Privacy

Facebook Has New Privacy Settings: Here’s What’s Different

As surely as the sun rises, Facebook will keep revising its privacy settings in an effort to keep everyone from complaining. Starting today, there’s a brand new method, and it’s simpler than ever before. But there are some catches. Easy shortcuts The first thing you’ll notice is a simple, obvious means of hitting the main…

Social Media Sam Biddle

Delta Might Lose $2,500 Every Time Someone Downloads Its App

This would be pretty hilarious. Delta is being sued by the state of California over the privacy policy in the app’s Terms of Service. The problem? It doesn’t exist. California law states that companies have to have their privacy policies posted “conspicuously.” Delta’s app just doesn’t have one, and it’s facing up to a $2,500…

Privacy & Security Kyle Wagner

Verizon Wants to Watch and Listen to Your Life While You Watch TV

Last week, Verizon filed a patent for a set-top box that detects what you’re doing while you watch TV, and serves you advertising accordingly. Ew, weird, companies watching what I do while I consume content. Big brother! Chill, son. “Methods and Systems for Presenting an Advertisement Associated with an Ambient Action of a User” describes…

Privacy & Security Mario Aguilar

Email Records: You’re Going To Need a Warrant for That (Maybe)

If the Feds want access to your email and other online data, they’re going to have to get a warrant first, thanks to a new bill that was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee today. Sponsored by Senator Patrick Leahy, the bill would amend the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and void a particular section…

Privacy & Security Leslie Horn

Facebook Copyright Law (For Idiots)

We already explained just how worthless that Facebook copyright privacy status update gobbledygook is. But just in case you or one of your friends needs it spoken outloud to you because word-things are too hard, College Humor breaks it down for you in plain English. https://gizmodo.com/that-facebook-copyright-notice-is-worthless-5963210 Sorry, folks! Let’s let this always be a reminder…

Social Media Brian Barrett

Facebook Will Always Own You

Bad news: the “copyright notice” you’ve been reading (and sharing, ugh) is completely bogus and a waste of everyone’s time. Facebook owns the photos, videos, and statuses you upload, and that’s not going to change just because you say so. https://gizmodo.com/that-facebook-copyright-notice-is-worthless-5963210 But here’s something you can do that might actually make a difference. When you…

Social Media Sam Biddle

That Facebook Copyright Notice Is Worthless

There’s a copyright notice people have been posting on Facebook over the past couple of days similar to privacy notice that made the rounds several months ago. Before you copy paste it on your own profile, stop. It’s bogus and unenforceable. https://gizmodo.com/your-facebook-privacy-notice-is-unenforceable-nonsens-5915875 Here’s the full text of the waning post: In response to the new…

Social Media Leslie Horn

The Senate Is About to Let More Than 22 Agencies Spy on Your Email and Documents Without a Warrant (Update: Not Any More)

What began as a bill designed to protect the privacy of your digital life has been mangled at the behest of law enforcement agencies. CNET reports that if the revised Senate bill isn’t stopped before it goes to vote next week, 22 federal agencies will have warrantless access to troves of your private information. Let’s…

Privacy & Security Mario Aguilar

Judge Approves FTC’s Largest Ever Fine, To Be Paid By Google

Nine months on from the Wall Street Journal spotting a massive Google privacy issue—namely, that it was circumventing cookie privacy settings in Safari—the search giant’s fate is now sealed. A judge has approved the FTC’s largest ever fine, in the process rejecting appeals from a consumer-rights group that the sum should be higher, which means…

Tech News Jamie Condliffe

Here’s How Easy Hacking an Apple ID Used to Be

As we learned when our friend Mat Honan got hacked earlier this year, Apple’s customer support line was dangerously susceptible to hackers. With a little coaxing, Apple representatives would hand over a customer account after a hacker offered very little information. Luckily, Apple has closed up this hole, but here’s a terrifying play-by-play of how…

Privacy & Security Mario Aguilar

Google: Government Surveillance Is on the Rise

Google’s released its twice-yearly transparency report, and there’s one message within it that rings loud and clear: the US government is spying on us harder than ever. Seems the search giant is increasingly being asked to hand over user data and remove content by governments and courts from around the world. As Google explains: [G]overnment…

Tech News Jamie Condliffe

How Gmail Took Down Philandering CIA Director David Petraeus

If you want to get away with something, don’t use Gmail. As David Petraeus and his sexytime lady friend Paula Broadwell learned, thanks to rich data that Google stores from every email, you will be found out. Here’s how it went down in this ironic case: The FBI was investigating Broadwell for some harassing emails…

Privacy & Security Leslie Horn

Creepy Danger Alert: Lock Your Instagram If You Don’t Want Strangers Looking at Everything

Instagram’s new web profiles are beautiful—the most beautiful part of Facebook mixed with the lushness of your favorite photo app. A fine pair. The only downside is that now anyone can look at all of your uploads. https://lifehacker.com/instagram-finally-launches-web-profiles-so-you-can-brow-5957884 But wait, you say to your computer, sneering—my photos were already public on Instagram. Who cares? That’s…

Privacy & Security Sam Biddle

If You’ve Shopped at Barnes and Noble Recently, Your Credit Card Info Is at Risk

Barnes and Noble just posted a notice informing customers that PIN pads in 63 stores across the country have been tampered with. The compromised PIN pads could have recorded your PIN number. Not good. If you’ve shopped at a brick and mortar Barnes and Noble over the last couple of months, keep a closer watch…

Privacy & Security Mario Aguilar

Horrid Airport X-Ray Body Scanners Are Finally Being Replaced

The maybe useless and definitely invasive X-ray body scanners at major airports across the country are being replaced with new models that don’t blast you with a bomb of radiation. Coincidentally, the new scanners won’t allow the TSA to see your junk anymore, too. https://gizmodo.com/exclusive-tsa-says-body-scanners-saving-images-impossi-5696371 Pro Publica reports that backscatter machines have already been replaced…

Health Mario Aguilar

Woman Arrested for Posting an Undercover Cop’s Photo on Facebook

Melissa Walthall of Mesquite, Texas and her buddy George Pickens have both been charged with the egregious crime of “retaliation” after a Walthall posted the photo of an undercover police officer on Facebook. Not smart! The Dallas Morning News reports that Walthall was upset that the undercover officer testified against Pickens in a drug case.…

Social Media Mario Aguilar

How to Stop Apple From Tracking You Again in iOS 6

Business Insider is reporting that Apple’s launch of iOS 6 brings with it not just Passbook and bad maps, but a new means of tracking user activity, too. That’s right; your iPhone tracks your every activity by default. Here’s how to stop it. The report suggests that Apple has started tracking users again so advertisers…

Tech News Jamie Condliffe

This App Will Give Any iPhone NSA-Grade Encryption Powers

Privacy is becoming something that is more and more valued as technology seeps deeper into our lives, but is harder and harder to find in pure form. But as Buzzfeed’s Russell Brandom points out, when you have two ex-Navy Seals and a cryptology legend working on an iPhone app called Silent Circle, privacy suddenly just…

Tech News Adrian Covert

Kim Dotcom Suspected Government Snooping Because of a 150 Millisecond Connection Delay in Modern Warfare 3

According to the New Zealand Herald, Kim Dotcom suspected he was being spied because of a 150 millisecond connection delay while playing his favorite game—Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Kim wanted to be the king of MW3 so hard that he had a dedicated internet connection that linked his Coatesville mansion directly to the…

Privacy & Security Jesus Diaz

Facebook Is Reading Your Messages and Liking Things For You (Updated: Not as Bad as We Thought)

You might think clicking “Like” is the only way to stamp that public FB affirmation on something—you’re wrong. Facebook is checking your private messages and automatically liking things you talk about. Update: Sort of. The scanning which is either an oversight on Facebook’s part of a deliberate effort—we’re waiting to hear back from FB increases…

Social Media Sam Biddle

Facebook Has New Privacy Settings: Here’s What’s Different

Delta Might Lose $2,500 Every Time Someone Downloads Its App

Verizon Wants to Watch and Listen to Your Life While You Watch TV

Email Records: You’re Going To Need a Warrant for That (Maybe)

Facebook Copyright Law (For Idiots)

Facebook Will Always Own You

That Facebook Copyright Notice Is Worthless

The Senate Is About to Let More Than 22 Agencies Spy on Your Email and Documents Without a Warrant (Update: Not Any More)

Judge Approves FTC’s Largest Ever Fine, To Be Paid By Google

Here’s How Easy Hacking an Apple ID Used to Be

Google: Government Surveillance Is on the Rise

How Gmail Took Down Philandering CIA Director David Petraeus

Creepy Danger Alert: Lock Your Instagram If You Don’t Want Strangers Looking at Everything

If You’ve Shopped at Barnes and Noble Recently, Your Credit Card Info Is at Risk

Horrid Airport X-Ray Body Scanners Are Finally Being Replaced

Woman Arrested for Posting an Undercover Cop’s Photo on Facebook

How to Stop Apple From Tracking You Again in iOS 6

This App Will Give Any iPhone NSA-Grade Encryption Powers

Kim Dotcom Suspected Government Snooping Because of a 150 Millisecond Connection Delay in Modern Warfare 3

Facebook Is Reading Your Messages and Liking Things For You (Updated: Not as Bad as We Thought)

A QR Code Too Small to See Hints at a New, Non-Annoying Use for the Format

Andy Weir Apologizes After ‘Star Trek’ Comment Backlash

Scientists Discover Hidden Behavior in Water That Helps Explain Why Ice Floats

The ‘Paradise’ Season 2 Finale Paved the Way for a Wildly Sci-Fi Season 3

A $1 Samsung Galaxy Smartphone Lands at Mint Mobile With Unlimited Data at 50% Off in a Clearance Push

Your Wimpy Workouts Aren’t Cutting It, Scientists Say

Anker Prime Power Bank Drops to an All-Time Low (200W, 20,100mAh, 3-Port) as Amazon Clears Out Remaining Spring Sale Stock

Students Are Now Renting Smart Glasses to Cheat on Exams

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

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