Today’s Tech Sightings:
Tech’s Biggest Names Descend on Berlin for IFA 2015
The Germany-based consumer electronics show, IFA is coming up this September 4, with participation from some of technology’s biggest brands. The show will feature an array of wearable technology and smart devices, large screens, virtual reality gadgets and a whole lot more. Here’s a look at what’s coming.
Japanese Banks Hit by New Trojan ‘Shifu’
IBM’s Security X-Force investigating a new Trojan that has been attacking Japanese banks found that the new strain, called Shifu, is a highly-sophisticated mix of some of the most potent recent malware. Shifu is controlled by a command-and-control server and can steal certificates, detect smartcard readers and steal some of their information, among other capabilities.
Study: Web Address Explosion Is Bonanza for Cyber-Criminals
A study from enterprise security company Blue Coat found that criminals are exploiting some of the Internet’s newer and less known domains like .zip and .kim to fool users into downloading and installing malware on their computers. The study found that the most dangerous top-level domains include .zip, .review and .country.
Microsoft Slips User-Tracking Tools Into Windows 7, 8
Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows 10 comes with a lot of consumer-tracking tools that have raised some privacy concerns and deterred some Windows users from upgrading. Now, Microsoft has quietly slipped the same tracking tools into Windows 7 and 8 in what writer Brad Chacos calls an insensitive and ill-timed move.
Adobe Flash Closer to Death, Thanks to Google
Google just put another nail in the coffin of Adobe’s Flash Player, officially killing Flash advertising in its browsers. Following this move, advertisements will remain frozen unless the user clicks to activate the player.
Five Details You Shouldn’t Give Facebook
Sharing stuff with friends and family on Facebook is well and fine, but Facebook asks for information that you probably should refrain from sharing. Writer Kim Komando offers some tips.
Collection of Buried Atari Cartridges Sells for Over $100,000
The town of Alamogordo, New Mexico, home to a landfill of Atari 2600 cartridges buried after the 1983 North America video game crash, has decided to put the entire treasure trove of 881 cartridges on sale on EBay. The town earned $107, 930, which means that each cartridge fetched $122.50.
