News
Half of UAE Parents Are Worried Their Child will be Bullied Online: Norton
Recent research from Norton by Symantec reveals that more than eight in ten UAE parents (85 percent) are concerned about their children’s safety on the internet. Half of UAE parents worry their children will be bullied or harassed (49 percent), or will be lured away by a stranger (54 percent), and two in three (67 percent) believe children today are more exposed to online dangers than children five years ago.
According to the Norton Cyber Security Insights Report, a survey of nearly 21,000 consumers globally, two in five parents in the UAE believe their children are more likely to be bullied online than at school in the playground. In addition to cyberbullying, parents’ chief concerns are that their children might:
- Download malicious programs or apps (60 percent)
- Disclose too much personal information to strangers (51 percent)
- Say or do something online that makes the whole family vulnerable (52 percent)
- Post something that will haunt them in the future with job or university prospects (48 percent)
While nearly three in ten UAE parents allow their children under six years to access the internet, a majority of parents implement proactive measures to keep their children safe online, such as limiting access to certain websites and apps (48 percent) or allowing Internet access only under parental supervision (47 percent).
“Parents play a critical role in educating their children on the boundaries for acceptable and safe internet behaviours. An open dialogue about online experiences is the first step in protecting children online,” said Tamim Taufiq, Head of Norton Middle East. “The internet is a valuable resource for children’s development, and our children today don’t know a world without it. Preventing children from going online is not necessarily the answer, we encourage parents to establish house rules on internet usage based on their age and talk to their children about their online experiences.”
Talking about online etiquette, online boundaries, safe internet habits, online experiences and cyberbullying doesn’t have to be challenging. This year, as part of Safer Internet Day, Norton wants to help parents identify the signs of cyberbullying, empower them to start a conversation with their children and establish “netiquette” when the time is right.
Some notable signs of cyberbullying amongst children include:
- Appearing nervous when receiving a text/online message or email or begin avoiding their devices or using them excessively
- Making excuses to avoid going to school, grades beginning to decline or acting up
- Becoming defensive or secretive about online activity or delete social media accounts
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Physical symptoms such as trouble sleeping, stomach aches, headaches, and weight loss or gain
- Appearing particularly angry, frustrated or sad, especially after going online/checking devices
Tips on how parents can keep their children safe online:
- Establish a set of guidelines for how your children use technology, also known as online etiquette. These guidelines may include how much time can be spent online, which websites are safe to use or what language is appropriate when chatting.
- Create a set of House Rules for children’s online communication, downloading, websites that are safe to visit, and cyber harassment. A decrease in negative online experiences is closely linked to households where there is an open dialogue with children about online safety.
- Teach young children to use strong and unique passwords across all their accounts and never to share passwords, even with their friends.
- Discuss the risks of posting and sharing private information, videos, and photographs, especially on social media websites – everything posted online is a digital footprint for children and can be challenging to completely erase. Parents should help ensure their children are not posting content that will compromise their security or which they may regret when they are older.
- Children are likely to imitate their parents’ behaviour, so parents are encouraged to lead by example and show their children how to safely surf online
- Encourage kids to think before they click; whether they’re looking at online video sites, receiving an unknown link in an email or even browsing the web and seeing banners or pop-ups, remind your children not to click links which may take them to dangerous or inappropriate sites. Clicking unknown links is a common way devices are infected with malware and also can reveal private and valuable information to criminals.
- Use a robust and trusted security software solution, such as Norton Security, for all household devices – from tablets to smartphones, laptops and desktops.
- Most importantly, encourage and maintain an open and ongoing dialogue with your children on Internet use and experiences.
News
Samsung Sets New Benchmark in TV Security With FIPS 140-3 Certification
Samsung Electronics has announced that its proprietary cryptography module, Samsung CryptoCore, has earned the prestigious FIPS 140-3 certification from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This certification underscores Samsung’s commitment to providing industry-leading security and data protection for Smart TV users.
“As home entertainment systems become more connected, it becomes critical for technology companies to safeguard the personal data that enables the seamless connectivity enjoyed by so many,” said Yongjae Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of the R&D Team, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “By integrating the FIPS 140-3-certified CryptoCore into our Smart TVs, Samsung is taking our commitment to secure home entertainment a step further and ensuring that our users can freely experience the value of our products.”
Beginning in 2025, Samsung CryptoCore will be fully integrated into Tizen OS, Samsung’s Smart TV operating system, enhancing the security of key products such as TVs, monitors and digital signage. With Samsung CryptoCore embedded in Tizen OS, personal data linked to Samsung accounts will be securely encrypted, SmartThings authentication information will be protected from external hacking threats and content viewed on TVs will benefit from enhanced copyright protection.
Since 2015, Samsung has equipped its Smart TVs with Samsung Knox, a security platform that has earned Common Criteria (CC) certification for 10 consecutive years. But with its newly acquired FIPS 140-3 certification, Samsung has strengthened its defences against hacking and data breaches even further, proactively protecting personal information with advanced encryption technology.
Recognised by governments in 10 countries, the FIPS 140-3 certification requires comprehensive testing of cryptographic modules to ensure their security, integrity, and reliability. For users, this means Samsung Smart TVs offer cutting-edge protection against privacy breaches, allowing them to enjoy their content, connect smart devices, and engage with IoT services securely and without concerns.
News
AMD Intros Versal Premium Series Gen 2 Adaptive SoCs
AMD has announced the AMD Versal Premium Series Gen 2, an adaptive SoC platform designed to deliver the highest levels of system acceleration for a wide range of workloads. Versal Premium Series Gen 2 will be the FPGA industry’s first devices featuring Compute Express Link (CXL) 3.1 and PCIe Gen6 as well as LPDDR5X memory support in hard IP. These next-generation interface and memory technologies access and move data rapidly and efficiently between processors and accelerators.
CXL 3.1 and LPDDR5X help unlock more memory resources faster to address the growing real-time processing and storage demands of data-intensive applications in the data centres, communications, test and measurement, and aerospace and defence markets. “System architects are constantly looking to pack more data into smaller spaces and move data more efficiently between parts of the system,” said Salil Raje, senior vice president and general manager, Adaptive and Embedded Computing Group, AMD. “Our latest addition to the Versal Gen 2 portfolio helps customers improve overall system throughput and utilization of memory resources to achieve the highest performance and unlock insights for their most demanding applications from the cloud to the edge.”
AMD champions open innovation through its support of CXL, an open industry-standard interconnect between processors and devices such as FPGA-based accelerators. With support for CXL 3.1 and PCIe Gen6, the industry’s fastest host interfaces, Versal Premium Gen 2 devices enable industry-leading, high-bandwidth host CPU-to-accelerator connectivity. PCIe Gen6 offers a 2-4X faster line rate compared to competing FPGAs with PCIe Gen4 or Gen5 support, while CXL 3.1 running PCIe Gen6 provides double the bandwidth of competing devices with CXL 2.1 at similar latencies, as well as enhanced fabric and coherency capabilities.
Additionally, by pairing Versal Premium Series Gen 2 with an AMD EPYC CPU, system architects can leverage the latest AMD FPGA-based device connected via CXL or PCIe to a high-performance CPU, to accelerate data-intensive applications and meet rapid data growth demands. CXL also brings an additional benefit of memory coherency to help enable true heterogeneous, accelerated computing.
AMD Versal Premium Series Gen 2 adaptive SoCs accelerate memory bandwidth for faster data transfers and real-time responsiveness with the fastest LPDDR5X memory connectivity available, at up to 8533 Mb/s. This ultra-fast, enhanced DDR memory enables up to 2.7X faster host connectivity over comparable competitive devices with LPDDR4/5 memory. Connectivity to CXL memory expansion modules enables up to 2.7X more total bandwidth than LPDDR5X memory alone.
As a result, the Versal Premium Series Gen 2 allows for scalable memory pooling and extension for multiple accelerators, optimizing memory utilization and increasing bandwidth and capacity. By dynamically allocating a memory pool for multiple devices, Versal Premium Series Gen 2 adaptive SoCs are designed to improve memory utilization in a Multi-Headed Single Logic Device (MH-SLD), allowing it to operate without a fabric or switch, while supporting up to two CXL hosts.
Enhanced security features help the Versal Premium Series Gen 2 transfer data quickly and securely, both in transit and at rest. It is the industry’s first FPGA device to feature support for integrated PCIe Integrity and Data Encryption (IDE) in hard IP. Inline encryption built into hard DDR memory controllers helps secure data at rest, while 400G High-Speed Crypto Engines help the device secure user data at up to 2X faster line rates, enabling faster secure data transactions.
AMD Versal Premium Series Gen 2 development tools are expected to be available in Q2 2025, followed by the availability of silicon samples by early 2026. Production shipments are expected to begin in the second half of 2026.
Cars
MG Motor Launches the New MG5 in the Middle East
MG Motor Middle East has announced the official launch of the new MG5 in the Middle East, following the model’s regional debut at the Jeddah International Motor Show in Saudi Arabia. The new MG5 compact sedan combines a bold design, cutting-edge technology and exceptional comfort to offer excellent value for money. With a starting price of USD 12,600, (excl. VAT, depending on market), the model is the ideal choice for discerning drivers who seek both elegance in style and ease in drivability.
The new MG5 is tailored to suit a wide range of buyers, from first-time owners to small families and young drivers, and the model from the British-born brand will be available in three trims across the Middle East — Standard (STD), Comfort (COM), and Deluxe (DEL) — offering flexibility to meet diverse customer preferences. The entry-level STD model offers features like a multifunction steering wheel, a parking radar and Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
The COM variant, adds extra convenience and comfort with a rear-view camera, and PVC leather seats. The top-tier DEL trim, enhances the driving experience even further with a 360-degree camera, power-adjustable driver’s seat, sunroof, 6 speakers audio and a mobile phone wireless charger. While the STD and COM models come with a 3.5-inch colour instrument meter, the range-topping DEL trim features a larger 12.3-inch nautilus-style combination virtual meter for a premium feel.
In terms of style, the new MG5 introduces a fresh front design, showcasing dynamic lines and a confident stance. The new MG5 has a spacious interior that comfortably accommodates five passengers. With a luggage capacity of 406 litres, this model is as practical as it is stylish. The stylish element extends to the new MG5’s interior, which raises the bar with its Zero G five-seater comfort texture. These deluxe seats are equipped with a 20mm zero gravity padding layer, providing a soft yet supportive ride. The innovative seat design ensures perfect support and comfort for all passengers, comparable to that of premium vehicles. The eco-friendly microfibre leather and high-resilience foam seat framework further enhance the interior’s sustainability and durability.
Providing a versatile performance is also a key focus for the new MG5. Under the bonnet, all variants are powered by a 1.5L engine delivering 109HP. The intelligent throttle valve design optimises efficiency and extends service life. The new model features an 8-speed CVT transmission, tested rigorously over 2.35 million kilometres to ensure durability and optimum reliability.
The new MG5 is engineered for a refined driving experience, featuring an advanced EPS (Electric Power Steering) system. This system includes PDC (Pull Drift Compensation) and TCS (Torque Steer Compensation), ensuring stability and control in various driving conditions. The U-beam semi-independent rear suspension enhances ride comfort by reducing stress and improving torsional efficiency. Drivers can switch between three steering modes — Light, Standard, and Calm — offering a tailored driving experience that suits any preference.
Safety is a top priority in the new MG5, which is equipped with a high-strength cage body structure offering ultra-high torsional stiffness. The advanced laser brazing process strengthens the vehicle’s body while also improving sound insulation. Additionally, the Super 360 Visual Assistance system provides drivers with a comprehensive view of the vehicle’s surroundings, making parking and manoeuvring easier and safer. This robust safety system, combined with the vehicle’s strong design, ensures peace of mind for both drivers and passengers. Both STD and COM trim are equipped with dual front and side airbags, while DEL adds curtain airbags.
Tom Lee, Managing Director of MG Motor Middle East, commented: “Our understanding and connection with customers always brings us great feedback and knowledge. Thanks to our current and potential customers, we understand the demand for a model such as the new MG5, one which combines elegantly style, comfort, safety and affordability. We are confident that the new MG5 will set new standards in its class and become a favourite among drivers in the Middle East.”
The new MG5 is available for sale in the GCC markets, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon.
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