Today’s Tech Sightings:
A Samsung Note 7 handset is pictured next to its charred battery after catching fire during a test at the Applied Energy Hub battery laboratory in Singapore Oct. 5, 2016. (Reuters)
Samsung’s Exploding-smartphone Nightmare Is Getting Even Worse
Samsung is in the middle of a global recall of its new Galaxy Note 7 after its Lithium-ion batteries started catching fire and exploding, and has been replacing them with “safe” smartphones. But the “safe” replacement started smoking on a U.S. flight Wednesday, prompting an evacuation of the plane. The global recall, says writer Rob Price, is costing Samsung its reputation and billions of dollars. But a second recall of the “safe” smartphones could inflict irreparable damage on the Samsung brand.
Ransomware Becomes Main Threat on Android in Several Countries
According to security organization BitDefender, ransomware attacks targeting Android smartphones are on the rise. The Android SLocker ransomware strain accounted for nearly half of all reported mobile malware in Denmark in the first half of 2016. The percentage was 16.48 percent in Britain, 25 percent in Germany, and 21.54 percent in Australia.
Lack of Diversity Threatens Future of London’s Tech Industry
A new report from Tech London Advocates that polled more than 3,600 tech experts reveals that about 46 percent of London’s technology companies do not believe diversity improves their growth. In fact, some believe “social background, gender and disability” are a hindrance to talent. According to the report, about 1,000 companies out of 40,000 London-based firms have an all-male workforce.
More:
- Twitter Gets No Love From Disney, Google, Apple
- Fighting Fires: Samsung Struggles to Limit Damage From Smartphone Recall
- If the US Election Is Hacked, We May Never Know
- New Law Encourages Russian Security Firms to Hack WhatsApp, Skype
- Spain to Probe Facebook/WhatsApp Data Swap Deal
- IoT Could Become Playground for Botnets Gone Wild
- Trend Micro: ‘DressCode’ Malware Has Infected 400 Google Play Store Apps
- Apple Activation Lock Glitch? New iPhone 7s Already Linked to Strangers’ Apple IDs
- Microsoft Releases Fix for Windows 10 Cumulative Update Issues
- Apple’s First iOS Developer Academy Now Open in Italy
