Tech Sightings, July 22, 2014

Posted July 22nd, 2014 at 2:03 pm (UTC-4)
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New Spongelike Structure Converts Solar Energy into Steam

Using layers of graphite flakes and carbon foam, MIT researchers have produced a new porous material that floats on water like a sponge. Once exposed to solar energy, its surface generates a hotspot that draws up water and converts it to steam.

Twitter Takes Down Suspect Pro-China Accounts

Twitter has dismantled several bogus accounts that were being used for pro-Chinese propaganda purposes. Many of those were identified as sham by the Free Tibet organization.

African Moms Go Digital for Better Healthcare

Several companies, including digital security company Gemalto and mobile telecommunications association Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) are partnering to launch a new initiative in Africa to help improve maternal and child health. The initiative, scheduled to launch in September, will provide health care to more than 15 million pregnant women and mothers with children.

The New Nigerian Email Swindle

A new report released by security firm Palo Alto Networks says cyberattacks targeting clients in Taiwan and South Korea are being conducted from Nigeria by some of the same people who ran the Nigerian 419 swindle, which attempted to trick victims into transferring money to the scammers’ bank accounts.

The Online Tracking Device That is Virtually Impossible to Block

Canvas fingerprinting is a new persistent method for online tracking that builds profiles of users based on the websites they visit. The problem is that this technique is very difficult to block with standard browser privacy tools.

A Student’s Guide for Fending Against Cyber-Snoops, Stalkers, and Thieves at School

If you are a student with a mobile phone or digital devices, you might not want to leave them unattended at school. And if you are one of those, then this guide offers some tips to help you protect yourself.

Aida Akl
Aida Akl is a journalist working on VOA's English Webdesk. She has written on a wide range of topics, although her more recent contributions have focused on technology. She has covered both domestic and international events since the mid-1980s as a VOA reporter and international broadcaster.

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