Today’s Tech Sightings:
FILE – Village women stand in a queue to get themselves enrolled for the Unique Identification (UID) database system at Merta district in the desert Indian state of Rajasthan. The Indian government has been using the UID database, known as Aadhaar, to make direct cash transfers to the poor.
India’s Billion-member Biometric Database Raises Privacy Fears
Biometrics might prove to be one solution to cybersecurity intrusions, but it is a cause for concern, particularly in India. Citing national security interests, the country’s parliament is getting ready to pass a bill that would give government agencies access to the world’s largest biometrics database. The move has alarmed privacy advocates, especially as it comes on the heels of the government’s recent crackdown on student protests.
Advertising-based Cyberattacks Hit BBC, New York Times, MSN
Malicious online advertisements, or malvertisements, hit several major entities on Sunday, including the BBC, Newsweek, The New York Times and MSN. The attack targeted users’ computers, either infecting them with malware or encrypting their files with ransomware. The campaign is related to the Angler Exploit Kit, according to security firm Trend Micro.
Apple: US Founding Fathers ‘Would Be Appalled’ With Request to Unlock iPhone
The showdown continues between Apple and the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) over a government request to unlock the iPhone of a mass shooter. The proceedings are also seen as a crucial contest between privacy and security. In the latest development, Apple CEO Tim Cook blasted the DoJ, saying its court filing arguing that Apple should comply violates the U.S. Constitution.
More:
- These Are the Developing Countries Where Robots Will Take the Most Jobs
- Apple Actively Working to ‘Double Down’ on iCloud Encryption
- Virtual Home App to Help People With Dementia
- Why Apps Like Siri and Cortana Need to Understand Suicide
- Britons Experience 8,000 Phishing Attacks a Month
- Steam Account Hijacking Becomes Booming Business for Cybercriminals
- Instagram to Ditch Chronological User Feed for Interest-based One
- Scottish Startup eeGeo Raises $5 Million to 3D-map the World
