Even consumers who aren’t necessarily very technically-minded have at least a vague sense that an encrypted site is safer to use than one that isn’t. But encryption, alas, is never a permanent cure-all. And that’s why it’s troubling that new research has found it’s easier than anyone thought to put a backdoor into internet encryption that could let any big, surveillaince-minded entity (good morning, NSA) have a listen. [More]
sneaky sneaky
Missouri Lawmakers Sneak Municipal Broadband Restrictions Into Traffic Ticket Bill
By 5.5.16
The legislative process, in theory, brings us laws that have been robustly debated, discussed, compromised on, and perfected. But in reality, legislatures have this thing where lawmakers can often add completely unrelated amendments or riders to bills to accomplish, well, basically any pet goal they want. That’s what’s happened in Missouri this week, and now municipal broadband in the state is under fire from a law about… traffic tickets. [More]
Microsoft Confirms Some Windows 10 Upgrades Have Been Installing In The Background
By 11.10.15
If you’re a Windows 7 or 8 user who’s been surprised to find Windows 10 automatically installing on your machine, you aren’t alone: just a few weeks after many users reported accidentally downloading the new operating system’s installer, Microsoft admits that Windows 10 has also been installing itself without permission on some computers. [More]
Apple Bans More Than 250 Apps From App Store For Accessing Users’ Information
By 10.19.15
When you play a game on your phone, use an application to play music or order food for delivery, you probably assume the app is working in a pretty straightforward manner — it’s letting you crush candy or add extra tahini sauce to your order. That wasn’t the case for more than 250 apps previously available in the App Store, which have been banned by Apple for secretly collecting and storing users’ personal information. [More]
Great, Now Hackers Are Apparently Hiding Malware In Job Applications Submitted Online
By 5.1.15
Though we often think of all the stress in a hiring process as being on the side of the job seeker, businesses have a new potential part of the process to worry about: Researchers say hackers are infecting companies by slipping malware in along with resumes submitted through job posting website CareerBuilder.com. [More]
5 Airline Employees Accused Of Smuggling Cash Through Boston Airport In Money Laundering Sting
By 5.30.14
While we’ve heard about plenty of thieving airport workers in the past, rifling through luggage and picking up money and merchandise as they go, officials at Boston’s Logan International Airport arrested five airline employees for a different kind of luggage crime — smuggling cash in bags as part of an alleged money laundering operation. [More]
Best Buy Sneaky Sneaky Calibration Tricks Make a Comeback
By 12.29.08
Remember when Best Buy was using HD channels to make “Calibrated” televisions seem miraculously better? Well, their methods have changed, but using different cables to improve definition doesn’t mean they’ve improved.
