US computer security firm Norton has purchased Avast for over $8 billion
Norton’s Chief Executive says the move is a “huge step forward for consumer cyber safety”.
NORTON
The deal secures a leading cyber consumer business and is expected to create a new entity with over 500 million users.
Avast is based in Prague and its offices will be retained. Meanwhile, Norton will retain its offices in Arizona.
The two companies said in the joint press release that their respective boards of directors see an opportunity to “create a new, industry-leading consumer Cyber Safety business, leveraging the established brands, technology and innovation of both groups to deliver substantial benefits to consumers, shareholders, and other stakeholders.”
The two companies said the deal will bring together product lines that are broadly complementary, while giving the combined company a user base of over half a billion customers.
“The deal will broaden the geographic market coverage of the combined company. In addition, the two expect to realise “$280 million of annual gross cost synergies.”
AVAST
NortonLifeLock CEO Vincent Pilette called the deal “a huge step forward for consumer Cyber Safety” that he said “will ultimately enable us to achieve our vision to protect and empower people to live their digital lives safely.”
“With this combination, we can strengthen our Cyber Safety platform and make it available to more than 500 million users. We will also have the ability to further accelerate innovation to transform Cyber Safety.”
Costa is a news producer at ticker NEWS. He has previously worked as a regional journalist at the Southern Highlands Express newspaper. He also has several years' experience in the fire and emergency services sector, where he has worked with researchers, policymakers and local communities. He has also worked at the Seven Network during their Olympic Games coverage and in the ABC Melbourne newsroom.
He also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Professional), with expertise in journalism, politics and international relations. His other interests include colonial legacies in the Pacific, counter-terrorism, aviation and travel.
Welcome to the future of the world, or at least how Apple wants you watch, feel and communicate with it.
Apple describes the Vision Pro headset as “a revolutionary spatial computer that seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world.”
The device features a new operating system that features a 3D interface.
You can watch movies, scroll through apps, pretty much everything you can don on your phone, but this device doesn’t fit in your hands. You use your eyes.
The entire front of the headset is made of polished glass that flows into a lightweight aluminum frame. The top of the headset features a button and a Digital Crown that lets a user control how present or immersed they are in an environment.
But as usual with Apple, there’s a catch, and also, as usual, it’s the price.
The Vision Pro starts at $US3500 and is only available in US retail stores from next year.
Tech commentator Trevor Long told Ticker News the high price will be out of reach for most users.
It comes as Meta licks its wounds having spent billions trying to make the Meta world commercially viable. So why is Apple different? #featured #apple #vision pro #trevor long
Australia experienced two of its worst cyber attacks on record last year, as the world braces for cyber warfare to rise
Ukraine has suffered a threefold growth in cyber-attacks over the past year.
Viktor Zhora is leading Ukraine’s State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection agency, who said cyber attacks are occurring at the same time as missile strikes at the hands of Russia.
Mr Zhora said in some cases, the cyber-attacks are “supportive to kinetic effects”.
On the other side of the planet, Russian hackers were responsible for Australia’s Medibank scandal.
“This is a crime that has the potential to impact on millions of Australians and damage a significant Australian business,” said Reece Kershaw, who is the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police.
Australian Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security is James Paterson, who said Australia can learn from cyber warfare in Ukraine.
“Ukraine is a lesson for the world.
“They are fighting a hybrid war, one on the ground and one online. If there is to be future conflict including in our own region, in the Indo-Pacific, it’s highly likely that the first shots in that war will occur cyber domain not in the physical world,” Senator Paterson said.