

Minister of State Jack Chambers TD speaking at the launch said:

“I am delighted to support and help launch this important initiative. Abuse of our players, coaches, referees and volunteers is unacceptable and must be called out – whether it occurs on the pitch, in the training grounds, up in the stands or online. This initiative underlines the commitment of the Gaelic Games family to tackling the scourge of bullying and to protect and safeguard all those who participate. The initiative equips young people to identify and learn how to respond to online abuse and bullying, with the learnings then applied to a sports setting. I congratulate the GAA and partners Google on this welcome and important initiative and look forward to it being rolled out to children in clubs across the country.”

Irish Consumers Face Tough Challenges in Dealing with the Aftermath of Dark Web Monitoring Scams

After a cyberattack on the Irish Health Service, Irish consumers are being affected by dark web monitoring. The health service was targeted by ransomware, which resulted in the theft of personal data from over half a million patients.

In response, the government has announced that it will be increasing its use of dark web monitoring to prevent future attacks. This decision has raised concerns among consumers about their privacy and data security.

 It is becoming more apparent that our data is being monitored and collected by unauthorised third parties without our consent or knowledge. This is a huge violation of our privacy, and we need to take action to protect our rights!

How Irish Consumers Are Affected By Dark Web Monitoring

According to a report by businessnews.ie, a well-known Irish drug lord is selling fake Covid vaccination certificates on the dark web to people who want to travel abroad but refuse to be vaccinated.

The drug lord sells the fake document for as much as €350 each. This is just one example of how Irish consumers are being affected by dark web monitoring.

The government has also announced that it will be using dark web monitoring to track down people who have illegally downloaded copyrighted material. This could result in fines or even jail time for those caught.

With the increased use of monitoring the dark web, there is a risk that more personal data will be collected without people’s consent or knowledge. This could lead to identity theft, fraud, or other crimes.

We should only use trusted websites and services, and we should be careful about the information we share online. We also need to be aware of the signs of identity theft and fraud to report it if it happens to us.

What Are The Aftermaths Of Cyber Attacks On Irish Health Service?

A report by Cyberlaw revealed that at least three-quarters of the HSE’s IT servers had been decrypted, and 70% of computing devices had been reintroduced to service. On the other hand, the HSE systems are expected to take up to six months to recover fully.

During the crisis, HSE personnel had to rely on paper records and could not access email; nevertheless, hospitals’ emergency services remained operational, the countrywide Covid-19 vaccination program was not disrupted, and testing continued to run smoothly.

Patients’ and staff’s personal and medical information was collected, with a minor amount of data (including private material on 520 individuals) being made public on the dark web.

The hackers had supplied the HSE with a decryption key that would enable them to restore their IT systems and files encrypted and locked by the attackers. The HSE announced that it would create a cyber security system to monitor its networks and go through extensive procurement procedures in response to the event.

In response to the assault, the government has announced that it will be increasing its use of dark web monitoring. This decision has generated worries among customers about their privacy and data security. The government has also promised new legislation that would make it easier to prosecute cybercriminals.

Conclusion

The cyberattack on the Irish Health Service has had some consequences for patients and staff. The incident has affected numerous Irish hospitals, and many outpatient clinics and healthcare services have been canceled because the HSE’s national and local networks have been nearly totally shut down.

As a response, the government declared its intention to be more vigilant with its utilisatsion of monitoring the dark web to protect vulnerable consumers from becoming cyberattack victims. This will likely affect how Irish consumers use the internet and their privacy.

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Here’s how your router collects data and handles your privacy

As the internet has become an indispensable need for users today, routers are at every user’s home. An internet router is one of the required and utilitarian devices that makes the internet accessible. 

When you use a router for accessing the internet, your entire web activity goes through it. And there are people, on the other hand, ready to capture it. Sometimes, they are also prepared to monetize it or interrupt it.

So, you cannot stop using the internet; you cannot exclude the router from the network; you cannot stop the information from passing through the router. What is the solution here?

Does your internet router collect data?

Yes, the internet router collects data daily, no matter which brand it is. The router is designed to collect and store information to be used for website optimization, marketing, and analysis purposes.

Big brands like Netgear, TP-Link, Asus, D-Link, etc., capture user data for marketing purposes. Some of the prime aspects that these brands collect are location data, websites visited, and other personal data identifiers.

While this may not seem like a big issue, the concern lies in the fact that the router companies can share this data with third parties. Your Internet Service Provider is one such entity that has access to your router and all the data passing through it. And in some countries, these companies can share or sell information about their users. Furthermore, there might be limited options for disabling such practices. 

All the brands listed above share user data with third parties. Some claim that those third parties are in-house. It means that they have control over the fact that they do not use it unethically. However, some may share the data with unassociated third parties. These parties can use your data in questionable ways.

Do privacy policies help?

Whenever you install software on your device, it pokes you to accept some of its terms and conditions. Though we don’t take much time to tap on the “I Agree,” it can become dangerous if you don’t read them carefully.

If we talk about the privacy policies of the routers, they are designed in a complicated way. These policies are lengthy to read and are written in a vague manner with no specifics. The minimum length of the privacy policy is around 2000 words which takes 10 minutes to read. But it will take you more time for sure. 

As they are tough to comprehend in one go, you may end up with more questions than answers. Some manufacturers have taken steps to improve their privacy policies by presenting them in a summarized form. But to understand it better, you must read the entire piece. So, privacy policies may not help you much.

How can you keep your data safe?

Now you know that routers collect your data and can be shared with third parties. Though no one can know who possesses their data, you can put some methods in place to keep your mind at ease.

Most router brands do not provide this feature; there are some that do. If you want to keep your data safe, you should opt-out of data sharing. When you disable this feature, the router will stop collecting data daily.

One way to minimize the information ISPs learn about you is to encrypt your internet traffic. It means that they won’t be able to read the details about your activities. The easiest way to do this is to use a Virtual Private Network. 

It is essentially a program allowing users to reroute their traffic through remote servers. Additionally, it masks IP addresses, which could serve to bypass certain geo-blocks. So, download VPN apps if you wish to keep your activities a secret, especially if your ISPs tend to throttle (slow down) connections.

Conclusion

Though your router collects data, you can take some steps to ensure your data is safe. One of the first steps is to look for ways to opt-out of having your data shared with third parties. It guarantees that fewer companies will receive information about users’ activities. The second option is to hide your activities. We suggest pairing a Virtual Private Network with incognito modes and privacy-focused browsers for the best results. 

Forget Karen, Davids are set to be the biggest complainers of 2022

What started out as an innocent name, ‘Karen’ is now a pejorative term used to describe ‘an uptight, middle-aged woman that wants to speak to the manager’*, according to definitions online. But is this really accurate? Are Karens the worst of us all when it comes to online complaints?

MrQ has analysed almost 80,000 negative reviews on Trustpilot and TripAdvisor for some of the most popular brands, dining venues, tourist attractions, and supermarkets, to reveal the people most likely to submit a complaint.

The top 10 names most likely to leave a negative review online

Over the last few years ‘being a Karen’ has turned into an online meme, with people posting videos on social media of people lashing out at others for no good reason. But when it comes to leaving negative reviews on the Internet, which names top the list?

Davids rank as the biggest complainers on the Internet

Male names dominate the top 10 list when it comes to complaining online, with David taking the lead with a total of 1,028 reviews. This is followed by Paul and John, with 969 and 967 reviews respectively. Sarah rounds off the top 10 and is also the top female name most likely to leave a scolding review, with 0.6% of all reviews analysed coming from a ‘Sarah’.

Results show Karen’s really do complain one of the most online, coming in as the second-highest female name to leave a bad review

Overall, men are 131% more likely to complain online than women, but which female names leave the most negative reviews?

Rank

Name

Gender

No. of one-star reviews left

1

Sarah

Female

508

2

Karen

Female

373

3

Emma

Female

335

4

Julie

Female

320

5

Lisa

Female

297

6

Susan

Female

287

7

Laura

Female

260

8

Claire

Female

259

9

Michelle

Female

249

10

Jane

Female

242

While there are people that object to being called a ‘Karen’, the trend does in fact live up to its name as it comes in second place for most likely to complain online (with 373 negative reviews). Interestingly, more old-fashioned names such as Julie, Susan, and Karen rank as the biggest complainers, compared to more millennial names such as Daisy.

Lakeland, Home Bargains and Oak Furnitureland rank as the most loved brands according to reviews data

Rank

Brands with the LEAST negative reviews

% of one-star reviews

Brands with the MOST negative reviews

% of one-star reviews

1

Lakeland

1%

Hamleys

89%

2

Home Bargains

3%

Early Learning Centre

84%

3

Oak Furnitureland

4%

Disney Store

80%

4

Toolstation

4%

Peacocks

78%

5

Vision Express

4%

Build-A-Bear Workshop

69%

Lakeland is crowned the UK’s most loved brand on the internet, with just 1% of over 77,000 reviews receiving one star, closely followed by the discount store Home Bargains (3%). On the other end of the scale, toy retailer Hamleys has the least satisfied customers, with an astounding 89% of all reviews being negative with just 1 star.

The supermarkets with the biggest complaints online, with Asda receiving the most scolding reviews

Rank

Brand

Total reviews

% of one-star reviews

1

Waitrose

3,262

52%

2

Morrisons

6,427

57%

3

Tesco

10,580

60%

4

Aldi

4,372

62%

5

Iceland

3,921

62%

6

Lidl

2,802

67%

7

Sainsbury’s

7,661

71%

8

M&S

314

73%

9

Asda

9,870

75%

Asda takes the lead as the UK’s supermarket with the most negative reviews, with an astonishing 75% of reviews (out of almost 10,000) receiving just one star. Meanwhile, Waitrose revealed to be the least complained about supermarket, however 52% of all reviews were still negative.

Once again, men are more likely to leave one-star reviews for supermarket brands, with people named John leaving the highest number of complaints.

Fast food chains lead the way as the worst-reviewed dining venues

Rank

Brand

Total reviews

% of one-star reviews

1

KFC

2,492

79%

2

Burger King

857

74%

3

Papa John’s

1,582

73%

4

McDonald’s

3,750

72%

5

Harry Ramsden’s

73

70%

A large percentage of customers visiting some of the world’s most famous establishments were clearly very unhappy with their visit with KFC topping the list with almost 80% of all reviews being negative. Burger King followed closely at 74%, and the pizza chain Papa John’s at 73%. On the other hand, Krispy Kreme and Frankie & Benny’s had the lowest ratio of one-star reviews, with 30% and 32% respectively.

Big Ben is the most complained about tourist attraction

Compared to supermarkets and fast food chains, tourist attractions were found to have a fairly small amount of negative reviews. Big Ben has the most one-star reviews (31% of all reviews), whereas the likes of the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Edinburgh Castle saw just 1% of negative reviews:

Rank

Brand

Total reviews

No. of one-star reviews left

% of one-star reviews

1

Big Ben

2,423

761

31%

2

Eiffel Tower

140,568

1,255

1%

6

Colosseum

147,358

795

1%

3

Edinburgh Castle

51,627

420

1%

7

British Museum

72,845

370

1%

5

Tower of London

65,987

357

1%

4

Natural History Museum

37,068

266

1%

9

Niagara Falls

31,538

…

High-speed fibre internet continues its strong growth in OECD countries as DSL declines

High-speed fibre subscriptions grew by 15% across OECD countries from June 2020 to June 2021, as living and working under Covid-19 restrictions continued to drive demand for high-quality internet connections with the rapid upload and download speeds that fibre offers.

The latest update to the OECD’s broadband portal shows fibre now makes up 32% of fixed broadband subscriptions across the OECD’s 38 member countries, up from 12% a decade ago, and is by far the fastest-growing broadband technology, outpacing a 4.5% rise in overall fixed broadband subscriptions. While countries use different technology mixes, 23 OECD countries have now a higher share of fibre than copper-wire DSL in their total fixed broadband connections, up from 20 countries a year ago.

Cable showed more modest growth of 4% in the year to June 2021, and is now declining in 15 countries, yet it remains the main fixed broadband technology for nine OECD countries. DSL subscriptions declined by 6% over the same period, with several OECD countries showing sharp declines.

 

Fibre, DSL and cable subscriptions in total fixed broadband, June 2021

Latin American OECD countries saw significant increases in fibre with growth rates of 74% for Costa Rica, 71% for Chile, 43% for Colombia and 26% for Mexico. Other countries with impressive growth in fibre connections include Israel with 76%, Ireland with 54% and Italy with 53%. Seven countries now have a fibre share of above 70% of their fixed broadband subscriptions: Korea with 86%, Japan with 83%, Lithuania with 77%, Spain with 76%, Sweden with 76%, Iceland with 72% and Latvia with 71%.

Cable remains dominant in North and South America, accounting for 64% of subscriptions in the United States, 62% in Costa Rica, 61% in Colombia, 50% in Canada, 42% in Mexico and 41.4% in Chile, where fibre has overtaken it. In Europe cable is the dominant technology in Belgium (53%), Hungary (46.4%), and The Netherlands (46%).

DSL connections, meanwhile, saw sharp declines of over 30% in Chile (-37%), New Zealand (-32%), Norway (-40%), Spain (-32%), and Sweden (-31%).  Some operators in OECD countries are in the process of shutting down copper connections altogether, for instance in France, Japan, Estonia, Finland, Sweden and Spain.

Mobile broadband continued its inexorable growth with a 6.3% increase in subscriptions in the year to June 2021, a higher rate of growth than in the two previous periods (3.6% in June 2019-June 2020 and 5.8% in June 2018-June 2019.) In contrast, the number of data-only subscriptions declined in 17 out of 38 countries and this category experienced a 0.4% drop in subscriptions. This could be due to greater use of fixed networks at home during Covid-19, which tend to offer a better connection quality for work, education, and leisure.

M2M SIM cards have grown by an impressive 16%, with Sweden, Austria, Iceland and the Netherlands dominating the ranking, having 175.6, 82.5, 82.3 and 50.3 M2M cards respectively per 100 inhabitants.

Overall, fixed broadband subscriptions in OECD countries totalled 462.5 million as of June 2021, up from 443 million a year earlier, to average 33.8 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Mobile broadband subscriptions totalled 1.67 billion as of June 2021, up from 1.57 billion a year earlier, and averaged 122 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.

Download broadband data, charts and penetration maps by country at http://oe.cd/broadband.

A Handy List Of Tech Terms You’ve Probably Heard But Don’t Know The Meaning Of

Have you ever been in a situation where people are tossing tech terms and you’ve heard them before but you don’t know what they mean? There’s plenty of common terms we hear every day in meetings or classrooms that we are not familiar with. Here’s a list of the top terms you’ve probably heard but don’t know the meaning of.

 

1. The Internet vs. the Web

It’s very true, these terms may seem familiar but there’s a big difference between them.

 

The internet is basically a stream of different networks connected with each other globally so they can communicate and provide for each other. Computers are genuinely faster than anything, they perform millions of calculations and transfer information within seconds. Whereas the web can specify the information in the form of secret folders and documents, these different folders, specifically, are referred to as web pages.

Briefly, the internet is a set of connections and instruments which helps the web to perform or generate data with the help of these instruments.

2. App vs. Software

We are all familiar with the term “Applications”. An App or an application is actually a set of commands which performs a specific function in our mobile phones, laptop, or Macs. Anything performed in a system is basically done by software. So, apps are basically a type of software, but they are way different from the software which runs our iOS, Android, Windows, drivers, or any other utilities within the system.

Terms like exabytes are also common when talking about cloud storage and space. They essentially are made up of bytes and can store around 1 billion Gigabytes of space. Data storage or cloud storage capabilities of any device or platform hold immense importance in the tech world.

Those software are different because they operate the computer as a whole and allow these apps to run in the system. In short, apps cannot be run without software.

3. HTML vs. CSS

HTML or Hypertext Markup Language is the language used to compose website pages and describe their structure. It involves many components like passages, headers, and links. These components provide a structure for the web pages and display different images, fonts, and videos.

Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) advises internet browsers on how to arrange and style an HTML record. It is a simple method of adding style to web documents. At the end of the day, CSS enhances the presentation of the whole record. You can adjust different font colors, animations, and all the different types of things to make your record look flawless and well presented. To lay it out plainly, HTML holds the substance set up, and CSS makes it look appealing.

4. UX vs. UI

People believe that user interface and user experience are basically the same, but they are not. A user interface is basically a built product that communicates with the users to let the users know the expertise of a given website. UI tells how the whole operation is organized. On the other hand, user experience is our experience as a user with the presented website. UX are your thoughts of how you feel about the operation and how it looks. So as an example, the look of the new version of your Instagram feed is a part of UX, but it involves a change to UI.

5. Front End vs. Back End

The specific term front end refers to the user interface which is usually created by using a combination of technologies like HTML, CSS, or java scripts. The main focus of the front end is on what the users will visually see when they open their applications or web pages.

The front finish of a site is the visible part and is responsible for the look and feel of a web page. This incorporates HTML and CSS and the wide range of various things you take a look at in your program. The social media posts that update or the Google search terms that autocomplete are all due to the front-end programming language JavaScript.

The back end refers to the database, application, or server which provides the data on request, and is handled by people often called programmers or web developers. The back finish of a site is the part that makes it work. It incorporates several applications that instruct sites, and users cannot see the back end work but it is the code that communicates the database information to the browsers or the web pages.

On YouTube, for example, the appearance of your channel is the front end, and all the information is put away in the back end.

These are some terms mentioned in our daily lives, commonly heard over the TV, in our classroom, or in job meetings as well. It’s good to have a basic understanding so we don’t get confused every time somebody tosses one of these terms around. You probably heard them before but never knew their meaning, so go ahead and get yourself familiar with them.