Showing Archived Posts

Facebook Rejects Pakistan Policy Change; ‘GhostCtrl’ Malware Returns

Posted July 18th, 2017 at 12:01 pm (UTC-4)
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Today’s Tech Sightings: Facebook Denies Pakistan Policy Change Request Facebook informed the Pakistani government it was not interested in complying with its request to change authentication policies from email addresses to telephone numbers. Last week, Pakistan asked Facebook to make the change in order to track fake account owners and those who engage in hate […]

‘Smart Cities’ Are Not Just About Technology

Posted May 12th, 2017 at 11:30 am (UTC-4)
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‘Smart cities’ or high-tech communities are popping up in parts of the developing world to connect citizens, spur economic development, and provide better services. But some experts caution that these smart hubs are more about sustainability and quality of life than the technology that supports them. ‘Smart cities’ is hardly a term everyone agrees on […]

Jury Out on Online Suicide-prevention Tools; ‘TorrentLocker’ Is Back

Posted March 2nd, 2017 at 12:31 pm (UTC-4)
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Today’s Tech Sightings: Big Questions Surround Facebook’s Suicide-Prevention Tools Facebook has been ramping up its suicide-prevention tools to include ways to encourage users to report people whose Facebook streams contain signs of self-injury. The person with the perceived suicidal tendencies then sees a message that provides resources for help. Writer Rachel Metz says experts see […]

The New Face of Social Media; India’s Apple Manufacturing Dilemma

Posted January 19th, 2017 at 1:04 pm (UTC-4)
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Today’s Tech Sightings: How Social Media Is Crippling Democracy Writer Jason Perlow argues that increased use of technology at home and work disconnects Americans from face-to-face relationships while amplifying their bad habits. Meanwhile, their interpersonal skills decline. In this ecosystem, more people rely on social media for their news, regardless of the legitimacy or truthfulness […]

Android Malware Goes After Wi-Fi Routers; More Ransomware in 2017

Posted January 4th, 2017 at 1:26 pm (UTC-4)
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Today’s Tech Sightings: Android-infecting Trojan Malware Uses Your Phone to Attack Your Router Kaspersky Lab researchers have uncovered a new Android Trojan malware. Dubbed “Switcher Trojan,” the malware can attack its victims’ wireless routers and render connected devices vulnerable to fraud. The virus tricks users to redirect Wi-Fi traffic from the networks users are on […]

Singapore to Record Iris Scans; Fake News Story Raises Bangkok Alarm

Posted December 28th, 2016 at 11:28 am (UTC-4)
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Today’s Tech Sightings: Singapore to Record Iris Scans of Citizens Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs said the country will begin collecting iris scans of citizens and permanent residents beginning January 1. A ministry statement said the goal is to improve efficiency for immigration procedures and registration and renewal of identity cards and passports. The iris […]

Malicious Ads Put Millions at Risk; the Trouble With Smart Cities

Posted December 7th, 2016 at 1:03 pm (UTC-4)
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Today’s Tech Sightings: Malicious Online Ads Expose Millions to Possible Hack Cybersecurity firm ESET says infected banner ads have put millions of internet users at risk of installing Trojans and spyware on their computers since October. The company said Stegano, as the attack campaign is called, has spread from malicious ads on several reputable sites, […]

Building the Bionic Man; Facebook Urged to Stop Racial Exclusion Ads

Posted November 2nd, 2016 at 12:34 pm (UTC-4)
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Today’s Tech Sightings: Building the Bionic Man It’s no longer science fiction. Replaceable body parts are already here. Now Swiss psychologist Bertolt Meyer, who has a prosthetic arm, is working to create a robot modeled after himself. The robot, Rex, is made of various prosthetic parts, has a circulatory system and a clunky body. Rex […]