Earlier this month, cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler uncovered an unsecured database containing over 184 million login credentials. This trove included usernames and passwords for major platforms such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, as well as sensitive data from bank accounts, health services, and government portals. Alarmingly, the database was unencrypted and publicly accessible, making it a “cybercriminal’s dream”. Closer to home, you can’...| The Software Bureau
The UK’s advertising and marketing industry has just delivered a resounding message of economic strength. According to Advertising Pays 2025, a landmark report from think tank Credos, British businesses invested a record £66.6 billion into the sector in 2024. A Critical Economic Contributor The sector contributed £109 billion in gross added value (GVA), representing 4% of the entire UK economy. It supported over 1.7 million jobs and reached into nearly two-thirds of all UK businesses. In ...| The Software Bureau
On 14th May 2025, the UK’s Data (Use and Access) Bill reached a critical stage in Parliament, following heated debate over its implications for AI, copyright, and how data is shared. While the headlines have focused on creative rights and artificial intelligence, there’s a bigger picture emerging — one that matters to anyone involved in managing, using, or maintaining quality data. Originally introduced in late 2024, the bill aims to improve how data is accessed and used across the publ...| The Software Bureau
At The Software Bureau, we welcome the Market Research Society’s Campaign for Better Data. While it may sit adjacent to our core area of data processing, we believe the campaign’s central theme — building trust and credibility in data — is critical across every part of the marketing and insight ecosystem. With the UK Government positioning the nation as a leader in AI, the spotlight is rightly falling on the quality of the data feeding these tools. As recent studies have shown, there...| The Software Bureau
New stats out this week show that last year EU regulators imposed over €1.2 billion in fines for data protection violations, including a €310 million penalty against LinkedIn for unlawful data processing practices. While the ICO has taken a more restrained approach, issuing fewer fines in 2024, the message is clear: data governance lapses can lead to significant financial and reputational damage. In this regulatory climate, many marketers are rightly embracing automation to streamline ...| The Software Bureau
