Tech Sightings, October 7, 2014

Posted October 7th, 2014 at 2:04 pm (UTC-4)
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Efficient, Useful Blue-light LED Draws Nobel Prize in Physics

Japanese professors Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano, and American professor Shuji Nakamura won the 2014 Noble Prize in physics for inventing blue light-emitting diode (LED) technology, currently used for high-speed networking, data storage, water purification and home illumination.

Software, Robots Will Take One in Three Jobs by 2025

Gartner market research firm predicts that robots and drones will replace one-third of workers by 2025 and that emerging smart machines, already taking on more diversified tasks, will expand to other job areas in the future.

Phishers Find Apple Most-tasty Target

A report from the Anti-Phishing Work Group says Apple has climbed to the top position as the most-phished brand, a spot typically occupied by PayPal. More than 17 percent of all phishing attacks were directed at Apple in the first half of this year; and the authors of the report say a lot of the attacks are takeover attempts.

ATM Malware Dispenses Cash to Attackers

According to Kaspersky Lab, hackers have created a backdoor program called Backdoor.MSIL.Tyupkin that allows them to get cash from ATMs in several countries, though mostly in Russia. The program requires a CD to install the malware on the ATM machines.

The Cookie is Dead. How Facebook, Google, Apple are Tracking You Now

Whether you know it or not, your every online movement is tracked by advertisers eager to get your business. In the past, cookies – those little digital trackers that download when you visit a website – are going out of style as more companies find better ways to glean information about online consumers.

Eight Things You Should Consider Hiding on Your Computer

The fact is there are things that have no business being on your computer’s hard drive. Sexy photos are just one item on the list. You’ll have to check for the others.

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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