Technology and Computing
Timehop has admitted that a data breach that occurred on July 4 now involves more data that originally reported. When the company first announced the data breach over the weekend, it said that users’ names, email addresses and phone numbers had been compromised. Now, Timehop says other data, like date of birth and gender, was also compromised. All in all, about 21 million user accounts were impacted by the data breach. But Timehop says not all accounts were compromised equally.…
You may have heard the term “blockchain technology” before, in reference to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. For the uninitiated, the term might seem abstract with little real meaning on the surface. However, blockchain technology is a critical element of cryptocurrencies — without it, digital currencies like Bitcoin would not exist. If you are new to cryptocurrencies, and new to blockchain technology, read this guide on the basics to get yourself started. If you are already a seasoned trader, maybe you’ll learn a thing…
If you visit Google today you’ll see a doodle of a man in a laboratory with two colorful strands of RNA floating overhead. This is a representation of Dr. Har Gobind Khorana who today would have turned 96 years old. His exact date of birth is unknown, but documents show January 9, 1922. Dr. Khorana died on November 9, 2011 at 89 years old. A Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Khorana created the first synthetic gene. He was known for his…
Amedia indexing firm by the name of Gracenote recently showed off an app that could fix — or at least mitigate — a longstanding criticism of Apple’s CarPlay system. Apple CarPlay does a lot, from navigation to podcasts to apps. But it’s never supported traditional AM/FM radio. Gracenote wants to fix that, and it’s debuted a new app at CES this week that could help bridge the gap between digital streaming and analog broadcasts for CarPlay users. Gracenote’s demo app…
Whether for better or for worse phones are getting bigger and bigger. They have high definition, multitouch displays, high performance CPUs, fantastic cameras, and more. But bigger isn’t always better and there are people who want a more traditional cell phone – as well as others who may enjoy the novelty of a compact phone. Enter the Zanco Tiny T1. It’s, well… tiny. At just 21mm by 46.7mm, 12mm thin, and weighing only 13 grams, and looks something like a…
Updated: Intel denies product flaw, says other chipmakers affected. A major flaw in Intel CPUs is expected to be revealed as early as this week, with the fix likely to have a performance hit on Intel-based machines. Update, 4 Jan 8.28am AEST: Intel has confirmed it is affected by a still-undisclosed “exploit” but denied there is a “bug” or “flaw” in its products. It also said the problem is not “unique to Intel”. Intel’s full statement is appended below. Clues as to…
Are you scared about Skygofree? I mean, from the sound of things, this newly discovered malware can give the bad guys free rein on your Android smartphone. Let’s start with the facts. Skygofree is bad. It’s Trojan horse malware that can do many horrible things to your Android smartphone. Like what? Glad you asked. Kaspersky, the antivirus company that found it, has a whole laundry list of the terrible, awful, bad things it can do to you. For example, if you get a case…
Through blockchain, Roberto Galoppini sees an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: His organization, FileZilla, can offer users free online data storage while also allowing them to earn valuable cryptocurrency. Galoppini, director of strategy for FileZilla, the popular, open-source FTP client, said his service is planning to shift direction this year by using a peer-to-peer (P2P), distributed storage platform from Atlanta-based Storj Labs Inc. that will be managed via blockchain. [ Related: Blockchain in the real world: 3 enterprise use…
The EFF and mobile security company Lookout uncovered a global espionage campaign targeting primarily mobile users that downloaded fake secure messaging applications. The EFF and Lookout traced the “Dark Caracal” malware to a building belonging to the Lebanese General Security Directorate in Beirut. EFF Director of Cybersecurity Eva Galperin said that: People in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Lebanon, and France have been hit by Dark Caracal. Targets include military personnel, activists, journalists, and lawyers, and the types of stolen data range from call records…
Earbud makers have been busy doing away with wires—a good thing whether or not your phone still has a headset jack. You no longer have to deal with cords if you don’t want to. True wireless earbuds connect to one another and your audio source via Bluetooth. No wires mean no inline microphones or controls, but truly wireless earbuds sound just as good as traditional Bluetooth counterparts (for better or worse). They also boast all of the features we’ve come to…
Anker’s ever-expanding line of smartphone accessories and products is impressive. Case in point is the Anker PowerDrive Speed 2 car charger ($25 on Amazon). Note: This review is part of our roundup of USB car chargers. Go there for details on how we tested this device. The charger, which features an attractive carbon fiber pattern, fit snugly enough in our test car’s power port that we had no worry about it coming loose on a bumpy ride. The charger features two ports, each…
Spigen is mostly known for its line of thin cases for phones, but the company has a suite of phone accessories. One such product is the Spigen Quick Charge 3.0 car charger ($10 on Amazon). Note: This review is part of our roundup of USB car chargers. Go there for details on how we tested this device. The front of the unit has two ports. One has a green highlight to it, the other is white. The green port is QC3.0 compatible, while…