UPDATE: Microsoft began rolling out an updated intended to patch this problem on Thursday morning. [More]
Data & Privacy
Target Tries Making Up For Data Breach By Issuing Secure Chip-And-Pin Cards Next Year
By 4.29.14
In the wake of the massive theft of customer data, Target is revamping its store-branded credit and debit cards with chip-and-pin technology that will make them more secure for in-person transactions, but still leave the door open to some fraudulent use. [More]
Microsoft: Internet Explorer Security Flaw Responsible For “Limited, Targeted Attacks”
By 4.28.14
Another day, another computer security problem that could be opening up people to hack attacks: Microsoft says there’s a security hole in versions 6 through 11 of Internet Explorer, the default browser for many a PC user. And hey, remember when you were warned to stop running Windows XP? This is why. [More]
Craft Store Michaels Confirms Data Breach Affecting 2.6 Million Credit Cards
By 4.18.14
Three months after craft retailer Michaels announced it may have been the victim of a data breach, the company confirms the worst: nearly 2.6 million consumers’ credit cards are affected. [More]
Facebook Ups The Creep-Factor By Allowing Users To Find ‘Nearby Friends’
By 4.17.14
The stalking capabilities associated with Facebook just increased. The social network has always allowed your friends to follow your every move – where you ate last night and who you’ve been photographed with last week. But with a new update, Facebook is taking friend stalking to an entirely new level. [More]
General Mills’ New Policy: If You Engage With Us Online, You Can Never Sue The Company
By 4.17.14
Companies want customers to engage with them online as if they’re just another pal on Facebook or Twitter, one that can offer downloadable coupons and promote contests with attractive prizes. But in new language recently added to General Mills’ website, consumers who interact with the company online will be agreeing to give up the right to sue the company in the future. [More]
Feds Remind Facebook & WhatsApp To Respect User Privacy After They Get Married
By 4.10.14
The Federal Trade Commission is giving a bit of pre-marriage advice to Facebook and one of its many betrothed, messaging app WhatsApp, which said “I do” to Facebook’s $19 billion (with a “b”) proposal back in February. Given Facebook’s past transgressions, the FTC felt that maybe it was worth reminding the giddy-in-love couple that there are laws about what they can and can’t do with users’ data. [More]
Want To Send Facebook Messages On A Mobile Device? You’ll Need A Separate App For That
By 4.10.14
Perhaps you were having a nice walk down memory lane exchanging Facebook messages with one of your high school friends who you haven’t seen in real life in over 14 years but hey, it’s Facebook. In the future if you want to take that conversation to your phone or tablet, you’ll have to download a separate messaging app. [More]
Facebook Ads Will Be Getting Bigger, But There Won’t Be As Many Of Them, So… Yay?
By 4.9.14
Facebook is rolling out new changes in the next few months that will probably catch your eye. Seeing as “changes” in this case means much larger Sponsored Ads along the right-hand side of the page. But there will be fewer of them than before, the company says, so you can plan your celebrations of that fact accordingly. [More]
Jerk.com Accused Of Using Facebook Profiles To Con People Into Paying To Remove “Jerk” Label
By 4.7.14
The Internet has its share of websites that let people post negative comments and statements about individuals and businesses, and then turn around and allow the insulted parties to remove that content (for a fee, of course). The Federal Trade Commission has accused one such site of creating millions of fake profiles in order to scam Facebook users out of $30 each. [More]
Kindly Dinosaur Nags Facebook Users To Check Their Privacy Settings
By 4.2.14
Meet Facebook’s new mascot of accidental oversharing: a kindly blue dinosaur that shows up and gently prods you to think about the privacy settings on your posts. Why a dinosaur? We’re not sure, but it’s definitely cuter than a cartoon annoyed family member or an adorable rendering of a publicly gossiped-about friend. [More]
Comcast, Verizon March On To Worst Company Quarterfinals
March 31, 2014
Today, four of the biggest names in Consumerist news, including one former champ, fought it out in the Worst Company Sandbox of… Sand. Each member of this cruddy quartet may be deserving of the Golden Poo, but only two could move on the next round. [More]
Why You Should Care That Facebook Spent $2 Billion To Buy Oculus
By 3.26.14
Facebook has been all over the news today, and not just because voters here at Consumerist think they’re terrible. It all has to do with the online behemoth’s latest, surprising acquisition: a virtual reality company called Oculus. [More]
Facebook Gets The Thumbs-Up From Haters, Takes Final Spot In Worst Company Not-So-Sweet 16
March 26, 2014
After more than a week of bloodshed, half of the contenders that dared to dip their toes into the Worst Company wading pool (stocked with laser-equipped piranha and some ill-tempered guppies) have been carried out in Consumerist-branded body bags. The 16 fighters that remain are bruised, but not broken, and one of them will soon be crowned with the coveted Golden Poo. [More]
Have Fun Breaking Down This Year’s Worst Company In America Bracket
March 18, 2014
The above bracket will be updated at the end of each day of WCIA competition to reflect that day’s results.
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After going through all of your nominations, then having y’all rank the contenders and eliminate the chaff from the wheat, we’re proud to present the first round match-ups for this year’s Worst Company in America tournament! [More]
WhatsApp Founder: Just Because Facebook Bought Us Doesn’t Mean We’re Selling Users Out
By 3.17.14
Amidst concern from users and industry trade groups over private information changing hands between WhatsApp and its new overlords at Facebook, the wireless messaging service’s CEO and founder is attempting to assuage fears in a new blog post promising that the company won’t sell users out. [More]
Here Are Your Worst Company Contenders For 2014 — Help Us Seed The Brackets!
March 17, 2014
After sorting through a mountain of nomination e-mails, we’ve whittled down the field of competitors for this year’s Worst Company In America tournament to 40 bad businesses. Here’s your chance to have your say on how these players will square off in the bracket, and which bubble teams will get left out in the cold. [More]
Sally Beauty: Credit Card Info Of 25K Customers Illegally Accessed, Might’ve Been Stolen
By 3.17.14
After a bunch of stolen credit card numbers were reportedly found for sale earlier this month on the underground market where one buys such things, all linked by the common denominator of Sally Beauty customers, the company said today that credit-card data of fewer than 25,000 customers records was illegally accessed and it’s possible that info was stolen. [More]
