iiNet has teamed up with the Victorian government to deploy a $6.7m free Wi-Fi network in the CBDs of Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo. [ + ]

The CSIRO's free Workspace software suite is designed to make it easier for researchers to analyse complex data sets and publish the results. [ + ]

In 2014, network managers and engineers at all levels have access to levels of technology that would have been undreamed of only a few short years ago. But despite all the advances, there are potential bottlenecks looming. [ + ]

Claims of a data breach involving the personal information of hundreds of asylum seekers have been reported to the AFP; the ACCC will ignore payments that Telstra receives from its $11.2 billion agreement with NBN Co; and EMC has confirmed it will buy the majority of Cisco's stake in VCE. [ + ]

NSW's privacy commissioner has expressed concern over delays implementing privacy process reforms for NSW Government departments. [ + ]

As the amount of machine-generated data begins to outstrip human-generated data, the availability of skilled big data experts is not keeping up. How should enterprises tackle the growing skills gap? [ + ]

iiNet will oppose a discovery request filed to the Federal Court from the owners of the Dallas Buyers Club IP over concerns the information would be used for legal extortion of some of its users. [ + ]

Microsoft has rolled out its latest Azure Geo cloud services offering in Australia and has already signed up an impressive list of launch customers. [ + ]

This week we report on the error that led to a 'Pink Panther' crook being released early, the coming 'epidemic' of big data 'false positives', millions of internet-connected critical infrastructure devices that are wide open to hacking and ASIO accidentally monitoring itself. Oh, and some cool robot videos. [ + ]

Google had added the option to use a physical USB - instead of a code - as a two-factor authentication method when logging into Google and other sites. [ + ]

Data-intensive applications are stimulating spending on cloud services among Australian organisations, particularly IaaS and SaaS, according to Frost & Sullivan. [ + ]

With energy usage and costs continuing to rise, expect to see businesses moving towards a more holistic and end-to-end approach to data centre strategy. [ + ]

NBN Co has listed the first 140 suburbs due to be connected to the network via FTTN technology using Telstra's copper lines, as part of the government's multi-technology trial. [ + ]

TPG would have to split its wholesale and retail operations in order to run its planned FTTB network under a plan drafted by the federal government; Russian hackers exploit Windows 7 to infiltrate NATO and the Ukrainian government; and Dropbox denies a 7-million password hack. [ + ]

Australian business leaders are significantly less likely than the global average to believe big data provides significant value, and to be satisfied with the results of their initiatives, a survey indicates. [ + ]