Today’s Tech Sightings:
A security message is seen on a Whatsapp screen in this illustration photo April 6, 2016. (Reuters)
WhatsApp Is Going to Share Your Phone Number With Facebook
So much for WhatsApp’s promise to protect the privacy of its one billion users! The global messaging service today announced users have a limited time to opt-out of sharing their information with Facebook. WhatsApp claims Facebook won’t post the telephone numbers online or share them. But Facebook intends to use the data for targeted ads.
Linux Turns 25! How a Hobby OS Hit It Big
Linux, started by Finnish-American software engineer, Linus Torvalds, celebrates its 25th birthday today, August 25, 2016. The open source operating system began with a message from Torvalds that said he was starting a free OS as a hobby. Today, Linux powers millions of servers, devices, and most of the world’s Android smartphones.
5 Ways Tech Is Helping Italian Earthquake Rescue Efforts
The death toll continues to rise in the aftermath of the 6.2-magnitude earthquake that rocked central Italy on Wednesday. But technology is helping rescuers by providing unsecured Wi-Fi access to local networks, text donations, free texts and calls, free accommodation and Facebook safety checks.
More:
- In Sweden and Finland, Tech Companies Help Refugees Find Work
- This Algorithm Diagnoses Depression From Your Instagram Feed
- Experts Call for Password Abolition After Mail.ru Breach
- Of Course Everyone’s Already Using the Leaked NSA Exploits
- Hackers Use vBulletin Flaw to Break Into 27 Million More Accounts
- President Obama Delivers Ode to America’s National Parks in VR
- Satya Nadella Is Wrong About Chatbots
- Singapore Wants to Ban Civil Servants From Using Web at Work
- World’s First Driverless Taxi Hits Singapore Streets
- After Google, Facebook to Offer Free Wi-Fi at Indian Railway Stations
- Twitter Launches Button Letting You Send Direct Messages From Any Website
