But if your VPN can see your traffic, does that mean your VPN provider can actually see what you do online? It’s a bit of a grey area, considering a lot of providers make promises of zero logs and complete privacy.

Put simply, there are things they can see and things they can’t. There are also certain protocols that a reputable provider should follow, which less-reputable ones are not likely to do. Here is what you need to know and how to tell the difference between the two.

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The Purpose Of A VPN For Online Privacy

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VPNs have three main tasks that all play a role in securing . The first thing that they do is encrypt your Internet traffic so that outsiders can’t see which websites you visit.

Then, they hide your real IP address by using their server’s address instead and your true location becomes unknown.

Lastly, your traffic is confined to a secure server, almost like a tunnel, before it reaches its final destination being the website that you want to visit.

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Can A VPN See Your Online Activity?

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Technically yes, a VPN can see your online activity to a certain extent. But it also depends on who your service provider is. Before you panic, here is a closer look at what specifically they can see, and what they can’t.

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Things They Can See

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Your VPN service provider will be able to see what your real IP address is because you have to connect to their server from your physical location. They can also see which VPN server you choose to connect to as well as the timestamp of your connection so every time you log in or out.

If they do keep logs, then they will also be able to see the exact websites that you visit.

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Things They Can’t See

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VPNs won’t be able to see private information such as your passwords and what you actually do on the websites that you visit or any payment details.

If the website itself is , which most are nowadays, its content won’t be visible either.

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The Issue Of Logging Policies

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A lot of VPN service providers will advertise themselves as no-log services. But of course, this can mean wildly different things depending on who the company is.

Reputable providers will not keep track of your search history and websites you visited nor the files you download or your IP address. They wouldn’t even store your timestamps or the amount of bandwidth you used per session.

On the other hand, some companies will keep a record of your IP address, browsing activity, usage patterns and all those things that leave a trail. Typically, these companies are the ones who .

Why?

Often, they sell this data to third-party companies for advertising purposes in order for them to still make a profit without charging for their VPN services. Remember, if you’re not paying for a product, you become the product.

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Choosing A VPN That Won’t Track You

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The honest truth is that some VPNs, especially the free and low-budget ones, often do collect your data. Others might store some information like your usage and connection times but these ��Dz�’t really identify you as a user. The VPNs who are privacy-first will collect nothing that is actually identifiable.

So the question you should really be asking is does your��VPN track your activity?

If you’re unsure or you are still in the processing of choosing a service provider, here’s what you need to know.

Choose a paid VPN: 90% of free VPNs will track you so choosing a paid plan with will save you most of the stress.

Look for independent no-log audits: If there aren’t any audits available, it’s a sign that they are logging some kind of information.

Read the privacy policy: This will give you a clear indication of what the company does with your data. If there is any mention of sharing it with trusted partners or storing logs for security purposes, that’s a red flag which means they will likely track you.

It all comes down to choosing the right provider to give you peace of mind when securely browsing the Internet. No, VPNs are not magical invisibility cloaks, but they can protect you if they are trustworthy.

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So what’s next? A technology called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Calls are made using the Internet instead of a copper wire phone line. Not only does it make calling significantly cheaper, but VoIP systems offer modern features from call forwarding to virtual receptionists.

These are things that a traditional phone system simply can’t do. And if businesses are getting that and more for a fraction of the price, it’s easy to see why so many are making the switch. Especially with the 2027 landline switch-off approaching.

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How Will Businesses Be Affected By The Landline Switch-Off?

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Most, if not all, UK businesses will be aware by now that come January 2027, traditional landlines permanently. The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), which is the copper wiring infrastructure that has carried UK calls for over a century, will officially retire on 31 January.

That means that any business still relying on analogue or ISDN lines will need to have moved to a digital alternative before then, otherwise their phone system will simply stop working.

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Why You Shouldn’t Wait Until The January Deadline

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January might feel like a comfortable distance away but in reality, the preparation window is narrowing. Openreach, who owns the physical infrastructure, implemented a stop-sell on copper-based services back in 2023 meaning businesses can’t order or even modify existing copper lines.

Leaving it too late means fewer options and tighter timelines, not to mention being under more pressure to find a setup that fits your needs.

What some might not realise is that the switch-off doesn’t only affect phones. Alarm systems, CCTV or any other equipment that runs will all need alternatives. And for businesses who have multiple locations, it will take a fair amount of time to plan for the change properly.

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How Can VoIP Benefit Your Business?

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While the most obvious benefit is the cost-savings aspect, VoIP has far more to offer than just a reduction on your monthly phone bills. It provides a reliable way for remote and hybrid teams to stay connected, features that assist with time-consuming tasks and the ability to grow alongside your business.

Its flexibility makes it a worthwhile option for corporate organisations, smaller teams and everything in-between.

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What Your Savings Will Look Like

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Traditional phone systems come with multiple lines rentals, expensive international calls, hardware and maintenance contracts. And all too often, these costs add up faster than most businesses would like.

But because VoIP uses the Internet connection that you already have, there’s no need to pay for separate infrastructure. Most providers will charge a flat monthly fee per user, which includes international calls, and you can save anywhere from 30% to 50% compared to a traditional system.

On the hardware side of things, there’s no need to have a cabinet full of equipment that needs to be updated. Most VoIP setups run through software, meaning lower upfront costs.

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Your Office Number Moves With You

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According to the Office for National Statistics, around 40% of the UK population works on a . Having a phone system that only works when you’re physically at your desk just doesn’t work anymore.

With VoIP, your number isn’t tied to a physical line and you can take calls from just about any device whether it be a smartphone, laptop or tablet. Regardless of where you are.

It matters much more than it might seem. You ��Dz�’t have to worry about missing any calls because you’re away from your office or having to manually forward calls.

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VoIP Integrations Can Save You A Lot Of Time

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Modern VoIP systems have a range of features bundled in, even on the most basic plans. In the past, they would have been costly add-ons or only for enterprise-level tiers.

Whether you need a call recording option, call routing, video conferencing or call analytics, you can choose a VoIP plan that caters to your needs – and frees up you and your team’s time.

Aside from its features, most VoIP systems can also integrate with tools that your team may already use to Microsoft Teams and Slack. It’s particularly helpful for sales and customer service teams who can check a customer’s history before they’ve even explained why they’re calling.

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Fewer Growing Pains As Your Business Scales

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In the past, expanding your team came with the headache of having to wait for an engineer to add new lines and paying for new hardware.

With a VoIP system, adding a new user is usually as simple as creating a new account from your dashboard. This can generally be done in a few minutes and without needing a professional to help or buying hardware.

If you open at a new location, you ��Dz�’t have to build a phone infrastructure from scratch, you can just simply extend your existing one.

The post Hello, Savings: The Business Case For Switching To VoIP appeared first on 91̽��.

We’re halfway through 2026 and this week’s crowdfunding roundup reflects just how broad the startup opportunity has become. to recycled EV batteries and textiles grown from wetland plants, this cohort spans enterprise software, clean tech and sustainable materials.

What connects them, though, isn’t their sector or stage but rather a shared conviction that now is the time to put themselves out there to the public.

So, who are the startups crowdfunding this week? Here they are.

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1. Athena AI

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How much are they raising: £200,004

Website: www.athenachat.ai/

SEIS/EIS? Yes, SEIS

About: Athena AI lets businesses build, train and deploy AI agents across any channel and CRM, from a solo founder to an enterprise running multi-channel workflows.

The promise of AI for customer relationship management has been a conversation for years, but the gap between that promise and something a business can actually implement has remained stubbornly wide. Athena closes that gap, offering a platform that is flexible enough to meet businesses where they are.

Where to invest: Europe Republic

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2. Tharos

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How much are they raising: £165,000

Website: www.tharos.co.uk

SEIS/EIS? Yes, EIS

About: Tharos has built a proven, revenue-generating business in equine gut health and is now bringing the same expertise to the fast-growing canine market.

Gut health has become one of the most compelling areas in human and animal wellness, and Tharos has demonstrated that its science works where the standards are high and scrutiny is serious. Having earned credibility in the equine space, moving into dog health is a natural next step where the market is bigger and the consumer base is a passionate one.

Where to invest: Europe Republic

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3. MIM Habits

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How much are they raising: €200,007

Website: www.mimhabits.com

SEIS/EIS? N/A

About: MIM Habits is solving a persistent problem in the food industry – technical barriers preventing large-scale manufacturers from producing functional foods without compromising on what makes them work.

The processing conditions required by industrial food production routinely degrade the very compounds that give functional food their value. MIM has developed technology that overcomes these limitations, enabling global food giants to bring genuinely functional products to market at the volumes the industry demands.

Where to invest: Europe Republic

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4. Altilium

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How much are they raising: £700, 006

Website: www.altilium.tech/

SEIS/EIS? N/A

About: Altilium is closing the loop in the clean energy transition by taking end-of-life EV batteries and recycling them into critical minerals needed to make new ones.

The company addresses both problems of what happens to batteries at the end of their life and the UK’s dependence on imported critical minerals at the same time. They have built a domestic recycling infrastructure which keeps valuable materials in circulation and reducing the need to source them from overseas.

Where to invest: Europe Republic

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5. Ponda

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How much are they raising: £1,400,003

Website: www.ponda.bio

SEIS/EIS? Yes, EIS

About: Ponda is developing a new generation of textiles from wetland plants, turning one of nature’s most abundant and underutilised resources into a viable alternative to synthetic and environmentally costly fibres.

They have turned to wetland ecosystems for raw materials that grow quickly, require no pesticides and that have been largely overlooked by an industry still too dependent on oil-derived synthetics.

Where to invest: Europe Republic

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6. Oli Help

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How much are they raising: €175,000

Website: www.olihelp.com

SEIS/EIS? N/A

About: Oli Help is an AI companion designed for the caregivers of neurodiverse children, providing personalised, evidence-based support available when needed.

Professional support is often scarce, expensive or hard to access when it’s most needed. Oli Help fills that gap, not as a replacement for clinical care, but as an always-available informed companion that helps caregivers navigate the questions and decisions that come with raising a neurodiverse child.

Where to invest: Europe Republic

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7. Nanusens

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How much are they raising: N/A

Website: www.nanusens.com

SEIS/EIS? Yes, EIS

About: Nanusens is developing a way to embed nano-mechanical devices directly into integrates circuits which could fundamentally change how chips are designed and manufactured.

The semiconductor industry is under enormous pressure to do more with less. Nanusens is approaching that challenge from the inside, integrating mechanical functionality at the nanoscale in a way that opens up new possibilities for sensors, silicon photonics and chip architecture more broadly.

Where to invest: Crowdcube

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8. Exogene

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How much are they raising: N/A

Website: www.exogene.co.uk

SEIS/EIS? Yes, EIS

About: Exogene is developing next-generation cancer immunotherapies using a platform that combines generative AI with novel laboratory assays.

Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment for many patients, but the field is still in its relative infancy. Exogene’s platform is designed to speed up that discovery process, using generative AI to identify and design candidates that would take far longer to find through conventional research methods.

Where to invest: Crowdcube

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9. Artefact

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How much are they raising: N/A

Website: www.artefact.eco

SEIS/EIS? N/A

About: Artefact is an upcycling brand and studio that takes technical materials at the end of their working life and transforms them into high-quality accessories.

The materials that they work with, being technical fabrics, industrial textiles and other end-of-life components, carry their own history and character, and the studio’s skill lies in finding the beauty in that.

Where to invest: Crowdcube

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10. Minor Figures

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How much are they raising: N/A

Website: www.minorfigures.com

SEIS/EIS? N/A

About: Minor Figures is a B-corp certified plant-based beverage brand that produces barista-standard oat milk and ready-to-drink coffees.

In a crowded oat milk market, they have differentiated on quality and culture rather than price, becoming the brand of choice for coffee professionals who care deeply about what goes into the cup.

Where to invest: Crowdcube

The post 10 Startups Crowdfunding w/c 01.06.2026 appeared first on 91̽��.

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Tell Us About A Friend

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A Friend is a physical companion designed to be present throughout your day. It can be programmed to be activated by your chosen name. It can wake you up, walk you through your to-dos for the day, and help you prioritise. It can accompany you in the kitchen, talking you through ingredients, recipes, and cooking timings. It can relax with you in the evening, recommending TV shows and movies, or just chatting back and forth with you about whatever is on your mind.

At night, it is your alarm clock, radio, and speaker system for your wind-down playlist or audiobook. Many are already using LLMs like ChatGPT for general conversation. A Friend can serve that function in a private, real-life setting.

It has been created by serial entrepreneur and product builder Marco Riedesser, who has a track record of founding and scaling hardware technology ventures. He is best known as the founder of CONTROLLINO, which created one of the first industrial PLC platforms fully compatible with the Arduino ecosystem, used by engineers and makers worldwide.

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Want to be featured as 91̽��’s Startup of the Week? Find out more about this weekly feature, and how to get involved,��

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What Makes A Friend Unique?

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A Friend comprises a number of unique features. First is the ability to remember. Most of us already communicate with 10+ apps on our phones throughout the day – reminders, calendar notifications, work messages, to-do lists, email alerts, etc. However, once the day ends, everything returns to zero.

A Friend listens and compiles across the board and holds the thread in one place, learning and remembering repeated asks and behaviours. It is also totally customisable; different shells and accessories are available to suit your preferences. It communicates in 22+ languages and is compatible with both cloud-based and local AI models.

Further, it is agentic and able to carry out acts on your behalf. Directly booking calendar meetings, deferring Notion notifications, drafting text messages, and even feeding back on how you sounded or delivered on a certain call. It is there to support, listen, and make life easier.

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Is There A Market For A Friend?

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AI is everywhere. But most of it isn’t built around people. AI at the moment is designed to work, not feel personal and present. What’s missing is intelligence that adapts to individuals, that is shaped around the user.

During his research before developing A Friend, Marco discovered a significant demand for AI emotional support hardware in Eastern markets, although the quality of the models produced was lacking. Marco believes it is inevitable that that appetite will transfer to the Western world in due course, and that A Friend is best positioned to capitalise.

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Where Can We Find A Friend?

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The team is gearing up towards a crowdfunding campaign to launch the product, targeting a €500K raise. You can follow the progress here: https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/a-friend/a-friend?ref=homepage-discover-new-on-the-platform-upcoming_1. It will cost €299 and initially be available via IndieGogo, then shortly afterwards via the A Friend website.

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It’s not a sign that means something has gone terribly wrong. It’s natural for teams to expand and processes to become more complicated – expected almost, because it means growth, right? It just means that tools that once worked for a smaller team no longer fit.

For a lot of companies, the answer to solve that issue is something called an intranet. Think of it as the Internet’s quieter, more organised cousin. Sure, it’s not as flashy as some of out there or even AI but it solves a very real problem. It gives people one reliable place to go.

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What Is An Intranet?

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An intranet is a private, internal network that belongs solely to your organisation. It’s like the Internet but just for your company. Nobody outside of the organisation can access it – that is, assuming your IT department is doing their job correctly.

Essentially, it’s a secure digital space that holds all kinds of policies, procedures, training, internal news – you name it. Instead of that information living in multiple Google drives or inboxes, it stays in one place for everyone to access.

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How Does It Differ From The Internet And The Extranet?

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This is where it gets only mildly confusing. The Internet is public and that means anyone can access it if they have a connection and a browser. That’s for catching up on the news, doing some or falling down a YouTube video hole while procrastinating – we’ve all been there.

Intranets, on the other hand, are completely private and accessible to employees only. In order to access it, you usually need to log in with valid credentials and once you’re in, all the company’s internal news is available to you.

Extranets typically sit somewhere in between. It’s like an extended version of an intranet which allows limited access to outsiders. So if you needed specific clients or suppliers to collaborate with but they aren’t your employees, you would use an extranet to share information with them.

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Who Are Intranets Best Suited To?

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There’s no hard and fast rule here but any organisation of a reasonable size could benefit from using an intranet. From large corporates to and universities, if a group of people need to work together and share information securely – it makes sense.

Smaller companies may not feel that it’s entirely necessary and that they can get by on Google Drive. It works for a time but as teams grow and processes become more complex, the pain points will multiply quickly.

The general rule of thumb is that if you wish you had one place to find and store everything, it may be time to test out an intranet.

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Why Intranets Are Valuable To Teams

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The earlier versions of the technology were fairly basic but today, they are much more than just a digital filing cabinet. A well-built one touches almost every part of how a company communicates and keeps people informed.

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It Becomes Your Organisation’s Single Source Of Truth

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You can say goodbye to random documents floating around the office and the days where you were left wondering which version of a document was the most up-to-date one.

With an intranet, all documentation and policies become centralised so if anyone needs to find something, they know exactly where it will be.

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It Keeps Everyone In The Loop

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In bigger organisations, communication can get a bit tricky from time to time. Sometimes announcements get buried in inboxes or team members are missing from .

Fortunately, intranets give leadership a reliable way to share updates and information with the entire company – and employees have somewhere to go to read them.

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Onboarding And Training Becomes Much Smoother

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For new hires, an intranet is a place to find everything that they need in one place, especially in those first few weeks which can be daunting. From company values to how to submit annual leave, a good intranet can get new team members up to speed much more efficiently.

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It Connects Remote And Hybrid Teams

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Companies have embraced global teams and it’s not uncommon to see companies with employees scattered all over the world in different countries. When that happens, it’s usually quite difficult to maintain a sense of company culture but an intranet brings everyone together.

It also ensures that all employees have access to the same information at the same time, regardless of their country or time zone.

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So, What Makes A Good Intranet?

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As with broadband or , not all intranets are the same. Some are definitely outdated to say the least with clunky technology that is nearly impossible to navigate.

If an intranet is well-designed, it probably has some – or all – of these things going for it.

Easy to search: If finding something on it takes longer than just asking a colleague, the intranet has failed spectacularly.

Mobile-friendly: People aren’t always at their desks but a decent intranet should work just as well on a mobile device.

Reflects the company’s culture: Intranets shouldn’t feel like another piece of technology or software that could belong to anyone. It should feel personalised and part of the company itself.

The post What Is An Intranet And Does Your Team Actually Need One? appeared first on 91̽��.

For most of the last decade, blockchain founders had to spend more time fighting regulators than actually building products. In the US, enforcement actions came faster than clear rules. While in China, an outright ban completely pushed talent and capital elsewhere. Singapore, on the other hand, looked at all of that and made a choice to become the place where the industry could actually work.

That bet has paid off spectacularly. Companies who may have previously chosen London or New York as a home base are now choosing to headquarter in Singapore. What are the reasons for that? Regulatory certainty, world-class infrastructure and a government truly invested in getting it right.

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Why Is Singapore’s Blockchain Scene One To Watch?

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Singapore set out to build a concrete regulatory framework while other financial capitals were still arguing about whether crypto was just a fad or a threat.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is somewhat of a gold standard for how central banks manage digital assets. It’s not a crackdown, but it isn’t a free-for-all either. It’s a licensing regime that essentially says if prove their legitimacy and operate transparently, they’ll be given room to grow.

Now, the city is the world’s second biggest stablecoin hub by adoption behind the US.

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The Crypto Companies To Keep An Eye On

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There are over 700 blockchain startups in Singapore, with research showing that around a third of the population either currently own or have owned some form of crypto asset. Here are some of the top companies proving that the nation’s strategy is certainly working.

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1. RedDuck

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RedDuck has carved out a reputation for serious technical work across , gaming and logistics, particularly in DeFi platforms and tokenisation projects.

They use a multi-layered protection architecture specifically designed to capture smart contract vulnerabilities before they become expensive problems and run comprehensive security audits as standard practice.

To date, RedDuck has won awards at events including NEAR Hackathon and KyivTech Summit, even gaining recognition from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin.

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2. ROCKETECH

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ROCKETECH is a software development company bringing strong UX sensibilities to the world of blockchain. Often, blockchain products work well technically but feel clunky to use so ROCKETECH focuses on building decentralised applications that people actually want to interact with.

They cover mobile app development, smart contracts, token systems and full product lifecycle support from concept through launch. Their approach of treating every sprint as a collaborative process has earned them quite the loyal client base spanning startups and growing companies.

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3. Circle

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Circle is the company behind USDC which is the world’s largest , and Singapore has become one of their most strategically important markets. In 2023, they received a Major Payment Institution License from the MAS in May of 2025, they hosted the inauguration of the Circle’s Asia-Pacific office in Singapore.

The company went public on the NYSE in June 2025, raising over a billion dollars in its IPO and landing a market valuation of around $6.8 billion. For anyone transacting in digital dollars across Asia, Circle’s infrastructure is powering an enormous amount of it.

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4. ADDX

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ADDX takes assets that have historically been reserved for institutional investors and makes them accessible to a much wider audience through tokenisation. The platform uses blockchain and smart contract technology to fractionalise private equity, hedge funds, bonds and pre-IPO equity.

The company has raised a total of $140 million, including $50 million in its Series A and $58 million in the first part of its pre-Series B. In November 2025, ADDX partnered with Franklin Templeton in a landmark partnership to launch the first tokenised money market fund registered for retail investors in Singapore.

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5. Nansen

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Nansen is the analytics platform that serious and institutions turn to when they want to understand what’s actually happening on-chain. The company has built a database covering over 500 million labelled blockchain wallets, allowing users to track smart money movements, identify early token opportunities and monitor activity across chains in real time.

They raised $75 million in a Series B round led by Accel, bringing its total funding to $88.2 million. In September of 2024, Nansen acquired Stakewithus, a non-custodial staking service with over $80 million in staked assets across 20 networks including Solana.

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6. Coinbase

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Coinbase is one of the world’s most recognisable crypto exchanges. The MAS granted the company a Major Payment Institution license, allowing them to offer regulated digital payment token services to retail and institutional clients in the country.

They launched Coinbase Business in Singapore as its first international market outside of the States, giving startups and small businesses access to crypto-native operating accounts, instant USDC payments and global payouts.

The post Tokens And Skyscrapers: Inside Singapore’s Blockchain Boom appeared first on 91̽��.

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Tell Us About Singulr AI

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Singulr is the enterprise AI and agentic control plane that puts organisations in control of AI. Enterprise IT, Security, Privacy, and Risk teams use Singulr to ensure AI systems and agents operate in line with governance intent and deliver measurable business impact across every cloud, SaaS, and agentic environment they run in.

Most enterprises rely on incumbent security and governance tools that weren’t designed for AI. That leaves a fragmented patchwork of controls without the context AI requires. Singulr replaces that fragmentation with a unified control system that continuously enforces governance, measures control effectiveness, and delivers independent assurance, all powered by Singulr Pulse, the real-time risk intelligence engine at the core of the platform.

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Want to be featured as 91̽��’s Startup of the Week? Find out more about this weekly feature, and how to get involved,��

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What Makes Singulr AI Unique?

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Singulr is unique because it provides the only unified control plane purpose-built for enterprise and agentic AI, enforcing governance intent at runtime across systems that incumbent tools were never designed to govern.

Most organisations today rely on a patchwork of security suites, observability platforms, and hyperscaler-native controls. These tools were built for different problems. They lack the AI-specific context needed to distinguish legitimate AI behavior from a control failure, and they ��Dz�’t operate across systems. The result is a fragmented control ecosystem where each tool covers a slice, but no one proves controls are working end-to-end.

Singulr consolidates that fragmentation. Through Singulr Runtime Governance, Singulr Runtime Control, and Singulr Runtime Security, organisations get a single, context-aware control system that enforces policies at execution time, measures whether controls are actually working (not just configured), and continuously improves as AI systems and agentic workflows evolve. The Singulr Assurance Layer provides independent, longitudinal proof that AI is operating as intended, not as assumed.

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Is There A Market For Singulr AI?

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Yes, and the need is accelerating. As enterprises deploy AI agents that independently access data, invoke tools, and take actions across systems, the question is no longer whether to govern AI, but whether incumbent controls can actually do it.

Today’s organisations rely on security suites, observability tools, and cloud-native controls that weren’t built with AI context in mind. These tools generate noise, overlook cross-system risks, and cannot prove that governance intent is being upheld at runtime. The result is a control gap that grows with every new AI deployment.

Singulr addresses this directly, consolidating enforcement across fragmented environments into a unified control plane that ensures AI operates as intended and delivers measurable business impact. This is particularly critical in regulated industries like healthcare and financial services, where the cost of a control failure is not just operational, it’s existential.

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Where Can We Find Singulr AI?

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Singulr AI is headquartered in Palo Alto and helps enterprises take control of AI, ensuring every system and agent operates according to governance intent, at scale.

For more information, visit https://singulr.ai/ or find us on LinkedIn here: linkedin.com/company/singulrai.

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But while the physical high street branches continue to disappear, the collective anxiety around digital security has naturally intensified. Cybercriminals are getting more confident and users are scrambling to find extra layers of protection to shield their hard-earned savings.

So the question is – how safe is the digital landscape? More specifically, if you’re using a VPN, does it make your online banking more secure or cause more problems?

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The Quick Guide To Understanding VPNs

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A Virtual Private Network (VPN) forms an encrypted tunnel between your device and the Internet. Which means that nobody can see what you’re actually doing online – not criminals, not snoops and not even your .

If anyone were to check the network, they would be met with scrambled data that makes absolutely no sense. In other words, your information is kept private.

What VPNs ��Dz�’t do though is add security to your bank’s systems themselves. Your bank should already have security measures in place, whether it’s HTTPS encryption, two-factor authentication or fraud monitoring. All a VPN does is protect your end of the connection.

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Why Would You Need To Use A VPN?

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When you use your own broadband at home, your risks of getting hacked are relatively low. Not impossible, but low. But as soon as you use public Wi-Fi, whether it be at the airport, a hotel or a restaurant, you’re now on a shared network and that changes things.

A fairly common tactic criminals use is to create a fake Wi-Fi hotspot with a name that you would deem trustworthy. It could be the name of the location that you’re at and you might connect, thinking nothing of it. Everything you do online after that point can be intercepted while you are none the wiser.

A report from Vivid Repairs estimated that cost the UK approximately £360 million alone in 2024 – the stakes are real and the threat is very much there.

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Would Your Bank Block You For Using A VPN?

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The irony is that some banks will flag VPN connections for security reasons, especially if it looks like you’re logging in from another country. Banks monitor location as part of their fraud detection systems so if your VPN routes you through a server somewhere in Europe while you’re in the UK, it may trigger a security alert.

Fortunately, the fix is fairly straightforward. that has UK-based servers and connect to one of those before opening your banking app. You still get the encryption benefits without confusing your bank’s fraud systems.

According to TechRadar, the UK now ranks 8th globally for VPN adoption so banks are becoming increasingly aware that their clients use them. While most of the major UK banks won’t outright block a VPN connection, it’s worth checking your own bank’s guidelines.

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Here’s What A VPN Won’t Protect You From

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If you are using a VPN, it’s absolutely worth knowing what it actually does and doesn’t cover. First and foremost, it protects your connection. Outside of that, you could still be open to other risks.

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Phishing Attacks

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If you click on a link in a text or email that seems legitimate from someone pretending to be your bank and hand over your information without checking first, a VPN can’t help. It’s best to physically call the bank to confirm if they are actually trying to contact you.

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Malware On Your Device

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or a virus gets onto your device – usually through clicking suspicious links or files – a VPN can’t stop it from monitoring what you do on it. Like with suspected phishing attempts, always try to verify what has been sent to you before you rush to open it.

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Your Bank’s Data Practices

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Some people use VPNs because of their no-logs policy. Of course, this is usually something only reputable providers offer – try to avoid the free ones. A no-logs policy means that your data is not stored on the provider’s end. However, a VPN can’t change how your bank stores or handles your information on their end.

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That’s not the case anymore and modern VoIP is built with regular people in mind. The setup process is remarkably painless, in fact.

There’s also a more pressing reason causing residents to relook at their existing phone systems. From January 2027, the UK’s traditional landline network – the copper wire system – will be permanently switched off. What most people ��Dz�’t realise is that it affects residents just as much as it does businesses.

Taking the time to understand VoIP and how it works now can put you in a better position for the imminent change instead of scrambling last minute when the time comes.

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How Does VoIP Work?

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VoIP technology allows you to make voice and video calls over the Internet rather than a traditional phone line. Your voice no longer travels through the copper wires but instead gets converted into digital packets of data that travel over an Internet connection.

Typically, VoIP plans are almost always cheaper than the traditional route. This is particularly true for long-distance and international calls, which is why so many businesses have adopted it.

Aside from the price appeal, most VoIP systems come with features from call forwarding to virtual receptionists and virtual numbers that would cost a fortune on standard plans.

The main drawcard is that since it runs on your existing broadband, you’re not paying for a separate phone line at all. For residents and businesses alike, it’s a huge plus.

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Does The 2027 Switch-Off Really Affect You At Home?

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It sounds like one of those things that only applies to businesses, but that’s not the case. The reality is that most UK households still use a traditional copper line.

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is the network that’s being shut off – and it happens to be the backbone for every analogue home phone line in the country. The reason is that the infrastructure has become too old and costly to maintain, since some of it has been around since the 19th century.

So what does that all mean, practically? After 31 January, your traditional landline will stop working. Landlines aren’t disappearing entirely, they’re just becoming digital and will essentially run using VoIP.

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What Do You Need To Get Started With VoIP?

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Most providers will reach out to customers regarding the migration and handle the upgrade themselves. But you ��Dz�’t need to accept whatever your provider offers without question, it’s worth doing your own research into VoIP.

If you choose your own setup, you can find one with the features and pricing that suits you best.

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A Reliable Internet Connection

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This is non-negotiable since VoIP relies on the Internet to work. While they ��Dz�’t need an enormous amount of bandwidth, they do need a connection that’s stable. If you have a busy household, a wired ethernet is always an option to consider because they offer consistent call quality.

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A VoIP-enabled Device

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Here, there are a couple of options to choose from. is one, which looks like a normal desk phone, but connects via an ethernet or Wi-Fi. You could also opt for a standard analogue paired with an Analogue Telephone Adapter or a softphone app installed on your smartphone or laptop.

The softphone app is the route most people go for because it doesn’t cost anything extra, it’s just an app that gets downloaded.

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A VoIP Service Provider

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This will be the company in charge of routing your calls. There are plenty of reliable options on the market that boast different features in different price ranges. For this step, it just takes a bit of research on your part to find the one that suits your household’s needs.

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A Step-by-Step Guide To Setting Up VoIP At Home

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Once you’ve decided on an approach and a provider, you can get to the set up bit. Here’s how you can get connected as quickly and seamlessly as possible:

Choose a plan:��Most will offer a free trial so you can check the quality of calls before you start paying for them. The provider will give you SIP credentials which include your username, password and server address so keep those handy.

Connect the hardware: Plug your phone or adapter into your router using an ethernet cable. If you’ve gone the software route, simply download the app onto your desired device.

Enter the SIP credentials: You’ll find a settings menu (normally through a web browser on the same network) and enter the details given by your provider. If you’re using a softphone app, there should be an option to add an account.

Test the line: Make a few calls to check the audio quality. If there’s any delay or distortions, let your provider know.

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What You Should Know Before You Switch

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VoIP is an excellent piece of technology but there are some things to be aware of. Unlike traditional phones, VoIP doesn’t know your location which can make emergency calling tricky. Most providers will let you register a physical address in the event of an emergency situation, so it’s crucial to do this as soon as possible.

The next thing is power. If your router goes down, so does the VoIP line. What you can do is use your mobile as a backup or invest in a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) for your router.

Lastly, the quality of your calls depends on your network. Try to avoid things like gaming or streaming when you need to make calls, otherwise you may .

On the whole, VoIP could very well be the future of communication – in both homes and businesses. The landline had a good run, but your Internet connection is more than capable of taking over.

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From AI-powered buying tools to peer-to-peer dress rentals and even prescription glasses made from recycled plastic, these companies are proving that Australian innovation isn’t just a tech or fintech story.

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How Australia’s Fashion Industry Went From Runways To Runrates

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In 2024, Australia’s was valued at $3.74 billion – and projected to hit $5.63 billion by the year 2030. That’s quite a healthy 7.1% increase annually.

Meanwhile, online platforms now account for roughly 30% of total fashion sales and are expected to climb even higher. It’s putting a fair amount of pressure on traditional retailers to either adapt or face the reality of getting left behind.

Not to mention the environmental reckoning that’s underway too. Australia produces approximately 800,000 tonnes of textile waste every year, causing more than 50% of shoppers to factor environmental impact into what they buy.

It seems like a lot of problems that need solutions. Conveniently, that’s exactly what startups do best.

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The Top Fashion Startups In Australia

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These startups span the full spectrum of fashion innovation. Think platforms designed to help you rent an evening dress for that upcoming occasion and behind-the-scenes software tasked with making sure the right stock ends up on the right shelf.

Together, they paint a pretty compelling picture of where Australian fashion is heading.

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1. GlamCorner

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GlamCorner was founded and began building the infrastructure for circular fashion long before it became a buzzword. The platform lets customers rent designer gowns, jumpsuits, maternity wear and accessories for a fraction of the retail price.

The company has raised $17.5 million across four funding rounds, with its most significant being a $12 million Series B in October of 2020. The platform now carries everything from black-tie gowns to everyday pieces and has partnered with boutique brands to offer exclusive capsule collections.

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2. The Volte

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Founded in 2017, The Volte is a platform that operates peer-to-peer, letting individuals rent out their own designer wardrobes instead of relying on a central inventory. The platform has over 70,000 dresses listed with 300,000 active monthly users. They also have 20 designer brand partners who rent stock directly through the site.

In May 2023, The Volte closed a $4 million Series A led by eBay Ventures. Last year, they expanded into the UK, with the platform growing at roughly 30% year-on-year. Given that Australia ranks second globally in fast fashion consumption, The Volte’s timing is quite a necessity rather than just a trend.

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3. Style Arcade

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Some of the biggest issues the fashion industry is that brands routinely over-order, under-order or miss the mark entirely – and the cost is always enormous either way. Style Arcade is a that gives fashion retailers smarter buying analytics, range planning tools and sizing optimisation.

In November 2022, they raised a $5.37 million Series A led by US-based Arcadian Software. While it is less flashy than a consumer app, Style Arcade is more of a focused, B2B play but is potentially far more impactful.

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4. Dresden Optics

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Dresden is technically eyewear, not apparel, but its definitely earned its spot in any Australian fashion startup conversation. The company’s basic premise is that glasses shouldn’t be expensive, breakable or bad for the planet.

They manufacture their frames in Australia using recyclable nylon and recycled materials, including limited edition frames made from ghost nets recovered from the Gulf of Carpentaria.

In 2018, they raised $4 million from Investec’s emerging companies division to fuel international expansion and has since opened stores in Canada and New Zealand.

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5. Brauz

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An ongoing friction point is the gap that exists between browsing online and actually buying in-store. Based in Melbourne, Brauz tackles this with a “reserve in-store” plugin that lets customers book a time to try items before they purchase it.

The SaaS model integrates directly into retailer websites and connects with in-store inventory systems, making it useful for both shoppers and retailers. For shoppers, it removes the anxiety of arriving to find something sold out. For brands, it drives foot traffic and reduces return rates.

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6. Drobe

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Drobe is a Melbourne-based startup building a virtual fashion ecosystem with two key features. One is a virtual dressing room which uses a digital twin of the user to simulate fit and style before purchasing. The other is is a cloud-based virtual wardrobe where users can catalogue their existing clothes, plan outfits and track new arrivals.

The company’s approach is not just about removing the friction of online shopping but also about helping people engage more thoughtfully with what they already own.

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