Today’s Tech Sightings:
Key Google Announcements Expected Today, September 29
The San Francisco event will highlight new features for Google’s Nexus 5X smartphone. The company also is expected to talk about its Android Marshmallow mobile operating system, Chromecast and other products.
Study: ‘Data Overload’ Is Leaving UK Users Stressed, Sleep-Deprived
A study of about 1,000 adults in the U.K. found that today’s connected world is adversely affecting people’s lives, leaving them prone to stress. Up to 44 percent said the digital culture is disrupting their sleep habits and relationships. And 36 percent said they are finding it mush harder to relax.
Google Virtual-Reality System Aims to Enliven Education
Google is piloting a new project for schools that takes students and their teachers on virtual field trips, using virtual reality (VR) viewers. Google’s VR viewers are made of cardboard and a cellphone. The teachers use an app to guide students through their virtual tour.
Valve Blames Developers for Lingering VR Nausea Issues
Virtual Reality is slowly going mainstream with new, improved headsets. But the technology is also raising concerns about nausea and other side effects of moving in virtual environments with VR headsets, including those made by Valve. But the company blamed developers for the nausea, saying they are not building their apps correctly.
Botnet Preying on Linux Computers Delivers Potent DDoS Attacks
A network of infected Linux computers has been sending up to 150 gigabits per second of malicious attacks to gaming and education sites. According to an advisory on State of the Internet, the XOR DDoS networks go after 20 websites every day, with most of their victims based in Asia.
Novel Malware Dupes Victims With Fake Blue Screen of Death
Security experts at Malwarebytes have uncovered a new online advertising scheme that uses the Windows operating system’s Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) to dupe users. Attackers display their advertisements at the top of the search engine, but the link lures those who click on it to a fake page that provides a free “help” hot line – to the hackers.
iOS 9 Bug Makes Certain Apps Useless Without Wi-Fi
Apple’s iOS 9 apparently has a bug that prevents iPhone users from accessing some apps on a cellular network, according to Wayne Williams at Beta News. The bug affects devices upgraded from iOS 8 to iOS 9.
Microsoft Promises Windows 10 Doesn’t Violate Your Privacy
There are so many data-sharing knobs and settings in Windows 10 to make your head spin. And critics have been quick to warn against the new Windows operating systems’ data collection. But Microsoft defended the practice in a Windows blog post, saying that its data collection is only intended to improve products and user experience.
