Wednesday, October 30

TECHNOLOGY

Are our phones eavesdropping on us?
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TECHNOLOGY, VIDEO REELS

Are our phones eavesdropping on us?

  Smart devices make life easier but security experts say there’s a darkside to the technology. Video of Are our phones eavesdropping on us? Ok Google. Hey Siri? Alexa! Voice recognition has become commonplace for millions of people around the world as consumers become more reliant on the virtual assistants that come with our smart phones and speakers. And while these AI-powered assistants quietly listen for our commands, who else is on the other end? The short answer is pretty much everyone. That’s because while your device is listening for your command, it’s also listening to your conversations and giving that information to other applications on your phone. So it might not be a coincidence that after telling your friends you need new athletic shoes, you se...
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TECHNOLOGY

Siri, Alexa ‘eavesdroppers’ leave tech giants facing probe

Amazon, Apple and Google are to be investigated over human reviewers listening in on instructions given to AI 'helpers'. Regulators and lawmakers in the U.S. and Europe are examining whether Google, Apple Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. are violating privacy by employing human reviewers to listen to voice commands recorded by digital assistants. Apple and Google, which is currently being investigated by Hamburg's data protection authority, have both suspended their programs; Amazon late Friday announced changes to its terms that let users opt out of human review of their recordings. Regulators from Ireland and the U.K. are now also looking into whether the tech giants have infringed European privacy regulations. "We are aware of privacy concerns relating to voice assi...
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Privacy concerns with Echo Dot Kids Edition
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TECHNOLOGY

Privacy concerns with Echo Dot Kids Edition

Echo Dot Kids Edition has been on the market for about a year. In March, commonsensemedia.org expressed protective measures parents might consider In May, several lawmakers appealed to the Federal Trade Commission to delve into whether the Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition breaches the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, enacted in 1998, which is a law dealing with how websites, apps and other online operators collect data and personal information from users younger than 13. According to nextgov.com May 9, a group of concerned senators conveyed ”... that while COPPA requires device operators to give parents access to their kids’ personal information, enabling them to review and delete it, the privacy groups’ review of the Echo Dot for Kids revealed when parents have asked Amazon to delet...
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TECHNOLOGY

Facebook: No digital currency until regulator concerns addressed

Amid its privacy scandals, the company is drawing new criticism over its plans for a new cryptocurrency. Facebook Inc. won't launch Libra, the controversial cryptocurrency it's planning to build with dozens of partner firms, until regulators' concerns are fully addressed, according to the company's top executive on the project. David Marcus, who will appear before members of both houses of U.S. Congress to discuss the project this week, said Facebook will also get "appropriate approvals" before launching Libra. The cryptocurrency isn't intended to compete with countries' national currencies and won't interfere with central banks on monetary policy, Marcus said in testimony prepared for a July 16 hearing before the Senate Banking Committee. "The time between...
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TECHNOLOGY

Amazon wants to send more than 3,000 satellites into space

In an effort to offer broadband, the company has requested the US government allow its Kuiper satellites into space. Amazon.com Inc. asked for U.S. permission to launch 3,236 communications satellites, joining a new space race to offer internet service from low orbits and challenge the fleet planned by Elon Musk's SpaceX. Amazon in a July 4 filing told the Federal Communications Commission its Kuiper satellites will deliver broadband to tens of millions of consumers and businesses that now lack adequate access to the internet. The agency coordinates trajectories and radio-frequency use. The FCC already has approved nearly 13,000 low-Earth orbit satellites. Those include 11,943 for Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corp., which launched an initial batch ...
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Going to a wedding? Expect these techy touches
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TECHNOLOGY

Going to a wedding? Expect these techy touches

A current wedding trend is to go big or go home and uniqueness is key. Weddings in 21st century America are certainly about more than the “I do’s.” Money.cnn.com conveyed last January that $35,000 is the average amount spent on weddings. The report further stated that a current wedding trend is to go big or go home - uniqueness is key. Technology helps to achieve a distinct experience, especially for guests. Theknot.com’s “10 Wedding Tech Trends Straight From the Future” provides fun and practical guest enhancements, including: - Live-streaming for individuals who desire to “be there,” but are unable to attend. Streaming goes right to a smartphone or tablet. - Cellphone charging stations so guests will not run of juice to take photos and videos for saving, as well as sharing on social m...
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TECHNOLOGY, VIDEO REELS

A Look at Baldr, a New Type of Malware Circulating in Hacking Forums

Malware developers in underground hacking forums are reportedly pushing a new malware called Baldr. Popular mostly in Russian forums, Baldr received acclamation at the time of inception in January. Like other malware, it steals information through phishing and rapid attacks. However, unlike other malicious software, the new stealer does not spread over networks of infected computers, nor does it embed itself on a compromised system, as is the case for Trojans used for espionage. Baldr is a grab-and-go malware that is not designed to infiltrate networks over lengthy periods. It is designed to steal passwords, sensitive files, browser history and cookies, then it leaves the infected user device. Experts at cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes report that Baldr is likely not going away any t...
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