Father says son started his own business in competition and said he would “f... us over”. Read...

MSI is more than just PCs. The company is branching out into the world of electric-vehicle (EV) chargers, launching the Level 2 “EV Life Plus” home charger with support for both the Type 1 (SAE J1772) and NACS connectors. If you’re a tech enthusiast, you know that “PC” companies like Acer, Asus, and others have expanded into graphics cards, peripherals, and more over the last few years, all in a bid to diversify and grow the business. MSI’s push into the home electric-vehicle charger market, however, seems to be a first. MSI is announcing four “EV Life” chargers and four “EV Life Plus” chargers, ranging in price from between $449.99 and $599.99. Essentially, each of the four chargers in each EV Life or EV Life Plus category are subdivided by their available plug connector — the Type 1 SAE J1772 connector, the default standard for most level-2 EV chargers; and the NACS standard, which Tesla cars use and is being integrated into new EVs like the 2026 Nissan Leaf for fast charging. MSI also provides hardwired options that can be installed into a garage, or standalone devices that can be plugged in. All of the new EV Life and Life Plus chargers include a 24.6-foot cable for charging, MSI said. You’ll be able to control the MSI EV Life chargers from your phone.MSI The difference between the EV Life ($449.99 to $499.99) and EV Life Plus ($549.99 to $599.99) is the connectivity aspects, according to a company representative. The basic EV Life chargers use Bluetooth and your phone for charge management and to transfer information about the charging process. The EV Life Plus lineup uses either Wi-Fi or Ethernet for this information. A home charger can either use Level 1 “trickle charging,” essentially using the 110-volt three-prong outlets that you’ll find in your home or garage. They usually deliver a few miles of battery power every hour. Electric dryers can use 220V to 240V, and Level 2 chargers connected to these NEMA 14-50 outlets deliver enough power to add 40 miles or more of battery range per hour. In the case of MSI’s EV Life and Life Plus chargers, they accept up to 240 volts and transfer up to 14.4kW at 60 amps, enough for 43 to 59 miles of charging power, according to MSI. Though the chargers are ruggedized to withstand IP55 water and IP67 dust resistance, they might have one catch: They’re only rated from 40 degrees F to 131 degrees F, meaning they’ll have to be kept indoors during the winter months. MSI’s EV Life and EV Life Plus chargers can be hardwired or simply mounted.MSI MSI says its chargers are UL- and Energy Star-compliant, and include a five-year warranty. Read...

The COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on remote working. Five years on, the masks have gone and some companies are now mandating a return to work policy, but for small businesses remote working remains common practice. According to the Office for National Statistics, in the first quarter of 2025 more than a quarter (28%) of working adults in Great Britain enjoyed a hybrid approach to their office location. Another study conducted in April found that 21.5m Brits (39% of the population) work from home at least some of the time. But hybrid working isn’t a benefit that is evenly distributed across professions. Beaming claims a staggering 81% of UK small businesses support remote working. While the benefits to employees are clear, allowing to staff to work from home can be a security nightmare. So, how can a small business ensure its employees, business data, finances and reputation, stay safe in a world of constantly evolving digital threats? What are the biggest security risks associated with remote working? Traditionally, a small business might have stored sensitive data on a local server that could be accessed only by devices on that network. Now, with employees potentially working at home, in coffee shops, or even abroad, business data can be more easily intercepted and compromised by hackers as it moves around the web. Man-in-the-middle attacks When connecting to public Wi-Fi, users may not realise that the network isn’t all that it seems. Hackers can easily set up a fake connection with a venue-matching name that monitors and records all activity conducted over that network. This includes any sensitive data that is sent or received and, in a worst-case scenario, that might be your business banking data and account details. Phishing attacks One of the most common types of scams employed by hackers is known as phishing. A cybercriminal will target an individual via a text message, email or other method of communication and use familiarity tactics to lull them into a false sense of security, ultimately convincing them to click on a dodgy link or hand over sensitive information. Employees can’t be alert to these scams in every situation, and with AI now making these messages ever more convincing they are increasingly difficult to spot. Malware, viruses and spyware Another potential danger from phishing-style attacks is that the user unknowingly has malware installed on their device. This can then watch and record everything they do, such as logging into company accounts, accessing business banking accounts, communicating with clients, and any other business-related activities. How can a small business protect its remote workers from digital threats? Due to the dispersed nature of remote working, it can be a challenge to enforce the same level of security as you might in the enclosed environment of a workplace. That’s why using a dedicated small business security software suite can be a great way to protect your clients and employees alike, without racking up huge expenses or adding even more stress to your busy day. Norton Small Business is a complete solution that includes a number of purpose-built security tools to help your business avoid falling victim to the kind of attacks outlined above. With the standard package you get always-on antivirus and firewall protection that works to continuously guard against viruses, malware and spyware attacks. There’s also a secure browser that employees can use when working on business documents or accessing online banking. Passwords and sensitive documents can be stored in an encrypted vault to help prevent prying eyes from gaining access, while Norton keeps tabs on the dark web to seek out employee identity or business data that may have been compromised and now presents a threat to the business. There is also an automatic software updater for Windows PCs, making sure employees don’t neglect to update outdated apps that could contain security vulnerabilities, plus 250GB of secure cloud-backup space for any business-critical files. If your security needs are greater, the Norton Small Business Premium plan includes everything in the standard plan, plus some useful extras. You get a VPN service that encrypts all data flowing between a device and the web, helping you protect the business from man-in-the-middle attacks. You also get notified in the event of suspicious financial transactions, or fraudulent social media posts that may threaten the company’s reputation. The premium plan bumps up the secure cloud storage to 500GB, plus you get the peace of mind that comes with 24/7 business tech support should you encounter business IT problems – ideal for small businesses who lack their own IT team. Choose Norton for small business security Running a small business is challenging enough, without needing to worry about IT problems and digital threats as well. The standard plan costs £54.99 for up to three employees, £69.99 for up to five employees, and £99.99 for up to 10 employees. Step up to Norton Small Business Premium to enjoy 24/7 Business Tech Support, Secure VPN, Financial and Social Media Monitoring, Driver Updater and 500GB of secure Cloud Backup online storage; it costs £149.99 for up to five employees, and £199.99 for up to 10 employees. All prices are for the first year. Right now, PCWorld readers can take advantage of a rare 30% discount, unlocking Norton Small Business from just £38.50/first year, and Norton Small Business Premium from just £105/first year. Just enter the code PCWNSBP at checkout to take advantage. Save 30% on Norton Small Business You don’t have to spend any money to see the benefits of the Norton Small Business plans though, as there’s a 30-day trial that lets you try it before you subscribe. With Norton Small Business, keeping your business and its employees safer from digital threats is simple, whether that’s in the office, at home or on the road. Read...

UK small business owners have faced mounting pressure in recent years, with challenging global trade conditions making it increasingly difficult to protect their balance sheets. But it’s not just economic uncertainty that endangers small businesses in 2025 – cyberattacks pose an equally serious threat. Thankfully, with the right digital security tools in place the risks can be mitigated. So, what are the biggest cyber threats to small businesses in 2025, and how can you avoid them? What are the biggest security threats to UK small businesses today? In June, the Home Office released its Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 report, detailing the most common cyberattacks experienced by UK small businesses in H2 2024. Here are the most common ways hackers attempted to gain money or data from small businesses last year: Phishing: 85% of businesses that reported cyberattacks identified phishing as a key threat. These scams trick employees into clicking on fake links – often via email – and inadvertently handing over sensitive data. Now powered by AI, phishing tactics are getting smarter than ever and more difficult to spot. Employee impersonation: More than half (51%) of businesses said hackers had posed as company employees to deceive their ‘colleagues’ into handing over information. Malware on company devices: While AI-powered scams today grab the headlines, malware is still very much present and very much a threat. Many small businesses reported that viruses and spyware had been installed on company devices, enabling valuable data to be syphoned off. Business bank account targeting: Nearly 1 in 10 small businesses that suffered cyberattacks in the second half of 2024 said their online banking accounts had been targeted, directly threatening their finances and financial data. Ransomware: A successful ransomware attack can be extremely lucrative for cybercriminals, and devasting for small businesses. Ransomware, which steals sensitive company data and demands payment for its return, is a continued threat for small businesses in 2025. How to stop your small business falling victim to a cyberattack All the hacking methods outlined in the Home Office report are potentially ruinous to a small business, so it’s vitally important that defences are in place to protect against these attacks. But how? It’s unrealistic to expect employees to be on constant alert against cyberattacks, especially with AI now making the threats much more difficult to spot – and that’s why business-grade security software is a must.  If you’re going to place the defence of your business in the care of another, it needs to be someone you can trust. Norton is a renowned brand in the security sector, with a long-standing reputation for its powerful antivirus tools and professionalism. Armed with the Norton Small Business or Small Business Premium security suite, you’ll instantly upgrade your company’s ability to defend itself from today’s scary digital threats. The always-on Norton antivirus protection means your staff will not be caught with their guard down, while a dedicated firewall helps keeps at bay cyberthreats to your business devices. An encrypted vault for passwords and company credit card details, plus up to 500GB of secure cloud storage, helps you prevent sensitive business data falling into the wrong hands. Social media monitoring helps you avoid damage to your business reputation, with notifications to suspicious activities like fake posts appearing on your profiles. You’ll also get alerts for suspicious financial transactions, sent out if anything unusual is spotted on your business bank accounts, helping you to protect your company from fraud. Your employees are able to work safer online, even remotely, with the VPN and a secure browser encrypting data. A dark web monitoring feature scans the nastier regions of the web for compromised personal and company data that could put  your company or employees at risk. Small businesses may not have their own dedicated IT teams, so 24/7 business tech support from Norton Small Business experts can put your mind at ease should you run into IT issues. The Norton Small Business suite will also ensure automatic software updates for Windows PCs take place to patch possible security vulnerabilities, while optimising business PCs for security and productivity. Defend your small business with Norton There are enough things to worry about when you run a small business. With Norton Small Business, online security doesn’t have to be one of them. The Standard edition costs £54.99 for up to three employees, £69.99 for up to five employees, and £99.99 for up to 10 employees. Step up to Norton Small Business Premium to enjoy 24/7 Business Tech Support, Secure VPN, Financial and Social Media Monitoring, Driver Updater and 500GB of secure Cloud Backup online storage; it costs £149.99 for up to five employees, and £199.99 for up to 10 employees. All prices are for the first year. Right now, PCWorld readers can take advantage of a rare 30% discount, unlocking Norton Small Business from just £38.50/year, and Norton Small Business Premium from just £105/year. Just enter the code PCWNSBP at checkout to take advantage. Save 30% on Norton Small Business You can also try Norton Small Business before you subscribe, thanks to a 30-day trial. Read...

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TransUnion, one of the major credit bureaus in the U.S., reported a hack at the tail end of August—personal details of 4.4 million individuals stolen. The cause of this breach? Salesforce, the same third-party vendor also at the root of other recent high-profile leaks at Google, Quantas, Adidas, and other well-known companies. According to BleepingComputer, stolen info included social security numbers, birthdates, names, billing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. TransUnion says no credit data (including reports) was revealed. Like other data breaches, this news is a reminder to stay vigilant. Bad actors can craft more convincing phishing attacks with this information, for example. You should also maintain good password habits. But doing so is a lot easier if you have other defenses in place, and now’s a good time to check if you’ve set them up. Credit bureau breaches have been happening for years—the massive 2017 Equifax leak was just one incident. Your best bet for protecting yourself is to stack up as many available protections as possible. 1. Freeze your credit report Dylan Gillis After the 2017 Equifax breach, locking your credit report became free across the U.S. Placing a freeze on your profile keeps scammers from opening credit cards, loans, and other lines of credit in your name. To be thorough, you must set up a security freeze with each credit bureau. The three major ones are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. I also recommend freezing your report with Innovis, a smaller fourth credit bureau. Once a credit freeze is in place, only you and existing creditors can access your credit reports. You can temporarily lift the freeze through the Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion websites or through their phone lines. You may need the PIN issued to you in order to request the temporary lift. 2. Check your credit report PCWorld While you’re freezing your credit profile, you should look over your report for any suspicious activity. You can check through the official website (AnnualCreditReport.com) or request a paper copy through the phone or by mail once per year. Your banking app may also offer free looks at your credit report. If you see any inaccuracies, you can dispute them—and if you spot signs of identity theft, you can report them and begin remediation. 3. Request an IRS identity protection PIN PCWorld To combat tax return fraud, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) now lets you block others from fraudulently filing in your name. Requesting an identity protection PIN (IP PIN) means any return will have to include that six-digit code to be processed. You can obtain an IP PIN even if you’re not required to send in a return. IP PINs refresh every year, so once enrolled in the program, you will need to obtain the new PIN annually. (The IRS says new PINs become available in mid-January.)  If you’ve set up an online IRS account, you can simply login to see the info—you won’t need to reapply for a PIN. Your identity protection PIN remains viewable on the IRS website through mid-November. If you cannot establish an online account, you must get your IP PIN through an alternative methods (mail-in form or in-person appointment). However, income restrictions for the mail-in form option may apply. 4. Freeze your banking report PCWorld Similar to your credit report, banks keep a file about your banking activity, too. If you show a history of overdrafted accounts and unpaid fees, banks can decline your business—so you don’t want a fraudster running your good name into the ground. The main company used by banks for reports is ChexSystems, which allows you to freeze access to your report. Once you put the freeze in place, only you and institutions you already bank with can access your report. If you need to temporarily lift the freeze (like to open a new bank account), you can do so online. You’ll need the PIN you were sent when the freeze first was placed. Read...

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