Ask most people about blockchain and they will talk about its inextricable relationship with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, which are changing the face of traditional finance. But they may well also refer to the implications for energy consumption and the environment as cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin use astonishing amounts of electricity.

Blockchain technology has come a long way since it was unleashed upon the world more than 10 years ago. Initially proposed as the backbone of a new type of electronic cash system called cryptocurrency and most associated with the rise of Bitcoin, blockchain has evolved into something far more. Today, it is viewed as one of the cornerstones of the future digital economy, with the potential to disrupt a multitude of business sectors including the automotive industry.

A brief overview of the most notable cyber events of the last week.

Cryptocurrency mining has become very popular among malicious actors that aim to profit by exploiting cloud attack surfaces. Exposed Docker APIs have become a common target for cryptominers to mine various cryptocurrencies. According to the Google Threat Horizon report published Nov. 29, 2021, 86% of compromised Google Cloud instances were used to perform cryptocurrency mining.

We take it for granted that food will be on the shelves when we visit the supermarket, but the recent images of empty shops and warnings of shortages have shown us how fragile the supply chain can be. This has focused minds on the security and reliability of our food supply along with other issues such as food fraud, defects and safety recall, inefficiency and food provenance and traceability.

This blog was written by an independent guest blogger. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are the new player in the financial investment market. They’ve seen tremendous interest from a wide range of parties, whether that be institutional investors or retail hobbyists looking to find an angle. As with anything involving money, malicious actors are already starting to take hold; Insider magazine recently highlighted the 265 Ethereum (roughly $1.1 million) theft due to a fraudulent NFT scheme.

Since the introduction of Bitcoin in 2009, and as a result of the global recession during that period, cryptocurrency have been a much-discussed topic across technology, finance, and even global policy. The news is dominated by stories of its impact on our lives and businesses.

Without trust there is nothing. So, while the IoT is changing many parts of the digital transformation landscape, real trust is often the missing component for businesses to fully embrace the technology. How can we be sure that the temperature gauge was working and calibrated? Was it really in the location it said it was and was the limit the actual limit?

Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are proving to be a powerful double act, coming together to deliver unique features and benefits for a growing list of industries and applications. In fact, you can already find blockchain integration with AI adding value and security to everything from food supply chains and healthcare record systems to managing media royalties and financial services.