Alphabet-owned Google’s planned $2.1 billion acquisition of Fitbit may harm consumers and hinder innovation, European consumer group BEUC said…
Tag: privacy
New Zoom flaws to take over Macs, including webcam, mic, and root access
Now that many people are working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, Zoom’s popularity has skyrocketed, but also has led to Zoom flaws being revealed…
2020 U.S. Census takers get big upgrade with Apple iPhones
For the 2020 U.S. Census, federal enumerators have gotten a big upgrade: Apple iPhones. The iPhone attracted the bureau in two key ways…
US government using cellphones to track Americans’ movements during coronavirus pandemic
US government officials are using location data from cellphones to track American’s movements during the coronavirus pandemic and how they may be…
How governments could track social media posts to enforce COVID-19 lockdowns
The prospect of governments tracking social media posts to enforce COVID-19 lockdowns is a real possibility. Government actions that would be considered…
Apple blocks Clearview AI’s controversial facial recognition iPhone app
An iPhone app built by controversial facial recognition startup Clearview AI has been blocked by Apple as it violated the terms of the company’s…
UK’s MI5 chief wants ‘exceptional access’ to encryption
MI5’s director general Andrew Parker has called on technology companies to find a way to allow spy agencies “exceptional access” to encrypted messages…
FCC looks to fine U.S. carriers $200M over improper location data sharing
The U.S. FCC is set to propose fining four major U.S. carriers at least $200 million in total for improperly disclosing consumer real-time location data…
Flaw in billions of Wi-Fi devices left communications open to eavesdroppng
Researchers said on Wednesday at the RSA security conference that billions of devices — many of them already patched — are affected by a Wi-Fi flaw …
Google again removes alleged spying app ToTok from Play Store
Google has once again removed the chat app ToTok, which is allegedly an espionage tool for the United Arab Emirates, from the Play Store …
Apple iPhone dominates secure smartphones with 42% market share
Sales of secure smartphones with embedded hardware security grew 39% year-on-year (YoY) in 2019, with Apple’s iPhone dominating with 42% market share …
Epic Systems and some 60 hospital chains oppose medical data sharing rules supported by Apple and others
Epic Systems recently urged some of the largest U.S. health systems to sign a letter opposing proposed rules to make it easier to share medical records data …
Apple reps set to join meeting promoting patient access to health data
Apple will be represented by phone at a meeting designed to help push through a policy change to let consumers access their health data …
Apple’s Intelligent Tracking Protection could track Safari users
Details of multiple security flaws in Apple’s Safari web browser that could track Safari users has been disclosed by Google researchers…
This $10 million NYC lab is dedicated to breaking into Apple iPhones
There’s a $10 million lab in New York City that’s dedicated to breaking into Apple iPhones overseen by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.
iPhone vs. Android: Hidden iPhone feature is a big advantage over Android
When it comes to iPhone vs. Android, Apple often comes out on top; likely because they invented the modern smartphone while Google is just trying to approximate it for the less discerning…
Scottish police video shows Cellebrite device unlocking smartphone
Police Scotland has posted a video showing a Cellebrite device unlocking an Apple iPhone and accessing data found on the device…
iOS 13.3.1 beta allows users to fully disable location tracking on iPhone 11
The latest beta version of iOS 13.3.1 allows users to disable location tracking on iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max…
Apple reveals which governments requested the most user data
In their biannual “Apple Transparency Report: Government and Private Party Requests” report, Apple reveals which governments requested the most user data …
Apple’s new privacy features rattle the location-based ad market
With Apple devices, you have control over what you share. Privacy is built in from the beginning, from the moment you open your new device…
Apple needs to double down on security and privacy
Buckle up, because we’re poised for another battle on digital security. The FBI has reputedly asked for Apple’s help unlocking phones belonging of the alleged shooter…
Ring fired employees for watching customers’ videos
The news highlights a risk across many different tech companies: employees may abuse access granted as part of their jobs to look at customer data or information…
Apple privacy executive defends encryption after FBI request
Apple Inc.’s top privacy executive defended the company’s use of encryption after recent clashes with law enforcement and politicians…
Apple, Facebook to face off on privacy at CES 2020
Apple for decades has ignored CES, often overshadowing it with their own events and announcements…
The fight against facial recognition hits impasse across the West
An impasse that has left tech companies largely in control of where and how to deploy facial recognition…
Apple pulls Emirati messaging app ‘ToTok’ for spying on users by UAE government
ToTok, is actually a spying tool, according to American officials familiar with a classified intelligence assessment…
267 million Facebook user names and phone numbers exposed online
A database containing more than 267 million Facebook user IDs, phone numbers, and names was left exposed on the web for anyone…
Apple releases Apple platform security guide (fall 2019)
Apple designs security into the core of its platforms. Building on the experience of creating the worldʼs most advanced mobile operating system, Apple has created security architectures that address the unique requirements of mobile, watch, desktop, and home…
Exactly how out of it do Joe and Jane Sixpack have to be to trust Google more than Apple with personal data?
According to a survey commissioned by cryptographic solutions vendor nCipher, 89% of respondents agreed that encryption is important….
Inexplicably, Americans trust Google more than Apple to keep their data safe
A new survey suggests that Apple may still have some work to do to gain trust of the hoi polloi…
Japan set to regulate ‘Big Tech’ more tightly to ensure transparency
Japan will tighten regulations to prevent technology giants including Google and Facebook from abusing their market power…
Report ranks Apple Watch No.1 in user privacy
Makers of smart watches and fitness trackers no named Apple are not doing enough to protect their users’ privacy…
Airport, payment facial recognition systems fooled by masks and photos, Apple’s Face ID not fooled
Masks and simple photographs are enough to fool some facial recognition technology…
U.S. Congressman asks Apple, Google if apps like TikTok and Grindr must disclose foreign ties
On Friday, the chair of a congressional panel wrote letters to Apple and Google to ask what, if any, disclosures are mobile apps required to make regarding overseas ties…
U.S. Senators threaten Apple and Facebook with mandated encryption backdoors
U.S. senators grilled Apple Inc and Facebook Inc executives over their encryption practices on Tuesday and threatened to regulate the technology unless…
Apple to speak at CES conference in Las Vegas for first time in decades
Apple is officially returning to the Las Vegas CES technology conference for the first time in decades…
FBI warns on Internet of Things
Last week we talked about smart TVs—and how that built-in Internet connection can allow manufacturers, streaming services, and even hackers an open door into your home….
Apple issues statement on iPhone 11 Pro’s location gathering
Apple has said that the iPhone 11 family is using location data to regulate Ultra Wideband emissions, but is not…
Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro discovered to still seek user location data despite settings
The iPhone 11 Pro apparently has a habit of behaving in a way its users have expressly forbidden…
Why Apple is trusted more than Google
Apple’s business model allows it to focus on prioritizing user privacy over selling ad targeting. Google gives away its software and collect data from users…
The chain of trust in Apple’s devices
A lot of computer security is based on trust. Your devices verify that you are, indeed, an authorized user, through the use…
$5 billion class action lawsuit that accused Apple of selling customer data thrown out
A month after Apple won a ruling granting its motion to dismiss privacy claims brought under Michigan and Rhode Island law involving the privacy of people’s listening history on iTunes, a federal judge has dismissed the case…
