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. [ + ]

The Victorian Life Sciences Computation Initiative facility has been awarded $6.6m by the state government, ensuring its world-leading technology research stays in Victoria. [ + ]

Almost 75% of business leaders in Australia say that custom-built applications are vital to their organisation's success, but far fewer have a strategy in place to meet these expectations. [ + ]

Arcitecta has announced a deal to supply a data management platform for the Research Data Storage Infrastructure, a project to build a national database for Australian researchers. [ + ]

What is the purpose of a data centre? Is it simply a place for you to plug in your servers, or can it address a higher business purpose? [ + ]

At Dell's User Forum in Sydney the company announced new cloud collaborations, as well as an NFV platform and next-generation firewall. [ + ]

SAP and IBM have teamed up to accelerate the adoption of cloud-based enterprise applications, in part to quell data sovereignty fears over US surveillance. [ + ]

Pacnet will offer network and managed services to New South Wales Government departments using the consolidated Silverwater data centre. [ + ]

This week we look at a UK government tax computer system that can't add up, continuing problems with Sydney's Opal transport card, a Tor router that keeps you anonymous on the 'net, US$110 million up for grabs for photonics chips, and cute but sinister swarming drones. [ + ]