In Germany, an estimated 6.2 billion euros will be spent on hardware, software and services in the IT security sector by the end of the year. This new all-time high is another 9.7 percent above the previous record of 5.6 billion euros in 2020, according to new calculations by the market research company IDC for the digital association Bitkom.

"Existential threat"

"Cyber attacks have become an existential threat to the economy. For companies and administrations, a high level of IT security is essential for survival and must be an integral part of good management. The Corona crisis has shown how vulnerable many companies are. Spending on IT security will continue to rise in the future," expects Susanne Dehmel, member of the Bitkom management board.

The market will continue to grow rapidly in the future, with a further 9.9 percent increase in revenue to EUR 6.8 billion forecast for 2022. With an average growth rate of 9.5 percent per year, sales of solutions for greater IT security are expected to reach around EUR 8.9 billion in 2025, according to the calculations.

Services lion's share

At 50 percent, services account for by far the largest share. Expenditure is expected to amount to 3.1 billion euros in 2021 - an increase of 9.8 percent. 2.3 billion will be spent on IT security software in the current year; 11.4 percent more than in the previous year. A further 815 million euros will be spent on special devices and hardware (up 4.9 percent).

(Source: Pressetext.com)

Because there are more and more elderly people, diseases such as cancer, diabetes or cardiovascular diseases will also increase in the coming years. In order to maintain the quality of care, more nurses must be trained. The initiative "For strong care" demands that the federal government and the cantons recognize and promote care as an important component of health care. This access should be granted to all.

Regulation of working conditions

The popular initiative demands that the federal government regulate working conditions in hospitals, homes and Spitex organizations in a more binding manner. According to the initiative, the federal government would, for example, have to stipulate wage levels or ensure a better work-life balance, e.g. through regulations on duty rosters. In doing so, the federal government would encroach on the competencies of the cantons, companies and social partners. Today, they jointly regulate working conditions and wages.

For the Federal Council and parliament, the initiative goes too far, among other things because it demands that the federal government regulate working conditions. Good working conditions and fair wages are important to ensure that the nursing profession is attractive and that people working in nursing remain in the profession for as long as possible. However, according to the Federal Council, hospitals, homes and Spitex organizations as well as the cantons and the social partners should continue to work together to ensure this.

For the committee, the nursing crisis has long been a reality: too few nurses are being trained, and too many leave the profession exhausted after just a few years. Only thanks to an increasing number of nurses from abroad can care be maintained. According to the initiators, the indirect counter-proposal of the parliament is insufficient: It focuses on training and lacks measures to ensure that nurses stay longer in the profession.

About the Popular initiative "For strong care will be voted on November 28.

Source: Federal Council

Proper nutrition allows wounds to heal better. The body needs proteins and their components, amino acids, to build connective tissue and for cell growth. If there is a protein deficiency, bacteria that may be present in the wound can no longer be completely killed. This increases the risk of the wound becoming infected and unable to heal. Specific amino acids such as arginine and glutamine play a particularly important role in wound healing.

The role of arginine and glutamine

Arginine promotes the formation of new blood vessels, cell division and cell growth. Foods rich in arginine include nuts, for example. Glutamine is important for the cells of the immune system, but also significant for skin cells. Foods high in glutamine include legumes and cereals. In addition to proteins, fats and carbohydrates are also used by the body to build new skin cells. Fats contain lipids, which the skin needs to build new cells. Carbohydrates provide a "scaffold" for new cells. Vitamins are also involved in wound healing. Vitamin A for collagen synthesis: If collagen is missing, wounds can reopen more easily.

Zinc stimulates new skin formation

A deficiency of vitamin A also leads to a delay in the overgrowth of a wound by cells. Vitamin C is important for wound healing and protection against infection. Since this vitamin is not stored in the body, a deficiency can quickly develop if the supply is insufficient.

Vitamin E strengthens the cells needed for wound healing. In high doses, however, vitamin E can also inhibit wound healing. Vitamin K is not directly involved in wound healing, but it does have an influence on the formation of certain blood clotting factors.

Vitamin B5 (also called pantothenic acid) also contributes to the healing of wounds and is important for the repair process. It has also proven its worth in the treatment of burns and scalds. A wide variety of vitamins can be found in fruits and vegetables, for example. Among trace elements, iron, copper and zinc in particular play an important role in wound healing. Iron is important for healthy scar tissue and can be found in whole grains and fish, for example. Copper transports iron through the body and is found, for example, in mushrooms. Zinc stimulates the formation of new skin and thus promotes wound healing.

Source: Wundcare Berlin

For the first time, the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (BA) has filed an indictment for an ATM blast in Sevelen. According to the indictment, the defendant broke open an ATM in Sevelen in the canton of St. Gallen in December 2019 using explosives and stole cash amounting to 126,600 francs from it.

In addition, the destructive force of the explosives used and the tools used caused property damage amounting to approximately 100,000 Swiss francs to the ATM and the outer facade of the affected property.

ATM burglar accepted personal injury

According to the indictment, by detonating the explosive at an ATM on the exterior facade of a multi-story residential and commercial building, the defendant at least condoned injuries to persons and damage to other people's property as a result of his conduct and acted "knowingly and willfully with criminal intent."

As part of the extensive investigation by the BA with the support of the cantonal police and Fedpol, the suspect was identified and, based on an international arrest warrant, arrested in Austria in June 2020 by the local authorities and placed in extradition custody.

The defendant is charged with endangering with explosives and poisonous gases with criminal intent (Art. 224 para. 1 StGB), qualified theft (Art. 139 para. 1 and para. 3 StGB) and qualified damage to property (Art. 144 para. 1 and 3 StGB).

Source: Federal Prosecutor's Office

©Pixabay

Under Swiss chattel mortgage law, security over movable assets can only be created by transferring possession of the security from the debtor to the creditor (so-called Faustpfand principle). As a result of this legal situation, Swiss companies can hardly use mobile means of production such as machines, vehicles, raw materials, inventories or other movable goods as collateral for receivables or loans. This affects trade credits in particular, but also traditional bank loans. This initial situation is likely to impair the efficient use of capital and lead to a competitive disadvantage for Swiss companies. Numerous foreign legal systems have been modernized with regard to chattel mortgage law in recent decades, and non-possessory collateral has largely been permitted.

Against this backdrop, the Federal Council envisaged conducting an in-depth regulatory impact assessment (RIA) as part of its 2020 annual targets. The Study was commissioned by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) from Interface Politikstudien Forschung Beratung. Its aim was to provide the basis for a possible revision of the Swiss mobile insurance law. The focus was on the analysis of the corporate sector, in particular the impact of a revision on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Construction of a digital register recommended

The analysis shows that Swiss SMEs face severe restrictions in accessing secured debt financing compared to virtually all foreign jurisdictions. The authors recommend a gradual revision of the chattel mortgage law limited to companies. Important elements are the admission of a chattel mortgage with register publicity, a modernization of the retention of title and the right of assignment as well as a modernization with regard to intangible property rights or intangible assets. The authors further recommend the establishment of a digital, central registry as well as a rapid ratification of the Cape Town Convention, which creates a uniform security interest for high-value, cross-border means of production (in particular aircraft, railroad rolling stock and satellites).

The authors expect positive economic impulses from a reform. Depending on the content of the revision, the one-off economic revenue increases are estimated at between CHF 0.5 billion and CHF 14 billion. Innovation effects as well as an increase in the international competitiveness of SMEs are likely to further strengthen the estimated revenue effects. The authors see by far the greatest potential of a revision in the collateralization of supplier credits.

Source: SECO

Inspectron Cleaning Systems GmbH is recalling the KN95 respirator due to insufficient protection. Due to an insufficient protective effect, users are at risk of being insufficiently protected against irreversible damage to their health. A free exchange is offered.

Which products are affected?

Affected by the product recall are respirators marked KN95, which were sold under the name "NEUTRAL respirator FFP2 / N95 / KN95 33055 white (1 pc)" (see picture).

The affected masks have been removed from the online stores www.cleanswiss.ch, www.superstore.foletti.com and offered by the company Martec Handels AG in 8045 Zurich.

Affected customers are requested to stop using the KN95 respirator described and to contact Inspectron Cleaning Systems GmbH for an exchange with a replacement product:

Phone: +41 44 722 72 72

Email: cleanswiss@inspectron.ch

www.cleanswiss.ch

In view of the low vaccination rates in Switzerland, the Federal Council wants to invest another 150 million francs in a campaign. Plans include a national vaccination week, around 170 additional mobile vaccination centers, personal talks and vouchers for "vaccinators", i.e. people who were able to convince relatives to vaccinate them. Coronavirus infections are currently declining, according to the FOPH. However, the situation in intensive care units remains tense, the Federal Council writes in a statement.

Demand for vaccinations up only slightly

Because of the high number of non-immune individuals and the highly contagious delta variant, there is still a significant risk of another wave of infection during the cooler fall and winter months, which could place a heavy burden on hospitals, he said.

Around 57 percent of the total population in Switzerland is fully vaccinated. This means that Switzerland has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Europe. With the extension of the certificate requirement, the demand for vaccination has increased somewhat in recent weeks, but in recent days the vaccination rate has already slowed down again.

More vaccination fines and vouchers of 50 francs for "vaccinators

Vaccination is the key to getting out of the crisis, the Federal Council writes. "It is safe and provides very good protection against infection." The Federal Council therefore plans to work with cantons in the coming weeks to reach as many people as possible who are still undecided or still need information.

Plans include a national vaccination week, around 170 additional mobile vaccination points, personal talks and vouchers for vaccination advice. Vaccination buses are also planned, for example, in the village square, at the workplace, on the soccer field, in front of the university, at the shopping center or in front of the disco. Consultation vouchers worth 50 francs are to be given to private individuals who have been able to convince another person to have a vaccination. In addition, the Federal Council has decided that people under the age of 16 and those who have been vaccinated once can continue to be tested free of charge in order to receive a Covid certificate.

Source: BAG

According to the news agency SDA, a technical breakdown occurred at the FOPH between 10:40 and 11:50 on Friday morning. Several thousand issued certificates are invalid due to a misconfiguration of the technical signature, the FOPH told Keystone-SDA in response to a request. Those affected must therefore request a new certificate. The Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication (FOITT) had adjusted the Covid certificate system, but announced on request that there was no security risk at any time.

You can find out if you are affected by opening the app and pressing the refresh button (bottom right).

Source: SDA/BAG

The security researchers of the Watch Guard Threat Lab found outthat 91.5 percent of all malware in the second quarter of 2021 was sent over encrypted HTTPS connections. In addition, the California-based security software vendors have seen a huge increase in malware, network and ransomware attacks.

Conversely, this means that any organization not using an HTTPS inspection solution is allowing nine out of ten attacks to pass unnoticed. In addition to an increase in network attacks, malware detections originating from scripting engines such as Power Shell have already accounted for 80 percent of the total attack volume in the last six months.

Ransomware still in high trend

Ransomware detections were down from 2018 to 2020, but with a year-over-year increase rate of 150 percent, are returning to "with all my might" back. Further Watch Guard observes a Rise of remote access Trojans, which very likely refers to the Home Office Increase is attributable to.

Still trending high are a number of Office threats. A highly dangerous vulnerability known as CVE-2021-40444 made headlines in early September when attacks against Microsoft Office and Office 365 on Windows 10 machines were increasingly exploited.

Read the entire security report 

Thirty-six percent of young employees are not eager to start a new workday because of the nature of their jobs or poor relationships with their supervisors. That's according to a survey conducted by recruiter Talent Net. The survey involved around 500 people under the age of 35, most of whom have been working in marketing, event organization, IT or finance and banking for between one and five years.

Interest gradually decreases

For 35 percent, interest in their own job has declined over time - either because the work is boring or their boss doesn't understand them (26 percent). Only a quarter of those surveyed start the new working day with a lot of energy. Both groups agree that employee satisfaction influences business growth. For 94 percent of employees, salary, social measures and manager experience and style are the most important factors in inspiring employees and keeping them happy.

Nguyen Thi An, director of strategic collaboration at Talent Net Vietnam, says companies can take measures to make work more interesting, such as digitizing repetitive tasks and paperwork. They should also offer employees the opportunity to take on different tasks to find out what they enjoy most. 82 percent of respondents would like that. Creating strong welfare and salary programs and building teams whose members get along very well should be other important goals.

As a general rule, satisfied employees are more motivated and productive in the workplace. If companies are to be successful, they should support their employees and give them a pat on the back now and then. After all, employees not only represent values, they are also the company's most valuable resources. Optimal ergonomics and Exercise and running in leisure time can contribute to better overall well-being.

(pressetext.com)

The measures taken to contain the Corona pandemic had an impact on a wide range of economic sectors worldwide. However, in Germany, too, there has been an overall decline in the number of in-plant occupational accidents among all employees. The German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) mentions an 11.4 percent decrease in occupational accidents across all industries (approximately 640,000 cases compared to 82,700 cases). However, this figure masks a differentiated picture. While the number of accidents in the construction industry fell by 0.1 percent, the catering industry in particular recorded a drop of a good 40 percent due to corona. The arts, entertainment and recreation sectors recorded an equally large drop in the number of accidents, with a minus of 26.9 percent. However, this also includes museums, zoos and fitness studios, many of which were closed for months.

Serious fall accidents on construction sites

But when it comes to the particularly serious consequences of occupational accidents, the most frequent fall accidents still occur in the construction industry. In Germany, a person fell from a height at work almost 35,000 times in 2020. In 60 cases, this fall ended fatally - in 2558 cases, the consequences were so severe that the accident victims are now subject to permanent accident compensation. The most frequent cases of falls occurred in connection with ladders, followed by falls on stairs and truck steps, loading platforms or elevating platforms.

Against this background, the DGUV raises awareness of a great deal of industry-specific information on fall protection, including in particular the use of personal protective equipment. Also of interest is the Online PDF on occupational accidents 2020 of the DGUV, which shows various accident histories and prevention measures.

Source: DGUV

Every day, vulnerabilities and susceptibilities in IT systems and applications are discovered and reported worldwide. In order to avoid exploitation of these vulnerabilities as far as possible, their rapid remediation and thus information to operators and manufacturers is of high importance. Each vulnerability, called a Common Vulnerabilities and Exposure (CVE), is therefore assigned a unique CVE identification number. The mission of Mitre's CVE program is to identify, define, and catalog publicly disclosed cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

The NCSC has been newly recognized by Mitre as an authorization body and thus for assigning CVE numbers. In this role, the NCSC is responsible for creating and publishing information about vulnerabilities reported to it and the associated CVE entries. The NCSC is thus not only the official point of contact for reporting security vulnerabilities in Switzerland, but also maintains their CVE numbers for international exchange.

Currently, NCSC is expanding vulnerability management and, since March 2021, has been taking via form receives reports of vulnerabilities in information technology systems and applications on its website in order to act as an intermediary in reporting them to the responsible owners. As part of its vulnerability management, the NCSC also recently completed the testing phase of the infrastructure for the Covid certificate and the first Pilot program concerning Bug Bounty closely accompanied in the federal administration.

Source: NCSC