When you download an app meant to clean your computer, you assume that it’s supposed to remove junk from your machine, not add more. Yet for about a month, downloads of the popular program CCleaner came with a free bonus dose of malware, installed on millions of PCs around the world. [More]
ironic
AdBlock Raising Money For Ad Campaign. Wait, What?
By 9.5.13
Depending on who you ask, ad-blocking browser extensions are either the only thing that makes the Internet tolerable, or instruments of evil that are strangling digital media to death. (Or maybe both.) The maker of extension AdBlock counters that the real problem is that not enough people know that they can banish ads from their browsers. So they’re raising money through crowdfunding to get the word out. Through ads. [More]
Federal Prosecutor Is Latest Credit Card Skimming Victim
By 9.6.11
ATM credit card skimming has gotten so pervasive that thieves managed to snag the digits of U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan, a federal prosecutor, and lift $1,000 from her bank account. [More]
Facebook Board Member's Profile Hacked
By 5.10.10
Maybe now that one of their board members’ profile got hacked, Facebook will start caring more about your privacy. Nah. [More]
Delta Cancels Flights Due To Storm, Plays "Let it Snow" For Customers On Hold
By 12.20.09
The massive snowstorm on the East Coast this weekend has led to canceled and delayed flights–and a lot of aggravation on the part of Delta Air Lines customers. Because the only thing better than waiting for hours on hold to learn your flight’s status or reschedule a flight canceled due to snow is listening to “Let it Snow.” On a loop. [More]
CARD Act Includes Limits On Not-So-Free Credit Report Ads
By 5.26.09
A less-reported provision of the CARD Act, the credit card reform bill signed by President Obama on Friday, puts limits on ads promoting that old Consumerist nemesis, “free” credit reports.
If We Buy This And Give It Back To You, Will You Read It, Circuit City Execs?
By 3.4.09
After seeing our photo evidence of the sorry state of the St. Peters, MO, Circuit City yesterday, Eric decided to check out the final days of the Circuit City in Poughkeepsie, NY. He writes, “On one clearance table, among the overpriced cables, I saw this. I’m not sure what this was doing there, but it’s probably something the Circuit City executives should have read a few years ago, huh?” Yes, but it’s never too late! Those executives are going to end up working somewhere after all. By the way, do CC execs get a liquidation discount?
AT&T Doesn't Work In Area It Advertises
By 12.19.07
AT&T has a new campaign advertises how it “works in more places like,” and then lists a fictional place that’s a mashup of three cities. The ads are appearing in the tunnels and trains of Washington DC Metro, a real place, where AT&T really doesn’t work. Only Verizon works down there. Commenter XianZomby writes, “I think before ATT works on getting their wireless network in places that don’t exist, they should focus on getting their cell phones to work in places where they advertise cell phone service.”
Head Of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Didn't Know How To Properly Install A Car Seat
By 9.21.07
A Detroit News article about Nicole Nasson, head of the National High Traffic Safety Adminsitration, which oversees, among other things, child safety seat standards, reveals that until this summer, she didn’t know how to properly install a child safety seat.
By 9.21.07
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The state of California recalled 56,000 children’s lunchboxes over lead concerns. The lunchboxes had been distributed by the Health Department to promote healthy eating. [AP]
Returned Products Aren’t Broken, Just Too Hard to Use
By 3.7.06
Complexity causes 50% of product returns, a new report finds.
