Information Technology
With growing concerns over online privacy and securing personal data, more people are considering alternatives to Google products. After all, Google’s business model essentially revolves around data collection and advertising. More data means better targeted ads and consequently, more revenue for Google. The company pulled in over $146 billion in ad revenue in 2020 -- and that … Continue reading The complete list of alternatives to all Google products
In brief: Messenger and Instagram's parent company previously promised it would implement end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by 2022 across all of its messaging apps. However, according to Meta's head of security, it will take longer than anticipated, as it won't happen until sometime in 2023. When Meta was still called Facebook, it stated that E2EE would become available on Messenger and … Continue reading Messenger and Instagram’s encrypted messages won’t arrive until 2023
Why it matters: This week Amazon released a version of its Prime Video app on macOS, making it the first major streaming service to have a Mac app. Its functionality is similar to other versions but offers a download option for offline viewing. Starting this week, the Apple App Store page for the Amazon Prime Video … Continue reading Amazon releases Prime Video Mac app, allowing offline downloads, but not 4K
Why it matters: YouTube announced this week that dislike counts on all videos across all platforms would be private. The change starts rolling out right away. YouTube says it's an attempt to discourage dislike mobs, which it has been trying to deal with for a while. On Wednesday, YouTube announced that it would gradually roll out a change … Continue reading YouTube is removing ‘dislike’ counter from all videos
In brief: Windows PC users up to this point that wanted to download Firefox had to do it through traditional methods - that is, downloading the client and installing it. To make it simpler, Mozilla now gives users the option to download the browser via Windows Store as a one-click installation. It seems that Microsoft's new … Continue reading Firefox is coming to the Windows Store
In context: Squid Game has become the biggest TV show of the year, but one person who's not too happy about its success is streamer Lydia Ellery. The Yogscast member has been using the name 'SquidGame' and 'SquidGaming' for over a decade, but that's not stopped fans of Netflix's series bombarding her with abuse. Her handle … Continue reading A streamer called SquidGame has suffered abuse, hacks, and lost work because of the Netflix show
What just happened? The Federal Communications Commission has finally approved Boeing’s request to build, deploy and operate a constellation of satellites that’ll be used to provide broadband Internet and communications services to residential, commercial, institutional and governmental customers in the US and elsewhere. Boeing submitted its application to the FCC way back in March 2017, requesting … Continue reading FCC approves Boeing’s request to deploy satellites for broadband Internet service
Bottom line: At day two of the Web Summit 2021, Apple's head of software engineering, Craig Federighi, took to the stage for a 10-minute speech centered around iOS security and the risks of sideloading on Apple's mobile platform. While praising the malware situation on iOS, Federighi noted that rival platforms were subject to a much higher … Continue reading Apple software chief Craig Federighi: Sideloading is a cyber criminal’s best friend
What just happened? Mozilla's security blog announced this week that it discovered some add-ons were acting maliciously and that it decided to block them. The company estimates some 455,000 users might be affected. The security blog mentions two specific add-ons without detailing what they do. On Monday, Mozilla said it discovered last June that some Firefox … Continue reading Firefox blocks malicious add-ons installed by half a million users
Why it matters: Cybercriminals took advantage of the pandemic by using attacks to extract as much monetary value as they could. EU cybersecurity agency Enisa stressed that such activities have led to hackers-for-hire becoming the biggest threat to online security over the last 15 months. Enisa said in its annual report, which covers a study conducted from April … Continue reading Hackers-for-hire identified as largest cybersecurity threat, cryptojacking also popular