1. the winter tires should be driven until summer

No. As soon as spring announces itself with mild temperatures, the summer tires should be mounted. The TCS recommends to drive the winter tires from October to Easter. In addition, attention should be paid to the tread depth: As soon as it falls below 4 mm, the performance of the tires on winter roads deteriorates. For safety reasons, it is not advisable to run the tires down to the legal minimum tread of 1.6 mm.

2. buy winter tires on the Internet is cheaper and easier

No. The right choice of tires is important for the operational safety of a vehicle. It is therefore recommended to buy the tires from a specialist dealer who will provide competent advice and also take care of the fitting. If problems should arise after the tire change, one has so a partner to contact. In addition, the tire dimension is not the only important criterion when buying. The load capacity and speed index must also be taken into account. With technical knowledge, however, a bargain can be made online.

3. winter tires are mandatory in Switzerland

No. Swiss law does not stipulate that cars must be equipped with winter tires in winter. However, it is stipulated by law that the driver must keep his or her vehicle in safe operating condition at all times. If the driver causes an accident because his or her vehicle was not equipped appropriately, the insurance company can take recourse against him or her.

4. winter tires are useful only on the snow

No. Winter tires are safer than summer tires in low temperatures on wet roads and on icy roads.

5. all-season tires are an ideal compromise

No. Although newer models have proven themselves and shown that they can perform as well as summer and winter tires in some cases, they have only achieved these results in certain disciplines in each case. All-season tires that are efficient on summer roads have weaknesses on snow, and tires with good winter characteristics are less efficient on dry roads. The all-season tire is therefore always a compromise.

6. the more expensive the more powerful are winter tires

No. This claim has been repeatedly refuted by TCS tire tests. A tire should be selected according to the results of the TCS test and according to personal needs and not according to price. TCS recommends obtaining several offers including mounting and balancing, comparing them and only then choosing.

7. four tires with different profiles are unproblematic

No. It is important that tires of the same brand, tread and tread depth are mounted on at least one axle. The best driving assistance systems are useless with inappropriate tires.

Source: TCS

The situation in hospitals remains very tense, as the FOPH writes in a press release. In certain hospitals, non-urgent operations have to be postponed and healthcare staff are under considerable strain.

At an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday, December 8, the Federal Council intends to carry out an interim assessment and decide on stricter measures on December 11 if the cantons have not taken the necessary measures.

Fewer people in the stores

The festive and vacation season in particular poses additional risks with increased shopping and private gatherings. In order to protect people even better, the number of people in a store at any one time will be reduced. The capacity restriction will be tightened from 9 December until further notice, in larger stores from the current 4 to 10 square meters per customer.

New rules for restaurants

In restaurants throughout Switzerland, it will be mandatory to collect the contact details of guests at each table, as various cantons have already introduced. On New Year's Eve, the curfew is exceptionally extended from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. in order to reduce the risk of disorderly meetings in private settings.

Singing is prohibited outside the family circle and compulsory schools, both outdoors and indoors. The ban applies not only to choirs, but also to communal singing in church services and at certain New Year's Eve celebrations that involve singing.

The Federal Council strongly recommends limiting meetings in private homes and restaurants to two households and thus keeping the number of contacts as low as possible. The limit of 10 people is maintained.

In order to further reduce the number of contacts and flows of people, the home office recommendation should also be consistently implemented. To this end, the Federal Council is once again calling on employers to facilitate working from home wherever possible. It should be made as easy as possible for employees to reduce their contacts to a minimum before the festive period.

Ski resorts open if case numbers fall

Ski resorts should be able to be open to domestic tourism. From 22 December, ski resorts will require a permit from the canton to operate. The prerequisite for this is that the epidemiological situation allows this and that sufficient capacities are ensured in the hospitals, for contact tracing and for testing. The operators of ski resorts must also submit strict protection concepts that implement the standardized national requirements.

There are no capacity limits for ski resorts. However, from December 9, only two thirds of the seats in all enclosed means of transport, such as trains, cabins and gondolas, may be occupied. This applies to seats and standing room.

Masks are compulsory on all lifts, including ski lifts and chairlifts. Masks must be worn when queuing and social distancing must be observed. Guests in restaurants in ski resorts may only be admitted indoors if a table is free for them. In indoor areas and on terraces, the existing rules continue to apply: consumption only when seated and a maximum of four people per table, with the exception of parents with children.

The cantons are obliged to monitor the rules. If significant problems are identified, the ski resort operators must be admonished. If the problems persist, the license must be withdrawn. The cantons must also report to the federal government on the number of inspections, the number of warnings issued and the number of permits withdrawn, as well as on the capacity utilization of hospitals.

Source: BAG

In recent years, many areas of our lives have become digitized. While awareness of privacy issues is generally increasing, most still only have a very general understanding of why it is so important, according to research by Kaspersky.

According to the survey, more than a third (37 percent) of Millenials believe they are too "boring" and "uninteresting" to be victims of cybercrime. So-called "doxing" occurs when someone discloses private information about another person without that person's consent, usually with the aim of embarrassing, hurting or otherwise endangering that person.

Research by Kaspersky also shows that personal data can be accessed from as little as 50 cents (U.S. dollars) for a badge, depending on the depth and breadth of information offered, the security experts conclude.

In addition, medical records would be $1 to $30, driver's license scans for $5 to $25, passport scans for $6 to $15, and credit card data for $6 to $20. On the other hand, accessing social media channels such as Facebook or Twitter would cost $500, Instagram $450, and hacking email accounts $500 to $800.

However, personal information sold on the black market can be used for extortion, running fraud and phishing schemes, and stealing money directly. Kaspersky advises the following prevention measures in this context:

• Regularly review permission settings of frequently used applications to minimize the likelihood of personal data being shared or stored by third parties - and beyond - without your own knowledge.
• Use two-factor authentication. Applications that generate one-time codes are more secure than receiving the second factor via SMS. A hardware 2FA key can be used for additional security.
• Always consider how shared content might be interpreted or used by others.
• Use a reliable security solution to generate and secure unique passwords for each account. Avoid using the same password over and over again.

Read the full report from Kaspersky.

Source: Kaspersky 

The amount of glyphosate sold in Switzerland has already fallen by 63 percent in the last ten years. The Federal Council wants to further promote this development, as it in a communication writes. Reducing the use of this pesticide is possible and has already been implemented in many areas, according to a report. However, there is still untapped potential for reducing the use of glyphosate in some areas of agriculture.

However, the expert report also shows that the alternatives to glyphosate use can currently have disadvantages. For example, the existing alternative solutions increase the risk of soil erosion. The alternatives also cause higher production costs. Controlling perennial weeds is also more difficult with these methods.

Source: LID

Connected driving is becoming a reality and calls for a new safety architecture in cars: More and more vehicles are communicating with each other to optimize traffic flow or avoid accidents. A cell phone app can be used to check the fuel level or determine the vehicle's location. "There are more and more interfaces in the car that enable vehicles to communicate with the outside world," says Markus Schaffrin, head of the Member Services business unit in the German eco Association of the Internet Industry e. V. "The many disparate systems increase the risk for security vulnerabilities that cybercriminals look for."

Cars are being targeted by cybercriminals

"A central communication platform permanently installed in the vehicle can contribute significantly to a high level of safety," recommends Markus Bartsch from TÜV Informationstechnik GmbH. TÜViT is currently investigating the possibilities of a standardized solution that brings together data from different systems. "In modern vehicles, data accumulates, for example, from the powertrain, driver assistance systems, infotainment offerings, or even from the chassis and comfort electronics," says Bartsch. "A centralized and standardized platform could also be used to define user profiles that regulate which data may leave or be sent to the vehicle at all."

Plan for cyber security as early as the car design stage

Markus Bartsch and other experts present their technical solution concepts for IT security and data protection in cars at the Internet Security Days on September 28 and 29 in Cologne. Their approaches could help manufacturers integrate all-round security as early as the design stage of new vehicles: This security by design helps vehicles fend off cyberattacks themselves. Many solutions also focus on protecting personal passenger data. Privacy by design ensures that sensitive data remains in the car and is only processed anonymously by manufacturers or service providers with the appropriate approvals.

Source: eco

The potential costs of cyber attacks are rising rapidly - especially in connection with lost or damaged data. Therefore, the topics of cyber security and cyber resilience are becoming increasingly important for companies. This is the conclusion of the first sigma study "Cyber: managing a complex risk." of the newly opened Swiss Re Institute.

Companies need to do much more in the future to integrate cybersecurity into their risk management strategy, the study found. While companies often have a heightened awareness of cyber threats - they are ill-prepared to actually manage the risks. Initiatives to strengthen cyber resilience already exist.

Insurance: Risks are difficult to calculate

The market specifically for cyber insurance is developing rapidly, but the scope of coverage in relation to potential exposure is still relatively small. One problem is that cyber risks are complex and very difficult to quantify: The technological environment is constantly changing at a rapid pace, and at the same time there is little historical data on losses from which to derive estimates of future losses.

Product and process innovations, as well as advanced analytics technologies, are expected to support the development of improved cyber insurance solutions in the future, expanding the limits of insurability as well as the scope of coverage. Ultimately, however, some cyber risks, especially those related to extreme, catastrophic loss events, may remain uninsurable. For such risks, a government safety net may be needed as a last resort - comparable to government support in the context of catastrophic terrorism.

New legislations

In many countries today, new legislation is on the horizon that may force companies to implement higher data protection measures. This, the study suggests, could be a catalyst for change: As a result, "companies - large and small - need to invest more in their cybersecurity architecture to develop sound risk management before and after a loss," says Kurt Karl, chief economist at Swiss Re.

The study sees an important role for the state in measures to improve the collection and dissemination of cyber information, as well as the adoption of laws and regulations on the use and protection of cyberspace.

Video surveillance is the most widely used technology in public transport to provide safety and security. It is mainly used on trains, in train stations, in depots and depots, and on platforms. The cameras are usually focused on specific areas, such as emergency call and information desks, escalators and elevators. The strongest video surveillance coverage is found in places where passengers spend time. In addition, cameras also provide security and smooth process flow in non-public areas. Examples include personnel entrances, track crossings, tunnel entrances, along tracks, inside tunnels or on bridges.

Status quo - from analog to IP

Even though the change in the security industry is moving inexorably in the direction of digital technology, analog cameras are still found in public transport for historical reasons. This leads to so-called hybrid systems, consisting of both analog and IP cameras. However, as in previous years, many of the companies will continue to replace older, analog models with network cameras in 2017, opening up their systems to intelligent functions. Networked systems are also growing in importance in local public transport.  

There are several hurdles to investing in new technologies: Video surveillance systems are not always the top priority and the acquisition is considered cost-intensive. A professional digital security system, on the other hand, creates synergies with other areas and, in the long term, helps to optimize service and security in public transport. This also has an impact on investments and costs.

Intelligent video surveillance in international public transport

Digital video surveillance is now very much characterized by intelligent functions that enable analysis of the image data in the camera. This facilitates the use of the cameras not only for security purposes, but also to provide important data for operational use. For this purpose, the cameras act as sensors. These can be smoke and fire detectors, for example, or capacity utilization monitoring. Here, a percentage is given of how many people are on a platform, for example. If the value exceeds a certain limit, employees are alerted. They can then take appropriate measures, such as opening emergency exits or helping to prevent panic and accidents.

The cameras can also act as early warning smoke detectors in tunnels. Conventional smoke detectors are usually mounted on the ceiling and take a long time to sound the alarm because the smoke must first rise to the ceiling. Cameras can identify smoke much earlier. The faster it is detected, the less damage can occur.

Analytics tools help avert damage and train downtime, saving time and money. They help increase revenue, for example, by being able to detect when people jump ticket barriers. In the Netherlands, streetcar car doors are monitored and facial characteristics are matched with a database of known fare evaders. If there is a match, the driver is notified. Detecting graffiti sprayers is also an important application area.

How video surveillance can help: Real-time transmission from trains on the rise

Security-related incidents usually occur not only at one location, but at several, for example when a perpetrator flees from a store across the pedestrian zone into the subway. Increasingly, therefore, various emergency services such as the police, fire department and local authorities have real-time access to all video images and can thus gain an immediate overview of the situation. The individual cameras provide images of the various locations of the incident and different angles of view, while the networking of the cameras in turn provides an overall picture. On this basis, authorized security services and authorities can quickly assess the situation comprehensively. Strategically critical decisions about how to proceed can only be made on the basis of an overall view of the current situation.

Real-time use mainly takes place at static locations, such as train stations or depots. Real-time transmission from trains, on the other hand, is still rather uncommon, but is steadily increasing.

"Public transport is an area where there is constant coming and going. A large number of people living or working in a city regularly use public transport - and it is therefore essential to ensure safety and security. In addition, we must not forget that many transport operators also have to operate as businesses in an increasingly tough market. Therefore, the optimization of processes or service is also important. Network cameras provide many answers to questions here. In 2016, it was already evident that transport operators were making increasing use of the technical possibilities and this trend will continue in 2017," says Edwin Beerentemfel, Manager Business Development, Middle Europe at Axis Communications.

Text: Axis Communications

700 window drilling burglaries perpetrated by a single perpetrator: the sheer number proves how simple and promising a burglary using the window drilling method is. And yet residents, police and window manufacturers in many regions have so far been spared this phenomenon. The reason is obvious. Window drills usually occur as part of regional burglary series. Either one has never heard of it or one knows immediately of several acquaintances who had a traumatic encounter with a window borer.

And suddenly the window drill was real

This was also the case for the Aargau window manufacturer Frank Hauri. As a specialist in burglary protection, he was familiar with the window drilling method, but had rarely encountered it in practice. In June 2015, this changed abruptly. Within a few days, dozens of window drilling break-ins were reported from Staffelbach and surrounding villages. Great uncertainty spread among the population. Hauri suddenly found himself confronted with a previously unspoken customer need: "We don't want to be surprised by the burglar at night!"

Drilling protection as a solution

The best-known remedy against window borers is the lockable window handle. However, Frank Hauri points out: "The great weakness of this is the fact that it is only of any use if it is also locked. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case." In his search for more effective protection, Hauri came across the Drill blocker from the Swiss startup Scherrer System GmbH. The plate made of resistant manganese steel prevents windows from being drilled out in the critical area.

Unlike locks or alarm systems, the drill blocker is an extremely simple protection with the advantage that - once installed - it does not have to be reactivated every time. Countless home and apartment owners from the region subsequently had their windows retrofitted with this security system by Hauri.

All accessible windows are retrofitted - free of charge

The conversations with the victims and the realization of how easy it is to protect oneself led Frank Hauri to an important decision: "From March 2017, we will install the drill blocker as standard and at no extra charge in all windows that are accessible to the perpetrator". Hauri is happy to bear the cost of the drill blocker and installation in view of the fact that he is now the first window manufacturer in Switzerland to offer all his customers this long overdue protection.

"Hardly any danger has been so criminally neglected in the past in burglary protection as that of window drilling," says Martin Scherrer, Managing Director of Scherrer System GmbH. In this respect, Frank Hauri's entrepreneurial decision cannot be overestimated. "Without a doubt, other window manufacturers will follow Hauri's example".

​

Since the introduction of threat management on University Hospital Zurich (USZ) According to Claudio Leitgeb, Head of Safety and Environment, there were around 60 cases in 2014 in which the threat management team became active. Most of the cases involved lighter verbal assaults that had to be clarified, but there were also more serious cases of death threats, suicide announcements or stalking.

In a large facility like the USZ, with over 8000 employees and a high frequency of patients or visitors, as well as a very emotional environment, there is an increased risk of threats. For example, relatives may find it difficult to come to terms with the death of a patient - they look for someone to blame and make threats.

Interdisciplinary team
The USZ's threat management aims to stop threatening behavior towards employees at an early stage and thus prevent escalation. Claudio Leitgeb: "Acts of violence rarely happen out of the blue. Serious cases in particular are often preceded by a long history, and the perpetrator usually makes threats or behaves in a conspicuous manner beforehand."

The threat management team can be convened around the clock via the alarm center of the USZ Security Service. This is an interdisciplinary group with representatives from Security and Legal Services, Nursing, Psychiatry and Human Resource Management. If employees at the USZ report that they feel threatened, the group meets and immediately initiates the necessary measures.

USZ first company with certification
The European Threat Managers Association (Association of European Threat Assessment Professionals AETAP) is the European association of threat management professionals. Worldwide, there are four associations that certify professionals, institutions and companies. The European quality standards were developed in coordination with the Canadian, the US-American and the Asian/Australian association and are recognized on an international level.

The USZ was the first company in Europe to meet the stringent requirements for threat management certification. In addition to complete documentation of the processes, this includes in particular the organization of a threat management team that is ready for action at any time with an internal and external network (e.g. to the police) as well as case management with threat analysis. Andrea Wechlin, member of the AETAP board, emphasized during the presentation of the certificate that Switzerland is the most advanced country in Europe in the area of threat management. The USZ is a leader in the healthcare sector and has therefore been awarded the label of handling threat management in accordance with the globally valid quality standards.

A software bug at the Internet provider Cloudflare accidentally scattered sensitive user data on the Internet. The platform incorporated the user data into the code of other websites under certain circumstances. The bug was active for over five months, but is now said to be fixed, according to Cloudflare. A particularly large amount of data was affected in the period between February 13 and 18.

It is particularly problematic that the affected pages were cached and indexed by search engines. It is therefore possible that private information is still publicly accessible on the net.

Websites that use Cloudflare's service include Fitbit, the cab service Uber, the password provider 1Password and the partner search site OKCupid. The bug only occurred with a certain HTML version and a certain combination of Cloudflare settings; theoretically, 3000 customers of the provider could be affected.

The gap was discovered by Google security expert Travis Ormandy.

Since it is unclear exactly which data is affected, experts recommend changing passwords for every online service. While the risk of being affected is not exactly great, the effects of the bug are unpredictable.