We’re sharing the data and code behind some of our articles and graphics.
Source: Our Data | FiveThirtyEight
Daily Archives: February 13, 2018
Consumers prefer security over convenience for the first time ever, IBM Security report finds
“We always talk about the ease of use, and not impacting user experience, etc, but it turns out that when it comes to their financial accounts…people actually would go the extra mile and will use extra security,” Kessem said. Whether it’s using two factor authentication, an SMS message on top of their password, or any other additional step for extra protection, people still want to use it. Some 74% of respondents said that they would use extra security when it comes to those accounts, she said.
Based on findings in the report, people are aware of the data breaches that are happening to companies and consumers alike—with the US leading in terms of people who are aware of data breaches.
“They understand that there’s something they can do to prevent it, and they need to secure their accounts,” she said. “We figure that could be a reason, especially when it comes to where their money lays. They want to make sure that’s more secure.”
Do Not, I Repeat, Do Not Download Onavo, Facebook’s Vampiric VPN Service
There’s a new menu item in the Facebook app, first reported by TechCrunch on Monday, labeled “Protect.” Clicking it will send you to the App Store and prompt you to download a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service called Onavo. (“Protect” shows up in the iOS app. Gizmodo looked for it on an Android device and didn’t see it—though, presumably it is only a matter of time.)
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Facebook, however, purchased Onavo from an Israeli firm in 2013 for an entirely different reason, as described in a Wall Street Journal report last summer. The company is actually collecting and analyzing the data of Onavo users. Doing so allows Facebook to monitor the online habits of people outside their use of the Facebook app itself. For instance, this gave the company insight into Snapchat’s dwindling user base, even before the company announced a period of diminished growth last year.To put it another way, Onavo is corporate spyware.
If you’re someone who can’t live without Facebook or simply can’t find the courage to delete it, the Onavo appears under the “Explore” list just above the “Settings” menu. I’d recommend you never click it. Facebook is already vacuuming up enough your data without you giving them permission to monitor every website you visit.
Source: Do Not, I Repeat, Do Not Download Onavo, Facebook’s Vampiric VPN Service
If you want a VPN, buy a good one!
Fiat Chrysler Pushed A UConnect Update That Causes Constant Reboots With No Announced Fix
It appears that the over-the-air update to the UConnect system went out on Friday, and many, many owners have not had working center-stack systems since then. Many of these vehicles are nearly brand-new, which makes the issue even more maddening.
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The failure of the UConnect system isn’t just limited to not having a radio; like almost all modern automotive infotainment systems, the center screen, controlled by UConnect, handles things like rear-view camera systems, navigation, cell phone connection systems like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, some climate control functions, many system and user settings, and more.
Source: Fiat Chrysler Pushed A UConnect Update That Causes Constant Reboots With No Announced Fix
Ouch
Announcing “Project Things” – An open framework for connecting your devices to the web.
Today, we are pleased to announce that anyone can now build their own Things Gateway to control their connected device directly from the web.
We kicked off “Project Things”, with the goal of building a decentralized ‘Internet of Things’ that is focused on security, privacy, and interoperability. Since our announcement last year, we have continued to engage in open and collaborative development with a community of makers, testers, contributors, and end-users, to build the foundation for this future.
Today’s launch makes it easy for anyone with a Raspberry Pi to build their own Things Gateway. In addition to web-based commands and controls, a new experimental feature shows off the power and ease of using voice-based commands. We believe this is the most natural way for users to interact with their smart home. Getting started is easy, and we recommend checking out this tutorial to get connected.
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Built for everyoneIf you have been following our progress with Project Things, you’ll know that up to now, it was only really accessible to those with a good amount of technical knowledge. With today’s release, we have made it easy for anyone to get started on building their own Things Gateway to control their devices. We take care of the complicated stuff so that you can focus on the fun stuff such as automation, ‘if this, then that’ rules, adding a greater variety of devices, and more.