Day: November 14, 2020

Your Computer isn’t Yours – Apple edition – how is it snooping on you, why can’t you start apps when their server is down

Posted on by Robin Edgar

It’s here. It happened. Did you notice? I’m speaking, of course, of the world that Richard Stallman predicted in 1997. The one Cory Doctorow also warned us about. On modern versions of macOS, you simply can’t power on your computer, launch a text editor or eBook reader, and write or read, without a log of Read more about Your Computer isn’t Yours – Apple edition – how is it snooping on you, why can’t you start apps when their server is down[…]

Google CEO apologises for document outlining how to counter new EU rules by attacking rulemaker, EU’s Breton warns internet is not Wild West

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Alphabet GOOGL.O CEO Sundar Pichai has apologised to Europe’s industry chief Thierry Breton over a leaked internal document proposing tactics to counter the EU’s tough new rules on internet companies and lobby against the EU commissioner. […] The call came after a Google internal document outlined a 60-day strategy to attack the European Union’s push Read more about Google CEO apologises for document outlining how to counter new EU rules by attacking rulemaker, EU’s Breton warns internet is not Wild West[…]

Ticketmaster cops £1.25m ICO fine for 2018 Magecart breach, blames someone else and vows to appeal

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Information Commissioner’s Office has fined Ticketmaster £1.25m after the site’s operators failed to spot a Magecart card skimmer infection until after 9 million customers’ details had been slurped by criminals. The breach began in February 2018 and was not detected until April, when banks realised their customers’ cards were being abused by criminals immediately Read more about Ticketmaster cops £1.25m ICO fine for 2018 Magecart breach, blames someone else and vows to appeal[…]

Mozilla *privacy not included tech buyers guide rated on creepy scale

Posted on by Robin Edgar

This is a list of 130 Smart home gadgets, fitness trackers, toys and more, rated for their privacy & security. It’s a large list and shows you how basically anything by big tech is pretty creepy – anything by Amazon and Facebook is super creepy, Google pretty creepy, Apple only creepy. There are a few Read more about Mozilla *privacy not included tech buyers guide rated on creepy scale[…]

Google’s SoundFilter AI separates any sound or voice from mixed-audio recordings

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Researchers at Google claim to have developed a machine learning model that can separate a sound source from noisy, single-channel audio based on only a short sample of the target source. In a paper, they say their SoundFilter system can be tuned to filter arbitrary sound sources, even those it hasn’t seen during training. The Read more about Google’s SoundFilter AI separates any sound or voice from mixed-audio recordings[…]

Microsoft: Russian, North Korean Hackers Attacked Covid-19 Labs

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Microsoft researchers have found evidence that Russian and North Korean hackers have systematically attacked covid-19 labs and vaccine makers in an effort to steal data and initiate ransomware attacks. “Among the targets, the majority are vaccine makers that have Covid-19 vaccines in various stages of clinical trials, clinical research organization involved in trials, and one Read more about Microsoft: Russian, North Korean Hackers Attacked Covid-19 Labs[…]

Apple braces for antitrust woes by letting users select and install third-party apps during setup of iOS 14.3

Posted on by Robin Edgar

iOS 14.3 will prompt some users to install selected third-party applications during setup, in what is likely an attempt to stifle any allegations of anticompetitive behaviour from regulators. The feature, which is buried deep within the beta version of the upcoming iOS release and was first spotted by 9to5Mac, is believed to be activated depending Read more about Apple braces for antitrust woes by letting users select and install third-party apps during setup of iOS 14.3[…]

New lawsuit: Why do Android phones mysteriously exchange 260MB a month with Google via cellular data when they’re not even in use? Also Apple + ad fraud

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google on Thursday was sued for allegedly stealing Android users’ cellular data allowances though unapproved, undisclosed transmissions to the web giant’s servers. The lawsuit, Taylor et al v. Google [PDF], was filed in a US federal district court in San Jose on behalf of four plaintiffs based in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin in the hope Read more about New lawsuit: Why do Android phones mysteriously exchange 260MB a month with Google via cellular data when they’re not even in use? Also Apple + ad fraud[…]